1. Many Christians are under the erroneous impression that if they are good all will love them and they will have no enemies.

2. They are sometimes shocked and discouraged if they have enemies and some oppose them and even persecute them.

1. The devil (Matt. 13:39; Lk. 10:10).

2. Death (l Cor. 15:26).

3. Sin (Rom. 6:23; Gal. 6:7,8).

• Sin can ruin our lives.

• It separates us from God and leads us to condemnation.

4. Disease of all kinds

5. Some or much of mankind will oppose us.

1. Men are hated because of race, nationality, religion, education, financial status, physical appearance, success, popularity, facial expressions, etc.

2. You may have an enemy because he mistreated you.

• The person hates you to rationalize his/her behavior.

• The person reasons, "I would not hate him if he were not evil."

3. You may have an enemy because of reproof. (Prov. 9:8; Gal. 4:16).

4. You may have an enemy because of a refusal to flatter. (1 Kgs. 22:8).

5. You may have enemy because you know something bad about another.

6. You may have enemy because of jealousy. (Prov. 14:30; l Jno. 3:12). See l Cor. 13.4.

7. You may have an enemy because you mistreated someone.

• None of us are perfect - not even close.

• Some of us have made enemies by our wrong, sinful actions.

• We need to repent.

8. Unreasonable people will hate us. (2 Thess. 3:2).

9. Some will hate us if we seek to force a law or life style on them.

10. Intentionally or unintentionally slighting or ignoring others may make them enemies.

11. Some will hate us because of things out of our control.

12. Some will hate us because we do not agree with them or have crossed them.

13. Some will hate us because we refuse to give them what they want or desire.

14. Some will hate us without cause. (Psa. 35:19).

1. Jesus warned we would be hated. (Jno. 15:20-23).

2. Jesus warned it would not be a compliment if all speak well of us. (Lk. 6:26).

3. Jesus taught us how to act when persecuted and gave great assurances to the persecuted. (Matt.5:10-12).

• "Rejoice"

• "Be glad"

4. Paul admonished us to expect persecution. (2 Tim. 3:12).

• Some are persecuted physically tortured, and even put to death.

• Others are persecuted by ridicule, loss of friends, loss of opportunities, etc.

5. Standing for the truth will cause both Christians and non-Christians to be our enemies. (Gal. 4:16).

• Much of the opposition Christians receive will be from those claiming to be Christians.

• Sinful men will also oppose the truth, especially if we seek to apply it to them.

1. Christians must conduct themselves in a godly manner. (Matt. 5:13-16; l Pet. 4:15, 16).

2. Christians must diligently strive for unity within the body. (Eph. 4:4-6). See 1 Pet. 3:10, 11.

3. Christians should be peacemakers. (Matt. 5:9; Rom. 12:18; 14:19; Tit. 3:10-12).

1. We should remember our enemies

• Are created in image of God. (Gen. 1:26,27).

• Are the objects of God's love. (Jno. 3:16; l Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9).

• Are subject to God's grace and forgiveness. (Tit. 2:11).

• Are the objects of God's daily concern. (Matt. 5:44,45).

2. We should pray for our enemies. (Matt. 5:44,45).

• Jesus (Lk. 23:34).

• Stephen (Acts 7:60).

3. We should do good to our enemies

• Romans 12:17-21; Proverbs 25:21,22.

• David & Saul (l Sam. 24:17).

4. We should love our enemies. (Matt. 5:43-45).

• This "love" is not necessarily a feeling - we may or may not have feelings for the person.

• Love is action. (Lk. 10:25-37).

5. We must refrain from getting on the level of an enemy. (Matt. 5:38-48; l Pet. 2:23).

6. We must not rejoice at the failing of an enemy. (Prov. 24:17). See l Cor. 13:4,5.

• "He got what was coming to him."

• "I was sure glad to see him suffer."

7. We can pray for deliverance from our enemies. (Psa. 59:1).

8. We should remember keeping God's commandments will make us wiser than our enemies. (Psa.119:98).

9. We must forgive our enemies if they repent.

• In fact, Jesus taught we must forgive others as often as they repent (Lk. 17:3,4).

• This is hard, but it is the commandment of God.

1. We cannot avoid having enemies, but we should not set out to make enemies. (Rom. 12:18; 14:19).

2. We must work to have the right attitude toward our enemies and seek to be at peace with all men.

3. We should keep them in our prayers and ask God to bless them.