Ten Ways to Love One Another

[Music] Thank You dr. Scott and warm greetings to you all we're separated by a physical distance but we are connected electronically and it connected spiritually as well it's a beautiful Sabbath day in fact spring sprung just this last Thursday the first day of the spring and we're seeing all around us along the Crown Center Drive here a beautiful cherry tree like cherry blossoms along the Crown Center Drive I wish you could see those and also the Red Bud trees are coming out and a dogwood tree in our backyard is blossoming it's just very beautiful and very very encouraging this past Thursday I mentioned is a first day of spring next Thursday is the first day in God's sacred calendar for the first day of the year the sacred year so next Thursday be thinking about the new year that's coming on but the world's health as we enjoy the spring beauty the world's health is not so healthy in national governments and state governments have been putting on very strong restrictions governor Newsom of California announced Thursday a statewide lockdown for California that was Thursday March 19th as the New York Times reported quote governor Gavin Newsom of California on Thursday ordered Californians all 40 million of them to stay in their houses as much as possible in the coming week as the state confronts the escalating coronavirus outbreak citing a model that state planners have been using suggesting that 56 percent of Californians or more than 26 million people could be infected over eight weeks mr. newsome said it's very sobering they're saying that over 26 percent could be infected well hopefully the restrictions will help and will level off any of the dangers that are present so need to be praying for the Californians and particularly our brethren in the three most effective states in the United States Washington and then New York and California so be praying for our brethren and of course the general citizens of the United States as well so national and international sports industries have shut down a sports writer for the Charlotte Observer a comment at Friday just yesterday March 20th quote it's been a long week without sports a cancellation of the NBA the NHL of the NCAA right now we would have been watching March Madness basketball and some of us would want to North Carolina team of Duke to be winning in a Final Four but what do we do with our time if we can't watch sports on television well an opinion piece on the Wall Street Journal yesterday coronavirus has made me sweating out my sports addiction quote with the time I usually spend watching baseball be better devoted to literature or a simple reflection as by Joseph Epstein he can close the opinion piece quote might the day come when I thank the coronavirus for bringing me to my senses and breaking my addiction to watching sports so people's lies and routines are being reorganized and many of us are working remotely you know from our offices at home one business consultant on talk radio was mentioning this may be a cultural change in work force because so many working office workers are working at home will now millions of office workers now vacate office buildings and work remotely at home so the end so in addition that many are losing their jobs and I hope our brethren are not losing their jobs we need to be praying again for so we're all facing the challenge of covet 90 no coronavirus and we appreciate mr. Weston's sermon at last Sabbath titled responding to Co vyd 19 crisis so mr. Wesson also recorded a short video of date available on our LC J dot org website and I hope you've seen it presiding evangelist Gerald Weston on covet 19 impact that's 28 minute video on LCG org how many of you have seen that video okay it looks like most in the studio have but I think 28% of you have only seen that out there in the field I've just sensed that but anyway if you've not seen it make sure that you see that video and mr. Wesson wants to post videos daily if possible and those would be on the LCG website as well as the YouTube channel and tomorrow tomorrow's world YouTube channel tomorrow's world LCG and Facebook pages so be looking for those in the coming weeks and we're trying to keep you updated with the daily on a daily basis and then here in Charlotte of course we're striving to follow the precautions to avoid the pandemic and we pray that you also are striving to do your part we're learning to endure trials preparing for even greater trials in the future but we can claim God's promises and one of those promises of you'll turn to first Corinthians 2 the tenth chapter so many promises that God gives us when we're facing trials but first Corinthians 10 and verse 13 no temptation has overcome overtaken you except such as is common to man you think you're an exception no these trials are common to man but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able but with the temptation but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it so again God blesses us and gives us those wonderful promises and of course one of my other favorite promises is romans 8:28 you know what by heart but let's turn to it anyway and reinforce that promise romans 8 and verse 28 and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to his purpose well here this sports addicts may may be thanking coronavirus for ridding him of this addiction to sports and to be more reflective in life we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to his purpose so today we're keeping the Sabbath we're worshipping God we're not separated by time or state we're separated by space but not electronically by we're connected electronically but the Apostle Paul was separated from the Brethren quite often I'll just