You
But we are gonna get started for this evening
So go ahead and find your seats welcome to pure word Baptist Church and pull out your hymnals
I will open up to our first song. He's song number 65
Song number 65 just over in the gloryland
song number 65
Song number 65 just over in the gloryland
Wouldn't let you find your place there
You
Start there on the first. I have a home prepared where the saints of I just over in the
gloryland
And I long to be by my Savior's side just over in the glory
land
just
The glory
Oh
On my way to the mansion just over in the glory
There to see God's praise and his glory
Just over in the glory
There with the mighty host
and just over in the glory
land
What a joyful thought that my lord I'll see just over in the glory
land
In print safe there forever be just over in the glory
land
just
Oh
Last with the blood wash wrong. I will shout and sing just over in the glory
Land
Laddows and us to Christ the Lord
Just over in the glory
land
just
In the glory
There
The mighty host
Man brother mo you want to open this up with the word of prayer?
Amen
All right, so go ahead and flip to song number three in your hymnal song number three
Jesus paid it all
Song number three in your hymnal Jesus paid it all
First I hear the Savior say
thy strength
Indeed is small
child of weakness
watching
Finding me
Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
We need I find
Oh
Jesus paid it all all to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He
Watched it
Nothing good
Where by thy grace to claim
Wash my garments white in the blood of Calvary's
Jesus paid it all all to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow from last
and when
Before the throne I stand in him complete
Jesus died my soul to save my lips shall still repeat
Jesus
Paid it all all to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain he
Great singing so at this time
We'll go ahead and go over the announcements for the evenings to go ahead and pull out your bulletins
From the morning if you didn't receive a bulletin or if you don't have one it's going to raise your hand
But brother Brandon bring them around to you
In the top left we have our service times listed. We have our
Sunday morning service at 10 30 a.m. The evening service is at 5 30 p.m
And we do have that midweek Bible study on Thursday at 7 p.m. We have our soul winning times listed underneath that
with the respective leaders for the regional soul winning times
And our stats are listed underneath that and as of right now we have our
Salvations at 304 so we broke that 300 mark so great job soul winning
We went out today, and we have some more added. We have six from this morning that we took we had
In six more from from this afternoon, so we had 12 Salvations to add that bumps up to 316 all right
It's a great number right there 316 so keep up the good job the good work soul winning
For our Bible memory passage. We are still in Romans chapter number 8. We're in verse number 14
Verse 14 is a very short verse all right so for you kids definitely just get this verse memorized to get some free ice cream
Next midweek service and then again if you can memorize the entire chapter word perfect to a non family member
You will receive a special prize and for this month
Anti pride month right we have another challenge for you guys if you can memorize Romans one word perfect
You also receive a prize okay, so I think that should be a pretty easy one for all of us
I think most of you guys have most of it memorized probably brush up on a few things, but go ahead and work on those
They're on the next page be in prayer for our expectant mothers
We have miss Carrie Shelley and her baby and also miss Sarah Gomez and her baby
So just be in prayer for the mothers and the babies that everyone stays healthy
Everything goes according to plan and then just right around the corner
We do have some upcoming events at the end of this month June 26
We do have a soul winning marathon that's taking place in Baytown. We're calling the Baytown bash all right
We have the details listed right here. It's June 26
We're gonna be meeting up at Roseland Park, and that's at 100 Roseland Drive, Baytown, Texas
775 to 0 we're gonna meet there at 9 a.m.. For breakfast breakfast will be provided
We're gonna have some breakfast burritos. Okay, taco cabana breast for breakfast burritos really good
So come out for some breakfast and some fellowship. We're gonna be heading out at 10 a.m.. For a round of soul winning
It's gonna be from 10 to 12
And be the sort that will be the the morning slot
Then we're gonna be meeting back at that same park at 1230 a lunch will be provided
So we're gonna be having lunch from 1230 to 130
And then we're gonna be going back out for a second round of soul winning at 2 to tilt from 2 to 4 all right
So definitely we're gonna have
Breakfast and lunch provided plus all the water that we're gonna need it is getting really hot out there really humid
So we're gonna have plenty of water for you guys stay hydrated for that, but definitely looking forward to that be a good time
To go out there and get a lot of people saved in Baytown and then just at the end of this year
We do have the fire-breathing Baptist Fellowship. That's at Steadfast Baptist Church up in Hearst, Texas
That's October 6 through the 10th. Okay, so
It's gonna be a great time a fellowship again
They're gonna have a great lineup of preachers and a lot of events planned so definitely write that on your calendar
To attend and then just lastly if you do have any prayer requests email those into the chat box
email those into the church at pure words Baptist at gmail.com
And we could be in prayer for everybody with whatever you need or whatever you need a special prayer about
Pastor Shelley goes over all of those during that midweek service
But that is the announcements for the evening if you go ahead and pull your hymnals back out
We'll have brother Cameron come lead us in our third song
the song of 316
316
That's funny talk about 316 salvations and then we get 316 is the him I did not plan that I promise him number
316 I have decided to follow Jesus, you know, that's what happened today out soul winning, right?
Many people decided to follow him at least as in putting their faith and trust in him, right?
Hopefully they'll follow him a little bit more than that, but 316 him 316 316
I
Let's say
To follow Jesus I have decided
to follow Jesus
Decided to follow Jesus
Me still I will
Go with me still
Behind me the cross before me the world behind me the cross before me
Behind me the cross before me no turning back
Turning
Amen short and sweet and a great hymn while the offering place being passed around turn if you would to first John chapter number four
First John chapter number four brother Brandon will read that for us. We'll read that chapter as is our custom
All right, well we're there in first John chapter
For the Bible reads beloved believe not every spirit
But try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world
Hereby know you the Spirit of God every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God
and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God and
This is that the spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come and even now
Already it is in the world
You are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world
They are not of the world therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them
We are of God and he that knoweth God here with us
He that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the spirit of truth and of spirit of error
Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and
knoweth God he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love and this was
Manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his only begotten son into the world
That we might live through him
Herein is love not that we love God
But that he loved us and he sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins
Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another
No, man has seen God at any time
If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfect in us
Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he and us because he hath given us of his spirit
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God
God dwelleth in him and he and God and we have known and believed the Son of God hath to us
God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God is in him
Herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgment
Because he as he is so are we in this world there is no fear in love
But perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not made perfect in love
We love him because he first loved us
If a man say I love God and hateth his brother
He is a liar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen
How can he love God whom he hath not seen and in this commandment have we from him?
