INTRODUCTION:  

I. The Law of Passiveness. 5:41

A. Sermon on the Mount. Many left Jesus after this message because it cut across the grain.
1. Roman law required a Jew to carry a soldiers' pack one mile. Jews marked a mile in all directions from there home and would go not a step further.

2. Jesus shocked His hearers It was not NORMAL to be so passive when abused or imposed upon.

3. Jesus said they were to go another mile!

a. Classic example of turning the other cheek. Verse 39. b. We are not to resist evil.

c. Movie, in old West, the Mennonites refused to fight outlaws who were robbing and killing them. It really upset me. I believe they carried the principle too far.

C. Today in our society, which speeds down the fast lane, there is a real need to understand and practice this principal.
1. High tension of our world many times finds us grinding over anything that gets in our way.

2. Its the "zapper gun syndrome". Anyone who bothers us in anyway gets ZAPPED!

3. If anyone does something that a person doesn't like or offends them they want to retaliate. But revenge will always backfire on us and it never helps us of the situation.

ILLUS: Many years ago when I was a boy there was a comedy radio series called the "Amos and Andy Show." In one of their routines Andy was particularly exasperated over a certain fellow on the street who, as Andy walked by him on his way to work each morning, would slap Andy on the chest and say hello. It really irritated Andy. Andy complained to Amos about the situation and told him that he had resolved to do something about it. He said that on the next morning he would strap some dynamite to his chest and when the annoying fellow slapped it, he would blow his hand off. I think you see so obvious difficulties with Andy's plan for revenge, it would cost him as much or more than his enemy. Revenge often does!

D. Patience, forbearance and forgiveness have little meaning to many today. Our old nature, called the carnal nature, causes us to have a bent to do things that will harm us all the while seeming to set things right. We a Christians are susceptible to losing our testimony for Christ and failing to show the love of Christ to others when something hurts us.

1. Parents are often so busy making a living and just living in our fast society have little time for raising their children.
a. Many seem too busy to take time live by biblical principals or teach them to their children.

b. The matter of teaching the children is left to the school or church.

c. Teaching takes TIME, and many parents are to busy to be bothered with taking the time. It take both the husband and the wife to raise children to honor the Lord and live by the principles of God's word.

d. Often, we let other things be more important!

2. Couples also live nervously and have a shaky relationship in their marriages. That negatively effects the children who need a steady and peaceful home to grow up in. They need an example to follow. It is a fact that most children will grow up and make the same mistakes their parents made. If they grow up in a home where there is little love shown, or where their parents fuss and fight...they will do the same in their families.
a. Many time one partner or the other is ready in a second to express their own "rights".

b. Real love which is tolerant, and understanding seems to be missing.

c. Most when they think about it do in fact deeply love their spouse, yet they are irritable, many times they are not happy.

3. On the job, there are those who are never satisfied! Leon Tyson, chronic complainer!
a. If everything is not just like they want it they, are ready to really bad mouth the company, or fellow employees.

b. The Navy has a flag which sums the feeling up. "DON'T TREAD ON ME".

4. At church, folks sometimes become irritable at other members or even preacher because everything is not done just right or as they think it should be done..
a. You find folks sometimes being critical of things. This could be done better, or we ought to do it this way.
b. So in so has this problem or that.
c. Basically their not satisfied with anything!

D. Illus: The cartoon, titled "Why the boy pulled the cat's tail." First, boss chews out husband, then he crews out his wife and wife chews out the boy and then finally the boy pulls the cat's tail.

ILLUS: Sam Jones Methodist Evangelist told the story of being on a Pullman traveling one night after a tiring meeting. A young child was crying and keeping every one awake. He wanted to say something to the father, but thought better of it. Soon, one man unable to take it, hollered at the man and said, Master, for God's sake, why don't you take the baby to his mother and let the rest of us get some sleep. The man replied sobbing, Sir, I sorry I wish her mother could, but she is in a casket, in the baggage coach.

The complaining man got out of his berth, kneeled beside the father and said he was sorry, and offer to take the child and let the father get some sleep.

E. When we are think we are mistreated, or someone is bothering us, lets ask ourselves whether or not they need our sympathy, our prayers, our understanding, and our patience rather than our cruel and caustic rebuffs. You see this it what Christ is telling us to do....this is godly principle that can bring peace and harmony that everyone wishes they had. This can pave the way for finding solutions to problems and correcting conflicts or difficulties that come up.

The Lord wants the best for us and He is trying to show us the way to have peace and joy in our lives.

Folks Jesus is saying we need to go the second mile! To show biblical love and have patience, and to slow down and discern really what the situation really is.

