E: Let Brotherly Love Continue

Hebrews 13:1 (ESV)

Last chapter in Hebrew

Whole book builds to this moment.

List of final things to remember

THE FIRST ONE HE MENTIONS is THis

Let brotherly (Phila-del-fia - ferternal ). love continue (Dwell, to stay, in otherwords, make it our default)

Not work hard on brotherly love

Not try your best to love one another

LET it continue.

This is the love that continues on…

Who do we have Philadelphia love for?

How do we do it?

Who are your brothers?

Who are our parents????

Our father (in heaven) - FULLY OUR FATHER

OUR FIRST FATHER

Before even our earthly father, we had GOD

he is our FIRST FATHER

If he is our first father…

THEN WE ARE OUR FIRST BROTHERS.

1. Brothers are given. Not chosen…

Those that are around us .

YOU MIGHT SAY I dont even know them…

We all had to get to know our brothers at some point .

How did we get to know them, by living our life in close proximity. CAN I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER AND KEEP ON DOING THE GOOD WORK THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO.

KEEP SHOWING UP

We put too much pressure on one day being the end all be all… WE ARE ALL FAMIL, ITS ABOUT TIME THAT WE GET TO WORK ON WHAT GOD IS DOING AND ALONG THE WAY WE WILL OUR BROTHERLy LOVE WILL GROW.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 ESV

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

Let it continue - Understand that the people around you right now are LIFERS - and get to the task that is ahead.

2. Brothers are honest…

Matthew 18:15 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

If they have a problem - they get after it…

They dont bury it…

IF WE HAVE NO CHALLENGE WE HAVE NO CLOSENESS.

Iron Sharpens Iron so one man sharpens another.

BANGING TOGETHER

Sharpening equips you, CUTTING DESTROYS YOU (hurts you, makes your blade dull)

There is a difference in sharpening and cutting

See you can have healthy conflict, when you have the right understanding between one another.

Rejecting our Conflict is Obstructs our calling

1 Peter 1:22 (ESV)

love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

To have something pure you have to get the crud out.

Confronting Alex

How to have Healthy Conflict

2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Progression to Peace

2 Corinthians 7:8–9 ESV

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

3. Brothers Never Leave

KICKING INTO THE WALL

I was afraid That my brother would never love me again. I went too far.

There is a problem in our society where when we are hurt WE LEAVE.

FIRST OF ALL WE DON’T LEAVE ONE ANOTHER HERE IN THE EXCHANGE, ALRIGHT???

When we understand that brothers don’t leave our relationships get set free

Does your love last for those that are not around you?

Paul when writing letters in the new testiment, refers to the people he is writing to as brothers, even thought some of them he has not seen in AGES… or in some cases he had never met before.

How would your heart be towards people that have LEFT?

If they were to call you right now?

Do you have a lasting love for those that you have met?

Love is not conditional...

4. Brothers Put Themselves On The Line

Proverbs 17:17 ESV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

John 15:13 ESV

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

(No time to waste )

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

ALTER CALL

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.