I want to
caution you against focusing on the news concerning George Zimmerman and
Trevon Martin.
As with other high profile criminal cases in our country, it will be difficult to avoid contact with this story, but (in this case) it is important that you try.
This is a tragedy.
The Martin family has lost a son and their lives will never be the same. Though alive for the moment, the possibility of George Zimmerman ever having a normal life is gone. But, why all of the focus on this case?
2010 is the last full year the FBI has released data on murder. In 2010 there were 12,996 murders in theUSA US
[By the way, I realize that Zimmerman has only been charged with 2nd murder. I’m not saying he’s guilty by quoting those statistics.]
With OUR focus on the Holy Spirit, why has the World focused on this 1 alleged murder and not the other 3,500? We can’t possibly believe that those 3,500 murders didn’t result in the tragic death of someone’s son or daughter... in the death of someone’s husband or wife... in the death of someone’s father or mother.
So, what is Satan attempting to do through this situation?
Satan, through the national media, is attempting to spread an evil spirit of anger and hate.
[Jas 1:19] My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
We’ve all been angry at one point or another and done something stupid – that’s what Satan is hoping for. The devil wants you to walk around in anger and hate over Martin/Zimmerman and sin towards someone in a totally unrelated situation.
Martin/Zimmerman is an opportunity for Satan to manifest anger and hate in the lives of millions.
It is a stroke of satanic genius. Martin/Zimmerman is a brilliant, evil, spiritual PR campaign in favor of anger and hate.
What do you do if you find yourself struggling with a spirit of anger or of hate? The answer is simple – resist the devil.
You need to say out loud, “That spirit of anger I resist you and you must flee because I have peace in the name of Jesus.”
The opposite of anger is peace, and you have peace. Where does peace come from? Spirit of Jesus living in us.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
If someone is in the world apart from Christ they don’t have any real peace. Indifference is the best they can do.
So, if peace is the opposite of anger, what is the opposite of hate? Love.
Part of the deception in all of this is the idea that Satan and his World system cares about Martin family – they don’t care.
Answer this question. Does Satan love or hate the Martin family? Hate.
Answer this question. Does Satan love or hate the Zimmerman family? Hate.
The news media, these race based organizations, and all the other hangers on that would like to take advantage of this tragedy to make a dollar are all a part of Satan’s world system.
All of those worldly parties don’t love the Marin and Zimmerman families because their motivation (the god of this world) doesn’t love them. The world can’t love Martin and Zimmerman because their god Satan hates them.
In the end a verdict will come out of the trial.
Will that pacify the anger and hate? No.
Will a guilty verdict pacify the evil spirits of anger and hate? No.
Will a verdict of not guilty pacify the evil spirits of anger and hate? No.
No outcome will pacify the devil, because he hates ALL OF US.
How do we avoid anger and hate in this situation? We can avoid focusing on Martin/Zimmerman as much as is possible.
1Th 5:22 Avoid every kind of evil. This situation is evil. I have started to turn the channel the moment the news says either Martin or Zimmerman.
I will not speculate as to the facts of the case and I STRONGLY suggest that you avoid doing so too.
If asked for an opinion your answer should be “I’ll wait for the trial.” If asked about it during the trial your answer should be “I’ll wait for the verdict.” If asked about the case after the trial your answer should be “The jury found him to be…” If people press you for more than that, just tell them that you don’t want to talk about it. And, don’t get sucked into a conversation in the break room at work by some sort of controversial statement that someone throws out there.
This is what you should think about…
Php 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Does Martin/Zimmerman fit all of these criteria for what you should think about? Is it true? There are things that have been made public, but that doesn’t mean that any of them are true.
Is Martin/Zimmerman noble? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman right? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman pure? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman lovely? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman admirable? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman excellent or praiseworthy? No.
THEN DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
Now, you may say, “I can’t help but think about it!” Yes you can help it.
2Co 10:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
You can choose to focus on “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable anything that is excellent or praiseworthy…” I know that in the coming months it will be very important to avoid anger and hate spurred on by the Martin/Zimmerman situation and trial, but if we can learn the lesson of controlling what we think in this situation we will be able to apply it to other areas of our lives and experience victory in those areas too.