That he who loveth God loveth his brother also
Have a word of prayer
Heavenly Father we thank you for everyone here. We thank you for being coming down
All right, amen. I want to start by saying thank you to Pastor Shelley for the opportunity to preach here today
It was a lot of fun to be here
I always have fun visiting you guys and so just thanks for having me again for the hospitality and the
Fellowship yesterday and today as well. That's been a lot of fun first John chapter 4 look at verse 7 to start off
It says beloved. Let us love one another
For love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God
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 the Bible hammers this concept
Repeatedly that we should love one another
This phrase love one another comes up multiple times in Scripture
Especially in your new test. Let's go to 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 and we can see
Another place in which this phrase is used love
one another
Jesus Christ said in John 15
This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you. It's a common theme
He set the example for this Jesus set the example of what love truly is and he's who we draw inspiration from
Regarding love he is the standard
First Thessalonians 4 says in verse 9 where I had you turn but as touching
But as touching brotherly love
You need not that I write unto you says I don't need to write to you about this particular subject
Why for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another it's God who taught you to love each other
God taught you to love one another Paul says this isn't even something I have to teach you myself
It's already been made evident by God himself
And so the title of my sermon this afternoon is love one another love one another and specifically
Because this is a broad subject what I'm going to talk about is within the confines of your local New Testament Church
That's what we'll be describing or talking about over the course of this sermon is
Loving one another within the confines of a local new chest no New Testament Church or also
Just regarding the saved regarding the saved as well is that we ought to love one another
regarding the New Testament Church and
The saved go to 1st John chapter 4 1st John chapter 4 if you would we're gonna go back there
now the reason why I'm preaching this is because the Bible of course covers a multiplicity of
Different topics and this is one of them it does emphasize
Heavily love now that doesn't mean that this should be the only thing we ever talk about this isn't the only subject that should ever
Be covered behind the pulpits of America
And you guys have heard me lament the fact that most churches will only preach on love most churches will only cover
The love of God or the forgiveness or long-suffering of God etc however
We don't want to over correct and never focus on these things, but rather just focus on hatred or just focus on wrath
We ought to be well balanced as Bible believing Christians and
Enjoy both the positive and the negative aspects of the Word of God and tonight
I want to focus more on the positive side or the positive aspect or the positive commandment that we see
Which is that we should love one another and of course like I said specifically I'm talking about
Within a local New Testament Church 1st John 4 20 says this if a man say I love God and
Hated this brother
He is a liar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not
Seen now your false prophet heretics will take this verse completely out of context and use it to teach that you have to love
Wicked pedophile child molesters sodomites and things like that. That's not what this verse is talking about
Those aren't your brothers your brothers are those who are saved and that's what this sermon is about
Loving the same not just those who come to this church
but loving the saved in general loving those who believe the gospel loving those who've been sealed with the Holy Spirit of
Promise that's what I'm focused on focusing on over the next hour here
And what this is saying is that if you say that you love God if you claim to love God
Verbally, but then through your behavior hate your brother then you're a liar now. That's the Bible talking. That's not my opinion
That's what the Word of God says in 1st John 4 20 that if you claim to love God
But you hate your brother. You are a liar and that's pretty hardcore right there
Again, not my opinion. I'm not the bad guy here. This is what the Bible so clearly teaches in
Ecclesiastes 3 you don't have to turn there. I'll just quote it for you
It says to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven
And then it also says a time to rend and a time to sow a time to keep silence and a time to speak
But then it also says a time to love and a time to hate it says a time of war and a time of peace
There's a time to fight there's a time for battle, but there's also a time for peace as well and make no mistake
Yes, there's a time for love and that's what this sermon is gonna cover. But like I said, we want to be well balanced
There's also a time for hate
The time for hate would be when you're dealing with someone who hates God
When an individual has made it clear that they hate God the Bible calls these people
reprobates when they hate the Lord when they hate God
At that point Psalm chapter 139 do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee that gives you license to then hate them
And that's the truth that so many churches across America have silenced. It's a truth that they don't want to talk about
It's a truth that they avoid
But the flip side is that there is also a time to love and in fact, I would make the claim
Tonight that that should be our default position
That should be our default position
Why because we ought to love the lost and what I'm talking about are the lost who are the not the reprobates
But just regular unsafe folks
We ought to love them
And of course the best way to demonstrate our love for the lost is to do what many of you did at 2 p.m
This afternoon which is to go out with the gospel of Jesus Christ get them saved when you're King James Bible
That's a way in which we can demonstrate our love for the lost. But also we should love the saved
We should love the brethren the Bible says love the Brotherhood and we do that in a lot of different ways
I'm gonna get into more detail momentarily
But yes, there is a time for hate
But ultimately our default position should be love loving the lost and loving our saved brothers and sisters in
Christ these two things are connected though. And that's what you have to understand if you love the lost
obviously, you're gonna hate the false prophet devils who are preaching a
Works-based salvation and damning people to hell. It's that obvious if you love children, you're gonna hate pedophiles
It's obvious that these two things are connected and so when you decide to reject one well then
You're sort of rejecting the other as well somebody who would make the claim that they hate no one
Well, my response to that would be I don't think you love anyone then because they are connected and yes
There was a time for both. I want to focus on Christ here for a moment. Think of Jesus Christ
You know the Lord Jesus Christ the Bible says in John 13
Even though he was faced with the torture of the cross
Emanately in John chapter 13. It says that he loved them unto the end
He loved his disciples under the end. He loved unto the end
He ministered under the end it says, you know, he served under the end
He was perfectly obedient under the end the Bible says and it wasn't just lip service. Jesus Christ loved in
word
But he also loved indeed and in truth
He loved indeed and he loved in truth as well
There are people out there who only love with their tongue. They'll say they'll claim that they love you but their behavior
Demonstrates the total opposite it demonstrates something completely different
head over to 1st Corinthians 13 1st Corinthians chapter 13
If you would I'll quote to you from 1st John 4 as you're turning to 1st Corinthians 13 where the Bible read there
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us
It says God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him
hey, God is love and the reality is if you
Are should say when you dwell in love you're dwelling in God
That is one of his characteristics
And if you want to be like Christ you dwell in him and once you do that
You're gonna exhibit one of his attributes which is love which is long-suffering which is compassion for people
Which is charity?
