RevolutionTurning enemiesinto neighbors

00:05Let's welcome Dr. Gian

[Narrator] Let's welcome Dr. Gian.

00:14When people attack you unfairly, what should you do?

When people attack you unfairly, what should you do? Should you just endure it and turn the other cheek because you are a good person? Or is it right to fight back and counter-attack? What does the Bible actually say about this?

01:40Wars are caused by greedy people

Wars are sadly inevitable, and most of the time, if not always, they are caused by greedy people. History teaches us that the ambition burning in the hearts of certain individuals has repeatedly led humanity into horrendous wars.

02:001 Timothy 6:10: the love of money

The Scripture says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Isn't it true? Read it yourself. The root of all kinds of evil. It is a fact, my friend.

02:20"Live or die": injustice has limits

You know that eventually people reach their limit. They fight with everything they have. Live or die, because injustice has limits. There is a moment when people just cannot take it anymore. Scenarios like this, precisely, a revolution, because people just said it's enough. Live or die. It happened, and will happen.

02:48Revolutions: the result of injustice

Revolutions are the result of injustice caused by evil leaders who take advantage of their followers until the people eventually rebel against their oppressors.

03:04Every dictator and oppressive regime will fall

Sooner or later, every dictator and oppressive regime will fall and disappear. New oppressors may rise after them, but eventually decent and intelligent people will overcome.

03:19War is one thing; problems with people are another

War is one thing. Problems with people are another. Remember the liberation from slavery and then the conquest of Canaan that followed.

03:31Moses, Joshua and the conquest of Canaan

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt. The Lord sent Moses to set them free, and then after that, they were sent to conquer the promised land. And Moses initiated the process, but there was one leader, Joshua, who took over eventually, and he was a warrior.

03:54Does national peace guarantee peaceful lives?

But eventually there is peace. Does national peace guarantee peaceful lives? For example, in your country, no. People will always find reasons to fight one another. Incredible, huh? But it is the truth, my friend. It's just like that.

04:14Some people will still be nasty

Even during the restoration of a decent and just government, or after it has been established, some people will still be nasty. Because there are people that are so difficult, and they just love to argue and fight.

04:32Matthew 5:38-42

Let's reflect together on the words of our Lord Jesus, who taught us in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, verses 38 through 42, which we read in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Please Lord guide us through this reflection. Amen.

04:50The reading: an eye for an eye

Thank you, Sebastian, for the scripture on the screen. Full screen. You have heard that it was said, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I tell you, do not resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If someone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

05:35Not a call to become wimps

Initially, many people consider that this portion is leading believers to become wimps, to become individuals that will accept everything and just let the others do whatever they want to do with themselves. The truth is, they are taking these ideas in the wrong way, because they are not understanding the right words.

06:03"Do not resist an evildoer": let people show who they really are

For example, when the Lord Jesus says here, "do not resist an evildoer," what he's saying is, "let people show who they really are."

06:13Peace at home, and difficult individuals

When there is peace, like maybe in your country, here in America there is peace. We don't have an internal war. There are battles and wars in other places, but not here. So here, we have issues with difficult individuals. And sometimes they are evil. The Lord Jesus said, "when you find those people evildoers, let them just be who they are, because then you're going to know exactly their character."

06:46Doing business with relatives and friends

Some of my friends have said to me many times, "I don't like to do business with my relatives or my friends." "What do you think, pastor?" And I said, "I disagree. I think it's good to do business with your relatives and with your friends." They say, "but you know, it's going to end up bad." Why? Well, because it's always the case, but why? And the truth is, if it ends up bad, it's because someone was doing the wrong thing.

07:21Let people show their character

Let people show their character, and the best way to do it is by doing business together.

07:26The other cheek

Now, the Lord Jesus mentioned here something about slaps on the right cheek. And people are thinking that if they offend you or they hurt you, you just say, "keep on going, hit me again. I am dumb."

