A Nurturing Christian

But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

Believers can encourage one another to have greater confidence in God and so to be bolder in living out their faith.

1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 KJV 1900

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

We Soothe One Another

The consolation and reassurance of those who are in distress, anxiety or need. Such comfort is an essential aspect of human relationships. Scripture declares that God comforts his people in times of distress.

The comfort of friends and other relations

Job 2:11 KJV 1900

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

God's comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 KJV 1900

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV 1900

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

We Excuse One Another

Forgiveness is not excusing in the following sense, which says, “That’s okay,” and implies, “What you did wasn’t really wrong,” or “You couldn’t help it.”

To forgive someone means to release him or her from liability to suffer punishment or penalty. Two words are translated as “forgive,” the first means to let go, release, or remit.

It often refers to debts that have been paid or canceled in full. The second word means to bestow favor freely or unconditionally. This word shows that forgiveness is undeserved and cannot be earned

We make four promises when we forgive

When I forgive someone, with God’s help I will make these promises

• I will no longer dwell on this incident

• I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you

• I will not talk to others about this incident

• I will not allow this incident to stand between us or to hinder our personal relationship

Ken Sande, The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, Third Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2004), 207.

We are commanded to Excuse others

Ephesians 4:31–32 NKJV

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

KJV 1900

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Colossians 3:12–13 NKJV

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 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.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How often should I forgive?

Luke 17:1–4 NKJV

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

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What happens if I forgive some but not others?

Matthew 6:12 NKJV

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:14 NKJV

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 6:15 NKJV

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We are Merciful to One Another

What does it mean to be merciful?

An attitude of compassion and care, grounded in the nature of God himself, made manifest in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and expected of believers.

God is Merciful

Deuteronomy 4:31 NKJV

(for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

Psalm 78:38 NKJV

But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath;

Expressions of God's mercifulness

In Forgiveness

Psalm 51:1 NKJV

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

In Responding to Prayer

Psalm 27:7 NKJV

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

Psalm 9:13 KJV 1900

Jesus was merciful

Matthew 9:36 NKJV

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Believers are expected to be merciful

Micah 6:8 NKJV

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

God is calling for you to Be Kind, Be gentle, Be compassionate

Show care, compassion, goodness, benevolence with those in the family of God

Zechariah 7:9 NKJV

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother.

KJV 1900

Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment (act of deciding a case, sentence, litigation), And shew mercy (goodness, kindness, faithfulness) and compassions every man to his brother: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Luke 6:35–36 NKJV

But 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. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Matthew 5:7 NKJV

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

KJV 1900

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

We Bear one another's Burdens

Galatians 6:1–5 KJV 1900

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

Saints can be overtaken in a fault

Saints are called to restore those who have fallen

Sanctification: Saints are being freed from the power of sin!

Philippians 2:13 KJV 1900

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Saints are not perfect yet! So yes we sin or can be overtaken in a fault.

God uses His people to rescue and restore fallen saints.

The story of David and Nathan

The Offense

2 Samuel 11:1–5 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

The Confrontation

Believers should Recognize the Different Areas of Sin

You can sin with your Will

Luke 12:47 NKJV

And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

You can sin with your Ways

Proverbs 14:21 KJV 1900

He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

You can sin with your Words

James 3:2 KJV 1900

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

You can sin with your Works

James 4:17 KJV 1900

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

A Disciple's Job

Bear the weaker brother’s Burden

Romans 15:1 KJV 1900

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV 1900

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Confront the offender

Matthew 18:15–17 KJV 1900

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Convert the offender

James 5:19–20 KJV 1900

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

We LOVE one another

God has given us His Love

Romans 5:5 KJV 1900

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Without LOVE our actions are useless!

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 KJV 1900

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

We are commanded to LOVE one another

Matthew 22:39 KJV 1900

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

1 John 4:7–8 KJV 1900

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:12 KJV 1900

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

What is LOVE?

1 Corinthians 13:4–13 KJV 1900

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Remember these words by John

1 John 4:9–11 KJV 1900

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

We Yield to one another

A Yielding spirit is required within the church

Toward Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:24 KJV 1900

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Ephesians 1:22–23 KJV 1900

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Colossians 1:18 KJV 1900

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Toward the Scriptures

Joshua 1:7–8 KJV 1900

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

James 1:22–25 KJV 1900

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Towards church leaders

Hebrews 13:17 KJV 1900

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 KJV 1900

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Toward believers

Ephesians 5:21 KJV 1900

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

How can we help each other if we are not willing to submit

Philippians 2:5–7 KJV 1900

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Yielding within other relationships

Wives to Husbands

Ephesians 5:22–24 KJV 1900

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Children to parents

Ephesians 6:1–3 KJV 1900

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Young to Old

1 Peter 5:5 KJV 1900

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

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