turn to one example here and his attitude when he was not being able to be with them physically Colossians the second chapter Colossians 2 and verse 5 Colossians 2 and verse 5 for though I am absent in the flesh yet I am with you in spirit rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ and of course we have the sermonette by mr. Dawson of faith not fear and we are to exercise faith during these times of trial but the Apostle Paul felt connected to the Brethren even though he was not with him physically speaking in fact the Apostle Paul was under house arrest you know term might turn to Acts the 28th chapter acts 28 but even he was under house arrest for two years and yet he still was productive even though he was restricted those acts 28 and verse 30 then the Apostle Paul the Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house actually they say it was more of an apartment and received all who came to him preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concerned the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence no one forbidding him so he was under guard as it tells us in 1 of the earlier verses but he was under house arrest but still was able to have be very productive and bear fruit that's verse 16 that he was under guard so in these challenging days were advised to meet with no larger larger groups and 10 people we're advised to stay from about 6 feet away from other people so while we're physically separated we're thankful to be connected spiritually and we pray for one another so you may have publicly asked yourself how do I live in these stressful times mr. Rick Schaffer gave a sermon last week on an overcoming mindset and he exhorted us to use the trials to grow in faith he cited Jesus statement in John 16:33 you don't need to turn there but I think most of you know it a very encouraging comment these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace jesus says in the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world so how should you react in these days of stress be of good cheer because Jesus said I have overcome the world and of course the days of unleavened bread will teach us about overcoming we need to overcome the world the society itself and Satan so what kind of an attitude should I have what are the fundamentals of Christianity what is our goal in life how do we fulfill the awesome calling that God has given us and how are we to live our lies in this time of world pandemic well you know and you should know the answer to those questions we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness that's what we're doing that's our purpose in life and I hope that you saw mr. Walia telecast on what is the meaning of life very profound and something that we need to consider and make sure that we have the big picture as dr. Meredith would often exhort us so we're loving the Lord our God with all our heart soul mind and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves we're living each day by faith tells us in Habakkuk 2 and verse 4 behold the proud he said is not upright in him but the just shall live by his faith Habakkuk 2:4 I'll just read that again behold the proud his soul is not upright in him but the just shall live by his face and that's quoted three times in the New Testament the just shall live by faith so we're also living the way in this time of stress of godly love the two great Commandments of loving God with all our heart soul mind and strength in loving our neighbors as ourselves so turn to John 3:13 one of the major instructions that Christ gave us is brotherly love that we are to love one another as he loved us John the thirteenth chapter and we said one of our hymns that we sing John 13 and verse 35 John 13 verse 35 by this all will know that you are my disciples if you love one another that's profound and that is a very serious commitment that we must make in all of our lives turn to John over the page of John 15 and verse 13 another commandment on loving one another John 15 verse 13 greater love has no man than this than to lay down one's life for his friends you think I you have all your responsibilities and activities in the day or work you're taking the family to various activities you realize the greater love is laying down your life for a friend there's no greater love jesus said then burst back in verse 10 if you keep my Commandments you will abide in my love just as I have kept my father's Commandments and abide in his love so we have that love if we keep God's commandments and we're able to love wholeheartedly our Father in Heaven and our Lord Jesus Christ and we're able to love our brothers and sisters in Christ turn to 1st Peter the first chapter first Peter 1 we have a commandment to love one another so in these stressful times we all need to live our lives with godly love and these stressful times we all need to live our lives with godly love we need to consistently love one another first Peter 1 and verse 22 first Peter 2 since you have purified your souls and obeying the truth we are people who don't wallow around and try to find the loose bricks we want to obey the truth through the spirit in sincere love of the Brethren love one another fervently love one another fervently with a pure heart have you been begotten again as it should read not a corruptible seed but incorruptible through the Word of God which lives and abides forever so how can we love one another what are the ways to love one another now let's consider ten different ways of loving one another now these will overlap but they give different perspectives and the title of the sermon today is ten ways to love one another by the way mr. Jerry West had taped a telecast that will be airing April 19th