Love In Action Part Three Series

Love in Action part three

Romans chapter 12:17-21

Luke 6:27-33

Introduction-

Good morning! You know I kid a lot after doing something crazy and then say “You have to love me.”

The truth of the matter is that you do have a choice of wither you are going to love me.

Truth is that love is an action word and it must be intentional.

There is a lot of lip service now a days- you do really have a choice in who you are going to love and who you are going to invest your time with.

Say they love you and say they love ice cream! All in the same breath and with the same degree.

We have been in a series of “Love in Action” It is taken from the book of Romans chapter 12 and it is Paul’s words to the church about how we ought to love God and each other.

Part one-

love is sincere-

Not lack zeal

Joyful, patient, faithful

We need to practice what we preach.

Part two-

Persecution will come

As much as depends on us, we should live in harmony

If they persecuted Jesus, they will persecute Jesus followers

We do not get a get out of jail free card when it comes to persecution as a believer- in the west is easier than in Middle East countries and African countries.

Part three- today’s Word-

We are told to do what is not normal. It will go against everything society has taught you. It will rub you the wrong way. It is the way the Lord tells us to handle the wrongs that are done against us.

We are not to be vengeful

We are to love and feed our enemies

We are not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good.

We need to pray about that!

Prayer-

Father today I come n the powerful name of Jesus. I realize I am trying to be the person that you desire me to be. I want to live out this passage but cannot without your help. I cannot love like you, I cannot turn the other cheek like you, I cannot love with the right actions without you. Fact is I am a work in progress. Help me Lord Jesus as we conclude this series today on love in action. In Jesus name Amen.

Scripture- Romans chapter 12:17-21 Read from Bible

Purpose- To change our thinking and be more like Jesus - is that your prayer this morning?

Illustration-

The character Rambo played by Sylvester Stallone - He is the same in all four of his movies-

He takes revenge on people who have done him wrong. (Wicked revenge)

He takes revenge for people he knew that have been wronged.

He is a warrior for a nation he felt called to protect.

John Rambo wanted to rid this evil world of evil people and he was going to do it by himself.

I am a lot like John Rambo-

He has 6 pk abs, I have 18 pk abs. He has a physique like a chiseled man of war. I am a chiseled man at war with gravity.

Okay so I do not look like him… never did but I was a lot like him because I felt if you did something to me, I would do it back to you ten times worse. That does not sound like the heart of a pastor.

This was me growing up before Jesus but I have to tell you it is still a struggle. Anyone else want to get honest with the Lord this morning?

I was the guy that wanted to right the wrongs in the world.

I was going to right a wrong by force- not peacefully.

I have to tell you I have a long way to go so I wouldn’t suggest you slap me on the cheek because the Jesus side of me wants to turn the other cheek but the fleshly ninja still in process side of me would want to strike you right back.

I would on the yet to be completely sanctified side of me like to strike you with an extra one so we do not have to have this conversation again.

It is easy to take revenge the way the world takes revenge- It is a God thing when we can overcome evil with good and do it God’s way!

Illustration-

Have you ever heard of a spite house?

In 1897, Joseph Richardson owed a small plot of land in New York City. The land measured 5 foot wide and 100 foot long. Two developers wanted to build an apartment building on the land next to Richardson’s land and offered to buy that small piece of land for 1000.00. Remember that it is 1897. He wanted 5000.00 dollars and refused to sell the land for the apartment building. After negotiations failed, the developers decided to go ahead and build without purchasing the land. Joseph Richardson out of spite built a house 5 foot wide and 100 foot long AND FOUR STORIES HIGH in front of the apartment building. The Richardson spite house as it was called was built in 1897 and remained until Richardson died in 1902. Joseph Richardson and his wife spent the last thirteen years of their life living in this skinny home. He vowed that no one would get a “free view” over his lot. His living room was only a few feet wide and they only had running water on the first floor. He had a coffin built in the home and was carried out in it. The house was on Lexington and 82nd St. and was torn down in 1915.