WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.799 I was so blessed this morning in the prayer meeting. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:22.760 Um, I just had to stop bowing down bowing my head down and I had to look at everybody and everybody's praying and and just watching the Saints here, the church here praying. 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:44.000 Um, I was just amazed. I was amazed. What a privilege I thought to myself. What a privilege it was to be in the assembly of the Saints. What a privilege it was to hear the Saints pray to the Lord in unity and it's like, how did this happen? 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:54.899 How did this happen? I thought to myself on these like this is the best place on the world. 00:00:55.899 --> 00:01:13.700 It's the best place in the world I hear to be with God's people praying to the God I love and you can hear the voices of the Saints. They love Jesus. They love the Lord. They're they're looking to the Lord for help. 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:24.299 And when Jacqueline, Jared prayed, I couldn't help but cry. I was like, please, Lord, help Jesse. 00:01:25.299 --> 00:01:26.299 And Thailand. 00:01:26.299 --> 00:01:31.299 Was I said, you're going to help her. We're praying. 00:01:31.299 --> 00:01:39.700 It's the end of the year and I am so grateful for Grace Bible Church. 00:01:39.700 --> 00:01:42.099 I'm so thankful for you. 00:01:42.099 --> 00:01:59.099 You're you're prize jewel and Conway Argystol and from wherever you travel into this is not something for us to take lightly. 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:04.500 In this dark evil world in the age that we live in. 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:08.099 This church. 00:02:08.099 --> 00:02:12.099 God's people is not to take lightly. 00:02:12.099 --> 00:02:21.500 I let us endeavor with all of our hearts to love one another. 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:29.699 Let's endeavor all of our hearts to not me well bitterness to grow up. 00:02:29.699 --> 00:02:34.500 I see easy to find faults in a church. 00:02:34.500 --> 00:02:46.300 But I believe because of the blood of Jesus Christ when the Lord looks down upon us and I was thinking as he's looking down on us when we're praying. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:53.500 That the prayers were a sweet savor aroma coming from this place into heaven. 00:02:53.500 --> 00:03:00.900 And that the Lord was pleased is pleased with his people coming together to worship you. 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:03.699 To love you know. 00:03:03.699 --> 00:03:05.699 And to love. 00:03:05.699 --> 00:03:08.699 The ones that he loves. 00:03:08.699 --> 00:03:17.300 I was reminded thinking this morning that after Peter fell miserably denied Christ. 00:03:17.300 --> 00:03:20.500 When he come from Christ confronted him. 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:26.199 It wasn't shame on you Peter wasn't the words that Christ used. 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:30.900 How dare you do that to me you denied me I needed you. 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:34.699 He says if you love me. 00:03:34.699 --> 00:03:36.900 Love my people. 00:03:36.900 --> 00:03:43.699 If you love me love the broken people. 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:48.699 And beloved the Lord Jesus. 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:52.000 Beloved the Lord Jesus. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:53.300 I know he's perfect. 00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:54.400 He's easy to love. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:56.900 Then love us. 00:03:56.900 --> 00:03:59.900 Love the imperfect Saint. 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:03.599 I also was reminded of just thinking through. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:16.800 The Gospels how there's a verse in Luke that says that we are disciples of Christ and it is the will of the father that the disciples of Christ become like Christ. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:20.000 And the end goal the end goal. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.899 For all of us. 00:04:21.899 --> 00:04:25.600 No matter where we're at in our stages of sanctification. 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:27.800 The end goal for you. 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:33.399 And you and me and so we look around at one another is like well. 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:39.399 Here's the imperfections of each other know the end goal is holiness for all of us. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:45.699 We will all by the grace of God be victorious in Christ Jesus. 00:04:45.699 --> 00:05:03.000 Well when I was younger I heard one of my mentors actually Greg Stevens and Ingrid Stevens mentor when their old pastors and one of the men that was so instrumental my young life as a young minister man named Conrad. 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:11.100 Moral heard him preach once and he says it is wonderful to be taken advantage of. 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:20.199 And I've always contemplated that phrase because I didn't know if I understood what he was talking about. 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:24.000 It's wonderful to be taken advantage of. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:28.600 Now how many do of you feel that way? 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:32.399 I love being taken advantage of. 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:39.300 I delight in people mistreating me and taking me for granted. 00:05:39.300 --> 00:05:56.600 I don't think we naturally enjoy that we don't it's not normal for us when someone defrauds us or wrongs us for us to rejoice and delight in the occasions of being defrauded. 00:05:56.600 --> 00:06:31.600 This morning I want to talk to you about how to handle being defrauded from 1 Corinthians 6 verses 1 to 7 how to handle this and I thought about toppling this message the glory of being defrauded the glory of being taken advantage of and I hope it's challenging to us and we will see the beauty of it when we're done and now the world will tell you this is ugly in every dimension and there is an aspect that it is ugly. 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:35.000 When someone sins against you, it's not pleasant. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:37.600 And so I'm not trying to make the whole thing beautiful. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:39.199 There is a side to it. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:44.600 That's very sinful and very wrong and God does not enjoy a delight in evil. 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:58.600 He doesn't so don't misunderstand me, but there's another side of being defrauded and wrong taking advantage of ill-spoken of that is glorious. 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:23.300 And I hope that we can see the glory of that and I want to try to paint it if you would the glory of Jesus Christ and how he was taken advantage of by everyone and by you and I will even go as far as say we still take advantage of Jesus. 00:07:23.300 --> 00:07:27.199 We still take advantage of him. 00:07:28.899 --> 00:07:32.899 And he continues to love us. 00:07:32.899 --> 00:07:37.000 He continues to give care for us. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:44.699 What a glorious Savior and we want to be like him and I think there's another. 00:07:44.699 --> 00:08:03.199 Scenario that can make you shine like the Lord Jesus Christ and how you can respond when someone takes advantage of you how you can respond when someone wrongs you and speaks ill of you and defraud you. 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:06.100 Let's go to the Lord in prayer before we read our text. 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:17.600 Dear God, we want to be just like Jesus and we want to obey his commands and follow his example. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:21.100 Show us Christ so we can marvel. 00:08:21.100 --> 00:08:32.899 Lord show us our sins so we can repent of them and give us grace to follow you until you come and get us this we pray in your son's name. 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:33.799 Amen. 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:38.899 Now being wronged is not fun. 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:43.000 No one enjoys it and it's not meant to be enjoyed. 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:51.200 So when someone sins against you or defraud you or steals from you or speaks ill of you. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:09:02.399 Is inherently difficult. It's not enjoyable to say the least and we all know what it feels like to be betrayed. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:08.700 It's one thing to be betrayed by someone outside the church or an unbeliever. 00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:18.500 We somewhat expect that from unbelievers to be ill-spoken of and we know the Lord says woe to you if everyone speaks good of you. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:25.100 So sometimes it's an honor and few would for unbelievers to speak ill of you for your righteousness. 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:34.000 So we understand that but what about when church members or other Christians wrong us that hurts all the more. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:41.000 In fact, it's very difficult to handle when Christians are fellow church members do us wrong. 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:42.799 And. 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:51.100 Hurt us in some fashion it it wounds us and it's a deep wound and is the emotional pain is really what matters. 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:52.500 I mean, it's really what's difficult. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:10:04.000 It's someone take something from you or someone's doesn't respond to a gift by the way a lot of you gave me gifts and here's my thank you for that. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:17.899 Thank you forever with all the gifts I got over Christmas, you know, but what if you don't when you give a gift someone never said thank you and it's like well there do they even appreciate me and sometimes it hurts to be. 00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:22.100 Forgotten sometimes it's unintentional. 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:26.700 Some people will overlook us unintentionally. 00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:28.299 They're not meaning to hurt us. 00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:31.000 But sometimes it's very intentional. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:37.100 Sometimes people despitefully purposefully take advantage of us. 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:50.299 Now that is even more difficult to handle and most of all when it comes from within the people that should be our family should be the ones that care about us most. 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:56.100 Now this is what's going on in the Church of Corinth as we look at this third problem. 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:57.000 They're dealing with. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:00.700 They're dealing with lawsuits within the church. 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:02.799 Let's begin reading in verse 1. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:11.299 When one of you have a grievous a grievance against another does he dare go to law before the unrighteous and said of the Saints. 00:11:11.299 --> 00:11:17.200 Or do you not know that Saints will judge the world and the world is to be judged by you. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:20.899 Are you incompetent to try trivial cases. 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:28.399 Do you not know that we are to judge angels how much more than matters pertaining pertaining to this life. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:35.299 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church. 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:37.600 I say this to your shame. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:43.700 Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers. 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:46.799 But brother goes against law. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:52.700 Against a brother and that not and that before unbelievers. 00:11:52.700 --> 00:11:58.200 Now this is the verse I want to focus on verse 7 to have lawsuits. 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:03.000 At all with one another is already a defeat for you. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:05.299 Here's the phrase. 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:08.399 Why not rather suffer wrong? 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.899 Why not rather be defrauded? 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:22.100 Rather than seeking justice or revenge or even just your property back or your good name back and trying to get all things right. 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:24.299 Going to court. 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:28.799 Why not just suffer the wrong? 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:31.200 Take it on the chin. 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:33.000 Just endure it. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:34.399 Why not do that? 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:40.399 Why not just patiently endure wrongdoing? 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:42.799 And being defrauded. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:43.799 Why not do that? 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:46.299 It's like wow, what are you talking about? 00:12:46.299 --> 00:12:49.100 That seems so wrong. 00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:52.500 To be willingly taken advantage of. 00:12:52.500 --> 00:13:01.700 To not seek to clear the case and settle the books but rather saying hey, I'm going to. 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:04.799 Let that go. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:07.000 I'm going to suffer the lost. 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.799 Why not do that? 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:18.700 Well, here's how to handle when you're defrauded or wrong by a brother or a sister in the church or a family member. 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:21.700 In fact, we can apply this to almost anybody. 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:25.299 The first thing we're not to do is to go to court. 00:13:25.299 --> 00:13:27.700 Do not sue, especially if it's a church member. 00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:31.799 We see in verse 1 when one of you have a grievance against another. 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:36.399 Does he dare go to the law before the unrighteous and said of the Saints? 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:37.500 Look at verse 6. 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:43.399 But brother goes to law against brother and that before unbelievers to have lawsuits. 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:46.899 And all with one another is already a defeat for you. 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:48.399 So what's going on? 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:51.600 We don't know these two brothers in the church of Corinth. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:54.000 They're fighting about something someone wrong. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:59.700 The other person and the other person is not admitting to it and not confessing it. 