BACK TO BASICS PART 8 - LOVING ONE ANOTHER

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on August 4th 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

BACK TO BASICS PART 8

LOVING ONE ANOTHER

Rom 12:9-17

How do we love one another? In Romans, Paul lays a foundation of doctrine in chapters 1 to 11.

Rom 3:20  Through the law, we become conscious of sin, but obeying the law does not make us right with God.

Ch3:21 But now righteousness apart from the law has been made known….but through Jesus to all who believe. Jesus changes us by his Spirit.

Ch1-3 Talks about the sinful state of man.

Ch4-8 Talks about how to get right with God

Ch 9-11 Talks about the role of Israel after Christ

And then comes chapter 12 with the big ‘therefore’.

Romans addresses both Jews and Gentiles who are believers and how they should live as children of God.

There are more than 1000 commands and instructions in the New Testament. Some think there are no commands in the New Testament except to love one another. Yes, the whole law is summed up in the two great commands.

There are over 100 ‘one another’ commands in the New Testament. How do we relate with fellow believers and those in the world? How we treat people is a reference to how we relate to Jesus.

Matt25:35-30

What does love look like?

V9. Love must be sincere –‘agape’ which is unconditional (The same word is used in Rom 5:8, i.e. God demonstrated His agape to us in this that while we were yet sinners…)

Matt 10:37 Anyone who ‘loves’ – Stergeo love which is family love

Jn11:3 the word used is ‘Phileo”, which is for friendship.

And then we have Eros love, which is romantic love.

Rom 12:9-10 Mentions agape, storge and philio

V10a Brotherly love – we should be like family and friends.

V10 Be kindly affectionate. The church is our family, and we should love each other in a manner we bear with each other. All families have squabbles; we must know how to handle them and makeup.

V18 Keep the peace as far as it depends on you

V10b Honour one another (ESV says outdo one another in paying the price). Are we willing to pay the price to honour one another, i.e., everyone? We take the initiative and do not wait for others to honour us.

We can show this in deeds and words.

DEEDS Greeting one another. The command to greet one another are repeated five times. Rom 16:15 with a holy kiss. 2Cor 13:12 ..holy kiss.

Lev19:31 says Rise in the presence of the aged – revere your God. I am the Lord.

Rom 13:7: “If respect then respect..”

How do we do this biblically?

Phil 2:3 Consider others better than yourselves. We are the light of the world – how? We are light by our deeds, behaviour and words. We are called to be thermostats and not thermometers.

WORD – appreciating people. Start in the home between spouses and children.

V12 Share with God’s people in need. Practice hospitality.

V16 We need to honour everyone across ethnicity, language and cultures

Revelation 7:9 People from every tribe, language and tongue are before the throne of God. When we do this, the manifold wisdom of God is on display, and the people will see that the Father sent Jesus.

Rom15:15 Admonish one another i.e. caution or reprove gently

If we care for one another, we need to warn our brothers and sisters in love and gentleness with much humility and grace.

Col 3:16

You can only do this if you have a relationship.

People do not want to know how much you know till they know how much you care.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.   

Back to Basics - Part 7

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on July 28th 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

Last week we saw 3 marks of the disciples - 

1. Holds onto the teachings of Jesus

2. Love one another just as Jesus loved you

3. Bear fruit

We see snapshots of the Gospel in the lives of the disciples. 

Matthew 9:9 NIV - As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

Jesus sees Matthew, a tax collector. His job is not a very good one as he collects tax from the Jews and gives to the Romans. Jesus says only two words, "Follow me." Matthew immediately got up and followed Jesus. 

Matthew received the effectual call through the Holy Spirit. 

John 6:64 NIV - Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

We see that some people didn't believe in Jesus and didn't follow him. In Matthew's case, he left everything and followed Jesus.

Romans 8:29-30 NIV - [29] For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Here we see that God predestined us and at the right time called us. When we were called, the Holy Spirit worked on our hearts and that's how we put our faith in Jesus and decided to follow him. 

Colossians 2:3 NIV - in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

As we put our faith in Jesus and follow him, we find treasures of wisdom and knowledge in His Word. 

Matthew 9:10-12 NIV - [10] While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [12] On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Jesus never separated himself from the sinners but was with them. The Pharisees wondered how he could do this as they kept themselves away from anything unclean. 

