Sermon Illustrations on Enemies

Remember Ruby?

Prayer-- Remember Ruby? Dan Lightfoot

Ruby was a six-year-old black girl. When New Orleans schools were first integrated she was the only black in Frantz Elementary. Federal marshals escorted her each day but she still ran the gauntlet of taunts, curses, and threats from adults as she arrived and left each day.

Dr. Robert Coles was the child psychiatrist who studied Ruby's case. He found her happy, cheerful and able to sleep at night.

Miss Hurley, her teacher, watched one morning as the angry mob vented its anger. Ruby's lips moved. Miss Hurley wondered what she was saying. She later asked.

"I wasn't talking to those people," said Ruby. "I was praying for them: 'Please God, try to forgive those people. Because even if they say those bad things, they don't know what they're doing. So, you could forgive them, just like you did those folks a long time ago when they said terrible things about you."

--West Side, Russellville, AR

Quote

"Observe your enemies, for they first find out your faults."

- Antisthenes

- _Instant Quotation Dictionary_, p. 116.

The Devil's Zoo

Psalms 22

Are you an animal lover? I must confess that, apart from a certain sympathy with cats and a liking for friendly dogs, I don’t really care much for animals. My wife enjoys going to the zoo, and I dutifully go along, but I would much rather be in the library.

Do you know that God uses animals to teach us about sin? Today’s passage talks about the Devil’s entire zoo. “Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me” (v. 12). Our Lord was on the cross, and people were acting like animals. That’s what is wrong with the world. When we leave God out of our lives, we descend to the level of animals. Here was Jesus on the cross, and the bulls had surrounded Him. Then the lions showed up. “They gape at Me with their mouths, as a raging and roaring lion” (v. 13). “Dogs have surrounded Me” (v. 16). “Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen!” (v. 21). That is quite a zoo! When men put Jesus on the cross, they acted like animals. And He replied, “I am a worm” (Ps. 22 6). Can you imagine bulls and lions and dogs and oxen chasing a worm? Oh, how our Lord humbled Himself for us!

Don’t act like a wild animal. You were made in the image of God. Let the Holy Spirit turn you into one of His gentle sheep. The Lord, our Shepherd, is glorified and honored when we don’t act like vicious animals but rather like the children of God. God made you in His image and has placed His Holy Spirit within you. You were made to glorify Him. Are you harboring sin in any area of your life? Keep clean of sin so God can work in you and through you.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17, NIV

Our Relation To the Death and Life of Christ

Romans 5:9

”Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only [that], but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:9-11 NKJV)

Our Relation To The Death And Life Of Christ

• much…then — Rom 3:20-28 — since the great work of redemption is finished

• blood — Rom 3:25, Eph 2:18, Heb 9:14, 1 Jn 1:7 — the blood is the life; blood-shedding is life-giving

• we…saved — as the fruit of that great work

• wrath — Rom 1:18, 1 Th 1:10 — wrath to come, penalty due to sin

• through him — the living Saviour, who lives to bring in all the fruit of His death

• enemies…death — Rom 8:32, 2 Cor 5:18-19, Eph 2:16, Col 1:20-21, Heb 7:25 — His death saved the enemy

• reconciled…life — much more will the living Saviour preserve the friend

• not…so [that] — not only have we hope of future glory; and joy in present sorrow

• joy [rejoice]…God — Hab 3:18, 1 Pet 1:3-9 — joy in the possession of Him, and in our relation to Him

• through…Christ — the channel of all covenant blessings

• atonement [reconciliation] — the sole ground of our hope, joy, and new relations

Enemies to God — Pres. [Jonathan] Edwards

I. In what respect unregenerate men are enemies to God. In –

1. Their esteem of Him;

2. The natural relish of their souls;

3. Their wills;

4. Their affections;

5. Practice.

II. To how great a degree:

1. They have no love;

2. Their every faculty is subject to this enmity;

3. It is insuperable by any finite power;

4. They are greater enemies to Him than to any other being.

III. The reasons for this:

1. God is opposed to their idolatries;

2. They are threatened with damnation because of them.

The salvation of believers carried on by the life of Christ in heaven — Dr Leifchild

