LOVE THAT PRODUCES PEACE AND TESTIFIES TO THE WORLD
Sunday, November 05, 2006
I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as
I have loved you, so you too should love one another. 35 By this shall
all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if
you keep on showing love among yourselves]. John 13:34-35 AMP
Jesus gave us - His children; His disciples - a commandment to love one
another. Love is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. The
unselfish love we continue to show each other is what tells the world
that we are not like they are; that we are like Jesus; that we are His
disciples.
But concerning brotherly love [for all other
Christians], you have no need to have anyone write you, for you
yourselves have been [personally] taught by God to love one another. 10
And indeed you already are [extending and displaying your love] to all
the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we beseech and earnestly exhort
you, brethren, that you excel [in this matter] more and more, 11 To
make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and
peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as
we charged you, 12 So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be
correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world,
being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 AMP
Love is not love until you DO something. We must extend and display our
love for one another, living together quietly and peacefully. Believers
need to take care of each other so that none of us are dependant on the
world for anything. We must be a blessing to one another. We need to be
able to get help from each other when we need it, without taking
advantage of each other. We also need to care for one another without
poking our nose into each other's business. We need to mind our own
business first, making sure that we faithfully attend to our own
responsibilities, and making sure that we have a right attitude at all
times. When we bear ourselves becomingly and when we carry ourselves
correctly and honorably, we will command the respect of the outside
world.
I therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and
beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which
you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to
God's service, 2 Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind
(humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with
patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you
love one another. 3 Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the
harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding
power of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 AMP
Paul begs us to lead a
life worthy of the divine calling to which we have been called. He
encourages us to behave in a way that is a credit both to God and to
the call of God on our lives. If we want to serve God and we say we are
serving Him, then there are requirements we must fulfill. The way we
conduct ourselves tells the story – it testifies as to whether we are
serving God or ourselves. God asks us to humble ourselves and be meek
and patient with each other, to bear with each other and to make
allowances because we love each other. This does not just come
naturally, without the influence of the Spirit of God, but it is
something we must cultivate and develop with His help. God expects us
to submit to the Holy Spirit and to eagerly work to preserve harmony
and oneness between ourselves. Peace is the result and peace is what
binds us together. This peace testifies to the world that we are His.
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any
comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any
tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being
like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:1-4 NIV
Selfish ambition and vain conceit cause
division and strife amongst people – even God's people. Love and
humility is the antidote. Therefore, it is so important for us, the
Body of Christ, to be humble and to consider others better than
ourselves. We need to be like-minded; we need to have the same love for
one another; we need to be one in spirit and one in purpose. We need to
not only think of ourselves and our needs, but we should care about
each other and make sure that we are a blessing to one another. If we
ALL do this, we will accomplish the will and purpose of God.
Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue
righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity
to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue]
faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in
fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure
heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 AMP
If we, the Body of Christ, are to
live together in peace and harmony, then it is essential that we all
make a quality decision to personally press into God, allowing Him to
have His way in our lives, and also to walk consistently in the love of
God toward one another.
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the