The enemy within

How did you do?

Last week I challenged you not to say anything negative to or about anyone.

I learned two things.

1. Not always possible

Malicious intent. Called names etc.

2. People talk trash about people way more than you notice.

Example....Profanity.

3. Changing the way you talk to or about people, changes the way you feel.

I have people complement me about a sermon and I try and be gracious. But the biggest complement is when people bring it up later and tell me how they are applying it to their life.

That is the Power of the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 NASB95

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

A sward is only useful when you wield it.

The Word is only alive and active when you apply it.

Fitness Magazine

You can read all the articles in a fitness magazine, but your not going to get in shape, until you start applying what you read.

Cookbook

We have a kitchen cabinet full of cookbooks. I can get the out one by one and read every recipe in their, but until I start following the instructions in them, I won’t be fed.

Being “fed” is a Church word we use. You go to church and you are “fed.” We get that because in the books of Peter, Hebrews the Word of God is described as food. Even Jesus said metaphorically Eat of my flesh and drink of my blood.......

But as far as that being the Church’s job to feed you comes directly from Jesus’ charge to Peter found in John 21:15-17

KJV: Feed, Feed, Feed

NKJV Feed, Tend, Feed

15 BosKomai

16 Poinaimo

17 Boskomai

NASB Tend, Shepherd, Tend

Boskomai: Cause to eat.

You don’t feed sheep. You lead them to the pasture, and they eat.

How do you feed?

You read it or hear it, then apply it to your life. How you act, think, and feel.

GPS

If you tell me you have the latest and greatest GPS route guidance software and that you have complete faith and trust in it, but then you disregard it when it tells you to make a turn and you don’t because you don’t feel like it, or it seems difficult, or because you aren’t familiar with that road. Then I would call you a hypocrite.

If you have faith in the GPS then take the route it tells you to take.

So it is with the God and His Word.

How to deal with our Enemies?

Our behavior

Titus 2:7–8 NASB95

7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

2. How we treat them.

Forgiveness

Forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:14–15 NASB95

14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Not a contractual transaction

It is not that the act of forgiving someone is worthy of eternal reward.

Forgiveness is the evidence of the grace of God working in your life.

How do I forgive?

Luke 6:27–28 NASB95

27 “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 mistreat you.

Love your enemies

Patient

Kind

Not jealous

Not bragging

Not arrogant

Not unbecoming

Not self seeking

Not provoked

Does not keep account of wrong

Not rejoicing in unrighteousness

Rejoices with the truth

Bears all things,

believes all things

Hopes all things

Endures all things.

Do good to those who hate you

Food, water, shelter

Bless those who curse you

Kindly toward----Easy to fake

Praise -

Give thanks to - If there is anything.

Speak well of - Find something.

Pray for those that mistreat you

I pray you breaks go out .......

Pray that you would see them as God sees them.

Pray for their safety and family.

Pray that God would show you how to minister to them.

Hurt people hurt people.

Proverbs 25:21–22 NASB95

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22 For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the Lord will reward you.

Pray for someone you don’t want to.