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:04.700 And so a brother took a church member to court suing them. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:07.799 And Paul said this is a defeat for you. 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:08.700 This is wrong. 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:11.100 You don't sue brothers and sisters. 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.700 You don't take people to court. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:14.000 Especially Christians. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:20.200 You don't air out your dirty laundry before the world deceived. 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:28.600 John tells us in 1st John that this is how we the world's going to know that I've come into the world that you love one another. 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:39.700 But your love for one another how you look past people's failures and faults and wrongdoings that's going to exhibit the love of Christ. 00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:49.899 That's going to show the world that Christ is indeed come into this world not by petty fighting imputing and bringing the fights and feuds into the world. 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:57.600 So the world can see it's a very disgraceful and it doesn't depict the love of Christ at all. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.399 This is wrong. 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:01.399 I love is. 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:12.000 And it's not following the instructions of Jesus and it says someone has something issue go to him probably if they don't hear you bring it to the church. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:18.799 So don't go to the world to settle these issues come to church and say that's what we see. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:29.899 Secondly, if someone in the church wrongs you or grieves you or upsets you in some way or defraud you in some way take it to the church. 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:31.100 We see that in verse 1. 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:48.000 When one of you has a grievance against another does he dare go to law before the unrighteous and said of the saints and it gives us several reasons why we should settle the issue within the house of God one because the Saints the church is going to be the ones that judges the world. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.700 Look at verse 2. 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:54.899 Or do you not know that the Saints will judge the world and the world is to be judged by you. 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:59.000 Are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:04.899 Are you incompetent to try little matters within the church? 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:14.299 This is an argument from the greater to the lesser if we're going to actually judge on the last day the world while we go into the world for them to judge us. 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:15.799 It's backwards. 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:20.500 God has made us rule with Christ on the day of judgment. 00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:24.600 He's going to set us with him and we're going to take place. 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:27.299 We're going to be a part of that judging the world. 00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:39.200 And if we're going to judge the world then what are these earthly he calls them minor trivial grievances. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.100 What is that? 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:45.299 Are we not competent to handle such issues within the house of God? 00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:50.600 We are ever competent to judge the world. 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:53.299 Secondly, we're not going to just judge the world. 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:54.500 We're going to judge angels. 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.600 We see them verse 3. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:58.299 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? 00:16:58.299 --> 00:17:01.700 How much more than matters pertaining to this lie? 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:05.299 Now, I don't understand what that looks like on that great day. 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:09.400 When the world is set before us and we're going to judge the world and judge. 00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:15.299 I think he's talking about the demons and we're going to bring sin is upon them. 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:20.700 I don't know what that quite looks like, but apparently that's what's going to happen on the great day. 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:31.200 And if we're competent to do that, how much more are we competent to settle matters that we're dealing with here below? 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.599 You see, it's a shame. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:39.799 We see in verse 4 through 6 is shame to go to court to go to the world for judgment. 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.799 Let me see in verse 4. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:45.599 So if you have such a case, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:47.599 I say this to your shame. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:57.400 Can it be that there's no one among you wise enough to settle dispute between the brothers for brothers goes to law against brother and that before unbelievers. 00:17:57.400 --> 00:17:58.599 I mean, you can imagine. 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.099 I don't know what it was, but maybe they were neighbors. 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:14.099 They're fighting over property lines or they're someone's got some type of they feel like someone stole something from them and they're not acknowledging that and they're saying, hey, you have to owe me you owe me. 00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:22.099 I learned you a hundred bucks or five hundred or five thousand dollars and you never paid me back and you got to pay me back. 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:28.099 You said you would and I'm going to sue you if you don't whatever the case was, they're going to settle the matter outside the church. 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:32.599 And this is as we said is shameful. 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:34.599 So we're not to do that. 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:37.099 It's a command for us to not do such a thing. 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:45.400 But here's the thing I want to focus on in verse 7 is that it's preferable that we just suffer the wrong. 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:51.900 We suffer the wrong look at verse 7 to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:54.400 Why not rather suffer wrong? 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:57.400 Why not rather be defrauded? 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:04.400 Now this word defrauded means to be cheated out of something that rightfully belongs to you. 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:28.900 It applies to personal property as such as being cheated from wealth or goods or money or Mark 19 Mark 10 verse 19 speaks of this word defrauded as being defrauded of your honor or your name of your someone's speaking heel of you and you know our reputation means a lot to us. 00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:35.799 Sometimes people start gossiping about us and our reputation takes a hit and it's not fun. 