78. POWER, UNDER CONTROL

(The Faith Forum Series – Batch 3)

Lately, I have found myself in a situation where I am faced with difficult co-workers (some of whom I have been contracted to supervise) or people in general. They attack and attack and attack without repentance and take pleasure in causing me discomfort and as much pain as possible.

Sometimes I marvel, when I think of what could happen if I was to really fight back in the natural, given my knowledge and ability. They don’t know the full extent of the power that I have but from my experience, I do. Had they known, they would have been wise and left me alone.

Sometimes, I am tempted to give my enemies at my workplace a taste of my power, just so that they would remember not to ever mess with me again. There are so many laws that they have breached and of which I am versed on, that I could definitely take my employer to Court on the abuse I endured at the hands of wicked people and win if I chose to. I could easily get those who have been harassing me relentlessly, in serious trouble for their actions, to the point where they could even be suspended or fired.

But I exercise restraint.

I haven’t perfected this because at times I fly off the handle and complain and quarrel about the injustices I am enduring, to others. Recently though, my mind has been running on Jesus and I have gained a fresh appreciation for how beautifully he submitted to the will of God the Father and kept his power under control.

JESUS is the best demonstration of power under control. When he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, he exercised restraint and self-control, choosing to obey God the Father and the purpose for which he had been sent and therefore, not unleashing his power in his capacity as God the Son, which he could have done. There was no need to prove anything to the devil and so he did not allow ego to derail him. Instead, he kept his cool and responded with the Word.

When those who did not believe that he was who he said he was slapped him and spit on him, he could have destroyed them all on the spot. For, as God the Son, he certainly had the power to do this. After all, these people were part of the creation that HE created. Yet, he humbled himself, held his peace and chose to restrain the power that he had, which, if he had unleashed it, his accusers would have been completely annihilated.

He had great power, he could have done a whole lot to reconfigure the situation. He could have destroyed his enemies by just speaking the Word for this to be so or willing it into existence due to his divine authority. YET, he submitted to the will of God the Father, remained focused on the purpose for which he came to earth, which was to die for ungodly men so that whoever believed in Him and his resurrection, could be reconciled with God the Father and go to heaven.

He therefore chose to keep his power, his ability and his might, under control.

Philippians 2:3-7 states:

• “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of NO REPUTATION, and took upon him the form of a SERVANT, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he HUMBLED himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

A few other scriptures on submission and the suffering which sometimes comes with it in the workplace (which I admit I have failed miserably at on different occasions) are as follows:-

• “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. SUBMIT yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors…For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness but as the servants of God.

• Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants be SUBJECT to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” (1 Peter 2:11-23)

• “And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:13-18)

• “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (1 Peter 4:12-16).

#submission #abeautifulword #goals

(Written on 9th September, 2017)