Gloating on enemy misfortune

Prov. 24:17F

“Don't gloat when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, or the LORD will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him.” Holman Christian Standard Bible)

INTRO: To gloat is to revel or rejoice. "Do not gloat over your brother's day, the day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; yes, do not boast in the day of their distress.” (New American Standard Bible)

II. GOODNESS EXAMPLE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

A.2 Kings 6:22 (Israel defeats Syria) Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, "My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?" He answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them that they may eat and drink and go to their master." So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.

B.  2 Chron. 28:14 (Syria defeats Judah) so the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly. The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms, and returned to Samaria.

C.  Exodus 23:5 (God told Moses for the Israelites to do) “If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.”

II. GOODNESS EXAMPLE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

A.Mt 5:44 “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;” (KJV)

B.  Lk 6:35 “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” (NIV)

C.  1 Thess 5:15 “See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.” (New Living Translation)

CONCLUSION:    (Gal 6:10) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith. It is very important that Paul prefaced his instructions about doing good with the phrase "As we have therefore opportunity." It isn't possible for one individual to solve all the problems and right all the wrongs that exist in the world. Often, sincere people fall prey to guilt and condemnation because they can't support every worthy effort, but Paul said to help "as we have...opportunity." We all know people who need help. We also come in contact with opportunities to help through our churches and other organizations. 

We need to take advantage of these opportunities with a priority placed on helping fellow Christians, but we must be realistic and refuse taking on more than what is right. The Scriptures instruct us to walk in God's love toward all people--believers and unbelievers alike. Jesus told us to love our enemies (Mt 5:44). But here, Paul placed a priority on helping fellow Christians. This does not diminish our responsibility to show God's love to unbelievers. Instead, Paul was simply saying, "Charity must start at home." It would be hypocritical to step over hurting brothers and sisters in the Lord to go find unbelievers to minister to. (ANDREW WOMACK MINISTRIES)

God hates idolaters

Hosea 4:11-19

INTRO: The most common sin mentioned in the Bible is one that we don’t often see in ourselves: idolatry. It’s not surprising that we rarely talk about it– the sin as we read about it in the Bible is something that so often seems to be a sin that ancient tribal groups struggled with, instead of a real and pressing reality in our own spiritual lives and culture. After all, we’re not melting down our earrings and making golden calves, right? It’s easy to see idolatry as something distant. But, what if idolatry were one of the most pressing issues within American Christianity today? I believe it is, and believe this is an issue the next generation must directly and forcefully address if we are to move this Jesus thing forward. (PATHEOS.COM, opinion)

I.    IDOLATERS’ DESCRIPTION

A. Ignorant (v11)

B. Stupid (v12)

C. Stray (v12)

D. Unfaithful (v13)

   II.    IDOLATERS’ DUE

A. Thrown away, ruined (v14, v19)

B. shamed (v19)

C. Entangled (v17)

D. Left by God (v16)

   III.   IDOLATERS’ DESTINATION (Hosea 5:4-7)

A. Worship will prevent them from going back to God (v4)

B  Pride will testify against themselves (v5)

C. They will not find God despite their effort (v6)

D. They will finally be consumed (v17) ‘laglagon sa hingpit’

CONCLUSION: Idolatry is so much more than bowing down to an image created by human hands. The common working definition that most of us may be familiar with defines idolatry as “putting anything in place of, or before God”. In the 10 Commandments, it’s often worded as “You shall have no other gods before me”. God, it seems, wants to have his rightful place in our lives– he wants us to chase after him, and his ways, instead of anything else. (patheos.com)

Bitterness

Acts 8:23

“For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (New International Version)

INTRO: Bitterness is described as sharp and unpleasant, biting and severe. At all times bitterness is harsh and cruel.

I. WHAT BITTERNESS SUCCEEDS IN US

A.We learn to find fault (Ruth 1:20) we learn a lot from the story of Naomi as we read that she said, “don’t call me Naomi but Marah (bitter) because God has made my life bitter."

B.  We weep in regret for what we have done (Mt 26.75) like the story of Peter when he heard the cock crow after he denied Jesus.

C.  We become full of anger, passionate and hateful (Eph 4:30) with shouting, insults and hateful feelings (singkahay, insultuhay, kaligutgot)

II. WE CAN SUCCEED AGAINST BITTERNESS

A.The example of Christian couples (Col 3:19) “faithful, loving and not cruel” (Higugmaon ug dili modaug-daug)

B.  Be at peace with everyone. “Try to live a holy life and guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison.” (makahasol sa uban pinaagi sa hilo.”

C.  Get rid (ilabay), make free (buhii) (Eph 4:31) relieve (pulihi) and clear (hawani)

CONCLUSION: New life in Christ is free of bitterness and bitter persons are ignorant and stubborn. Bitterness, therefore, is a shameful virtue of a Christian. “"Sin" is thus represented as a "bitter" or poisonous thing; a tiring not only "unpleasant" in its consequences, but ruinous in its character, as a poisonous plant would be in the midst of other plants, Jeremiah 2:19, "It is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God"; Jeremiah 4:18; Romans 3:14, "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness"; Ephesians 4:31. The meaning here is, that the heart was full of dreadful, malignant sin.” (Barnes Notes on the Bible)

Need of only one thing

Lk 10: 38-42

INTRO: Are you distracted in your faith in God? What are they? Can you focus on what caused the distractions than what resulted to and from?

I.  DISTRACTION OF MARTHA IS ALSO OURS

A.    Passions and habits

B.    Excitement and confusion (Prov 19:2)

C.    Distress (Prov 24:10) and wordly cares

II.  DISTRACTIONS FROM OUR FAITH

A.    Sinful desires (1 Pet 2:11)

B.    Lustful, fleshly desires (Rom 13:14)

C.    Friendship with the world (Jas 4:1)

III. THE CHOICE OF MARY SHOULD BE OURS

A.    Listening to the word (KV 39)

B.    Hearing and believing (Jn 5:24)

C.    Abiding with the word (1 Jn 2:14)

CONCLUSION: Hearing God’s word is choosing the good portion. This “chosen portion” (Ps  16:5) “Gihatagan sa tanan.” Be at Jesus’ feet always (Lk 8:35) the disciple at the master’s feet was healed at hearing the word of God. 

"The favour of God is needful to our happiness; the salvation of Christ is needful to our safety. Where this is attended to, all other things will be rightly pursued. Christ declared, Mary hath chosen the good part. For one thing is needful, this one thing that she has done, to give up herself to the guidance of Christ. The things of this life will be taken away from us, at the furthest, when we shall be taken away from them; but nothing shall separate from the love of Christ, and a part in that love. Men and devils cannot take it away from us, and God and Christ will not. Let us mind the one thing needful more diligently." (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary)