LOVING ONE ANOTHER

SERMON STARTER

          God always confirms His written Word and He confirms his individual, specific word to us. (Rayma) This sermon had been selected considerably before a series of events occurred. The events tested me as to whether I was worthy to teach this important issue from God’s Word. God will always either allow or send people into our circumstances to test us for hypocrisy, doubt and unbelief.

          The “Saturday Night Special” isn’t just a small revolver carried by many for personal protection. The “Saturday Night Special” is also the experience of many pastors when the Holy Spirit examines their hearts and grants permission for them to preach His Word on a particular subject at a particular time. This sermon has been examined and given during a time of self-examination and stress.

          Love always wins out when it comes to God’s Word. I have been a committed follower of Jesus Christ since I gave me whole heart to Him at age 12. There was another time of deep consecration and commitment that occurred when I was 18 as I renewed my vows to Him. This sermon offers a fifty-five year view of how to walk out your love and relationship for Jesus.

Pastor Phil   <><<

02/22/09

SHEEPFOLD MINISTRIES - 2009

 

 

 

Funnies:

Speaking the Truth in Love

A woman in a certain congregation was attending Assertiveness classes and was trying out her assertive skills. Every where she went in the congregation, she attempted to be assertive.

“That new dress you’re wearing, Mrs. Smith, makes you look fat!”

“Your hat is a poor match for your dress, Mrs. Smith!”

She plowed her way through the congregation, leaving a wake of hurt feelings behind her. The pastor received many complaints about her aggressive attempts at assertiveness.

Finally, he’d had enough and wore the loudest, ugliest chartreuse tie her could find in his collection and wore it on Sunday morning. He also slipped a pair of sharp scissors in his suit coat pocket.

          Sure enough after the service the aggressive lady approached him.

“Pastor, that’s the UGLIEST time I’ve ever seen!”

He replied,

“Oh, does my tie OFFEND you?”

He took out his scissors, held the tie out and carefully cut it off at the top. Then the handed the scissors to her and said,

“Here! Your TONGUE offends me!”

 

February 22, 2009

Sheepfold Ministries / Pastor Phil Roland

LOVING ONE ANOTHER

1 John 4:7-12

“Learning how to be in loving relationship with God and with one another is the evidence of the Kingdom of God in a person’s life. It is the true source of peace in a troubled world. How can we love God and not love one another?.”     Pastor Phil                        

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”                                             John 13:34,35

 

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”                                                 1 Peter 1:22,23

 

I.  COOPERATE WITH ONE ANOTHER – 1 Cor. 12:19-25

    “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets,

       third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,

       administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are

       all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all

       peak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And

       yet I show you a more excellent way.”

            A. No one Person or Gift is Greater than Another

                 1. We are all Christ’s Body

                 2. We are to interact with one another in a cooperative way

            B. The More Excellent Way is the way of Love

 

II.  SERVE ONE ANOTHER THROUGH LOVE - Galatians 5:13b

     “. . .through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word,

        even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

 

III.  SHARE ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS – Gal. 6:2

      “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

            A. Carry another’s heavy load occasionally

            B. Don’t create dependencies – Gal. 6:5

                 “for each one should carry his own load.”

 

IV.  ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER – 1 Thes. 5:11

       “Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you

          also are doing.”  NASB

            A. Everyone Needs Encouragement

            B. Put it into words / Write it / Say it frequently - Hebrews 3:12,13

               “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that

                 turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as                         long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's

                 deceitfulness.” NIV

 

V.  SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER – Eph. 5:21

     “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

      A. Work on the Same Team

      B. Work toward one another’s mutual benefit

 

VI.  FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER – Eph. 4:32

     “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God

        in Christ forgave you.”

          A. Forgiveness begins in the Heart – Col. 3:12,13

           “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies,

              kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another,

              and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another;

              even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

                1. Begins Prayer for those who’ve Mistreated us – Matt. 5:44

               "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good

                to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and

                persecute you, "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;”

                2. Extends to the Nine Words of Power – James 5:16

               “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so

                 that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and

                 effective.”

                “I’m Sorry! I was Wrong! Will You Forgive Me!”

            B. Forgiveness involves Face-to-Face Confrontation – Like 17:3

                "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him;

                  and if he repents, forgive him.”

                  1. Rebuke is always for the Purpose of Restoration

                  2. Not for Revenge, Inflicting Guilt, Shame or Harm on Another

                      a. Not Indirectly by Telephone / Answering Machine Messages

                      b. Not Indirectly by Cell Phone Texts or Emails

                      c. Not Indirectly by US Mails and Typed / Hand Written Letters

            C. Forgiveness means “Letting Go” of Past Sins Against You

                 1. Forgiveness Means Releasing Your Own Feelings of Hostility

                 2. Forgiveness Means Not Acting out the Role of Victim

                 3. Forgiveness Means Allowing God’s Peace to Replace Hostility

 

VII.  BE HONEST WITH ONE ANOTHER – Eph. 4:25

         “Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his

            neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin":

            do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”

            A. Do not Lie to One Another through Hypocrisy – Col. 3:9-11

               “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his

                 deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge

                 according to the image of Him who created him,  where there is neither

                 Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian,

                 slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

                1. Give Up Sunday Morning Show Boating

                2. Give Up the Mask of Deceit

 

            B. Speak the Truth in Love – Ephesians 4:15

               “speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is

                 the Head, that is, Christ.”

 

VIII.  SHOW HOSPITALITY TO ONE ANOTHER – 1 Peter 4:7-9

         “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in

           your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for

          "love will cover a multitude of sins." Be hospitable to one another without

           grumbling.”

            A. Speak Softly and Slowly

            B. A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath – Prov. 15:1

                 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

IX.  INSTRUCT AND ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER – Eph. 5:18-20

       “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the

        Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

        singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always

        for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

            A. Instruct Through God’s Word, Example and Spiritual Songs

            B. Instruct and Admonish one another – Col. 3:16

               “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish

                one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and

                spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

                        1. Admonish (Rebuke) = To Caution, Warn, Reprove Gently

                        2. Consider Yourself First – Gal. 6:1

                           “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are

                             spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering

                             yourself lest you also be tempted.”

                        3. Don’t be Confused by the Speck and Plank – Matt. 7. 7:4,5

                            “How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of

                              your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

                             You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then

                             you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”

 

X.  CONFESS AND PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER – James 5:16

     “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that

         you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

            A. Humility is always the Context for Prayer – 1st 3 Steps of 12 Steps

            B. Humility involves Walking in the Light / Transparency – 1 Jn. 1:7

               “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with

                 one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all

                 sin.”

LOVING ONE ANOTHER, Text:

 

1 John 4:7-12  NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

8  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

9  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

11  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.