Embracing Agapao: Love Your Enemies as God Does
Summary
Today marks the conclusion of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, specifically focusing on Matthew 5. As we wrap up, we reach what I believe is the pinnacle of Jesus' teachings: the call to love our enemies as the Father loves His. This is not just a command but a transformative challenge that requires us to embody the virtues of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus heightens the law, moving beyond mere rule-following to a deeper, internal transformation that requires the Holy Spirit's empowerment. This is about grace-empowered obedience, where our hearts align with God's desires, making us true sons and daughters of God.
Kingdom citizens are called to embrace values that the world finds nonsensical—grief, humility, and suffering—as pathways to blessedness. This internal transformation is a preview of the kingdom to come, where everyone will be virtuous from the inside out. In the meantime, we practice, facing tests that reveal our character, especially the test of loving our enemies. This is a difficult task, as we often magnify the faults of those who hurt us, falling into the trap of the fundamental attribution error, where we judge others harshly while excusing our own faults.
Jesus challenges us to love our enemies with agapao love, a self-sacrificing, action-oriented love that seeks the highest good of others, regardless of their actions toward us. This love is not about feelings but about choosing to act in ways that reflect God's character. By doing so, we become more like our heavenly Father, who loves even those who oppose Him. This is the birthmark of kingdom citizens, making us easily identifiable as followers of Christ.
To love our enemies, we must put off old, sinful patterns and embrace Christ-like behavior. This involves rejecting retaliatory tactics, asking that wrongs not be held against others, and stepping in to vouch for those who oppose us. It means being agents of healing, confronting when necessary, and benefiting those who reject us. These actions are not easy, but they are possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we practice loving our enemies, we entrust ourselves to God, who judges justly and rewards our faithfulness. This journey is not permanent; our trials with difficult people are temporary. By loving our enemies now, we not only gain the applause of heaven but also become more like our Father in heaven.
Key Takeaways:
1. Grace-Empowered Obedience: True obedience to God goes beyond rule-following; it requires a heart transformation that aligns with God's desires. This internal change is only possible through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to embody the virtues of the kingdom. [04:13]
2. Loving Our Enemies: Jesus calls us to love our enemies with agapao love, a self-sacrificing, action-oriented love that seeks the highest good of others. This love is not about feelings but about choosing to act in ways that reflect God's character, making us more like our heavenly Father. [10:31]
3. Rejecting Retaliation: To love our enemies, we must reject retaliatory tactics and embrace Christ-like behavior. This involves putting off old, sinful patterns and intentionally embracing actions that reflect the love and grace of God. [24:44]
4. Prayer as an Act of Love: Praying for our enemies is one of the most loving actions we can take. It directs God's power into their lives, seeking their highest good and aligning our hearts with God's desires for them. [21:29]
5. Temporary Trials: Our trials with difficult people are temporary. By loving our enemies now, we gain the applause of heaven and become more like our Father in heaven, knowing that our shift in this life is not permanent. [34:01]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:13] - The Pinnacle of the Sermon on the Mount
- [06:36] - The Challenge of Loving Our Enemies
- [10:31] - Understanding Agapao Love
- [14:34] - Be Whole, Not Perfect
- [17:57] - Practicing to Be Like Our Father
- [21:29] - Praying for Our Enemies
- [24:44] - Putting Off the Old, Embracing the New
- [27:11] - Rejecting Retaliation
- [29:16] - Being Agents of Healing
- [34:01] - Temporary Trials and Eternal Rewards
- [36:00] - Closing Prayer and Encouragement
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 5:43-48
- Romans 5:8
- 1 Peter 2:23
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus mean when He instructs us to love our enemies in Matthew 5:44? How does this differ from the common understanding of love? [06:36]
2. In Romans 5:8, how does God demonstrate His love for us, and how does this serve as a model for loving our enemies?
3. According to 1 Peter 2:23, how did Jesus respond to insults and suffering, and what does this teach us about handling our own conflicts? [34:01]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of actions that reflect agapao love towards our enemies? [10:31]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "grace-empowered obedience" challenge the traditional view of following rules in the Christian life? [04:13]
2. Why is it significant that Jesus calls us to love our enemies with agapao love, and how does this reflect God's character? [10:31]
3. What does it mean to "put off the old and embrace the new" in the context of loving our enemies, and how can this be practically applied in our daily lives? [24:44]
4. How does praying for our enemies align our hearts with God's desires, and why is this considered a powerful act of love? [21:29]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to love someone who hurt you. What steps can you take to practice agapao love towards them this week? [06:36]
2. Identify a specific person in your life who you consider an enemy or someone difficult to love. What practical actions can you take to demonstrate love towards them, as Jesus instructs? [10:31]
3. How can you incorporate the practice of praying for your enemies into your daily routine? What specific prayers can you offer for them? [21:29]
4. Consider the concept of "rejecting retaliatory tactics." How can you consciously choose to respond with grace instead of retaliation in your interactions this week? [24:44]
5. Think about a situation where you might need to step in and vouch for someone who has opposed you. How can you prepare your heart to act in love if such an opportunity arises? [27:11]
6. What are some old, sinful patterns you need to put off in order to embrace Christ-like behavior? How can you seek the Holy Spirit's help in this transformation? [24:44]
7. Reflect on the temporary nature of trials with difficult people. How can this perspective help you persevere in loving your enemies, knowing that your efforts are not in vain? [34:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Grace-Empowered Transformation
True obedience to God transcends mere rule-following; it requires a profound transformation of the heart that aligns with God's desires. This transformation is not something we can achieve on our own; it is only possible through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. As we open ourselves to the Spirit's work, we begin to embody the virtues of the kingdom, living out a grace-empowered obedience that reflects our identity as sons and daughters of God. This internal change is a journey, one that invites us to continually seek alignment with God's will and to allow His grace to shape our actions and attitudes. [04:13]
"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to invite the Holy Spirit to transform your heart, moving beyond rule-following to genuine alignment with God's desires?
