Stronger together (2)

Part 2 Love One Another

In John 15:12 Jesus gives us a command. not a suggesting or I hope you do this. He gives us a straight out order..

John 15:12 NASB95

12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Jesus not only tells us what to do, but He tells us how to do it.

We are to Love other as He has loved us.

That’s a pretty tall order.

but God never expects us to Love on our own.

but rather to Love out of a response to the Love He has shown us!

This isn’t a one time recording of Jesus telling us to Love others

Over 16 times we are told that “Jesus tells us to Love others”.

I don’t know about you, but if my wife tells me something 16x It’s probably pretty important to her. and it should probably be important to me if its that important to her

Just saying.......

John 13:34–35 NASB95

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 15:17 NASB95

17 “This I command you, that you love one another.

Romans 12:10 NASB95

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

Romans 13:8 NASB95

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 NASB95

12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 NASB95

9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,

1 Peter 4:8 NASB95

8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1 John 3:11 NASB95

11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

1 John 3:23 NASB95

23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

1 John 4:7 NASB95

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:11–12 NASB95

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

2 John 5 NASB95

5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

Might this be important to God that we Love one another?

I really don’t think God could make himself any clearer on His epectation for us to Love one another.

But what does that look like?

What does it mean to Love one Another?

Well to answer that we need to define Love

What the world often defines as Love is in reality Lust.

the world really doe not know How to Love

because to Love you must know Love

For us to truly Love we must know what Love is.

I’m so grateful God did that for us.

1 John 4:7–8 NASB95

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:16 NASB95

16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

People think they know how to Love, but that’s not possible outside of God

don’t get me wrong....people can understand aspects of Love

but to fully know Love you must know God

Let me explain.

The Bible talks about 4 types.

now we loose it in the translation because each of these 4 types are all translated into the English word “love “

Eros in the Bible

Pronounced AIR-os

Eros is what we would call romantic love.

This includes love found in Song of Solomon or even in unhealthy places mentioned where sex and sexual immorality become an idol for certain communities.

Storge in the Bible

Pronounced stor-JAY

Storge refers to love between family members. Think of how many examples of Storge you can find in the Bible between the many families mentioned: Noah and his children, fathers and mothers devoted to their children, Ruth and Naomi to name a few!

Philia in the Bible

Have you ever heard the city of Philadelphia referred to as the city of “Brotherly Love?”

That’s because this form of love is Greek for the deep, emotional bonds that connect two people.

Often this is exemplified in friendship, but really it is also extended to those who show love and care for others out of their love for their neighbor.

We see examples of this kind of love between figures like David and Jonathan or even in

John 13:35 NASB95

35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Agape in the Bible

pronounced uh-GAH-pay

The highest and most noble form of love is reserved for the love that God has for us.

is what Jesus demonstrated on the cross for us by sacrificing his life and taking on the entire burden of sin for all mankind so that we could have life everlasting with Him in Heaven.

Its the word used in 1 cor 13…the Love Chapter

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NASB95

4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

That’s the defininition of Agape Love

God’s love for us that He want to translate for us to love others

But Let’s admit it. There are people in your life that are hard to Love.

Am I right?

But God wants to Love them through you.

Galatians 5:13–16 NASB95

13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

God has given us freedom, not to do what we want but rather to Love others.

Incidently the root word translated in vs 14 to Love is Agape

Love your Neighbor as Yourself

Luke 6:31 NASB95

31 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

If you don’t treat yourself well, this isn’t going to work

if your treat yourself miserably, the neighbour doesn’t have a chance

Love Yourself

Learn to Value your identity in Christ

Stop comparing

Nuture your relationship with God

Steward your strength

Take care of your body

Be gracious to your downfalls

Live with intention

Speak Life

Pursue Joy

Love yourself where you’re at

Love your Neighbor

Who’s my Neighbor?

Man

The Parable of the Good Samaritan tells the story of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, and while on the way he is robbed of everything he had, including his clothing, and is beaten to within an inch of his life.

That road was treacherously winding and was a favorite hideout of robbers and thieves.

Priest

The next character Jesus introduces into His story is a priest.

He spends no time describing the priest and only tells of how he showed no love or compassion for the man by failing to help him and passing on the other side of the road so as not to get involved.

If there was anyone who would have known God’s law of love, it would have been the priest.

