Sermon March 10, 2019 – PastorBryon
Introduction
An Armenian nurse had been held captive along with her brother by the Turks. Her brother was slain by a Turkish soldier before her eyes. Somehow she escaped and later became a nurse in a military hospital. One day she was stunned to find that the same man who had killed her brother had been captured and brought wounded to the hospital where she worked. Something within her cried out âVengeance.â But a stronger voice called for her to love. She nursed the man back to health. Finally, the recuperating soldier asked her, âWhy didnât you let me die?â Her answer was, âI am a follower of Him who said, âLove your enemies, do good to them which hate youâ â (Luke 6:27). Impressed with her answer, the young soldier replied, âI never heard such words before. Tell me more. I want this kind of religion.â
1 Corinthians 13:7 says that Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
As we finish up our 40 days of love I hope we all have a better understanding of what it means to love like Jesus loves. As a new Church itâs so important to build a strong foundation and that foundation has to be one of love. We have to understand what our purpose is for ourselves, for those in this church and in our community. For the last five weeks we have focused on what it looks like to love like Jesus but also what it doesnât look like. We discussed things that we need to remove from our lives like pride, selfishness, hypocrisy and criticism. Todayâs sermon title is Love in Action and weâll examine what it looks like live, work and minister in Christâs love. To be the Church Christ intends us to be.
Luke 6:27-36
27 âBut I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To 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. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32 âBut if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36. Therefore be merciful just as your father also is merciful.
About The Book of Luke
Just like the other three Gospels this book is derived from the authorâs name. According to tradition Luke was a gentile. He is in fact the only gentile to write any books of scripture. Along with the Book of Luke he also wrote Acts.
There isnât a lot know about Luke such as where he came from, how and when he was converted. We know he was a friend of Paulâs and frequently traveled with him. Paul refers to Luke as a physician and Lukeâs interest in medical phenomenon is evident in the priority he gives to Jesusâ healing ministry.
Love your neighbor like Christ loves you
Today we are taking another lesson out of Jesusâ Sermon on the Mount. He begins by saying âTo you who will hearâ. He knows what he is about to say is difficult to receive and he also knows not everyone listening will accept what heâs about to say because it goes against human nature.
âLove your enemies, do good to those who hate youâ. The Old Testament teaches us that we are to love our neighbors however; this loving our enemies isnât what we have in mind when we think of our neighbors is it? Most often when we think of loving our neighbors we see this as a call to be nicer to the people in our lives whom we like. Weâll even stretch it to that guy who really annoys us at work but to say we should love our enemies isnât something they hadnât even considered.
He doesnât stop there, Jesus compounds the command by teaching that we should âbless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To 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. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.â
How can that be fair? How can Jesus ask us to do something so ridiculous? You see Jesus is qualifying the command to love people. Jesus is teaching exactly to what extent He expects us to love because itâs how He loves. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus you need to immolate him in your own life. What would Jesus DO? He loves his enemies.
Jesus then throws in a bit of wisdom that they can understand. The way you want people to treat you, even your enemies, this is how you should treat them. Oh, I get that, yes that makes since but what if they donât respond in a positive way? What if they continue to be mean or cruel towards me? This command isnât conditional on how they act or how they respond.
In verse 32 Jesus begins to reason with his audience; âBut if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
Jesus is saying, anyone can respond to good with good but we have been called to be different, to be set apart.
Jesus finishes up this lesson by saying, âTherefore be merciful just as your father also is mercifulâ. Mercy isnât something that comes natural to us. In fact it goes completely against our worldview. We are more use to do unto others before they do unto us.
So what can we take away as the actions of love?
- We canât qualify people to be worthy or unworthy of love
Matthew 25:40Â – I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!
- Give without an expectation for anything in return
- Our actions are not dependent on others
In our Bible study this week we learned that there are three ways God builds love in our hearts.
- 1 Build Strong Relationships
- Give Yourself Away
- Practice Self-Denial
~ So the question to all of us is this, How will you build strong relationships, give yourself away and practice self denial?
John 13:35 teaches us that the world will know we are Christâs disciples if we have love for one another.
John 13:35 teaches us that the world will know we are Christâs disciples if we have love for one another.