Abounding in love PT 1 – Preferring Your Brother
T.T. 1 Thessalonians 4:9
The bible says
Romans 5:8 (KJV)
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Knowing that we are his workmanship
And that God commended his love to us
That we were ordained to walk in Jesus Christ’s good works
What are his good works…..
1. Thank god we have authority over the devil
2. We are to rule in reign in life
3. Were to have of the abundant life
4. And do the works of Jesus
You remember a passage of scripture that we looked at a few weeks ago
Mark 4:16-17 (KJV)
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
I had been meditating on this passage of scripture
…that the finished work of Jesus has been sown on stony ground
People have heard the message and received it with joy
But have no root in themselves
And when persecution in affliction came because of the word’s sake
And they became offended
Not allowing themselves to stand in the finished work of Jesus
I had come to realize there is a full attack on the finished work of Jesus
And began to read the Ephesians prayer that we may know him
Ephesians 1:17-23 (KJV)
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
I remembered Paul talking about
how I may know him and the power of his resurrection
Psalm 103 verse four
Then I came to this scripture
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (KJV)
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
And came to realize
People had their eyes on things other than Jesus
Just as Jesus said in john chapter 3
John 3:14 (KJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I ask of the Lord how can the body of Christ increase in your power
How can they do the works of Jesus
How can we walk in the things that were foreordained
Then I came to the scripture in1 Thessalonians 4:9
And I saw clearly
All the things that we desire relate to god’s command a loving one another
1. Miracles
2. Gifts of healing
3. Financial blessings
4. Outpouring of god’s spirit
5. Experiencing the great presence of god
When god does something it’s an extension of his love
So I want to teach on the subject of Abounding in love
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T.T. 1 Thessalonians 4:9
If we love the Lord we will obey him.
You remember john chapter 14, the bible says
John 14:15 (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
What are his commands?
The New Testament commandment is love
Almost every Christian knows that
The New Testament commandment is…….. love one another as he has loved us
He went on to say that by this people will know
1. that you are my disciples
2. That you’ll have fellowship with the father
3. And that he will manifest himself to you
1 Thessalonians 4:9 (KJV)
9 But as touching brotherly love (STOP)
Is this the love Jesus was talking about with the new commandment?
1 Thessalonians 4:9 (KJV)
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Look at your neighbor and say, taught of god to love one another
1 Thessalonians 4:10 (KJV)
10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
That indicates an increase
–so we are to be growing in our love for the brother
• We have not arrived in full development with a loving are brothers
He said that you have been taught of god
1. So you are to increase
2. you’re to develop this type of love
One translation says
1 Thessalonians 4:9 (TLB)
For God himself is teaching you to love one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (MSG)
you don’t need me to tell you what to do. You’re God-taught in these matters. Just love one another!
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We have testimonies in this church
• People giving other people a ride
• People handing other people money
• Fixing their car
God has been teaching is to do this – love one another
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Q: Have we arrived?
Or are we still learning and
increasing in this love that God has taught us
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All the things that we desire relate to God’s command a loving one another
1. Miracles
2. Gifts of healing
3. Financial blessings
4. Outpouring of god’s spirit
5. Experiencing the great presence of god
This is a key of God manifesting himself to us
Are you ready for this?
1 Thessalonians 4:9 (KJV)
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Say that out loud to your neighbor
Taught of God to love one another
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The thing that I have all my heart is ---- how do we have bound in love?
1. We talk about the importance of walking in love
2. We talk about the necessity of walking in love
3. But have we talked enough about how do we abound in love
4. How do we put our love walk into practice
> Now if we know that we have not arrived
> And as the scripture says we need to increase more and more
> They are going to be areas that we need to change in our lives
> We’re going to see areas to make correction in
> If not – were not growing
Remember – don’t be in condemnation about areas that need change
Just a thank you Lord –
I am your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which (You) God hath before ordained that (I) we should walk in them.
So in order to grow
– we’re going to have to see areas where we haven’t been walking in love
So were going to admit right now – none of us have arrived
We all need work in walking in love – were his workmanship
> There is a lot more we need to know
> But here we are Lord ready to hear
> Ready to receive it
> Ready to do
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Someone may say I don’t wanna hear about love
> I want to hear about me and the miracle power of god
> I want to hear about the healing of Jesus
What we need to remember is
> God is love
> Manifestations of god
> Are manifestations of his love
Manifestations of God – are manifestations of his love
Manifestations of healing – are manifestations of his love
Financial blessings – are manifestations of his love
The Bible Says…
You are taught of God to love one another. --- indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
Say it out loud with me
1. We are taught of god
2. to love one another
3. We will
4. Increase
5. In love
6. More and more
7. More and more
8. We are
9. Increasing
10. In love
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T.T. John 13
John 13:34 (KJV)
34 A new commandment
Let’s stop right there………. What is a command?
It is an order
Q: is it a suggestion
Q: did he say try to do
Q: did he say this is a good idea you should try to do
This is an order from the head of the church, Jesus.
When he gave his command – when he gave this order
He expected it to be done!!!
John 13:34 (KJV)
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
That ye love one another – how?
as I have loved you –
Love who? ----- one another
Q: can this be done
A: Yes you can – you are ordered to
It’s in order from the king of Kings and the lord of Lords
It’s a commandment of the Lord
What does the next verse say?