By nature of his position, he was to be a person of compassion, desiring to help others.

Unfortunately, “love” was not a word for him that required action on the behalf of someone else.

Levite

The next person to pass by in the Parable of the Good Samaritan is a Levite, and he does exactly what the priest did: he passes by without showing any compassion.

Again, he would have known the law, but he also failed to show the injured man compassion.

Samaritan

The next person to come by is the Samaritan, the one least likely to have shown compassion for the man. Samaritans were considered a low class of people by the Jews since they had intermarried with non-Jews and did not keep all the law.

Therefore, Jews would have nothing to do with them.

We do not know if the injured man was a Jew or Gentile, but it made no difference to the Samaritan; he did not consider the man’s race or religion.

The “Good Samaritan” saw only a person in dire need of assistance, and assist him he did, above and beyond the minimum required.

He dresses the man’s wounds with wine (to disinfect) and oil (to sooth the pain).

He puts the man on his animal and takes him to an inn for a time of healing and pays the innkeeper with his own money.

He then goes beyond common decency and tells the innkeeper to take good care of the man, and he would pay for any extra expenses on his return trip.

The Samaritan saw his neighbor as anyone who was in need. Because the good man was a Samaritan, Jesus is drawing a strong contrast between those who knew the law and those who actually followed the law in their lifestyle and conduct.

You see its one thing to know the right thing to do,

but the important thing is that you do it!

Application

Love your Neighbor

5 simple ways to show love to others

SHOW GOD’S LOVE BY LISTENING

In today’s culture, it seems like so many voices are speaking (and often shouting). Communication is always at our fingertips through email, text, social media, and the 24-hour news cycle.

While social media has increased communication, it has also given us the false appearance of true connection and real relationships.

In fact, Generation Z, who are the most “connected,” is considered the loneliest generation.

It is rare for people to feel truly heard.

Commit to slow down, ask questions, and really listen to people. Listen to understand, not just to prepare your response. Allow people to speak their mind without interruption or judgement. People will feel valued (and loved!) when they are heard and understood.

SHOW GOD’S LOVE WITH GENEROSITY

Can you think of a time in your life when someone showed you such generosity that you still think, “Wow, I can’t believe they did that for me.”

Maybe it was a gift of their time when you needed someone.

Maybe it was a financially generous gift.

Perhaps they shared kind words, or stood up for you in a difficult time.

How did that moment make you feel?

You probably felt loved.

You felt seen. You felt valued to the point that you still remember that act of generosity.

Of course, people think of money when talking about generosity, and that is definitely one aspect of generosity.

But, how can you also be generous with your time, talents, and your voice?

Who can you invest some time into, either by helping them out with a practical need or some quality time?

What special skills or talents can you provide?

Who can you advocate for or encourage?

SHOW GOD’S LOVE BY ENCOURAGING

Everyone we meet is carrying some kind of burden.

Even the most “put-together” people have something weighing them down.

Just because someone carries it well doesn’t mean it’s not heavy.

How can we help to lift someone’s burdens? It can be as simple as words of encouragement.

The word “encourage” comes from an Old French word that means to “make strong.”

When we encourage another, we are making their spirits strong.

We are strengthening the hope, their faith, and their resolve to keep going.

Don’t hesitate to speak life-giving words into someone’s circumstances. It can’t hurt, and it most certainly can help someone gain strength in their life.

SHOW GOD’S LOVE WITH ACTS OF KINDNESS

Showing kindness means thinking about the other person more than you think about yourself.

What are their needs? What would make their lives better?

It doesn’t have to be huge, but it should be thoughtful. Being thoughtful and kind communicates to the other person that you value their needs above your own.

Practice being others-focused. Show God’s love with acts of kindness. Looking for ideas? Here’s a huge list of Acts of Kindness.

SHOW GOD’S LOVE BY PRAYING FOR OTHERS

Pray for people! Yes, pray for them in your own time with God, because God hears our prayers.

But, also pray for people when you’re with them.

One of the easiest ways to show love and concern is to pray with someone right then and there.

In any conversation, at any time, simply ask, “How can I pray for you?”

If someone mentions they’re sick, stressed, or excited, simply ask, “Can I pray for you?”

And then pray with them.

Show them love and genuinely pray for their needs or thank God for their good news.

See how God works through those powerful moments of prayer.

Close in prayer