I. The life of Christ:

1. A glorious life;

2. An immortal life;

3. A life of intercession.

II. How we are saved by this life. He –

1. Perpetuates the justification, and liberty of access to God, procured by Him for us, when we first believed on Him;

2. Frustrates the designs of our adversaries to injure us;

3. Replenishes us with grace for the furtherance of our sanctification, in the use of appointed means;

4. Revives us with Divine support and consolation in seasons of extremity.

Salvation from wrath — Analyst

I. Salvation from wrath is inferior to, and dependent upon, reconciliation.

II. Christ will surely save His friends from wrath, seeing He saved His enemies from sin.

III. The salvation of the just is by the Saviour’s life.

Learn

1. Reconciliation to God here is the only sure way to escape hereafter;

2. It can only be “by His blood.”

Reward of disinterested kindness — The Marshal D’Armont, having taken Crodon, in Bretagne, during the League, gave orders to put every Spaniard to death who was found in the garrison. Though it was announced to be death to disobey the orders of the general, an English soldier ventured to save a Spaniard. He was arraigned for this offence before a court-martial, when he confessed the fact, and declared himself ready to suffer death, provided they would still save the life of the Spaniard. The Marshal being much surprised at such conduct, asked the soldier how he came to be so much interested in the preservation of the Spaniard. “Because, air,” replied he, “in a similar situation he once saved my life.” The Marshal, greatly pleased with the goodness of the soldier’s heart, granted him pardon, saved the Spaniard’s life, and highly extolled them both. Oh, that Christians never forgot Him who, while they were enemies, died for them! Then would they neither at any time deny His name, nor decline sustaining any loss in His cause. He, by His death, not only saves them from the second death, but puts them in possession of eternal life; compared to which, what have they to lose

“Love incomprehensible! It swalloweth up, the sense and understanding of men and angels; fitter to be admired and adored with silence; than blemished with any of our weak expressions!” — Bp Sanderson

“O, blessed Jesus, let us judge of Thy love by Thy sufferings; and of both by the impossibility of comprehending either.” — Bishop Borne

“Men appoint walls and bulwarks for salvation; but God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks. Salvation is so often without walls and bulwarks, and walls and bulwarks without salvation. Salvation is the safer safeguard.” — Venning

Treatment of Enemies, Sympathy

Romans 12:14

”Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:14-15 NKJV)

Treatment Of Enemies, Sympathy

• bless…you — Matt 5:44, 1 Pet 2:23, Luke 23:34, Acts 7:60, 1 Cor 4:12 — do good to them by word and deed

• bless…not {curse} — not only refrain from evil, but do good, and unmixed good

• rejoice…rejoice — 1 Cor 12:26-27 — thus express sympathy, show love, and absence of envy at another’s good fortune

• weep…weep — John 11:33-35 — we lighten another’s affliction by sharing his tears” (Robinson)

Compassion — Pressensé

I. What compassion is:

1. It must not be confounded with mere natural pity. Christian compassion rises as far above this, as Christianity rises above the world;

2. It deems no kind of distress beneath its notice.

II. The reasons for the development of practical compassion. Christ felt compassion for us; should we not do so for others?

III. Its effects:

1. It takes us out of ourselves, and makes us partakers of all that is most affecting in Divine mercy, thus becoming the superior form of pity;

2. It imparts to us the greatest moral power for doing good to man, opens our hearts, and is the most effective method of conveying truth.

Practical sympathy — A very hard thing to do, because it requires such an unenvious spirit. I remember hearing of a little girl who went to her Sabbath-school, and when she came home, her mother asked her what she had done at school; and she, in the simplicity of her little soul, said, “Oh, dear mother, I am afraid I have done nothing; for you know there was little Mary Curtis, whose baby brother was buried this week, and she was so sorry, and she cried so that I cried with her; and I took her hands in mine, and kissed her; but it quite took all the lessons out of my head; and poor Sarah Miles, who is always behind with her lessons, had them this morning quite perfect; and she was so happy, that, although she got more tickets than I did, I was quite glad, and I told her so, and kissed her too.” “My dear,” said the happy mother, “ you have not said so many lessons, perhaps, but you have fulfilled the Apostle’s injunction you have ‘wept with those that wept, and rejoiced with those who rejoiced.’” — Paxton Hood.

“Divide each others’ troubles, and double each others’ joys, in this world of mingled troubles and delights.” — Baxter

“Paul’s writings, though diffuse in the doctrinal, are concise in the preceptive parts. On the former it was absolutely necessary to enlarge; on the latter it is always judicious to be short. The celebrated rule of Horace, ‘Quicquid praecipies, esto brevis,’ was never more exactly observed, nor more finely exemplifled, than by our Apostolic author.” — J. Hervey

Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:27

Jesus commanded it of His followers: “Love your enemies!” My goodness, if everyone in the world obeyed that principle then every nation could cut its defense spending. Law enforcement agencies would be reduced to helping little old ladies across the street and getting cats out of trees.

I once heard President Ronald Reagan say that if everyone obeyed the principles of the Bible, there would be worldwide peace. Jesus’ words are shocking for our day: “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you! Pray for the well-being of those who curse you!” Christ preached forgiveness.

That subject was at the heart of His message. He fulfilled His own directive when He forgave the butchers who nailed His body to a cross. You can say what you want; the crux of the Christian message is the loving of one’s enemies. Yet it is directly opposite to what we often practice.