John 13:35 (KJV)
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
What an interesting statement!
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples
Q: Why was it important that these men were known as disciples of Jesus?
I believe – are you listening
Jesus wanted his disciples to portray who he is
Not what his abilities are!!
I believe – Jesus wanted people to know who he was… More than what he can do
Jesus said, when you seen me you seen the father
And we know that God is love
And when people see your love for one another….. they will know you are my disciples.
I believe that in a sense – what Jesus was saying is
Look, you are going to be going out and doing all kinds of great miracles
I don’t want people to know me for just the miracles
I want people to know the father’s love
Therefore
John 13:34 (KJV)
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
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John 15:8-12 (KJV)
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Here is a lie of the devil
The more you walk in love – them more miserable you’re going to be
But is that what Jesus said
Know Jesus said in verse 11
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Here is the truth!!!…. If you keep this command
What’s going to happen?
His joy
His joy - the joy Jesus walked in when he was here on earth
And he was anointed with the oil of gladness above all his brother
That joy – that is your strength
That joy of the Lord
That joy that is his joy - is going to abide, stay in and remain in you ---
and that’s going to cause my joy and your joy will be full
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Don’t listen to the lies of the devil
He will tell you…………
If you walk in love to your spouse
They’re going to take advantage of you
If you walk in love to those people you work with
Your life is going to be miserable
He will say to you…………
What about you – -----if you don’t take care of yourself who will
If you don’t take care of your self – you’ll be a miserable person
But he’s a liar
Jesus said
Luke 9:23-25 (KJV)
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
Let’s expose the devil
Let’s expose his lies
You won’t be unhappy – you’ll have Gods joy – the joy that Jesus has
The selfish life – is the empty life
The self centered life – is the miserable life
The giving life – is the fulfilling life
The unselfish life – is this satisfying life
Do you want to be happy? – then become unselfish
Do you really want to be satisfied and fulfilled? –
then become the biggest giver around.
The selfish life – is the empty life
T.T. 1 John 3:16-18
You can demand everybody
Run over every one and ------ tell them what you think
You can get your way
– and when you get your way sitting there all alone – not happy
You can sue everybody
Fight everyone
Take things away
Backs stab everybody
Claw fight for things
Kicking everybody over – getting your way to the top
> You can get your post
– you can get your position
– you can get your promotion
> You can get your house
– you can get your money
> By taking it – by grabbing it
In when you get it – you not going to be happy – it’s not going to fulfill you
Somehow people believe if I attain all this stuff
– somehow just be happy-
The truth is – the more selfish you are – the more unhappy you are
BUT
> What if you live to give
> What if you live to bless people
> What if you live to do good things for people
> What if you live a life of love – loving one another
That joy - that is his joy
- is going to abide, stay in and remain in you ---
and that’s going to cause your joy will be full
1 John 3:16-18 (KJV)
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
This is a commandment of the lord
He told us to do this – regardless, how we feel about it
This commandment has been given lip service
People have talked about this – and after they have talked about it
It all comes back to how they feel about
You do not have to feel lovely toward someone – to obey this command
You don’t need warm and fuzzy feelings toward your brother – to obey this command
So many times Christians have thought loving someone is saying I love you brother
let us not love in word, neither in tongue
Yes I love you with the love of the lord of the brother --- enough of that
But what does it say - but in deed
Keeping the love command is based on need doing something
You got to do something
Say it to your neighbor –love is a deed!
- Love is an action
Keeping the law of command – means I do something
Not based on how I feel!!!!
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T.T. Romans 12:9-10
Jesus said
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
think with me
Imagine you in the military
And you get your orders
And you go to the drill sergeant and say –I don’t like these orders
Or imagine you at your place of employment – your boss gives you orders to do something
And you say – can we go to your office and talk about these orders
Listen: if we can take orders from man – we can take orders from God
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Listen to this transulation
1 John 3:18 (NIV)
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Now we’re getting into the how too’s.
Romans 12:9-10 (KJV)
9 Let love be without dissimulation (translated 4 times unfeigned) (NKJV hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
This goes back to our text…
1. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love
2. honour preferring one another
Prefer the other
How do you do that?
preferring in Greek: to lead the way for others, i.e. show deference :- prefer.
—Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
This really paints a picture
I am to take a lead in showing others
I am to show deference – to esteem someone else over myself
Romans 12:10 (NIV)
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10 (NLT)
10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Romans 12:10 (Darby)
10 as to brotherly love, kindly affectioned towards one another: as to honour, each taking the lead in paying it to the other:
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour
preferring one another;
How do you do this
How do I showed deference
How do I prefer you over me
Think with me: if there’s a choice number one and number two
And you pick two
Was left? – one
I give you the preference of two –
> How many do you realize that when Jesus was on the cross
> They mocked him
> They said – if you’re the savior save yourself
> Jesus was preferring us over himself
> He could’ve gotten off the cross
> He could have called for legions of angels
> But he preferred you and me
> That’s the gospel – the love of god manifested in Jesus –
> People think that love is something we talk about on Sundays
> Something we get excited about when the preacher talks about
> We talk about it – and of the brother with the love of the lord
> But we have choices everyday –to prefer our brothers – or be selfish for ourselves
Mark 10:45 (KJV)
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew 10:24 (KJV)
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
