LORD TEACH US TO PRAY PT V

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6

 “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4

Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.  14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.   16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.  17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. II Timothy 4

1. Forsaken by Friends and Lovers

Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark (second missionary journey Acts 15) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 

Even my closest friend whom I trusted, the one who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. Psalm 41:9

“The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.”

For it is not an enemy who insults me— I could have handled that— nor is it someone who hates me and who now arises against me— I could have hidden myself from him— but it is you— a man whom I treated as my equal— my personal confidant, my close friend! We had good fellowship together; and we even walked together in the house of God!  Psalm 55:12-14

My close friends detest me. Those I loved have turned against me.  Job 19:19

And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’ he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’ Zechariah 13:6

1. Attacked by your Enemies

14 Alexanderthe metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6

He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.  I Peter 2:23

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. Proverbs 20:22  

III. Abandon by Family

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD cares for me. Psalm 27:10

My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me. My family is gone, and my close friends have forgotten me. Job 19:13-14

A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Matthew 10:36

1. Protected and Delivered by the Lord

17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. II Timothy 4

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Psalm 46:1 

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8  

It is to one's glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)