Good
evening and welcome to the Panhandle I'm glad you could make it. World wide Christians face persecution
even to the point of death. We here in the U.S. have not experienced wide spread persecution, but I know the day is coming
when we will. And when it does how will we respond?
From the man who cuts you off in traffic to the former friend who is upset with you and you don't know why, to the person who hurt you by a thoughtless or deliberate action. How do you typically react to these kind of situations? Christ Jesus tells us that our behavior must radically differ from that of the world. "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44).
Some would ask, “Why would Christ Jesus give us this command?” He gave it to us because He knew we as Christians would experience persecution. "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12). Christ Jesus also said, “Remember the words I spoke to you: `No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20 a).
Christ Jesus’ teaching on loving our enemies introduces Christians to a new element in ethical behavior. It is also one of the most difficult as well as the most unique passages in the New Testament. Loving one's enemies is not the natural course of action for people. Only the disciple who has been born of the Spirit, who knows the enabling grace of Christ Jesus, can live by this standard. It is the extension of Christ Jesus' love, a love which is an act of the will more than of the heart. Such love is not primarily something you feel but something you do, opening your life in the spirit of Christ Jesus even to your enemy.1
Tonight I would like to give you four practical ways to love your enemies. So come on in and sit a spell and let's do some Biblesurfing.
1st - We must speak well of them: Bless them that curse you.
When we speak to them, we must answer their angry and hurtful words with courteous and friendly words. Behind their backs we must praise that in them which is praiseworthy, and when we have said all the good we can of them, we must not say any thing else. I know it sounds corny, but that say we learned as kid is true, “if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all.
Listen to what 1 Peter 3:8-9 says, “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” If you observe “the law of kindness”, you can say a good words to those who say bad words to you.
2nd - That we must do good to them: Repaying good to your enemy for bad they do, will be a better proof of love than just good words. Be ready to do for them a real kindness without grumbling. It has been said about Archbishop Cranmer, that the way to make him a friend was to do him an ill turn; because he felt compel serve those who had wronged him.
3rd - We must pray for them: Pray for them even if they show you contempt or persecute you. It is not a new thing for Christians to be hated, cursed, and persecuted by wicked people. Christ Jesus Himself was treated the same way. By praying for those who abuse us we have an opportunity to show our obedience to both the teachings and the example of Christ Jesus.2
4th - Forgive the offender: Hurt, when not addressed properly, turns into bitterness and an unforgiving spirit. Through the grace of Christ Jesus, you have the spiritual resources to truly forgive others (Matthew 18:21–35; Ephesians 4:32).
Only the Lord can work with a person’s heart, but He asks you to continue to extend patience and love. And who knows? Maybe someday your “worst enemy” could become your best friend in Christ. Whatever the result, you can be sure of God’s blessing as you seek His way of dealing with those who hurt you.3
Well that's it for tonight, so until next time may our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus bless you and yours mightily.
Biblesurfer
1 Augsburger, M. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Matthew (Vol. 24, p. 18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.
2 Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1635). Peabody: Hendrickson.
3 Stanley, C. F. (2005). The Charles F. Stanley life principles Bible: New King James Version (Mt 5:44). Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles.
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