Brotherly Love - Imperfect People Serving a Perfect God

1. O’neal church of Christ, Athens, Alabama “Imperfect people striving to serve A Perfect God.” We welcome you to join us on our journey

2. Loving My Brethren Let brotherly love continue Heb. 13:1

3. What a joy it is to preach on the wonderful • ‘love of my brethren’. • I didn’t realize God has said so much about it. • I’m sure we all realize how important we are to each • Other. • I am so fortunate.. I had a large family –9 children. • There are only 3 left…All 3 brothers are gone, and • Now 3 of my sisters are gone. You know, I really • Miss those brothers and sisters.

4. And, so many of my brothers and sisters in God’s • Family have died. ( I Tim.3:15). • Our brotherhood at O’neal has lost folks that • Loved us, lived with us and served with us all their • Lives • That’s why God has given us so many scriptures • That help us to treasure our spiritual family. • And I really need you. You are my brother and you • Are my sister in the Lord Jesus Christ. • And just think: We all have the same Father : God. • And He is not willing that a single one of us perish! • (2 Pet. 3:9)

6. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my brother!

7. He Ain’t heavy, He’s my brother

8. The road is long The Hollies 1960With many a winding turnThat leads us to who knows whereWho knows when • But I'm strongStrong enough to carry himHe ain't heavy, he's my brotherSo on we go • His welfare is of my concernNo burden is he to bearWe'll get thereFor I know

9. That everyone's heartIsn't filled with the gladnessOf love for one anotherIt's a long, long road • From which there is no returnWhile we're on the way to thereWhy not shareAnd the load • Doesn't weigh me down at allHe ain't heavy, he's my brotherHe's my brotherHe ain't heavy, he's my brother

10. Hebrews 13:1-6 13 Let brotherly love continue. • 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. • 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. • 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. • 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. • 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

11. Hebrews 13:1 is made up of only four words, but those four words send a strong message: “Let brotherly love continue.”, But it has to begin.” It is true that brotherly love must begin to exist before it can “continue,” • And we are thankful to God we have great brothers and • Sisters who love us as we seek to love them!

12. Nearly every New Testament letter contains an exhortation to love. This is only appropriate, as the night before His crucifixion Jesus emphasized His “new commandment” (John 13:34-35). Christ’s followers are to love one another as Jesus loved them. Hebrews 13:1, however, has a distinctive emphasis: “Keep on” loving. The emphasis is important.

13. Brotherly love reflects the nature of Christians. That is why Paul could say, “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another” (1 Ths. 4:9). • Isn’t that Wonderful…We are taught of God. He knows what we need! • Being “taught by God,” the true child of God knows that he is to love his spiritual brothers and sisters. For the very reason that God is our common heavenly Father, love for each other is to be as natural and normal as family members’ affectionate love for each other. (Just like I loved my sister Lydia so much.)

14. Does Jesus Care? Song 132

15. Does Jesus care when my heart is painedToo deeply for mirth or song,  As the burdens press,  And the cares distress,And the way grows weary and long? • O yes, He cares, I know He cares,His heart is touched with my grief;  When the days are weary,  The long night dreary,  I know my Savior cares

16. Does Jesus care when my way is darkWith a nameless dread and fear?  As the daylight fades  Into deep night shades,Does He care enough to be near? • Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failedTo resist some temptation strong;  When for my deep grief  There is no relief,Though my tears flow all the night long?

17. Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”To the dearest on earth to me,  And my sad heart aches  Till it nearly breaks,Is it aught to Him? Does He see? • O yes, He cares, I know He cares,His heart is touched with my grief;  When the days are weary,  The long night dreary,  I know my Savior cares

18. Just as we have strong affection for our physical • Family, We are so blessed to have a loving affection for one another in the family of God. • Let us hear what God tells us:

19. Romans 12:10 • 10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; • Look what that tells us…you and I are so important.. • I honour you as you honour me. That is • great.

20. I Thess. 4:9 9But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. • Why would God do that? We are taught • What is best for each of us…Isn’t that a grand thing… • Only God could give us such teaching!!!!

21. I Pet. 1:22 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently • We be brethren! We truly love each other from • the bottom of our hearts!. We are so blessed to have • so many loving us. (Rick Henson at Cracker Barrel)

22. 2 Pet.1:7 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (Love) • And we are • Blessed by God to have that great love for each other!!

23. 1 Peter 2:17 17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king • God says: You may love the brotherhood. Tell them • That you love them, show them, and help them to see • How important we are to each other!

24. The primary moral standard of Christianity is love, and the particular love exhorted here is the love that Christians cherish for each other as brethren. • You are my family in the Lord…and I love you! Thank you • For loving me!!

25. Love One Another Song #37 Angry Words

26. 1 Angry words! oh, let them neverFrom the tongue unbridled slip;May the heart's best impulse everCheck them e'er they soil the lip. • Chorus:"Love one another," Thus saith the Saviour,Children, obey the Father's blest command:"Love one another," Thus saith the Saviour,Children, obey his blest command.

