Tag: Loving others

Signs of Truly Loving Others, part 5

I Corinthians 13:4-7

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things

So far we have examined:

Love is:

  • Long suffering
  • Kind
  • Not envious
  • Not boastful
  • Not proud
  • Does not display improper behavior.
  • It is not self-centered.
  • Does not display fits of anger.
  • Does not think evil of others.
  • Rejoices in what is right.
  • Does not think evil of others.
  • Rejoices in what is right.

Today we will look at:

  • Love is protective.
  • Love is trustworthy.
  • Love is hopeful.
  • Love is patient.

Protective

Romans 15:1-3 – We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2  Let every one of us please [his] neighbour for [his] good to edification.3  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Galatians 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Ephesians 6:10-12 –  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]

People are not your enemy, Satan is.

  • Love helps carry the load.
  • Love pleases others, not self.       
  • Love sacrifices for the benefit of others.

Love is Trustworthy

Ecclesiastics 4:9-10 – Two [are] better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. 10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up.

Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

  • Love shows up.
  • Love lifts up.
  • Love is consistent.

Hopeful

I Corinthians 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things

1 Peter 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (do not put limits on your love)

James 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing. (love never gives up on someone)

1 Corinthians 9:19-20 –  For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.

  • Love looks at what can be, not always what is.
  • Love never gives up but keeps hoping.
  • Love is limitless and timeless.
  • Love is expecting the best in the end.

Patient

James 1:4  But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

2 Peter 3:11  [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,

1 Timothy 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

True patience is a sign of spiritual maturity; therefore our love show grow stronger and stronger.

Contentment is the ultimate goal.

Patience is our goal as believers.

REMEMBER, GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH THEM YET AND YOU ARE A TOOL HE IS USING TO MOLD THEM.

II Peter 3:11-14 –   [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Truly Loving Others

I Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things

Long suffering

Colossians 1:11– Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 1:11-12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Kind

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

II Peter 1:5-7 –   And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Not envious

Galatians 5:19-23 –   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

James 3:14-16    But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Not boastful

Psalms 10:4-12 –  The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.5  His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6  He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.7  His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.8  He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.9  He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.10  He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.11  He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.12   Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

1 Corinthians 4:18  Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

1 Corinthians 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Philippians 2:1-5 –  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Loving thy Neighbor

Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38  This is the first and great commandment.39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Lord Jesus stated that loving our neighbor is compared to our love for God. Look at it. Love God will all our heart, and soul and mind and the second is like unto the first – Love they neighbor as thyself. As I have been reading through Proverbs the past couple of weeks, a passage has stuck with me.   I can not get it out of my mind.

Proverbs 3:27-35 (NKJV) Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. 29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,  For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. 30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; 32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. 33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. 34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise shall inherit glory,

  • Withholding is not a good thing.
  • Do not delay helping when it is within your power to do so.
  • Reaching out to those in need is an act of wisdom.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
For example:
  • I have $2.00 to buy me a diet coke and as I am approaching the check out, there is a mom who is buying baby formula but is $2.00 short. All I have is $2.00. Do I have the ability to help?
  • I am home watching my favorite tv show. I got a phone call and someone needs me to take them to the doctor. Do I have the time?
  • A young girl finds herself expecting and needs a place to stay. I have three rooms that I am using as storage. Do I have room to keep her?
  • A boy has no father in his life and needs someone to teach him to play baseball but I have to the golf course, Do I have time?
  • The church needs cleaning but I want to clean my oven even though I just cleaned it two days ago, do I have time to help clean the church?
  • My neighbor’s car broke down and needs to get to the store. My car runs fine but I have driven all day and just do not want to drive anymore. Do I have the ability to drive them to the store?
  • The widow lady’s washer is broken down and I am a repair man. Do I have the ability to fix it?

Luke 10:29-37 -But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Three men all on the same path in life.
One a religious priest – religious.
One a Levite – religious.
One a Samaritan – despised by religious crowd.
Only one became a neighbor.
God is not looking for religious people.
God is looking for committed people.

Question of the day: Are you religious or are you committed?

Being a good neighbor will:
  1. Cost you.
  2. Inconvenience you.
  3. Take you out of your comfort zone.
  4. Possibly change eternity for someone.
  5. Is it worth your time?

Joyfully unto the Lord

Psalms 35:9-10

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

True joy come from having your hope in the right person

We find hope in having His spirit in us –

We find true hope in looking to Jesus  

Hebrews 12:2 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy t+ hat was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Revelation 1:5-8

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

We have joy that is indescribable

1 Peter 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Isaiah 55:7-12 –

7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.12  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Our greatest joy is yet to come

1 Peter 4:13

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18:

16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Joy comes when the body unifies.

We need to learn to love each other

Unity will lead to power, spiritual growth and numerical growth 
Acts 1:8   But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 
Acts 1:12-15 -   Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
 Acts 2:1 - And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
We need to be of one mind

Joy comes from seeing others come to Christ –

I Thessalonians 1:6

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

As a pastor, joy comes in watching your faith grow

Pastors are given to you to teach you truth 
Hebrews 13:17  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.
Even in persecution, we find joy in your faith

II Corinthians 7:4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

2 John 1:12  Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

3 John 1:4  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Joy comes from realizing who it is that keeps us

Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

John 10:27-30 –  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.

  • We are kept by God – we cannot keep ourselves – we do not have to
  • Real believers follow Jesus and turn from the world
  • No one, not even you, can take you away from Jesus