Do it for the friends and the family.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
*Random Samford Scholarship to offset my tuition and loss of Premin-
We have all received something we need in the moment.
We are bent towards receiving!
But the real question, are we regularly giving and meeting needs.
This is not natural.
But at the end of the day, when we give, we receive.
This is God’s upside kingdom philosophy.
In Chapter 2 of 1 John, we saw a call to be invited into a fellowship with each other, marked by what Christ does in our lives and in our hearts.
Now, John is taking it a step further…
When we are marked by the love of God, by the extension of the overflow of that love, it will directly affect how we function, not just in fellowship with God’s people, but the specific relationships we have with others.
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Obedience to God and the expression of Godly love are evidences of being a child of God.
A true child of God practices righteousness.
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
According to 1 John 2, true love is a matter of walking in the light and not in the darkness.
He takes it a step further in 1 John 3, it is really a matter of life or death.
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
You can’t extend the love of God until you have received the love of God.
You can’t extend the love of God until you have received the love of God.
So heres the honest truth. This conversation is directed toward those who are saved. If you are a born again believer, these instructions and challenges are for you are are available for you to experience.
If you are not a believer, you will find what I am talking about to be difficult to understand and implement.
If you are hearing this reality as something you want to experience, it begins with acknowledging that it is only through your surrendering to Christ that you will be able to.
In this passage, John identifies four types of relationships in which I person might practice...
4 Types of Working Relationships in 1 John 3
4 Types of Working Relationships in 1 John 3
Murder (1 John 3:11-12)
Hatred (1 John 3:13-15)
Indifference (1 John 3:16-17)
Christian Compassion/Love (1 John 3:18-24)
1. Murder
1. Murder
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Who is Cain?
Genesis Chapter 4
Battle of the brothers, hate, murder, sacrifices, and God’s warning
I want you to notice something...
Cain is a brother of Able, the sons of Adam and Even- God’s first creation of Male and Female..
AKA he is God’s son, a part of God’s people.
He is not an atheist, but one who worships...
He attends gatherings, brings offerings, but these actions are not what marks him as one born of God. The real test is his love for his brother… Where he failed.
This type of approach is of the world.
Do we value our care for our own interest more than God’s care for our lives?
Do we value our care for our own interest more than God’s care for our lives?
This is the way the world works...
Austin and I on Swan Creek
Even though everything out there could harm us and kill us, we had each other!
But the action of murder was proceeded by the posture of it, which is hatred.
The posture of murder is the decision of hatred.
The posture of murder is the decision of hatred.
2. Hatred
2. Hatred
The inward intent of both murder and hatred is the same-
It is the disdain of life- the carelessness of ones interest for the pride for ones own.
The only reason people don’t murder people often is because there are ramifications
arrest, shame, penalties, and possible death.
*The lion behind bars
It is a lot like my cat!
When we discuss hatred, we ask ourselves this questions...
Not, “What did you you?” but “What did you want to do?”
Hate vs Murder
Lust vs Adultry
Although the damage done is a lesser amount, when not taken care of, it could lead to the other.
We are to not hate like the world, but love like the Father.
We are to not hate like the world, but love like the Father.
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Listen, there is going to be a day you disagree or become frustrated with someone. There will even be a day you struggle with hatred...
God has provided ways in which we are to handle these things!
According to Matthew, we are to immediately take care of these things before it effects our life.
Hatred does damage to you personally...
It puts a man in emotional and spiritual prison.
Your’e habitually sinning!
3. Indifference
3. Indifference
Love is not just the abstaining from doing harm, it is the action of doing good.
If Cain is our example of false love, then Christ is our example of love!
“Christ did not just talk about love, He died to prove it!” - WW
17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Ignoring the need or being indifferent to it is not rooted in just a lack of love, but a heart of sin!
Ignoring the need or being indifferent to it is not rooted in just a lack of love, but a heart of sin!
“What bout if you can’t meet the need? Am I still responsible for my inability to serve and love that person?”
In order to meet the need...
you need the resource
you need the need
you need the love to share it
Example… Someone in this room needs a real friendship, one centered on God’s word.
Can you be that friend? Do you have time to meet for dinner or hang out? Do you even recognize that need?
In order to know the needs you have to know the people.
In order to know the needs you have to know the people.
4. Christian Love/Compassion
4. Christian Love/Compassion
18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
(vs19) “by this”
The wall of insincerity is built with bricks made of selfishness.
The wall of insincerity is built with bricks made of selfishness.
I think we don’t love like Jesus because of what it costs.
Your concern is of what you would lose...
But you are losing sight of what you will gain!
He will take care of you!
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
He cares for us. We have to trust this! Our trust is a working trust, we trust His word by walking in His ways.
22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
Prayer is a serious component of walking with the Lord and experiencing His love.
The secret to answered prayer is obedience.
The problem is that obedience done out of obligation, fear, or servitude is not the obedience He calls for...
He calls for an obedience that is rooted in love.
When we obey because of our faith in Him and trust in His ways, we experience what it means to abide.
Abiding is tied to our obeying.
Abiding is tied to our obeying.
If you aren’t quick to love, you probably aren’d abiding.
if you aren’t abiding, you probably aren’t obeying.
If you aren’t obeying, you are probably hating.