Love Each Other

Good morning. Welcome to CCC both here in person and those watching live online and later on Rightnow Media or youtube. Last week we had 23 people worshipping with us live online! Praise the Lord for the technology to minister to and worship with people no matter where they are.

I also want to welcome you to December. Hard to believe that in a few short weeks 2023 will be behind us and 2024 will be here.

With that said just a few announcements/reminders as we come to the end of the year. The second Sunday in January will be our normal congregational board meeting but we will also hold our annual congregational meeting right after service just prior to the board meeting. If you would like to nominate someone for deacon, deaconess, elder, board president please see an elder, myself, Gary Kurtz, or Tommie Ray or our newest elder, Kenny Butterfield. We will be laying hands on Kenny after invitation this morning and praying and dedicating him to service as an elder here at CCC

Final two announcements. Mark your calendars for upcoming events

Christmas Eve candlelight communion service will be held Christmas eve at 5 pm. Communion gentlemen if you would like to do the communion meditation that evening please let me know.

Worship night and fellowship dinner will be held on New Year’s Eve. Theme will be New Year’s Eve finger foods. It will start with worship at 6 pm followed by the dinner. If you would like to bring some board games or the like to fellowship for a while after dinner that would be great. I am old and will probably not see Midnight but would love to spend some time with each of you on New Year’s Eve.

Let’s Pray

START OBS

This week we continue with our That You May Know sermon series with the message Love Each Other. As you will recall this sermon series is from I John and we have discussed many things as we have walked through this series together

I pray that you are not just hearing messages and going on with your life. I pray you are diving into the scripture and asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and apply the truths to your life. I pray you are convicted of anything that doesn’t belong in your life as a child of God

I hope you are getting just as beat up each week as I am. Modern Christians have moved so far from the truth of God, especially in daily life and the only way to return to God’s standards is by truly looking at His Word and seeking Him and asking the Holy Spirit to teach and apply His Word to your life

I pray that is why you are sitting here or watching this online this morning. Not to check a box but to come closer to God!

Let’s dive in

1 John 3:11–24

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11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

There is a lot going on here but it is also woven together. I will do my best to bring to you what God brought to me this week.

John starts this conversation by looking at hate in action

Hate driven by Cain’s own unrighteousness

Unrighteousness Drives Hate

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Let’s look at this in Genesis

Genesis 4:1–8

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“Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.”

We see Cain and Able....sons of Adam and Eve....this is post-fall so sin is now in the world

Both Cain and Able are religious

One loved God and had a relationship with God

They other loved religion and the idea of having a relationship with God but did not have one Both offer an offering Able’s was accepted and Cain’s was rejected

You bring physical offerings still today in the form of a tithe and giving of your time and talents.

In speaking of tithing.....God says to test Him here. Not tithing just to tithe but tithing because God gives you all that you have....God owns all that you have and because of your great love for Him in response to His great love for you, you then willingly and joyfully give back to God.

People, and I used to be one of them, tend to get prideful and defensive and offended when a pastor talks about money and tithing.

You are prideful, defensive, and offended at God not the pastor by the way

But people get upset when pastors talk about money. That pastor Josh just tying to get more money, trying to get a raise, all they care about is money

I have thought and said those very things and shame on me for that.....I have dealt with God on those things

I do not talk about tithing or money much at all because I truly trust God but this morning I felt called to talk for just a second on this subject

It takes money to run organizations. It takes money to keep the lights on, heat and cool an old building, keep the water and such on

It takes money to keep things running as they do on Sunday mornings.

God understood that and that is the practical reason behind tithing to support the work and the workers of the church

The most important reason is the same reason why Cain’s offering was rejected and Able’s accepted.

Heart.

God sent Jesus to die in your place when YOU HATED God

Jesus freely offers forgiveness and eternal life to anyone who will surrender to Him and accept the gift.

James tells us all good and perfect gifts come from God

What you have is not yours

What you make is not yours

Everything that was made was made by and through Jesus

You may legally own something in man’s terms and temporarily here on earth but God owns it all

Because you realize God’s great love for you

Because you realize God owns everything

You then dedicate 10% back to God as the tithe He commands you to bring to Him

Not to check a box but out of gratitude for all God does for you.

That is why you tithe....God even attaches a promise that says you can’t outgive me....try me with a pure heart and right reasons and see what I do

Back to this morning.....

Cain gave his offering but God rejected it

vs 5 tells us this made Cain very angry “but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell”

Cain was mad....he wasn’t even hiding it.....you know slamming doors and grunting or whatever you do when you are angry and want someone to know it.....

Look at God’s response.... vs 6 “The Lord said to Cain “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain brought his offering with sin in his heart

He brought his offering to check the box

Cain was looking for fire insurance not relationship with God

We still do that today. Come to church to appease someone....parents…children…spouse…pastor…whoever.....

Coming here is an act of worship

Coming here is an offering

Coming here to seek God

But some come to please man and then, like Cain, get all mad at God when He disregards that offering

You are wrong and got rejected and went away very angry

Cain was wrong and got rejected and went away very angry

Pride

Pride is what drives that anger by the way and pride is a sin

Your heart matters not your offering

You may be feeding the poor and hungry

You may be helping widows

You may be ministering and mentoring the fatherless

James describes that as pure religion

You may be doing those things but for poor motives

Rewards

Honor

Recognition

Status

To impress someone

To make someone happy

it will be rejected by God because you did it for you and for man and not because of and for God

You did it to earn something instead of doing it as a loving....grateful..response to Jesus and salvation!

