Abounding in love - Love Covers
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (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.
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;
Q: You are to increase more and more in what?
A: This brotherly love!
Now - I believe the phrase
– “brotherly love” has a religious condensation about it.
You remember - the Old Testament the commandment was to
> Love your neighbor as yourself.
But in the new commandment what did Jesus tell us?
John 13:34 (KJV)
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
-let’s just stop right there
> They been told - in the Old Testament to love each other?
Q: so why is this new?
Q: that ye love one another?
A: NO!
The bible says:
Romans 5:5 (KJV)
5 …. the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Q: can go beyond….. just loving someone as yourself.
Now - you can love your brother to the point
– where you’re ready to sacrifice yourself!
Q: what is the law mentioned in Galatians?
Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Not just your own burdens
Someone else’s burdens
Listen! – The ugly, selfishness
that the world
is full of
has been described from the beginning
– in the book of Genesis.
slow
When Cain killed his brother Able!
He was asked about it
Q: – do you remember his response?
A: He said: “am I my brother’s keeper?”
What he was saying is…
1. Am I to keep up with him?
2. It’s not my day to watch him!
3. I’m not his babysitter!
> That is the ugly, ugly devilish attitude of Satan
Saying… “It’s not my problem!”
“every man for himself!”
“You take care of yours - and - I’ll take care of mine”
The true Christian operating in the commandment of the Lord
Is willing to take a burden that doesn’t belong to them
> Not just carry the burden…. But
> Use their faith in turn it over to the Lord
> Use their faith and resources to help remove burdens of people
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to do this – you know what a joy it is!
1. To help someone who is in financial distress and pressure – pay their bills
2. Help someone physically that doesn’t have the ability to do what needs to be done.
3. Encourage someone that may be going through a difficult time
4. Visiting someone in the hospital
STATEMENT: seeing relief in a person’s face – brings real joy
1. You get to participate “in God” meeting people’s needs
2. You get to participate in the anointing that removes burns and destroys yolks
To do this you have to be interested in people’s lives –
> People tend to stay to themselves
> And if everything is OK and my live
I’ll just pretend that not aware of other people needs
People say…
> The world as a big place
> I can’t fix everything
So I’ll just say to myself –
I have a pretty decent life – praise the lord
I’ll just live for myself
– and –
be happy with what the Lord blesses me with
Listen!
There are numerous problems with that attitude
Because - One day you’re going to need help!
> You say – Pastor Mike don’t speak that over me
> I did not say that you have to go around confessing it
> It’s just a fact
1. Whether it’s for yourself
2. People you’re hooked up with
3. Things that you’re involved with
> You are going to want people that will hook up with you
> And what you doing
> Even though it’s not their problem
I’m talking about….
People getting involved with what you even though it’s not their ministry
> Thank God for people wanting to help!
There are people who give to this church that don’t even come!
1. on a regular basis - through the mail
2. People come once or twice a year – and give large amounts
Q: why are they doing that?
1. They believe in you – they believe in me
2. They believe in the ministry that were doing
3. They wanna be a part of what God’s doing in Delaware
4. They are investing in God’s kingdom
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And they’re smart -because
We’re going to believe God with them - for a full harvest!
This is not a dead seed – it’s good ground – hallelujah!
We will have any other way – we’re gonna believe for a full harvest in their lives
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Q: why are they doing that? – giving into the ministry
Think with me – if you’re never interested in another man’s work
- How can you believe God to be interested in your work
Q: why are they doing that? –
Q: why do people give in areas where they’re not personally involved?
A: they understand the commandment of the Lord!
A: They wanna sow seed - they will have seed in the ground
I said that for years!!
> When you get interested in God’s business
> He will get interested in your business
A true statement!!!!
