Love Your Enemies | Pr Alvin Keng

You're listening to a message to go from Acts Church. We hope this message

will light up your day. The title of the message today is love your

enemies. I give you a subtext, okay. Subtitle is preparing our heart

to be of heavenly use, okay. And I'm drawing it from Jesus preaching

in Luke, chapter six, verse twenty seven. And I'm going to read

from NLT and then we will we will study together. Okay. So before

that, let me establish a few things. Okay, you know, August

is missions, man? And why why August? Why is so special?

Why? Whatever? I mean? At the end of the day, right,

it's just a time where we focus. There is no other significance.

Besides, hey, maybe we should focus in to think about missions during August.

That's all. Okay, that's all. That's not like, well August

is a special thing. No, no, no, it's just that,

Hey, we got so many different things, but we want to emphasize,

and we just picked August as a month where we emphasize. Where we all

start talking about we all remember that we need to go missions or sign up

for missions and stuff like that. You know, and what is missions?

If you think about it, Okay, we say that missions is our first

priority as believers because it was the last commonment that Jesus gave to us.

And what was that commandment meant to eighteen twenty? Okay, go therefore and

make disciples, right, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the

Son, the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all right that I

have taught you. That's that was the call, you know. And then

go to Judea, Samira and to the ends of the earth. Right,

So going to all the nations means not just here a lot, not just

your backyard, go to all the nations, cover everything. Okay, Next

is make disciples, right, Hey, aren't we making disciples by doing haddle

here and all? Well? Yes, yeah, going out there and reaching

out that you can also make exciples. You know. It's just teaching people

what how to follow Jesus way, right, And then what's important baptize them.

Wow, why is baptism important? Because quick baptism, it's a significance.

Right of burial to the old life and resurrection to the New life means

any of us here who have been baptized, we shouldn't go back to our

old ways. City that okay, shouldn't shouldn't okay, And it's a significant

thing. And there is just something that happens when we go to the waters

of baptism. Amen. And of course teach them to obey everything that Jesus

has commanded. And that's why we have church also to teach, to grow,

to learn. You know, we cannot say we don't need church.

We cannot say, oh, me and Jesus enough ready, I don't need

anyone else. No, we need each other. Actually, it is all

pine and passer of God's plan. Okay, So let me give you this

a phrase. So when we serve in church and when we go for missions,

do you know what happens? We are expressing God's love to the people

around us. When you serve another person, when you serve, whether it's

a believer, whether it's not a believer. Let me let me give you

this thought. You are expressing God's love to another person. You are expressing

God's love to this person who would never have experienced God's love any other way.

Not just any love, not just I love you, you love me,

but friend, your friend, not just you know because I like your

face. You know that I'm nicert to you no, no, no,

God's love when we serve one another, right, when you know, when

we give our best, when we you know, philis here you know if

the team you know, I'm sure extreme was earlier, had to practice on

what day? Thursday? Right? Today? Okay? Today? Morning?

Oh my goodness, wow? Okay, So I mean, but still have

to put time now. People sleep, they wake up to practice. Do

you not see that it is a labor of love, right, It is

a labor of love for your because if let's say he didn't practice and he's

just going whatever you want to go, ring, we will all be irritated

with the music. Then if you're irritated, we have to worship. Can

always can't connect God, you know. So when we go for missions,

it's the same. We are expressing God's love. I give you this thought,

Oh why are you know I have to wake up? Why are we

have to do express so? Why are we to do all these things?

You are expressing God's love to people? Why do we go all the way

out there to the ends of the earth, right, because we are expressing

God's love to others. That's why. Amen. For God so love the

world he gave his only begoden Son, that whoever believes in him should not

perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his son into the

world to condemn the world, but the world through him might be saved.

So you can say that Jesus was the first missionary. He came from heaven

far away. We also don't know where where it is to come here to

connect this connection between God and us, right, and he came because God

loved us. So he was the first expression of God's love to us when

he did all that he did to do. But it wasn't just healing and

serving. It was this this way of life that he had to introduce,

this way of life to say, I'm only going to be here three years

and after Lisa, you're on your own. But actually you're not on your

own, because the Holy Spirit will be with you. Jesus has left a

very long time ago already, but we're still here. We're still believing in

his word, we're still you know, learning from His word, and we're

still growing in our faith Corona, right, We're still growing our faith.

Every time we come to church, every time we engage with our believers,

we're growing in our faith. We're experiencing Christ Yes, there will be down

times. Yes, there will be yes. Some of us here who have

been believer us for a long time, maybe in the beginning when we pray,

then God, well listen see God. I feel God is very good

to us. One you know, are very jealous of new believers son,

because I think whatever their prayer, God will give them one. But because

it's like baby's lah, when baby cry from me, you will give up?

