Now, we respond to what Jesus said here in many ways.:

• We might say: I can’t just stand there and let someone attack me and not fight back. My survival instincts  will take over. It is foolish not to try to defend yourself.We could think, I have to protect the things I worked for. No one can just come up and take what belongs to me without a fight.
• Or we could say, and some commentators say that Jesus was speaking to a 1st century Jewish audience. He gave them the wise way to handle the abusive tactics of the Roman soldiers. He was teaching how to live in a godly, dignified way in the face of an oppressive state.
• I might even say, I don’t understand what Jesus is saying. But I know this. No one is going to disrespect me. I can’t be a push over. I can’t be used and abused. I can’t be a doormat, a pushover, a punk, a weakling, a wuss. Lay a hand on me and draw back a nub
• What is your reaction?

The issue Jesus raises here is in keeping  with the general message of the Sermon on the Mount. In the Kingdom of God there is a new paradigm of living. A new way of relating to others and to God. A radical change which is in opposition to the old way of life.

The old way of life which was dominated by the flesh– not the physical body, by flesh I mean the sinful nature, as the old-time black preachers used to say, the flush. In Hebrew, it is the  Yetzer ha-Ra. (evil inclination). The problem is that the flush does not want to relinquish control. The concept of life of the spirit the words, of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is foolishness to him.

But, what if Jesus meant what he said -literally? What if a child of God in the Kingdom of God is expected to turn the other cheek. To allow others to hurt us, cheat us and steal from us?

Let’s return to the Sermon on the mount where  Jesus says, “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:” The Greek word translated resist here can also mean stand against, withstand, oppose. (antihistemi). Example. We are told to Resist the Devil and he will flee. (James 4:7). It goes without saying -but I will say it anyway less I be misunderstood – obviously we are to resist Satan and his imps. But for as humanity  is concerned – and especially our brothers and sisters – there is another way.

Here is an example of the new way of thinking we should have. 1 Corinthians 6:7 Paul is talking about Christians suing Christians who wrong them. Paul says,

Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

Now in this,  Jesus  is our prime example. Here is what Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 2:19-23.

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 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. 21 For even here unto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  1 Peter 2:19-23.

Paul says this in Romans 12:17-19
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

God does not want us to be punching bags: but we must. have faith in God. We must trust God.  There was an incident in Luke chapter 4: around the 18th verse. Jesus had given perhaps his inaugural message in his home church,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord

Jesus sensed their doubt and unbelief and he prophesied against them. The people became so angry they grabbed him, took him out of the city and  started to throw him off a cliff. Now Jesus didn’t say. “I will suffer thee to toss me off yon cliff. Yea though you toss me of yon cliff anon and breaketh my body, yet wilst I rise again. No it says in verse 30 that Jesus passed through their midst and went His way to the next town. It was not his time. God provided a way of escape for Jesus. And He will for us as well

1 Corinthians 10:13
13 There hath no temptation (testing, trial) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

We need to learn to see Him. We need to learn how to be conscious of His presence and His workings at all times. A phrase some Christians use is “Practicing the  Presence of God.” The following are some verses which can help us detect our Lord and increase the strength and accuracy of our “Godar.”

• Genesis 17:1: God is behind me.
  • And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
• Deuteronomy 13:4: God is before me.
  • Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
• Psalm 91:1 : God is above me.
  • He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
• Psalms 40:2 Beneath me as my rock
  • He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
• Genesis 6:9 &  Genesis 5:24 , Revelation 3:4:God is beside me.
  • And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
  • Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy
• Psalm 16:8 : God is on my right.(south)
  • I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
• Job 23:9 : God is on my left (north).
  • On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
• Psalm 34:7 : God is all around me.
  • 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them
• Colossians 1:27 : Christ is in me.
  • To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(adopted from http://www.ministrylive.org/index.php/2008/09/15/practicing-the-presence-of-god/)

If we know that God is:

• Before us
• Behind us
• Beneath us
• Above us
• To our right
• To our left
• With me and,
• Within me

We can understand what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1.6:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

And also Philippians 4:6,7

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:16:

If we are acceptable to God and sanctified – set apart, a thing of value and utility put aside to be used in the manner it is designed for – then let us live out the full meaning of this. The Just shall live by faith. The just shall live as if they believed every promise of God to be true and applicable to them – and especially them because they are accepted and sanctified.

If we truly believed something, we would act upon it. If I believe this chair can hold me, I won’t hesitate to sit down when I need to. I leave my house every day, confident that I can breathe the air. If my friend, Bill, says to me, “Anytime you need some money, let me know.”  I will not hesitate to go to him if I am in need.

If I go to the ATM and check my balance, if it says I have $50.00 and I need $40.00, I will go ahead withdraw my $40.00. Wait thought: what is some checks haven’t cleared yet, or my last gasoline purchase hasn’t gone through. Even though my ATM balance says I have $50.00, I may not have in fact have the $50.00. To be confident of this, I need to examine my receipts,  then reconcile my account. Only then will I know whether to proceed or not with the withdrawal.

Does this describe our faith in God’s promises? We know what the word says, but we think we have some transactions that haven’t cleared yet: sins we haven’t confessed or even sins we are not even aware of.

What if we knew that if we went to the ATM, saw our balance, withdrew the money we need based on that balance and we knew that the bank would not penalize us. In fact, the next day, someone from the bank would call us and alert us to the problem and give us an opportunity to put in more money. Or give us over-draft protection. With confidence, we would withdraw the money we need. Because we appreciate the banks policies – we know how it was at our old bank– we don’t take advantage of the overdraft protection and deliberately take out took much money. We respond in kind to the bank.

Likewise, in our Christian walk. We appreciate, we are thankful that God has cleansed us, justified us, sanctified, and still sanctifies us. We respond in kind. We accept God’s promises –Faith. We Boldly walk in them. In finances, in health, in family, in our spiritual family here at Latter Rain (my home church), what ever area of our life in which we have need. In every part of our life, We walk by faith (not by our sin account because we know that the Holy Spirit works in believers to correct). God has justified us, so we live by faith.

I am not there yet, but God is working in me and in all of us to take us from “faith to faith”. From a little faith to water walking faith: from “now I lay me down type faith” to believing God for your home, your future mate, your children, your business, the economy, your health, your finances, your ministry, your next meal. The Just (us) will live by faith.