As with other high profile criminal cases in our country, it will be difficult to avoid contact with this story, but (in this case) it is important that you try.
This is a tragedy.
The Martin family has lost a son and their lives will never be the same. Though alive for the moment, the possibility of George Zimmerman ever having a normal life is gone. But, why all of the focus on this case?
2010 is the last full year the FBI has released data on murder. In 2010 there were 12,996 murders in the
[By the way, I realize that Zimmerman has only been charged with 2nd murder. I’m not saying he’s guilty by quoting those statistics.]
With OUR focus on the Holy Spirit, why has the World focused on this 1 alleged murder and not the other 3,500? We can’t possibly believe that those 3,500 murders didn’t result in the tragic death of someone’s son or daughter... in the death of someone’s husband or wife... in the death of someone’s father or mother.
So, what is Satan attempting to do through this situation?
Satan, through the national media, is attempting to spread an evil spirit of anger and hate.
[Jas 1:19] My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
We’ve all been angry at one point or another and done something stupid – that’s what Satan is hoping for. The devil wants you to walk around in anger and hate over Martin/Zimmerman and sin towards someone in a totally unrelated situation.
Martin/Zimmerman is an opportunity for Satan to manifest anger and hate in the lives of millions.
It is a stroke of satanic genius. Martin/Zimmerman is a brilliant, evil, spiritual PR campaign in favor of anger and hate.
What do you do if you find yourself struggling with a spirit of anger or of hate? The answer is simple – resist the devil.
You need to say out loud, “That spirit of anger I resist you and you must flee because I have peace in the name of Jesus.”
The opposite of anger is peace, and you have peace. Where does peace come from? Spirit of Jesus living in us.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
If someone is in the world apart from Christ they don’t have any real peace. Indifference is the best they can do.
So, if peace is the opposite of anger, what is the opposite of hate? Love.
Part of the deception in all of this is the idea that Satan and his World system cares about Martin family – they don’t care.
Answer this question. Does Satan love or hate the Martin family? Hate.
Answer this question. Does Satan love or hate the Zimmerman family? Hate.
The news media, these race based organizations, and all the other hangers on that would like to take advantage of this tragedy to make a dollar are all a part of Satan’s world system.
All of those worldly parties don’t love the Marin and Zimmerman families because their motivation (the god of this world) doesn’t love them. The world can’t love Martin and Zimmerman because their god Satan hates them.
In the end a verdict will come out of the trial.
Will that pacify the anger and hate? No.
Will a guilty verdict pacify the evil spirits of anger and hate? No.
Will a verdict of not guilty pacify the evil spirits of anger and hate? No.
No outcome will pacify the devil, because he hates ALL OF US.
How do we avoid anger and hate in this situation? We can avoid focusing on Martin/Zimmerman as much as is possible.
1Th 5:22 Avoid every kind of evil. This situation is evil. I have started to turn the channel the moment the news says either Martin or Zimmerman.
I will not speculate as to the facts of the case and I STRONGLY suggest that you avoid doing so too.
If asked for an opinion your answer should be “I’ll wait for the trial.” If asked about it during the trial your answer should be “I’ll wait for the verdict.” If asked about the case after the trial your answer should be “The jury found him to be…” If people press you for more than that, just tell them that you don’t want to talk about it. And, don’t get sucked into a conversation in the break room at work by some sort of controversial statement that someone throws out there.
This is what you should think about…
Php 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Does Martin/Zimmerman fit all of these criteria for what you should think about? Is it true? There are things that have been made public, but that doesn’t mean that any of them are true.
Is Martin/Zimmerman noble? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman right? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman pure? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman lovely? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman admirable? No.
Is Martin/Zimmerman excellent or praiseworthy? No.
THEN DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
Now, you may say, “I can’t help but think about it!” Yes you can help it.
2Co 10:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
You can choose to focus on “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable anything that is excellent or praiseworthy…” I know that in the coming months it will be very important to avoid anger and hate spurred on by the Martin/Zimmerman situation and trial, but if we can learn the lesson of controlling what we think in this situation we will be able to apply it to other areas of our lives and experience victory in those areas too.
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