If you only care about you and yours your live your bills and what you need
> you’re not a sower
> you’re looking for what you can get
> When you hear about someone in need –
> you try to forget about it just as fast as you can
Listen – we need to have seed in the ground in every area of our lives
- We need to be involved with the commandment of the Lord
Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Not just your own burdens
The law was - ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – which is still good
So you’re to love your neighbor as much as you love your self
Now we read
John 13:34 (KJV)
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; (HOW) as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
You’re not just to love your neighbor as yourself
SLOW!!
We are to love our brothers as much as Jesus loves us!
I am to love you like He loves me
We are to love each other like He has loved you
Here Jesus was talking to the disciples
Peter James and John – Jesus told them that they are to love each other
Now
We see a switch from neighborly love
To brotherly love
SLOW
Q: Did Jesus and love - as he loved himself?
A: NO - he loved us beyond that
1. He loved us to the point of sacrificing himself
2. He was willing ……..to die that we might live
3. Willing……….. to be punished so that we could be free
That’s beyond “loving as yourself:
> That’s the love that has been shed abroad our hearts
Hallelujah- I forever grateful for what he did so that I can love
T.T. 2 Corinthians 12
The love of God that has been given to us – is not accompanied by depression
Paul said
2 Corinthians 12:15 (KJV)
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
God’s love --- is not accompanied by depression
1. You’re not to do some sacrificial religious thing
2. Where everyone can see – some religious motion
3. You’re to be a giver – you to be a blessing
Everyone say this with me
> I will very gladly
> spend and be
> gladly for others
Why?
1. So people can be free – so they can be relieved
2. If you really love people it makes you happy
3. If you really love people it’s a joy - blessing people
4. When they’re free
5. Even if it cost you time and money – it’s a joy
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We’ve been talking about the love of God
And our text says… that you are taught of God to love one another
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Now think with me
He didn’t just give us the commandment of us to do it
SLOW
He is teaching us how to do
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What we want - is have the faith together and believe
As a church God is teaching us
showing us how to increase more and more
We are learning how to keep and apply the love command……..
That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
We’ve been looking at a number of things
> On how to love one another
But in the first thing we looked at his love prefers our brothers
But the bible says.. That we are to esteem one another better than ourselves
Not that you believe –you’re better than me – I’m less than you
We are too esteem each other
We are to treat people like they’re better than you
without feeling inferior – can we do that?
Yes
Jesus our perfect example
> Laid down his outer garment
> Took on the form of a servant
> And washed the disciples feet
> A known that he was inferior to them
> He was treating them better than himself
> Then he went on to say this is how were to treat one another
Q: can you treat people as though they are better yourself
A: yes you can - and that’s what loved is!!
Love prefers - not only doesn’t prefer - love takes the lead
> When you prefer the brother and take care of them
> God is going to take care of you
What else can we learn - love does no harm
Love worketh no ill to his neighbor.
> Now in order to walk in love like this
> You need to be aware of your words
> And their effect on people around you
You have to be careful what you say
SLOW
Many Christians violate the love command
And only realize it after it happens
They will just Blair - in the situation
not thinking of the words they are using
Q: how many of you have said something and after you have said it
Realize - that you really never should have said anything about
Something that didn’t really need to be brought up
> But now makes this person look bad
> Now makes them feel bad
The point is -you have violated the love command!
But it’s because - your mouth is running –
and your mind is not in gear
You’re not supposed to talk
and then think about what you said
But - that’s how most people operate
That’s not what the bible tells us to do
The bible says…
Proverbs 8:7-8 (KJV)
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
The bible also says…
Proverbs 10:19 (NIV)
19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
So if you’re doing all the talking - your sinning!
And the only way to fix it is think before you talk
I know this may be a new concept for many people
But say it with me
Think - before you talk
> You might say – I didn’t get to say everything
> Yes - but you sin either
I’m still talking about love
People being hurt by words –
is the biggest a violation of the law of commandment today
The bible says… Psalms 64:3 (NIV)
The Wicked
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.
