perspective

W e ' r e m o r e t h a n j u s t a C h u r c h . . . W e ' r e a F A M I L Y !

Pastor Carter addresses Questions on

FORGIVENESS

There is a woman who absolutely despises me. She takes EVERY opportunity to be a smart aleck. She thinks she is "IT" as a person. She constantly PUSHES and PUSHES the buttons to get at me. She claims Christianity and all the while has a knife waiting for you to turn your back. What do I do? Also, when I was younger I had a HUGE struggle with Hate. I hated my grandfather for what he did to our family. I was backslid for years over the way I felt about him. I felt I couldn't be saved with the feelings I had towards him. Concerning the other woman, I find myself having borderline feelings of hate for her too. I don't know how to deal with her and other people who claim Christianity and treat people the way she does. She is vicious and evil in my book. What do I do?

Here are the things that came into my spirit immediately upon reading your question...

NUMBER ONE: ...The first thing to worry about are your feelings of hatred. I urge you in sincerity before God, don't let these feelings take root in your heart or they will lead to a bondage of bitterness. Pray daily until you feel the Lord deliver you from these feelings. They aren't the feelings He wants you to have towards others. LOVE those that persecute you and despitefully use you. PRAY for those who talk behind your back and stab you as you walk away.

The important thing to understand here is this: As long as you harbor those feelings toward that person, then that person has power over you. Every time you see them or think of them, a feeling of bitterness will rise in your heart. It doesn't hurt them... It just hurts you. Don't let that person have power over you - - forgive them. If you forgive them, then their power over you is broken. Live in freedom and take the high road - let the Holy Spirit remove the negative feelings toward this person so you can forgive them and be the true Christian you should be. Let them be hypocrites if they want... but you... you be a Christian.

NUMBER 2: If you have feelings like this toward this person, send them an email and tell them, or call them on the phone... confront them about it. It's not your concern how they respond to your biblical action. Your only concern is how you will respond.

Going to them does three things:

Number 1: It puts you in control of the situation.

Number 2: It allows them to see that their behavior has been a stumbling block and provides for them an opportunity to see their error and make amends. But, know that whether they make amends or not isn't your problem. If they do, good for them. If they don't, they'll have to answer to God for that; and

Number 3: This allows you to let go of your negative feelings, offer forgiveness as we mentioned above, and move on from there.

Your going to the person who has offended you is just as much for you as it is for them. It allows you the chance to cleanse yourself from un-Christlike feelings. That puts the ball in their court. They can either do the Biblical thing and make it right, or go on living the life of a hypocrite. Either way, you will be free of those feelings and can serve God with a clear conscience.

You said, "She thinks she is 'IT' as a person and church-wise. She constantly PUSHES and PUSHES the buttons to get at us."

If she is truly intentionally provoking you, then she is operating in a spirit of witchcraft. That Jezebel spirit is one that provokes, insinuates, gossips, controls, and manipulates words and deeds to attack someone else's spirit. DON'T FEEL THREATENED by such a spirit. God will deal with that. Eventually, God will send someone along to make a scene by casting the devil out of her. Don't let such a spirit dictate your feelings toward a person. Remember, they're still 'a person.' View them as 'a person' bound in religion and hypocrisy. That makes it easier to extend the same grace God gave to you, and to pray for their souls.

You said, "I don't know how to deal with her and people who claim Christianity and treat people the way she does. What do I do?"

How do you deal with people who claim Christianity but treat people the way she does? ...With love, compassion, fervent prayers, and a life demonstrative of true Christianity to others who are looking for the real thing.

What do you do with people like that? ...Expose their spirit as false, pray for them, and go on living a life of faith. You can't help what someone else does. All you can do is worry about yourself, your relationship with God, and how you deal with others in light of that spiritual walk. Look through the eyes of Christ, see people as He sees them, and conduct yourself so accordingly.

Is she vicious and evil? If what you're saying is true, perhaps. But always remember, she's not vicious and evil because she just is... she's vicious and evil because of the spiritual influence of Satan in her life. Do as Jesus did and have compassion on those - ask God to deliver them and show them the error of their ways.

You have authority over such feelings and do not have to feel intimidated by the enemy (please read Breaking Intimidation by Christian author John Bevere - excellent book that I believe will be a blessing!)

I know you want to do what's right - say what's right - live what's right... and as long as you are actively seeking to be obedient to the Lord in all things, He will never lead you wrong.

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FAMILY HARVEST CHURCH

PASTOR CHAD CARTER

P.O. Box 512

Salem, IN 47167

812-883-2523

www.ChadCarter.org

info@ChadCarter.org