“Its Bigger than Me”

Luke 6:27 NIV

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

“Its Bigger than Me”

Text: Lk. 6:27-36

Introduction: The desires to make life about self is more pronounced today than ever before. Yielding to human authority is being challenged by truce and law breakers everyday. Even in the spiritual realm challenges to the authority of the scriptures is the number one thing that creates major concern. These are critical times in which we live. One of the things I find most incredible about God, is that no matter how many times we try to explain His goodness, how many moments with Him we experience or encounter, or how many words I try to write about His unfailing mercy and unending love—I still fall short. The church is being torn and violated because of challenges directed at the biblical text. We have resorted to vain teachings, and so called schools of hard knocks rather than the truth in the word of God. Churches and congregations are growing larger, at the same time we are growing father and farther away from God. Our text today, shows us how Christ gives us the recipe or instructions on how to move from a life of being self-centered to a life wherein we live in communal relationship with our brothers and sisters. Our growth is predicated on how we respond to biblical teaching. It seems as if Jesus knew this would be a major challenge to humanity so he has much to say about it in the Bible. Treating others like we want to be treated is not a foreign concept when it comes to the scriptures. So how do we begin to alter the course of violating the word of God.

We must change our Internal Dynamics (Lk. 6:27-28)

Loving our enemies means acting in their best interest. We can pray for them, and we can think of ways to help them. Christ presents sound teaching that helps change our view of how we see ourselves and how we understand others. Overcoming strongholds is reflective of how we think and act. Philippians 2:5 instructs us to have the mind of Christ when it comes to our relationship with others. If the mind is not of Christ anything can venture in. We hold on to negative thoughts and experiences, rather than seeking ways to reconcile. In order to change the internal construct of our lives we must digest positive things and they must be of the heavenly nature. We show the power of positive biblical teaching by expressing an attitude of love towards others no matter what is thrown in our path.

Practice Internal disciplines (Luke 6:29-34)

Internal discipline is not just found in what we say but what we do. We are not built to sit back and allow people to take advantage of us. Even with Christ’s teachings and examples, it can be challenging to not engage the adv ersary with love. This principle that Jesus teaches will help us because it is designed to initiate the right response from you and I as a believer. “To one who strike you.” Notice in our text, Jesus deals with what’s done to us personally, not to our families or family member. If the offense is commited against you here is how you should respond. Discipline teaches me that even when I can do something about a given situation, I must respond in the correct way, that’s the way of Christ.

Engage eternal Concepts (Luke 6:35-36)

We should function accordingly in the grace of God because we know what He has done for us. When we understand that our spiritual journey has eternal rewards with it. Because of this we can operate in the testimony of “this joy that I have the world didn’t give to me, and the world can’t take it away. Our focus cannot be on reciprocal materialism because there is a greater reward if we engage in the eternal concepts of God. Yes, by responding to the teachings in this text, we position ourselves for receiving a great reward. Be the son or daughter of God and operate in a different realm or community than the worlds view. You’ll be blessed for interacting the godly way. Don’t be enticed, stay with God.

Closure: In the pursuit of life, gaining popularity in this world we engage so many different communities and cultures. Trying to manage a healthy and a spiritual level of control can be challenging. But if we approach life and interpersonal relationships within the confines of our scripture lesson today we can manage the conflicts that we face. What ever we go through, God is bigger and greater than life’s trials. Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.........