Jesus called us not just to meet with the believers but with the ones who are lost and broken. 

When we listen to their stories our hearts open for them. 

Meet with them, eat with them, listen to them and spend time with them. 

Don't jump into sharing the Gospel. Engage with them and listen to them if they share their brokenness and challenges. 

You may not have a solution, but Jesus has. Listen to them and pray for them if you are led by the Holy Spirit.

Throughout this chapter of 9, we see Jesus' miracles. Jesus was engaging with people's brokenness. 

Matthew 9:35 NIV - Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 

Here we see that Jesus was going to different places and engaging repeatedly with people's brokenness. 

People in this world have a lot of problems and difficulties. They're helpless. They're like sheep without a shepherd. 

Matthew 9:37-38 NIV - [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

We need to look at people with the eyes of Jesus. The harvest is plentiful. We need army of labourers. So, we must pray to God for labourers.

Matthew 10:1-5 NIV - [1] Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. [2] These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; [3] Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; [4] Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. [5] These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 

We see that the disciples prayed and they themselves became the answer to their prayers. 

Matthew 10:11-14 NIV - [11] Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. [12] As you enter the home, give it your greeting. [13] If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. [14] If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

We are called to share the Gospel. Don't worry about the outcome. Some may respond to the Gospel and others may not. 

Matthew 10:26-28 NIV - [26] “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known. [27] What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. [28] Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Don't be afraid. The worst could be death.

You know ADF supports the lawyers who fight the cases of the innocent Christians who are in prison. 

Matthew 10:32-33 NIV - [32]  “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. [33] But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

Are we willing to put our reputation on line for Jesus? 

Matthew 10:40 NIV - [40]  “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 

It is an immense responsibility that we carry. We carry with us the very presence of Jesus. When you are received, the Father is received. 

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.   

Back to Basics - Part 6

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on July 21st 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

Jesus gave this command to his disciples before his Ascension - "Go and make disciples..."

The home between his ascension and return is when we have a job to do.

There are 3 things that identify a disciple. All those can be found in the book of John. There are many amazing miracles performed by Jesus - fed 5000 people, raised Lazarus to life, the centurion's servant, water into wine and many more. 

Jesus also makes these "I am" statements. I am the light, the way, the truth, the life, the resurrection and life, bread of life, true Vine, good shepherd and door.

3 statements that Jesus said: 

John 8:31-32 NIV - [31] To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth will set you free. If you hold onto my teaching. 

The Jews believed in Jesus. But Jesus said that was not enough. 

James 2:19 NIV - [19] You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Mere acknowledgement is not enough. 

1. We must hold onto Jesus

          i.               It means, being obedient by abiding in His Word.

Very soon, we will be starting discipleship groups to feed on the Word and get into it. 

How are we connected to the Word? Are we reading it daily? How much do you need and how much are you putting into practice? 

We need to increase our intake and meditation. 

Sometimes, we need to read whole chunks and allow God to speak to us.

Ephesians 4:2 NIV - [2] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

Matthew 4:4 NIV - [4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

Acts 2:42 NIV - [42] They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 

        ii.               Doing his will is very important

Matthew 12:50 NIV - [50] For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

John 14:15 NIV - [15]  “If you love me, keep my commands. 

The one who obeys is the one who loves Jesus and the Father reveals himself to you.

 

2. Love One Another

John 13:34-35 NIV - [34]  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

What was new? As I have loved you. That sets the bar very high. We love to the point of death. 

Romans 5:8 NIV - [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We live Jesus but we also need to love one another.

We need to invest time and resources into loving people. It is a costly love.

How do we love? 

Colossians 3:13 NIV - [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

          i.               Be united, agreeing with one another 

        ii.               Bearing one another's burdens

      iii.               Forgiveness and compassion

We must start reaching out to the lost. 

John 17:21 NIV - [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

3. Bear fruit

John 15:8 NIV - [8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Fruit - 

* Christlikeness - our behaviour should reflect Jesus

* Impact on society - many people made an impact on society. Jesus has called us to be light

* Seeing souls saved - God has commanded us to do this. This is an important part of fruit bearing that they Gospel will go out to the end of the earth

This happens as you remain in Word. 

John 15:7-8 NIV - [7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The Word is a mirror - we can see where we need to be changed. What are the things you need to change ?

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.