Welcome To Hope Is On The Horizon's Educational Resource Center
Where We Are Eloquently Speaking About Mistreatment
How Do You Respond When You Are Mistreated? Part 2
Esther 3:1-15
Haman's Scornful Behavior Towards Mordecai
Esther 3:5-6, And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
What does it mean to be scorned?
When you are scorned by someone, you experience a strong feeling of contempt or disdain.
Disdain is to look down upon someone, to be condescending, to disregard someone as if they were a piece of trash beneath their feet, it's to rample on, to disregard, disrespect and cause derision.
In this text, we learn from Haman the classic signs and characteristics of a tormentor, a bully, an intimidator, a tyrant, an oppressor, a persecutor, one who terrorizes other people because of their own insecurities and inadequacies.
As I reflect on this text, self-examination is present and because I desire to be right with God, I must stand accountable for my behavior, my response and the characteristics that I can relate to. Characteristics that I have displayed in an attempt to defend myself, making no excuses for my behavior but confessing my faults and repenting. I have to laugh here because I know full well that the Holy Spirit is my minister of defense *smile*
But operating out of anger and fear; I began to look and speak negative about the ones oppressing me and for a moment, I saw how I began to look down upon my oppressors looking at the natural....the flesh, not past their human nature to see the spiritual, to see their woundedness, to see them through God's eyes.
Being processed requires us to be honest, to be brave and of good courage as we began to look at and judge ourselves, our faults, our weaknesses, our response to what is happening and the question arises, "Lord is my behavior, actions and attitude pleasing or displeasing you?" Show me how to change...
The word clearly tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
Reading that scripture, understanding and applying it is where the challenge comes in and I am learning that it is natural for a person to defend oneself BUT God wants us to come to Him and cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. God wants us to come to Him and ask for His help and it is David's plea for help in Psalm 35 that God began to teach me how to pray for those that are contending with me; those who scorned me like Haman scorned Mordecai. I pray that this message will bless you, encourage and inspire you to pray for your enemies, to bless those that despitefully use you...and most importantly rejoice and consider it all joy, hallelujah!
Psalm 35:1-9, 1 CONTEND, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help! 3 Draw out also the spear and javelin and close up the way of those who pursue and persecute me. Say to me, I am your deliverance! 4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek and require my life; let them be turned back and confounded who plan my hurt! 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, with the Angel of the Lord driving them on! 6 Let their way be through dark and slippery places, with the Angel of the Lord pursuing and afflicting them. 7 For without cause they hid for me their net; a pit of destruction without cause they dug for my life. 8 Let destruction befall [my foe] unawares; let the net he hid for me catch him; let him fall into that very destruction. 9Then I shall be joyful in the Lord; I shall rejoice in His deliverance.
Next, I learned that my response to all of the fiery darts being aimed at me required a response.....I had a choice to accept and succumb to my flesh and operate out of pride like Haman did.....or I had a choice to humble myself like Mordecai did and watch God deliver me out of the net that was hid for me and tell the devil that his request has been denied!
It's Not What You're Going Through That Matters
It's How You Respond To What You Are Going Through!!!
Contingency Plan for Overcoming the Spirit of Offense - Part 1
Romans 5:19, For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. The Amplified says, “For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him).
The text tells us that by one man’s (Adam’s) disobedience many were made sinners and the opposite of disobedience is obedience. We must be obedient to the word of God and practice, practice, practice.
Maintaining a right relationship with the Lord is the main ingredient that will help us to overcoming the spirit of offense. We must be forgiving and quick to repent because harboring negative emotions (iniquity) in our heart the Lord will not hear us.
Psalm 66:18. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil, Ephesians 4:26-27. We must be:
We must be patient in suffering, tribulation and constant in prayer
1. Romans 5:3, Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.
2. Romans 12:12, Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.
We must be self-controlled and bear the infirmities of the weak. Don’t be a stumbling block
1. Romans 14:21, The right thing is to eat no meat or drink no wine [at all], or [do anything else] if it makes your brother stumble or hurts his conscience or offends or weakens him.
2. 1 Corinthians 8:13, Therefore, if [my eating a] food is a cause of my brother's falling or of hindering [his spiritual advancement], I will not eat [such] flesh forever, lest I cause my brother to be tripped up and fall and to be offended.
3. Romans 6:12, Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its cravings and be subject to its lusts and evil passions.
4. Romans 13:13, Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.
We must show restraint ~ retaliation is forbidden and vengeance belongs to the Lord
1. Romans 12:17, Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone.
2. 1 Peter 3:9, Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessings; know ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing.
We must be tolerant, endure, allow, put up with
1. Romans 9:21-23
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
2. 2 Timothy 2:5, But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
3. Hebrews 6:15, And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
4. Hebrews 12:2, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
5. Romans 4:25, Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
6. James 1:12, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Ecclesiastes 10:4, If the temper of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place [or show a resisting spirit]; for gentleness and calmness prevent or put a stop to great offenses.
*Click on the open door for direct access to part 3*
Graphic Courtesy KennyBrothers.com
Used With Permission
Father Thank You For Removing Scales From Blinded Eyes and For Releasing The Spiritual Illumination Of Your Word Upon Every Person That Reads This Message. We renounce, bind and cast out the spirit of anger, scorn, disdain, offense, resentment, disrespect, bitterness and unforgiveness and we loose the spirit of power, love, a sound mind , a forgiving spirit, the spirit of peace, your peace that passes all understanding in Jesus name, we pray with thanksgiving in our heart, Amen!
God bless you, Stacey Lunsford
Home
Bully
Room
Breaker
Room
Prayer
Room
Eloquently Speaing About Mistreatment From A Biblical Perspective - Breaking The Silence
Bullying From A Biblical Perspective™
