Month February 2023

Do you love your enemies?

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you LOVE your ENEMY?

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”    (Luke 6:27-36).

All this month we’ve been talking about LOVE. Here’s a recap.

Love the LORD week 1;

First, GOD IS LOVE. (1John 4:8)

Second, GOD LOVES. (1John 4:9)

Third, HE LOVED US FIRST. (1John 4:19)

Last, GOD DIED FOR US. (1John 3:16)

Love OTHERS week 2:

Love The Brethren. (John 13:34)

Love Others. (1Thess 3:12)

Love to Visit the needy. (Jas 1:27)

Love our Enemies. (Luke 6:27)

Love His Appearing week 3:

We Look for His return. (Luke 12:37)

We Obey Him. (Luke 6:46)

We add Virtue, etc. (2Pet 1:5-11)

We Endure this life. (Matt 10:24)

This week we’ll look at the Lord’s command to Love our Enemy.

It’s unambiguous that we are to love our enemies. Who our enemies are varies. As much as it lies within us, we try to live at peace with all men (Rom 12:18), but there are some that just don’t like us, are rude, mean, or antagonistic to the church. It matters not why; Jesus taught us to LOVE our ENEMIES.

How are we to LOVE an ENEMY?

First, with EMPATHY. We need to have empathy for we were once enemies to the Lord.

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10).

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1Cor 6:9-11).

No matter what a person may say to provoke us, we must remain NICE. The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (Jas 1:20)

“And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same” (Luke 6:33).

This teaching doesn’t mean we put ourselves in harm’s way. Paul avoided many attacks on his life by the Jews, but he still desired they be saved.

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Rom 10:1).

This next one is difficult, but we need to have a heart to EVANGELIZE.

Some will, some wont, but you’ll never know until you try. We seldom think about, nor even desire to teach an enemy the truth of the gospel.

I ask myself this question whenever interacting with an “enemy;” Could I invite them to worship despite our conflict? Look at this example:

Jesus sent Ananias to Saul of Tarsus to teach him the gospel. “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem” (Acts 9:10-16).

Within the command to love our enemy is to be Merciful.

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

Merciful means… compassionate, experiencing deep pity (lamentation) as God has for people who look to Him for help in their difficult situations. Consider the example of the stolen servant girl who told Naaman of a cure for leprosy. (2Kings 5:1-3). “Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.”

Finally, and very importantly, YOUR forgiveness depends on it. Let’s read from our passage in Luke:

“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:32-35). To love only those that love us is no better than the enemies themselves. Look at what Jesus taught:

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”

(Matt 6:14-15; Mt 18:35; Mr 11:25-26; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13).

People mistake these concepts as having to take abuse, pain, etc. That’s a mistake. We have authority to avoid our enemies attacks, if we do it without sin, and without denying the Lord.

Think about the Apostle Paul in Acts 23:12-31. Some of the very people he was trying to reach with the Gospel had sworn to lie in wait for him so they would have occasion to ambush and kill him. He loved those in Judaism who were persecuting him (Rom 10:1-3), but that didn’t mean he had to be killed if it could be avoided (see, Acts 9:25; 2Cor 11:33).

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”

(Rom 12:19-21).

–Spencer

Will you LOVE His APPEARING?

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“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”                  (2Timothy 4:8).

All this month we’ve been talking about LOVE. Here’s a recap.

Love the LORD week 1;

First, GOD IS LOVE. (1John 4:8)

Second, GOD LOVES. (1John 4:9)

Third, HE LOVED US FIRST. (1John 4:19)

Last, GOD DIED FOR US. (1John 3:16)

Love OTHERS week 2:

Love The Brethren. (John 13:34)

Love Others. (1Thess 3:12)

Love to Visit the needy. (Jas 1:27)

Love our Enemies. (Luke 6:27)

This week we ask, do we Love the Victory in Christ at His Appearing?

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 15:57).

Are you looking forward to the return of Christ, so much so that you will actually LOVE His appearing? I heard about a man that had just enough religion that kept him from being happy at the bar, but not enough to be happy in the worship. That man may not Love His Appearing.

Will we LOVE His Appearing? When we speak about these things we need to be reminded that we can be sure about our salvation, and also beware of the possibility of falling. Here are 4 things that those that love His appearing can do today.

Those that love His Appearing are LOOKING, watching, and expecting His return any day. We wake with the expectation that He may return today, and keep watch over ourselves to be ready for that possibility.

“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” (Luke 12:37)

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matt 24:42).

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2Peter 3:10).

Those that love His Appearing are OBEYING His commandments. He will ask us on the judgement day, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say” (Luke 6:46)? Therefore, those that love His appearing are obeying His word.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods” (Matt 24:45-47).

“I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first” (Rev 2:19).

Those that love His Appearing are adding VIRTUE, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness, and Love (2 Peter 1:5-11). Just as a mother looks to see growth in her child, so too our Lord. Therefore, the child of God is growing and maturing.

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Heb 5:12).

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1Peter 2:2).

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Eph 4:15).

Those that love His Appearing ENDURE Suffering & Temptation. While no suffering is joyful at the moment, we know that the world hated Christ before it hated us. Are we any better than the Master? (Matt 10:24)

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10).

