Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to be gathered here today, standing on holy ground, in a house built not of stone and mortar, but of faith, hope, and love. It's in this warm embrace of fellowship that we find ourselves today, ready to unwrap the divine wisdom of God's word.

We're going to be reading from the book of Matthew, chapter 5, verses 43 through 44.

These words, spoken by Jesus Himself, challenge us to a level of love that transcends our earthly understanding. It's a love that calls us to look beyond our human instincts, to rise above our prejudices, and to extend grace to those who may not extend it back to us.

It brings to mind the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon who once said, 'It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.' In this context, we might say, it's not how much love we receive, but how much love we give, that truly reflects the heart of Christ.

Our first main point today will be the Loving Your Enemy. We will look at how the scriptures guide us in this seemingly impossible task. Our second main point will be Breaking Barriers. We will see how love has the power to break down walls of hostility and build bridges of understanding. Finally, our third main point will be Becoming Christ-like. We will strive to understand how we can embody the love of Christ in our everyday lives.

Before we begin, let us bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts open and ready to receive your word. We ask that you guide us in our understanding, fill us with your love, and empower us to extend that love to all, even those we might consider our enemies. May our hearts reflect your heart, and may our love reflect your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Loving Your Enemy

In the book of Matthew, Jesus presents a radical idea. He tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This is a far cry from the old law, which suggested that we should love our neighbors and hate our enemies. Jesus, however, calls us to a higher standard. He calls us to love unconditionally, just as God loves us.

This kind of love is not easy. It goes against our human nature. We are wired to protect ourselves, to defend our territory, to fight back when we are attacked. But Jesus tells us to do the opposite. He tells us to turn the other cheek, to go the extra mile, to give to those who ask. This is the love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross. It's a love that sacrifices, a love that forgives, a love that heals.

The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in his letter to the Romans. He writes, 'Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.' Here, Paul is not just talking about our friends and family. He's talking about everyone, including our enemies.

But how can we love our enemies? How can we pray for those who persecute us? It's not easy, but with God's help, it's possible. The Apostle John gives us a clue in his first letter. He writes, 'We love because He first loved us.' Our ability to love comes from God. It's His love in us that enables us to love others, even our enemies.

In the Old Testament, we find a beautiful example of this kind of love in the story of Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery, yet he forgave them and saved them from famine. Joseph's actions were not based on his feelings for his brothers, but on his faith in God. He chose to love because he knew that God was in control and that He could bring good out of even the worst situations.

In the same way, we can choose to love our enemies. We can choose to pray for those who persecute us. We can choose to respond with kindness instead of hatred, with forgiveness instead of revenge. It's not easy, but it's what Jesus calls us to do. And when we do, we reflect the heart of God.

We see this reflected in the early church as well. In the book of Acts, we read about Stephen, one of the first deacons. He was stoned to death for his faith, but as he was dying, he prayed for his persecutors. He said, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' Stephen's love for his enemies was a powerful testimony of his faith in Christ.

In the same way, our love for our enemies can be a powerful testimony of our faith. It can show the world that we are different, that we are not of this world. It can show the world the transforming power of God's love.

So, let us strive to love our enemies. Let us strive to pray for those who persecute us. Let us strive to live out the radical love that Jesus calls us to. It's not easy, but with God's help, it's possible. And when we do, we will reflect the heart of God and bring glory to His name.

Breaking Barriers

In the realm of human interaction, there exists a potent force, capable of dismantling the most formidable barriers that stand between us ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO