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Love your Enemies

Love your Enemies. Matthew 5:43-48 (p. 893). Remembrance Day. The 11 th hour, 11 th Day, 11 th Month, 1918. The “War to end all wars” (1914 – 1918) 65 million men mobilized, more than 30 countries 8.5 m killed, 21 m wounded, 7.7m missing or POW’s 37 million casualties (57%)

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Love your Enemies

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  1. Love your Enemies Matthew 5:43-48 (p. 893)

  2. Remembrance Day • The 11th hour, 11th Day, 11th Month, 1918. • The “War to end all wars” (1914 – 1918) • 65 million men mobilized, more than 30 countries • 8.5 m killed, 21 m wounded, 7.7m missing or POW’s • 37 million casualties (57%) • Including civilians 21m dead. • Second World War – 21 years later • 25m military deaths, 47.3m civilian deaths (total 72m)

  3. Remembrance Day … • Jesus: “Love your enemies …” • Remember: • Brave and good men and women • Women and children, the weak and elderly • Men at arms currently serving • Freedoms hard won and valiantly protected • Devastation and tragedy of war • The value of Peace • We Remember so that we will learn.

  4. 1. The Causes of War • What causes war? • Historical theories • Psychological theories • Demographic theories • Anthropological theories • Economic theories • Rationalist, sociological, marxist, evolutionary theories. • Humans cause war

  5. 1. The Causes of War … • Remembrance day … • About war or peace? • About the past or the future? • About others or about ourselves? • Are we people of peace?

  6. 2. People OF Peace • Jesus said: “Love your enemies, pray … • Jesus’ way is good. • They don’t work in every situation … • Surely Jesus understands we have to stand up for ourselves • We can only change ourselves – • How do we be people of peace when we’re burning inside? • Sometimes we may take these words of Jesus to heart. • Echoing Paul: “I do not do the good I want to do” • Thoreau: “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation”

  7. 3. Being People AT Peace To be at peace with one another – we have to be at peace with ourselves. To be at peace with ourselves – we have to be at peace with God. • Inner peace is a gift. • It is supernatural; It’s a miracle! • Matt. 11:29 “Come to me … you will findrestfor your souls • It is the work of God in us. • He will rescue us from our empty way of life (1 Peter 1:18)

  8. 3. Being People AT Peace … • We can be people of peace … if we have received the peace of God as a gift. • We are offered rescue – • From the futility of doing evil rather than good • From the tragedy of causing hurt rather than healing • From the emptiness of stress, frustration and despair • “Come to me”, says Jesus. “and I will give you rest”

  9. Two minutes Silence • Reflect on the horror and futility of war • Consider the offer of peace from God

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