F. Our rebuff, or hateful reaction to another, only compounds the problem.
Never has a sharp word, brought peace! Never has the letting oneself become frustrated help a situation become better. As a Christians we are to be witness to our mates, children, family, friends, and the world!

1. The sharp rebuke to the child alone, never helped teach a child patience. The angry response to the child's irritating us, assures that the problems will happen again.

a. Anyone can lash out and punish and avenge themselves! The fruit of such a response is like what is said about history. Those who ignore the reasons for its failures are sure to repeat them!

b. Christ wants the best for us! It is better to be humble.

c. Children often need discipline and a sharp rebuke! But with it they need understanding, patience and a show of love.

2. The husband or wife, who is mistreated is by the Bible is compelled to give patience, and understanding for hurt and rebuff. We are to return good for evil.
a. "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour and life." Prov. 22:4

b. "The meek shall inherit the earth: and delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Prov. 37:11

Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

c. Matt. 23:12. "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall abased and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

d. "Love (Charity) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up". I Cor. 13:4

e. "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Eph. 4:2)

Eph. 5:21, "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of the Lord.

f. Col 3:12, "Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, humbleness of mind, meekness.

3. To fathers: Eph. 6:4 "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, But bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

Or "don't make your children harsh bitter or scour, or exasperate. means be irritable!

Col. 3:21 "fathers provoke not your children to anger, least they be discouraged."

4. Wives, are to obey there husbands, husbands love their wives. Eph. 5 is the same way that Christ loved the church.

A. Wives! Go the second mile. How long you say? As long as it takes!
1. Jesus said we were to forgive our enemies 7 times 70.

2. We are not talking about if one desires it or not.

We are not talking about who's at fault.
We are not talking about who's right or wrong!

3. Wives obey your husbands. Go the second mile!

4. The surest way I know to the divorce court is to take the attitude, he or she does deserve it! Jesus is saying you go the second mile, and the third and on till the matter is resolved.

5. Again a sure way to the divorce court is to simply QUIT!

B. You children are not perfect parents, or ever will be! They need teaching and loving instruction to see them to adulthood. The devils uses every trick he can to get them, but you have the power, in obeying and using the Word of God, controlling your passions to overcome the devil.

Offend stress in our lives is caused by physical things.

1. Parents who do not get enough sleep and rest can become irritated and physically too tired to properly do their jobs. Solution...go to bed earlier.... Put the children in bed earlier.

2. Children who are allowed to eat a lot of sweets are subject to hyper activity. Cut the sweets. It will help them be less obese. Children should be allowed to exercise. The TV is a good baby sitter, but it does not allow them to burn off energy and tone their minds and bodies.

These are simple things to do.

A. It touches my heart to think that as Romans 5:8 says, while I was yet in my sin, Christ died for me.
1. I do not understand the horror and pain that He endured for each sinner. But to understand that HE was God, and He allowed men to crucify Him, and sped his blood for his creation.

2. Jesus went more that any second mile, He went all the way.

B. Are not you glad, that He did not quit! He was hurt, yes, hurt, but He knew the benefit of what he did.
1. Because he went the extra mile you and I can by simple faith, have eternal life.

2. Everything in life worthwhile cost something! We ought to be willing to put ourselves second and even last so that our children grow up to be God fearing adults able to raise their children.

So that our families live in harmony, and in peace.

3. Meekness and humility is the price, taking time to be patience, to be longsuffering, is the price we will have to pay.

C. So many couples love one another just enough to be miserable!

ILLUS: Geo. W. Truett, a great preacher, preached a message on How to be Happy. It was to accept Christ as Saviour. A young rich man, who had tried all the world has to offer, trusted Christ that day. Six months later, he can back to Dr. Truett and asked for his name to be taken off the church roll. He said he was not happy and he was going back to the life he lived before. Dr. Truett asked him to do one thing, and after that if he wanted they would take his name off the church roll. He asked him to take some groceries to a woman with children who was having a hard time. As he went to knock at the door he heard the woman inside praying for food for here children. When she came to the door she said "Mister you're an angel from heaven." It embarrassed him, to see the woman's happiness and the children hungrily eating the bread. He headed for the door and said I must go! No, said the woman you cannot go till we have thanked God for such a good man coming and bringing us food. The woman asked him, thinking he was a faithful Christian to pray first. He knelt with the widow and prayed and thanked God for his provision. He went back to Dr. Truett and said he wanted his name to remain on the roll. And the jest of why was that before that time he was not really living for the Lord, and doing what he wanted him to do.

Folks, true joy, peace, and happiness is only obtained by giving oneself to others. It takes time, sacrifice and yes humility and meekness, but the reward is worth it all.

1/31/87