“The greatest way to defeat your enemy is to not become your enemy.” Marcus Aurelius

I am not so much for quoting philosophers, but when they line up with the Word of God, I’ll accept it. What is being said is, you will see the defeat of your enemy if you will not sacrifice your principles. An angry, vengeful and bitter enemy will self-destruct when left alone.

David was consumed by his enemies and early in his life let them get the better of him. He did this by trying to figure them out according to his own standards. He did not understand why Saul, who quoted God’s word to the people and prophesied, did not live by the word. David’s high standards left him naive. “Why is the king trying to kill me? I am a good soldier and I am loyal to Saul.” He finally let Saul get the better of him and ran. He did not come to himself until he ended up in the cave of Adullum and put his safety and reputation back into the hands of God.

In the Psalms, David wrote about the prosperity God gives his people who trust Him, but he was still angry and confused over, “why do the wicked prosper?” At another time a close friend turned against David and left him wondering “why did my best friend raise his heel against me?”

We have all been there and could spend time discussing friends who turned on us, Christian business leaders who took advantage of us or friends at church who years ago became angry, left church and no longer even attend. We all get caught up in the trap of wondering why people are not as sold out to the Lord and to righteous living as we are. This is not conceit or arrogance on our part, it is simply immaturity to measure others by our own lives. It is before the Lord we all stand or fall.

Revenge is Useless

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

Revenge will eat you up and leave you bitter. This is because you were not designed to handle revenge. It belongs to the Lord. By personally taking revenge, you take the issue out of God’s hands and put it into your own. God’s arms are folded over an issue He can handle much better than you.

When you give your problems to the Lord, you turn loose of them. You can live your life and know God will take care of your situation.

One of the greatest ways to place anger on your enemy is to treat your problems with apathy. “I don’t care. I’ll let God settle the care.” If the problem is in God’s hands, your enemies cannot provoke you. When God is in control, you are at peace. To not think of your enemy is a great weapon. To ponder the problem over and over again means your offender is controlling you.

There is a famous story of the healing evangelist, Smith Wigglesworth. While at home in bed one night, he heard a creaking noise from his first floor and went down to see what the problem was. When he was halfway down the stairs, he saw Satan in his own rocking chair, staring at Smith. Smith simply said, “Oh, it’s just you” and walked back up the stairs and went to bed. Satan is your greatest enemy and the sworn enemy of God. Can you turn Satan over to God? Can you realize you don’t have to be consumed with him? God will take care of Satan. Even God must look at Satan and say, “oh, it’s just you.” The devil is on a path of self-destruction and needs no one’s help

Bring Me God’s Word

“Bring the cloak I left with Carpus at Troas when you come and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him for he has greatly resisted our words. At my first defence no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.” (2 Timothy 4:13-16)

Paul ran into great problems with Alexander the coppersmith and many of his personal friends deserted him. Some were even members of his ministry team. But in each case, he turned them over to the Lord so he could continue with the issues at hand, going to jail, his coat to stay warm, his need of the books already written and parchments of unfinished letters to the churches. In other words, Paul could have sat in prison consumed with and bewildered over personal friends who had deserted him, enemies who tried to destroy him and ministers who even left serving the Lord. He mentioned them but reminded Timothy of the most important issues, the word of God and the few remaining days of ministry he still had. “Let God handle those who hurt me, and may it not be charged against them.” In other words, “I pray they will repent.”

Jesus’ Answer Toward Our Enemies

If you think you have problems, Jesus had more. The same is true with David in the Old Testament and Paul in the New. Have friends forsaken you? All of Jesus’ friends and disciples forsook Him when He went to the cross. Only John came back. At first, great multitudes followed Jesus to hear His sermons. Then they deserted Him by the multitudes when His teachings became more difficult and demanding. Instead of looking for a group hug from His disciples, he asked them, “will you forsake me too?” They did not forsake Him then, but they did at His arrest.

What was Jesus’ answer for us toward our enemies and those who betray us? He told us to pray for them.

“I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for them who despitefully use and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

Jesus prayed from the cross for the soldiers who nailed Him there. “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Even in death, Jesus knew the power of prayer. The hands that could not be laid on the sick were nailed to the cross. The feet that used to walk down the roads were also nailed. Jesus could do no good works, but He could pray. And His prayer was for those who were killing the Son of God.

It is recorded in ancient history that those who were nailed to crosses, screamed out and cursed those who crucified them and then cursed God. But Jesus was silent toward those who beat and crucified Him. What a great example Jesus left us in turning the problem over to His Father, “into your hands I commit my spirit,” and even prayed for those who were killing Him. 

Was Jesus’ prayer for the soldiers answered? Yes. One of the guards who crucified Jesus, said of Him after Jesus died, “truly this was the Son of God.” He became a believer and we will meet him one day in heaven. Pray for your enemies and trust God for them to repent. It could even happen after you are gone.

Prayer is your means of turning loose of the anger and bitterness that can so easily creep in when someone turns on you and betrays you. If God took care of Jesus and raised Him from the dead and seated Him in heaven with Him, God can turn your situation around and avenge you of your enemies.