Love Your Neighbor

Love In Action – The Kingdom Way – Love Your Neighbor

On Christmas Eve, 1914—amid the bloody trenches of World War I—something astonishing happened. British and German soldiers, fierce enemies locked in brutal conflict, did something no one expected.

They stopped fighting.

They sang carols across the trenches. They shouted holiday greetings. And by morning, both sides cautiously emerged from their ditches, shook hands, and exchanged small gifts—cigarettes, buttons, chocolate. Some even played soccer in the no-man's land. Guns silent. For just a day, humanity broke through hostility.

It didn't end the war. But for one night, love and compassion disarmed hatred more powerfully than bullets ever could.

This story isn't just a fluke of history—it's a glimpse into how God wants His people to respond to their enemies. In today's passage, Elisha faces a literal army sent to capture him. But instead of calling down fire or seeking revenge, he reveals something far more powerful than military strength: mercy. In our lives today, enemies may not wear uniforms or carry swords—but they might show up as coworkers, family members, or critics who seem dead-set on making our lives harder. The question is: How do we respond?

Let's look at what Elisha did—not just how he saw the unseen protection of God, but how he handled his enemies once they were in his power.

MAIN TEXT: 2 Kings 6:8-23 (ESV)

8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, "At such and such a place shall be my camp." 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there." 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice

A. Syria were neighbors and was constantly picking fights with Israel and Judah, constantly looking for reasons to be offended with them.

B. God is faithful to protect his people. That doesn't mean that you will always be unscathed in an encounter, but you will survive and be the better for it.

C. God reveals hidden things to protect His people. He's not caught off guard—and neither should we be when we're in tune with Him.

D. You will rarely be caught off guard when you're in relationship with Him

E. There are people who will not like you and you haven't done anything to them. I've confronted people who have told others that they have an issue with me, and when I go to them as the bible commands us, they can't tell me what I did to them. They heard something about me from some people.

F. God will provide warning signs when the enemy is plotting against you. You must be in fellowship to be able to receive the messages.

G. We have a moral obligation to warn someone when we see them going heading towards danger

11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?" 12 And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." 13 And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan." 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.

A. Elisha, receiving supernatural revelation, continually identified to Jehoram the Israelite towns which the king of Aram, or Syria, planned to attack. Jehoram then took the proper precautions and appropriately fortified those towns so as to frustrate the Syrian plan.

B. God does provide a way of escape his own. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit will quicken you to not go to a place you planned on going, or your plane will have a delay that change your original plans. When we get to heaven, many things will be revealed to us and I believe that we will be shocked and amazed at how many times God saved and protected us.

C. I've had God place people in position to provide information to me regarding individuals and organizations that meant me harm. I literally pray for people who consider themselves my enemies because I've seen first-hand that when people dug a pit for me to fall into they fall into their own pit as long as I stay in alignment with God.

Proverbs 26:27 (KJV)

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: And he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

This scripture is a principle. Don't wish bad things to happen to people, especially God's people because you in turn will reap what you're sowing. When someone desires to or does something to harm me or my wife, we pray for them. In fact, we bless those that we know wish us harm.

D. Sometimes your family will do you the most harm. Families have been jacked up since the first family, Adam & Eve. As soon as sin entered the world, everything changed.

E. Cain killed his brother Abel

F. Tell story of lawsuit

G. Elisha told his servant to not be afaid – the bible has approx. 365 verse that states, do not fear, fear not, or do not be afraid H. If we have truly accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and striving to live a righteous life, there is nothing to fear.

17 Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria

A. You and God are a majority

B. Elisha asked the Lord to enable his servant to see this heavenly host. The Lord gave his servant the ability to see the normally unseen world of God's heavenly armies, here waiting to do battle with the Syrians

As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?" 22 He answered, "You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom 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." 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.

A. Tell Story of Copier Salesperson

B. Parents, there some children that need to hear from you today

C. Husbands and wives, there is some reconciliation that needs to take place today

D. Children, there are some parents you need to sort things out with

E. Church members, there's another member you need to go to in a spirit of meekness and work through an issue

F. Some of you have a neighbor, coworker, or boss that you feel wronged by

G. All of us here today, has someone that we need to apologize to or forgive

Declarations (Congregation will stand and recite)

1: I will love my neighbor and my enemy. I choose to love my neighbor and even those who stand against me. I will not repay evil for evil but will overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)

"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."

