MONDAY, JUNE 6
Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:11-14

Let’s continue to look at the question of “turning-the-other-cheek.” Do we always turn the other cheek and not resist and evil person? The answer is definitely no, and there is another Scripture to put a nail in that coffin. That is why we have to think differently when we approach the end-times described by Revelation. There is much more judgment in Revelation because we see that evil abounds. As we approach that season, the church needs to know how we are supposed to face that evil. The Holy Spirit has the answer! 1 Samuel 3:11-14 says, “Then the Lord said to Samuel: ‘Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.’” Eli was removed because he turned the other cheek and did not resist evil. What do we take from this account? There is a time when we are called to turn the other cheek and resist evil, and that is when the Spirit moves on us to do so. The Holy Spirit will witness to us to turn the other cheek when we need to do it. The Sermon on the Mount was given prior to believers being sent forth to evangelize and they were mostly to be dealing with people who were not saved. And it makes sense that ‘turning the other cheek’ is a wise approach to pre-Christians. It helps to sow the seeds of salvation. But the Holy Spirit will witness to us how to apply the Word. If we do not let the Holy Spirit witness to us how to apply the Word, we become Word-pharisees. Without the Holy Spirit we easily can apply the wrong Word at the wrong time and God’s Kingdom is not glorified. One reason the Holy Spirit was given to us was to witness to us in these very situations so we could gain eternal fruit. John 16:13 says of the Spirit, “…he will guide us in all truth…” That is how we have to walk in the last days. Eli lost his priesthood for failing to resist evil. It is time to know the Word, listen to the Spirit and act accordingly. I trust we will learn to do it in the days ahead.