But the Bible also says
Ecclesiastes 10:12 (KJV)
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Say this with me
> You have to think
> before you speak
If you don’t check your words before you speak
It’s like an arrow that’s been shot
You can’t get it back
Your words are just out there
And remember - love does no harm
#1 love prefers
#2 love does no harm
#3 love covers
love covers
But what is the opposite of covering?
> Exposes
> Reveals it
1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Stay with me - love covers a multitude of sin!
Proverbs 17:9 (NIV)
9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
When we talk about covering something
We are not talking about a lying, deceiving cover up
You need understand - that we are to never lie for anyone
Not your family
Not your children
Not your coworkers
Not your neighbors
We are not to lie for anyone!!
> I’ve had people try to tell me
> If you love me you’ll - say this for me -or present in a certain way
> The truth is -they don’t love you
Do not compromise your own integrity
We are not to lie for anyone!!
How many all know that you don’t have to lie to cover something
You just don’t talk about - not bring it up
I think the greatest example of this in the bible
Is the story of Noah
The bible says that he planted a great vineyard
He made in some wine
He got in his tent
A drank so much - that he got drunk - naked and not clothed
One of the sons came in and saw him naked
> What did he do - he went out and told everybody – dad got drunk!
> “Dad is lying in the tent past out drunk”
Q: is that love?
Q: is that showing love for your father?
A: that’s not love to exposure father
So why did he tell it - because you know something no one else knows!
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> Noah had found favor with God
> No one was the leader of the people saved from the flood
> Noah is righteous
> Noah is found in the book of Hebrews as a hero of faith
Well he’s past out drunk now – I saw him in the tent!
This was big news - and his son had the exclusive!!
He was to first with the news - and the public has a right to know
Listen – “people have a right to know” is not this scripture
> It is not Christian
> It is not God
> It is not right!!
If you love somebody you will be quiet
It is obvious this boy is not love in his father - and exposing him
But his other brothers - do you remember what they did?
They took a garment and put it over their shoulders
They walked into the tent backwards
They lowered the garment
Did not look on their father - and left the tent
They did not see his nakedness
They did not look on him in his current condition
Statement
This is love
> You don’t look on the person when they’re down
> You don’t expose weaknesses and failures
> You don’t exploit people’s mistakes
Think with me - there not lying about anything - there covering
T.t. James 5
> This is the nature of the Father
> This is what he’s done for us
> He has covered our mistakes - our failures -and our sins!!!
Say it to your neighbor- love covers a multitude of sins
James 5:19-20 (KJV)
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 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.
What is the will of God
It is Gods will for the biggest notorious sinner to be saved
To be cleansed - and their sins not to be remembered throughout eternity
Maybe on earth they were known as the most deviant person in the world
But it’s God’s will -that in the ages to come and throughout eternity
They will be known as the righteousness of God
Think god for the work of Jesus - through his death burial and resurrection
Hebrews 10
The bible says
2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Psalms 103:12 (KJV)
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Hebrews 10:16-17 (KJV)
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
So he’s not going to remember - we’re not going to remember it
Thank God for the blood of Jesus
Can we forget about people’s past mistakes
Can the love people as He has loved us
People say I can forget about it
My response is -that it’s a choice
And if God is loved us - made a choice not to remember our sins
Thank God we can love people - and not remember their sins!!
Think God with his strength and help - we can love others as he has loved us
This is a big deal in families - people bringing that past mistakes
We ought not do that - that not remember people’s failures
We ought not - to keep rubbing people’s face in past mistakes
If a person has repented - and turned the other way –
we should forgive and forget
When we fail to observe the love command - and not forgive
This is straight from the devil - the accuser of the brethren
This is disrespectful of the blood of the lamb
And it’s a blatant failure with not keeping the love command
Ezekiel 18:21 (KJV)
21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Ezekiel 33:16 (KJV)
16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Aren’t you glad that the judgment seat of Christ he’s not going to bring up your past
