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.
I would hope that no one would be that vengeful that they would go to that extreme to be hateful. This isn’t the Richardson house but you can see that others have done this- Amazing what people will do.
(Show clip of Alameda house and Boston house)
So let’s break this down into small bites. Let’s grasp what Paul is telling the church about being Christ-like
“Do not repay ANYONE evil for evil.”
You say pastor, you don’t understand what I am going through and what I went through and you don’t know who I have been dealing with”
The bible says “do not repay anyone” it means that we are not to do that if we are to be Christ-like.
We are to keep ourselves from the thought of taking revenge.
The clear message is that we should love our enemies, and that this love involves treating them better than they deserve, not returning evil for evil.
Luke 6:27-29
‘But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.’
One preacher has said, this is a great spot to turn to the person next to you and ask for some money.
To look at their coat and decide if you like it or not.
As a believer, we must break the cycle! The cycle is to do the same or worse to the person who has harmed you.
We will never see a change in society until the cycle is broken in Jesus name by Jesus people. Amen.
We see all kinds of Jesus people in church on Sunday but Jesus is telling us and calling us to be Jesus people Monday – Saturday too.
He see’s us blowing the horns and yelling at people. He calls us to be different.
It is easy to love someone who loves you! Jesus loved the unloveable!
It is easier to love those that are not mad at you.
What about those people who don’t know Jesus and you are the only Jesus they see in the course of the day- What Jesus are they going to see in you?
“Live peacefully with each other” we touched on this last week- if it is possible and you do not have to deny your faith to live at peace with most people, live at peace.
Some people cannot stand it if they do not have drama in their lives. You know who they are, if you do not, maybe you’re the person. They have to be fighting with someone. They have to be mad at someone. Someone has wronged them and they will not let it go. EVEN YEARS LATER.
It is easier to be a witness to someone when you are at least on speaking terms.
To treat people with kindness is a way to move them toward Christ and away from the world.
Let’s see if it works- (work over to Fred)
Scene One- Hey Fred, I know you have been working hard, and on my break, I ran over to Dunkin Donuts for a coffee and I thought you would like one- I know Fred, that would work.
Scene Two- (Coming into a room where Fred is at)
Fred, I cannot stand it anymore! This job has me up to my neck in disgust. I am just going over here in the corner and drink my coffee and please… tell everyone just leave me alone!
Which one is more Christ-like?
Which one will reach people for Christ?
Which one want a person to talk to you?
Paul says that killing them with kindness “Heaps coals of fire on them”. What does that mean?
It means simply that the weapon to fight evil is not retaliation, it is good.
God is good, truth is God is the only one that is good… we can do good things only when Christ is in us.
“Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.” (Explain)
Greater is the Spirit of God that dwells inside of us than the spirit in the world that comes against us!
A believer has to be reminded sometimes that we have been given the power to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.
When we show God’s love and kindness, we break the cycle of retaliation and reminds people who is living inside of us.
Somebody ought to be getting some happy on this morning!
“Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath” All in the same vein this morning-
Vengeance does not belong to us but to God.
Vengeance may get back at a person and break their spirit, but kindness will melt a heart-
Never look down on somebody- we don’t have that right. Only God sits that high!
Jesus said- “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
The only way we defeat the hatred of the world is by the love of God
When we realize who the real enemy is… we will do mighty and great things in the power of God! Amen!
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”
Over 4 times in the Bible, both Old Testament and New testament- Found in Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Matthew,
Romans, and 1 Thessalonians. All these verses tell us numerous ways that we are to show kindness to our enemies and reach out to them with the compassion of Christ.
The only true way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.
In as much as it is possible with you, live at peace and harmony.
Last one this morning-
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
To stoop to vengeance is to be conquered yourself by evil
Booker T. Washington said “I will not allow any man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.”
Henry Nouwen
Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.
Aristotle
Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.
Hurt people hurt people- we have to be different and the only way we are different is with Christ that dwells in us.
The old you desires to do those kinds of things- the new you, the new creation has to be sensitive to hearing God’s voice. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
When that old self raises its ugly head, be gone in Jesus name!
Hatred met with hatred only fuels more hatred.
Love is the antidote for hate.
Two Main Reasons Why We Should Love Our Enemies
One -It reveals a merciful God
“He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10).
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
The second reason is that this is not all there is- We must show the love of Christ that others may find Him as their Lord and savior.
When we have an eternal prospective, it will change the way we deal with people and we will be more sensitive to the lost people without Christ.
We are seeing more people in the Men’s meetings
We are seeing more in the Women’s meetings
We have had people more attentive in our Bible devotions before Bountiful Blessings sessions-
They know they need Jesus, maybe they just need to see it more out of God’s people
Close in prayer
We have to believe that it is so, even when it is not so, so it can be so, because Jesus said so.
