Shamrocked By Love

delete

Have you ever been hurt by someone before

As Christians we have a calling the goes against the what the world says we should do

The world says that when we get hurt we should get even, or do something so that they will not be able to do whatever it was again.

When my son Corbin tries to tickle me or scare me I have to get him back

The first thing most people do when they get hurt is to try to hurt that person right back.

But God calls us to a higher calling with dealing with those who hurt and do wrong to us.

Today we are going to look at one of my favorite people in history, Maewyn SA-ccat, if you do not know him by that name you may now him by St. Patrick

St. Pat lived was born in 387

growing up he was an atheist

at age 16 he was kidnapped by Irish raiders

sold as a slave

when he was 22 he had a dream about a boat and escaped

during his time as a slave he found his faith

went to study and at 43 became a Bishop and had a vision

In a dream vision it seemed “all the children of Ireland from their mothers’ wombs were stretching out their hands” to him. He understood the vision to be a call to do mission work in pagan Ireland. Despite opposition from those who felt his education had been defective, he was sent to carry out the task. He went to the west and north–where the faith had never been preached–obtained the protection of local kings, and made numerous converts.

One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.

St. Pat went to his former master with a payment for his, but when his former master heard he was coming became very scared because of the following the St. Pat had and locked himself in his house and lit it on fire

Pretty much all of Ireland became Christian because St. Pat listened to God

We Are Called To Be Different

The world and our flesh says that if someone does something to me they deserve the same.

Romans 12:20–21 NIV

On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

By all logic St. Pat should not have returned to the place that hurt him so much. But God calls us to do what is contrary we want, and live the way Christ lived

1 Peter 3:9 NIV

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

We Are Called to be Forgiving

St. Pat walking back onto that island he had to forgive those that did him harm. The fact that he was taking the money to his former master shows that He forgave him and wanted to show him the love He had for him.

Ephesians 4:31–32 NIV

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Some of us are holding on to bitterness and anger, its almost like it has become a friend to us, a companion that comforts us

but we have to let it go, how are we suppose to have the Joy that is found in Christ if we are holding on to the very things that destroys joy?

Story of forgiving Devin

Bitterness and anger will never get us closer to God, in fact all it does is drives us further away, and that does not make God happy, but it does make the enemy excited.

I picture it like this

Someone hurts me, I feel the hurt

I know I need to let it go but I feel the need to let it go

(Do a skit with the angel and the devil on the shoulders

If our goals are to be more like Christ, then we must forgive those who hurt us, and GRASP JOY

We Are Called to Love Those Who Hurt Us.

Matthew 5:44–45 NIV

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Every single person in this room has been hurt, some more then others,

every single person in here has a choice to make when someone does something to us.

To hold on to bitterness, anger, and slander

which Eph tells to get rid of

or to Love those who hurt us

love those who offend us

love those who does things against us

Love those who try to manipulate us

Some might say that I can’t let it go, it is who I am

I would say that is not true, you are a new creation

The Holy Spirit came into you the day that you gave your life to Christ, and He is there to help you overcome

Every single person in here has done something to someone that hurt them

every single person in here has done something against God that makes us worthy of death

every single person here wants forgiveness and grace when we mess up

We Have to do the same

While Jesus was nailed on the cross, HE loved us enough to stay there

St. Pat had every reason never to go back to where he was hurt, but he loved God so much that the love that God had for Ireland compelled St. Pat to love them

So, who in your life do you need to forgive?

who in your life do you need to start showing grace, love and compassion to?

We are called not to be of this world, but to be set apart.