Psalms 41:7-9
7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Psalms 55:12-14
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
BETRAYAL ILLUSTRATIONS:
The Death of Julius Caesar
No treachery is worse than betrayal by a family member or friend. Julius Caesar knew such treachery. Among the conspirators who assassinated the Roman leader on March 15, 44 was Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesar not only trusted Brutus, he had favored him as a son. According to Roman historians, Caesar first resisted the onslaught of the assassins. But when he saw Brutus among them with his dagger drawn, Caesar ceased to struggle and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, asked the famous question, "You too, Brutus?”
DEFINITION OF BETRAYAL
Synonyms of betrayal - disloyalty, treachery, bad-faith, faithlessness, falseness, duplicity, deception, double-dealing.
1. To lead astray; especially to seduce
2. To deliver to an enemy by treachery
3. To fail or desert especially in time of need
4. To disclose in violation of confidence
• Betrayal is a demon spirit. We know this because it acts the same, uses the same phrases and its patterns are the same anywhere in the world.
• Anyone, who is NOT paying attention spiritually, can fall prey to this demonic spirit.
I. HOW THE SPIRIT OF BETRAYAL IS WELCOMED INSIDE OF A PERSON.
1. Faking Friendship (Opportunist do this all the time)
2. The prerequisite to betrayal is a fault-finding spirit. (Have you ever been around someone who couldn’t be pleased no matter what? Chances are they will betray you if they are not delivered.)
• Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
3. False Accusations & Misrepresentations (misinterpreting a truth on purpose) Shifting blame and trying to make the betrayed look like a betrayer.
• Satan is a Liar - John 8:44 (Father of Lies)
• Satan is a Deceiver - 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (Disguises himself and his followers disguise themselves as “Servants of Righteousness.”)
• Satan is a Destroyer - 1 Peter 5:8 (Goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.)
4. Severance, Abandonment, Desertion
5. Full on Assault (Spreading Lies, Character Assassination etc) for personal gain.
6. Trying to “spiritualize their demonic activity.”
7. Rejoicing and/or gloating in the pain they have caused others.
• The goal of the Spirit of Betrayal is to incapacitate you and cause you to live out your days in misery.
II. WISDOM FOR THE BETRAYED
• Robert Cook, President of King’s College once related a true story from the early years of his ministry. Evidently at that time, he had been receiving some rather pointed criticism. In fact, it had become of such great concern to him that he sought the counsel of a friend, the beloved Bible expositor and pastor, Harry A. Ironside. Pouring out his heart, Bob Cook asked what he should do about the denunciations being made against him. He wanted to know how to handle them. Ironside gave the following wise counsel: "Bob, if the criticism about you is true, mend your ways! If it isn't, forget about it!"
1. Never feel guilty about being betrayed. You didn’t do this to yourself. You are under demonic attack… See it for what it is!
2. Understand that you are not the only one who has ever been betrayed even though it seems that way.
3. Guard your heart. It’s not always wisdom to share your most intimate concerns with all of your friends.
• Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
4. Quit caring so much about what people think of you.
5. Be a good forgiver.
Mark 11:25-26
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
6. Pray for your enemies
Matthew 5:43-44
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
7. Put on the garments of praise and allowing joy to be active in your life
III. HOW TO OVERCOME A BETRAYAL - PSALMS 35:1-28
A. Pray and ask God to help you. - Psalms 35:1-6
B. Pray that they will fall in their own net! - Psalms 35:7-8
1. Some people have trouble with prayers like this. They feel that its not loving. The Word of God is full of prayers similar to this. David prayed this way all the time!
2. You’re not a doormat, You’re a Christian!
C. Rejoice! - Psalms 35:9-10
D. Be Thankful! - Psalms 35:18
E. Speak and Shout of God’s “Righteous Cause!” - Psalms 35:27-28
F. Learn from Betrayal
G. Allow the Love of God to wash the pain away - Ephesians 1:6 says you are "accepted in the beloved."
Psalms 119:68-71
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
CLOSING:
I have a couple of friends that enjoy running marathons. When talking with them they both shared with me that there is almost always a point in the race where they feel that they can no longer go on. They feel exhausted, their muscles burn and feel fatigued, they reached a point where they wonder if they can put one foot in front of the other. They refer to this as “Hitting the Wall.” If they press on they can break through that wall and finish the race.
I think this is a good illustration for how we feel when we have been betrayed! Betrayal is exhausting. We reach the point where we are burnt out from the drama and the pain. We wonder if we can go on as the accusations continue to fly and the untruths are believed by so many. Sometimes we even wonder where God is it. Emotional pain can cloud your spiritual vision.
Here is a great passage to remember when you “Hit the Wall.”
Romans 8:31-39 MSG
31 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?
32 If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?
33 And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen?
34 Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.
35 Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
36 They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
37 None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.
38 I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow,
39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