1st Corinthians 13 talks about charity. Yes. What's charity? It's a biblical love. It's a perfect love
It says in 1st Corinthians 13 verse 4 charity suffereth long and his kind charity
Envyeth not charity vanteth not itself is not puffed up does not behave itself unseemly
Seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil
Rejoiceth not an iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth
This is what 1st Corinthians 13 is outlining what true charity looks like what true love?
Looks like now think about this
Imagine a spouse that just goes through the motions checks off all the boxes that you have for her
But it's sort of doing it like a robot doesn't really have there's no emotion involved
You could tell that they're kind of just checking these boxes off, but there isn't any charity there
There isn't any real emotion. There isn't really any genuine love there. There's no authenticity there
That would be sort of a synthetic love, wouldn't it?
Well, there are a lot of Christians today again, they'll give lip service to being loving
But through their behavior we see that all it is is just lip service
They're not loving indeed and in truth and the purpose of the sermon as well is to show you
What true charity looks like what does it actually look like in our Christian lives as well?
and we see in 1st Corinthians chapter 13 that it describes some of the attributes of
True charity of perfect love because you see that word is very broad. There are people out there who love sin
There are people out there who you know, they might love sports or they might love food or they might love video game
It doesn't matter you could love anything
But first Corinthians 13 is describing again a perfect kind of love
Which it uses the word charity and it says that and it says that it doesn't envy charity
Envyeth not you see the reality is envy is
antithetical to
charity
It's totally antithetical to charity
Here's what charity is when somebody gets what you want and you're genuinely happy for them
You don't envy them
It's when somebody gets a position that perhaps you've been striving for and you feel happy for them on their behalf you rejoice with them
You rejoice with them that do rejoice
True charity means that you're steaming others better than yourself
It means that you check your ego at the door and you esteem others better than yourself and you lift others up and you humble yourself
And you minister and you serve other people humbling yourself for the benefit of others
That's what true charity looks like. Look at first Corinthians 13 verse 7 verse 7
It says beareth all things believeth all things. Hope with all things
endureth all things
You say I don't like so-and-so
They say things that I don't like I don't agree with them
most of the time
well
True charity endures all things doesn't it?
There are gonna be some people that you meet in this church
Maybe some other church out there who is saved and guess what?
You're not gonna be in lockstep with them, but true charity endures all things
There are gonna be certain people out there who have the Holy Spirit inside them who are saved
Children of God and you're gonna have to endure some things about them that you don't necessarily
Agree with I know that forgiveness was preached last week
It was last week is that correct here at this church and it's an important topic to hit
We have a natural tendency
To be a lot less patient with other people than God is with us and that's a hypocritical attitude
We have to endure there are certain people who you're not gonna agree with on everything and you just have to endure some things about
Them but you know what? You gotta love them now. Look, I'm not saying you have to be everyone's friend
You don't necessarily even at the like everyone, you know, you might not click with everybody but y'all to love them
You ought to love them. That's for sure charity endures charity bears charity is long-suffering
First Corinthians 13. The reason why I bring this up is it defines what true charity looks like
But I'm also going to be using it as a frame of reference
Throughout the sermon. I'm gonna use it as a frame of reference to line it up with the points
I'm about to make so that you see how it aligns with the Bible's definition of charity
Let's go to 1st John chapter 3 1st John chapter 3
You know the Bible tells us in 1st John 5 as you're turning to 1st John 3 it says
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and it says and everyone that loveth him that begat
Loveth him also that is begotten of him. Here's the reality if you love God
You know what that looks like loving his children. It looks like loving the saved loving the brethren
Remember what I read for you earlier you can claim to love God all you want
But if you hate your brother if you hate your sister in Christ, you are lying
You lack love for God himself
Loving him that begat meanings loving those that have forgotten of him the Bible claims in 1st John chapter number 5
In other words loving Christ
Loving the Lord Jesus Christ means loving the saved 1st John 3 says in verse 18 my little children
Let us not word and let us not love in word neither in tongue but indeed and in truth
What does this mean?
This word love is not a meaningless platitude like a lot of other churches have made it into it's not just
You know giving lip service to something that makes people feel good
But rather it should be coupled with deeds and with truth as well
It's got to be coupled with deed and with truth
Now the Bible exhorts us. Hey, don't just love with a bunch of vacuous statements that are made by all these liberal churches out there
They're meaningless. They don't mean what they're saying
They're just trying to deceive people don't just love with based on the things that come out of your mouth
But also based on the things you do and also in truth as well. What I want to talk about is how to display
Authentic not just a bunch of platitudes here, but authentic love for the brethren again
Through the lenses of 1st Corinthians chapter 13 how to love one another
Indeed and in truth and my first point is this
Love one another by having compassion love one another by having compassion and of course 1st Corinthians 13
Does list this I believe you can connect it to compassion one of the attributes of charity to seeketh not our own
Seeketh not our own and you're not concerned with only the things that are related to yourself
But also the needs of others and that exemplifies
Compassion I had you turn to 1st John 3 I believe 1st John chapter 3
It says in verse 17
But whoso hath this world's good and seeeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of
Compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him
So if you see a brother in Christ who's in need and you decide to shut up your bowels of
Compassion against them and you don't really care you have no empathy for them. How does the love of God dwell in you?
That's what the Bible is asking now. What does this look like?
Perhaps somebody at church somebody who's saved maybe their car broke down. Maybe they can't get to church because of that
How about you be the man or the woman who says hey, I can give you a ride to church. No problem
I'm there I can help you out in a time of need
Perhaps a woman has just given birth and at a church like this that happens frequently
You know, it's steadfast Baptist Church. I'm not sure if they do this here if you guys do this here, but it's steadfast Baptist Church
We do a meal train for women like that in which members of the church can prepare meals
And then those meals are sent to her home so that she doesn't have to cook
For a period of time right after giving birth if that's not an official program here, that's okay
You can make it one or you could just do it out of your own volition
You can go out and you can drop a meal off at a family's home who perhaps
The wife had just given birth and so she's unable to cook for herself and she's sort of bedridden
Recovering from giving birth. That's something that you can take initiative and do on your own if you'd like to how about this one prayer?