Are you going to say no? Like gokut yourself? But if a

forty year old adult I won't say an omen cry and ask for food.

What's your reaction? Why you never when he hello, grab blood? Oh

lazy, do something you should be able to forty years ready, Christians?

Some's a Christian? Why longer? You know? Are you still relying on

milk? Or is it time to eat the meat? Is it time to

do things? You know? Is it time to grow up? Or just

sit down and the music not going reckon? Oh? You know it's so

my fun to come to church, right? Do we still think that way?

Have we become small or are we engaging? I engage your church.

I want to go out, I want to go and do things. I

want to learn. I want to grow. I want to get uncomfortable.

It is uncomfortable, guys, it will be uncomfortable. Maybe in the beginning

it's easy, which is which is good. God is good to us.

But think about it. If God answered all my prayers all the time,

you'll be ready and just the expectation is not realistic because not every prayer I

ask for is good for me. On you'll catch that, right. But

it's not about answering prayer. It is about maturity. It's about growing decided.

When I look at you, I'm like, WHOA very excited for you,

believers, because I know God answer that prayer. So that's the confidence

I give and say, you just pray that God, because God wants to

show you that he can. But then later on, when you grow up

and you are asking for things that are ridiculous, then God will say hold

on, Oh, God will say why don't you do it this way?

And then we teach about trust. Just because you don't get what you want

doesn't mean it's bad. Isn't that maturity? That's maturity? Right? So

missions Okay, So, as I was preparing this, I think and God

led me to this scripture, so we know we need to go and do

things. You know, we need to go and help people and all.

But to be honest, okay, I'll think for myself, I don't know.

You got me. You guys are awesome, you know, very charitable.

You love people you see well, you will hug them and do all

kinds. For me, I feel there needs to be a preparation of my

own heart, right because when Jesus say, love your enemies are I don't

love my enemies? You know who are my enemies? I got no enemy.

Do you have a boss that irritates you? They ask you to work

late nights even though you have to go back. That might be your enemy,

Nola, I never call them an enemy. No, no, no,

no. The emotions you have my steam, my dad? You know?

Do you have someone that I don't know? Irks you? I don't

know? Blank. Okay, So what does Jesus teach us to do?

I think that is I think that is a reason why Jesus teaches us some

of these really extreme things, really really extreme things. And we're gonna read

Luke chapter six. Okay, So we got a Bible, so I encourage

you. You can turn to Luke chapter six, Verse twenty seven. Are

you guys. Okay, okay, I'm doing a pretty great time. New

chapter six. Okay, So what does it say? He says, I'm

gonna read. Okay, it says, but to you who are willing to

listen, I say, love your enemies. Whah, do good to those

who hate you? How many? If you can do that, don't raise

up your hand. Do good to those who hate you are not don't let

you not hate you are. That's what Jesus said. Is great. No,

here Jesus said that. Why Lord, why do you say these things?

Okay? I used to read this, and I don't understand it is

counter culture. Bless those who curse you? Hey, and this bless God

to you. I don't think it's ah huh, you curse me? Ah

God bless you. No, no, they can't bless them. It's really

blessed best those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you, or

this one will be tough for some of us. Me are tough. If

someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. And this

is again not the in Spider some you know something we act that way.

No, no, no, no, it's not that. If someone demands

your courte offer your shit also for this tough man, Well, you really

took my court, you still want my you know, give to anyone who

asks, and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get

them back. How many of you can can can feel this? You mean,

if someone borrows stuff from me and the person that will give back,

I shouldn't ask for it back. I should ask for it back. Right,

it's fair? What Jesus, you are insane? What do you what

are you trying to teach us here? Do to others as you would like

them to do to you. Okay, If you love only those who love

you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who

love them. And if you do good only to those who do good to

you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much. And

if you lend money only to those who we can repay you, why should

you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for poor Are you

seeing something here? Jesus is drawing a very clear demarcation between sinners and people

that follow him, Very clear demarcation, right, very clear. Love your

enemies, do good to them, learn to them without expecting to be repaid,

then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly

be acting as children of the Most High. For he is kind to those

who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your father

is compassion So let's review the points again now. He says, do good

to those who hate you, bless those who curse you. Pray for those

who spitefully use you. How many of you feel used and exploited today?

We always, you know, not we la Maybe generally people talk about it.

You know, you listen to the wisdom of the world. That is

a very clear difference between what the world teaches you. You should stand up

for yourself. If people explore you should fight back. That's how the world

teaches you. Jesus diaching something totally contracts. Why why pray for those respectfully

use you? Right, some of us will pray, but we will pray

fire and brimstone from heaven. Lord, I pray that the person you know.