ten signs leading to Armageddon now he did those ten signs in a half an hour so I'll try to get the ten ways to love one another and the remainder of the sermon and then the following week four weeks from tomorrow April 26th mr. Westman will air a program actually taped the program next week it's coming week on the cove at nineteen crisis so be praying for the taping of that telecast it's going to be put on fast-track by the television team here and a mr. Mike DeSimone once that tape to get out to all the stations to air on April 26 discussion on the kovat crisis from the tomorrow's world telecast well there are more than 10 ways of loving one another of course but we need to remind ourselves in these end times what are the benefits of loving one another turn to 1st John 4 and verse 18 the one that I claim and promise I claim occasionally because I still get nervous once in a while and I realize that it's more blessed to give than to receive or happier to give them to get as the Moffatt translation says it but first John 4 and verse 8 of the one that you should probably have marked in your Bible there is no first John 4:18 there's no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment but he who fears his been made perfect in love so that's a benefit of loving one another with God's divine love you don't have that fear there's no fear in love perfect love casts out fear and Jesus did warn in Matthew 24:12 I won't turn there but because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold so in this endtime people are being calloused they're not as concerned and caring for their neighbors the love of many will wax cold but our glove must grow warm we need to love one another so when the remainder of sermon will briefly discuss ten ways to love one another number one consider the needs of your brethren turn to Philippians 2 and verse 1 consider the needs of your brethren well you think of your own needs but what about the needs of our brethren some people some of our brother may have lost jobs recently we hope not and pray that they're okay we know that the needs were obvious needs are many of our brethren our health needs we have prayer requests for their healing we need to know their needs Philippians 2 and verse 1 therefore if there is any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any affection and mercy fulfill my joy by being like-minded having the same love being of one Accord of one mind let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit and some people have left the fellowship of God the true church of God because of selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind and will be fasting a week from today next sabbath to humble ourselves but it'll only serve mine let each esteem let's each a value all there is better than himself but each of you look not not only for his own interest but also for the interest of others let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus who was in form of a bondservant as it says in verse 7 so we're to look after the interests of others we need to be concerned for the needs of our brethren we appreciate the service of our deacons and Deaconess it seems that somehow they found out the needs of our brethren and certainly mr. John strain our pastor and dr. Scott Whannell our associate pastor are monitoring the needs of the brethren but we need to understand the needs ourselves and be praying for our brethren so we appreciate their service or some home but homebound as we've already mentioned because of health issues and also quarantine because of the covet 19 situation the Passover is just over 12 just three weeks from now and as we reflect that we need on the needs of our brethren we need to examine ourselves as dr. Scott mentioned here in the announcements so we will have changed lives we need to again consider the purpose of our lives how dedicated are we what do we need to change or change small things change major approaches in our routines or in our lives or our now attitudes towards other people so the world health crisis has helped millions and billions to reflect on the purpose and meaning of life or it should have and it should help all of us refocus on our purpose as we approach the Passover so we meditate here the Congress that meditate on the Charlotte Congregation of the Ministry and the Deacons and deaconesses and the members and pray fervently for your with brotherly love for one another so we pray for the deeds of our brethren they may need clothing they may need food they may need transportation they need prayers for their health situations and they may need a new job if they just lost one so and if you are in need you need to communicate that as well to deacon or Deaconess or to the associate pastor or the pastor of the Charlotte congregation or those of you maybe other congregations to your local pastor so number one consider the needs of your brethren and if you're a need remember Philippians 4:19 the promise that God gives my God shall provide all your need according to his riches in Christ Jesus that's Philippians 4:19 so number one and loving one another is to consider the needs of our brethren but number two is not just only consider the needs but fulfil the needs of your brethren number two fulfill the needs of your brethren Curtis James the second chapter James - we need to course be doers of the word and not hearers only James the second chapter right after the book of Hebrews it's still hearing by Bible James - and starting with verse 14 James 2 verse 14 and what does it profit my brethren if someone says he has faith but does not have works can faith save him if a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them depart in peace be warmed and