Sermon Snippet for tomorrow: If you love the Lord, and do good, whether you like it or not, it will create for you some enemies. Sometimes your enemies can be those who carry the same last name that you do. Sometimes your enemies can be people in the street who just don’t like you. Sometimes your enemies can be the same people you work with day by day. And yes, I hate to say this, the same people you worship with can become your enemies. You don’t get enemies because you haven’t done anything. According to Peter you pick up enemies when you follow that which is good, in this context, God is the one who is good and whatever He provides for us is good, and since he’s the author of “good” we follow Him. I am proud to announce today that I have decided to follow Jesus. I shouldn’t be the only one to say that in this room. My heart is fixed and my mind is made up. There is, for me, no turning back. I’ve come to far from where I started from. I am His and He is mine. Regardless as to what others may say and do, I am sold out to the Lord. Somebody here, after all the things that the Lord has done for you – healed you, helped you, provided for you, saved you, rescued you, matured you, fed you, clothed you, loved you, and protected you – there is no doubt after all I know, I’m going to serve him – but Peter says if you serve him, you will suffer. The rhetoric question of verse 13 says “who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” It’s not a guarantee that you’ll never be challenged, never have trouble, never experience pain. Matter of fact some of us came to church this morning in pain. Some of are tired of some of us; Some of us are tired of our spouses; Some of us have leg pain, neck pain, chest pain, relatives that a pain in the neck, mental pain and anguish . . . we hobbled here, we strolled in here, we have been uncomfortable since the day started, we are in pain – but now comes the juxtaposing statement – how can I have so much pain, after all because of my love for God, how can Peter say on one hand I’ve been suffering for righteousness sake, and on the other hand he says happy are you. He suggests that suffering for righteousness’ sake has a result – happy are ye. I grew up in a Christian home, but when momma whipped us, I didn’t feel happy. I got in some fights in school, most I lost, I didn’t feel happy. I had some heartbreaks in relationships, and when they broke down I didn’t feel happy. I’ve had family members who disappointed me and I had to cut the cord of relationship, I didn’t feel happy. I’ve had people who smiled in my face and then stabbed me in the back, I didn’t feel happy. Peter says it like this (translated from the CEV version) – Who is it that can really hurt you? The thing I have learned is that I don’t get stronger without having enemies, I am made stronger when I have enemies. There is a benefit to having enemies. They make you pray like you have never prayed before. They will make you a patient person. They will help you look to the hills from whence cometh my help, for your help is in the Lord . . .
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 02:56:28 +0000
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