07:45"Be nice to rude people, although you know they are ugly"

It's not what the Lord Jesus said. He uses those words, but not in that context, my friend. What the Lord was saying is, "be nice to rude people, although you know they are ugly." The other cheek is that. It's just, don't act like they act. But the problem with people is that if you are that way, they will continue doing it. It's exactly the problem, but it's not your problem. We're going to talk more about this.

08:16Your shirt and your coat

The other section in this passage says, "if someone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat as well." My friend, a shirt, a coat.

08:28They care only for insignificant things

All that that tells you is that those evildoers care only for insignificant things. Who is going to take someone else to court for a shirt, for a coat? All that you can understand about individuals acting that way is they are fools. The only thing that they care is for material things and insignificant things.

08:58The second mile: bad bosses, shame on them

And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles, what is here what the Lord Jesus is explaining? Well, he's talking about working relationship. You know, there are individuals that they love to push and push the employee. In other words, the Lord was saying, "let them be bad bosses. Shame on them. If you have a bad boss, if you have a boss that is disrespectful, it takes advantage of you. Wants more work and more work, more hours, and doesn't want to pay more. And he has the money to pay more. Shame on him."

09:43Not a bunch of wimps: use your mind

You see, it is not what some people think. The Lord Jesus wasn't ever promoting, "come on, come with me. Be part of the kingdom of God and you will become a bunch of wimps." No, but the thing is you have to use your mind. You need to have good, excellent, clear teachings. So you will understand what the Lord Jesus says. Not everybody, because he has access of the Bible, will do the right interpretation, my friend.

10:22"Give to the one who asks you": it's all about money

The Lord says here, "give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." What is he saying here? Get it. It's all about money.

10:38Give a little and see how they respond

When people are asking for a loan to you, "let me have this money, let me have this thing," the best thing you can do is to give a little and see how this person responds. Sooner or later you will see that the ones that are crooks, that are bad people, they are not going to pay, they are going to become difficult, most of the time.

11:01A loan, and a lost friendship

My personal experience is every time I have give some money to somebody as a loan, I lose that friendship. Interesting, huh? Suddenly I am the bad guy. When the person who was a need begged me, helped me as a loan.

11:24Say no, or give it as a gift

Now, I think the best option, and I learned that from many financial experts, is when someone is asking you for a loan, probably the best solution is to say no, and if you can give a little money, give it as a gift.

11:42Programs like this reach near 40 countries

You know, my friends, programs like this, we need to continue broadcasting. Our Christian programs are reaching near 40 countries, and we have statistics that tells us that there are thousands and hundreds of thousands of people that are connecting with us, and it's a great thing. So we invite you to check it out in any of the platforms.

12:07A little story: "I'm coming in there"

Today we are talking about revolution, fights, and all that. And you know, that makes me think of this story that I just laugh about it. It is a couple that are coming back to the house, a relative was babysitting them, and when they come to the house, they are jumping on the bed, making a lot of commotion there. So the babysitter says, "I'm sorry, I cannot control your kids." Although she was the instigator, but then the father, who was a wimp, said, "Stop!" He said that. The kids were laughing, and then the mama says, "I'm coming in there." And then the kids got quiet.

13:05Matthew 5:43-48

All right, let's go back to the Word of God. Now let's reflect on the chapter 5, still, verses 43 through 48. Let's read it. Thank you, Sebastian.

13:15The reading: love your enemies

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. So that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love only those who love you, what reward will you have? Don't even tax collectors do that? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing more than others? Don't even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

14:16God is love, not hate

How can you do that? Well, God is love. God is not hate. If you are a child of God, supposedly you are representing God.

14:29A believer who is such a hater?

So tell me this. How can you explain someone that claims to be a believer is such a hater, and is always criticizing everything and everybody?

14:45Out of church, and already hating

How in the world is possible that some people that just came out of church, they just finished worshiping God, and they are already hating everybody outside? In their house, in the marketplace, online. What is the problem? Is there any God inside of them? Maybe there is a little.

15:12"A tiny little Holy Spirit"

If you allow me the joke here, it's a tiny little Holy Spirit inside of them. The rest is just nastiness.