No, this is not the can't prayer. I don't think Jesus saying

their can't prayer. Give to everyone who ask us, and Jesus reveals it.

In the next paragraph. He says, When we do this, we

are different than the norm. Let me repeat it again. When we do

this, we are different than the norm. Do all this and expect nothing

in return, nothing from who, nothing from the people. You do it

to expect nothing from it in return? Why? Because we are sons and

daughters of the Most High God, and our Father in heaven will see what

we do. Let me give you this perspective. When we look at things

I these, we think that the relationship is between me and the receiver or

giver or whatever, Me and Daniel. No one else is in this.

But when God looks at it, he is involved. He is saying his

son, treat the Daniel. He's saying me, Elvin, his son,

how am I treating Daniel? And he seeing how Daniel treats me as well?

But Daniel don't know him, right, you'll sities relationship. When we

look at this, we always think that we need to fend false because we

are fighting against him. But when God is sharing this or sharing this,

there is a different perspective. It is a perspective of a father. Let

me let me speak to Father's here. I change you a little bit.

If I see my son do this, don't you think my son will have

my favor. I will be a very proud father. Wow, my son

is so compassionate. My son is so merciful. My son, he can

see beyond the hurt, the challenge, the exploitation that he faces. And

I as a father, because I am at a place where I can do

something, I will rewort him. Nothing to do with Daniel. I will

report my son. That's how God sees it. Let me give you that

perspective. You know, I used to not understand your scripture because I always

think it's between me and the person. Oh I do this God, then

something will happen. Right, But when God asked me to do this,

he is in the picture. The question is Christians, when we live our

lives, right, do we realize that God is in the picture? Now?

Do we even realize that when we face challenges? Do we realize that

God is watching? God is around God, our father in heaven is looking

at us as his children. How are my children behaving? Because this is

why I teach them. But a day you see it says, when you

do this, you you people will know that you are the sons and daughters

of the Most High God. Because sons and daughters of the Most High God

will live above the norm. Your catch there not Sons and daughters of the

Most High God can love their enemies because let me let me go further.

Okay, because when we understand our birth right as children of God, it

won't be so hard to do this. Don't you realize it? If we

understand our birth right as children of God? So what if I lose my

coat and my shirt, go give it to me. So what if this

wasn't exploiting me? My father in heaven with the care of me. Do

we think that way? Do we realize that the relationship is like that we

are children of God? No, not hirelings. You're not a hiring is

a hiling is someone you employ. An employee. It is not our relationship

with God. It's not an employee boss relationship. Employe boss relationship is very

transactional. You pay me, I do the work. But a son father

relationship, it's not transactional. No, it is not. Yeah, I

mean we hope it is, but I explain for the Okay, it's not

transactional. Whether our kids behave or not, we will still love them anyway,

That's the truth, right, We will still love them anyway. Meaning,

my son can be the worst person around, and I might not reward

him for being the worst person around. But if he's ever in a buyer,

I will save him because he's my son. You'll see that. You'll

see the relationship. Right. So God sees what we do, and he's

the one that say I will reward you. It is not Daniel that will

reward me. It's not the people around you. All that will reward me

is God that will reward me because I am his child. That's why he's

so confident. Will tell me love your enemies because I want you to be

a good example to the people that I love, and I want to reach

your catch, that your catch, that preparation of heart. It is.

Yes, it is hard to love enemies. It is hard to be nice

to be, but they are awful to you if we understand our birthright.

Hey, I'm a child of God. This thing shouldn't affect me. Yes,

it affected my emotions and all, but honestly, shouldn't affect me because

my father in heaven is around you know, do we have that perspective?

I do a pitch for x men e Ocean, so you all know the

parable of the prodigal son and then the firstborn. You know, sometimes I

feel like I'm like the firstborn son, right, because you serve the church

and stuff like that. You know, uh, and and and and something.

You can feel like, you know, I do so hard. I

work so hard, and then it goes unrecognized. You know, you know

something you can have that doctor go to young hid the last round and he

gave this perspective which I thought was really awesome. He said, so we

all know what the firstborn son told the dead, right he you know,

the dead had the youngest came back and then he'said, oh man, you

came back, and then you told I will become your servant. And the

dead the dead now was very clear on his role as a father. He

said, no, come back, I clothe you and all. You're my

son, You're my flesh and blood. You go and slaughter the Feta caf.

It's a celebration, my son day I thought it was one day is

back. Let's celebrate. And then the big cocore is there. Like what,

Dad, I've been slogging all this time for you. Why you never

go and slaughter the fata calf for me? Why you never appreciate me.

