Honorable Service #8
John 12:26 (NIV) Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Today…we will learn that honorable service means we choose to love and pray for our enemies (people we don’t like).
Matthew 5:43-47 (NIV) 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)
Background: What was Jesus saying to His followers?
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
What did they hear when Jesus said, “Love your enemies”?
Who were their enemies? The word Jesus used was a word that had a broad meaning. It references a person who is hateful, hostile and rebellious. People with whom one had a disagreement or a different view of life.
How do we love them? With “agape” love.
The Greek language used five different words for “love”.
Storgenatural affection,
Phileothe love of friendship,
Epithymiadenotes strong desire or strong passion,
Erosromantic in nature,
AgapeAgape is a self-giving, self-sacrificing commitment and action.
Sacrificially give yourself to help your enemy know about the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Pray for those who persecute you!
What does pray mean? Expressing a fervent passion to God.
What does persecute mean? Pursuing you to harass or harm you.
Jesus went on to illustrate the idea from nature and life relationships.
Why do this?... “that you may be sons (children) of your father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:45)
Take away lessons for living honorably for Jesus:
- Jesus wants us to love and pray for people who are our enemies and/or who function like an enemy…people whom we have treated badly and people who have treated us badly.
- Our love must be driven by the demonstration of Jesus Christ who went to the cross to suffer and pay the price for us to have eternal life. It will almost certainly be sacrificial. It will very likely feel painful.
- We must pray for the one who treats us badly, asking God to capture their heart for good.
- The way we love and pray for people who treat us badly will tell about how deeply we are committed to following Jesus Christ.
Commitment prayer: “Dear God, there is someone who is like an enemy to me. I am committing to love and pray for ______. I ask that you will give me the strength to honorably serve you by loving and praying for my enemies.”
Honorable Service #8
John 12:26 (NIV) Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Today…we will learn that honorable service means we choose to ______and ______for our enemies (people we don’t like).
Matthew 5:43-47 (NIV) 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)
Background: What was Jesus saying to His followers?
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
What did they ______when Jesus said, “Love your enemies”?
Who were their enemies? The word Jesus used was a word that had a broad meaning. It references a person who is ______, hostile and rebellious. People with whom one had a ______or a different view of life.
How do we love them? With “______” love.
The Greek language used five different words for “love”.
Storge______affection,
Phileothe love of ______
Epithymiadenotes strong ______or strong passion
Eros______in nature,
AgapeAgape is a self-giving, self-sacrificing ______and action.
Sacrificially give yourself to help your ______know about the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Pray for those who persecute you!
What does pray mean? ______a fervent passion to God.
What does persecute mean? ______you to harass or harm you.
Illustrations from ______and ______relationships.
Why do this?... “that you may be ______(______) of your father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:45)
Take away lessons for living honorably for Jesus:
- Jesus wants us to ______and ______for people who are our enemies and/or who function like an enemy…people whom we have treated badly and people who have treated us badly.
- Our love must be driven by the ______of Jesus Christ who went to the cross to suffer and pay the price for us to have eternal life. It will almost certainly be sacrificial. It will very likely feel painful.
- We must pray for the one who treats us badly, asking God to capture their heart for ______.
- The way we love and pray for people who treat us badly will tell about how deeply we are ______to following Jesus Christ.
Commitment prayer: “Dear God, there is someone who is like an enemy to me. I am committing to love and pray for ______. I ask that you will give me the strength to honorably serve you by loving and praying for my enemies.”