In your groups, discuss what you know about LOVE.
Now consider: According to C.S. Lewis there are 4 kinds of love experienced in the Christian Life:
- --Storge – affection among family members
- --Philia – friendship
- --Eros – romance
- --Agape – unconditional love
Which of these "love" definitions do you think is discussed in the Corinthian letter? In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul explains the characteristics necessary in God's people to support and edify the Body when the temporary supports (tongues, prophecies, miracles, revelations) cease. The description of "love" (agape) in this chapter is often quoted at weddings, which is fine...but that was not the purpose of this writing. Paul was calling all disciples of Christ to put on the image of Christ; to understand who He was and to learn how to demonstrate His LOVE towards the brethren and the world.
If we truly walk with God, we walk in love (1 John 4:8; 2 Cor 13:15; Eph 1:15; 3:19; 5:2).
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
To walk with God, to follow Jesus Christ, to be filled with the Spirit, means that we allow the love of God to fill our hearts.
1 John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
This is not an easy thing for humans to do. The power to accomplish this is done through our submission to the Holy Spirit and His work in our hearts transforming us into the image of Christ. This transformation takes a humble and prayerful disciple who is willing to gain Christ by giving up selfish priorities.
Sacrificial love allows God to create unity. This was the emphasis in Christ's prayer before His death.
John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
This was Paul's admonition to believers.
Colossians 3:14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
To follow Jesus does not mean that we follow Him around, or even that we follow His "story". It does not mean that we "like" some of His teachings. It does not even mean that we "like" Him. The mark of a true disciple is that we take on His image, His example, reaching out in unconditional love and compassion for the sake of saving the lost, healing the hurting, restoring the fallen, and uniting ourselves together in One Body by showing mercy and forgiveness instead of judgment or condemnation. We can only be unified if we are all on ONE mission together.
Col 1:28-29 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor,striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
To walk with God means that we keep unity by encouraging one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) instead of spreading rumors and gossip. When we speak to one another it needs to be "as the oracles of God". When we act, we need to act so that it gives glory to God, not man. When we serve, we need to acknowledge the power of God. If God is our focus, then love and unity result.
1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
To walk with God in love and unity requires that we walk in love and unity with our brethren in Christ.
Ephesians 5:2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Colossians 1:4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—
1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
Ephesians 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
We cannot say we walk with God and be impatient or mean-spirited, unkind or unforgiving to any of our brothers or sisters in Christ. If we do not keep the commands of God then we are liars.
The two commands God gave us were: (1) Love God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength and (2) to love our neighbor as our self. If we keep His word, then we have the love of God perfected in us (1 John 2:4-6).
1 John 2:9-11 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
God's commands are NOT grievous. They are not even numerous. They are simple in understanding, but self-sacrificial when obeyed.
John 15:17 This I command you, that you love one another.
Christ has shown us the Way through His sacrificial love. If we accept the love of God and His mercy through the washing of regeneration and then go and live as we have always lived, we are merely fooling ourselves. We must walk a distinct path, unique, and separate from the customs, morals, priorities, and pressures of the world. This is the sacrificial life that many ignore.
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
If we TRULY "contend for the faith" then KNOW that the beginning of faith is to put on LOVE. Arguing, forcing opinions, divisive gossip, insisting on "my way or the highway" are all opposed to the FAITH we proclaim.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
Many have a warped perception of what it means to "contend for the faith". They believe this means that we must demand a set of rules and regulations or oppose change in traditions held since the 1950s, deter growth in understanding, and advancement in wisdom beyond what an earlier generation understood or comprehended. Unfortunately, this is a point of contention in today's church.
Is it against the Lord's will that the church grows in wisdom and understanding beyond what was perceived in the 1950's interpretation of His plan for man? The answer to the question lies in looking back and seeing the points of contentions held back then. The lack of recognition of the Holy Spirit and unity caused over 250 ideological splits from the 1950s to the 1970s. Clearly these were the actions of an immature church. A few of these divisions involved:
- Support of orphan's homes, Bible colleges, Mission work
- Relief for non-Christians
- Racial Prejudice
- Fellowship halls & kitchens
- Teaching that the Holy Spirit lived inside the Christian
- Sunday school
- Children's worship
- Holiday celebrations
- Worship Teams
- Cooperation among multiple congregations
- People who came to assemblies to consume (to be judges & critics) instead of coming to commune
- Divisive People who had to have "their own way"
IF the "faith" and understanding in the brotherhood had not advanced, we would still be in the dark ages concerning unity and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
The Book of Jude clearly warns against those in later times who divide the brethren. After his opening plea of "mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you", Jude "felt it necessary" to write about "contending for the faith" an OFTEN miss-used and miss-applied phrase. What was he asking us to "hold on to?" AND against whom was he warning? The examples of the ungodly folks who we need to guard against bear these characteristics:
- men who pronounce railing judgments
- revilers of things they do not understand
- jealousy, pride, & a heart full of hate (Cain)
- men who divide the family of God for gain, pulling folks away so they can capture wealth (Balaam)
- men who divide the family of God over opinion and discontentment (Korah)
- men who care more for themselves,
- men who are "dead", without fruit of the Spirit, hearts of darkness and bitterness
- grumblers, finding fault, arrogant, and flattering those they cause to divide by flattering speech to gain an advantage in both numbers and funding
- mockers and all those causing divisions
These ARE DEVOID of the SPIRIT! (Jude 19). How do we resist such men (verse 20-21)? By building ourselves up in the faith through the Holy Spirit and LOVE!
2 Thessalonians 2:16
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
If we walk with God, then God's love directs our hearts to act and communicate in the love of Christ.
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
If we walk with God, then God's love directs our hearts to act and communicate in the love of Christ.