15:23A child of God is filled with love

The child of God should be a person that is filled with love, because God is love.

15:29Everyone is going to get a harvest

Now, the Lord said, to make it clear that everyone is going to get a harvest, that God makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. Meaning what? Meaning, don't worry about the bad people or even the good people, because everyone is going to get his own harvest.

15:55If you don't like to work

For example, if you don't like to work, and you don't have any money coming in, you're going to be broke. And that has nothing to do with your faith. You can be a very godly person, but if you are lazy, and you don't like to work, all that you like to do is just to waste time, playing with your phone the whole day. You don't have any income. You don't have any job. Okay?

16:21Evildoers who work hard

And now you have here evildoers, and they are evil. Maybe they don't pray, but you know what? They work, they get up early in the morning, and they are taking care of business. And so at the end of the day, they have accomplished things. What do you think is going to happen at the end of that week? They will have money, and the lazy person is not. Everyone is going to get a harvest. It's not about just believers are going to be blessed in that regard. You know, there are principles, logically, right? Logically.

16:58"Evil people can't love everyone"

Now, if you love only those who love you, what reward would you have? Evil people can't love everyone.

17:09Even the Gentiles

The Lord said even something very funny. Jesus, even the Gentiles, and you know, all the Jewish blood came out of the Lord here. Even the Gentiles, non-Jewish people, okay?

17:24Enemies are relative: don't discriminate

So in other words, what the Lord is saying is, listen, guys, this thing about enemies and those that are so against you is all relative. Because at the end, if you don't get it, you are going to discriminate by not allowing the Lord God giving you love for everyone. You are going to say, I like these people, but I don't like these other people.

17:55The revolution: destroying evil through love

The key of what we are talking about here, in this revolution, that the Lord God is already doing in the world since the Lord Jesus came, is a revolution that is going to destroy evil, is destroying it, and will destroy it at the end through love, through love. That is the weapon.

18:21"Be perfect": love everyone no matter what

The Lord Jesus says, be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect. Be perfect. Somebody says, I cannot be perfect. Well, you love everyone no matter what. The Lord God does that because the Lord God loves so much the world that He sent. You know the rest of the verse because He loves the world. He loves everybody. That's the perfection of the Lord God.

18:55The perfection He expects: are you able to love everyone?

And that is the type of perfection He is expecting in you. Are you able to love everyone? Well, no pastor. There are some people that they are unlovable. Well, is that what the Lord does? Yes. Actually, He will send them to hell.

19:12Ungodly people already live a hell

Well, let's talk about it. First of all, those who are ungodly people, they don't have pleasant lives. They believe that. They think that way. But the truth is, ungodly people, they already live a hell in their homes, in their minds, in their everything. Some of them, they maybe have some money and they do business here and there. Who knows? But their personal lives are a hell. Do you understand? The Lord is not going to send them to hell. So many of them, most of them, ungodly people, they are already in hell. They cannot fall asleep peacefully like a believer. Can you imagine? Just think for a second.

19:59What's in the mind of an ungodly person at night?

What's in the mind of an ungodly person at the end of the day? Do you think that they go and they put their head on the pillow and they say, "Oh, what a great day did I have today. And I just cannot wait for tomorrow to do another what? Another nasty thing?" Do you think that those people can't sleep peacefully? They are just thinking something can happen to me. Fear, fear, fear.

20:31Fear, fear, fear

I want to make sure the door is locked. I want to make sure the alarm is on. I want to make sure I have this because I have to protect myself. Fear, fear, fear. They cannot fall asleep peacefully because they are just thinking something is going to happen to me. Ungodly people simply are in a hell of life.

20:58Hell and the lake of fire

Now, according with the scripture, at the end of times, the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and all the demons, including also Hades and death, all of them, all these different characters with evil and evildoers are going to end up in the lake of fire. Those are two separate things, hell and the lake of fire. All right. You understand that part. So, here is the thing. The Lord Jesus says, "Be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

21:49"I don't think it is right for God"

Someone might argue, "I don't think it is right for God to send people to hell or not save them and eventually punish them and send them to the lake of fire." Well, that is your opinion. Do you think the Lord God cares about what you think about that? Do you really think?

