This week, we’re looking at a new topic, one that some of you have been asking about: how do we practically love those who don’t like us? I’ll be partnering the teaching with practical stories of how we love those who oppose us, so that you will know what to do when you encounter difficult people or even enemies.

During this session, we’ll be exploring:
+ What it means to LOVE, BLESS, and PRAY for your enemies;
+ The difference between being REDEEMED & RECONCILED.
+ How God SEES and LOVES the person who is opposing you;
+ The two things that every person needs to CULTIVATE His love for others.
+ Why REACTING to anger with anger is never an option;
+ A practical ACTIVATION to help you LOVE someone who doesn’t like you!

Key Truths…
+ New covenant vengeance is about responding to God.
God’s love is unconditional; it’s not based on our behavior but on the fact that Jesus gave His life so that everyone would have an opportunity to choose Him.
+ A relationship with God doesn’t occur until we’ve responded to Him and converted our reconciliation into redemption.
+ In order to love our enemies, don’t consider them to be one.
+ We can respond to people who don’t like us with a blessing.
+ Responding to an accusation with an accusation puts us in partnership with the Accuser, and that’s not a good place to be.
+ Our job is to return His opposites for the negatives people hurl at us.
+ Jesus said for us to pray for our enemies because He knows what it will do in us.
+ The world is looking for brilliant Christians who demonstrate life from a different Kingdom.

Key Scriptures…
+ Matthew 5:43- 45: You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
+ Romans 6:10: The death He died, He died once for ALL.
+ Romans 2:4: Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that it is the goodness and kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Activation…

Think of someone who has been oppositional towards you. Spend some time worshipping and thinking with God about how He sees them.

Think of three things God loves about them. Then find a lovely card and write them a note with those things. You don’t necessarily have to sign it. That’s up to you.

After you’ve mailed it or delivered it, use those same three things to create a prayer of thanksgiving for who they are to God and for the gift they are in your life. Think of the attitudes and perceptions their actions are allowing you to upgrade. Consider the practice opportunities they are providing and discover a place of rejoicing over that.

Write those down and create a prayer about it. Pray it every day, several times a day, for a few weeks. Take note of what changes in how you think about them, how you think about yourself and how you view the situation with them now.
+ What new levels of joy have opened up for you?
+ What increases in peace are you seeing?
+ What have you discovered about the love of God through this experience?
+ Who is this person helping you to become in Christ?

As you watch this episode, let’s agree to never see people as our enemies, to never return like for like, and to develop really great prayers and blessings for those that oppose us.

-Graham