Do you only pray for yourself or do you also pray for the needs of others?
And if you have compassion if you have true compassion on your brothers and sisters in Christ
and you'll consider their needs when you go to God in prayer, not just the needs of
yourself and
A good way to do this is just to ask people if there's something that they need prayer
For right if there if there's something going on in their life where you know
They need somebody to pray for them as a result
Why don't you go around ask somebody and here's the thing if you claim you're gonna pray for them actually do it
And I'll be the first one to admit there have been times where I've said alright
I'll pray for you brother and then I never did. Okay, and that's wrong
But when we when we do that, we have to make sure that we actually follow through with that and pray for them
How about this one? Let's say there's someone here in this room or elsewhere
Who's having trouble making ends meet? I'm gonna do an immediate caveat. I'm not talking about a lazy bum
I'm not talking about somebody who doesn't have a job doesn't want to work
The Bible says if a man doesn't work neither shall he eat
But if somebody's working their tail to the bone to provide for their family and they're having trouble making ends meet and they're going through
Financial distress, maybe they got let go from their job because the boss found out that they go to Pure Words Baptist Church
And he got triggered by it because he's a liberal and liberals are full of hate by the way
And this guy got fired from his job and maybe he's in between jobs because of that or perhaps
Even he does have a job and despite having a job
He's still having issues providing for his family making ends meet whatever the case may be
Will you be the person who says hey, let me take you out for lunch today
Let me take you out you and your family out for dinner after church tonight. Will you be that person?
Will you be that helping hand if you see somebody in need?
Then what we ought to do as brothers and sisters in Christ is that compassion on these people lift people up be there for people
When they need help
Minister to people visit the afflicted that's what I think the Bible is exhorting us to do have compassion have some empathy
Truly care about others and not just yourself. Don't shut up your bowels of compassion head over to 2nd Samuel 17
I want to show you this exemplified in the Word of God 2nd Samuel chapter 17
Let's see what compassion looks like in the Bible. There are going to be people you come across in your Christian life who are
They need help
Who are in need of help who are in need of aid and it could be because of a multiple a multiplicity of reasons
It could be because they're dealing with a health ailment. Maybe they're looking for advice on how to deal with that
There are many different things that can come at us in this life that knock us off our feet. Will you be that person?
who lifts a brother a sister in Christ up and
Helps them dust themselves off and move forward
2nd Samuel 17 says in verse 27 and it came to pass
When David was come to mayhem that show be the son of Nahash of Rheba of the children of Ammon and maker the son of
Amal of Lodabar and Barzillai the Gilead ight of Rogalim
brought beds and basins and earthen vessels and wheat and barley and flour and parched corn and beans and lentils and
Parched poles and honey and butter and sheep and cheese of kind for David and for the people that were with him to eat and
for for they said the people is hungry and wary and thirsty in
the wilderness
now
earlier
Here before we get got to this point. The Council of Hushai is actually defeated by I
Should say the Council of Hushai defeats the Council of Ahithophel and then he hangs himself, right?
Ahithophel, of course, he betrayed David, but the point is this maker
He was actually
He lived with
Mephibosheth the son of Saul
Before David exalted him Barzillai. He blessed he was blessed by David's instruction of 1st Kings chapter 2 these men
They come to David who had been hiding in the wilderness as a result of Absalom's
Insurrection against him and they don't come empty-handed and neither do they come just with words
They're not the James 2 guy who's just like be he warmed and filled. No, they come with actual
vittles and and they come with
You know food and and supplies for David they come with beds with basins
You know with with vessels of wheat barley flour honey butter sheep
Etc to help David to aid David in the wilderness as he's dealing with
Absalom's insurrection against him as he's dealing with Absalom's rebellion against his leadership in his kingdom folks
This is what charity looks like
This is what it means to have compassion on your brother
Compassion on your sister in Christ is to actually do something for them
Don't just say be he warmed and filmed like the Bible filled like the Bible says in James chapter number 2
But actually step up and help somebody step up and give somebody
Things that can help them when they're in need just like what happens here go to Matthew chapter 25 Matthew chapter 25
The Bible says in Galatians 6 as we have therefore
Opportunity let us do good unto all men
Especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Hey, we should do good to all men
I believe that like I said earlier
Let's love the lost be kind be known as somebody who's kind who's meek who's polite who's friendly
I believe in all those attributes and I think that those those attributes will help you tremendously
Out-souling if you're a rude nasty person when you go out door-knocking nobody's gonna want to talk to you as
Ambassadors for Christ we should be kind we should be polite
We should be friendly with those who are unsaved but notice what I quoted for you. It says
Especially though to the household of faith. Yes, we should love the lost but you know, we should also especially
There's an added emphasis there love the brethren love the Brotherhood
You know think of Abram in Genesis chapter 14, he actually risked his life
To help lot who had been in in trouble. His life was at risk
He'd been captured by heathens and Abram risked his life to save him to get him out of that situation
And yet there are some people who can't even pray for the brethren
They can't even take time out of their day to pray for their brothers. Look what it says in Matthew 25 verse 37
It says then shall the righteous answer him saying Lord when saw we thee and hungered and fed thee or thirsty and gave thee drink
when saw we thee a stranger and took the inner naked and clothed thee or when saw we thee sick or in prison and came
unto thee and the king shall answer and saying to them barely I say unto you in
As much as he have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me
Now someone preached about this a few weeks ago. I think he's kind of sitting in this area and
I'm kind of ripping him off a little bit, but that's okay, right because last I checked his sermon wasn't copyrighted
So I'm taking a point
You know what believers are in Christ dead and here we see that if you choose to be kind and loving and show
Compassion under the under your brother or your sister in Christ. It's as if you're doing it to Jesus Christ himself
That's what the Bible articulates in Matthew chapter 25. That's what it's saying
When you decide to feed your brother or your sister in in Christ or clothe your brother or sister in Christ or take a brother
or sister in Christ in
It's as if you're doing it to Jesus
it's the equivalent of doing it to the Lord Jesus Christ himself and that ought to serve as
Motivation for us to be more compassionate that ought to serve as motivation for us to love our brethren that ought to serve as
Motivation for us to love one another because when we do that, it's as if we're doing it to Jesus
That's what the Bible says here now, obviously, there's also a flipside to this
There's a flipside to this every time you're callous
Towards your brother. It's as if you're being callous toward Jesus
Every time you're bitter against somebody who is saved
It's as if you're being bitter toward the Lord Jesus Christ every time you rail
Against someone who's saved or
Slander them. It's as if you're slandering or railing on Jesus Christ and you know what?