You do it because you have gained something…forgiveness and salvation…becoming a son or daughter of God…that you didn’t deserve and could never earn

Are you Cain this morning?

You know you have moved from death to life if you love

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1 John 3:13–15

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“Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

Cain was the world. He killed Able because Able was righteous and he was not.

That is why the world hates Christians…true Christians

They are righteous…not because of themselves or anything they do or say but because of Jesus in them

No one likes to be wrong.

The lost

the world

“Christians” those who claim to be Christians but are not

they hate being wrong because it forces them to realize they are lost and instead of repenting and confessing they turn to anger and hate and violence

As we talked last week, the mark or fruit of a true Christian is repentance and confession when conviction comes from God

You know you have moved form death to life if you love

Not some mushy

emotional

worldly, physical love

God’s love

sacrificial love

truly putting others even your enemies first love

love full of deeds and truth

A love that truly wants the best for others and wants nothing for yourself

If Cain had been righteous....he would have repented and confessed and been so happy that Able’s offering had been accepted but instead he hated him and killed him

There are only two options

Love

or

Hate

Jesus

or

the world

God

or

Satan

You know you are saved because you have the Holy Spirit

You also know you are saved.....moved from death to life because you love....you see Godly love pouring out of you

1 John 3:16–18

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“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

God through John describes this love.....”By this we know love....that HE laid down His life for us”

Make no mistake about it.

The Romans didn’t kill Jesus

The Jewish leaders didn’t kill Jesus

satan didn’t kill Jesus

Jesus willingly gave His life for you and for me

John 1:1–5

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

On the cross…darkness thought they had overcome Jesus

darkness thought they had won

However it was all God’s plan and Jesus willingly died giving Him victory over sin and death

Jesus is the Word

Jesus is God

He overcame the power of sin and death for all by being the perfect sacrifice

John 1:14

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“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus made everything that was made

He became flesh

He lived among us

Could we humans or satan have really killed Him?

He made us.....No way

I say all of that for you to see the power in the truth in I John 3 “He laid down His life for you and for me

Willingly because He loves us

Look at verse 16 in I John 3. “and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers”

Because Jesus laid down His life for you.....He fully submitted to God and physically laid down His life for you to live....because of that you must do the same not only to God but also the brothers

Other Christians

When have you truly laid down your life for the brothers....Christians…in our reality here CCC members?

Most struggle to come to church let alone lay down their lives for the brothers

We have some who do this on a daily basis

We have people serving and teaching outside of their calling because it serves the brothers or the lost.....they love the people they serve so their calling or comfort don’t matter......bringing Jesus to those they serve is what matters

They lay down their lives for them

They die to themselves

their comfort

their wants

their desires

to serve!

Praise God for that and them!

Others look at church as something you are supposed to do when it is easy for them

Listen

If you truly come seeking God it will be a battle to get here

You will have to lay down your life and fully submit to God and fight to be here because satan is fighting to keep you home

satan hates Christians coming to church seeking God because he knows you will find God

But beyond that

If you are a true Christian you must lay down your life for other Christians.....the lost as well but here for the brothers

We are all so self-centered and self-focused we miss laying down our lives for our brothers

Last week we had more watching online than actually here in the sanctuary.

Then last Sunday night we had a handful here to worship and fellowship

When you choose to be gone

yes it is always a choice

sometimes the right choice....

you may be sick and need to stay home....While we are here please pray for Tony and Jamie and family as sickness has hit their house and they decided to stay home this morning to keep from spreading that sickness to you....

sometimes not being here is the right choice

But when you choose not to be here just because you are busy or you have other things to do or you just don’t want to be here....which is exactly when you need to be here....then you choose to steal from your brothers not lay down your life for your brothers

I miss each and every one of you when you are not here

It hurts my heart on worship nights or discipleship nights or prayer nights when you put other things first because we don’t get to fellowship and serve and seek God together

1 John 3:17–18

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“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Actual works

give

serve

seek out needs and meet them

Be involved

you can’t be involved if you are never here

you can’t be involved if you never leave your comfort zone

being involved

serving

giving

all require you to be vulnerable and open

Love your brothers in real ways

mow their yard

pray for them

pray with them

If God lays someone on your heart to pray for them....pray for them....go further and contact them and offer to pray with them

Look for needs to meet

If you have kids and someone in their class is struggling and needs something and you have the means.....get it for them

If you haven’t seen someone here in a while reach out to them.....love them.....seek them out!

1 John 3:19–24

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“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.”

Love

True love shows your heart and commitment to God and each other

You know you have truth if you have love

I have been struggling here

I have always tied love to human emotion but it is not about human emotion it is about a choice and actions that result from that choice

As we have had a really rough week at school this week God showed me those who are doing well I am to have joy for them

I am to rejoice for and with them because of them

Those who are struggling I am to hurt with them

I am to look to help them

Look to serve them

Whatever they need I am in real ways to meet their needs

That is love

Nothing to do with how I feel

If we waited to feel like loving to love we would never love anyone

Loving one another has nothing to do with how you feel

Loving one another has nothing to do with the other person’s acceptance or rejection of that love

Loving one another has nothing to do with circumstances or situations

It only has to do with because He first loved you!

That is why you love one another

That is why you keep the commandments

God sent Jesus to die for you

God sent Jesus to die for you when you hated Him

Jesus willingly came to earth to live a perfect life to die a perfect sacrifice to defeat sin and death but also to experience and defeat all that you experience.

He knows your sin and temptations better than you do....won’t you give them to Him this morning?

I don’t know where you are

You do

God does

It is time to get real and get with God

Come.

STOP OBS

Invitation song