WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.920 So, imagine if you will, a man in our church who sends flowers to his wife every day. 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:27.539 Not only does he send flowers to his wife every day, he'll even leave little notes for her, little sweet notes. 00:00:27.539 --> 00:00:32.619 And he does this daily. 00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:40.719 But all the while, this same man doesn't care for his wife. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:42.619 He doesn't nourish her. 00:00:42.619 --> 00:00:46.679 He doesn't clothe her. 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:53.000 He doesn't even spend time with her. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:01:05.879 Although we would all say that it's a good thing to buy your wife flowers and to write notes that are sweet to them, yes, we would all agree with that. 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:07.719 But the man's not even feeding his wife. 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:09.319 He's not clothing his wife. 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:11.840 We would have stern words for this man. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:17.280 We would have a stern correction. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:24.480 It would probably be something like you have bypassed the most important. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:29.000 And although you are doing good things, you're not doing the best thing. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:34.200 You're bypassing the most important. 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:41.239 And I want us to be thinking about that tonight, that idea. 00:01:41.239 --> 00:02:11.199 Because the question I would like to ask us tonight is when we think of our Christian walk, when we think of the things that we do in our Christian walk, when do we feel like we are serving and loving Christ the best, the most faithfully? 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:17.680 And I would like us to fill in that blank in our mind. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:30.280 And I would like us to think if maybe we are doing good things and maybe we're bypassing the most important thing. 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:36.639 And hopefully we can come to what I mean tonight. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.800 How do we love Christ? 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:41.800 What is the primary? 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:46.280 What's the most important way? 00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:55.879 If y'all would turn with me to the book of John, we'll start in chapter 14 and then we'll move on to 15. 00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:01.120 It's kind of a topical sermon, so I'm kind of going to be... 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:05.639 I've got a lot of references here. 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:12.639 So just bear with me. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:27.719 But the context here of what's going on in John, chapters 13 through 16 and even 17 is you have Christ at the Last Supper. 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:35.599 He is together with His disciples and He is speaking of things of most importance here. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:45.159 Hopefully these things are going to be some of the most important things that He wants them to carry through and that He wants them to focus on. 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:52.580 And I believe in chapter 14, they're on the way to where Christ is about to be crucified. 00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:58.120 It's almost like they get up and they start walking and He's still having the same conversation. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:03.599 And within this conversation, you will see a theme. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:09.879 It's a theme that really runs through the whole of the New Testament, I would argue the whole Bible. 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:21.920 But especially in the New Testament through Christ's ministry, through the apostles' writings, this is a theme that you cannot escape. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:28.839 If you'll join me in John 14, 15, we read this. 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:49.759 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." If you flip over one chapter, He kind of flushes this out more. 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:59.199 If you go to John 15, 12, particularly, I'll read a little bit before it. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:02.360 I'm going to start in verse 8, 15, 8. 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:10.920 "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:14.800 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:21.439 Abide in my love, if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:59.720 Just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love, these things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." And here it is, verse 12, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." So the answer is we love His people. 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:01.720 This is a major theme. 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:07.600 And 1 Peter 4, 7 through 9, Peter puts it this way. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:15.560 He's talking to a persecuted people, and this is what he's telling them in the middle of their persecution. 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:18.839 He says, "The end of all things is at hand. 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:25.000 Therefore be self-controlled and so reminded for the sake of your prayers. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:07:21.759 Above all, above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of emotions, show hospitality to one another without grumbling." Peter says, "Most importance, first place, put it above everything, keep loving one another." And 1 Peter 1, 22 through 25, he writes this, "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God." And I could go on and on with references like these through the New Testament. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:35.600 And so why does Christ say that if you want to love me, if you want to keep my commandments a part of that, it's to love my people? 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:40.040 Why would he say something like that? 00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:45.199 Why does Peter also say the same thing, that it's a thing of most importance? 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:52.519 It's to be held up high, that we love one another. 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:59.959 Well first, it's because as believers, we are his body. 00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:02.959 We are the body of Christ. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:08.160 We have a unity that cannot be undone. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:12.720 We cannot be separated from Christ himself. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:16.680 We are his body. 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:25.199 And 1 Corinthians 12, 14 through 26, we read this. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:09:05.480 Now he's talking about all the, you know, we, he starts off in verse 14, let me say this,"For the body does not consist of one member but many." And he talks about how the foot can't look at the hand and say, "I don't need you." I can't look to the ear and say, you know, "Well, you don't do what I do." But in verse 24, he says this about Midway, "But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:09.759 If one member suffers, all suffer together. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:29.279 If one member is honored, all rejoice together." Paul's saying here that we're so connected that when one member suffers, we all suffer. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:36.399 That if one is honored, then we all rejoice together. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:45.500 In Romans 12, 4 through 5, he says it this way, "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function. 00:09:45.500 --> 00:10:18.200 So we though many are one body in Christ, individually members, one of another." In Ephesians 4, he says this, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism." Brothers and sisters, we are the body of Christ. 