Many Christians today, have either never known who we were made to be in Jesus Christ or have forgotten who we are in Him. When horrible things happen in our lives, many immediately believe that our Heavenly Father is responsible for them. We ask, "Why do these things happen, if I'm supposed to be Blessed, righteous and a child of God?" We do this, because we don't truly know Who our Father is and what our true identity is.
Jesus answered this question in John 15:18-19,20 (Amplified) saying, "If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of this world (no longer one with it), but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates you (detests you)."
The world is under the influence of a godless rules who hates God, along with everyone and everything connected to God. Jesus went on in Verse 20, saying, "Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his Master (is not superior to him); If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you, if they kept My Word and obeyed My teaching, they will also keep and obey yours."
Jesus said that the world is under the enemy's deception and isn't even aware of it. Before being born-again, we probably felt the same way about Christians people, who were vocal and bold in their faith. We paid no attention to those Christians who attended church on Sundays, but lived like we did the rest of the week. We didn't want to be around those people who truly lived for God, though. We might not have recognized why they were so different, but the enemy recognized they were different than the world.
After being born-again, we failed to recognize that we weren't of this world and when persecution came, we blamed it on our Father, saying, "He is trying to teach me something." We didn't realize that it came about from the world, because we were different. This strategy of the enemy, has caused more trouble in the world, than probably anything else in history. We exclude anyone who is different from us in any way. If you're of a different color than us, then we segregate you. If you're of a certain sex or age, then you're segregated. If you're poor, then you're segregated. This is the way of the world, which is under satan's influence. Satan hates God and treats His Church the same way.
We've looked at these things as being "Identity Politics," when it's a Spiritual thing. Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified) says, "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents), but against the despotism, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural sphere." We have an enemy who hates all mankind (both the saved and the unsaved), because he lost his seating when God cast him down.
The fallen angels who were cast out with him, hate satan. They listened to his boasting and suffered the same consequence that he had. Satan has used the same strategy against the saved and unsaved persons, since mankind has existed in his fallen state. Satan wants us to hate one other, instead of using the authority we have in Jesus' Name against him. God's people have been hated with demonic hatred throughout history, even to the point of trying to exterminate them, because they belong to God. Everyone and everything God chooses, becomes the direct opponent to a world ruled by satan and his forces of darkness.
We're from a different world and are persecuted, because satan hates all of mankind. God raised mankind to a higher place with Him and exalted mankind above all the Heavenly beings, including satan and the position he held with God, before the fall of Adam. If we would only realize the place God has exalted mankind to, then we would see why so much persecution has been in afflicted on us and by whom it came from. Satan doesn't only hate God's Church, but he hates all of mankind. It's proportionally directed more at the Church, but people throughout the world are suffering with disease, poverty, war, death, hatred towards one another, famine and misery. These things are inflicted by a demented, demonic ruler, who hates mankind.
Through the new birth, the Church has been created again and are in direct contact with and are in the Presence of God. This means satan hates us more than any other beings on the planet. In the time of Jesus, satan only had One Man Who was filled with God's Own Spirit. Jesus was satan's main target. We sometimes fail to see the things Jesus endured, because He never allowed them to stop Him. Jesus always continued on His calling, even though it wasn't easy. Jesus made it look easy, because He knew the source and kept His eyes focused on dealing with it in the Spirit realm, where He always had control.
We must not allow our eyes to be focused on the people and the problems, but look to the Spirit, where we always triumph. We must look to the Spirit, where we have the victory, instead of complaining about our circumstances, which were caused by the enemy. If the bull would stop focusing on the red cape, and focus on the matador, then how long do you suppose the fight would last? If the Church focused on the enemy and used the Name of Jesus Christ against him, instead of focusing on the problems the enemy created, then we would see victory.
Ephesians 6:10 (Amplified) says, "In conclusion, be strong in the Lord, be empowered through your union with Him, draw your strength from Him, that strength which His boundless Might provides."
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