ST. LUKE 6 : 23
Luke 6:22-23
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from
their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of
man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven:
for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
(KJV)
ST. LUKE 6 : 26 - 29
Luke 6:26-29
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the
false prophets.
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate
you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that
taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
(KJV)
HOW TO LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS NECESSARY FOR ME TO TELL ANY OF
YOU, THAT IN THIS LIFE YOU WILL HAVE ENEMIES. IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW
IT, YOU MAY AS WELL WAKE UP TO THE REALIZATION, THAT IN THIS LIFE,
YOU WILL HAVE ENEMIES. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO MAKE ENEMIES,
BECAUSE ENEMIES COME READY MADE. JESUS SAYS IN VERSE 23,
"REJOICE FOR YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IN HEAVEN." BUT BEFORE YOU
CAN ENJOY THIS REWARD, AND HE DOESN'T JUST SAY REWARD, BUT HE
SAYS GREAT REWARD, BEFORE YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THIS GREAT
REWARD, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU MUST DO. LOOK AT
WHAT JESUS SAYS WE MUST DO IN VERSE 27, HE SAYS, " LOVE YOUR
ENEMIES ". WHAT IS AN ENEMY? AN ENEMY IS ONE THAT IS ON THE
OPPOSITE SIDE FROM YOU. AN ENEMY IS ONE WHO HAS DECLARED WAR
AGAINST YOU. AN ENEMY IS ONE WHO IS HOSTILE TOWARDS YOU. AN
ENEMY IS ONE WHO IS NOT PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN YOUR WELL
BEING. AN ENEMY IS ONE THAT HATES YOUR GUTS. AN ENEMY IS ONE
THAT CANNOT STAND THE GROUND YOU WALK ON. AN ENEMY IS ONE
WHO WOULD RATHER SEE YOU DIE THAN LIVE. AN ENEMY IS ONE WHO IS
NOT JUST ANXIOUS ABOUT YOU FAILING, THEY ARE DETERMINED TO
HELP YOU GET THERE. AND SO IF YOU ARE TO RECEIVE THIS GREAT
REWARD THAT JESUS TALKS ABOUT, YOU MAY AS WELL LEARN NOW
HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR ENEMIES. AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU
HERE, THAT ALL ENEMIES ARE NOT PLACED IN YOUR LIFE BY SATAN.
JAMES 1 : 2, 3 SAYS WELCOME THEM FOR THEY GIVE YOU A CERTAIN
EXPERIENCE THAT YOU CAN TESTIFY ABOUT LATER ON. HE SAYS COUNT
IT ALL JOY. PAUL SAYS THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE
GOOD OF THEM THAT LOVE GOD. WHY DOES A COACH DIVIDE MEMBERS
OF THE SAME TEAM INTO TWO OPPOSING FORCES, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE
ALL APART OF THE SAME TEAM. WHY DO BOXERS HAVE SPARRING
PARTNERS, PUT THERE BY THEIR TRAINERS. IT IS A TEACHING
MECHANISM, IT IS A DEVELOPMENTAL TOOL. FOR STRENGTH COMES
THROUGH STRAIN AND STRESS. NO ONE DEVELOPS WITHOUT STRAIN,
AND NO ONE DEVELOPS WITHOUT STRESS. YOU REMEMBER WHAT PAUL
SAID IN ROMANS 5 : 3 - 5. HE SAID THAT TRIBULATION WORKETH
PATIENCE; AND PATIENCE, EXPERIENCE; AND EXPERIENCE, HOPE: AND
HOPE MAKETH NOT ASHAMED. NOW NOTHING CAN HAPPEN TO A CHILD
OF GOD, THAT IS NOT PERMITTED BY GOD. SO IF GOD ALLOWS
SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO ME, HE WANTS ME TO LEARN SOMETHING
FROM THE EXPERIENCE. DO YOU KNOW WHY SOMEBODY LIKE SAM
CASELL CAN HOP UP WHEN HE GETS KNOCKED DOWN BY SHAQUILLE
O'NEAL THAT WEIGHS OVER 300 POUNDS, AND IF THAT SAME THING
WERE TO HAPPEN TO YOU, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALL IN A
REPLACEMENT FOR YOU ON YOUR JOB? IT'S BECAUSE HE HAS HAD SOME
TRAINING EVEN FROM HIS OWN TEAMMATES ON HOW TO GET BACK UP
AGAIN. SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY
HAVE YOUR NAME ON THE ROLL, HERE IN THE CHURCH, THERE ARE