Why you never do this? Why you never do that? Why you never

do all these things? And then the dad said, this son, you

have always been me. You're my son. You want to go and slotter

start yourself. It's not a bad thing. You know why? Why I'm

trying, why I'm trying to draw from here, is that. Honestly,

if the firstborn son wanted to have a celebration, he could know because he

has always been with the father. He said he didn't now why because the

perspective of the son was like an employee, not a son. But the

dad looked at him as a son. You'll see the difference. No,

whar you? When doctor gold shaid, I was like, whoa mind blown?

You mean some of us here? Can you know? Come to a

place where we look at God like he's our boss? Yeah? God,

oh got your boss. I don't sin? Then you reward me. I

sin? Then you want to rewart me. Isn't that a transactional relationship?

And then here the Bible says, there's no condemnation is Christ. All you

need to do is repent and everything will be clear. It is not a

transactional relationship with God. It is a father's son relationship, father daughter relationship.

He's very different now, father son relationship. I can relate because I'm

a dad. My son can mess up okay, really my son can mess

up everything. But all he needs to come in, All he needs to

do is just come to daddy and say, damn so sorry, I repent.

I will never do it again. Do you know that all that he's

done in the past will probably be forgiven? Because I would look forward to

him doing good things in the future. That is how God sees us.

But is that how we see God? Do we treat him like a boss?

You know? Very very interesting? Right? So I when I see

this scripture, that's how I see it. Why the confidence to love?

Because God is talking to us as his children, He's not. This is

a rulebook, guys, you follow this rulebook. I know it's not about

that. You know, he said, because you're my kids, do this

and people will know you're my kids. Why do Christians? Why do bobook

Christians have a higher standard? Have you thought about it before? Right?

I don't know what kind of interaction you have, but I've heard many,

many times, many many times I've heard of testimony. So I had one

or two my own experience as well, where when you do something above the

norm, people will ask you, are you Christian? Now, I've got

you one us a twice. I'm like, yeah, why what does it

have to do it? And it's something totally not related. No, it's

not like we're a cross or it just so happened, like you know,

like for example, you get stopp by the police and you say, just

summon me law I didn't even try to negotiate. I'm like, I'm wrong,

I'm so sorry. Just give me the bill. I will figure it

out. And the first thing he said was you Christian. Now, I'm

like, yeah, so, oh you know why yah? Because people know

how God's children operate. They have a reference point. Amen, love your

enemies. Let's go to the next one. It says here, do not

judge others and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or

it will all come back against you. Forgive others and you will be forgiven.

Give and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full.

Press down chicken together to make room for more running over poured into your

lap. The amount you give will be determined and amount get back. Then

Jesus gave the following illustration. Can a blind person lead another? Won't they

both fall into a ditch. Students are not greater than their teacher, but

the student who fully trained will become like the teacher. And why worry about

the spect in your friend's eye when you have a lung in your own?

How can you think of saying, friend, let me help you get rid

of that spec in your eye when you can't see past the long in your

own eye, hippop, create first, get rid of the lock in your

own eye. Then you will see well enough to deal with a spect in

your friend's eye. Okay, let's go the next point. Don't judge others?

So first point, how do we prepare our hearts to go for missions?

Because missions about giving, you know, and I think that when we

can deal in our hearts all these things right, you'll be very easier.

Give. You'll be very easier go to missions when we can understand why God

ask us to be like this? Right, you know, don't judge others.

Don't condemn others because God never condemned us. So if we are his

children, right, we should act like him. La He looked at us.

He looked at the worst person on this earth, and he said,

I still have you. Can we have that heart for people or not?

Or are we quick to judge? Are we quick to condemn just because we

have differring opinions? That's why it's not about opinions, but obedience sometimes right,

and then it's so quick forgive and you will be forgiven. We have

to forgive first. Forgiveness is a core thing in our Christian world. Why

okay, why God say forgive? Because he knows we are going to irritate

each other. He knows we're going to be offended by each other. He

knows. Really, One, guys, let me give you a secret.

You will be offended. You love this chair, strike you love one the

tea. It will come a day away. You'll be offended. One.

Let me warn you first, right, I have been offended many times.

Forgive law, forgive law, forgive law. I tell you, if I

so quick to hold on to offense in my own family, I would have

a family today. Really it was right. I tell you you won't have

kids. You need to have very powerful forgivings. Really, forgiveness is key.

Are we easy to forgive or sorry? Do we forgive easily, and

he says, give and it'll be given to us for with the same measure

we use. If we measure back to you. You know this is not

a promise from men. See, like I explain to you just now if

oh you know when you talk about generosity, you know, we give.

We we hope we get back. But it's not men that will give us

back. You know, it is God that will give us back. It

is not a promise from men. No, okay, God, you know

it probably from men. And okay, Elvin, if you do all these

things, are then your fellow brother and he still will do back to you.