Sometimes, you know, we just do not want to forgive. It is too difficult for us, we claim. It is easier by far to strike out at that person and wound the one who has wounded us.

Forgiveness of our enemies sounds like an invitation to disaster. Yet forgiveness is precisely the way God deals with us. He forgives us and teaches us to forgive ourselves along with those around us.

This blessed forgiveness is the dynamic of change, spiritual and social. This is not a subject the world holds in much regard today. We would rather be “avengers.” We reason that forgiveness such as taught us by our Lord is not much of a tool for survival in this wicked world and yet, that is exactly what it is!

Remember Ruby?

Prayer-- Remember Ruby? Dan Lightfoot

Ruby was a six-year-old black girl. When New Orleans schools were first integrated she was the only black in Frantz Elementary. Federal marshals escorted her each day but she still ran the gauntlet of taunts, curses, and threats from adults as she arrived and left each day.

Dr. Robert Coles was the child psychiatrist who studied Ruby's case. He found her happy, cheerful and able to sleep at night.

Miss Hurley, her teacher, watched one morning as the angry mob vented its anger. Ruby's lips moved. Miss Hurley wondered what she was saying. She later asked.

"I wasn't talking to those people," said Ruby. "I was praying for them: 'Please God, try to forgive those people. Because even if they say those bad things, they don't know what they're doing. So, you could forgive them, just like you did those folks a long time ago when they said terrible things about you."

--West Side, Russellville, AR

Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:27

Jesus commanded it of His followers: “Love your enemies!” My goodness, if everyone in the world obeyed that principle then every nation could cut its defense spending. Law enforcement agencies would be reduced to helping little old ladies across the street and getting cats out of trees.

I once heard President Ronald Reagan say that if everyone obeyed the principles of the Bible, there would be worldwide peace. Jesus’ words are shocking for our day: “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you! Pray for the well-being of those who curse you!” Christ preached forgiveness.

That subject was at the heart of His message. He fulfilled His own directive when He forgave the butchers who nailed His body to a cross. You can say what you want; the crux of the Christian message is the loving of one’s enemies. Yet it is directly opposite to what we often practice.

Sometimes, you know, we just do not want to forgive. It is too difficult for us, we claim. It is easier by far to strike out at that person and wound the one who has wounded us.

Forgiveness of our enemies sounds like an invitation to disaster. Yet forgiveness is precisely the way God deals with us. He forgives us and teaches us to forgive ourselves along with those around us.

This blessed forgiveness is the dynamic of change, spiritual and social. This is not a subject the world holds in much regard today. We would rather be “avengers.” We reason that forgiveness such as taught us by our Lord is not much of a tool for survival in this wicked world and yet, that is exactly what it is!

Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:27

Jesus commanded it of His followers: “Love your enemies!” My goodness, if everyone in the world obeyed that principle then every nation could cut its defense spending. Law enforcement agencies would be reduced to helping little old ladies across the street and getting cats out of trees.

I once heard President Ronald Reagan say that if everyone obeyed the principles of the Bible, there would be worldwide peace. Jesus’ words are shocking for our day: “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you! Pray for the well-being of those who curse you!” Christ preached forgiveness.

That subject was at the heart of His message. He fulfilled His own directive when He forgave the butchers who nailed His body to a cross. You can say what you want; the crux of the Christian message is the loving of one’s enemies. Yet it is directly opposite to what we often practice.

Sometimes, you know, we just do not want to forgive. It is too difficult for us, we claim. It is easier by far to strike out at that person and wound the one who has wounded us.

Forgiveness of our enemies sounds like an invitation to disaster. Yet forgiveness is precisely the way God deals with us. He forgives us and teaches us to forgive ourselves along with those around us.

This blessed forgiveness is the dynamic of change, spiritual and social. This is not a subject the world holds in much regard today. We would rather be “avengers.” We reason that forgiveness such as taught us by our Lord is not much of a tool for survival in this wicked world and yet, that is exactly what it is!

Remember Ruby?

Prayer-- Remember Ruby? Dan Lightfoot

Ruby was a six-year-old black girl. When New Orleans schools were first integrated she was the only black in Frantz Elementary. Federal marshals escorted her each day but she still ran the gauntlet of taunts, curses, and threats from adults as she arrived and left each day.

Dr. Robert Coles was the child psychiatrist who studied Ruby's case. He found her happy, cheerful and able to sleep at night.

Miss Hurley, her teacher, watched one morning as the angry mob vented its anger. Ruby's lips moved. Miss Hurley wondered what she was saying. She later asked.

"I wasn't talking to those people," said Ruby. "I was praying for them: 'Please God, try to forgive those people. Because even if they say those bad things, they don't know what they're doing. So, you could forgive them, just like you did those folks a long time ago when they said terrible things about you."

--West Side, Russellville, AR

10 Sermon Illustrations on Enemies