Love Your Enemies by Bill Dupley

Jesus said many difficult words. He told us to do several things that are the direct opposite of what we want to do, for example:

“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, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven;  Matt 5:43-45

Jesus told us that if we do this, we shall be perfect.

Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

In other words, if we do this, we will be like our Father in Heaven. In contrast, if we don’t do this, we will not be like our Father in Heaven, but we will be like another Father who does not live in Heaven. We will be like the accuser, the source of hate and strife in this world.

Pray for those in authority 

The Apostle Paul also tells another difficult commandment. 

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior 1 Tim 1:1-3

Again, this is not the first thing we want to do for those in authority over us. In most cases, the first thing we want to do is criticize, complain or curse those in authority. Some might say, “Bill, I don’t curse anyone”. If we speak evil about someone, we curse them, we are calling down evil on them. The opposite of cursing is a blessing.

Blessing means to grant something to someone—blessing releases positivity and abundance. Cursing releases misfortune and hardship. We are warned about being careful about what we say because what we sow, we will reap. If you sow blessing, you reap blessing. If you sow cursing, you will reap negative results.

“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:10)

Word curses are destructive words spoken over a person. When we speak destructive words over leaders, we curse them. Many people suffer from the destructive words their parents said to them. These were all word curses. We are directly told not to do this.

The Apostle Paul further exhorts how to deal with enemies.

On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Rom 12:20

Now, I am not telling you to bless your enemy so that burning coals will be on his head. That is not the right motivation for doing good. I am just telling you that this is what happens when you choose to bless your enemy.

How to pray for leaders

I have been praying for the leaders of both Canada and the USA for many years, and I asked the Lord for advice on how to bless these leaders, how to pray for them and why I should pray for my enemies.

Here are some of the things I felt he said to me. You be the judge if you think I am hearing from the Lord.

Son

Praying for your enemies is a strategy that calls the forces of Heaven to intercede on your behalf because you call on the Lord to be your protection. When you choose to bless, not to curse you align yourself with words I commanded you to do. Son, I go to the defense of those who do the things I have told you to do. 

Pray for those in authority over you, Pray for those who spitefully use you, Pray for your enemies, these are all things I have told you to do. As you do, the host of Heaven is assigned to your cause.

I have been choosing to bless President Trump, Prime Minister Trudeau, Premier Ford and my Mayor Andrea Horwath for several years, but I recently asked the Lord for advice on how to specifically bless them during this increased time of tension between Canada and the USA. Here are some of the things I felt the Lord say to me about this topic

1. Bless leaders to be wise, fair and just, not vindictive
2. Bless leaders to be servants of all, not self-serving
3. Bless them to have integrity and wisdom
4. Bless them to be consistent and to consider the long-term impact of decisions made today.
5. Bless them to be a catalyst for peace, not division, for blessed are the peacemakers.

It is not easy to pray this way.

It is not easy to do this, especially if you don’t agree with a political party or a leader's political affiliation or their behavior. However, we as Christians are not to let political preference get in the way of praying for whoever the people of our country have elected. There is a great danger to giving into political seduction and the ideology of a party instead of doing what Jesus told us to do.

Although I have been speaking about political enemies in this blog, these same words apply to all enemies, which could be divorced husbands and wives, rebellious children or unjust employers. 

Our Heavenly Father wants us to be perfect as he is perfect. When we forgive those who hurt us, bless those who spitefully use us and say all manner of evil about us, and choose to bless instead of curse, we become like Him.

I ask my Heavenly Father for His grace to do this. I encourage you all to do the same thing. When we do, we will be the Light of the world.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matt 5:9

Journaling question

Lord, what would You speak to me concerning loving my enemies and praying for my government?

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