Why Do We Hurt Each Other

Why do people intentionally try to hurt other people? I understand that those who are hurt tend to lash out at others, but would it not make more sense to try to get help instead of causing more pain? Why do we make fun of those who are hurting who don’t dress like we think they should or don’t act like we think they should? What gives us the right to laugh at someone we don’t even know?

It has occurred to me that many times we tend to judge people by their dress or their walk or some other thing that is so minor and meaningless that it’s not funny. How do we know the story behind the clothes, or the actions? What do I know about any particular persons circumstances that permits me to be their judge and to ridicule them to others?

Would it not be better to seek out a relationship with that person and find out the real reason for them to behave the way they are? And then try to help them? Is this not what Jesus did and are we not suppose to imitate Jesus?

I wish God’s people would stop being so shallow and start being what they are called to be. I pray God grant each and every one of us the broken and contrite spirit His word speaks of, that we may bring healing to the lost and hopeless instead of judgement.

What’s More Important to You?

What’s more important to you? Your pleasure or someone else’s pain.

Is it more important for you to get that extra 10 minutes of sleep or do you use that 10 minutes to find some way to help someone who is hurting?

Is it more important to you to be able to have leisure time each day so you can do whatever you want or is it more important to you to use ur free time to seek out those who hurt and help?

These questions are questions that all Christians need to ask themselves every day. Sadly, most never ask it at all because we do not wish to see just how selfish we are when scripture calls us to be selfless! I wish I could say I spend as much time trying to help as I do on leisure.

Let’s look at it from another view point. Do I spend as much time getting to know God as I do watching TV? Do I spend my time seeking my pleasure or do I spend it in prayer and serious bible study. Look at the comparison, how much time a day do you spend watching TV?? 1 hr? 2 hrs?? Now, how much time do you devote to God?

Word Becomes Flesh

John 14:10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father

“Father” granted us the authority and power to DO everything Christ did and greater so I ask why do we NOT experience this in our lives today? There are many people who love God with all their hearts but there are none of the signs Jesus said would follow His people. Why is this?

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

The answer to this question lies within us. Jesus lives in our hearts and He is the author of our faith.

John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth

If Christ lives in us, the word lives in us as well. If the word lives in us then as we begin to understand that it applies to “ME” it will become flesh through us and then the power and authority of God’s word will come to pass in our lives and the signs and wonders will follow us. Don’t you think it is time that we, God’s People, allow the word to become flesh in us so we may truly be disciples of Christ and walk in the full power and authority that has been given us?

God’s word tells us:
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

What would the world look like if God’s people walked in the power and authority given them by the Holy Spirit that is spoken of in God’s word? How many people would RUN to Christ and the cross if one of Christ’s disciples prayed and called down fire from heaven and it actually showed up? Personally I think there would be an instant revival of God’s people as well as an enmasse salvation taking place. Now think about this in context of ALL of God’s people walking in that power. Man that would be so AWESOME!!
This power is literally the power of God that lives in us. It is an active growing functional part of our lives and its time we begin to grow in it. This is the power in which Christ was talking about when He said we would do everything He did and even greater. This is the power that He spoke of when He said we would cast out demons, heal the sick, drink poison and not die…….

The Greek word for power is δύναμις dúnamis; (pronounced dunamis, the u is long)

Strong’d 1411. δύναμις dúnamis; gen. dunámeōs, fem. noun from dúnamai (1410), to be able. Power, especially achieving power. All the words derived from the stem dúna- have the meaning of being able, capable. It may even mean to will. Contrast ischús (2479) which stresses the factuality of the ability, not necessarily the accomplishment.

This is talking about the current presence of power which means we are capable of doing SOMETHING cause of this power. Christ gave us a list of things we would be able to do in Mark 16:17-18

Power - an entity or being, whether human or transcendent, that functions in a remarkable manner, power

With the power comes the authority to use it as well.

Authority (2:10)
Authority means rightful power. It is the right of a ruler to do what he or she wishes and to command obedience of others. Although the English word is not used, the concept of rightful power in the Bible is given to God alone. He is the ultimate ruler over all the heavens and the earth, over all humanity.(Holman New Testament Commentary)
This is speaking of the power that lives in us!!

AUTHORITY. The NT word is exousia, meaning rightful, actual and unimpeded power to act, or to possess, control, use or dispose of, something or somebody. Whereas dynamis means physical power simply, exousia properly signifies power that is in some sense lawful. exousia may be used with the stress on either the rightfulness of power really held, or the reality of power rightfully possessed. In the latter case, EVV often translate it as ‘power’. exousia sometimes bears a general secular sense (e.g. in 1 Cor. 7:37, of self-control; Acts 5:4, of disposing of one’s income), but its significance is more commonly theological.(The New Bible Dictionary)

Can you imagine the unimpeded power of God through us acting on earth today?? Or better yet can you imagine it working in YOU personally?? Can you see yourself walking up to the lame and God healing them simply cause one of His children is present. He did this with Peter:

Acts 5:12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

So again I ask why is this power and anointing present today? The answer is in Timothy:

2Timothy 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

How many have been given gifts they never use and in some cases don’t acknowledge they have? If we do not keep our gifts fanned into flames as Paul wrote then there is no way we can be used of God in His power and authority. If we do not believe God heals today and can heal through “ME” how can He use you to heal anyone? The power has been granted to us, it’s up to us to pick it up and to allow God to use us to perform His miracles as He sees fit. Want to see God’s power?? Then yield to His authority and acknowledge He has the power to do these things and you are willing to be the one used!

Acts 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things

Family

I wonder what the body of Christ would look like if we all acted like the family we are suppose to be? Always looking out for each other and helping when and where we can. From the moment of salvation we are all brought into a oneness with Christ that brings us all into a community or family relationship with each other. Why is it we do not act like it? Why do we treat each other with indifference and suspicion?
Jesus prayed this for all saints:
John 17: 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

When do we begin to live it out? When do we start to understand that our hurt is nothing compared to the hurt we are causing Christ through our selfish desires? When do we begin to learn that God knows our hearts better than we do and come to understand and trust He knows best?

Personally I think it’s time that we all come to realize the truths of scripture. That we all understand that we are family and family loves regardless of hurt. Family stands by one another regardless of faults. Family seeks what is best for son, or daughter, or mother, or father, not what is best for self. It’s time we return to this understanding and get away from our petty selfishness.