Pray for your Enemies
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When we study the teachings of our Lord Jesus closely, we will discover that, in the main, He does not just present us with a moral code to follow, as is the Law of Moses. Instead, He addresses heart attitudes we must adopt, which will then show in our actions. The whole of the Sermon on the Mount is of that nature. Therefore, we should not, for instance, look at His command to pray for our enemies, and conclude that “This is a hard saying; who can understand (or hear) it?” He is addressing heart issues, and not mere moral ones. And when the heart is properly cured, through repentance and faith, and sanctification of the Holy Spirit, the morals will take care of themselves. So the Lord invites the believer to take His yoke upon himself and learn of Him. His easy yoke and light burden are the demands He makes of us, as His disciples. They are easy and light, because He Himself helps us to bear them. What He requires is a willingness to do what pleases Him. Once we accept in principle, that Christ’s yoke is easy and His burden light, part of the problem is solved. We can then proceed to learn to carry His yoke, by putting His words into practice, as His Spirit teaches us of Him.<br>
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Let me illustrate. Once when I was a young boy, an older boy asked me to accompany him to another part of the town where we lived. After walking for a considerable distance, he asked me if I knew where we were going. When I answered in the negative, he mentioned another part of the town which was a significant distance beyond where we had got to. Immediately, I started complaining because I was getting tired. Then he told me we were standing right in front of the house we were going to. You can imagine my embarrassment! Thereupon, he told me an Akan proverb which has stuck to me ever since. It goes like this: “If the elders ask you to fell a huge tree you do not stand around complaining about the size of the tree. Just pick up your axe and start work felling the tree. In all likelihood it is hollow.” Let’s pick up our axes of faith, and begin obeying the words of our Lord Jesus to pray for our enemies, and we will find out that it is far easier than we imagine.
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About the Book
The Christian life is a very practical one. Yet, it is not following a set of rules. Rather, it is lived from an inner principle that is steeped in knowledge of the word of God, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit comes to indwell the believer at the new birth, every individual believer has what it takes to live the Christian life effectively. This includes obeying the Lord’s command to pray for our enemies.
In “Pray for Your enemies”, the author tackles a rather difficult subject, in a manner that is biblically sound, and intensely practical. He uses both Bible and real-life examples to present his thoughts. Thus, you have in your hand a book that offers you clear teaching, that is both thought-provoking, and easy to read.
If you have ever sought to understand the Lord’s words on the matter of praying for your enemies, this is a must read for you. It will help you to obey the Lord’s instruction on the matter, and equip you to help others to do same. You will mature spiritually in the process.
About the Author
Rev. Michael Ohene-Okantah is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. He is the Senior Pastor of the Everlasting Covenant Gospel Church at Anyaa-Accra, Ghana. Michael holds a Master of Music degree (Music Education) from the Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, and a Master of Theology degree from the International Theological Seminary, Brandenton, Florida. Rev. Ohene-Okantah is a teacher of the word of God, with a burden for its application to develop godly Christian character. He lives with his wife, Paulina at Sakaman-Accra. They have three adult children.