Christian Love

Christian Love

Over the past few weeks we have been talking about inner reflections, now is an excellent time to head back and get a refresher, We started first by building on a foundation of Christ. As we work toward a solid foundation of Christ that we can build our lives on. Our call to a Holy Lifestyle requires us to be ready to Learn.

“Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

With our minds ready to learn, we started our learning series with obedience to Christ.

Therefore, “As obedient children,” God expects you as His children to be obedient and be subject to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and that happens through the study of God’s Word and prayer.

Then last week we focused on fear of the Lord, not the world.

Therefore, “you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.”

As Christians. “we call on God as our Father, we need to aware that He judges our actions. He paid the price none of us could have ever paid. And He has the power that none of us could ever compare with.” we discover these when we hear and study the Word of God.

This week, we are going to learn that “True Christian Love comes from the Word of God.”

In 1521 at the Diet of Worms, Martin Luther stood before the Imperial Diet accused of heresy for writing his 95 Thiess and other materials When he had been told to say that his writings were not authentic.

Martin responded “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot, and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen."

A short time later the “reformers,” proclaimed “Sola Scriptoria” “Scripture Alone” they understood the truth about the Bible: “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And endured it has: over the years many people have tried to change, remove, burn, stop the circulation of, rewrite or change the language to suit the needs of movements. But the “God’s Word never dies; God’s Word never changes.” (Spurgeon)

1 Peter 1:22-25

(God) Therefore, “Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. For All flesh is like grass and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.”

Transition – For a True follower of Jesus to love our brothers and sisters we must hear the word of God.

Ezekiel, a prophet from the Old Testament, spoke with God and learned this truth that is just as important today as it was thousands of years ago. God said “Prophesy concerning these bones and said to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. 6 I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

When we hear the Word of God

Hear – When we hear the Word of God spoken, Christians, who have ears to hear, and people who are spiritually dead are “born again, not of perishable seed but imperishable – through the living and enduring word of God.”

We start to see things around us. Just like last week’s message about the fear of the Lord, “Fear heightens our awareness of the situation, when we fear the Lord we become aware of the blessings and the struggles around us.”

We start to see the light, as that happens we also see our inner self for what it really is. We see our inner reflection come to light and when that happens, we might be shocked at what we see.

When this happens, we start to see what we really look like. We either reject the Gospel of Jesus and the Word of God because we can’t bear the sight of our inner reflection looking back at us.

- We may see it like this, God’s word says this: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which can save your souls.”

- But you say, “I don’t like how that makes me feel inside, it makes me realize that I need to change, but I don’t want to change because of “Rob does not understand how upset I am with him about forgetting to take out the trash.” Staying in bitterness, we reject the Word of God and are not transformed by it.

But, when you hear the word of God, either you are a not a Christian, you are a new follower, or a backslidden Christian you will hear the Word of God spoken and see an image of yourself.

- You might hear a passage such as: “My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in. If you look with favor of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool.”. haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

- From hearing this passage, you say “My God; I really sound like that, I really do act like that, I really do need to change my ways.”

At that point, you might take that image and know that you need to change, seeing that the Word of God can bring light to your life that needs change you then start to read the Word and Study it further.

Transition - Knowing that God is love, He will give you the tools not to just “see” you for who you really are but to give you the means to change, but we need to take the next step in our faith by studying the Word of God.

When we study the Word of God

gives a clear truth “How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!” Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.”

Three weeks ago we learned about our inner reflection, how it causes us to express outwardly. Well, the truth is what we take in we put out. We should always first and foremost seek the advice found in God’s word. Ask Him first, do not seek out the advice of the world first, if we do that we go from walking to standing. From that point forward we start to act like the world. Soon we go from walking with Christ to sitting on the sideline mocking the Christians as they walk by us.

The saying goes “Birds of a feather, flock together” this is very much a true statement. We as Christians are drawn to each other. Not just because we said “yes” to Christ but because we study His word, our very nature changes. We become like Christ in every way.

The sad truth for many of us in Canada is that we allow our worldly enjoyment to shape us. Our obedience to the Word of God is replaced with Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, SnapChat.

We start to call up our old drinking buddies not to share the good news of how Jesus has transformed our lives, but to have a few cold ones and talk about the game.

Jesus said “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

What happens next to a Christian who no longer obeys Christ’s commands starts to fake loving actions to others. Loving brothers and sisters in Christ come only at face value. They may help out once and awhile, but when you start working with them the bitterness comes out, the venom in their language becomes clear.

But not all Christians are like that either. When we start or keep on studying the Word of God we are transformed daily by the Holy Spirit; our minds become renewed. We tend to see this when Christians who are blessed in the upper class have a fondness and affection for the lower classes of Christians and people, helping is no longer out of obligation, expectation, or “pay back” the only obligation and expectation they have is to see their brothers and sisters grow in the love of God through the study of his Word.

Transformation – All of this comes first by hearing the Word of God, then by studying the Word of God every day and it leads to life. A new life, one born from the Spirit of God and not of this world.

When we live the Word of God

Finally, when we hear Gods Word, Study it. We see the Love that God has given us and called us to not just take in but to give as well. When we start to read and study the Word of God and allow or minds to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, we must “be doers of the word and not hearers only” this is the vital step we as North America by and large miss out on. Showing our love for others not just by seeing a friend, family member or stranger suffering and saying “God loves you! Just keep on praying that He will care for your needs” then walk away without helping.

A Christian who hears, reads, and lives the Word of God listens to the Holy Spirit for instruction on how to help. God may only want you to give a word of encouragement, He may tell you to give up your coffee money for a week and give them some cash, He may say that your current situation can wait, this person needs Jesus, and you are the one to share Him.

When we live the Word of God, our minds are ready for action; we are ready at a moment’s notice to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Why? Because they are precious to God. We are to love each other to the point that we would die for each other.

This kind of love allows us to “put up with” our brothers and sisters regardless of what trial, or suffering they are going through.

This love causes us to celebrate in the success of another; it allows no room for envy in our hearts.

This kind of love is not jealous and keeps us from boasting about ourselves.

This love keeps us humble; we do not think of ourselves better than others.

This love stops us from seeking our “God Given Rights” in the courts of law.

This kind of love keeps us from being angry, is not evil, or enjoys grossly unfair behavior.

The love I am talking about is a love that bears all kinds of things and endures all things.

So, what do we do?

Simply put, you have heard the Word of God. Today, last week, and the week before. You have heard it spoken that the Word of God is the truth and is trust worthy. Each time I speak to you I tell you to do two things. Read and pray.

I say this not because it’s a nice thing to say; I say this because it’s the truth.

You have heard the Word of God, now read it and live it.

The result of this will be a transformation of your mind; you will see transformation first in yourself, then in your home. Your life will take on a new meaning you will love in two ways. You will love the ones who are like you, followers of Christ. Like birds of a feather, Christians will flock together. Then you will learn to love through your actions; you will love your brothers and sisters because God loves them…

My challenge to you is this:

starting today. Pick a book of the Bible and start to read it one chapter a day. If you have a longer book like Romans or one of the gospels, read a few chapters a day. Read it slowly, read it out loud. Stop when you see a word or a phrase that catches your eyes. Pray about it and ask why it strikes your spirit.

Next week we will start to call up brothers and sisters to read from the Bible at random, be ready to have a life verse that hit your spirit this past week.

Let’s pray.