Consider Yourself Dead to Insults

[loolalooh]

Bear with me as I try to explain this situation ...

I have a friend who is consistently hurting me with his neglectful actions. He isn't doing anything particularly mean (i.e., lying, cursing me, etc.). He is just being neglectful of something we've discussed time and time again. Each time he does it, he apologizes, says he'll work on it, and then it happens again. Each time it is worse too. It's to the point where I'm very frustrated and irritated by it. Okay, actually I'm very upset by it. I do value the friendship in spite of that one thing, but I can't imagine us continuing on this path with this one thing.

I was watching a sermon today, and the pastor mentioned ROMANS 6:11 and went on to say:

In a situation where I'm provoked, I have to come to this verse and say "Lord, you've asked me to consider myself dead here." How would a dead man react to this situation? Say someone insulted you. ... Well consider yourself dead. ... Imagine a life where you are completely unaffected because you have chosen the way of the cross. ...

I've read Romans before, but never quite looked at 6:11 that way. Nevertheless, when he was speaking, I felt my Spirit say "Listen closely to what he is saying."

Ladies, have you had any experiences with a friend like this? How did you deal with it? Do you understand what it means to be "dead" to insults, even from friends? Please explain. Thank you.

 

[auparavant]

Yes, but I don't think He means to just take it. Sometimes, you have to give people ultimatums. It could be he is careless or truly doesn't value the friendship. Either way, you are constantly being hurt. Speak with him about it again and show him the seriousness of the situation. We are to forgive and ignore quirks about people, being reminded of our own. But G-d does not expect us to be a walking mat for others. I hope he comes around and values YOU for what you are. If not, you should move on. Remaining in a situation where your human dignity (no matter how small an issue) is constantly being ignored in selfishness is harmful. There's a big difference between forgiving and overlooking things to allowing another to walk on you.

 

[Leigh]

I have experience with family like this. God says to protect your hearts and minds. Now if you are constantly being treated a certain way that is not in line with the way God wants us to be treated, you have to exercise wisdom in the situation.

I say walk away and tell the person why. Be sure to say it in a spirit of love. If the get themselves together good, if not at least you aren't subjecting the temple of God (yourself) to harm.

 

[Shimmie]

Bear with me as I try to explain this situation ...

I have a friend who is consistently hurting me with his neglectful actions. He isn't doing anything particularly mean (i.e., lying, cursing me, etc.). He is just being neglectful of something we've discussed time and time again. Each time he does it, he apologizes, says he'll work on it, and then it happens again. Each time it is worse too. It's to the point where I'm very frustrated and irritated by it. Okay, actually I'm very upset by it. I do value the friendship in spite of that one thing, but I can't imagine us continuing on this path with this one thing.

I was watching a sermon today, and the pastor mentioned ROMANS 6:11 and went on to say:


I've read Romans before, but never quite looked at 6:11 that way. Nevertheless, when he was speaking, I felt my Spirit say "Listen closely to what he is saying."

Ladies, have you had any experiences with a friend like this? How did you deal with it? Do you understand what it means to be "dead" to insults, even from friends? Please explain. Thank you.

When I received Jesus as My Lord and Saviour... I became a 'target' for insults as well as injury to my feelings. My family did not understand the 'change' in my life. My sister, whom I had been the closet to while growing up, had become my biggest enemy. She created lies and would speak horrible things about me to our family and extended family.

She also tried to alienate my children from me, by telling them that I was wrong to keep them in Church and read their Bibles...

It was a mess. A very painful mess.

However, God used this experience to strengthen me in Him. During this entire time I would go to God in prayer and to the Word and I became so filled with God, wanting to live right, and I was becoming more and more knowledgable about the Word of God.......AND God was literally speaking to me from His Word regarding every situation that I encountered in life.

One day... it just didn't matter! No! What she was saying and doing against me just did not matter. I was 'dead' to it. It didn't matter.

God has 'deadened' me to the insults of this world, even more. What happens is that Truth prevails in our hearts. The Truth who is the Living Breathing Undefeatable God whom we have fallen in love with. And what others have to say against us become water on a duck's back. It just rolls back to where it came from. We become both water and fire proof. The Shield of Faith which quenches all of the firey darts of the enemy.

The closer we are to Jesus, the deader we become to things external. Remember Daniel in the Lion's Den? Daniel didn't sweat it. The Bible says in Job, that iniquity will stop her mouth. Well that's exactly what happen in the den of lions, God stopped their mouths. Daniel was falsely imprisoned, the words of death and destruction ordered against him did not prevail. The lions left Daniel alone. Daniel was dead to fear and alive to God with all of his heart.

Soooooooo....... 'Yes'. I've had this experience. In my heart God prevailed.