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:49.200 It's not pleasant when you know this brother is saying this or this sister saying that about something about your character and you come to church and you feel like all people are talking about me and people think less of me and that hurts. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:55.200 It wounds deeply when you know that people think less of you and you want to go. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.400 This is just not right. 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:58.299 It in fact is not right. 00:19:58.299 --> 00:20:02.500 It's a form of betrayal. 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:12.200 Especially when it comes from a brother it hurts and the closer the friendship closer the ties the more it stings. 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:24.200 A more notable calls of action is allowing yourself to be defrauded than seeking justice for yourself. 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:34.099 To suffer wrong means to endure it patiently without seeking revenge restoration or recovery. 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:35.500 It's hard. 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:37.599 We want to set the record straight. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:39.400 We want a property back. 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:41.299 We want things to be settled. 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:43.299 It's the intuitive nature. 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:49.799 I don't like my name or my property being defrauded from me. 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:52.799 We all want the books to be settled. 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:58.500 We sometimes pray Lord vindicate me. 00:20:58.500 --> 00:21:00.500 I'll need vindication. 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:02.700 We want vindication. 00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:11.500 But to suffer wrong is to take it on the chin to suffer the loss willfully willingly. 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:13.400 I mean who wants to do that? 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:15.400 I mean that's not our natural intuitive. 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:17.200 I want to suffer loss. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.700 I want people to think less of me. 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:20.700 I want people to take what belongs to me. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.200 I want to have less. 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:26.299 It's not natural for us to respond gracefully. 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:34.700 It's not natural for us not to want to settle the books on the matter and get everything straightened up and restore our honor. 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:37.200 We want to take it back in our own hands. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.900 Do we not? 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:39.500 We tend to want to do that. 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.400 I know I do. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:46.400 To suffer wrong means to give the thief what he has stolen. 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:50.099 Now think about that. 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:54.200 To give to the thief what he has stolen. 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:57.700 I mean someone steals from something for you. 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:59.000 You don't want to give it to him. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.700 You want it back. 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:02.900 Oh you can have that you stole that. 00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:04.099 Oh you can have that. 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:05.099 I give it to you. 00:22:05.099 --> 00:22:06.099 Wait, you can't give it to me. 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:06.599 I already stole it. 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.799 No, I'm going to give it to you. 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:10.599 Doesn't make sense. 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:12.900 It's a double injustice. 00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:17.000 You know, it's one thing to just to give to someone who hasn't stolen from you. 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:21.900 You're like, yes, it's living without sacrificing something that belongs to you. 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:23.099 So you could have this. 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.900 You could have this money. 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:30.099 You can take that you, you know, you're barred my book and didn't bring it back. 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:45.500 Okay, I'm going to give it to you and I'm going to give it to you. It's a double wrong because it's one thing to give to those who have given to you or to give to those who haven't stolen from you, but it's another thing to give to the very thief that has stolen from you. 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:49.099 To bless those who are cursing you. 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:52.799 That's a whole different level of difficulty. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:23:03.599 How hard is this command to willfully endure suffering to willfully be defrauded to suffer wrong purposefully is very hard. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:06.700 Let's not kid ourselves about this. 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:09.500 It can be hard enough to give a gift. 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:13.000 I mean, I think there's an Ebenezer Scrooge in all of us. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:15.900 Right? 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:19.400 I mean think about it. 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:19.900 Have me psych. 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:21.000 Well, no, I love giving. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:27.400 Well, evaluate honestly, I'm not I evaluate my own self here. 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:30.400 How hard is it for us to get? 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:35.000 When you get your statement back for the year, how much you gave? 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:37.900 I mean, how hard is it to get? 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:39.900 It's very hard. 00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:43.299 It's very hard to give to good causes. 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:46.900 Very hard to give to good needs things you think. 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.900 Hey, this is a good cause. 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.700 Let me give to that. 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:56.599 Even that there's a there's a side of us that says, Oh, not too much or let me I can I can do without this and but I have plans here. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.400 I got a vacation. 00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:57.799 I got that. 00:23:57.799 --> 00:24:02.400 You know, it's hard to let things go in the end to good people. 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.400 It's hard to get. 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:05.599 Is it not? 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:14.900 I mean think of the words of Jesus when he says the children of this world are wiser than the children of the kingdom. 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:17.900 They know how to invest for the future. 00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:25.000 But if we were wise, we would give generously and liberally and lay up ourselves treasures in heaven. 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:32.799 We would we would give more and more to the calls of God if we understood the words of Christ. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:38.400 We would be we think in our New Year's resolution is how do I expand my giving? 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:40.099 How do I not just to the church? 00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:55.200 I'm not trying to make that the point here to helping people and say how can I you know, see people need and help the poor and help those who have not how do I expand that and give more and the Lord says that he was going to abundantly reward that. 00:24:55.200 --> 00:25:04.099 He's promised these things, but we have a hard time believing it because the but that Scrooge inside of us it says no, I need that money. 00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:07.799 We're tight-fisted and it's just hard to get it. 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:22.200 And it's if it's hard to give to the Lord Jesus Christ and if it's hard to give to good people and if it's hard to give to those who are truly in need that we have pity upon and compassion upon if it's hard to give to that how much harder is it to give to bad people? 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:29.500 I mean, it's very difficult to give to people that we don't like or to cause us. 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:31.099 We don't think there's that good. 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:37.099 But it's all together more difficult to give to people that are stealing from us. 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:39.700 Now think about that. 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:44.299 You know, it's like when someone steals from me is like oh, how can I bless that person? 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:46.299 How can I enrich that person? 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:48.299 I mean, they're taking advantage of me now. 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.400 I want to bless them. 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:51.099 I mean, that's not normal. 00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:53.500 It's not natural for us to do that. 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.099 Is it? 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:59.000 It's hard. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:07.000 Jesus is invited to a rich man's house who held it said a great a great banquet. 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:09.299 And a lot of guests came. 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:25.599 And the Lord Jesus Christ had the boldness to look at his host and while they're eating the host is the one providing the meal and it was it's a wonderful meal and during this supper or dinner as they're reclining at the table. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:45.200 Jesus looks at the host and says when you have a banquet don't invite the rich don't invite those who can bite you back and give to you bite the poor the needy the have nots that can't repay and then you'll have treasures in Heaven. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:47.200 You'll have riches in Heaven. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:49.700 So that's difficult. 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:55.099 It's easier to give to those who we like and enjoy their company. 00:26:55.099 --> 00:27:00.400 It's harder to give to those that have nothing to give to us in return. 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:07.200 But it was the hardest of all is to give to the irresponsible people. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:14.099 How many times that there was a real need but you said to yourself all they're going to misuse that money. 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:17.599 I know they're going to misuse it because they're irresponsible. 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:38.400 They're in the poverty because they are not good stewards of their wealth and though they're hungry and though they need something they're foolish and they've been foolish and they're reaping what they saw and I'm not going to give them anything that I've worked with my heart and worked hard for and I've been responsible. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:41.400 Why should I help the irresponsible people? 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:43.700 It's very difficult to do that. 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:54.299 But sometimes we hinder ourselves or keep ourselves from giving to poor people because we view them as being irresponsible and unworthy of help. 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:58.200 We talk ourselves out of help helping beggars. 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:01.500 Claim that they're just bombs. 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:06.599 Why should we help those who have mismanaged their resources? 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:08.000 We say to ourselves. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:11.099 I tell you what though that be very difficult. 00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:18.900 The hardest and most difficult gift to give to the one who's despitefully using you. 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:24.900 Wronging you to thieves. 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:30.099 Those who have stolen from us again. 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:31.900 This is a double injustice one. 00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:33.000 We lose what we have. 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:36.099 Rotly obtained for ourselves. 00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:37.900 We're defrauded. 00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:39.799 That's unjust. 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:48.299 But it seems a double injustice to give to the one who deserves justice to bless those who deserves punishment. 00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:51.900 To reward those who deserves imprisonment. 00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:55.400 You know, it's like well that doesn't seem right. 00:28:55.400 --> 00:29:07.900 You know, imagine someone coming to your house and you catch them and they stole the TV and they're walking out with your television. 00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:09.200 Imagine that. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:11.599 And you go wait a minute. 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:13.900 You forgot the DVD player. 00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:17.700 Here's the surround sound. 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.900 You need that to go with it. 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:22.500 I mean you think that's almost crazy. 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.200 Do you not? 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:25.599 And all of you do. 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:28.799 I know I do. 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:31.599 And none of us would do that. 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:35.599 Would we? 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:39.799 Someone's stole your your cloak. 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.500 You wouldn't go. 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.799 How ho where's my tunic? 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:43.000 You forgot my tunic. 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:46.700 I mean, I want to bless you. 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:50.000 No, I want to persecute you. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.799 I'm going to take you to court. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.500 I'm going to call the police. 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:54.799 I'm going to I'm going to get my my stuff back. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:59.599 I mean, that's the knee-jerk reaction. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:01.200 That's the natural reaction. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:10.900 And we want to take the words of Christ and we will say we want to qualify the words of Christ to death until they don't mean what they mean. 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:13.799 You're already doing it in your head. 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:18.799 You're already going well that doesn't mean that that doesn't mean that. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:23.000 And you're justifying a response. 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:26.400 But what does it mean then? 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:32.200 What does it mean when someone steal something of yours? 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:35.599 The Lord says give them something in addition to what they stole. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:50.599 What does that mean when the Lord says if someone comes in says I want you to walk a mile with me because you're obligated to carry my sword and my shield and you're you're obligated by Roman law and you go hey, I'm going to walk two miles with you. 00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:54.400 Let me go beyond what you're asking me to do. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:57.500 I mean, we don't think that way. 00:30:57.500 --> 00:31:03.299 It's not natural for us to do that. 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:05.200 You say well who does this? 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:08.700 Jesus Christ every day. 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:13.500 He does it. 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:15.000 He did it. 00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:18.099 We can just look and read the Gospels ago. 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:19.000 He did this. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:20.400 He lived it out. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:21.299 He didn't just teach us. 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.500 He showed us. 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:25.099 He showed us how to live. 00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:28.500 He didn't just give us great instructions and not do it himself. 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:30.200 He wasn't a hypocrite. 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:33.099 He wasn't like the Pharisees. 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:35.700 He truly lived this out. 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:45.299 Matthew 5 verse 43 you have heard that it was said you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:51.599 But I say do you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:57.099 Pre makes his son to rise on the evil and on the good and sins rain on the just and the unjust. 00:31:57.099 --> 00:32:00.599 For if you love those who love you what reward do you have? 00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:03.200 Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:10.900 And if you greet one another only your brothers, what more do you doing than others? 00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:12.900 Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:18.599 You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect. 00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:22.500 You see God blesses his enemies every day. 00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:26.200 He sends rain upon the undeserving. 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:28.900 He makes their crops come up. 00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:33.400 Those who don't even think them we bless the Lord. 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:48.000 They Lord for food is how many billions of people don't recognize God before they eat never think the Lord ungrateful and God still feeds them the next meal and the next meal and the next meal is gracious. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:55.599 He gives them food and shelter continues to bless the undeserving. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:59.200 You know what else he does. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:01.500 He offers these same people salvation. 00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:04.099 Can you believe that? 00:33:04.099 --> 00:33:06.500 Who does that? 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:22.200 Luke 6 says love your enemies and do good and Lynn expecting nothing in return and your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:24.599 He's kind to the evil people. 00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:27.599 He's kind to the ungrateful people. 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:29.000 Can you imagine that? 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:31.200 I mean, I ungrateful. 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:32.799 This is a terrible sin. 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:38.599 It's hard to continue to give to ungrateful people who never say thanks. 00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:41.000 But the Lord does every day. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:45.000 He says be merciful even as your father is merciful. 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:49.700 You know, he died for for you. 00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:53.299 Not after you said thank you. 00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:56.200 Not after you cleaned up yourself. 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:59.900 Not after you repented and said you were sorry. 00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:03.400 He died for you while you were yet sinners. 00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:06.200 He gave he blessed. 00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:14.500 I mean his life is an example of giving the cloak after you stole the tunic. 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:16.500 That's his life. 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:32.400 And you've been recipients you and I have been recipients of this constant good will towards us and kindness towards us in much of our ungratefulness and much of our taken advantage of him. 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:34.199 You say I don't do that. 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:37.099 When was the last time you complained? 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:41.300 About Providence. 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:46.400 You know, probably wasn't that long ago. 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:50.199 And does God still work all things out for your good? 00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:59.300 It's like well, I mean if he's going to treat you the way you deserve then all things wouldn't work out for your good anymore. 00:34:59.300 --> 00:35:03.900 But we mess up. 00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:10.800 You know, and how often do we say things in fact, it's impossible brothers and sisters for us. 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:12.300 It's impossible for us. 00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:16.400 To be grateful enough. 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:24.800 There's billions of blessings that we have every day and we don't even have the capacity to recognize it. 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:33.900 We can't we inherently take advantage of God's mercies and kindness and grace and we can't do otherwise. 00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:36.699 And God still is gracious. 00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:39.699 He's kind to you and to me. 00:35:39.699 --> 00:35:49.000 The Lord lived his life sacrificially giving to those who despise and rejected him. 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:52.599 His whole life is a life of giving. 00:35:52.599 --> 00:36:04.199 He gave, he gave, he gave and got nothing in return and he gave to those who are ill deserving, undeserving those who did not appreciate him. 00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:06.900 He went to Nazareth his hometown. 00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:09.300 And they tried to kill him. 00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:11.699 They try to kill him. 00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:15.300 They rejected him within the year. 00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:19.000 He's back there preaching the gospel of mercy to them again. 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:21.500 He came back a second time. 00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:24.099 You think he was just like lead Nazareth alone. 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:32.599 But he comes back and offers them salvation after they despised and kicked him out of the town and said leave us. 00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:46.099 Imagine this as he was being accused rejected in the crowds crying out crucify him crucify him crucify him. 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:50.800 In the very act of being mistreated. 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:53.599 He says forgive them father. 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:59.199 I mean that's when your television is being stolen and you're going forgive the person. 00:36:59.199 --> 00:37:01.099 I want to bless them. 00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:08.000 As we mistreated him in the very act of wronging Christ. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:11.900 He's thinking good will towards us. 00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:15.199 That's how much he loves you. 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:27.000 And if you don't know the Lord if you don't know the Lord and you're here and you're and you're here and you you're every moment you're living your it's ungrateful moment. 00:37:27.300 --> 00:37:29.300 You're not surrendering your life to the Lord. 00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:38.300 You're not bowing down and giving him praise and worship and you're not giving your life back to him which he owns and deserves all that you have. 00:37:38.300 --> 00:37:45.000 But he still said I love you gives you hope of salvation. 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:48.900 He's done that for all of us now. 00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:51.400 For a moment. 00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:55.000 For a moment worship Jesus for a moment. 00:37:56.400 --> 00:37:57.400 For a moment. 00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:59.199 Stop and go. 00:37:59.199 --> 00:38:00.900 Isn't that glorious? 00:38:00.900 --> 00:38:07.500 Is it not glorious our Savior's love for us? 00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:13.099 Giving us his cloak his tunic and all that he has. 00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:17.199 And we take more and more he says here take more and more. 00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:20.400 He blesses us beyond measure. 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:23.199 He gives us eternal life. 00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:26.800 He gives us righteousness that does not belong to ourself. 00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:27.800 He gives us peace. 00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:29.699 He gives us riches in heaven. 00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:31.400 And what have we done? 00:38:31.400 --> 00:38:33.099 We have mistreated him. 00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:35.099 We have been ungrateful. 00:38:35.099 --> 00:38:41.000 But the Lord continues to love us and love us and kindness to us. 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:46.099 And if you have a brother or sister that's wronged you he loves that brother and sister. 00:38:46.099 --> 00:38:50.000 He still loves that brother and sister. 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:54.199 You can love that brother and sister too. 00:38:54.199 --> 00:38:58.800 So I don't know if I can love that person anymore. 00:38:58.800 --> 00:39:02.099 Not the way they gossip about me or maybe the way they talked about me. 00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:04.000 I don't know if I could look at them anymore. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:08.699 I don't know if I could be around them anymore with Lord Jesus Christ remains your friend. 00:39:08.699 --> 00:39:12.300 And remains the friend of all his people. 00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:26.400 It's one thing for someone to unknowingly take advantage of us happens all the time. 00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:29.599 Happens all the time. 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:33.400 We unknowingly take advantage of other people. 00:39:33.400 --> 00:39:41.599 We do and sometimes it's just we don't mean to its unfoughtfulness. 00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:48.400 It's not intentional and it's hard to overlook, you know, being left out or overlooked. 00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:49.199 That's hard. 00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:57.400 But it, you know, is harder when someone despitefully uses us. 00:39:57.400 --> 00:40:02.800 Purposefully leaves us out intentionally. 00:40:02.800 --> 00:40:08.500 Wrongs us very wounding to say the least. 00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:14.500 You see Christ gave us an example, but he also gave us commands. 00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:22.199 Luke 6 says, but I say to you who hear love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. 00:40:22.199 --> 00:40:33.199 Bless those who curse you pray for those who abuse you to one who strikes your on the cheek off for the other also and for the one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 00:40:33.199 --> 00:40:41.199 Give I mean we qualify this phrase a lot give to everyone who begs from you. 00:40:41.199 --> 00:40:47.099 And from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 00:40:47.099 --> 00:40:52.099 These are those who hate you. 00:40:52.099 --> 00:40:54.800 These are those who strike you on the cheek. 00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:57.900 These are the ones who purposely steal from you. 00:40:57.900 --> 00:41:05.500 Matthew 5 54 Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount, but I say unto you love your enemies bless those who curse you. 00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:12.099 Do good to them that hate you and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you. 00:41:12.099 --> 00:41:16.000 You know what it is to curse someone it means to speak ill of you. 00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:21.699 Gossip about you defame your name tear down your character. 00:41:21.699 --> 00:41:24.199 What are you to do return? 00:41:24.199 --> 00:41:27.400 Speak good of them. 00:41:27.400 --> 00:41:32.400 Especially in the church now, that's a brother who loves the Lord. 00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:35.099 That's a sister's called by God's grace. 00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:40.300 The Lord when he was avowed against he didn't revile back. 00:41:40.300 --> 00:41:42.900 He didn't curse back. 00:41:42.900 --> 00:41:45.199 He didn't speak ill back. 00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:59.599 1 Peter 3 9 do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult but with blessing because this you were called so that you might inherit a blessing. 