THOSE PLACED BY GOD, THEY DON'T EVEN REALIZE IT, BUT THEY ARE
THERE TO MAKE YOU STRONGER. BECAUSE IF YOU CAN LEARN
SOMETHING FROM THE GOD-PLACED ENEMIES ON YOUR TEAM, YOU CAN
BETTER DEAL WITH THE REAL ENEMIES ON THE OUTSIDE. SO JESUS SAYS
THAT IF YOU WANT YOUR REWARD TO BE GREAT, AND IF YOU WANT IT IN
GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER THEN LEARN HOW
TO LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, LEARN HOW TO BE PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN
THE ONES WHO ARE NOT PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN YOU. NOW JESUS
NEVER TELLS US TO DO SOMETHING, WITHOUT TELLING US HOW TO DO
IT. HE SAYS THAT IT IS DONE BY THREE THINGS, AND THEY ARE ALL
HERE IN THESE TWO OR THREE VERSES. HE SAYS IN VERSE 27 BUT I SAY
UNTO YOU WHICH HEAR, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, AND THE VERY NEXT
THING HE SAYS IS, HE SAYS DO GOOD TO THEM WHICH ARE NOT
PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN YOUR WELL BEING. SO JESUS LET'S ME KNOW
THAT IF I AM GOING TO LOVE MY ENEMIES IT WILL REVOLVE NUMBER
ONE AROUND THE WAY I TREAT MY ENEMY. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH HOW HE TREATS ME, BUT IF MY REWARD IS GOING TO BE GREAT,
JESUS INFORMS ME THAT I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AS TO HOW I TREAT
HIM. YOU SEE I AM AS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY REACTION AS HE IS FOR HIS
ACTION. EXAMPLE, A STORY IS TOLD OF A DEVOTED AND DEDICATED
CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IN THE U.S. ARMY. AT THE END OF EACH DAY, HE
WOULD CLOSE THE DAY BY HAVING A QUIET PERIOD OF DEVOTION AND
MEDITATION AT HIS BUNK. AND THERE WAS A PARTICULARLY MEAN
FELLOW IN THE CORNER OF THE BARRACKS, AND WHENEVER THIS
CHRISTIAN WOULD START HIS MEDITATION PERIOD, THAT MEAN SOLDIER
WOULD THROW HIS COMBAT BOOTS AT THE CHRISTIANS BED. AND THIS
COMMITED CHRISTIAN WOULD JUST GO ON READING AND PRAYING, AND
THE REST OF THE SOLDIERS WOULD FALL OFF TO SLEEP LEAVING HIM
THERE PRAYING AND MEDITATING. AND WHEN THIS SERGEANT WOULD
WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING, THE BOOTS THAT HE HAD THROWN
WOULD BE BACK AT THE FOOT OF HIS OWN BUNK SHINED AND
POLISHED. AND THIS IS THE IDEA BEHIND THIS DO GOOD, IT IS TO TAKE
THE ACTION THAT SOMEONE THROWS AT YOU, AND YOU SEND IT BACK
TO THEM SHINING. SO JESUS SAYS NUMBER ONE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO
HAVE A GREAT REWARD, HE SAYS DO GOOD TO THEM WHICH HATE YOU.
NOW YOU NEED TO KNOW MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THAT THIS HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH FEELINGS. IT TAKES AN ACT OF THE WILL. JESUS
COMMANDS US TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES. HE SAYS THAT THAT IS A
COMMANDMENT. AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT NO ONE, NOT
EVEN GOD, CAN COMMAND ME TO FEEL A CERTAIN WAY, BUT HE CAN
COMMAND ME TO DO, EVEN WHEN I DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING. I TELL
COUPLES IN PREMARITAL COUNSELING ALL THE TIME, THAT WHAT
YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO IS NOT ONLY ABOUT FEELINGS. BECAUSE YOU ARE
ABOUT TO STAND THERE AND MAKE A VOW. YOU ARE ABOUT TO SAY, I
PROMISE TO LOVE AND CHERISH UNTIL DEATH DO WE PART. AND EVEN
IF YOU WERE ONE OF THE BEST OF THESE SO-CALLED PSYCHICS, YOU
COULD NOT MAKE A COMMITTMENT TO LOVE UNTIL YOU DIE, IF IT WERE
A FEELING. YOU CAN'T PROMISE TO FEEL A CERTAIN WAY. I COULDN'T
GET YOU TO PROMISE TO BE HAPPY ALL WEEK. WHY? BECAUSE
HAPPINESS DEPENDS UPON HAPPENINGS. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW ALL
THAT WILL HAPPEN THIS WEEK, YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY PROMISE THAT