27. 2 Love is much too pure and holy,Friendship is too sacred far,For a moment's reckless follyThus to desolate and mar. [Chorus] • 3 Angry words are lightly spoken;Bitt'resttho'ts are rashly stirredBrightest links of life are broken,By a single angry word. [Chorus]

28. Proverbs 15:1 • A asoft answer turns away wrath, • But ba harsh word stirs up anger. • God helps us in our relationships…He even • tells us how to act!! • My Folks use to tell me…Son, remember who • You are…You are our son…and We want the best for you.

29. Let us Listen to these words of God:

30. "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."Matthew 22:36-40, KJV • Think of that! First Love our Father..your Father and • Mine… And then we are granted the priviledge of • Loving each other. We are the family of God…and we • Need always to show our love!

31. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."John 13:34-35, KJV • You and I are showing who our Father is!...The world • Sees How much we love each other by the way we act, what we Say, what we do…

32. "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you . . . These things I command you, that ye love one another."John 15:12, 17, KJV • I love that passage…I am to love you as Jesus loved me! • Can’t get any better than that!

33. "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."Romans 13:8-9, KJV • Here is one that I have to work on for myself. Just as I • Love myself, so I need to love you.!

34. Did you know that brothers and sisters in the early church • Greeted one another with a holy kiss? • "Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you."Romans 16:16, KJV • And look how often God told us about that!

35. "All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss."1 Corinthians 16:20, KJV • "Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss."1 Thessalonians 5:26, KJV

36. "Greet one another with an holy kiss."2 Corinthians 13:12, KJV • We shake hands or a gentle hug..But isn’t it • Wonderful to know that God said “greet • One another!” Hi, how are you…Hello. • Greet one another… • What a priviledge! What a joy to see you!!

37. "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love . . . And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."Ephesians 4:2, 32, KJV • We are brethren and what a joy it is to treat • Each other just like our ‘physical brothers in the • Flesh’ (At Mom and Dad’s house…leaving them in • Cleveland…I can see Mom crying when we would • Leave to go back to Nashville to college!.)

38. "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:"1 Thessalonians 3:12, KJV • Paul loved the Thessalonians…they just got better and • Better about their treatment of each other.

39. Why Should He Love Me So Lyrics #769 Love sent my savior to die in my stead;Why should He love me so?Meekly to Calvary's cross He was led;Why should He love me so?Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin;Why should He love me so?He suffered sore my salvation to win;Why should He love me so?

40. O how He agonized there in my place;Why should He love me so?Nothing withholding my sin to efface;Why should He love me so? • Why should He love me so?Why should He love me so?Why should my Savior to Calvary go?Why should He love me so?

41. "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:"James 2:8, KJV • We are doing well when we love each other!

42. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"1 Peter 1:22, KJV • Our love for each other is not a pretended love… • It is not feigned but unfeigned..it is truly sincere, • Not hypocritical… We have pure hearts because we • Truly love each other..that’s what Peter is telling us from God.

43. "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."1 Peter 3:8-9, KJV • A blessing…we get something special from God because • Of our compassion and love for one another!That’s a • Good way to LIVE!

44. "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."1 Peter 4:8, KJV • Fervent love among yourselves….We are God’s children… • God is our Father and we love showing fervent love • To each other.

45. "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another . . . And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."1 John 3:11, 23, KJV • God said what? That we should believe on the name of • His Son Jesus Christ..and love one another…We can do that.. • Lord, help us all to do that!

46. "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love . . . Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."1 John 4:7-8, 11-12 KJV • People see God in us..He dwells in us…and His love is • Perfected in us….by loving each other!!!

47. "And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another."2 John 1:5, KJV • A brand new commandment…oh no…it is that which • We have had from the beginning…that we love one • Another!!

48. Biblical Expressions of Love by Ken Forrest • Love is slow to lose patience: It is resolved to wait without becoming angry when others fall below the expectations that it has set for them. • Love is kind and constructive: It is cautious not to make quick judgments, and honestly seeks to be a healing presence in its relationships. • Love is not possessive: It does not have to be in control of every conversation or situation. • Love is not anxious to impress: It is secure with who it is, and does not always have to be “the life of the party.”

49. Love is not arrogant and egocentric: It does not have an inflated view of its own importance, but is concerned about the well being of others. • Love has good manners: It respects the rights and dignity of others without forcing its crude and thoughtless behavior on them. • Love is not selfish: It is not always concerned with the rights of “Me, Myself, and I,” but finds pleasure in others’ happiness and success. • Love is not touchy and resentful: It is understanding when mistreated, and forgiving in the long-term.

50. Is it not a huge plus for the Lord’s Cause when His people have a genuine brotherly love among themselves? The love and care that Christians have for one another is a powerful force in the world. Even those who are not disciples of Jesus notice, respect, and in some cases are attracted by the genuine love that saints show for one another. Here are a few plusses or positive things that take place when brotherly love continues to abound among the members of God’s church.