I don't think there's anyone in here who would say yeah, if I saw Jesus in the flesh, I would slander him
No one would ever say that no one would ever
Whatever admit to wanting to do that. Absolutely not and yet
Some of those people will do that to their brethren
Well, it would be the equivalent of actually doing that to Jesus according to Matthew 25 and other scriptures as well
Let's go to Philippians chapter 2 Philippians chapter 2
My next point is this love one another by esteeming others better than yourself 1st Corinthians 13 said
Seeketh not her own. It also said that charity vanteth not itself is not puffed up is
Not puffed up. It means that you know what that's talking about pride. It's not about yourself
It's about a steaming others. It's about lifting other people up. It's about serving others. It's about ministering to others
Philippians 2 says in verse 3 let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other
Better than themselves look not every man on his own things
But every man also on the things of others as steaming others means you cast out envy
Esteeming others means that you that you just that you decide like I said, you're gonna check your ego at the door
It's about other people not yourself ministering and serving them subduing your own desires to exalt other people
That's what this is talking about. Think of what John the Baptist said. He said hey, he must increase I must decrease
That's the kind of attitude we should have
Head over to John 13 if you would John chapter 13
1st
Corinthians 12 says and whether one member suffer all the members suffer with it or one member be honored all the members
Rejoice with it one day if someone from this church is honored if someone in this church is
Exalted into a position of leadership. Here's my question for you. How are you gonna react to that?
Because you have two choices you could either say I should have been me
How come pastor didn't pick me to lead parents why didn't he ordain me?
Or you could honor them as well
Two choices
What's your response gonna be are you gonna be envious are you gonna be bitter are you gonna have that poisonous attitude?
Infiltrate this church. Are you going to love your brother? And are you going to honor them?
Are you gonna rejoice with them are you gonna feel genuinely happy for them on their behalf a
Lot of people choose option one though, and let me tell you something that's gonna destroy your Christian life
But that's the attitude you have John 13 says in verse 5
It says after that he poureth water into a base and it began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the tower
Where he was girded then cometh heat to Simon Peter and Peter saith unto him Lord
Thus thou wash my feet Jesus answered and sent unto him what I do thou know is not now
But thou shalt know hereafter Peter saith unto him thou shalt never wash my feet
Jesus answered him if I wash thee not thou has no part with me Simon Peter saith unto him Lord not my feet only
But also my hands in my head Jesus saith to him he that has washed needeth not to
Needeth not safe to wash his feet, but is clean every wit and ye are clean, but not all here what he's referencing
Is they're not all clean in the sense that there was a Judas in the midst of them
his name is Judas Iscariot and
He wasn't a superstar disciple by the way, mainly Perry
This is in reference to him, but you see Simon Peter. He's shocked by the fact that Jesus Christ wants to wash his feet
And you know why he's shocked because in his mind. He's thinking well hold on a minute shouldn't this situation be reversed
Shouldn't I be washing your feet?
He's thinking Jesus God manifest in the flesh the Messiah and yet he wants to serve me
He wants to get down on his knees and wash my feet
You want to know why because true leadership is leadership that serves
true leadership is
leadership that serves leadership that ministers John 13 verse 11
For he knew who should betray him therefore said he ye are not all clean again in reference to the infiltrator
Bo Ballard excuse me Judas Iscariot verse 12 so after he had washed their feet and had taken his garments and was set down again
He said unto them know ye what I have done to you
He called me master and Lord and you say well for so I am if I then your Lord and master have washed your feet
He also ought to wash one another's feet for I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you
So what Jesus Christ did here is give us an example of how we should treat others
How we should minister and serve others and you say well hold on a minute though
I'm concerned that I might wash Judas Iscariot's feet. It's not what Jesus did and here's the thing
I would rather
Accidentally wash Judas Iscariot's feet then omit doing that to someone who's saved
Then treat a brother or sister in Christ who actually is saved
Poorly because in my mind I thought they might be an infiltrator and I was wrong
How about you just serve everyone and if certain people turn out to be bad then so be it
So be it you still held your integrity the creator think about this the creator of this
Universe who has all power all
Authority all wisdom humbled himself to the point that he washed his own disciples feet and that is a model for us
That's a model for us and how we should behave. It's a model of charity as well
It's a model of the steaming others better than yourself. And this is the attitude we should have when we come to church
How can I make this church better not what can I take from the church? How can I make this church better?
I want to serve I want to make this place better than it was before I got here
I want to exalt others above myself. I want to be a blessing
That's the attitude we ought to have when we come to a local New Testament Church
Hello to 1st Samuel chapter 25 1st Samuel chapter number 25. Here's what your thought should be. How can I contribute?
How can I contribute what can I do?
to aid in
The spiritual warfare that this church is fighting. What can I do to help advance the cause of Christ?