filled well you do not give them the things which are needed for the body what does it profit thus also faith by itself if it does not have works is dead but someone will say you have faith that I have work show me your faith without your works and I James says will show you my faith by my works so we need to fulfill the deeds of our brethren first John 3 first John the third chapter just over a few pages and verse 17 first John 3 and verse 17 but whoever has this world's goods and see his brother in need and shuts up his heart from him how does the love of God abide in him so again we need to have the action we need to give and serve as best we can and of course we have Mr Weston encouraged all those who can to shop for groceries for those who are homebound the world ahead that came out this week on March 19th and I'll just read this from the see ad message on the world ahead finally mr. Weston encouraged the ministry in meetings this week to encourage brethren to take care of one another during this crisis phoning each other assisting with ordering groceries for delivery many stores offer this for those who cannot get out checking on elderly members and other acts of kindness are ways to show love in a time when some can suffer from great anxiety and loneliness now is the time to show we care when others need it the most so number two is fulfill the needs of our brethren number three is communicate frequently and lovingly turn to Malachi the third chapter Malachi the third chapter yes many of you are communicating through Facebook and other social media platforms but here we find in Malachi the third chapter starting with verse 16 and it's interesting you have first John 3:16 you have John 3:16 which of course mr. Weston wrote the booklet on and I hope that you all read that booklet but here is Malachi 3:16 then those who feared the the faria feared the eternal spoke to one another and the eternal listened and heard them so a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the eternal and who meditate on his name and he said he's going to make us like treasures so we give thanks to God for that do we communicate regularly and lovingly many of you do that through social media but what are the topics some of you do a very good job and encouraging one another social media because you are social or you're spiritually minded others are not so and we perhaps we need to make some monitoring ourselves and make sure what our communications are like but what about exhorting your sister or brother in Christ through social media or on the telephone to talk about the articles in the living church news or the tomorrow's World magazine or what you've seen on the the telecast or on the my LCG website LCG website and we have hundreds of sermons of course available on that website so talk to one another mr. Weston and the LCN I hope you've all received your living Church news this is the March April 20 2011 church news beyond services visiting the brethren mr. Weston writes if I can get here the point is that your minister may be calling you in the future so he's talking about ministers visiting the brethren now obviously there has to be modified because of the corona virus and the pandemic but he says I hope he will that as the minister will visit you the church member and if he does make the time to visit with him it will be good for you and good for him and it will please our Lord and Savior so The ministers are being encouraged to call if not physically visit our church members so if some some of us call you please be warm and friendly and welcoming and that we could get to know you better you know dr. Mareth often talked about how the church members encouraged him he was an ambassador student up in Oregon and he was not even ordained yet at that point in time but he was giving sermons and he tells the story about how one Widow wrote a letter every Sabbath telling him how good how good a sermon was even though he questioned that it was maybe not that good but he was encouraged by the widow that helped him so communicate frequently and lovingly number three number four is pray for one another and I know that the Charlotte congregation is very steadfast and faithful in doing that and praying for others James the fifth chapter James the fifth fifth chapter tells us to do that James 5 and verse 16 James 5:16 confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed so you're praying for others that they may be healed you're praying for others that you may be healed the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much and then he gives the example of Elijah who is just as human as we are human and yet God managed to answer dramatically his prayers so yes God can answer dramatically your prayers and we really appreciate the Charlotte Brethren because they are very faithful in praying for one another and we had recently two prayer requests of the chart Charlotte Brethren and several of you of course have had several health issues you prayed for me when I had my two strokes who for mr. John strain and continuing to pray for him in this health issue we've received messages from all over the world and we just thank God the people praying one for another but even here locally in North and South Carolina you brethren have been faithfully serving with heartfelt prayers but I'll mention the two prayer requests that have just been issued here from headquarters and from dr. Scott one a Oh Peter D'Amico of member in Florida has been experiencing symptoms of the corona virus he said he was exposed to two dialysis employees that may have the virus while under treatment he was advised by the clinic to go to the hospital due to the underlying kidney failure he is requesting