Tel: (719) 487-7888 | Fax: (719) 896-5410 If you claim not to have any enemies, I'd like to make you an offer. That's when it dawned on me - I'd done all the talking. Doesn't the Bible tell us we're to cry out against sin and fiercely resist evildoers?" Yet this same Ahithophel - seemingly so wise and spiritual, so without guile, so dedicated to David and his cause - suddenly turned on the king, becoming his enemy. First, the law required the priest to slay the sacrifice and place it on the altar, to deal with the people's sin. Try different people to practice on, as some people do not easily fit into the above categories, but do try to keep to the prescribed order. Now Let's Talk About Those Enemies Within the Church. Hear more about this from Joyce! In the early days, his words were kind and loving, and you thought, "We're so close. There is the ordinary happiness of food, The law was holy, instructing, "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee" (Proverbs 25:21-22). Sections of this page. Yet Jesus makes clear that we have nothing to fear from the devil. He even enlisted David's own son, Absalom, in a plot to kill him. Jesus says he has given us all power over the enemy. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. I want to focus instead on our trials with human enemies - flesh-and-blood opponents, people we may live with or work alongside. It is able to “suck” energy from everywhere and turn a person into an invalid. This is because of the risk that the near enemy of loving-kindness, lust, can be aroused. More than that, we should love our enemies because it is one of the trademarks of being a son or daughter of God. Prostate Cancer: Watchful Waiting vs. But, the fact is, these things are what make someone your enemy. And if they love you, then there is something special in you, and you are bound to make it your strong side. "Pray for them which despitefully use you." But that does not excuse me from taking his eternal soul seriously. Peter is talking about any single issue - a struggle, trial or temptation - that could swallow you up and send you into depression, fear or discouragement. I haven't touched this man - yet he has turned against me. He despised me. Such duels give birth to the right motivation to be better. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul" (56:5-6). Yet, instead, we often joke at their expense. How could he turn out this way?". ... It’s much better to work it out—in such a way that everyone benefits. But, at the same time, you may be devoured by an ongoing struggle with a human enemy. But we are to resist these people's evil ways without hating their persons. Many years ago, for example, I lived with another Jesuit who simply refused to talk to me. We can hate the sins of homosexuals, abortionists and all Christ despisers. Get a life in the Spirit." Finally, one of my favorite parts of self-love is the growth. I found out later this dear couple had been hurting - and that's why they were desperate to meet with us. We need building up, but we also need humility. Even when speaking from the position of hatred, in his words you can always find particles of truth. I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies" (Psalm 139:21-22). We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company" (Psalm 55:12-14). I'll forgive your enemy on your account. The power of love is universally recognized and has been used in ancient healing traditions in cultures throughout the world. Christ states clearly that the battle with Satan has already been won. ", Out of his awful hurt, depression and anger, David cried out impetuously: "Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them" (55:15). 17. When you love your enemies, you show that Jesus is the Lord of your life. Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. And he' reproaching you - spewing out smooth talk, while behind your back he tries to destroy you. (Matthew 5:45) But he never stopped loving the people or praying for their souls. He was saying, "Hound them, Lord - don't give them any sleep, because of what they did to me.". 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. It keeps us from falling into the enemy’s traps. Your book would surely be a bestseller. I expect this kind of thing in business, but I'm discouraged by what I saw and heard among these men. Luke 6: 27-28 Why love your enemies & What is In It For You #1 You Bless Yourself. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:43-48 ESV / 170 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. Enemies are the ones that will help you discover and measure your sense of anger and learn to master. Without enemies, we will not be able to get the lessons that will make us better. Enemies keep us from getting comfortable with ourselves, and with our work. ", But now he's forsaken you, perhaps for someone else. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Then, as things begin to go wrong in our lives, we won't understand them, because we'll be in disobedience. He said, "Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. One day a dear couple in ministry asked to have lunch with my wife, Gwen, and me. Hatred carries only toxic emotions and leads to bad reactions. Loving who you are as a person can turn you into many wonderful things. Enemies only have strong personalities, the arena of rivalry here is the right … I believe Jesus' name has been dishonored by the way many Christians have reacted to evildoers. Facebook. Why love your enemies ~ What else is in it for me #2 You Will be Forgiven Our power is on our knees, not in shaking our fists or leveling angry judgments. Forgive them. Loving your enemy But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. Of course, no one can remit someone's sins against God. He beseeched God, "Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly" (Psalm 6:10). Recorded at the 2009 Tibet House US Retreat “Working With Your Enemies” at Menla Retreat in Phoenicia, New York. When you love your enemies, you do what God wants you to do. Moreover, we bring glory to our heavenly father whenever we overlook hurts and forgive the sins done to us. And each of us has had at least one of these experiences. This person's attack on you has robbed you of all peace. We've railed against those whom we should be praying for. They still feel justified in despising their enemies. I remember an occasion when some people I dearly loved rose up against me, persecuting and reproaching me. And I couldn't figure out why and efforts at reconciliation failed miserably. You could tell how no one has ever injured you, kept you from a desire, or orchestrated a destructive offense against you. Do you understand your enemy – you win the war! “Love your enemy” is building caring communities that are inclusive, friend and foe alike are embraced with care, with the genuine hope that with such … In my life I've found it probably the most difficult thing to do as a Christian. Of course, your kindness may be rejected. I'm sad to say, it's all too true. Yes, it does. (1 John 4:20). The enemy will not flatter you. In fact, Ahithophel grew so bitter toward David, he actually rallied people against him. I don't see how this could be true of any Christian." And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? Sign up now to receive our Daily Devotional or E-newsletter. P.O. Loving your enemies and pray for those who persecute you is hard. We're not just to think good things about our enemies, but to speak them openly. 2. When we can challenge our attitude in a positive way it is very powerful. And that makes it all the more difficult because loving them doesn’t come with any promises. Perhaps you're separated or divorced from your mate, and now that spouse is knifing you. Don't wait - don't miss the opportunity - because your enemy's soul could slip into eternity still carrying his sin. In one instance, David's enemy was a close friend, one of God's own people. David was saying, in essence, "If this had been some ordinary person, I could've handled it. "Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them" (15:12). But if it's accepted, you can stand on judgment day knowing your enemy wasn't judged and damned because of his sin against you." David moaned, "They're watching my every move, waiting to trick me. In Love Your Enemies, the New York Times bestselling author and social scientist Arthur C. Brooks shows that abuse and outrage are not the right formula for lasting success. Here are some ways you can do it. Realize that forgiveness and loving your enemy is more about benefiting yourself than them. In our awful hurt and depression, we cry out self-righteously against our enemies, "Lord, don't let them live another day.". Yet this bosom friend turned on David, betraying him. Description Extended Description Reviews Love your Enemies - Spiritual Life Series vol. "I hate and abhor [their] lying" (119:163). "This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment" (1 John 3:23). The ancient Hindu treatises Vedas say that man has only six enemies in this world: lust, anger, jealousy, selfishness, arrogance, and illusion. Often, God's command to love our enemies can seem like bitter, distasteful medicine. God's Truth & Deliverance P.O. Photo by James Pond on Unsplash “Normally, we don’t want to love someone we’re in an adverse relationship with. We may feel it means giving in, surrendering, or giving up our values. He'll become the victor, succeeding in giving us a permanent wound. Enraged teachers, jealous of the revelations Paul received, mocked and misquoted him. We say, "Love your enemies," but then go back to our bunker, maybe with a superficial smile, but without stopping to apply Jesus' words to our lives. (Matthew 5:44-45a) A hopefulness that opens doors. You cry yourself to sleep, thinking, "I thought I knew him. We say, "Love your enemies," but then go back to our bunker, maybe with a superficial smile, but without stopping to … Someone has risen up against you - manifesting envy and bitterness, misrepresenting your actions and motives, smearing your reputation, opposing you at every turn, seeking to thwart God's purpose in your life. God is merciful. God's going to punish you for this sin." This is easier said than done, though, so how do you learn to love your enemies? And the wound hurts even more deeply because he was your friend. 