Here's my third point love one another by
Rejecting all railing and backbiting you shut it down immediately and to me that shows that you have true love in your heart
I'll get some more of that in a little bit
1st Corinthians 13 tells us again. We're looking at all these points through the lenses of what charity is how it's defined
Doth not behave itself unseemly thinketh no evil
People think evil of others. They lack charity. They lack charity, but not behave itself unseemly, you know
Being a railer and a backbiter somebody who whispers against others
That's behaving itself unseemly in my opinion. I think that's what the Bible is articulating and an individual who does that
Lacks charity. They have a love problem. They have a charity problem. I don't care what they say. I don't care what they say
Because they'll claim otherwise
1st Samuel 25. I only want to go here to define railing for you
So it says in 1st Samuel 25 verse 9 and when David's young men came they spake to Nabal
according to all those words in the name of David and ceased and Nabal answered David's servants and said who is David and who was
The son of Jesse there be many servants nowadays that break away every man from his master
He's railing on David here because he's accusing him. He's falsely accusing him of being a runaway servant
He's falsely accusing him of being a runaway servant and that's a railing accusation skip down to verse 14
But one of the young men told Abigail Nabal's wife saying behold David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master
And he railed on them. So that's why it uses that term there because in this chapter
He's accusing David of being a runaway servant now who's Nabal. Of course. He's a son of Belial
He railed on David falsely accused him of being a runaway
Servant and that is a false accusation that is slander and unfortunately
There are people who replicate this behavior in churches across America
There are people who replicate they're not looking to Jesus Christ for what it means to be a member of a New Testament church
But rather they look to Nabal whether they know it or not
They're acting like Nabal going around railing and falsely accusing everybody backbiting every chance that they get that person lacks charity
and here's what you have to understand the reason why I get passionate about this subject is because
Railing and backbiting and slandering will stymie the work of the Lord if you have a church that's been poisoned by this
I'm telling you it will stymie the work of the Lord
This is why the Bible says in 1st Corinthians chapter 5 that railers ought to be kicked out and subject to church
Discipline because when you have no unity when everyone hates each other and is devouring each other
How can you go out soul winning together? How could you fellowship one one another?
How could you advance the cause of Christ?
So what we need to do is reject railing reject slander reject malicious lies whenever they come up
And here's what I mean by that if somebody comes up to you and starts slandering another brother or sister in Christ
Here's the only appropriate response in my book. I'm not interested. I don't want to hear it and
You might even have to plug your ears and go la la la la I'm not listening to you I'm not interested
You know put in some of those earmuffs things that people wear when they go shooting
Whatever you got to do, but make it clear that you're not going to receive railing accusations against people
You're not going to receive backbiting. You're not going to receive slander
You're not going to receive malicious lies against somebody who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ who's saved
You're not going to receive that you're not interested that
Displays in my opinion true charity true love and I would hope somebody would do that for me
I would hope that if somebody were railing about me or backbiting or talking crap about me behind my back
that someone would say hey, I don't want to hear that and then go to me and tell me about it and
Especially when it comes to our pastor
You know people are real
Knit picky about leadership oftentimes and they want to be the Monday morning quarterback
They think they can do everything better. We saw this with kovat
When kovat hit people, you know, I wouldn't have shut down my church
I would have stood on the Word of God and I you know
Cuz I'm so bold and I'm I would have kept my church when they're running like five people
They don't know what it's like to actually have a church that runs more than five or ten where you have to deal with more
complex issues
Than they ever would most people lack charity
You know don't nitpick leadership don't nitpick even the leadership you have locally here brother Nick
You know
I think he's doing a great job and don't don't nitpick him and rail about and rail against him
Gossip about him behind his back don't do that for anyone but especially leadership head over to 2nd Corinthians chapter 12
Backbiting what does that mean? It means speaking evil of someone who's not there basically speaking evil of someone who's not there and
People have a tendency to do this even good people and it's wrong
Now obviously if something's been proven to be true that's a completely different story
You know and people think railing is just talking negative about anyone false wrong
You know when we're ripping on Adam Fannin in in fellowship time
That's not railing because he's been proven to be a Judas Iscariot devil when we're talking about the things that Bo Ballard has said
And talked about how he's not saying he's a excuse me. He's a false prophet and
Ripping him to shreds in fellowship time
That's not railing because all those things have been proven by the things that he himself has said
Or when you're talking about false prophets re comfort in his false
Gospel and the doctrines that he preaches and things of that nature that wouldn't be railing because it's been proven if it's been proven
Then you're fine 2nd Corinthians chapter 12
Verse 20 plus those are reprobates
Anyway, which we're supposed to hate 2nd Corinthians 12 says in verse 20 for a fear lest when I come I shall not find you
Such as I would and that I shall be found under you such as he would not lest there be debates
Envyings rats stripes backbitings notice that word
whispering swellings and tumult the Apostle Paul was afraid that if he came back to the Corinthian church that he would see these things happening and
One of the things he was afraid of seeing is
Backbiting everyone talking crap about everyone else behind their back and also envying and strife
Etc. If there's one place that ought to have unity. It's right here
Folks, there's good division. You know, I think men and women should be different right? So there should be some differences there
That's one example. Obviously, we should divide from people who are trying to stop us from serving the Lord
I believe in that as well, but there's a time for unity and the time for unity is right here
Yes, there's a time to divide from people if they fall under the first Corinthians chapter 5 list
That deserve they would constitute church discipline. Yeah, that's a time to divide no doubt about that
But there's also a time for unity and backbiting
Backbiting is poisonous to a church. That's trying that's striving for unity
That's striving for unity and that's what Paul was worried about
Folks this right here. I believe is an example one of the examples of just pure carnality
Backbiting and whispering against people a bunch of people talking crap
Like I said shut that down if you have true charity in your heart, you'll shut that down immediately
You will not receive it. You will refuse to receive it because loving one another means standing up for each other
That's why you see pastor Aaron Thompson
standing up for his fellow pastors for his friends because he loves the brethren and he doesn't want people to be
Slandering them and railing against them and backbiting against them. It means that you don't whisper
It means that you don't backbite it means that you don't gossip
It means that you don't rail if you love your brothers and sisters in Christ
You will defend them you will stand up for them when they're under attack. I
Don't care what pastor it is if he's saved and he's under attack from the sodomites
I stand with it
every single time
Every single time we keep the unity
That's how you exhibit true love to charity give the benefit of the doubt build people up
rather than just tear them down and you know, this is why I get upset when I hear preachers get up and
slander the new IFB and slander families in the new IFB claiming that they produce a bunch of raunchy kids and that the old
IFB
produces way better families than
99% of new IFB families calling them clowns
calling them names
Attacking men women and children who just want to serve the Lord at a new IFB church
That is wicked railing and we ought to reject that rhetoric
Every single time if you want to have love in your heart if you want to be charitable if you want to love one another
Refuse don't receive those accusations don't refuse don't receive the gossip and the backbiting say I'm not interested
It's that simple head over to Ephesians chapter 4. My fourth point is this
Love one another by being long-suffering by being long-suffering
first Corinthians 13 says that charity is not easily provoked and
That it endures all things. There's there are some people out there
Who are so quick to get offended it is insane and oftentimes it's because of something
They might have heard from behind the pulpit so they get offended by the preacher
They might get offended at perhaps Pastor Shelley rebuking them for something or correcting them for something
Whatever the case may be and that's not true love
True charity is someone who isn't easily provoked true charity is somebody who doesn't have a short fuse
True charity is somebody who isn't just gonna turn on you at the drop of a hat because you said something that
Offended them. I'll just put it to you plainly true charity is not being a little snowflake
Not being a snowflake who melts immediately the second that you perceive that someone's attacking you
true charity isn't just
Unfriending someone on Facebook because you perceive that they don't like you anymore just because they disagree with something you're doing
That sounds like someone who's easily provoked in my book Ephesians 4 talks about being long-suffering
It says in verse 1 I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation
Wherewith ye are called with all loneliness and meekness
With long suffering for bearing one another in love skip down to verse 32 skip down to verse 32
It says and be ye kind one to another
Tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you
Think of all the things that you've done since you've gotten saved the sins you've committed and God's forgiven you for them hasn't it?