Okay, that's what it means. No, he says, do it.

It is not something we can claim from this world as well. So

when we do these things, right where you claiming from? Oh I'm such

a good person, right, I hope one day the universe will No,

no, no, don't don't claim from the universe. Claim from God.

He's the one that asks you to do it. So if he's the one

that asks us to do this and we obey him, then he's the one

that should be the one that we believe for. But sometimes when we look

at it, we claim from other people claim from the church. I work

so hard for the church, so I should claim from the church. Wrong

place to claim if you need claim like expresso stuff or can I go ahead?

You know, but you get what I meant. A very bad example

again. You know, claim no claim from Daniel, Ai e raised off

you are Daniel. You know every week I came, I play time to

claim give me appreciation dinner? Wrong personal claim? Claim from God? Claim

from God? See signing our perception? Why because of what the world teaches

us? Right, this is God's word. No, how is the condition

of our hearts. It is not a promise from man. We got to

remember that all these things that we say, it's not men teaching us.

It's God teaching us. Amen. It's something that God assures us that when

we do this, He will be the one to give us our reward,

not man. He will be the one. So we should look to him.

And we are not doing this unto men but him. You know,

there's a scripture in the Bible that says, when you work for your bosses,

do it as doing it unto the Lord. You know, doing as

doing unto the Lord. He didn't say, or the Bible didn't say,

when you work for good bosses, do unto the Lord. And when you

work for bad bosses, don't do anything at all. Curse them. No

the Bible and teacher said no, the Bible to say work no, meaning

don't care who's a burfer. Do it until God because God is seeing.

This is what I mean by when we love and serve on another email in

church, we are expressing God's love on his behalf to the people around us.

That's how we partner with him. Amen. The next one talks about

what he talks about submission right. It talks about human nature. Human nature

is hey, there's a spect in your eye, something wrong with you not

realizing that we have a plan in our eye. I mean it's extreme now,

but as human nature. But it talks about human human nature and submission

right. Because as humans we have a tendency to see other sports and unfortunately

we are blind to our own. I can say I fall trapped to that.

Okay, but before we look at others, we really need to take

a long hall look at ourselves first. You know, let me give you

this story. So so when I when I was in UNI second year,

in UNI first year UNI, I think foundation we stay in a hostel.

And then second year, I was so confident that I get a house that

I didn't look for one until too late. And then I ended up staying

with some cosmetes. Uh uh and yeah stay in a comment and stay far.

We stayed in Sricomagan, So I say, yeah, oh my goodness,

he was like thirty minutes away from m MU. I studied MMU and

uh, I need to share you a little bit about myself. So I

grew up in uh, let's just say that I grew up in uh in

uh not so functional family. Okay, my family is awesome, but I

grew up in a not so functional family. We don't Saturday but days one

now, Okay, that the kind of you know. So a lot of

things I how to say. So I've gone through a rough bachelor you know,

but thank god, uh, you know, maybe it's because of my

dad's safelness or something. Church was very important to me. So I learned

a lot of things in church. I grew up in church. You know.

Uh, you know, I used to fight my mom and say my

mom would ask me, oh why you why you you know, keep going

to church? You know, Friday go to church satterday, go to the

youth group Sunday. And then I will look at her and say, mom,

you read and me go to church or go to club, right,

and then she nothing will say already after that, you know which is true?

Right? Yeah, you're right, well you read it so thankfully.

I think I've learned a lot of things when I was young. Okay,

but then somehow, how many of you who have been a Christian long enough

know that God will somehow this is the same lesson and again and again.

Okay, So so what happened was I think I'm a pretty okay person.

I've never really hated anybody in my life, right, Hate is a very

strong word, dislike maybe, so I don't really use the word hate,

okay, And I feel like very quick to forgive because you grew up in

a the psychology they say a verse childhood, right, So and you learn

you know that you need a forgive and all and you've got major like family

issues. So I think I'm a pretty okay person in terms of my uh

what's the word myself? At least I don't know what other people are.

I think other people maybe they don't like me, I don't know, But

myself. I think I'm okay, So I've never really hated anybody at all,

but I stay in Streak of Mangan with this group of friends. Uh.

And there was one house Wain that I stayed with that I truly hated

with every being my soul. Right. I won't be able to go to

detail because I would take a very long time to explain why. But let's

just say that this person I'm comfortable to use the word hate. Okay,

I'm not the person that hate anybody, wan know, I'm not like and

this person is not person I'm close to us all. But I hated this

housemain, really hated this housemain right for two months, staying there every day.