4 by Hieromonk Gregorios, Elder of the Cell of St. John the Theologian, Koutloumousiou Monastery, Mount Athos. If you win them, you will see that there are only friends around you. 3. Brooks blends cutting-edge behavioral research, ancient wisdom, and a decade of experience of experience leading one of America’s top policy think tanks in a work that offers a better way to lead based on bridging divides and mending … But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:43-44). So, if he is interceding for their souls, how can you remain an enemy to them? 7. They've pursued me, blind-sided me, overtaken me. Practice trusting your own inner guidance system, and you’ll notice … This man was David's prayer partner, a companion who shared his love for God. As I looked at Gwen, I saw discouragement in her eyes. Are you struggling to find ways to "love your enemies" according to the Lord Jesus' command in Matthew 5:44? Maybe your enemy is a close, personal friend - perhaps a ministry associate or Christian coworker. Even churches rose up against him. Yet at the height of his pain - on the very brink of death - Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them" (Luke 23:34). You did nothing to cause his opposition to you. Jesus did both: First, he made the sacrifice for sin, with his own body. As Peter wrote of Christ, "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23). So I really hope that the simple fact that God wants you to love your enemies is enough for you to do it. Paul writes, "Give place unto wrath" (Romans 12:19). Many Christians aren't willing to take this medicine. Hear more about this from Joyce! He learned it's possible to hate someone's evil without hating the person. by Stelios Zarganes, Trim size 4x6, 52pp. Loving your enemies can bring benefits not just to you but to the people around you. 3. Shutterstock “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. Transforming Lives Through the Message and Mission of Jesus Christ In fact, even as he reproaches you, you've remained friendly. Recall the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in … Yet now David said of Ahithophel, his former friend, "Kill him, God. And that was too much for me to bear.". Lay it down and move on. Our persecutor's vexations against us will continue to rob us of peace. If you only understood the depths of pain I've been through, you wouldn't demand this of me. When you have enemies, you feel their dislike toward you. When Miriam rose up in complaint against her brother, Moses, she committed a sin worthy of death. You've successfully resisted all temptations and evil desires, all lusts and materialism, all loves of this world. In Matthew 5, Jesus teaches us that we are to love even our enemies. Yet this wasn't to be so under Christ's ministry of grace. I want to sign you up to write a book explaining how you managed to get this far in life without having a single person oppose you. But, in your life, there are necessarily people who love you. At that time, Jews loved only other Jews. But the Lord commands us to love them as people - people for whom Jesus died. We are commanded to love our enemies in order to be like God and in order to be distinct from lost men. Loving your enemy is different from liking your enemy. Jesus is saying, in essence, "Do everything in your power to seek your enemy's healing and recovery from Satan's snare. That couple never knew what hit them. Loving those who've wounded us is not an option, but a command. David ripped his clothes in grief and called upon his friends to fast and pray, crying, "A giant of Israel has fallen. We can hate the immoral actions of those in government. Even when you feel besieged by negativity and hostility, you can always find a positive point of view. Paul was following Jesus' example. He's saying, in short, "Suffer the wrong. Even when speaking from the position of hatred, in his words you can always find particles of truth. God's mercy and grace toward us will be shut off. Saul was a beautiful man of God." When we forgive as God forgives, he brings us into a revelation of favor and blessing we've never known. I have truly failed at this command. But then, zing - that friend stabbed you in the back. Then he prayed for the forgiveness of the people, including his own persecutors. I've Got Some Strong, Spiritual Castor Oil for You. Whenever I had the chance, I unburdened my heart to anyone who would listen. When someone strikes you on the face, you turn the other cheek. We're to try to tear down any walls that might damn them, and put forth every effort to rebuild a bridge to them. Yet your focus isn't to be on your own hurt, but on the deception of your enemy's soul.". Instead, they walked away downcast in spirit. - Luke 6:27–36 Your enemies will make you see what needs to be changed in your life while your friends … Matthew 5:43-48 English Standard Version (ESV) Love Your Enemies. Stephen had every right to resist those who stoned him. All of these people made themselves Christ's enemies, railing at him maliciously. Only Christ can do this, through his work at the cross. Our Story David Wilkerson Gary Wilkerson Essential Beliefs Speakers, Daily Devotional Newsletter Podcasts Sermons Promise Calendar Updates, Donate Now Planned Giving Offline Giving Why Support WC Gift Acceptance Policy Give to Israel, Connect with WC Contact UsWorld Challenge App FAQ Careers Translators Application Privacy Policy, © 2021 World Challenge, Inc | All Rights Reserved. Loving our enemies, but your enemies as the children they once (! Will gain another friend make someone your enemy but I do n't miss the -... Physicians acknowledge its benefits to the immune system, while behind your back he to! Of personal gain 've handled it have told and laughed at many jokes about our President Show. Goals or derail your future Western physicians acknowledge its benefits to the right motivation to be.... Flippant or sarcastic is saying, in short, `` speaking only what is in it for you others. Read that if we react as Jesus has forgiven you you for this sin. example, I unburdened heart! 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