Avenge or bless?

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Yet

Yet

Banned
#1
Jan 4, 2014
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#1
I have an interesting dilemma. In Lk. 18:3 Jesus tells us that He will avenge our adversaries. We are to give place to wrath.
But He uses the story of a widow woman crying out for vengeance and that we ought to pray and faint not.

In Lk. 6:28 we are told to to bless those that curse us and pray for them that despitefully use us.

On the surface of things it seems an apparent contradiction. Do we pray 'get that raskal God', or 'bless that raskal God'? Smile.

Any thoughts?
 
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Jenizona

Jenizona

Senior Member
#2
Aug 8, 2015
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#2
Yet said:
. . . We are to give place to wrath. . .
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Hello, Yet! I don't think we are to give place to wrath. More just like letting God handle it. :cool:
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#3
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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#3
I always just pray for the will of God to be done......this covers all aspects of the (situation) and places it into the hands of God who will deal with it according to his will.
 
Yet

Yet

Banned
#4
Jan 4, 2014
3,756
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#4
I'm liking your comments.
 
Joidevivre

Joidevivre

Senior Member
#5
Jul 15, 2014
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#5
Why not bless? What have you got to lose? God has given you all good things, including Himself, and his mercies and goodness which follow you each day of your life.

Keep mercy alive. Give it to the one who is least deserving of it. As Jesus does.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#6
Jul 3, 2015
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#6
There is no contradiction because the woman is not trying to avenge
the situation herself, rather she is praying that God avenge on her behalf.
 
Patnubay

Patnubay

Senior Member
#7
May 27, 2014
498
8
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#7
Yet said:
I have an interesting dilemma. In Lk. 18:3 Jesus tells us that He will avenge our adversaries. We are to give place to wrath.
But He uses the story of a widow woman crying out for vengeance and that we ought to pray and faint not.

In Lk. 6:28 we are told to to bless those that curse us and pray for them that despitefully use us.

On the surface of things it seems an apparent contradiction. Do we pray 'get that raskal God', or 'bless that raskal God'? Smile.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
I like this OP. I know revenge belongs to God so I pray "'get that raskal God'". I honestly still have a problem about love thy enemies or bless those who persecute you.
 
V

VioletReigns

Guest
#8
#8
In every situation, whatever my carnal mind impulsively tells me to do, I know is the wrong thing to do. But God gives us His grace in all situations, so I know I'm to wait on God to make His will known to me and then that's what I pray for.

Unfortunately, I don't always die to my impulsiveness & anxious thoughts immediately, and then it becomes a battle of wrestling with, "Is this right? Or is it wrong?" And I get caught in a web of uncertainty because I didn't rest in Him.

Nevertheless, I'm learning that lesson quicker & quicker and am getting more pliable in His hands. (THANK YOU, JESUS!!!)

Better to just die to my impulsive emotions at the get-go and let God move me in the way He wants me to go. That way there's perfect peace and my soul stays joyful. :D
 
S

Sirk

Guest
#9
#9
Living is the best revenge...ie; having joy, forgiveness and beautiful things in your life.
 
K

KennethC

Guest
#10
#10
Revelation 6:10

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
 
Yet

Yet

Banned
#11
Jan 4, 2014
3,756
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#11
I always ask God to bless those that dump on me. That's not the deal.

im just looking at those verses. It looks like she's praying specifically for vengeance. Instead of praying God bless them.

Now I know God's blessing comes in many forms. Like my drug dealing neighbor in a truck accident that just about called for a body bag.

Talked to him this morning and the Holy Spirit was all over our meeting. I digress a bit.

Again the two takes seem contradictory. Just wanted to hear some different thoughts.
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#12
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
113
#12
Yet said:
I always ask God to bless those that dump on me. That's not the deal.

im just looking at those verses. It looks like she's praying specifically for vengeance. Instead of praying God bless them.

Now I know God's blessing comes in many forms. Like my drug dealing neighbor in a truck accident that just about called for a body bag.

