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Volume 33   Number 11 Mar 15, 2009

        Galatians 5:6 Amp: For (if we are) in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working THROUGH LOVE.
        We cannot walk in love without the love of God. His love gives us the ability to love people who hurt us and love those we are around every day. Galatians 5:6 says that faith will not work unless it is activated, energized, expressed, and working through love. God has blessed me with a supernatural walk of faith, but I have learned that He requires me to walk in love. When I get out of love, there is lack of finances, and things do not happen until I get back in love. Remember, we are to be dead in Christ, which means being dead to the flesh.
        Romans 12:14-21 Amp: Bless those who persecute you (who are cruel in their attitude toward you); bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice (sharing others' joy), and weep with those who weep (sharing others' grief). Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to (people, things) and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.
        Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble (aiming to be above reproach) in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
        Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for (God's) wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.
        Verse 17 is very important and says do not repay evil with evil. That is our biggest challenge, because the flesh wants to react. However, God is the avenger, and we must trust Him in all things and circumstances.
        Matthew 5:11-12 Amp: Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.
        Many people think that being happy is the joy of the Lord. Actually happy relates to fate or luck or chance. True joy, however, is in the spiritual realm and comes from being full of God's Word and meditating on His goodness and mercy. God can turn any situation around.
        We should be confessing 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Amp: Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealously, is not boastful or vain-glorious; does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly.
        Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong). It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
        Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything (without weakening). Love never fails (never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end).
        When you believe and apply 1 Corinthians 13 to your life each day, you will grow. God's Word down inside of you gives the Holy Spirit something to work with. You cannot fail with God's Word in you, and you will experience signs, wonders, and miracles.
        Do not repay evil for evil. A report was given about a man who came to his pastor and said he was going to repay evil for evil. He was a Junior Executive, a black man, due for promotion but instead a white man got the job. The pastor prayed for wisdom and guidance for this young man, and the next day he congratulated the man on his promotion, much to his surprise. Two months went by, and a big corporation in Dallas called this young black man requesting him to come to work for them. They asked him for a salary amount, so he gave them three times what he was making. When he met with them, they actually gave him four times what he was making. He chose not to repay evil with evil. Remember, God will avenge us if we choose to walk in love.
        Often people get hurt in ministry, but God's Word says to rejoice when we are mistreated. There must be dying to the flesh. There was a Youth Pastor at a large church in Florida who had built up the youth group to 700 young people. He and the youth would pray one hour before going out to witness.
        As time went by, the Administrative Pastor began speaking lies about the Youth Pastor to the Senior Pastor of the church, but the Youth Pastor refused to defend himself. One week later he received a letter confirming that the Administrative Pastor was getting him fired, but he knew that God was his avenger and defender. He even met with the Administrative Pastor to apologize for his attitude and asked him for forgiveness. He did what God told him to do—walk in love. Two months later, the lies of the Administrative Pastor were totally exposed, and he was asked to leave. Now the Youth Pastor and his wife have a huge ministry.
        Do what God tells you, and WALK IN LOVE. Be children of love. The gifts of the Spirit flow in love.

Rev. Carol Hay