Well, there are some very dark stories of people who get taken advantage of in this world

and who want to take revenge or see God's vengeance pour down on those enemies.

That's the case today in this email from a listener named Gemma who lives in Australia.

This is all we have for email,

and it's short, and it's dark. Pastor John, how do I pray for my enemies who have abused me,

taken advantage of me, left me homeless and bankrupt? I want revenge and God's wrath to overcome

them right now.

Help me find my balance in Christ.

I am so glad that Gemma has asked for help to find balance in Christ,

because that's the only place to be at this moment for her, for all of us, in Christ.

There's no Christian solution to this kind of situation unless we are in Christ. That is, unless we are

truly Christians, we have been born again, we are trusting Christ for the

forgiveness of our sins and the hope of eternal life, and the Word of Christ is our law and our joy.

That's where we can find some resolution. So let me give a biblical word to Gemma about your God, your soul,

your reward, your prayer, your witness, and your church. Those six realities. First, a word about your God. Don't take into your hands what belongs in

God's hands. Let God be God. Let God be judge. Romans 1219, beloved, never avenge yourselves. leave it to the wrath of God. For it is written, vengeance is mine.

I will repay, says the Lord. So vengeance and wrath are God's right and honor. Don't take from his hand what belongs to him. This is very freeing.

You can know, you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt, since God is God, no wrong against you

will go unrighted.

Justice will be done now or in hell for all who do not repent.

And if they do repent, justice is done on the cross.

You can't improve on hell or the cross as proper payments for the wrongs done against you.

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