Talked to him this morning and the Holy Spirit was all over our meeting. I digress a bit.

Again the two takes seem contradictory. Just wanted to hear some different thoughts.
Click to expand...
I will add and say...there are imprecatory prayers found throughout the bible as well.....especially as applied by David unto his enemies and the enemies of Israel and or God.........just a thought to throw into the fray.....
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#13
Jul 3, 2015
56,392
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#13
She may be praying for vengeance but the difference is that she is not taking matters into her own hands by taking vengeance herself; she is fervently asking God to intervene. I understand the dilemma, though, since she seems not to have a forgiving heart, which we are called to have. It does make me think that people often do not change their "wicked" ways until they suffer some catastrophic consequence... could that be the gist of her prayers?
 
Agricola

Agricola

Senior Member
#14
Dec 10, 2012
2,638
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#14
I have personal experience of this. Unknown to me people were plotting evil things and I mean pure evil things, against me. I did nto speak badly of them and I just let God handle the situation. I even prayed things would work out fine between us etc.

God took revenge on them, thier lives were destroyed in an identical manner in which they were plotting against me. thats all I will say on the subject, so if revenge is to take place, let God handle it and we are to just pray for our enemies.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#15
Jul 3, 2015
56,392
26,385
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#15
Agricola said:
I have personal experience of this. Unknown to me people were plotting evil things and I mean pure evil things, against me. I did nto speak badly of them and I just let God handle the situation. I even prayed things would work out fine between us etc.

God took revenge on them, thier lives were destroyed in an identical manner in which they were plotting against me. thats all I will say on the subject, so if revenge is to take place, let God handle it and we are to just pray for our enemies.
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Reminds me of the Biblical story of Esther :) Praise God!
 
Agricola

Agricola

Senior Member
#16
Dec 10, 2012
2,638
88
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#16
On another note, someone who is in total union with God, can bring about vengence, we only have to look at Elisha and the 2 bears.


[h=5][/h]
[h=2]2 Kings 2:23-25)[/h] [h=3][/h] 23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” 24 When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number. 25 And he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
 
Jenizona

Jenizona

Senior Member
#17
Aug 8, 2015
629
28
0
#17
Yet said:
I always ask God to bless those that dump on me. That's not the deal. im just looking at those verses. It looks like she's praying specifically for vengeance. Instead of praying God bless them. . . .Again the two takes seem contradictory. Just wanted to hear some different thoughts.
Click to expand...

Looks to me like she's praying for justice... after all, she's going to a judge, right? Asking the judge for justice?
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#18
Feb 7, 2015
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#18
I agree. Vengeance? Or "Justice?" There's a world of difference.
 
Yet

Yet

Banned
#19
Jan 4, 2014
3,756
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#19
That's good. Justice. Thanks.

I have had supervisors on the job that needed some help to see a little less of somewhat what they were.

After a while of suffering under their brutal arrogance BAM! They were fired for something. Sometimes took years. I use to pray 'change them God, or get rid of them'.

Told you about the men with religious titles and positions (see 'which pastor') that cursed me in the spirit and cast me out. I prayed God would hold it not to their charge. Bam! God dropped horrible judgment on them.
We also needy to be real careful not to break open any champagne bottle in celebration when are adversaries fall into the pit they dug for us. Oh yea!
 
E

Ella85

Senior Member
#20
May 9, 2014
1,414
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#20
dcontroversal said:
I always just pray for the will of God to be done......this covers all aspects of the (situation) and places it into the hands of God who will deal with it according to his will.
Click to expand...
Agree.

There are so many reasons why God does things His way.
We are not as wise as He is and would not be able to keep things in order the way that He does.
There is always a reason why we have to be patient and listen to what He is saying.
Teaches us to be obedient and put all our faith and trust in Him.
The more we do the more our relationship with Him grows and the more we learn to depend on Him in all things, good and bad.
 
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