Scripture of The Day
April 14, 2021
And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. (Acts 4:29)
(By Ed Henderson- 2019)
I heard a television preacher make a questionable statement the other day that is very indicative of where many people are today in their thinking. He said that a prideful leader always punches back at verbal attacks but a true leader would always turn the other cheek and just walk away. Really??? I want us to explore that way of thinking in light of the scriptures. Is punching back, or responding to criticisms and attacks, always a no-no for leaders? Are we always to turn the other cheek and walk away or is there a time when we must stand up and punch back (respond)? Let’s take a look at a couple of examples in the Bible.
Do you remember the story of David and Goliath and how the Israelites would not punch back against this Philistine giant named Goliath? David was the only one that was not afraid to punch back and he was the one that was chosen by God to be King. Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! (1 Samuel 17: 41-46, NLT)
Do you remember the stories where Jesus (the King of Kings) punched back against the religious leaders of the day? You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:26-28, NLT)
Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” (Matthew 21:12-13, NLT)
Personally, I like leaders that will stand up for what is right. I like leaders with a backbone that will punch back against all the lies, gossip, and trash that is thrown at them. Think about this. Any minister of the Gospel that has been in the presence of a demon possessed person will tell you that you can’t be all sweet and nice to a demon. You have to take authority over that demon and tell them to come out of that person. Being quiet, praying, or asking in a nice pleasant voice, will not work with demons because they will immediately recognize that you have no authority. The outcome of that confrontation will not be good. True leadership, with true authority, punches back when necessary!!! They stand up to the enemy!!! It’s punch back time!!!