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt 10:22).

“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2Peter 3:17).

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 5:15)

Friends, my plea as that we live in such a way that we shall Love His Appearing.

–Spencer

If you live in the Borger area and Would you like to know more about how to look forward to His return, let us know.

2Peter chp2 DESTRUCTIVE nature of False Teachers

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DOCTRINE of FALSE TEACHERS 1-4.

2Pe 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

False Teachers w/ FEIGNED words.

DOOM of False Teachers 4-11

2Pe 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;

DEPRAVITY of False Teachers 12-16

2Pe 2:12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

DESTINY of False Teachers 17-22

2Pe 2:22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Hebrews ch10 He TAKES away the first

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HEBREWS 10 He TAKES away the 1st.

TAKES away. 1-18

  1. Impossible for blood of bulls to TAKE away sins. 1-4
    1. Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
  2. He takes AWAY the first to establish the second. 5-10
    1. Heb 10:9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
  3. He sat down on His throne as KING.… 11-14.
    1. 1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.,
  4. He will EDUCATE them. 15-18
  5. The Holy SPIRIT witnesses. 15-18
    1. Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:
    1. See Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

HEBREWS 10:19-39 LET US…

DRAW NEAR. 22

HOLD FAST THE CONFESSION. 23

CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER TO STIR. 24

ASSEMBLE TOGETHER. 25

DRAW BACK. 26-39

  1. A fearful EXPECTATION of judgment. 26-31
    1. Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
    1. Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
    1. How shall we ESCAPE, Heb 2:3
  2. SHALL… 32-39
    1. Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
    1. Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
    1. Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Overview of Hebrews.

Hebrews ch9 – Christ ENTERED Heaven for us

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Hebrews 9 chapter overview.

The Earthly TABERNACLE. 9:1-10

Heb 9:2 For there was a TABERNACLE made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Christ ENTERED heaven, the real tent, with his own blood. 11-14

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he ENTERED in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

The NEW covenant established by the blood. 15-22

Heb 9:5 And for this cause he is the mediator of the NEW testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

He entered the TRUE things, to God himself for us. 23-28

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the TRUE; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Who do you LOVE?

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Who do you LOVE?

“But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love”

(1Cor 13:13; ASV).

“And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”

(Matt 22:37).

Here’s a recap of last week:

First, GOD IS LOVE. (1John 4:8)

Second, GOD LOVES. (1John 4:9)

Third, HE LOVED US FIRST. (1John 4:19)

Last, GOD DIED FOR US. (1John 3:16)

This week we’ll continue to look at LOVE.

Why we should Love.

Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment. “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (Luke 10:27).

In continuation of our study on LOVE, let’s look at the second part of the great command, to love your neighbor as yourself.

Our love for OTHERS.

There are a few categories of people, the first are our brethren. We are to treat them LIKE KINGS & QUEENS because that’s what they are. “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father” (Rev 5-6).

We are to love the brethren like Christ showed, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12).

The Apostles Peter, John, and Paul repeated this command, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1Peter 1:22; 2:17).

“He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes” (1John 2:10, 3:11, 14, 23; 4:11, 12).

“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another” (1Thess 4:9).

We are to love the brethren. Next, we are to love OTHERS.

“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you” (1Thess 3:12).

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law: (Rom 13:8). “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well” (James 2:8).

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Gal 5:14).

We are to love others. We are also to love in deed.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). To “visit” is to render aid to someone in need. This is an individual responsibility we have toward those in our own house, or toward our neighbors as we have opportunity and is separate from the local church funds. “If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed” (1Tim 5:8-16).

The local church collectively has a responsibility for limited benevolence for the needy saints. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1Cor 16:1-2; Acts 11:29). “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (Jas 14:15-17).

We are to love in deed by visiting the needy. Finally, we are to love our Enemies.

This last one separates us from everyone else in the world. As the Lord commanded, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:27-36).

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1John 3:18).

–Spencer is an evangelist in Borger Texas working with the church of Christ on Franklin & Juniper.

Loving the LORD pt4 DELIVERANCE

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4 Things about Loving the LORD

4/4

The LORD DELIVERS those that Love Him.

Psalm 145:20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

Psalm 31:23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

Psalm 18:1 <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,>> I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

2Cor 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

2Tim 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

about Loving the LORD pt3 Receive a Crown

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4 Things about Loving the LORD

3/4

Those that love Him shall RECEIVE a crown.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

2Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

1Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

links to prior parts.

Love the Lord pt 2, OBEY Him.

We ought to Love the LORD pt 1.

Love the LORD pt2 OBEY Him

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4 Things about Loving the LORD

2/4

Click her for Part one.

We are to OBEY him out of love.

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God,

Da 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

De 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.

Ne 1:5; Deut 30:16,20; De 13:3; 11:1,13,22; 10:12; 6:5; 7:9.

Jos 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

God Loves us as seen in sending His Son.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

We demonstrate our Love for Him when we keep His commandments.

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Malachi 1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

If you live in Borger and would like some help in learning how to Love the LORD, contact us.

Link to Part 1.

We ought to Love the LORD pt 1.