prayers from the church and that's from mr. Gary Eamon so we praying for mr. Peter D'Amico a member in Florida and the second prayer request please pray for mrs. cherry har listen harrelson wife of Tommy Harrison of the Charlotte congregation she has been in the hospital for a week with pneumonia unexplained eternal internal bleeding and some other serious issues she's been mailed an anointed cloth since the hospital is now locked down to visitors so brethren keep praying for one another for mr. Peter D'Amico and also for mrs. cherry Hart Harrelson our prayers are powerful we just read here the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much and so as we look forward to the days of unleavened bread we need to be praying also for God's work and realize the first holy day of the day of unleavened bread is Thursday April 9th so be praying for God's work be praying that you can give generously in the Holy Day offering or a mission of the church is to prepare the world the church and ourselves for the greatest event in all history the return of the king of kings and Lord of lords Jesus Christ that's our mission so be praying for one another and be praying for God's work number four and praying for and loving one another is pray for one another number five is remember your calling as a servant turn to Galatians the fifth chapter Galatians you are bought with a price we are all bond servants of Jesus Christ Galatians the fifth chapter Galatians 5 and starting with verse 13 for you brethren have been called to Liberty only do not use Liberty as an opportunity for the flesh but through love serve one another both through love serve one another yes we are all called to be bond servants number five remember your calling as a servant verse 14 for all the laws fulfilled in one word even in this you shall love your neighbor as yourself our our attitude is how can I help you how can I serve and that they give that sermon on how may I help you on January 11th on the key for greatness which is of course serving turn to Matthew the twentieth chapter you know that the Jesus example of serving the two sons of zebedee were the mother of them were crying out for a great position in the kingdom and Jesus gave the example of serving and so we starts off here well I won't read the whole section but verse 26 Matthew 20 starting with verse 26 it shall not be so among you that as you want to be in charge of everything and be great but whoever desires to become great among you let him be or servant and whoever desires to be first among you let him be your slave just as the son of man did not come to be served but to serve so Jesus Christ Himself said us an example but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many so we have that example of service we also have a feature in the living church knew as a woman to woman and I just happened to be on the tomorrow's world website today and it and the website commentary woman to woman by Amber Leonard appeared and the title of the commentary is pure and undefiled religion women supporting women in times of need that was a January 8 2020 but appeared right on our website she writes quote having been the recipient of these blessings during a time of need I can say how incredibly humbling it is to be taken care of and how grateful I was for those ladies who took the time to care and having been able to help someone else I can testify to the many blessings God has returned for those labors we all need help once in a while especially when we are down and can't see a way back up if we are willing to help others in their time of need God will make sure that when it is our turn we are taking care of more than we could ever hope to be so that's from the Living Church news feature women to women of course we had many others of you even here in Charlotte would contribute to that feature Mrs Bailey was one of them as well so turn to Philippians the second chapter Philippians 2 I think we read this already but it's so important too have that concept that as Christ said he came not just to be served but to serve and that so reinforced here in Philippians 2 when it tells us verse 5 let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men so Christ Himself called himself a bondservant I was just talking recently to Elisabeth Stafford she's the daughter of dr. Roderick Meredith and she told me the star before and just confirmed it this afternoon that dr. Meredith would tell himself and try to do it every day you've been pointing in his head I am a bond slave of Jesus Christ he would tell them that again the fruits of that service are certainly manifest and the legacy he's given us in writings and sermons that still are available to us but he knew and focused on his calling he called himself a bond slave using the King James Version where we have the New King James Version bondservant I am a bond slave of Jesus Christ and that's where brethren one of the ways that you can love your brethren number five remember your calling as a servant you are called as a servant of Jesus Christ to serve number six is to express compassion involve yourself emotionally I mentioned first John 3:16 let's turn there first John 3:16 I think we may have already read it but it has this different perspective this time John 3:16 by this we know love because he laid down his life for us and we also to lay down our lives for the Brethren but whoever has this world goods and sees his brother have need we already talked about supplying our Brethren's needs and shuts up his heart from him how does the love of God abide in him in other words brethren we need the compassion we need to feel the bowels of mercies as it tells us in Colossians 3 and verse 12 that's the the King