Changing the Way You See the Enemy

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – January 21, 2018

Series Title: “This is How Change Begins”

Today’s Title: “Changing the Way You See the Enemy”

Today’s Text: Matthew 5:43-48

 

‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

• God is love, to live in opposition to God
• 1 John 2:9, 2:11, 3:13, 3:15, 4:20

 

love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

• What is an “enemy”? How do I “love my enemy”?
  • PRAY
    • Pray for their well being
    • Pray for the ability to see him/her as God does
    • Pray that you’d see why he/she is that way
    • Pray for the strength to love them
  • FORGIVE
    • Matthew 6:12-15
    • Colossians 3:13
  • LISTEN - James 1:19-20
  • REPEAT… & repeat, & repeat, & repeat, & repeat, & repeat..

 

that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

• A child of God loves the way God loves- 1 John 3:16-18

 

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, …

• Weather is no indication of blessing or curse from God
• Circumstances are not an indication of blessing or curse from God

 

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? …

• Don’t play the game the world plays; you will lose (no one really wins at that game)

 

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

• “therefore”, see law and life and people through God’s eyes of love.

1 John 4:18