Sermon: “I'm Better Than That”

Text: 1 John 10:10-12

10In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11For this is the message that you heard from the beginning,

that we should love one another, 12not 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.

Date: February 7, 2021

Place: ALIBC

Occasion: 2nd Sunday

Title: “I'm Better Than That”

Introduction:

Interesting Material

This month is Black History Month and we have a lot to celebrate, because when you look at how far God has brought us from, all we can say is thank you Jesus, you have been good to us. From 1619 to February 7, 2021, we can see that God has navigated us through many dangers, toils, and snares. Through them all, we have already come. Our nation has been bombarded with hatred in recent times. It has always been a theme that we have had to deal within our country, but that old evil called racism and classism has raised its ugly head to a level that we have never seen before. For a minute or two we all thought that racism and social injustice was disappearing in our country or at least it was getting better, but a pandemic brought out the worst in us rather than the best in us.

However for many of us it brought out the best in us, especially for many of our frontline workers and medical personnel. You all have been our heroes and we are so grateful and thankful for your service.

Last summer we saw Dr. Martin Luther King's Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech coming to reality, when we saw young black boys and girls joining hands together with young white boys and girls saying that “Black Lives Mattered.” In essence they were saying, if black lives don’t matter, none of our lives will eventually matter, because hatred has a way of moving on to its’ next victim after it has destroyed its previous one. The problem with white supremacy, black supremacy or any form of racial superiority is that the oppressor always looks for the next oppressee. Racial and social injustice for one is racial and social injustice for all. We all are different and this is absolutely no problem for God. As a matter of fact, I believe that God takes delight in the variety of His creation. We are the ones who look at our diversity as a problem rather than a blessing. God said I will not create a tired old boring race of people, but within the DNA of Adam and Eve will be the potential and essence of African Americans, American Indians, American Latinos, Hispanics, Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Koreans, Filipinos, Jews, Arabs, Russians, Europeans and every race and people groups on the planet. We all are related and we all are brothers and sisters. We must all learn to live together as brothers and sisters or die together as fools.

Only one month ago we saw a group of angry people attack the United States capital building and attempted to overturned the results of a free election held for the citizens of the United States. Regardless of your position and feelings about this, violence is not the way to solve our differences. “We are better than that.”

Thesis:

That what this message is about this morning, we are better than beast and animals who settle their problems by attacking and killing one another. We have to learn how to love one another and live in peace with one another on this planet.

Background

Recently within the black community we have seen many blacks embracing religious beliefs that say we are the original people of God. If the evidence points in that direction, it still does not give us the right to hate others. If blacks in America began to hate whites in America and we use religion to justify it, we are no better than the slave masters who isolated text in the Bible and use it to justify slavery, murder, rape, lynchings, bombings, bigotry, segregation, and Jim Crow. This is not an easy issue to deal with but we must have these conversations.

Body:

1. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIANITY IS THE WHITE MAN’S RELIGION

John 3:16 NKJV

16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The bible says that God loved the world. That included every race of people, every culture, every social economic group and every language and ethnicity on the earth. Christianity is not a white man’s religion or black man’s religion, it’s everyone’s religion if you embrace it. Christianity is more than a religion but it’s a relationship between God and His people who have chosen to accept His Son Jesus as their savior. Christianity is truly multicultural because it embraces all races and all creeds.

God gave humanity his only begotten Son. Begotten means that He was one of a kind. God had many sons but after He made Jesus He threw away the mold. It was by the unique sacrifice of this only begotten Son that many of us would become the sons and daughters of the living God.

2. GOD IS NOT ABOUT HATE, BUT GOD IS ABOUT LOVE

Matthew 7:12,13

12Therefore,

Luke 6:31

whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for

Matt. 22:40; Rom. 13:8; Gal. 5:14; (1 Tim. 1:5)

this is the Law and the Prophets.