00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:02.599 We are called to walk the extra mile. 00:42:02.599 --> 00:42:05.199 We are called to give the tunic to the one who stole our cloak. 00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:09.400 We're called to bless those who speak evil of us. 00:42:09.400 --> 00:42:10.800 Why? 00:42:10.800 --> 00:42:13.900 So we can be like our Heavenly Father. 00:42:14.500 --> 00:42:16.900 We can be like Jesus Christ our example. 00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:22.099 Who are we after we have been released from a debt that we could not pay? 00:42:22.099 --> 00:42:34.400 You know, we had such a debt over our head all of us a debt over our head that we were so in bondage to this debt that we're in debtors prison and there was no hope to get out of that prison. 00:42:34.400 --> 00:42:36.300 And then the Lord looked at us. 00:42:36.300 --> 00:42:38.400 He says you're free of all of it. 00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:41.599 What about I could pay a penny or two. 00:42:41.599 --> 00:42:44.400 No, you're don't owe me a dime. 00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:46.000 You're free. 00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:51.900 Now after we have been liberated from the debt we could not pay a eternal debt. 00:42:51.900 --> 00:42:57.400 Who are we to go to our brothers and sisters that pay me back what you stole? 00:42:57.400 --> 00:43:00.099 Pay me back what you owe me. 00:43:00.099 --> 00:43:02.500 I demand justice here. 00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:05.500 Well our debt is so trivial. 00:43:05.500 --> 00:43:13.500 Our our offenses against us are so minor in comparison to our offenses to Christ. 00:43:13.699 --> 00:43:19.599 You see we are called to a high standard. 00:43:19.599 --> 00:43:22.800 We're called to be like the father above. 00:43:22.800 --> 00:43:34.099 We're called to be like Jesus our master our teacher our Lord our Savior and this as I conclude is the glory of being defrauded. 00:43:34.099 --> 00:43:52.400 It's a glorious thing to be put in a particular situation where you can show the love of Christ in a way that demonstrates such grace and kindness and forgiveness that the world does not know anything. 00:43:52.400 --> 00:44:00.000 Now think about this before we close the sermon and let me buy the Holy Spirit. 00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:01.500 My whole spirit speak to us all. 00:44:01.500 --> 00:44:06.599 Whatever offenses that are standing against you. 00:44:08.199 --> 00:44:13.699 How many are fits is that you hold against others that is may you release them in your heart. 00:44:13.699 --> 00:44:17.500 Hold no bitterness. 00:44:17.500 --> 00:44:21.300 Don't hold a grudge. 00:44:21.300 --> 00:44:26.400 Remind yourself of the great debt that has been forgiven on your behalf. 00:44:26.400 --> 00:44:33.199 See when you're wronged when someone takes advantage of you. 00:44:33.199 --> 00:44:37.400 It gives you an opportunity to bless them. 00:44:38.300 --> 00:44:44.500 Do good to them pray for them help them in a way that will bring so much. 00:44:44.500 --> 00:44:45.699 Glory to God. 00:44:45.699 --> 00:44:48.400 It puts you in a unique situation. 00:44:48.400 --> 00:44:52.300 You don't have to be a missionary to China to do great things for the Lord. 00:44:52.300 --> 00:44:59.500 You don't have to have a be a preacher or have all these great opportunities. 00:44:59.500 --> 00:45:02.000 If you just have this opportunity of being defrauded. 00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:07.199 You have an opportunity to show the love of Christ. 00:45:07.900 --> 00:45:09.699 And the way that the world does not know. 00:45:09.699 --> 00:45:23.400 You see God will take care of the ones that are wronged you if they're a brother or sister the Lord knows how to correct those who belong to him. 00:45:23.400 --> 00:45:39.800 Romans 12 20 says if your enemy is hungry feed him if he's thirsty give him a drink for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head if he's an unbeliever God's going to take care of that person and just on the day of judgment the books will be settled. 00:45:39.800 --> 00:45:47.000 You know God taking care of justice so you don't have to worry about it is either at the cross on the day of judgment. 00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:51.800 So it's not our concern to seek revenge or justice or restitution. 00:45:51.800 --> 00:45:54.599 That's the way of the world. 00:45:54.599 --> 00:45:58.500 We can release people of their debts. 00:46:04.500 --> 00:46:07.000 And more than this God says he'll bless you. 00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:17.900 If someone stills a hundred dollars from you and you can give it to him maybe give him an extra hundred how much reward will that be for you in heaven? 00:46:17.900 --> 00:46:20.400 I promise you it's more than $200. 00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:22.400 I promise you that. 00:46:22.400 --> 00:46:29.199 Love your enemies Luke 635 says do good to them and lend to them expecting nothing in return. 00:46:29.199 --> 00:46:31.800 Then your reward will be great. 00:46:31.800 --> 00:46:50.099 Luke 638 forgive and you will be forgiven give and it will be given to you good measure press down shaken together running over will be put into your lap for with the measure you use it it would be measured back to you. 00:46:50.099 --> 00:46:52.400 It's like this is the illustration. 00:46:52.400 --> 00:47:08.199 Jesus is given as you do good to those who persecute you and you bless those who curse you and you walk that extra mile and you're giving your VCR to the one who stole your television and you're trying to help those who are hurting you. The Lord says he's going to reward you in a way that he's going to press it in. 00:47:08.199 --> 00:47:10.099 You know, he's like I'm going to give you as much. 00:47:10.099 --> 00:47:11.199 I'm going to press it down. 00:47:11.199 --> 00:47:19.099 I'm going to fill it up more is going to be overbounding and the measure that you're doing and giving God's going to give it back to you. 00:47:19.099 --> 00:47:21.500 God's going to reward you. 00:47:21.500 --> 00:47:23.500 You see you don't have to worry about. 00:47:23.500 --> 00:47:26.400 Vindicating your name. 00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:29.900 God will vindicate it. 00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:32.599 You don't have to worry about getting your property back. 00:47:32.599 --> 00:47:34.800 God's going to return it. 00:47:34.800 --> 00:47:46.500 Maybe if not in this life, he'll return it in the life to come. So here's the lessons we learn in this text one church members can wrong us. 00:47:46.500 --> 00:47:50.500 This is not just unbelievers offending us. 00:47:50.500 --> 00:47:52.800 This happens within the church. 00:47:52.800 --> 00:47:57.500 It's a clear case where church members can do us wrong. 00:47:59.300 --> 00:48:04.199 Second, wrongs in the church should be dealt with in the church. 00:48:04.199 --> 00:48:13.400 But we see the glory the glory of being taken advantage of the blessing. 00:48:13.400 --> 00:48:17.300 What a blessing it is to be able to bless those who curse us. 00:48:17.300 --> 00:48:26.800 This is the life of Jesus Christ has set for us may we worship him for that example and seek to mimic it ourselves. 00:48:26.800 --> 00:48:27.699 Let's pray. 00:48:28.800 --> 00:48:34.900 The Lord my heart is enlarged just thinking about my Savior. 00:48:34.900 --> 00:48:42.699 To him alone me the glory and Lord, whatever gifts that you would give us give it to him. 00:48:42.699 --> 00:48:45.800 Reward him. 00:48:45.800 --> 00:48:49.199 Bless your son. 00:48:49.199 --> 00:48:56.400 We bow down on our hearts to him and say thank you and sorry for all of our ungrateful. 00:48:57.199 --> 00:49:02.099 We're grateful for this truth of our Savior his love for us. 00:49:02.099 --> 00:49:04.300 This we pray in your son's name. 00:49:04.300 --> 00:49:04.800 Amen. 00:49:04.800 --> 00:49:19.619 [ Serience ]