First of all, permit me a small follow-up to last week’s sermon, “The Heart of God”...

Luke 9:51-56 (NAS)

51 And it came about, when the days were approaching for His ascension, that He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem;

52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him. And they went, and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make arrangements for Him.

53 And they did not receive Him, because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem.

54 And when His disciples James and John saw {this,} they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"

55 But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, "YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT KIND OF SPIRIT YOU ARE OF;

56 FOR THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO DESTROY MEN'S LIVES, BUT TO SAVE THEM."] And they went on to another village.

Again see the magnanimous heart of Jesus !

KINGDOM OF OPPOSITES

So many of our ways have become the ways of the world - not His ways. You will find that the Kingdom of God is OPPOSITE to the kingdoms of this world:

· HATE YOUR ENEMIES, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES -

Matt 5:43-48 (NIV)

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

perfect - 5046 teleios- (Greek)

1) brought to its end, finished

2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness

3) perfect

4) what is perfect

a) consummate human integrity and virtue

b) used of men, full grown, adult, of full age, mature

Rom 12:17-21 (NIV)

17 DO NOT REPAY ANYONE EVIL FOR EVIL. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome EVIL WITH GOOD.

(Interesting to me was the fact that the concept of loving your enemy and heaping coals on his head was first spoken of in Proverbs

Prov 25:21-22 (KJV)

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.)

· PERSECUTION IS IT A CURSE OR A BLESSING -

Matt 5:10-12 (NIV)

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(BE ETERNITY-MINDED)

· DO NOT SEEK REVENGE, RATHER LIVE TO GIVE -

Matt 5:38-41 (NIV)

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'

39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

· IF YOU WANT TO BE GREAT -

Matt 23:11-12 (NIV)

11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 22:27 (KJV)

27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

· “KEEP ALL YOU CAN” - “HE THAT DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS” - GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN

Matt 6:19-21(NIV)

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Prov 11:24-25 (RSV)

24 One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

25 A liberal man will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

MY OPINIONS BASED ON GOD’S WORD:

· THE MINISTRY IS A WORK OF SERVICE -

It is NOT a place of prestige & power - it is a place of SACRIFICE and work !

· SIDES OF THE NORTH

One more way the kingdoms are opposite - if God “sits on the sides of the north”, on His map, which way would be UP ?? !! :)