13

Luke 13:24

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

It was embarrassing to see individuals storming the Capitol a month ago with flags saying that Jesus saves. Many were interpreting that will act of violence was somehow tied into the will of God. But God would not use violence to overturned and election. Someone might say Jesus overturned the tables in to the temple when they were making the house of God out of a marketplace instead of a prayer temple, but the difference is that Jesus overturned tables but He didn’t attack no man physically and He didn’t injured no one no even the animals at the market place.

This text tells us to learn to practice the golden rule. 12Therefore,

Luke 6:31

whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for

Matt. 22:40; Rom. 13:8; Gal. 5:14; (1 Tim. 1:5)

this is the Law and the Prophets.

I believe that all of us want to be loved and treated fairly by our fellow man. Therefore if that’s what we desire then that’s what we should be granting to other people. We don’t mistreat other people because they mistreat us. We are better than that. Here it is listen to what He says in Luke 6:27- 36,

27

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.32“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

All I can hear is God saying, You are better than that. As believers we love even our enemies.

We are not cowards or push overs because we even love our enemies but we are humble and obedient to God’s word because we believe that ultimately love in going to win. As a matter of fact we know love is going to win. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 says:

8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

Verse 13: says, 13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

2. GOD’S WAY OF LOVE IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT WAY

As we celebrate this Black History month let’s remember that God’s way of love is always the right way. I’m so proud of our forefathers because they bore the burden of slavery and survive it. We exist today because they did not quit or give up but they fought on until victory was won. They had to cry sometimes and they had to hurt sometimes but they never gave up. They realized that through Christ they were better than the one’s who used the Word to enslaved them. But understand, none of them who had a relation with God for themselves thought for one minute that God wanted them to be slaves. And when some of them learn to read the Bible and they read about how God used Moses to free the Israelites from slavery down in Egypt, it was only confirmation of what they already knew down in their hearts.

1 John 10:10-13 says,

10In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11For this is the message that you heard from the beginning,

that we should love one another, 12not 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.13Do not marvel, my brethren, if

the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Closing.

Exhortation/Summary

Be persuaded this morning, that we are better than that.

Better than what?

Better than haters.

Better than racist.

Better than segregationist.

Better than murderers.

Better than rapist.

Better than abusers.

Better than users.

Better than liars and cheats and cons.

The founding Fathers of the united States of America didn’t know or realize what problems slavery would cause the nation. All they saw was a profit. All they saw were dollars. Until one day the God I serve convicted their hearts and somebody realize that the same things they claim the British were doing to them, they were doing to the African slave.

And somebody said, wait a minuted. “We Are Better Than That.”

We can’t desire freedom from our oppressor and then turn around and oppress others because we have the power to do so. Everything that’s politically right is not morally right.

We must be better than racist, bigots and white supremacist. We Are Better Than That.

All races must always remember that God blesses us to be a blessing to others. 50 years from now when Black and Brown people are the dominant groups in America, let not oppress white people and mistreat them.

Illustration/Story

The Bible says that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and for thirty pieces of silver. He took the soldiers to the garden where they could arrest Jesus. And the disciples were sleeping while Jesus was watching and praying. And when they had trapped Jesus, Peter pulled out his sword and slice off the ear of one of the soldiers and Jesus said, stop “We Are Better Than That” and Jesus healed the soldiers ear and put it back.

They mocked Him, They spat on Him. They placed a crown of thorns on Him. They whipped Him and they beat Him until blood ran from His body and the flesh hung from His bones, but He never said a mumbling word.

And as He hung on the cross from the third hour to the ninth hour, He thought about coming down off of that cross. Do these people really deserve what I’m doing.

And then He said, wait a minute; “I’m Better Than That.” Father forgive them for the know not what they do. And He then gave up the Ghost and died for you and me.

Because He Was Better Than That.

-Celebration/Application

Let us be better than that.

Let us love one another……

I thank God for Jesus

I thank God for a wonderful example.

I thank God for a wonderful Savior.

If He’s been good to you, help me celebrate His holy name.

I’m Better Than That”