Christian Life Church
September 15, 2024 at 8:30am & 10:00am
People who are hurting, hurt people” and they may not realize it. But others seem to be “anointed” for the purposes of the enemy. They are blind and in bondage. We must not hate them or wish them ill.
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Why Do People Hurt Us? September 15, 2024
Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Getting started…
1. To be more specific - why do people hurt me?
2. Two Qualifiers
· Our flesh exhibits a tendency to express sensitivity and resentment when people are unkind to us.
· We forget that the people who hurt us often do not even realize they have.
3. Forgiveness is a layered thing. I think the bottom line is that God “forgives sin, and He forgives people,” while basically we “forgive people.” God deals with total justice; we basically are dealing with relational justice.
I. When people hurt me, why do they do it?
A. Paul predicted this would be the Spirit of the Age in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
B. Some people have been hurt themselves and are still working through recovery.
C. Some people are servants of evil.
1. Like their Father the Devil, they seem to thrive on the principle of “steal, kill, destroy.”
2. “People who are hurting, hurt people” and they may not realize it. But others seem to be “anointed” for the purposes of the enemy. They are blind and in bondage. We must not hate them or wish them ill.
3. Consider Alexander the Coppersmith, Caiaphas the High Priest, and Korah who opposed Moses.
D. Some people have difficult personalities (or at least they have personalities that conflict with ours).
E. Some people are “kicking against God’s goading” (conviction), and they are having great difficulty. Remember - they can be redeemed.
II. When people hurt me, what is God’s response?
A. The hurt may be part of the Lord’s Merciful Judgment.
B. We may be experiencing hurt that is part of God’s great refining process.
C. The hurt may mean we are going through a spiritual growth spurt.
D. When hurting, remember God immediately sets things in motion for justice and vindication.
III. When people hurt me, how should I respond?
A. Expect more of yourself than you expect of the other person.
B. Assume the person who hurt you has a problem you know nothing about.
C. If you might make an error in judgment, make it on the side of mercy.
D. As best you can, begin the process of forgiveness.
E. Remember that vengeance and total justice are the domain of God. We may not see its fulfillment until the other side.
F. Practice the Orangutan principle - “Just Let it Go!”
G. Consider that this may be part of “The Fellowship of His Suffering.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Getting started…
1. To be more specific - why do people hurt me?
2. Two Qualifiers
· Our flesh exhibits a tendency to express sensitivity and resentment when people are unkind to us.
· We forget that the people who hurt us often do not even realize they have.
3. Forgiveness is a layered thing. I think the bottom line is that God “forgives sin, and He forgives people,” while basically we “forgive people.” God deals with total justice; we basically are dealing with relational justice.
I. When people hurt me, why do they do it?
A. Paul predicted this would be the Spirit of the Age in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
B. Some people have been hurt themselves and are still working through recovery.
C. Some people are servants of evil.
1. Like their Father the Devil, they seem to thrive on the principle of “steal, kill, destroy.”
2. “People who are hurting, hurt people” and they may not realize it. But others seem to be “anointed” for the purposes of the enemy. They are blind and in bondage. We must not hate them or wish them ill.
3. Consider Alexander the Coppersmith, Caiaphas the High Priest, and Korah who opposed Moses.
D. Some people have difficult personalities (or at least they have personalities that conflict with ours).
E. Some people are “kicking against God’s goading” (conviction), and they are having great difficulty. Remember - they can be redeemed.
II. When people hurt me, what is God’s response?
A. The hurt may be part of the Lord’s Merciful Judgment.
B. We may be experiencing hurt that is part of God’s great refining process.
C. The hurt may mean we are going through a spiritual growth spurt.
D. When hurting, remember God immediately sets things in motion for justice and vindication.
III. When people hurt me, how should I respond?
A. Expect more of yourself than you expect of the other person.
B. Assume the person who hurt you has a problem you know nothing about.
C. If you might make an error in judgment, make it on the side of mercy.
D. As best you can, begin the process of forgiveness.
E. Remember that vengeance and total justice are the domain of God. We may not see its fulfillment until the other side.
F. Practice the Orangutan principle - “Just Let it Go!”
G. Consider that this may be part of “The Fellowship of His Suffering.”