How do we fare? How do we measure up when it comes to loving our enemies? It is seen, perhaps, as the primary most distinguishing virtue of the Christian faith. But nevertheless, still today in our godless and unbiblical generation that hardly knows who Noah is, or Moses is, some even do not know the gospel of Jesus Christ, yet most people know that one of the distinguishing factors of the Christian faith is that the Christian is to love their enemies. That is the natural reaction of humanity to those whom we class as our enemies. That is often the sentiment of folk from Ulster and indeed Ireland, and in fact any folk that can call themselves sinners - and all are sinners. I read an Irish prayer this week that went like this: 'May those that love us love us, those that don't love us may God turn their hearts, and if He doesn't turn their hearts may He turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping'. I'm sure you would admit that the Irish race are not the most forgiving when it comes to their enemies. So help us now we pray, for we ask these things in Jesus' precious name, Amen. For those who are listening, that You'll give them that meekness, by Your Spirit, to receive the engrafted word of truth. To me as I preach the word, that You'll fill me and anoint me to preach it. We pray that You will help us to implement these truths in our lives, they are so difficult - therefore we ask for Thy divine enablement and power and unction of Thy Holy Spirit. Let us pray together: Our Father, as we come to Thy eternal Word, we pray now that Thou wilt help us to understand. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect". But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Verse 43, the Lord says: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. Those sections began in verse 21, and now we come to the last of those five, and we're looking at the subject of: 'Loving Your Enemies'. We're looking this morning in Matthew chapter 5 at the last section, remember there have been several sections where the Lord Jesus was dealing with the Old Testament law, and speaking of how He has come to be the fulfilment of it. Most people know that one of the distinguishing factors of the Christian faith is that the Christian is to love their enemies.
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