Matthew 5:43-48
⁴³"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that 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. ⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Intro: Review last week- If a person believes in Jesus Christ and invites the Holy Spirit to come and live inside, what kind of behavior action becomes possible??

1. People who Have God’s Spirit living in, have the ability to show loving kindness to enemies!
   
   Loving enemies does not make a son of the heavenly Father but it does make one known as a real child of God.
   
   Example #1-Jesus heals enemy’s cut-off ear.
   
   Luke 22:50-51
   ⁵⁰And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
   ⁵¹But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.
   
   Matthew 6:1-4
   ¹"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
   ²"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.


2. God is a giver-A Spirit Filled person is capable of giving unconditionally.
   
   Are you an unconditionally giving person?? 
   
   What needs to happen in order to be a forgiver of enemies and an unconditional giver??
   1. A deep revelation of God’s love for you.
   2. You have to learn how to love/like yourself.
   3. You have to learn to love God.

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Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link