Developing a Love for those we Dislike

Introduction:
Many things that Jesus taught might be considered hard by man. See Lk. 17:1-5. After teaching His apostles about the need for repentance/forgiveness in others they asked, Lord, increase our faith. Many things in Christianity require discipline and are not that easy to do. One such item is found in Mt. 5:44-48; Lk. 6:27-36. Jesus specifically commanded that we love our enemies. Some say this is impossible. We know that can be, because all things are possible through Christ (Phil. 4:13). What kind of love is Jesus talking about here? How do we specifically obey the command? Why should we obey this command?

I. What kind of ___________ is Jesus talking about here?
    A. Warm fuzzy? Tender affection?
    B. Thayer: agape love. To have ____________ for; wish well to; to _________ the _________ of.
    C. Vines: it is not an impulse from ____________; it does not run with ___________ inclination.
        1. It’s learned behavior.
    D. This is the kind of love that:
        1. Realizes every person has a _______ and needs to be saved.
        2. Whereby we those we don’t like as if we __________ them.
        3. Whereby we would be willing to _______—even when we did not want to.
            a) Lk. 10:30-42—Good Samaritan
            b) Jhn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8-10—God w/man.

II. How do we specifically obey this command?
    A. Lk. 6:27—do ______ to those who _________ you.
        1. Initiate benevolent actions for spiteful actions.
        2. See Rom. 12:20; Gen. 45
        3. Seek to _________ a stone from enemies path—rather than ____ one!
    B. Lk. 6:28a—__________those that ________ you.
        1. Reply to bitter words with kind words.
        2. See Rom. 12:17; 1 Pet. 3:9
    C. Lk. 6:28b—____________ for those that ___________ you.
        1. Hard to hate someone that you’re praying for.
        2. See Moses & Miriam in Num. 12:13;Stephan—Acts 7:60; Jesus—Lk. 23:34

III. Why should I obey this command?
    A. Not to turn them into my __________.
    B. To demonstrate the __________ of ____________. See 1 Jhn. 4:7-11
    C. This is a ________________ of being God’s child. See Mt. 5:45
    D. 5:46-47—it helps us to be ______________; do more than others.
        1. We need to see people as ___________ of God; caught in sin & downtrodden by Satan.
    E. 5:48—so we can be ____________ like our heavenly _____________.
        1. Literally: finished; completed; __________; _______.
        2. We can express our Christianity through our love to enemies!

Conclusion:
A. We can/will do this through the power of God! Phil. 4:13
B. We can become a new person & a new creation in Christ Jesus! Have you? See 2 Cor. 5:17-21.



Developing a Love for those we Dislike Introduction: Many things that Jesus taught might be considered hard by man. See Lk. 17:1-5. After teaching His apostles about the need for repentance/forgiveness in others they asked, Lord, increase our faith. Many things in Christianity require discipline and are not that easy to do. One such item is found in Mt. 5:44-48; Lk. 6:27-36. Jesus specifically commanded that we love our enemies. Some say this is impossible. We know that can be, because all things are possible through Christ (Phil. 4:13). What kind of love is Jesus talking about here? How do we specifically obey the command? Why should we obey this command? I. What kind of ___________ is Jesus talking about here? A. Warm fuzzy? Tender affection? B. Thayer: agape love. To have ____________ for; wish well to; to _________ the _________ of. C. Vines: it is not an impulse from ____________; it does not run with ___________ inclination. 1. It’s learned behavior. D. This is the kind of love that: 1. Realizes every person has a _______ and needs to be saved. 2. Whereby we those we don’t like as if we __________ them. 3. Whereby we would be willing to _______—even when we did not want to. a) Lk. 10:30-42—Good Samaritan b) Jhn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8-10—God w/man. II. How do we specifically obey this command? A. Lk. 6:27—do ______ to those who _________ you. 1. Initiate benevolent actions for spiteful actions. 2. See Rom. 12:20; Gen. 45 3. Seek to _________ a stone from enemies path—rather than ____ one! B. Lk. 6:28a—__________those that ________ you. 1. Reply to bitter words with kind words. 2. See Rom. 12:17; 1 Pet. 3:9 C. Lk. 6:28b—____________ for those that ___________ you. 1. Hard to hate someone that you’re praying for. 2. See Moses & Miriam in Num. 12:13;Stephan—Acts 7:60; Jesus—Lk. 23:34 III. Why should I obey this command? A. Not to turn them into my __________. B. To demonstrate the __________ of ____________. See 1 Jhn. 4:7-11 C. This is a ________________ of being God’s child. See Mt. 5:45 D. 5:46-47—it helps us to be ______________; do more than others. 1. We need to see people as ___________ of God; caught in sin & downtrodden by Satan. E. 5:48—so we can be ____________ like our heavenly _____________. 1. Literally: finished; completed; __________; _______. 2. We can express our Christianity through our love to enemies! Conclusion: A. We can/will do this through the power of God! Phil. 4:13 B. We can become a new person & a new creation in Christ Jesus! Have you? See 2 Cor. 5:17-21.