Well, then why don't you turn around and forgive your brother and sister in Christ who's slighted you?
Based on your perception
You see loving one another means bearing with people it means bearing with people even if they don't always do what you want
Even if they don't always say what you want them to say like the things that you like
Dislike the things that you dislike
Look, if you're willing to just throw a brother or a sister in Christ overboard at the drop of a hat you lack charity
You lack charity
Ecclesiastes 7 says be not hasty and thy spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. I've met people
Who are just so quick to snap at you the second you say something they don't like
And I don't want to be friends with people like that
I don't want to have to walk on eggshells around people
You know, what if God judged you as harshly as you judge some of the brethren?
Something tells me he would just smite you dead right now
Go to Hebrews 10 if you would Hebrews chapter 10
Let's not be quick to get offended especially at reproof or rebuke
Let me let you in on a little secret if somebody repute reproves you or corrects you for something. They love you
You know who hates you the flatterer. Oh
You're perfect you can do no wrong
That's the greatest sermon I've ever heard
False they're lying and the reason why they're doing that is to draw you in emotionally to manipulate you
And then stab you in the back. They hate you
Your pastor who corrects you about something
Publicly or privately he actually loves you. He actually cares about each and every one of you
My fifth point is this love one another by provoking or exhorting each other to good works
first Corinthians 13 tells us that charity rejoiceth not in
iniquity
And I thought about this but here's how I would apply it
If you don't rejoice in iniquity, you're gonna encourage your brethren to turn away from iniquity and do that which is right
Hebrews 10 says in verse 24 and let us consider one another
Hebrews 10 verse 24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
What does that mean provoking each other to good works? It means that you're
Encouraging it means that you're goading if you will or encouraging people to serve the Lord
But you're encouraging them in a constructive way. You're not cutting them down making them feel guilty
You're doing it in a constructive way
It doesn't mean that if somebody misses a soul winning time you walk up to him the next week and go
Why so backslidden bro? Where were you?
Are you been saved? No, I'm just kidding
You
Man you're just going back into the world, aren't you you missed one soul winning time. What were you doing?
Watching TV playing your video games
Folks here's what it means if
Somebody falls away and I'm not saying just one soul winning time
I'm saying like it's been weeks since you've seen them and they come back
Hey, it's great to see you back brother. God bless you
It's great to see you at church
You know, I made this mistake one time. There was a guy who missed just one service. Okay, it was just one and
I walked up to him after the service was over and I'm like, where were you what's going on?
And he was like look, you know, it was just personal
I just couldn't make it and I kept prodding him like I was interrogating the guy
I might as well had just attached some lie detector machine to him and
Interrogated him like I was law enforcement or something. What do you mean personal? What does that mean?
What were you what were you up to? What were you doing?
And you know that pissed him off. All right, and he texted me after and he's like look
I don't want to feel like I'm being interrogated by the FBI just cuz I missed a service and I had to apologize
And I said look, I'm sorry, you know, this was earlier in my Christian walk and and you know
I was I didn't know what I was doing as ignorant
All right, and we don't want to do that to people when they come back after a long break
Just praise God that they're back because here's the reality of the situation if somebody falls away
they can always come back if somebody falls away if somebody goes back into the world if somebody decides that they're gonna go back to
The old sins they were committing before they can always repent they could always get back in church
they could always start serving God again and
We should be happy when they do the prodigal son great example of this rejoice when they come back to church
Rejoice when they're interested in the things of God again, don't just cut them down
Provoke them in constructive ways provoke them in constructive ways. And here's what I think that looks like
When somebody you notice starts to miss church, why not send them a text message and say hey
Missed you on Sunday praying for you
Simple as that
How you doing? How's your family doing? Or maybe just ask them how they're doing. That's it. You know when I miss a service I
Actually really like it when people send me these texts because it makes me feel like people actually care
Like if I were to just disappear off the face of the planet
I would receive a whole bunch of text messages from people asking me, you know, hey, where you been missed seeing you at church
I don't think there's anything wrong with that and to me that's a constructive way of
Encouraging somebody to keep coming or encouraging somebody to come on back
Acts chapter 14 if you would turn over there acts chapter number 14
Send him a text. How's it been going lately miss seeing you?
You know, god bless you things like that praying for you. Whatever the case may be
Let's provoke people unto love and good works in a constructive way
Acts 14 I think gives us an example of this
In the sense of exhortation it says in verse 19 and there came there
There are certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium who persuaded the people and having stoned Paul
Drew him out of the city supposing he had been dead
How be it as the disciples stood round about him?
