Today’s New Covenant nugget is from James 4:2 (AMPC)
You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask.
This passage pretty much describes the condition of our world today… so many are burning with hate, anger, division and covetousness, yet they do not have any contentment, so they fight and war… unfortunately this includes many Christians! A born-again Christian should be known for their love, grace, mercy and compassion, yet millions of believers have been swept into anger, hate, fighting, division and strife… they have lost their peace and joy and are not content, but are as riled up as the world… this is very sad and very dangerous.
As believers we need to be salt and light… we need to be the solution, not part of the problem. Please allow me to present a New Covenant perspective to hate and anger…
There are two kinds of hate and anger, one is holy and the other is destructive and satanic! God hates, and God gets angry… a great example is in Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six THINGS the Lord HATES, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
Holy, anointed anger and hate is always directed toward ‘THINGS’, actions and evil spirits, but never at people… our struggle is not against people, but against principalities, against powers and against rulers of darkness. We need to despise, hate and be angry at the devil and his works of darkness that he operates through deceived people, but we should never be angry or hate the deceived people.
The Lord’s stance towards all people is a loving, gracious, mercy hearted, compassionate one…
Romans 5:8 says that “God demonstrates His own LOVE toward us, in that WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, Christ died for us.” Evil, demonically driven hate and anger is always directed towards people… it is driven by a murderous evil spirit… it despises, hates and resents those who have a different opinion of things and will resort to war, violence, strife and rage when it does not get its way… never yield to this evil spirit! Never justify this evil spirit! Never, never, never!
Always have compassion, love, grace, mercy and empathy towards ALL people… you can hate the evil spirits that have deceived them and that are influencing them, but as a believer, you have to walk in a warm, embracing, loving way toward all people… this includes your ‘opinion’ that you express in person, or on social media.
I am not talking about some religious, politically correct, pious stance… I am talking about releasing the most powerful anointing of all upon all humanity… the anointing of agape’ love! When this anointing of agape’ love is released, people are drawn to the Lord, people are healed and people are changed… that is why Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44)
When we love, when we bless, when we pray for people who hate us and are at war with us, we release a powerful anointing that destroys, defeats and disarms every work of the devil!
Do not get entangled with the world, their politics, their ungodly behaviors, or their hate, strife and anger… be salt and be light and release the Lord’s powerful anointing on all of them… this will birth an awakening as well as the last day outpouring of the Spirit… re-focus on your calling and walk in love in all that you do and say towards all people – Selah!
In His amazing Love, Nick