YOU WILL BE HAPPY ALL WEEK. SO LOVE IS NOT A FEELING, IT IS AN ACT
OF THE WILL, IT IS SOMETHING YOU COMMITT TO DO. SO MANY
MARRIAGES FAIL TODAY, BECAUSE COUPLES THINK THAT WHAT THEY
ARE DOING IS BASED SOLELY UPON HOW THEY FEEL. BUT IT IS GREATER
THAN THAT, IT IS A COMMITTMENT. SO JESUS SAYS IF YOU WANT GREAT
REWARD, COMMITT TO LOVING THEM, AND SHOW FORTH THIS
COMMITTMENT BY DOING GOOD TO THEM. SO NUMBER ONE OUR
TREATMENT OF OUR ENEMIES IS IMPORTANT, THE SECOND THING THAT
JESUS BRINGS OUT FOR US, AS IT RELATES TO OUR ENEMIES HAS TO DO
WITH OUR TONE OF VOICE, AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS
CAREFULLY. IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR TONE OF VOICE WHEN WE RESPOND
TO OUR ENEMIES. LOOK AT WHAT HE SAYS, HE SAYS BLESS THEM THAT
CURSE YOU. NOW I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN HE SAYS
BLESS HERE, HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOUR ENEMY CUSSES YOU
OUT, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU STAND UP AND SAY IN THE NAME OF
THE FATHER THE SON AND THE HOLY GHOST SATAN THE LORD REBUKE
YOU, I CAST YOU BACK INTO THE ETERNAL PIT OF HELL. THAT'S NOT
WHAT HE MEANS, BUT WHAT HE IS SAYING IS THAT WHEN YOUR ENEMY
TALKS TO YOU, HE IS GENERALLY GOING TO RAISE HIS VOICE EVERY
TIME. WHENEVER A MAN OR WOMAN CURSES, HE EMPHASIZES IT WITH
BODILY MOVEMENTS AND AN ELEVATION OF HIS VOICE TO ANOTHER
LEVEL. BUT GUESS WHAT BLESS IS, YOU CANNOT BLESS IN A HOSTILE
VOICE, WHENEVER YOU SAY BLESS, IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BLESS
YOU. IT'S ALWAYS REAL CALM AND COOL AND REFRESHING, YOU KNOW,
BLESS YOU. SO WHAT HE IS SAYING IS, DON'T EVER LET SOMEONE GET
UNDER YOUR SKIN SO MUCH THAT YOU END UP SCREAMING BACK AT
THEM, JUST LIKE THEY SCREAMED AT YOU. BLESS THEM, THAT CURSE
YOU. FOR REMEMBER A SOFT ANSWER, TURNETH AWAY WRATH. SO,
YOU LOVE YOUR ENEMIES FIRST OF ALL BY YOUR TREATMENT TOWARDS
THEM, AND SECONDLY BY YOUR TONE OF VOICE TO THEM, WHEN HE
CURSES YOU LOUD AND STRONG, THEN YOU BLESS HIM LOW AND QUIET.
AND THEN LASTLY, HERE'S WHAT THE MASTER SAID, " PRAY FOR THEM
WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU ". NOW YOU NEED TO SEE HERE THAT
THE FIRST TWO THINGS HE INSTRUCTS US TO DO, ARE TOWARD YOUR
ENEMY. YOUR TREATMENT TOWARDS HIM, YOUR TONE TOWARDS HIM,
BUT THE LAST IS YOUR TESTIMONY ABOUT YOUR ENEMY, TO GOD. FOR
HE CLEARLY SAYS PRAY FOR THEM. NOW THE REASON HE SAYS THIS,
AND WE HAVE MENTIONED IT IN OUR BIBLE STUDY, IS THAT THERE ARE
SOME THINGS YOU CAN'T SCREAM AND HOLLER TO GOD ABOUT. I DON'T
KNOW ANYBODY THAT WOULD SCREAM AND HOLLER IN A HOSTILE
VOICE TO GOD. NOW YOU MAY SCREAM AND HOLLER AT THE PASTOR,
YOU MAY GET LOW DOWN AND DIRTY WITH YOUR BOSS, BUT I KNOW
THAT YOU ARE GONNA CHANGE YOUR VOICE WHEN YOU TALK TO GOD,
AT LEAST YOU BETTER. DON'T EVER ARGUE WITH THE ONE THAT GAVE
YOU THE POWER TO ARGUE IN THE FIRST PLACE. DON'T EVER STICK
YOUR FINGER IN THE FACE OF THE ONE THAT CONTROLS THE FLOW OF
BLOOD THROUGH YOUR FINGER. DON'T EVER GET SO UPSET AND ANGRY
THAT YOU WOULD SNAP AT GOD. BECAUSE GOD HOLDS YOUR BREATH
IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HAND. SO HE SAYS WHEN PEOPLE ARE MEAN
AND HOSTILE TOWARDS YOU, HE SAYS GET YOUR THOUGHTS OFF OF
THEM, AND TURN YOUR ATTENTION TOWARDS GOD, AND TELL GOD ALL
ABOUT IT, JESUS SAYS, PRAY FOR THEM. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT
YOU CAN'T ASK GOD TO DO, IF YOU'VE BEEN BORN AGAIN. YOU KNOW
SOME PEOPLE GO TO GOD AND ASK HIM TO LORD, JUST LET ALL OF HER
HAIR FALL OUT. JUST LET THAT OLD CAR THEY ARE SO IN LOVE WITH
CATCH A FIRE AND BURN UP. JUST LET HER FALL AND BREAK HER LEG.