Day 2: Agapao Love for Our Enemies
Jesus calls us to love our enemies with agapao love, a self-sacrificing, action-oriented love that seeks the highest good of others, regardless of their actions toward us. This love is not about feelings but about choosing to act in ways that reflect God's character. By loving our enemies, we become more like our heavenly Father, who loves even those who oppose Him. This love is the birthmark of kingdom citizens, making us easily identifiable as followers of Christ. It challenges us to rise above our natural inclinations and to embody the radical love that Jesus demonstrated. [10:31]
"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27-28, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life do you consider an enemy, and what specific action can you take today to demonstrate agapao love toward them?
Day 3: Rejecting Retaliation
To love our enemies, we must reject retaliatory tactics and embrace Christ-like behavior. This involves putting off old, sinful patterns and intentionally embracing actions that reflect the love and grace of God. It means choosing to respond to hurt and offense with forgiveness and understanding, rather than seeking revenge or harboring resentment. By doing so, we align ourselves with the example of Jesus, who calls us to a higher standard of love and grace. This path is not easy, but it is the way of the kingdom, inviting us to be agents of healing and reconciliation in a broken world. [24:44]
"Do not say, 'I will repay evil'; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you." (Proverbs 20:22, ESV)
Reflection: What old, sinful patterns do you need to put off in order to embrace Christ-like behavior, especially in your interactions with those who have wronged you?
Day 4: Prayer as an Act of Love
Praying for our enemies is one of the most loving actions we can take. It directs God's power into their lives, seeking their highest good and aligning our hearts with God's desires for them. Through prayer, we release our grievances and entrust the situation to God, allowing Him to work in ways we cannot. This act of love not only impacts those we pray for but also transforms our own hearts, softening them and aligning them with God's heart. As we pray for our enemies, we participate in God's redemptive work, becoming conduits of His grace and love. [21:29]
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." (Romans 12:14, ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone you struggle to pray for, and how can you commit to praying for their well-being and transformation this week?
Day 5: Temporary Trials and Eternal Rewards
Our trials with difficult people are temporary. By loving our enemies now, we gain the applause of heaven and become more like our Father in heaven, knowing that our shift in this life is not permanent. This perspective helps us endure challenges with grace and patience, trusting that God sees our efforts and will reward our faithfulness. As we navigate these trials, we are reminded that our ultimate reward is not found in earthly recognition but in the eternal joy of becoming more like Christ. This journey shapes us, preparing us for the fullness of the kingdom to come. [34:01]
"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you shift your perspective on a current trial with a difficult person, viewing it as an opportunity for growth and eternal reward?
Quotes
"Kingdom citizens are embracing ways that don't make any sense to the world. They're embracing grief. They're embracing humility. They're embracing suffering, seeing that there's meaning in it. They're saying, I have these challenges, and sometimes people are radically opposed to me, and yet I see it as a path to blessedness. That's what kingdom people see. It doesn't make any sense to the world." [01:33:86]
"One of the most difficult ones for me sometimes, I think it's the one I'm maybe least good at sometimes. But it's also the one that I'm maybe least noticed that I'm in it. It's the test of loving my enemies the way the Father loves his enemies. That's hard to do, man. It's hard to intuit. Sometimes I'm just like, I'm into a tussle or I'm into some drama or I'm into some kind of conflict with somebody." [03:56:93] (25 seconds)
"Jesus comes along in his hotspot in the Sermon on the Mount, and this is what he says, you've heard people say, love your neighbors and hate your enemies. Now let's just pause right there because that's what the people have heard, but that's not even what God's word says, okay? He's referencing Leviticus 19, 18. Listen to what it actually says. It says, do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself." [07:22:78]
"God actually loves people that are from a certain point of view, they're his enemy. Meaning, they're oppositional to his ways and they don't care what he thinks. Yes, they're still his creature and he still loves them, but they're a version of, they're oppositional to God and God says, I love them anyway. See, I send, it's not just random, I send all the good things into their life because I love them and I'm patient and I don't want anyone to perish." [09:01:94]
"He's asking you to love folks. He's asking you to have spirit birth action. And it's a good thing that we don't necessarily need the feeling. He's not saying feel love. He's saying, I need you to just go ahead and act the way God would act and choose to do what's best for somebody. And I want you to do it. Here it is. Sermon on the Mount. I want you to do it so you become like your heavenly father." [11:02:58] (26 seconds)
"One way to agapow our enemies is to pray for them. Pray for them. Isn't that what he said? Pray for them. Verse 44, and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Why pray? Because prayer, now this might trip somebody out. You'll hear this and be like, oh, that's a religious thing to say. No, but if you believe it, I think there's some real manna in it." [19:00:46] (24 seconds)
"And the big principle behind them is you've got to put off the old and put on the new. I don't know if we talk about this very much, but it's a principle of putting off the old and putting on the new. I want to read you a definition of it. It's the daily spiritual practice of shedding sinful patterns and mindsets shaped by the sinful nature and intentionally embracing Christ-like character and behavior through the renewing work of the Holy Spirit." [23:20:55] (25 seconds)
"One thing that might help you is to remember, God has asked me to take care of this person right now, just for a bit, but my shift is almost done. I don't have to do this forever. It's likely they'll pass out of my life soon, or I'll just die. And when I die, I'll death be done, or maybe they'll die, whichever one. This is not permanent. So maybe that's a word for somebody. Your enemy is not permanent, dude, so love them now." [32:33:27] (26 seconds)
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