Luke 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
This passage of scripture reveals to us one of the more common manifestations of the spirit of satan, which is revealed in feelings and actions of revenge or retaliation. In this instance, Christ had asked the Samaritans to pass through their country, but they had bluntly refused to grant Him safe passage, and because of this insult shown to The Creator, James and John became infuriated, and voiced their inner desire to have that city wiped of the map. But Christ had to reprove them for even suggesting that the people be killed for this offence, for feelings and thoughts of revenge for wrongs done to us or others, do not emanate from Christ, but from satan alone.
The temptation often occurs to respond in like currency, whenever we are treated unfairly, or whenever our feelings are wounded by someone, but if this is the case, then we need to ask Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, for those attitudes are completely foreign to the kingdom of God. Furthermore, even the thought of rejoicing when our enemies are humiliated or punished for the wrongs they have done, is a spirit that is not akin to Christ's, and we are counseled in the Bible not to indulge it in anyway. God takes no pleasure in the death, or the misfortunes of the wicked, and neither should we, by looking forward eagerly to their day of retribution, for this also is a manifestation of a satanic spirit. Let's read:
Proverbs 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Now, it's important for us to remember that experiencing these ungodly feelings and emotions do not necessarily make us into non-Christians, but what God is saying to us is that we should not indulge or encourage them, for they are destructive in nature, both to ourselves and to all others. And the way we go about discouraging these feelings, desires, and evil thoughts, is just as important, for this can never be accomplished merely by might or will power. For instance, if someone were to slap us in the face while we were having a dispute over some matter, the natural instinct would be to respond with our fists, for we do not have it naturally within us to turn the other cheek. Furthermore, it's only two cheeks that we have, so the general tendency would be to be very short tempered in a situation such as this.
This is when we need Christ most in our hearts, for it is only by the subduing influence of His spirit that we can even begin to think and act as He would in similar situations. And whilst we are not to encourage anyone to slap us on the other cheek, yet it is of critical importance that we surrender ourselves, and all our feelings to God each day, before we think of taking up our daily routine, where we are almost certain to encounter the adversary of souls, and the many snares he has laid for the feet of the unwary.
Let us therefore seek earnestly to have Christ seated on the throne of our hearts, so that in every volatile situation we may be enabled by His Spirit to deal only in the currency of heaven. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to do just that, and let us always remember that we cannot do these things on our own, but it is only through the power and grace of God accorded us each and every day. Let's read:
James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!