Creekside Church, Sunday, Aug 18, 2024
Fire From Heaven
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
LUKE 6
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
LUKE 9
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.
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James and John likely got their idea to reign down fire on the Samaritans from 2 Kings chapter 1 where the prophet Elijah does just that.
“Is it not interesting how the mind can grasp and hold those Scriptures which seem to bless our worst behavior and yet cannot retain past the sanctuary door those texts which summon to love, forgiveness, and mercy?” - Fred Craddock
Isn’t it interesting that you could have a reason for not loving your enemy that you think is actually a Godly excuse?
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Imagine you’re sitting with Jesus and your enemy.
How does Jesus speak to them?
What does Jesus want for them?
How does Jesus want you to treat them?
---
Love your enemies. Easy to understand. Hard to practice.
STEP 1
Realize that God loves his enemies. And that’s you!
Be thankful that God is kind and merciful to his enemies.
STEP 2
Be like God.
Realize Jesus' teachings have nothing to do with your feelings.
Just do it. Because you serve the king.
Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
…lend to them without expecting to get anything back.
---
Acts 8
John is back in Samaria.
Puts his hands on Samaritans and they receive the Holy Spirit.
So we've come a longe way. From reigning down fire from heaven on the Samaritans, to Samaritans receiving the ultimate blessing from heaven.
This is what Jesus wants – kindness and mercy – that no one should perish.
---
Together, let’s love our enemies.
Be a radically different presence in the world.
And hopefully one by one welcome them into the kingdom of God.
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
LUKE 9
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.
---
James and John likely got their idea to reign down fire on the Samaritans from 2 Kings chapter 1 where the prophet Elijah does just that.
“Is it not interesting how the mind can grasp and hold those Scriptures which seem to bless our worst behavior and yet cannot retain past the sanctuary door those texts which summon to love, forgiveness, and mercy?” - Fred Craddock
Isn’t it interesting that you could have a reason for not loving your enemy that you think is actually a Godly excuse?
---
Imagine you’re sitting with Jesus and your enemy.
How does Jesus speak to them?
What does Jesus want for them?
How does Jesus want you to treat them?
---
Love your enemies. Easy to understand. Hard to practice.
STEP 1
Realize that God loves his enemies. And that’s you!
Be thankful that God is kind and merciful to his enemies.
STEP 2
Be like God.
Realize Jesus' teachings have nothing to do with your feelings.
Just do it. Because you serve the king.
Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
…lend to them without expecting to get anything back.
---
Acts 8
John is back in Samaria.
Puts his hands on Samaritans and they receive the Holy Spirit.
So we've come a longe way. From reigning down fire from heaven on the Samaritans, to Samaritans receiving the ultimate blessing from heaven.
This is what Jesus wants – kindness and mercy – that no one should perish.
---
Together, let’s love our enemies.
Be a radically different presence in the world.
And hopefully one by one welcome them into the kingdom of God.