I'll complain about the person every day. My circle friends all, no,

my cf no, everyone knows that this was my affliction that the Lord

has put him in my life or human, yes, put this person in

my life and cost me affliction, right, really, and it was all

the person's fault the last I checked. Right, let me give you one

example, okay of how irridated I was. So I'll come back home from

college, go to the toilet and then I you know, toilet now toilet

bowl and you want to go to that, right, I do, number

one, number one. And then what happened was like this this really huge

Rosart sign a for paper with the word Rosart written there, stuck to the

toilet. And then I'm like okay, and that cannot flash. You know,

I try and flash, cannot flash. And then I thought like,

okay, I opened the thing right, uh, And then I saw that

the there's a hook. The hook drop off right, so I rehook it

and then can flash. Why the effort of putting a Rosarts sign there and

didn't tell anybody, didn't tell anything, just just a roside sign. Of

course I know it's this person. Okay. The a few more things that

happened now, okay, which caused me such hurt and such hate. And

two months, two four months, okay, two full months of complaining and

you got worse. Now, do you know? Do you know this thing

about unforgiveness and offense, you'll eat into you. It becomes bitterness. You

know, you think you're a nice person. Be offended, then you will

be the most horrible person around. Because every living, every living moment,

every breath, you're just complaining and complaining and complaining and complaining and I still

go to CF. Okay. And uh so in CF, last time we

had this thing called like now it's homes in church by n CF. We

had like care groups, you know, and we had a care group in

Stricum Bagan. So I went and, uh, this is a funny story.

Okay, I must telling story. Well funny not funny. Let me

let me try and put this. And last time, a passa Jack,

you know, passa Jack from zybadayakay, that not pass yet. He was

one of the CF leaders and he was leading that care group, you know.

Uh, and one year older than me. He's my senior. And

lo and behold, you know you have like let's read the world, let's

study, and then let's share. You've got me brain it right, right,

So I share on my brain new Wi all them Nola that this person

right and all these different things now you know. And I was just complaining

and and okay, and and what happened was Jack Jack that I'm Jack was

so funny. He he he was listening and then he said this to me.

Okay, I'm paraphrasing. I cannot remember exactly what I said, but

he said the way he said it was like this Las He said, Elvin,

you've been complaining about this person now all this time, maybe you are

the problem. Yeah, it's such a jecting, if you know, You're

like, yeah, yeah, it's such a you know. So it's very

funny. Actually now he's very nice. He won't say things like that.

But but but then then then that's what happened. Now of course, if

that happened, now leave shady, right, yeah, yo, we have

that. No, but but you want to know the interesting thing? Of

course I was a bit of friender, like how can you say that the

last and then I think about it. No, no, no, I'm

not. Probably it's dispersed, right, it's but he got me thinking.

He got me thinking, and he got me to reflect a little bit,

and I realized, not, I'm not I'm not a problem. Okay,

let me clarify, I'm not bro your problem. So I realized that it's

not me that it's a problem. But I realized that I've been complaining about

this person, that I've developed hate for this person for two months okay two

months. Then I'm like, oh, no, what have I become?

And I started praying, Lord, why am I like this? I Am

not this kind of person. I don't do these things. This is all

very trivial stuff. And then you know what happened. God led me to

forgive the person. But you know how or what God asked me to do.

And I think I can remember something. I think, yeah, Jack

said maybe you're a problem. Maybe you should go and apologize to him.

That's why he said loud okay, but I think he said out. I

was like, I fet up with listen. Okay, you know, but

no, but I remember that because I don't think it was just kid.

I think God was dealing with something in my life, right, because I

said, I've never hited anybody, but that person truly hit. And then

I so I come to a place where I'm like, you know what,

I will submit to my leader, and I think I'm going to apologize to

the person. Okay and uh and that day itself, after the conviction that

I got, I actually went up to my husband and apologized to him,

of course, confused, sorry for what right? And then but because the

person that's not issue with me, okay, I got issue person, But

that apology that I did set me free. I said sorry, but he

said me ironic, right, I said sorry, but he set me free,

okay, and I forgave. You want to know what happened In the

end, everything remained the same. The rose as sign onces to know what

I come up. Everything still happened, but I was changed. I no

longer hated the person. I continue staying there for another year, but I

didn't hate the person anymore. The person didn't change. No, you were

expecting some miracle, right, Oh, the person became a Christian? No,

no, nothing, you know, everything's the same. They still did

the same thing that irritated me. But you know what changed. I changed.

I didn't hate the person anymore. I just tweak the toilet, no

complaints. I just did all that I needed to do because I forgive the

person and I will come that no more offense. I think that helped me,

you know, because I remember my mom that during timer gave me this

adviceor Elvin, you know, you think this is awful. When you go

and work, you meet people ten times worse. And she's right. I

met people ten times worse. But because I had overcome offense in that level,

I meet people ten nic wors. I'm not affected. You know.