THE REASON YOU CAN'T DO THAT, IS JUST LIKE CHILDREN WILL
SOMETIMES RUN TO MOMMA OR DADDY AND TELL ON THAT BROTHER
OR TELL ON THAT SISTER BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T HAVE THEIR WAY IN
A SITUATION, WANTING MOMMA OR DADDY TO GET ON THAT BROTHER
OR SISTER, THEY OFTENTIMES FORGET THAT JUST LIKE THEY BELONG TO
MOMMA AND DADDY, THEY FORGET THAT THAT BROTHER OR SISTER
ALSO BELONGS TO MOMMA AND DADDY. AND JUST LIKE MOMMA AND
DADDY LOVE THEM, THEY ALSO LOVE THAT BROTHER OR THAT SISTER.
SO WHENEVER YOU GET THESE FOOLISH MINDED PEOPLE BOWING DOWN
TALKING ABOUT YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT BECAUSE I'VE
TOLD GOD ON YOU, AND HE IS GOING TO GET YOU. YOU HAVE TO
REMEMBER THAT GOD LOVES THEM JUST LIKE HE LOVES YOU. CAUSE IF
GOD ANSWERED THOSE FOOLISH KINDS OF PRAYERS, YOU'D BE
BALDHEADED TOO, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A LEG LEFT EITHER. BECAUSE
A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED FOR YOUR LEG TO BE BROKEN,
AND FOR YOUR HAIR TO FALL OUT, AND FOR YOUR CAR TO CATCH ON
FIRE. SO JESUS LETS US KNOW THAT WE LOVE OUR ENEMIES BY THE
WAY WE TREAT OUR ENEMIES, OUR TONE TOWARDS OUR ENEMIES, AND
OUR TESTIMONY TO GOD ABOUT OUR ENEMIES. IF GOD IS FOR YOU. HE'S
MORE THAN THE WORLD AGAINST YOU. I'VE LEARNED AN IMPORTANT
PRINCIPLE IN LIFE, I'VE LEARNED THAT GOD, IF HE FINDS SOMEBODY
WHO WILL OPERATE FROM HIS POINT OF VIEW, I'VE LEARNED THAT YOU
CAN GET GREAT REWARDS, EVEN WHILE YOUR ENEMY IS HOT ON YOUR
TRAIL. I'VE SEEN GOD BRING DOWN ARMIES THAT WENT AGAINST HIS
WORD. I'VE SEEN GOD DROWN THE ENEMY IN THE RED SEA, WHEN A
WHOLE BODY OF HIS PEOPLE WERE EXPOSED TO THE PRANCING HORSES
AND THE FIERY CHARIOTS OF PHAROAH. I'VE SEEN THE ENEMY TRY TO
CAST A CHILD OF GOD INTO A BURNING FIERY FURNACE, HOSTILE
ACTIONS ALL AROUND, BUT I'VE SEEN GOD STEP IN AND START WALKING
RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THE FIRE. BECOME A COOLING THERMOSTAT,
RIGHT IN THE BURNING FIRE. I'VE SEEN GOD BECOME A LIFEGUARD IN
THE MIDST OF A TURBULENT SEA. I'VE SEEN HIM SHUT UP A LION'S
MOUTH, WHEN ENEMIES HAVE TRIED TO DESTROY HIS PEOPLE. I'VE SEEN
HIM SHAKE SHACKLES LOOSE, WHEN ENEMIES HAVE TRIED TO DESTROY
HIS CHILDREN. AND I'VE LEARNED IN MY OWN LIFE, THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT AN ENEMY, WHEN GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE.
BECAUSE, GOD WILL SET UP A TABLE RIGHT IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR
ENEMIES, HE'LL FEED YOU, WITH THEM RIGHT THERE LOOKING. GREAT
WILL BE YOUR REWARD IF YOU'LL JUST TREAT EM RIGHT, IF YOU TALK
TO THEM RIGHT, IF YOU GO TO GOD WITH THE RIGHT TESTIMONY ABOUT
THEM.