LOVE YOUR ENEMIES (2)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Love your enemies
a) We must never forget that we are not in a war with people, we are in a war with Satan. The people that we consider enemies are just prisoners of war taken captive by Satan.
(Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
b) The power of God, which is the power of love, can turn an enemy into a best friend. Showing love to an enemy pleases God and proves that we have great spiritual maturity.
(Proverbs 16:6-7 NKJV)
In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. {7} When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
c) We must always remember that as citizens of heaven we are ambassadors sent to represent the kingdom, and our King, Jesus Christ. Only by compassion and love can we represent the God of love, the God of compassion. We show love even to our enemies by doing good to them. By blessing them, which is saying good things to them, and saying good things about them behind their back, speaking blessings and not cursing.
(Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
d) The most important way we show love is through prayer, this is where spiritual battles are fought and won. Doing all these things will cause the compassion of God to flow through our hearts as a river of life. It will change our enemies’ life and even if they are not affected it will definitely change our life, which is God’s plan anyway.
e) Don’t try to avoid God’s will for your life you will run into a storm. If it is your destiny to be conformed to the image of Jesus, you will be conformed whatever it takes.
(Romans 8:28-29 NKJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. {29} For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
f) Sometimes as Christians we develop a competition mentality with our brothers and sisters. So that we with hold doing good, blessing, and even praying for our brother or sister thinking they have been blessed enough, or what if God blesses them more than me, what about me? This shows spiritual immaturity because in God’s kingdom the giver is always blessed more than the receiver is. Maybe your blessing is getting held up because God wants you to bless others so He can bless you. Also the people that we think are on top and “have arrived” are the ones who need our prayers the most, these people are on the front lines of the battle and we don’t know what all they are going through, but we are commanded to pray for one another. This causes us to become unified, and we know that we are a part of their success or failure by what we say and pray.
g) Remember Jesus told us in...
(Matthew 5:44-47 NKJV)
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, {45} “that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. {46} “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? {47} “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
(Matthew 5:9 KJV)
The End ...
1. Love your enemies a) We must never forget that we are not in a war with people, we are in a war with Satan. The people that we consider enemies are just prisoners of war taken captive by Satan.
(Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
b) The power of God, which is the power of love, can turn an enemy into a best friend. Showing love to an enemy pleases God and proves that we have great spiritual maturity.
(Proverbs 16:6-7 NKJV)
In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. {7} When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
c) We must always remember that as citizens of heaven we are ambassadors sent to represent the kingdom, and our King, Jesus Christ. Only by compassion and love can we represent the God of love, the God of compassion. We show love even to our enemies by doing good to them. By blessing them, which is saying good things to them, and saying good things about them behind their back, speaking blessings and not cursing.
(Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
d) The most important way we show love is through prayer, this is where spiritual battles are fought and won. Doing all these things will cause the compassion of God to flow through our hearts as a river of life. It will change our enemies’ life and even if they are not affected it will definitely change our life, which is God’s plan anyway.
e) Don’t try to avoid God’s will for your life you will run into a storm. If it is your destiny to be conformed to the image of Jesus, you will be conformed whatever it takes.
(Romans 8:28-29 NKJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. {29} For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
f) Sometimes as Christians we develop a competition mentality with our brothers and sisters. So that we with hold doing good, blessing, and even praying for our brother or sister thinking they have been blessed enough, or what if God blesses them more than me, what about me? This shows spiritual immaturity because in God’s kingdom the giver is always blessed more than the receiver is. Maybe your blessing is getting held up because God wants you to bless others so He can bless you. Also the people that we think are on top and “have arrived” are the ones who need our prayers the most, these people are on the front lines of the battle and we don’t know what all they are going through, but we are commanded to pray for one another. This causes us to become unified, and we know that we are a part of their success or failure by what we say and pray.
g) Remember Jesus told us in...
(Matthew 5:44-47 NKJV)
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, {45} “that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. {46} “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? {47} “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
(Matthew 5:9 KJV)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
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