CD 1669 How to Turn a Enemy into a Friend or a Friend into an Enemy

The Bible is full of principles or laws for living that can make our lives so much fuller and enjoyable. For instance God says if we give it shall be given back to us ( See Luke 6:38). If we forgive we shall be forgiven ( See Matthew 6:14-15)! If we judge then by our standard we too shall be judged (See Matthew 7:1-2).

*Proverbs 13:15 (KJV) Good understanding giveth favour: But the way of transgressors is hard.

Through the Word of God we can learn how to turn our “enemy” into our “friend”. On the negative side we can also by neglect of the principles of the word of God turn a “friend” into an “enemy”.

*Text: Proverbs 17:17 (KJV) A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

*Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) A man that hath “friends” must shew himself friendly: and there is a “friend” that sticketh closer than a brother.

*John 15:12-15 (KJV) .This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his “friends”. 14 Ye are my “friends”, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you “friends”; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

The Lord Jesus came to build His church and make His children one in Him! He taught us that a house divided will not stand! From “Proverbs” we learn that “A friend loveth at all times” - that good times or bad times - easy times or hard times! But because Jesus became our elder brother now we’re not just friends with Him we are brothers and sisters with Him and with each other! Notice in “John’s Gospel” Jesus laid down His life for us as our example to one another!

Let’s turn to the Gospel of Luke and let’s see how “turned enemies into friends”:

First let’s read keeping in mind how Jesus showed Himself friendly all through this chapter healing, raising from the dead ECT…:

*Read Luke 7:33-34 (KJV) For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a “friend” of publicans and sinners!

First of all those who are truly following the Lord God will never be able to please the religious! The Pharisees judged both John and Jesus! But let’s keep reading and see how Jesus’ desire was to turn “enemies into friends”:

*Read Luke 7:36-37 (KJV) And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. [37] And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

Imagine how much of a battle it was for this woman to go into Simon’s house! She knew everyone would be looking at her and judging her! But she had heard about Jesus who showed Himself “friendly” and she was ready to make Him her Lord and “friend”! Look at her heart:

*Read Luke 7:38(KJV) And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

She was so broken by her past and she knew that only Jesus could make her whole and she completely humbled herself! In 1 Corinthians 11:15 we learn the hair is the glory of the woman! She put her best on Christ’s feet, s

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CD 1668 Law or Love: It's Your Choice

Let me ask you a question this morning. How do you want a relationship with God, by His “Law” or by His “Love”. How do you want God to judge you, by His “Law” or by His Love? And when I say by His “Love” I mean the grace He revealed through His Son dying on the cross in our place.

I believe each and every one of us would say Lord I can't live Your “Law” but I accept Your “Love” that You demonstrated (Romans 5:8) through Your son Jesus. I don't want “Law”, I want “Love” meaning Your grace! Now hold that thought and let's read our text:

*Text Galatians 3:1-14 (KJV) O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the “Law” , or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the “Law” , or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the “Law” are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the “Law” to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the “Law” in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the “Law” is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the “Law” , being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Note “Law” is mentioned 7 times in those 14 verses!

Note verse 10 teached us if we don’t live “by the hearing of faith” then we must live by all the “Law”! See James 2:10, which says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

This verse emphasizes the all-or-nothing nature of the “Law”. It's not enough to simply follow some of the commandments or do our best; if we break even one commandment, we are guilty of breaking the entire “Law”.

This can seem like a daunting standard to live up to, but it's important to remember that Christ has already fulfilled the “Law” on our behalf, and we are no longer under its condemnation. Instead, we are called to live according to the Spirit “by the hearing of faith”, seeking to honor God in all that we do!

*SEE Galatians 5:13-15 (KJV) For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by “Love” serve one another. 14 For all the “Law” is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt “Love” thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us about Him sitting on His throne with His sheep on His right hand and He makes this statement:

*Matthew 25:37-40 (KJV) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirs

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CD 1667 Jesus is MY Healer, Helper, and Holder

(Story about my grandpa)

My oh my how things change when we make things personal and take truth for ourselves personally. You can ask a lot of people if they have heard of Jesus? But what is vital is who they personally know Jesus as to them! It’s one thing to call Jesus: “Healer, Helper & Holder” but oh how it changes when you put “MY” before it!

*Text Matthew 1:18-21 (KJV) .Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus : for he shall save his people from their sins.

#1 Healer

*Text Matthew 1:21 (KJV) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus : for he shall save his people from their sins.

Note “he (Jesus ) shall save his people from their sins” #4982 (sode'-zo)to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be made whole.

Q. How?

A. By acknowledging and confessing our sins:

*Read Psalms 32:1-5 (KJV) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Note “ I acknowledge my sin unto thee” = I made up my mind that I would acknowledge.

Note “I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord” = to use the hands to praise the Lord in confession.

*See Psalms 103:1-5 (KJV) Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Note “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases”, come into agreement with God’s Word praise Him for “forgiveness” and “healing” spirit, soul, and body!

#2 Helper

*Read Psalm 115:11 (KJV) Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

*Read Hebrews 13:6 (KJV) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Note “The Lord is my helper” #998 (bo-ay-thos') a succorer: - helper.

Q. How will the Lord be my helper? Remember He

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CD 1666 Lost in the House of God
A special Holy Spirit inspired message for the moment!

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CD 1665 The Cross

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CD 1664 Thankful or Forgetful

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CD 1663 Choices - Part 2

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CD 1663 Choices

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