James Version I won't turn there but I'll just read Colossians 3:12 therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved put on tender mercies or as the King James Version has it bowels of mercies kindness humility meekness long-suffering but above all these things put on love which is the bond of perfection the definition of compassion is following us or the synonyms sympathetic consciousness of others distress together with a desire to alleviate it sympathetic consciousness of others distress together with the desire to alleviate it or sit in a minute synonym is pity you think of the Prophet Jeremiah in the whole book of lamentations he had compassion he identified emotionally with the destruction that was going on in Jerusalem by the Babylonians and he wrote in Jeremiah 9 and verse 1 again I'll just read it to you jerilyn jeremiah 9 and verse 1 oh that my head were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people so he prayed he cried tears for his people Judah the book of lamentations describes the devastation and the death of Jerusalem during the Babylonian attack but if you ever shed tears for anyone I know all different emotionally and psychologically I hope you will see my sermon if you have questions about emotions character and your emotions as a sermon that's still on our website character and your emotions let's turn to Matthew the ninth chapter Matthew 9 number 6 is express compassion involve yourself emotionally Matthew the ninth chapter Matthew 9 and starting with verse 35 then Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching the synagogues preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness and every disease among the people that means there was no affliction no disease no physical problem that Jesus could not heal but when he saw the multitudes verse 36 he was moved with compassion moved for compassion with them because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no Shepherd then he said to his disciples the harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few therefore pray the lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest that's one of the instructions that Christ gives us to be praying and I hope you are doing that regularly and of course in Matthew 24 he tells us to pray that our flight not be in the winter or on the Sabbath day but Jesus was moved with compassion there's an old saying some of you remember it about the Indian moccasins never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins as an Indian proverb I think another way of saying it we can say I feel your pain so number six and loving one another express compassion involve yourself emotionally number seven is lived by 1st Corinthians 13 turn to first Corinthians 13 live by first Corinthians 13 now I talked about 10 ways of loving one another first Corinthians 13 gives you a dozen ways to love one another and starting off with verse four first Corinthians 13 and verse four love suffers long there's one way to love one another by being patient with one another and I know that's one one element I've had to work on over the years and my wife has helped me to work on that to be long-suffering and be patient with people and is kind there's another one love does not envy that's how you love one another love does not parade itself is not puffed up does not behave rudely and how much of the world would behave rudely does not seek its own we already talked about seeking other people's interest and steaming them better than ourselves valuing them better than ourselves as we read in Philippians the second chapter does not seek its own is not provoked thinks no evil does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth bears all things believes all things hopes all things endures all things love never fails we have to become loved and we have to radiate God's love and love one another there are more than 10 ways of loving one another we've just read more than a dozen of more than about a dozen here in 1st Corinthians 13 chapter it reminds me of the moving poem it's a love poem but it expresses it in a special way by Elizabeth Barrett Browning who was writing this love poem through her husband 1806 1861 how do I love thee let me count the ways is the title of the sermon of the poem how do I love thee let me count the ways I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach and feeling out of site for the ends of being and ideal grace I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need by Sun and candlelight I love thee freely as men strive for right I love thee purely as they turn from praise I love thee with a passion put to use in my old griefs and with my childhoods faith I love they with a love I seemed to lose with my last by lost Saints I love thee with a breath smile tears of all my life and if God choose I shall but love thee better after death there's a passionate ration of love and I hope that we can have that kind of passion and love even towards God the Father and Christ and towards one another I quoted two before it and I'll just mention it the first John 4:18 the there is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment but he that fears is not made perfect in love so live by first Corinthians 13 that's number seven you know I just reminded one thing remember mr. Herbert Armstrong and one time in Pasadena and one of the Assemblies he he said that some of you don't feel close to me he said that now God is up here and if I'm close to God and you are not close to God we're not going to be close to another one another but if you are close to God and I am close to God we will be close to one another I always remember that from mr. Herbert Armstrong's I was very very special so we're close