In fact, I can actually love them because I knew how God sees them.

You see the power of forgiveness. I just want to give that to

you. You see the powerful giveness, and you look at how God is

interested in our growth. He's interested in me. You know, the person

didn't change. I don't know where the person is right now. We lost

content or we didn't become best friends after that, okay, just to let

you know, but but I change my capacity change. My capacity for being

irritated changed a lot, you know. And God was there. And of

course Jack didn't remember this story because after that, you know. But I

thank him for saying something totally out off script, you know, because it

was something that I believe God wanted to speak to me in my heart to

say, Elvin, the person you're becoming it is not good. You know.

I was, why are why God to this? Then? I know?

Okay, God, thank you because you are teaching me how to forgive.

So you're making it easy for me to learn to forgive people faster.

Have I been offended a few times, of course, but because I have

this story, I know not to keep the offense for too long. Just

deal with it. Not happy, just deal with it. And it's a

lesson that I will keep close to my heart. Amen, bad good fruit?

People? What is good fruit? Let's go Luke. Chapter six was

for the tree of forty five. He says, a good tree can't produce

bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is

identified by its fruit. Fixed never grow on corn bushes, nor grapes on

bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good

heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil

heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart good fruit.

A tree is known by his fruit. You'll catch that. Let me apply

it more to us. You will be known by your track record, that

is your fruit right, not what you do now, not what you see

now. But the fruit is toff that you produce. You will be known

by your track record and actions and decisions that you made and continue to make.

Right. And the Bible reminds Jesus reminds us that a good man,

out of good treasure in his heart, brings forth good. It is not

just the intention of your heart, but the actions that you do. Good

intentions are good, but we got to follow true. Amen. So the

question is do you have good treasure in your heart because eventually it will come

out, or is it stinky trash? For two months, I have stinky

trash, awful, awful. I think I was a very horrible person that

can with during that two months because that's the only thing you talk about.

Thank God. After that it was overcome. You know what do we value

people? If we value God? If we tell you his love? Remember

I said this. When we do these things, we are expressing God's love

to people. When we love our enemy, we're expressing God's love. When

we don't judge people, we're expressing God's love. It is not about us.

If it's about us, don't need really one, don't talk already one.

But it's never about us. It is about God and how God looks

at the people. Amen. When we love others the way God loves us,

we are reaching out to them missions. I love people. You know,

do you know that it's easier to love a stranger? So easy,

you got missions? You see a child? Very easy you But nah,

you know who the hardest will to love? Your family members, your neighbor,

your friend, your colleagues, they're so close to you. But those

are the people that you need to love. Those are the people that you

need to reach out. We plead for their souls, guys, and pray

that the Holy Spirit or touch them because at the end day, it's not

our responsibility whether they get say, but we express God's love to them.

You are the only Jesus they can see. We always say that, right,

but you'll catch the depth of it now. And we got to build

on the rock. And this is my last point. Okay, okay,

how I'm doing good? You know, remember that there's so there a few

points. Okay, preparation of heart love, your enemies. Don't judge others.

Bear good fruit. Bearing group fruit just means that we need to reflect

on our actions and then adjust. Oh okay, God, I'm sorry,

I already h maybe I is like a bit. No, just just continue

to bear good fruit. It's a slow process. Nobody is perfect over night.

Know you know, like what you know, even after you reach a

certain level, you still need to continue checking your heart. God, am

I you know it's my heart still pure? Do I still you know,

have treasure in my heart? Or has it become moldy or musty or you

know? Or do I focus on the external and not the internal? You

know? All this reflection needs to be there. We got to bed good

fruit. And the good news, guys, is that we're not doing it

alone because the Bible encourages us to build on the wrong. So if we

read Nuke chapter six was forty six, I won't go into that. The

Bible tells us to build on the rock. What wrong? The rock of

our salvation Jesus Christ. At the end of the day, we can't do

this on our own. It is hard to love our enemies on our own.

It is hard to not judge people on our own. It is hard

to beg good fruit on our own. But we are not meant to do

it on our own. We need Christ. That's why being a believer is

important because Christ is the foundation. And if Christ is the foundation, then

revers of leaving water will grow. When Christ is the foundation, then we

will be able to get bear good fruit. But we got to remember I

need to build my foundation in Christ, not my foundation in the opinions of

men. Not my foundation in what's happening in the church out there? Now?

What no God's word, Jesus, what are you telling me to do?