22:14Crepes and fruits: the complexity of creation

Let me ask you this question. Have you ever participated in the creation of different fruits? No. This morning I was just tasting different types of fruits with my crepes. I love to eat, as you probably know. Some of you, my close friends, know that I love to cook and I cook crepes. It's a French thing, if you don't know. Delicious, and I love to have tons of fruits. Well, I like different types of fruits, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, granola, pineapple, watermelon. Have you ever thought the complexity of the creation of fruits, seeds, cereals, food in general, water, oxygen, everything that we see here?

23:09Who can judge the Lord God?

Of course, fools don't think about that. They just take everything for granted. They don't even think about the process of breathing, inhaling, exhaling, what happens in our lungs. They don't understand the cycle of water, nothing. But they do have against the Lord that He is going to punish people going to the lake of fire. I mean, it's such a ridiculous position for someone to try to judge the Lord God. Listen, someone that is trying to judge the Lord God is just showing how stupid this person is. There is no other word for that.

23:51His perfection: great love and compassion

The Lord God is the creator of heaven and earth. The rest of us, humans, past, present, and future, we are a tiny little thing. And yet, He loves us. His perfection is based on His great love and compassion, willing to forgive everyone, as long as what? As long as the person is humble enough and asks for forgiveness.

24:18The Lord hates the evil they do

Now, do you think the Lord hates people because they are sinners? Not even then. What the Lord hates is the evil thing they do. Inside of the Lord's heart, He Himself, His character, is all about love. But in His righteousness, He cannot dwell in both sides. For a moment, He is so wonderful and great and pure and holy. And then the next moment, He deals with evil and being angry and being mad and hating those. No, my friend, the righteousness of God simply doesn't allow evil cross the line to come into the perfection of God.

25:10"You must be perfect": love everyone

Now, if you are smart and you are understanding what I am saying, which I pray and I hope you are, when the Lord Jesus is talking about that you must be perfect, He is talking precisely about your ability to love everyone, no matter what.

25:35Forgive, forget and don't hate

Now, you need to make some decisions about those that are hurting you naturally. But when you decide to forgive, you forget and you don't hate, you will keep the integrity of your heart.

25:48Why believers are bitter

That's the core of the situation. Why people today are upset? Why you don't see believers smiling and rejoicing and grateful and worshiping God and rejoicing and everything every single day? Why they can't do that? Well, because they are bitter. Because something happened.

26:13Filled with the Holy Spirit, filled with God's love

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is being filled with God's love. Now, for so many of my friends, being filled with the Holy Spirit means they are speaking in tongues and doing the interpretation and they are miracle workers and all the doctrines that they hear and they repeat. But the truth is being filled with the Holy Spirit is when you are filled with God's love and the love of God is able to control you in such a way that you become a loving person.

26:53A true believer loves everyone with God's love

A true believer loves everyone but not with his own love, with God's love.

27:03And that is the revolution

And that is the revolution.

27:06How can we live perfectly in an imperfect world?

How can we live perfectly in the middle of an imperfect world surrounded by the imperfect people, my friend? How can we do that?

27:14Loving everyone doesn't mean allowing disrespect

Well, loving everyone does not mean allowing people to treat you with disrespect. No. Remember, the Lord Jesus doesn't want you to be a wimp, to be weak and just take it. They mistreat you in social offender and you just keep on going, keep on going. No. Loving everyone doesn't mean allowing people to disrespect you, my friend.

27:42Keep focused on your own tasks

In fact, what you need is to keep focused on your own tasks. If you are paying attention to whatever you have to do, you know, the more occupied you are in whatever the Lord wants you to do, the less time you will have to be involved with things that can become difficult for anybody.

28:05Keep the joy in your heart

Keep the joy on your heart, inside of your heart. Keep that joy in your heart, my friend, and you can do it. You keep praising God. Something happened. You just let it go and you know, "Oh, this person is difficult. I get it."