Romans 12:21 (ESV)

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

2: I am called to show grace and mercy. As God has shown me mercy, I will show mercy to others. I will be quick to forgive and slow to judge.

Luke 6:36 (NIV)

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Matthew 5:7 (KJV)

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

3: I will seek peace and reconciliation. I will not harbor bitterness or division. I am a peacemaker, called to reconcile, not retaliate.

Romans 12:18 (NIV)

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

Matthew 5:9 (ESV)

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

4: I will bless those who curse me. When I am insulted or mistreated, I will not repay insult with insult, but I will bless and not curse.

1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called..."

5: I will pray for those who hurt me. I lift up those who have hurt me in prayer. I will not carry hatred, but I will intercede for healing, even for my enemies."

Luke 6:28 (NIV)

"Pray for those who mistreat you."

Luke 23:34 (NIV)

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

6: I will forgive as I have been forgiven. I release all unforgiveness and bitterness. As Christ has forgiven me, I choose to forgive others.

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

"Bear with each other and forgive one another... Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Matthew 6:15 (NIV)

"If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

7: I will be a vessel of God's compassion. I am not an agent of revenge, I am a vessel of God's love, peace, and compassion in a broken world.

Romans 12:19 (ESV)

"Do not take revenge... but leave room for God's wrath... 'Vengeance is mine,' says the Lord."

Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV)

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control..."

Altar Call

Today, you've heard a message about seeing through God's eyes... About loving the unlovable, showing grace to those who've wronged you, and responding to conflict with compassion, not retaliation.

But the truth is—you can't live this kind of life in your own strength. Forgiveness is hard. Healing from wounds takes time.

And mercy... mercy can feel impossible when you've been betrayed, mistreated, or misunderstood.

That's why we need Jesus.

He doesn't just command us to love our enemies— He gives us His Spirit to transform our hearts.

If you're here today, and you've been holding onto unforgiveness... If there's someone you need to release— If you've been surrounded by battles, and you need your eyes opened to see God's protection and presence...

Or maybe... you've never surrendered your life to Jesus. And today, you feel Him drawing you. You want to know this kind of love, this kind of peace, this kind of power.

If that's you—whether it's for salvation, healing, or a fresh start—I want to invite you to come. Come to Jesus.

Lay your burdens down. He is here. He sees you. He's ready to forgive, restore, and make you new.

You can be set free today. You can walk out different than you walked in.

Discussion Questions

1. The Christmas truce of 1914 showed that "love and compassion disarmed hatred more powerfully than bullets ever could." How does this historical event illustrate the power of choosing love over retaliation?
2. Elisha received supernatural revelation to warn the king of Israel about Syria's attacks. How can we become more sensitive to God's warnings and guidance in our own lives?
3. The notes state: "There are people who will not like you and you haven't done anything to them." How should we respond when we're disliked or opposed for no clear reason?
4. Elisha's servant saw an overwhelming enemy army and panicked. Elisha prayed for his eyes to be opened to see God's angelic army. What spiritual realities do we often miss because we only see with physical eyes?
5. When the Syrian army was captured, the king of Israel asked, "Shall I strike them down?" But Elisha said to feed them instead. Why is mercy more powerful than revenge in breaking cycles of conflict?
6. Proverbs 26:27 warns that "whoever digs a pit shall fall into it." Have you witnessed this principle in action? How does this truth affect how you treat those who oppose you?
7. Review the seven declarations. Which one is hardest for you to live out? Why?
8. The notes mention that "sometimes your family will do you the most harm." How do we balance honoring family while also maintaining healthy boundaries with toxic family members?
9. Elisha fed his enemies and sent them home. The result? "The Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel." How can acts of unexpected kindness transform enemies into friends?
10. The altar call asks: "If you've been holding onto unforgiveness... if there's someone you need to release..." Is there someone God is bringing to mind right now that you need to forgive or reconcile with? What's your next step?

Stay Connected

Submit a prayer request

Join us online

View our devotionals