Let Love Run Deep
It was the 14th of March and Pastor Xavier was not able to preach at the Old Age Home. He asked me to cover for him. I was honored to do so. When I had asked the Holy Spirit the theme Love came up. It is not easy to love when you live together at the age of those people in that Old Age Home. God let me to focus on Philadelphia which is brotherly Love.I hope you enjoy the study. May God bless you as may HE help us to grow in brotherly love
Psalm 133 v 1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!
The word Love
In english there
is only one word.
In Hebrew there is more: ahav’ = brotherly love, hesed = unfailing love
And in Greek as well: Philadelphia
Read John 13 v 34-35
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples
Christ’s
love for you and I
Our love
for one another
It is not
really a new command – see Lev. 19v18
where God instructs Moses
18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
But Jesus
now puts a new dimension to this love: AGAPE Love
Read Romans 12 v 9-21
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[a]and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[b] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,”[c]says the Lord. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them.If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”[d]. 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Love is a guiding principle in Christian
relationships
Love is a
dominant factor in a transformed life
Key words
in this text:
-
affectionate
to one another
-
brotherly
love
-
in
honor giving preference to one another
-
fervent
in spirit
-
serving
the Lord
-
continuing
steadfastly in prayer
-
be
of the same mind with one another
(unity)
Philippians 2 v 3
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Read Hebrews 13 v 1
The writer of Hebrews urges to
13 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.[a]
LET
BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE:
…read on until verse 6
2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. 4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. 5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”[b] 6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”[c]
Love is an
attitude that reveals itself in action
Real love
produces tangible action
In this text:
1) hospitality to strangers
2) empathy for prisoners
3) respect for marriage vows
4) contentment with what we have
Love God
Love People – simply put what we need to do
Here are some more verses to study. God's love means:
John 14 v 15 Jesus
says to love God means to keep His commands
= obedience
John 15 v 9 to
abide in God’s love, verse 12 love
one another as He loved us= we can only
do that with God’s love
1 John 4 v 19 We love Him because He first loved us
Luke 10 v 27 Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
soul, and mind strength
Matt 5 v 43-48 Love your enemies alike
Love is a
practical concern, a blessing, a prayer, for well-being to a friend AND enemy
alike
Bring it to Vue Duy Cap:
The roommate
situation for young people in their early twenties is a challenge. If that is a challenge how much harder is it for people in their 60ies/70ies/80ies to have housemates and to share a kitchen, living room, and a bathroom with each other
In Living
together we need brotherly love.
Iron
sharpens iron: test of character which is one of God’s biggest tests
God is not
finished with you yet. He sharpens us and shapes us regardless in which season of life we are in.
This is my prayer as I end :
2 Thess. 3
v 5
5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
1 Thess. 3
v 12
12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.
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