Love your enemies that's the foundation. Love others, that's the foundation,

build on the foundation of Christ. Amen, And he says, why do

we call Jesus Lord? But don't do what he says is our faith and

identity as little Christ just for show or face? Where I hope, not

I pray, not I pray? Everyone here will no not just like Okay,

I look good on the outside, but I won't go formations. So

you just use that as an example. Okay, those who follow Jesus words

and not just listens, but that then builds his foundation on a rock and

not saying you follow Jesus word you know what it means or not. Let

me give you this other perspective. When you build your foundation on the rock

of Christ, when the floods come and when the rains come, you will

still be standing. But do you know how or whether a person has a

foundation is wrong? When the flood and the rain comes air, you'll be

shaken. Huh this thing happened. Huh the thing happened? Really? Are

really are or are we clear? No? Christ? Call me here?

I am here, Christ, call me to do this. I'm doing this.

Christ want me to be I will be very clear, not like what

what do you think? Being sure? When you think any what you think,

then you just follow what everybody is saying. Shacken, don't be shaken,

friends, build on the rock. What did Christ say? What is

the will of God? We all want to know that. Don't be shaken

by people. Ask God? What are floods? Well, challenges in life,

problems? Whatever you can think of that signify flood is Flatlah? Right,

you got challenging time. You're feeling shacky. Start building on the rock

of Christ. Amen. When we follow Jesus, not just listen, by

follow, we are building on the rock. And when we build on the

rock, whatever happens in our life, we will not be shaken. So

the question is, have we built on the rock of our salvation Jesus Christ,

this morning, this afternoon? Sorry? Or have or maybe we need

a shacking? Why do we go to challenges in life to reveal what's on

our hearts? That's the reality. Okay, maybe some of us are shacking

now you are you're being shicken. Hey, you're not alone, friends,

you're not alone. Where are we? You know, if you're not ready

in this, it'll be hard to love others. Really, you notice,

the foundation has to be there, and then after that growth and then the

other things by stopping from the top. You want to love enemies. It's

rare hard when the foundation is not there, But when the foundation is that,

it is easy. You know, it seems like it's rare hard thing

to do, but actually, when the foundation is there, it is easier

to love your enemies because you see them differently. You see them the way

God sees them, and it's hard to love others. It's going to be

hard for you to go missions. We need to get ready. That's why

it's a preparation of the heart. You need to allow the Holy Spirit to

work in your lives. Do not reject the Holy Spirit. Do not tell

yourself, I, ah, I will be too busy to God missions.

I will be too busy for all these things. I'll be too busy for

church. Don't tell yourself that God will make a way when there seems to

be no way. And when you partake of these things, when you challenge

yourself, when you do things you're not comfortable in, then you grow in

your faith. Then you see the possibility. Let me give you four scriptures

hopefully to encourage you. Romans Child wanted to says, I beseech you.

Therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies

a living sacrifice wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And

do not be conformed in this world, but to be transformed by the renewing

of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and

perfect will of God. God wants us to constantly renew our mind constantly.

Second Conridience try Athing says, but we all with unveiled face beholding as in

the mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image,

from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord continuously,

we're being changed. Were you the same person five years ago? No,

you're not, especially if you work with Christ. Are you were changed?

I'm a very different person now. A lot of people say I'm much

nicer now. I think when I sat that XTV, I was not as

nice. Yeah, for those that what it means since then they were not.

You asked mission knows. Okay, I'm more nicer now. Amen.

John fourteen twenty six says, But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom

the Father said in Jesus name, he will teach you all things and bring

to your remembrance the things that I said to you. So like, say,

you're not alone. Holy Spirit is there. Ask him and you know

what if it feels difficult, well, that's why we have the community of

believers. That's why we can be opened to one another. So I hope

that you've been opened to one another, not like, oh, you know,

like I don't want to share after person anything. I'm like, no,

no, no share Sorry the day I really struggle this person, no,

I super offended. Never say hello to me, you know, grow

in that together. Amen. And finally, Romans eight twenty six says,

likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, for we do not know

what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession

for us with grown things which cannot be uttered. At the terrence this morning

he was at PJ and he said this line, which I thought was really

cool. He said, and it was just basically this. If you think

you can go formations and you will be able to do it. But if

you think you cannot go anyway, because the Spirit will help them, and

that's life right for us. The wonderful thing is both ways won't fail one

because if you think you can, the Spirit be there, but you think

you cannot. The Spirit be even there also for you, because in our

weaknesses He is glorified. I have many witnesses, but I can tell you

Christ is glorified in every weakness. So friends, it is not about you,

It is about what God wants in our lives. Amen. We hope

you've been blessed by this message. For more information on our church, please

visit aschurch dot org. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're

believing that this week is going to be a good week, a hit for

you. God bless