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OVERCOMING HATRED (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Last week, we defined hatred as “deep, intense, emotional dislike for an individual or thing.”

 

B.      In that lesson, we talked about seven different types of hatred.

1.      Six of them are evil in nature.

2.      Only one of them, righteous indignation, is allowed by God.

 

C.     In this lesson, want to talk about two more aspects of hatred.

1.      What hatred does

2.      How to overcome hatred

 

I.                   THE EFFECTS OF HATRED

 

A.    Hatred diseases the heart of an individual.

1.      Remember, the heart is the command center of an individual.

2.      Hatred is like a disease that enters into the heart and eats away at the individual.

a.      It is a negative emotion.

b.      It eats away at the heart and must eventually display itself in some form (Matt. 15:9).

 

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, false witness, blasphemies.

 

B.      Hatred divides humanity.

1.      When hatred arises

a.      Two people can be divided.

b.      Two groups can be divided.

c.       Two cultures can be divided.

2.      Esau was manipulated twice by Jacob.  When his blessing was stolen, hatred developed in his heart.

a.      The manifestation of that hatred (Gen. 27:41).

 

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith he blessed him:  and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

 

b.      When Jacob was made aware of Esau’s evil intentions, he fled.  He and his brother were separated for over 20 years.

 

C.     Hatred corrupts society.

1.      As we said, hatred starts within, and, ultimately, shows itself in various forms:  evil speaking, vengeance, violence, and murder.

2.      Galatians 5:20

 

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies.

 

a.      Hatred:  enmity, hostility

b.      Variance:  quarrel, wrangling, contention

c.       Emulations:  heat, zeal, excitement of the mind, an envious and contentious rivalry

d.      Wrath:  passion, anger, that begins to boil up

e.       Strife:  intrigue, faction, the desire to put one’s self forward

f.        Seditions;  disunion, dissension, division

3.      The evidence of this is seen every day on the news shows and newspapers.

 

D.    Hatred Opposes God

1.      God is a God of love (I John 4:8)

2.      Hatred is the opposite of love.

3.      Therefore, hate stands in opposition to God.

 

E.      Hate will condemn man’s soul.

1.      Hate is listed among the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:20).

2.      Galatians 5:21

 

…of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

II.                OVERCOMING HATRED

 

A.    To truly love, we must first fill our hearts with the love of God.

1.      God’s love has remarkable qualities.

a.      It is perfect.

b.      It is genuine.

c.       It is selfless.

d.      It is sacrificial.

e.       It is patient.

2.      Ephesians 3:17-19

 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

3.      This love needs to take the place of hatred.  Then, we can let it pour out of our hearts upon other people.

 

B.      We need to seek to understand others.

1.      So often, we think we understand a person or position, but we do not.

2.      Understand (“to stand in the midst of”)

a.      To perceive the meaning of

b.      To be thoroughly familiar with

c.       Apprehend clearly the character, nature, or subtleties of

d.      NOTE:  I truly understand when I can argue the other person’s position as well, or, better, than they can.

3.      Some do not want to understand for several reasons:

a.      They are afraid they will be moved from their present position.

b.      They assume that understanding is the same as acceptance.

c.       They believe that their understanding will cause them to be ostracized by their group.

d.      They think that understanding will lessen their opposition.

4.      Two verses:

a.      I Thessalonians 5:21-22

 

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  Abstain from all appearance of evil.

 

b.      The Athenians

1)      They brought Paul to the Aeropagus (Acts 17:19-20).

 

And they took him, and brought him unto Aeropagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest is?  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears:  we would know therefore what these things mean.

 

2)      If the text stopped there, we might think that they were sincere, honest men, doing what should be done to understand something new.  Note, however, verse 21.

 

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

 

C.     Learn to problem-solve

1.      In our relationships and in our nation, we have learned how to argue, but we have not learned to problem-solve.

2.      The steps of problem-solving are simple.

a.      Accurately define the problem.

b.      Brain-storm for solutions.

c.       Choose and implement the solution.

d.      Evaluate the results.

e.       Choose another solution if needed.

f.        NOTE:

1)      My solution solves my need.  Thus, I want my solution.

2)      Your solution solves your need.  Thus, you want your solution.

3)      Seek the “third solution,” a solution that helps satisfy both needs.

3.      In Acts 6, the apostles solved a problem that was dividing the Hebrew and Grecian Christians.  They found a solution that unified the church instead of dividing it.

 

D.    Develop self-control

1.      Temperance is found in the list of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), and in the list of the Christian graces (II Pet. 1:5-7).

2.      Self-control is defined as “the mastery of desires, passions, and appetites.”

3.      Hatred sparks so many negative actions.

a.      We must learn to get rid of these things (Col. 3:8).

 

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

 

b.      We must be able to control them when they arise (Eph. 4:26).

 

Be ye angry, and sin not:  let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

 

4.      Part of self-control means:

a.      Never violating God’s law.

b.      Never breaking man’s law, if that law does not violate God’s law.

c.       Never take vengeance.

d.      Never harm property.

e.       Never harm another person.

CONCLUSION

 

A.    As Christians, we must take the lead in the fight against hatred.

1.      We must teach against it.

2.      We must show others how to overcome it.

3.      We must demonstrate love to others.

 

B.      If hatred in our nation is not overcome, we will ultimately destroy ourselves.

 

C.     May God help us to hate hatred enough to stop hatred!