A dear man of God in our nation was betrayed by another minister in the same city. It was very painful. Afterwards, the betrayer came with an invitation for him to speak at his meeting. According to the man of God, “I felt like bringing out a gun and shooting him.” But the Holy Spirit told him, “take the invite and go minister for him.”
Friend, one of the things you must avoid in your season of betrayal is to begin to fight your betrayer. The betrayer is not as important as the betrayal. The devil could have used someone else. I learnt early in life that while some people are outright agents of the devil, most people are just opportunities of the devil. The devil only borrowed them to use (Luke 22:3, Ephesians 4:27).
Sincerely, most betrayers are good (or well-intentioned) people. It is only that they are victims of ignorance and deception. This was why Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Even the betrayer does not know that he does not know what he’s doing (1 Corinthians 2:8). It’s still ignorance.
Never forget this: the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). The moment you start focusing on the betrayer, you are beginning to lose the battle; and that is what the devil wants. He wants you to focus on the betrayer and not the spirit behind the betrayal. He wants you to start joining issues with people. He wants you to shift the battle from the spiritual to the physical where he knows you would fail cheaply.
Jesus encouraged us to bless those who curse us (Luke 6:28). One of the signs that you have been healed of the hurts of betrayal is that you no longer see the betrayer as an enemy. You begin to pray for the betrayer and wish him or her well. You begin to pray for their salvation or that they would know God better. You begin to sincerely and intentionally bless them (Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:18-21, 2 Timothy 4:16).
Perhaps one of the goals of betrayals is to make you direct your energy on the person of the betrayer or the event of betrayal. If you continue to focus on the betrayal or the betrayer, you are already stuck in destiny. Don’t let your thoughts, conversations, actions, or inactions be directed to or influenced by the betrayer. Don’t even try to prove to him that you can do without him. Rather, focus on God, face your life and purpose (Acts 20:24). You will succeed!
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria