What To Do With A Slap In The Face

Bunbury

Wed pm

27/07/2011

“What to do with a slap in the face”

Intro: *** As you all know Vergel & Lee have just recently moved into town & a new residence. They are now going through what we all hate about moving – trying to get everything in place / order again! One of the real problems of unpacking is trying to find places w/ everything. Anyone who has ever had to move a family into another house has had the experience of looking at something they’ve got to find a place for & saying to them/s –what am I going to do w/ that?

It’s that exact same thought I want to draw your attention to tonight ….. although it has nothing to do w/ unpacking it has everything to do w/ what you are going to do w/ something.

Here’s the question – “What do you do w/ a slap in the face?”

I was talking to my wife about this thought & she said – I cry! That’s what I do, because it hurts!!!

I guess that’s pretty normal for a lady to say that …..

Men probably process it a little different & say ……. I launch the other guy’s head right off his shoulders by hitting him back!

What we need to recognise is that the main issue to be processed is not the damage to our face but the damage to our heart when we take a slap in the face.

So t/n we want to give some thought to the question “What to do w/ a slap in the face”.

Text: Luke 6:27-31 ( NKJV ) 27“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

The first thing you need to do w/ a slap in the face is …..

# 1. Expect it!

A. The first thing you can do w/ a slap in the face is expect that it will come!

a. Some believers seem genuinely surprised when it happens to them like something strange / unusual / unexpected thing has happened to them.

i. The truth is that if you aren’t expecting a slap in the face you are living in a dream world.

ii. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen an act of kindness repaid w/ selfishness & ingratitude.

iii. But what’s even more surprising to me is when people who are treated like this are so shocked!

*** I had a nephew who was into drugs, burgled a house, went to prison, bled family members financially dry & lied at every opportunity. I had a car that was not worth it for me re-licence. Due to the fact that this nephew didn’t have a car at the time I gave it to him instead of selling it for the $800-$1,000 I could have got for it. A couple of months later he wrecked it in an accident w/ a drunken mate.

When I heard the news it was no surprise to me at all! I thought – figures!

I expected as much! And it was no shock to me whatsoever!!!

iv. Why are we so shocked when a slap in the face comes to us?

1 Peter 4:12 ( NKJV ) 12Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

*** Loretta at outreach down at Take-Away City. She was mocked when she went to witness to some sinners & came back in tears & blubbering to us – ‘They mocked me!’

Well of course they mocked you! They’re sinners whose job it is to mock you!!!

b. In any pursuit there are going to be expectations of what is going to take place.

i. If you’re going to have a baby ….. there needs to be some expectations happening – labour / pain / difficulty / sleepless nights / crying baby etc.

ii. In getting fit there needs to be expectations – endurance / pain / hardship / stress / effort / puffing / aching etc.

iii. Jesus prepared the disciples for what lay ahead by telling them to have some expectations about pain.

Matthew 5:10 ( NKJV ) 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.