Responding to Enemies

Preparing for Worship

Matthew 5:43-45 (NKJV)

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Prayer

Merciful Father, we come before you with humble hearts exalting You on high. You alone are worthy of all honor and glory. Thank You for Your lovingkindness and tender mercies that never fail despite our unworthiness. It is because of Your mercy that we are not consumed. We continue to praise Your Name with holy lips that have been blessed through Christ Jesus. Amen.

Worship Through Songs

R-49 CHRISTIAN LOVE 主內的愛

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NKJV)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Sermon

Song of Response

Worship Through Prayer

1. Lord, give me faith to obey Your commands. It is not easy for me to not pay back evil for evil. Yet you ask me to do good to those who have wronged me. Help me. In my struggle to obey You, let me find peace in knowing that this is the only way to go so help me please, I pray. 

2. I know I am a sinner. Hence, human revenge is a dangerous matter. Keep me from sinning against You by taking matters into my own hands. Let me find justice in You. Give me wisdom to deal with matters especially when they have gone so far down to the courts of law. Let me not be driven by any sin. Help me leave room for You to make things right for me.

3. Lord, help me to love my enemies. I love You and that's why I want to obey You by loving them. Remove the anger and resentment in my heart. Please replace them with Your love so that I can do good to my enemies with Your holy love. Bless me to bless my enemies in Your Name. May You be glorified in my obedience. Amen.

Worship Through Giving