28:21My rule: people who make me feel good

You know, I have a rule. I will hang out with individuals that make me feel good. And sometimes, just going to a place where they are cooking something, they make me feel good. I'm not saying I enjoy people that are having vulgar language with food and drinking alcohol. No. In a clean, nice atmosphere. Just by looking at people, I pass by and I see a family there playing in New York. That makes me happy. I like to be around people that makes me feel good. I try to make everybody feel good with my enthusiasm, with my joy, the joy the Lord gives me through His love.

29:13Negative people: "No, thank you"

But my rule is, if I see negative people, I say, "Hello, I love them." But I have my boundaries and I say, "This is a negative person. This person is not going to add in my life. He's going to create a problem." So I said, "No, thank you." I'm nice and all that, but I said, "I'm not going to be talking with you. I'm not going to do that because it's not a healthy relationship."

29:39Stay ready to forgive the betrayal

And I have to stay ready to forgive the betrayal because it happens. It happens.

29:46Because of money, families fight

History in our own families confirms that because of money, people fight each other to the death and end up hating one another for the rest of their lives. How many stories we know about that? Brothers that don't talk to each other, siblings that don't talk to each other, and the next generation, and suddenly there is no relationship. It's just horrible most of the time because of money.

30:16Ungrateful and disloyal: are you one of those?

Ungrateful and disloyal people are everywhere, in every family, and in every church. Are you one of those? Are you one of those? Are you ungrateful and disloyal? Because if you are ungrateful and you are disloyal, you know what? That's no good. You are going to betray somebody sooner or later. You will do it. What you need is to choose to change.

30:47Just let it go, move on and restart

Just let go. Whatever happened, just let it go. Move on and restart again with the word of the Lord, with the spirit of the Lord, to worship the Lord God.

31:04Help people with compassion, keep your boundaries

My friend, you need to help people with compassion while keeping your boundaries. You know there are people that they just love to take and they abuse others. To me, the key is this. Watch this.

31:21People can be in need for many reasons

People can be in need for many reasons. Sometimes it's the context. They are in a very poor area, no jobs. The person doesn't have any education, any skills. I get it. Sometimes they are ill. Sometimes there are so many children that are elderly that they are taking care of. Simply the income is not enough. All right. There are occasions where the help is needed and you are going to be compassionate, but you still have to set your boundaries. Because after all, it's not your responsibility to take care of people that are in such a difficult situation. Everyone in the family has to do something about it. To me, that's the key in every situation.

32:10Help, advice and a follow-up

People that ask me for help, sometimes I give, sometimes I don't. All the time I listen to them, all the time I provide advice, biblical advice, but I also provide some potential solutions. And I do a follow up. You know what I have found? People that are complicated people, you give them a homework to do, they don't do it. They just don't want to do anything. Well, you are a Christian. You are a pastor. You are supposed to be helping.

32:45Demanding, arrogant, lazy, entitled: say no

Demanding, arrogant, lazy, entitled. You set your boundaries and you say, no. Sometimes you help certain families for a season until you say they are doing nothing about this. The main problem that we see in these days is precisely those that they just think that everybody, whether it's the government or parents or children sometimes or whomever, they have the responsibility to take care of them and they are capable of doing some things. Don't make that mistake, my friend.

33:24Some people might change: do what is right

You know that some people might change in the future. That is why you do what is right. Doing what is right, first of all, makes you be okay in the eyes of the Lord. When you do what is right with your time, with your money, with your soul, with your mind, with your life, with your phone, when you do what is right with your body, everything, with the people that are around you, when you do what is right, you are okay with the Lord. And that gives you a great sense of satisfaction.

33:59Doing what is right motivates others

And you know that action of doing what is right will motivate others to do the same. Sometimes those that are failing, they see your example, maybe they won't change right away.

