Sermon Central
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This Could Be The Start Of Something Big: Get You Back Or Got Your Back Series
Contributed by Johnny Creasong on May 4, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: When you are hurt, do you live by “GET YOU BACK” or “GOT YOUR BACK”?
This Could Be the Start of Something Big:
Get You Back
or Got Your Back?
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
(NIV)
This week, we saw what revenge can do:
A software engineer furious with the Internal Revenue Service launched a suicide attack on the agency Thursday by crashing his small plane into an office building containing nearly 200 IRS employees, setting off a raging fire that sent workers running for their lives.
At least one person in the building was missing.
The FBI identified the pilot as Joseph A. Stack, 53. Stack apparently set fire to his house and posted a long anti-government screed on the Web. It was dated Thursday and signed "Joe Stack (1956-2010)."
In it, the author cited run-ins he had with the IRS and ranted about the tax agency, government bailouts and corporate America's "thugs and plunderers." He said he had come to the conclusion that "violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer." In his posting, Stack fumed about the IRS and wrote, "Nothing changes unless there is a body count."
"I have had all I can stand," he wrote.
The pilot took off in a single-engine Piper Cherokee from an airport in Georgetown, about 30 miles from Austin, without filing a flight plan. He flew low over the Austin skyline before plowing into the side of the hulking, seven-story, black-glass building just before 10 a.m.
Revenge = to inflict injury in retaliation.
When you are hurt, do you live by
“GET YOU BACK”
or
“GOT YOUR BACK”?
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;
53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.
54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"
55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them,
56 and they went to another village.
(NIV)
During the air traffic controllers strike, Terry Paulson, author of 'They Shoot Managers, Don't They?,' watched a hostile executive bully a baggage handler who was moving as fast as he could. When Paulson tried to share his empathy for having to put up with such abuse, the baggage handler replied, "Don't worry, I've already gotten even." Paulson asked, "What do you mean?" The baggage handler replied, "He's going to Chicago, but his bags are going to Milwaukee."
Do you get mad and get over it
or do you get mad and get even?
26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
(NIV)
Instead of giving the devil a FOOTHOLD,
give God FREEDOM!
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. (NIV)
How to Remain UPBEAT
when you’ve been BEAT UP_:
1) Live HARMONIOUSLY
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. (NIV)
2) Be a BLESSER
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
