OVERCOMING THROUGH LOVE

21 IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, GIVE HIM BREAD TO EAT; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, AND THE LORD WILL REWARD YOU."
Proverbs 25:21,22 (NKJV)

In this teaching, we are looking at a number of truths about biblical love:

• God is love and if you do not love you cannot walk with Him: “HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, FOR GOD IS LOVE” (1 John 4:8 NKJV).
• You can only walk in fellowship with God by expressing love to your fellow human beings, both those who are good to you and those who are not:
44 “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, 45 “THAT YOU MAY BE SONS OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN; FOR HE MAKES HIS SUN RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDS RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST. 46 “FOR IF YOU LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE YOU, WHAT REWARD HAVE YOU? DO NOT EVEN THE TAX COLLECTORS DO THE SAME?” (Matthew 5:44,45,46 NKJV)
• Know that If you fail to love those who are against you; God may not be able to defend you, fight your cause: “BELOVED, DO NOT AVENGE YOURSELVES, BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE TO WRATH; FOR IT IS WRITTEN, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” SAYS THE LORD" (Romans 12:19 NKJV).
• If you love your enemies, those who spitefully use you and those who persecute you; you heap coals of fire on them through your acts or expressions of love (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:20).
Thus, love is the way to victory: “LOVE NEVER FAILS” (1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV).
• In addition to that; love should not be in word alone, it should be practical—expressed and demonstrated: “MY LITTLE CHILDREN, LET US NOT LOVE IN WORD OR IN TONGUE, BUT IN DEED AND IN TRUTH" (1 John 3:18 NKJV).

Practicality of love:
I. Love is expressed through giving.
• Love is giving not only about getting or receiving, besides, "IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE" (Acts 20:35).

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE . . . (John 3:16).

READ: Romans 15:1,2

• Thus, endeavour to give to those who you have capacity to help (Galatians 6:9,10).

16 BY THIS WE KNOW LOVE, BECAUSE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. AND WE ALSO OUGHT TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE BRETHREN.
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 MY LITTLE CHILDREN, LET US NOT LOVE IN WORD OR IN TONGUE, BUT IN DEED AND IN TRUTH.”
1 John 3:16-18 (NKJV)

II. Love is also expressed through forgiveness.
• Forgive those who have mistreated you:
14 "FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. 15 "BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES" (Matthew 6:14,15 NKJV).

13 BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, IF ANYONE HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST ANOTHER; EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU, SO YOU ALSO MUST DO.
14 BUT ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS PUT ON LOVE, WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTION.”
Colossians 3:13,14 (NKJV)

• You can through the expression of love silence the enemy; foil or thwart the evil that might have been planned against you.
• If you are repaying evil done to you with good, you are giving God a chance, the opportunity, to fight for you (Romans 12:19-21).
• Someone who does this is not stupid, but wise! You have to obey the Scriptures, and let God fight for you (Romans 12:19).

19 BELOVED, DO NOT AVENGE YOURSELVES, BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE TO WRATH; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” SAYS THE LORD.
20 THEREFORE, “IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.”
21 DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.”
Romans 12:19-21 (NKJV)

That being said, biblical love is unconditional in its nature, but it should not be naive and undiscerning; because there are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15; 10:16).

“SEE THEN THAT YOU WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY [carefully], NOT AS FOOLS BUT AS WISE.”
Ephesians 5:15 (NKJV)

You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!