Text: Psalm 35:13-14, Title: Kill ‘Em and Bless ‘Em, Date/Place: NRBC, 3/20/11, AM
1. Opening illustration: the police officer that wrote me a ticket for turning left into a parking space: rain on his head, and bless him, Lord.
2. Background to passage: David is again under intense pressure and pursuit from His enemies. They were seeking his position, his power, his prosperity, and his life with an unjust, malicious, destructive cause. Look at the language that is used to describe what his enemies are trying to do to him. Also note the requests that he makes to God for their destruction and downfall. But in the midst of it all, David notes that he was praying, fasting, and mourning for them. When things weren’t going well for them, David was genuinely interceding for them. These are the people that want him dead!
3. Selected scriptures in support. Luke 6:27-38, Jesus gives the command to love our enemies and bless those who curse us. In Matthew we are told to rejoice when these things happen. Jesus says that if we only love those who love us, give to those that we may be repaid from, and do good to those who do good to us, we have no particular merit, because even sinners, untransformed men/women do that. Our righteousness must exceed the Pharisees and the unbelievers. In Rom 12:17-21, we are commanded not to return evil for evil, but good in order to triumph over evil. We are told not to avenge ourselves, but to feed those who are our enemies when they are hungry, and in doing so, we will heap coals of fire upon them. It is a normal expectation in life to have enemies, the bible assumes this. We could talk about the reason why you have them (some may be good, and some not), but that is another lesson. We want to be obedient, but it is so unnatural, so we must arm our minds with truth.
4. Main thought: How can we genuinely fast, mourn, and pray for our enemies? What knowledge do we renew our minds to in order to do this most difficult command of Jesus? Preach to yourselves these truths
1. Know we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood (Eph 6:12)
1. Part of our natural reaction to hate/dislike our enemies or defend ourselves is because we see them as the enemy, which according to Paul, they are not. Our enemies are spiritual rulers of darkness. And they are simply deceiving and using the individual who you consider your enemy to cause you to fall, sin, and hurt others. They are not your enemy, they are your ministry!
2. Illustration: “A man who does not understand the nature of the problem he is confronting is a man who is already doomed to failure. Christian people are like first-year college students—they think at first that every subject is quite simple, there is no difficulty. Well, we know what is likely to happen to such when they face an examination! The first thing you have to do is to understand the nature and character of your problem. So we have to realize that we are called, in the Christian life, to a battle, not to a life of ease; to a battle, to a warfare, to a wrestle, to a struggle,” but that struggle is not against people–Martin Lloyd-Jones and me,
3. It is easier when you are not thinking of the person as the enemy to pray, fast, and truly desire their good, if you feel some compassion on them that they are being used. They are a tool of Satan in your life. So that boss or coworker is NOT the enemy. That teenager, parent, or spouse is NOT the enemy. And sometimes in the heat of the situation, we must remind ourselves that Satan is just using that person to get us worked up, angry, frustrated, depressed; and if you give in, he has accomplished his plan. Pray that they would be freed from Satan’s bondage, and God would open their eyes to the deception they are caught in. Have compassion for their lostness or backslidden state.
2.
Know we don’t deserve better than them, but we’ve received it in Christ (Luke 13:2, Phil 2:3)
1. Jesus asked the Jews in Jerusalem if they thought they were so much better than the Galileans that were slain and squished, because they did. But His point was that they weren’t. They deserved judgment too. And Paul tells us to esteem others more than yourself. Sometimes we get a little self-righteous when we think about how badly our enemies are acting. We think that they are getting what they deserve, when we didn’t get what we deserved. Christ showed us mercy, therefore…
2. Illustration: Nicolas Copernicus was a famed astronomer born in Poland on February 19, 1473. He was a mathematician whose accomplishments changed men’s ideas of the universe. Also he was a well-known writer. Although highly educated in astronomical science, he was much more-he was a child of God who had learned to know and trust his Savior, Jesus Christ. When he was critically ill with his final illness, his book, On Resolutions of the Celestial Bodies, just off the press, was laid in his arms. At the close of his life, he did not think of himself as an astronomer or scientist, but as a sinner who needed the forgiveness of his Savior. He asked that the following epitaph be written on his gravestone:
"Lord, I do not ask the kindness Thou didst show to Peter. I do not dare ask the grace Thou didst grant to Paul; but, Lord, the mercy Thou didst show to the dying robber, that mercy show to me. That earnestly I pray." “Oh, it is a sweet disposition, heartily to forgive all injuries done us; to wish our greatest enemies as well as we do our own souls.” -Brainerd
3. We are to forgive as Christ forgave. We are to love as Christ loved. We are to remember that we were the ungodly that Christ died for and called to Himself without merit on our part. Remind yourself that they are at least as worthy of mercy as we are to receive mercy. In fact, are we really obedient to the command to esteem others higher than ourselves? So pray for mercy upon them. Pray that God will spare them. Pray that blessings would come upon their lives, and they be. Fast that their lives are wrecked by sin, and are in need of a deliverer. Truly desire mercy for them with thankfulness looking back on the fact that you received mercy when you treated others similarly.
3.
Know Christ loves them and wants them to be saved (1 John 2:2)
1. In the midst of attacks against you personally (think of the last one that you had), it is really hard to think that Christ loves the people who are attacking you. But the bible teaches that God loves the whole world, and desires that those enemies of yours would be saved, and become your brothers and sisters in the Lord. He gave his life for His enemies. Can you imagine if your boss got saved, baptized, and joined this church, and came to your Sunday School class?
2. Illustration:
3. Christ loved you when you were His and other people’s enemy. And He saved you when you were other people’s enemy. And that’s what He desires to do with your enemy. And the way you handle attacks might demonstrate Christ to them, and His love for them in a way that other witnesses might not. How you handle adversity is an indicator of your spiritual maturity and your level of concern for those outside the faith. So pray for them to be saved and sanctified for the use of the advancement of the kingdom. Pray that they would know the love of Christ, and it’s height, depth, width, and breadth. Be prepared to witness
4.
Know Christ left us an example (1 Pet 2:19-24, Luke 23:34)
1. What a great text from Peter! Christ’s death on the cross accomplished way more than an example, but it certainly provided one of those. The text notes as we all know that Christ suffered intensely and unjustly. And through it all He refused retaliation, self-defense, and anger. But He also prayed for his murderers asking God to have mercy upon them and forgive them because, “they know not what they do.”
2. Illustration: “Felt much sweetness and tenderness in prayer, especially my whole soul seemed to love my worst enemies, and was enabled to pray for those that are strangers and enemies of God with a great degree of softness and pathetic fervor.” -Brainerd
3. If Christ loves them, we should love them. If He restrained Himself, we should too. If He blessed instead of cursed, we should too. The same Holy Spirit lives inside of us that lived inside Christ. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is key. He will empower, soften, bring to remembrance, love through you. Pray that they would be forgiven of the evil that they are committing against you right now. But to ask God to forgive them, you must be willing to forgive them, else we might forfeit our own forgiveness.
Additional Notes
* Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
