Lead In Scripture: Luke 6:27-49
Introduction: Re-cap last week. Share a story of God sustaining you.
I. Love Your Enemies - Jesus knew that the road the disciples would travel was going to produce several enemies. Therefore, He began to teach them how to respond under attack.
• Luke 6:27 MSG - "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
A. How do I love my enemies? (V. 27-31)
1. Treat them good
2. Bless them with your mouth instead of cursing them
3. Pray for them
4. Turn the other cheek
5. Give to those who beg of you
6. Don’t try to recover if an enemy tries to steal from you
7. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
B. The Rationale
1. V. 32 - For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
2. V. 33 - And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
3. V. 34 - And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
C. Life Principles
1. Treat your enemies well.
a) Why? - How much time have we all wasted just trying to figure out how to get justice?
b) Justice is God’s responsibility not ours! God’s ways are not our ways. Let Him handle the situation His way.
c) FOCUS FORWARD!
2. Right thinking leads to right living!
• Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
II. V. 37-42 - Do not judge or condemn but forgive and give. - Jesus knew that the temptation to judge and condemn would become strong at times. Jesus encourages the disciples (and those present including the Pharisees and Scribes to forgive and give.)
A. First of all, Jesus was drawing a contrast between the Law and Grace.
1. The Law says Judge. Grace says Forgive.
2. The Law says Condemn (deny access or take away). Grace says Give.
3. No wonder the Pharisees and Scribes were angry with Jesus. He was exposing their manipulation scheme in detail! He was disrupting their Country Club!
B. There are two things that real love doesn’t do. It doesn’t judge and it doesn’t condemn.
1. Obviously this is talking about judging and condemning people. There are some areas where we do need to judge.
a) Between good and evil
b) Whether we will be unequally yoked in relationships etc.
c) How can we say that we walk in love if we are prone to be critical and fault-finding? - IT’S MORE FUN TO LOVE!
C. Forgive & Give
1. Forgiveness is not Pardon
2. When we Give we are priming the pump for our harvest!
D. Life Principles
1. V. 39,40 - Learn this stuff from your teachers and mentors. (choose them well)
2. V. 41,42 - Pay more attention to what is going on in your life and in your heart than what is going on in other people!
III. V. 43-45 - Fruit Matters - The Proof is in the Fruit
A. V. 43 - Fruit exposes the root. - What does your heart look like?
B. V. 44 - Fruit Inspectors
1. If it’s in you it will come out of you.
a) Singers - Sing
b) Givers - Give
c) Leaders - Lead
d) Followers - Follow
e) Gossipers - Gossip…
2. Your gift will make a way for you
a) Proverbs 18:16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
C. Life Principles
1. Proverbs 4:23 ESV - Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
2. Luke 6:45 - “…for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
3. Proverbs 4:24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
IV. V. 46-49 - Rock Solid! - Learn God’s Word and through obedience allow it to establish you on a firm foundation.
A. Sure Foundations - We have a choice what kind of foundation we will build our faith upon. The choices are Firm or Flimsy!
1. The Prophet Isaiah foretold of this firm foundation. - Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
2. The Apostle Paul addressed the subject again in his letter to Pastor Timothy. - 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
B. Biblical Church Structure - Christ, Apostles, Prophets & the Body
Ephesians 2:19-22
19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
C. Life Principles - In this passage Christ encourages three foundational principles.
1. Acceptance of the Principles
a) Salvation: The wise man comes to Christ
b) Instruction: The wise man hears His sayings
c) Obedience: The wise man does them
• The Result: Luke 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
2. Rejection of the Principles
a) Salvation: Sinners who reject Christ
b) Instruction: Sinners who reject His teachings
c) Obedience: Sinners who disobey God’s instructions
• The Result: Luke 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
D. Foundations Matter - What is your foundation made of? It has to sustain the building of God in your life!
1. 1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Closing: God really does give us a choice!
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