34:14"Pastor, I want to ask for your forgiveness"

I have the testimony of many people that they did not nice things to me. But down the line through the years, most of them, not all of them, but most of them, they have called me to apologize and they say, "Pastor, I want to tell you that there's so many I realized that it was wrong of me by doing this and that, and I want to ask for your forgiveness." And I think that's nice. But what if I did the wrong thing after they did what was wrong? That is what you need to think into consideration, my friend. If you are a good person, keep doing what is right, my friend.

34:59Proverbs 25:21-22: burning coals

You know, I close with this proverb. It's a beautiful Scripture, chapter 5, verses 21 and 22. "If your enemy is in need, help him. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head and the Lord will reward you."

35:21Three angles: 1. always help

Now, I want to explain this to you because it has three angles. The first angle is about what is the right thing to do, even with those who have insulted you, offended you, betrayed you, etc. What to do with individuals like that? You're not going to ignore them if they are in need. That's the first angle. You always will help.

35:482. "If your enemy": the Lord is being sarcastic

Okay, the second angle, it has to do with the individuals that failed you, like the Lord says, "If your enemy." He didn't say, "If your neighbor." He said, "If your enemy." So what happens with them? The Lord, I hope you can get it. He is being sarcastic here. Do you get it? Can you imagine burning coals on the head of somebody? Burning coals, you know? That is what the Lord said. If your enemy, somebody that hurt you, is in need, does something good for them? The Lord said, "You do that." In other words, the Lord is saying, they are going to be so mad because rather than seeing you acting in a rash way, hardly bad evil way, you are even nicer. They can't stand it.

37:023. The Lord will reward you

So that's the second take. But the third angle, my favorite, of course, is the promise that the Lord will reward you.

37:12We can overcome with the love of the Lord God

So there is a revolution. There are wars, there are battles, there are fights, but we can overcome with the love of the Lord God. That is why you must surrender to the Lord God. If you have never given your heart to the Lord God, today is a good day.

37:30Support the ministry: vchurch.us/give

And I want to remind you, my friend, if you are a believer, just remember this ministry, what you see here, it has a cost. Help us continuing doing what we do. vchurch.us forward slash give.

37:49Jesus is Lord, and He is going to come back

And for everybody else, remember that Jesus is Lord and He is wonderful and He is going to come back one day. I pray that comes back. If I'm still here on earth, He will find me just like I am right now, rejoicing in His presence, serving Him. And I wish the same kind of joy for you.

38:14A little humor: three rounds with a couple

I was thinking about this story that I'm going to tell you because it was very funny. There was a couple that one day called me and said, "Pastor, we need to talk because we have problems in our church." That's unusual. I have seen them fighting and arguing all the time. But well, that day I said, "Sure." So they came to see me and we spoke probably for 45 minutes. And she was mad and he was defending himself. And then I said, "Let's take a little break." We took a little break and then we came back and then continued with the conversation, the same situation. Now he is really mad and she is defending herself. So another break. So we have two breaks. Come back again. At this point, you are talking about near three hours of this deal. But I thought I'm going into this trip. This is the night I better help these guys because I'll be out of time for a little while. I better help them. So I said, "Okay." Like a round on. Bim, bim, bim, bim. Round number three. Number three. Okay, so come on. In the blue corner and the red corner. Never mind. So they come back and then I noticed that the guy was not speaking anymore. He was very quiet. And the woman was just pushing and pushing and pushing.

39:40"We'll do whatever she says"

So I asked him, "So my friend, what do you have to say about that?" And he says, "It's okay. We'll do whatever she says." And she goes, "What? Yeah, we'll do whatever you say." She says, "What?" He goes, "Well, I'm tired. I have to work. I have worked all day. I'm tired. Tired of arguing with you. Whatever you say."

40:14"Who's your favorite child?"

All right. So now let me close with this other. So there is a kid that goes to his mom and says, "Mommy, who's your favorite child?" The mom replied, "You know I can't answer that question. I don't have a favorite child." So the kid responded, "But Mommy, I am your only child."

Transcribed from the video and lightly corrected. Spoken words are kept as Dr. Gian said them.