1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
1 John 4:12,16,21 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them
21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them
21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
WHY DO YOU THINK JOHN EMPHASIZED "LOVE OF THE BRETHREN" in ~AD 90?
What was going on among the churches at that time? (Rev 1-3)
ATTITUDE
We must be peacemakers and servants in a world that wants to claim its own rights and privileges. We must demonstrate a peculiar attitude, unlike any political party, American ideology, cultural trend, or social network.
What was going on among the churches at that time? (Rev 1-3)
ATTITUDE
We must be peacemakers and servants in a world that wants to claim its own rights and privileges. We must demonstrate a peculiar attitude, unlike any political party, American ideology, cultural trend, or social network.
Philippians 2:1-5 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus...
Jesus' attitude was one of a servant as he humbled Himself to become obedient unto death (Phil 2:6-11). He did NOT "stand up for His rights", but gave up His rightful place in Heaven to empty Himself. He did not "fight for His rights" and He NEVER asked us to fight for our rights, but rather to support the rights of the widow and the orphan (Isa 10:2).
Our attitudes will affect how we communicate in the world, on FB, and towards our leaders.
Our attitudes will affect how we communicate in the world, on FB, and towards our leaders.
1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the rulers.
LOVE determines who our Father is & WHERE we Spend Eternity
1 John 3:10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
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HOMEWORK Testimonies
My examples: Testimonies sent out on Facebook and on a private blog, but I will share them here with you.
Assignment (1) Being Thankful in a New Way.
Assignment (1) Being Thankful in a New Way.
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Exactly what part in WHERE you were born was determined by you? We are soooooo blessed. "To whom much is given, much will be required." Is not this pure truth and mercy - James 1:27? Stop complaining! Be thankful God has presented you with an opportunity to serve.
(2) Testifying to someone I have never testified to before. A minister asked the blog community this question...."How do you know if we are truly walking in fellowship with God?"
What would have been your answer?
Here was how I responded:
I am feeling your angst and am compelled to just remind...not that you do not know...but remind...that our relationship with God is based on some fairly simple teachings and yet more complicated than we can imagine. It is more easily compared, as you well know, to a child and Father than the relationship of a theologian, scholar, or monk to a Deity. We are childish in all that we attempt, feeble and weak, but as a child our relationship relies on love, trust, and hope -- fully dependent and fully humbled. We bring nothing to the relationship except our will, our choice to have the relationship.
Everyone, EVERYONE walks in faith. Everyone hangs their faith on a peg. We believe in Jesus Christ as our risen Lord--the peg we hang our faith on. Others believe that something came from nothing, that is their peg. We face eternity confident in the peg we have chosen. God KNOWS us because of our faith in His Son and calls us into fellowship because of His Son (1 Cor 1:9). The Spirit intercedes for us because of the Son. Being known by God means we love Him, His children, His Word, His Son and thus have access to His thrown (1 John 4:16, 1 Cor 8:3, Col 1:27). Access doesn't always mean relationship. That depends on time, devotion, and most importantly, a sincere love of being in His presence (1 Thes 2:19).
What does it look like, feel like, smell like, walk and talk like to have a relationship with God? Isn't that exactly the reason Christ walked on earth --to show us how to have a relationship (through Him) with the Father? He humbled Himself as a servant...a virtual child of the Living God. Submitting like a child to the will of the Father, even unto the cross. Being child-like, I think, is the key.
Becoming encapsulate, imprinted with the loving image of Jesus, His walk, His talk, His priorities, His smell into our beings is evidence of our faith. Just like children take on the characteristics of their parents. It is a faith walk... Faith, of course, is the jewel held in our hearts, the engagement ring, the promise of a Bridegroom returning for His Bride, the seal, the Love of God beyond all understanding. It is a faith walk...a walk we can be confident in.....but not fully understand or completely unpacked until we see Him face to face.
And soooooo our relationship with God is like a toddler, falling and being uplifted when we reach out for Him.... My prayer is that we all grow in strength until He returns.....
Everyone, EVERYONE walks in faith. Everyone hangs their faith on a peg. We believe in Jesus Christ as our risen Lord--the peg we hang our faith on. Others believe that something came from nothing, that is their peg. We face eternity confident in the peg we have chosen. God KNOWS us because of our faith in His Son and calls us into fellowship because of His Son (1 Cor 1:9). The Spirit intercedes for us because of the Son. Being known by God means we love Him, His children, His Word, His Son and thus have access to His thrown (1 John 4:16, 1 Cor 8:3, Col 1:27). Access doesn't always mean relationship. That depends on time, devotion, and most importantly, a sincere love of being in His presence (1 Thes 2:19).
What does it look like, feel like, smell like, walk and talk like to have a relationship with God? Isn't that exactly the reason Christ walked on earth --to show us how to have a relationship (through Him) with the Father? He humbled Himself as a servant...a virtual child of the Living God. Submitting like a child to the will of the Father, even unto the cross. Being child-like, I think, is the key.
Becoming encapsulate, imprinted with the loving image of Jesus, His walk, His talk, His priorities, His smell into our beings is evidence of our faith. Just like children take on the characteristics of their parents. It is a faith walk... Faith, of course, is the jewel held in our hearts, the engagement ring, the promise of a Bridegroom returning for His Bride, the seal, the Love of God beyond all understanding. It is a faith walk...a walk we can be confident in.....but not fully understand or completely unpacked until we see Him face to face.
And soooooo our relationship with God is like a toddler, falling and being uplifted when we reach out for Him.... My prayer is that we all grow in strength until He returns.....
ASSIGNMENTS
(1) Demonstrate love to someone who usually does not receive love from the mainstream.
(2) Demonstrate unity by being a peacemaker instead of an instigator OR an associate of one who instigates divisive behavior.
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