Random Acts of Loving Thy Hard-to-Love Neighbour
Luke 6:31-36
Audio MP3
April 21, 2013
PM
Pastor Craig
Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (Matthew
22:34-40)
A.
This morning we were strongly
reminded just how seriously we are to take the command to Love our neighbour
1.
It is often the missing
ingredient in our attempt to give people the Gospel
2.
It can make a huge
difference to people
3.
It changes us
B.
We learned that we have to love
our neighbours, but there are some that are just very hard to love – very hard!
C.
HOW are we supposed
to love…
1.
Unloveable people?
2.
Unhelpable people?
3.
Unapproachable
people?
4.
Unappreciative
people? (2Cor 12:15)!
D.
I am glad you asked!
II.
Message
A.
The Question! “What Do Ye
More Than Others?”
1.
It is easy to love those that
love you, and that appreciate kindness!
2.
That’s obvious
3.
Those are the ones
we usually think about when we want to be kind
4.
Those are the ones
that we treat to dinner, or take to lunch
5.
But THAT is not the
only kind to love!
6.
The issue is… What
do ye MORE than others?
a.
Matthew 5:46,47
b.
Luke 14:11-14
c.
Luke 6:31-36 - There
is that Golden Rule again (Luke 6:31)
B.
The Command (Luke
6:31,35,36, 27-29) “Love our Neighbour”
1.
No Matter How Hard! Even if our
Enemy!
2.
A Christian Thing!
a.
Do good to them which hate you,
b.
Bless them that
curse you
c.
pray for them which
despitefully use you.
d.
unto him that
smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other
e.
and him that taketh
away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
f.
Forgive 490 times in
a day
g.
Only a born again,
spirit-filled child of God could even attempt to do such things!
C.
Some Examples
1.
David was KIND to King Saul (1Sam
24:1-11, 16-19)
a.
Showed compassion on this man who
made his life hell on earth for 7 years!
b.
Suffered instead of
Saul – lived in caves while Saul lived in HIS palace!
c.
Prayed for Saul
(Psalm 35:11-16; 109:2-5)
d.
Honoured Saul as his
king!
e.
Mourned when Saul
died instead of rejoiced (2Sam 1:17-24)
2.
Jesus loved His Enemies
a.
Accepted the kiss of Judas and
called him “Friend”
b.
Forgave those that
crucified Him – “forgive THEM!”
c.
Forgot about Peter’s
three denials!
3.
Jesus loved the untouchables
a.
Ate with sinners
b.
Touched lepers
c.
Loved adulterers and
adulteresses – forgave them!
d.
Loved rich,
arrogant, self-centred people (Mark 10:17-21)
e.
Jesus LOVED Saul of
tarsus and against all odds, won him to Himself!
4.
Jesus is constantly kind towards
us – better than we deserve!
a.
He extended His love towards US,
ungodly sinners (Rom 5:6,8)
b.
We are to be kind in
the same way! (Eph 4:31,32)
5.
Joseph loved his wicked and
hurtful brothers (Genesis 50:15-21)
a.
Could have carried a grudge
b.
Could have made
things very hard for them, or sought revenge against them! Joseph had great
authority and power!
c.
Instead, he loved
those that hurt him!
D.
It Is Hard Work – to Love
Someone ELSE as much as I Love MYSELF!
1.
Take a look again at Galatians
6:10, 9 – it is WEARYING work!
a.
“As we have therefore
opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the
household of faith.”
b.
Notice the “weary”
in Gal 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not.”
2.
God uses the word LOVE and
CHARITY (1Cor 13:4-7) as the WAY we are to treat other people!
a.
Suffering long, and yet is kind
in return
b.
Never envies the
good things happening in other people’s lives
c.
Doesn’t exalt
itself, and its importance above others (Philp 2:3)
d.
Is never proud or
arrogant
e.
Doesn’t act
unseemly, or indecently
f.
Doesn’t seek its own
praise
g.
Is not easily
provoked
h.
Never thinks evil of
the other person
i.
Never rejoices in
iniquity – in the sins of others – grieves instead
j.
Always rejoices in
the truth – the greatest truths, not gossip truths!
k.
BEARS (puts up with)
all things
l.
Believeth all things
(about people) – eternal optimism about what God can do in someone’s life
m.
Hopes all the best
for others
n.
Endures every
obstacle and even heartache
III.
Application – How to Go “The Extra Mile” (Matthew 5:41)
A.
By Humility
1.
Allow humiliation – allow the
other person to mock your kindness
2.
Take second place –
let them have, and you have not!
3.
Allow your heart to
get broken and hurt! Jesus did not become harder and harder with all the hurtful
things done against Him, and the abuses!
B.
By Asking God for a Right
Kind of Heart (Psalm 119:32, 36; 1Kgs 4:29; Exek 11:19)
1.
It is not a natural kind of heart
– but a whole additional heart in you
2.
One that is kind and
compassionate and soft and a blessing to others
3.
It must be given to
you!
C.
Have a Merry Heart
Yourself (Proverbs 15:13,15; 17:22)
1.
Keep yourself joyful – not just
happy, but rejoicing
2.
It gives you the
strength to go further than you could otherwise
3.
It is a medicine for
when your heart is hurting – remember blessings, and joys, and the faithful
promises of God, and the good things God has done in your life!
D.
By Obedience – just go
ahead and do it anyway… the love will come!
1.
A forgotten truth
2.
Do what you should,
and the feelings will come later!
3.
You cannot control
the response of someone else, but you can sow right feelings, by right actions!
4.
Go ahead and love
neighbours as yourself, even the hard ones
E.
By Guarding Your Heart
(Prov 4:23)
1.
KEEPING it right, and soft, and
fresh, and compassionate
2.
Don’t let anything
turn your heart back the way it used to be!
3.
Become ROCK-SOLID in
the way you will live now
F.
By Loving Your Master Best
(Matthew 22:37,38)
1.
If you don’t seem to please
people, then at least seek to please your Lord!
2.
Make sure this is
the first and last act of your heart every day! Love the Lord your God with all
your heart, soul, mind, strength!
IV.
Conclusion
A.
The Question! “What Do Ye
More Than Others?”
1.
David was KIND to King Saul (1Sam
24:1-11, 16-19)
2.
Jesus loved His
Enemies, loved the untouchables, is constantly kind towards us!
3.
Joseph loved his
wicked and hurtful brothers (Genesis 50:15-21)
B.
It Is Hard Work – to Love
Someone ELSE as much as I Love MYSELF!
C.
Will you
from now on, determine to go “the extra mile” with people, loving your
neighbour? You forgive yourself a lot don’t you?
You have great patience with yourself, don’t you? Start giving it to others!
1.
By Humility
2.
By
Asking God for a Right Kind of Heart
3.
Have a
Merry Heart Yourself
4.
By
Obedience – just go ahead and do it anyway… the love will come!
5.
By
Guarding Your Heart
6.
By
Loving Your Master