Part 1 - 03/17/2024 One Anotherness In The Family of God

March 17, 2024 and March 27th Parts 1 and 2 Great Celebration of 40 Days of Love and Relationships WW Mana From Heaven Catering Arthur, Sandra & George, Kathy B, Bro. Robert George; Deacon Terry’s Testimony and Others Easter Sunrise at Stockbridge Bed and Breakfast Step it up Fitness Kelsey Praise team – Bro Craig, Prophetess Valicia, Brother Caleb Greg Knight’s Mother’s Passing Kertrina Hayne’s Brother Passing and Burial The Priority and Importance of One-Anotherness @ GP One Anotherness in the Family of God The celebration of Love and Healthy Spiritual and Natural Relationships at GP continues 40-plus days and counting. I pray we are remaining intentional about applying the Relationship Principles of Jesus – all that we’ve learned over the past 6 or 7 weeks -- especially placing the highest value on relationships (in and of themselves). As we grow spiritually and become more serious about how we relate to one another as well as our neighbors, coworkers, family members, relatives, and people in general, I want to remind you that God has given 1 us everything we need for the betterment of our own sense of selfawareness as well as our relating to others. God knows, we are better together. So, to feed our commitment to being more like Christ in our interactions with each other, our love for one another and as well our fellowman – even those who are difficult to get along with, I want to share with you some key instructions on how we are commanded by God to treat one another. The emphasis is on One Another. Given that, the title of today’s message is The Priority and Importance of One-Anotherness @ GP [Is One-Anotherness a word?] Matters not! What is important is the fact that in the New Testament alone the phrase “One Another” (or each other) is used over 50 times. We are commanded: • to pray for one another, • encourage one another, • teach one another, • honor one another, • greet one another • Even wash one another’s feet. Just these few commandments [out of 50] reflect what true relating in the Body of Christ and at GP is all about. They are, in essence, our “family responsibilities” that God expects us to fulfill through our family here at GP. So, the question remains: Are we doing them? 2 Now, I want to be more intentional about ministering around The Priority and Importance of One-Anotherness @ GP. Pull up a chair as I zero in on SEVEN to 11 One Anotherisms that the Bible gives as instructions on How to Treat One Another to ensure healthy, honest, mature relationships. Number 1. Love One Another 1 John 3:11, 23 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. The Outworking of Love 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that 3 are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 1 John 4:7, 11,12; 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Seeing God Through Love 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. John 13:34, 35; 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 15:12, 17; 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose 4 you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. Romans 13:8; 1 1Thes. 3:12; 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8; 2 John:1:5 Number 2. Be of the Same Mind/ Like-minded Toward One Another Romans 12:16; 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Romans 15:5 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Number 3. Do not Judge One Another Romans 14:12,13; 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but 5 rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. Col. 2:16 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding [j] a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Number 4. Admonish One Another Romans 15:14 14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. (Admonish: to encourage, warn, advise) 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering [g]of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Colossians 3:13 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 6 Number 5. Bear With One Another in Love Eph. 4:2 4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Col. 3:13 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Number 6. Be Kind to One Another and Forgive One Another Eph. 4:30-32 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Col. 3:13 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing 7 with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Number 7. Exhort One Another Daily Hebrews 3:13; 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 10:25. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Number 8. Do not Speak Evil of One Another James 4:11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s 11 8 law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor? Number 9. Do Not Grumble Against One Another James 5:9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door! 9 Number 10. Confess Your Trespasses/Sins to One Another James 5:16 NKJV 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, [k]fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. NLT 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has 9 great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. Number 11. Pray for One Another James 5:16 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. Let’s move to the final principle of God’s command for us to pursue “One Anotherness”. This final principle can be considered one of the bookends to this deck of 12 commands that God calls us to live by in our everyday walk with Christ and one another. You’ll recall that our first “One Another” principle was “Love One Another”. This final principle is Have Peace with One Another. So, in holding all the principles together, we have Love on one end and Peace of the other and, in essence, a whole lot of faith in the middle. Let’s look at One Another Principle Number 12: Number 12. Have peace with one another.” 10 It is found in Mark 9: 49 & 50. Mark 9:49 & 50 reads . . . “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” 49 These two verses are especially difficult on the surface and demand our meditation for deeper understanding. However, in a nutshell, verses 49 and 50 seem to picture our lives as Believers as living sacrifices to God. Our lives are salted with fire, that is mixed with self-judgment and self-denial. It is salted with salt, that is, offered with a pledge of unalterable devotedness. If we as Believers go back on our vows, or fail to deal drastically with sinful desires, then our lives will be savorless, worthless, and pointless. Therefore, each one of us must eradicate anything from our lives that would interfere with our divinely appointed mission and we should maintain peaceful relations with our fellow brothers and sisters. We have addressed 12 or so out of more than 50 One Another biblical commands. Let’s add all the One Anotherisms to the Relationship Principles that Jesus gave to GP in the last 40 days and counting gone by. The Priority and Importance of One-Anotherness @ GP 11