to God we could be close to one another summary number seven lived by first Corinthians 13 number eight encourage one another and I mentioned some of these will overlap then because we've already talked about communicating frequently and lovingly but this is encourage one another turn to Hebrews the tenth chapter Hebrews the tenth chapter and starting with verse 24 Hebrews 10 verse 24 and let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works let us consider one another so we're considering one another of course we're praying for another one one another in which we already discussed is one of the ways to love one another in order to stir up love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together and we're assembling ourselves together today even though it's through the electronics as is the manner of some but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching so we need to exhort one another and it's the same the translation is the NIV encourage one another we have a whole sermon on that sermon number six one zero or 630 sermon number 630 and courage one another turn to second Timothy the first chapter second to me the first chapter we all need encouragement I ask God for encouragement the same time I asked him that I can encourage others and it's amazing the encouragement that comes first Timothy the first chapter the Apostle Paul was in prison and he was he was lonely some had already forsaken him first Timothy 1 and verse 16 oh sorry 2nd Timothy I'm sorry 2nd Timothy 1 in verse 16 2nd Timothy 1 verse 16 the Lord grant mercy to the household of on a Sepphoris for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain so here was someone who visited Paul in prison and Paul encouraged and he goes on on to say but when he arrived in Rome he sought me out very zealously and found me the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus so he ministered to the Apostle Paul and encouraged him might turn to Acts the fourth chapter acts four and here's another one who was an encourage who was that Acts the fourth chapter well I'll just mention him by name and you can look at that well let's start with verse 32 now the multitude of those who believe were one heart and one soul x4 verse 32 neither did any say that any of the things he possessed was his own but they had all things in common and with great power the Apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace or favor was upon them all nor was there any one among them who lacked for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and laid them at the Apostles feet and they distribute to each as anyone had need and Joseph who's also named Barnabas by the Apostles which has translated son of encouragement Levite of the country of Cyprus having land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles feet so here was someone else Barnabas which actually the name is son of encouragement so there are those who are encouragers we'd thank God for those who are in our congregation who are encourages and we need to encourage one another to thank be thankful for the kindnesses that people show us and make make sure we communicate that thankfulness God the Father even encouraged Jesus the Christ in Matthew 3:17 I'll just read it and suddenly a voice came from heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased that would be a great encouragement to Lord and Savior from a voice that came from heaven so we need to encourage one another learn people's names I know my wife and I have problems I remember his names but the two of us together can kind of put names together like Dale Carnegie wrote this book making friends how to make friends and win people along how to influence people of win friends and make friends or whatever the title of Dale Carnegie's book and he said paraphrasing that the sweetest sound in any language is the sound of one's own personal name so try to remember is people's names and our church members and get acquainted with them I'll just turn to one more section here I think that takes care of it God the Father and encourage his son we need to encourage one another so number eight and loving one another is to encourage one another number nine is to live by the Ten Commandments because we're told here this is how we love our neighbors this is how we love our Father in heaven I won't turn there first John 5:3 for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and His commandments are not burdensome in Romans 13:10 love does not harm to a neighbor therefore a love is the fulfillment of the law but you can't turn to church first John four and verse seven turn to first John four and verse seven of course you know throughout the three epistles of John first second and third John he talks about love continuously but it's not a vague love it's defined godly love first John four and verse seven beloved let us not love one another let us love one another for love is of God and everyone who loves is begotten of God it should read and knows God he does not who does not love does not know God for god is love in this the love of God was manifest toward us so that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him verse 10 first John 4 in this in this is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins the lot of if God so loved us we also ought to love one another if God so loved us we ought to so love one another verse twenty first John 4 and verse 20 if someone says I love God and hates his brother he is a liar for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen how can he love God whom he has not seen and this commandment we have from him that he who loves God must love his brother also so we thank God for the commandments the Ten