To revile is to criticize in an abusive or hostile way, or to spread negative information about a person.
In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus spoke:
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Any time that the current path is challenged by revelation from Above, there will be resistance, both inwardly and outwardly. Your ego will try to dissuade you from taking the road less traveled for on that road the ego loses its control over you. Other people will revile you in an attempt to justify their own path. As for me, I only want to take FATHER’S path known as THE WAY. The leaders persecuted Jesus and we should expect the same.
When we left the church in 1996 we suffered persecution from those who remained. Their love for us was conditional on us following the path they were on. As long as we submitted to the pastor we were loved, but the moment we departed from his direction we were shunned. Where was the Agape Love upon our departure? This scenario happens again and again where there is no Love.
Why do men revile and persecute others? It is because their ego is leading them down the path they are on for if they were on HIS path motivated by Love, they would pray blessings over those who are no longer enjoined with them knowing that FATHER had them on a parallel path ultimately arriving at the same destination. When men revile you they are unsure of their own path and need others to reinforce their decision to take the path they are on. Their ego demands it. They have a vested interest in their doctrine and want to defend the doctrine against any challenge to it.
Why are we blessed when we are persecuted for HIS Sake? We must go beyond the “easy” and not be moved when the “difficult” arrives on the scene. When we stand for what FATHER is showing us and directing us to do, we will be challenged and tested by men and women who are convinced that their way is the only way. Who do we submit to, FATHER or man? Do we submit to the status quo, tradition, convincing doctrines, declarations, prophecies, visions, encounters, or FATHER’S Word specifically for us?
Men would place FATHER in a box that they construct in their own understanding. Anyone who challenges the limits of that box will be persecuted in some manner. Your own ego will attempt to make you feel guilty for pursuing a path outside the accepted box. As you pursue FATHER with a pure heart, be at peace with where HE takes you. Job realized that men and their views are no match for FATHER’S Plan, Will, and purpose. We must trust FATHER when HE moves us in a different direction other than the path we have followed in the past. We may have been on the right path and the other people were diverted to an alternate path as they focused on worldly rewards. At any rate, trust FATHER at all intersections. HE will guide you in the path to take.
“For My sake” means for Love’s sake. Jesus was and is the manifestation of Love. I have no problem when men challenge FATHER’S direction for I know FATHER will guide me accordingly and HE is more interested in my obedience to HIS direction versus submitting to man’s influence. Time and time again, HIS direction has proven to be fruitful in my life, we have a history together that comforts me when men revile and persecute me.
There appears to be challenging times ahead and men will become angry with the current system as it fails them. Their anger will be directed against anyone who disagrees with their doctrine which brought them to the place of destruction. Their illusions of wealth and power will fall away and the Truth will stare them in the face. Some will transcend the suffering and pursue the pathway to Spiritual cognition is full waking consciousness. Great is their reward in Heaven!