he rose up and came into the city and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derby and
When they had preached the gospel to that city and it taught many they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch
confirming the souls of the disciples notice this and
Exhorting them to continue in the faith that we must through much tribulation
Enter the kingdom of God
So Paul was afflicted by the Jews here
Which talked about them in the morning service obviously and he returns to Lystra Iconium Antioch confirming the souls
But notice it also says in verse 22 that he exhorts the disciples. He encourages the disciples that through much tribulation
They're gonna have to enter the kingdom of God encouraging them and exhorting them
But also reminding them that there's tribulation coming this is that there's affliction coming and he wants them to smash their way
Through that he wants them to endure that he wants to see them succeed and so we exhorts them to do
So be a positive influence for another believer be a positive influence for someone at this church
To exhort them and encourage them to keep serving God to keep going soul-winning to keep reading their Bible to keep praying
To stay involved in the spiritual warfare that we all find ourselves
Involved with because at the end of the day we need more members on Christ team than possibly ever before
When you look at how this world is rapidly deteriorating and the culture that's surrounding us
we need to provide exhortation for people not to quit and
to endure afflictions and endure tribulations
Just like Paul did here in Acts chapter number 14 that in the face of opposition in the face of hatred in the face of
Enemies in the face of hostility emanating from the world that they can get through it that they can endure it and they can keep serving
God encourage people with those things exhort people with those things. I think that's what preachers do
That's what preachers are supposed to do
Titus says these things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority
Let no man despise thee one of the goals of preaching is to inspire someone to inspire somebody to serve
God better to inspire somebody to love God just a little bit more after the sermon
Compared to before the sermon to inspire to encourage to exhort to build up. Obviously. There's a time for rebuke
There's a time to rip on the fags
There's a time for all those things
But one of the goals of preaching ought to be to encourage people and inspire them to serve the Lord better
You know when you fill the pulpit here or elsewhere. Here's my question. What's your motivation is?
Is it because you want to help people and minister and serve them or is it so that after the sermon people could come
Up to you and go. Oh good sermon brother. And obviously it's encouraging to hear that
I'm not against that. You know, if you want to tell me good sermon after I'm done. I'll take it. Okay, that's it helps
But is that your motivation though?
Are you doing it for the acclaim of man or are you doing it because you have true?
authentic love for the brethren and you want others to serve
Jesus Christ better and you want to exhort them to serve Jesus Christ better and you want to encourage them to serve?
Jesus Christ better because let me tell you something. That's why we do this
There's a goal with every sermon you want to provoke people to do something
It's not about you. It's about others. It's about serving
Head over to 1st Corinthians 13 will be done
Are you motivated when you get up to preach men?
Are you motivated by love for the brethren or love for a claim?
It's that easy
It's a poignant question. I think Romans 12 says let love be without dissimulation. What does that mean? It means without a
preconceived without a pretense without a false pretense fake
Inauthentic synthetic and there are plenty of churches out there
Who would display that kind of love, you know liberal churches are some of the most unfriendly
Mean places I've ever been to and I've been to plenty of them before I got saved. Nobody cares. No one cares about you there
They love freaks. They don't love you. Okay, they whenever they sell love is love. We love everyone
Here's what they really mean. We love freaks. We don't love normal people
Because you can walk into those churches. No one will ever talk to you. Nobody cares about you. Nobody cares about your family
No one cares about your salvation
You won't find anyone checking your salvation at those churches because they don't care about you because they don't love you
They love your money. That's what they love. They don't love you as an individual
Let's make pure words Baptist Church. Let's make sure rather because this is more of a preventative sermon
Let's make sure that pure words Baptist Church doesn't fall into a
dissimulation type of love a fake type of love with false pretenses
Let's make sure that pure words Baptist Church continues to be a church where its membership loves one another with authenticity
With authenticity you say how well have compassion
Esteem others better than yourself don't receive railing and backbiting
Be long-suffering like I talked about provoke others and exhort others to love and good works
You could do it through interpersonal relationships or for the men who are on the preaching rotation
Do it when you get up to preach as well. And again, I know there are other types of sermons
I'm not saying every sermon has to be an
Encouraging type sermon but every once in a while when you do preach that type of sermon do it because you genuinely want to serve
Other people and help them out
you know Jesus Christ, like I said, he set the example and
He loved people
He loved people despite their imperfections
He loved people despite the fact that they continually messed up over and over and over again
Despite their failures. He loved people despite their failures despite their sin. Here's my question
Are you willing to do the same for your brothers and sisters in Christ?
First Corinthians 13 where I had you turn
Verse 1 is what we're gonna look
It says though. I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and of not charity
I am become a sounding brass or a tinkling symbol and though I have the gift of prophecy
And understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity
I am nothing
Say even if I have faith so much faith that I can move mountains, but I don't have charity
I'm nothing think of the magnitude of that
Verse 3 and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not
Charity it profiteth me. Nothing folks. You can have the gift of preaching you can have the gift of
Knowledge you can have the grift of the gift of faith so much faith that you're capable of moving
Mountains and what the Apostle Paul is saying in 1st Corinthians chapter 13 these powerful verses don't miss it
Folks if you don't have charity all of it is vain all of it is meaningless
You have nothing charity is so important. And yes, there are churches that overly emphasize it
I believe that but we shouldn't leave it behind you don't overcorrect
See without charity all of those gifts. I don't care what spiritual gift you have it
profits you nothing without authentic genuine love for the lost and
Authentic genuine love for your brothers and sisters in Christ it profits nothing
And so I urge you I urge you this afternoon
Look
Consider the importance of this subject. That's all I'm talking about
Consider the importance of this of this of this subject and help enable pure words Baptist Church to continue to be a place
That takes heed to this to charity to love loving one another taking heed to God's commandment
Which we see constantly throughout Scripture that phrase is used over and over and over again take heed to this commandment
Let this be a church that continues to take heed to this commandment that we see that appears all throughout the scriptures the commandment
That says this love one another don't forget about it. Don't leave it behind
Don't ever think it's okay to de-emphasize this because it's not the Bible emphasizes it greatly
Because at the end of the day without charity we are nothing
Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer father. God. We thank you so much for our church and
It's steadfast Baptist Church also pure words Baptist Church
And I just pray that you would help us to continue to have charity for the brethren to lift others above ourselves
and also Lord that you would just help us to
Just refuse or reject all kind of railing and backbiting in this church and that we would just love one another
The way that you described it for us in 1st Corinthians chapter 13 in Jesus name. I pray amen
If you would grab your white hand out we're gonna do Psalm 126
Psalm 126 and your white hand out
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion Psalm 126
Let's sing
126 let's sing when the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion
We were like them that dream
Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue was singing
Then said they among the heathen the Lord had done great things for them the Lord had done great things for us
Whereof we are glad
Turn again our captivity
O Lord as the streams in the south
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy
O Lord as the streams in the south
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy
Then said they among the heathen the Lord had done great things for them the Lord had done great things for us
Whereof we are glad
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again, shall doubtless
come again, with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Then saith they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them,
The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.