Commandments and our children know the fifth commandment to honor your parents and your mother and father and I hope your children are loving not only honoring your father and mother but you are loving your father and mother and I will ask any children who are listening do you love your brothers and sisters so make sure that you love one another and you if you're having difficulty loving your brother and sister help have your parents help you to try to love one another very important for your children and we're all children of God who need to love one another so number nine and loving one another is to live by the Ten Commandments number ten is to forgive one another they're the Passover for 2020 it's just three weeks away a little more than that and we need o to hear the messages of examining ourselves and next Sabbath of course we'll be observing the church wide fast so one of the major lessons of Passover is the reconciliation to God by the death of his son Romans 5 and verse 10 we're humbled by God's mercy and forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ the Lamb of God we also learn to forgive one another and so one of our Passover commitments was that he we we will be willing to accept God's forgiveness so when we observe the Passover be willing to accept God's forgiveness of course you have to repent first and be willing to forgive others forgiving one another is the fundamental of Krewe Christianity forgiving one another is a fundamental in loving one another the outline prayer in Matthew the sixth chapter Jesus taught us to pray you said give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors I don't know if you pray that prayer I don't pray that prayer every day but it's a reminder that this is a daily prayer that we forgive others as and we ask us our forgiveness as we forgive others well turn one more in Ephesians 4 in verse 31 Ephesians 4 verse 31 seasons 4 and verse 31 these fishes for verse 31 let all bitterness wrath anger clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice and be kind to one another we already read that in 1st Corinthians 13 and be kind to one another tender-hearted yes you have compassion you can connect emotionally forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you and I know of some cases where so difficult for someone to forgive forgive one who had been abused them or had offended them deeply it caused great hurt and it was so difficult for that person to forgive and yet I've quoted that book from one of the don't let the jerks get the best of you where the advice by the counselor was that those who have been abused and were that very depressed that once they forgave the one who abused them they're the serotonin in their brain was renewed and they were overcame their depression and I know in one case it was the kind of I think the expression helped the individual and having the difficulty forgive someone was let go and let God let go of this this obsession you have to get revenge and let God take care of it and that person then was able to forgive and overcame that obsession that he or she had so even as God in Christ forgave you forgive one another and of course he tells us even to love our enemies in Matthew five and verse 44 so if we have trouble loving our brethren how can we have trouble loving our brethren if we're supposed to even love our enemies we need God's holy spirit and we need to have Christ in us to be able to overcome that selfishness and that desire for vengeance God says vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord so we need to again be forgiving so number 10 and loving one another is forgive one there jesus warned us in this end times that because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold I mention that before Matthew 24 and verse 12 our love must grow warm our love must fulfill a divine love and what better time to do that in this time of stress and pandemic our Father in Heaven is preparing a family we're preparing for the kingdom we're preparing to marry the lamb and God's love is eternal he even gives us his love which we can by which we can love him and love our Savior because he gives us his spirit which is a spirit of love he even gives us as love by which we can love one another a brotherly love because us is love by which we can even love our enemies Matthew 5:44 so how can we love one another I'll summarize number one consider the needs of your brethren number two fulfil the needs of your brethren number three communicate frequently and lovingly number four pray for one another number five remember your calling as a servant you're a bond servant of Christ number six express compassion involve yourself emotionally number seven live by first Corinthians 13 number eight encourage one another number nine live by the Ten Commandments number ten forgive one another finally turn to 1st Peter the first chapter I think we read this before but it's so important so profound first Peter the first chapter first Peter 1 and verse 22 since you have purified your souls and obeying the truth through the spirit in sincere love of the Brethren love one another fervently with a pure heart love one another fervently with a pure heart brethren pray the god spirit can flow out from you in rivers of living water as they promises us in in John 7 and verse 30 38 but let's love one another fervently with a pure heart from the love of God spirit that flows out from us and rivers of living water and remember Jesus statement in John 13:35 by this show AMA know that you are my disciples if you love one another [Music] you

Channel: Living Church of God

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Length: 65min 40sec (3940 seconds)

Published: Fri May 29 2020