This is a message from Dr. Michael Youssef, Bible teacher, on leading the way.

Our prayer is that it will encourage you in your walk of faith.

And if you'd like to learn more about Dr. Youssef and the Ministry of Leading the Way,

the place to start is LTW.org.

Whenever someone wrongs us, the first reaction, human nature the way it is, the first thought that hit us is revenge, right?

How we're personally going to avenge the wrong that is done to us?

How are we going to hit back even harder than we are hit?

How are we going to pay back double or triple or more? And then we conjure and we plan retribution.

How are we going to do this? In fact, we talk about sweet revenge. You hear people

joke, but behind the joking, there is seriousness. I don't get mad. I get even.

Some wise person said, listen carefully, said, your enemies are very valuable asset as long as you refrain from striking back at

them. You say, well, how come? Because they keep you on the alert when you might otherwise become

spiritually lazy. I can testify to the fact that having critics and having false accusers can keep us spiritually strong.

In fact, a pastor friend of mine from Southern California, and he often used to say,

he said, Michael, when they kick you in the rear end, rejoice, because that means you're in front of them.

Why are harassers and false accusers and critics are good for us? Why? Because they keep us on the knees of prayer for them. I want you to turn with me, verse 5 of chapter 1.

And here's the Apostle Paul.

Here's what he's saying.

He's saying that all of this unjust suffering is actually testifying to the fact of your

incredible reward that you're going to receive on that great day. It's a great

indication about that inheritance that you're going to receive on that great day. But I want to

stop here and I want you to listen for a minute because a lot of people get confused about this.

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