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:36.220 I find that sometimes we think that we are somehow closer to God when we are in our individual prayers at our home. 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:43.519 Sometimes we think that we are closer to God when we're doing our personal devotions and reading Scripture. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:49.200 Sometimes we think we're closer to God when we're singing in our car on the way to work and we're singing hymns and all these things are good. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:50.200 Don't be wrong. 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:53.919 I'm not pitting them against anything I'm saying here. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:54.919 Do those things. 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:57.700 They're great. 00:10:57.700 --> 00:11:05.559 But are we viewing those things more important than the gathering of the saints? 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:18.679 Do we see that more important than when we come and we have prayer service before church as we come together as a body of believers? 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:24.059 Are we elevating that above the other? 00:11:24.059 --> 00:11:32.600 Are we saying that our personal reading is better than having the word preached to us? 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:34.399 I'm not here to tell you that those things are wrong. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:36.299 Those are good and right things. 00:11:36.299 --> 00:11:50.720 But what I'm saying is when we come together with the body of Christ, there is a special unity there. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:12:01.279 If I had to rank them, I would put the gathering of the brethren first. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:05.279 We are like the very hands and feet of Christ on earth as His body. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:06.279 We are to each other. 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:08.740 We are to serve one another. 00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:13.620 You will never be closer to the presence of the Lord than when you're gathered together with His people. 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:20.919 This is the closest to heaven we get when we gather together on Sundays. 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:26.779 If a part of the body is hurt or diseased, we tend to. 00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:27.779 We react. 00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:30.679 We would react to our own bodies that way. 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:35.440 If disease popped up, we would deal with it. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:40.220 It is the nature of a body. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:43.679 We would care and protect it. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:53.960 In the same way, when there's a healthy part of the body, it helps tend to the other parts, the weaker parts. 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:59.799 This is the way that we should view the body of Christ. 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:08.360 Because of our unity, we can care for one another. 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:15.399 It even matters when we sin. 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:25.600 Sin doesn't just affect you as a believer on your own, it affects the body. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:30.440 That's how connected we are in Christ. 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:32.500 You could become hard-hearted from sin. 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:38.299 You could become blinded. 00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:42.399 You could cause pain for others. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:54.480 In the same way, our holy living is a benefit to us all. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:58.480 Ephesians 4, 15-16. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:26.000 Rather speaking the truth and love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head and to Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:37.700 Brothers and sisters, your scripture reading, your praying, it's not just for you, it's for all of us. 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:39.960 We need strong Christians. 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:43.919 And when some of us are weak, we need you to come and encourage us. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:52.960 We need, how will you have something to say encouraging if you don't know the word? 00:14:52.960 --> 00:15:05.039 How can you point out sin to a brother that you're caring for if you don't know what sin is? 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:12.259 This also protects us from legalism when we go into prayer and reading scripture, does it not? 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:16.799 It corrects our motives. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.960 It corrects us because we're not trying to earn a position with the Lord. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:26.120 Our position is already earned by Jesus Christ Himself. 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:35.080 But we're looking outwardly to love others. 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:38.519 So we are the body of Christ. 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:44.240 That's why it's so important that we gather together. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:53.960 And because we are the body of Christ, when we love and serve the body of Christ, we are loving Christ Himself. 00:15:53.960 --> 00:16:08.000 Christ so identifies with this church that it's as if when we do anything unto the least of these, we're doing it as to Him. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.080 We see this concept all through scripture. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:13.120 Jesus talks about this many, many times. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:21.720 And Matthew 25, 34 through 40, He says this, "For I was hungry and you gave me food. 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:23.840 I was thirsty and you gave me drink. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:26.879 I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:29.879 I was naked and you clothed me. 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:31.720 I was sick and you visited me. 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:44.600 I was in prison and you came to me." And the righteous will answer Him saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink? 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:50.659 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you or naked and clothe you? 00:16:50.659 --> 00:17:07.240 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?" And the King will answer them, "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me." What an amazing statement that is. 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:15.240 In Matthew 10, 40 through 42, He says the same thing. 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:43.240 He says, "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water, because he is a disciple, truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." Right before that, He says if one receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person, he receives a righteous person's reward. 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:48.240 He's saying that we'll be rewarded by God Himself. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:18:02.240 We also see this played out with Paul's conversion, do we not? 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:06.240 He's on his way to persecute more Christians. 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:15.240 And in that journey there, the Lord Jesus confronts him. 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:19.240 And what does He say? 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:42.240 He says, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And He said, "Who are you, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." So we see that Christ identifies with His body so much that whatever we do unto His people, it's as if we're doing it unto the Lord. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:51.240 This is why this is so important, that if we are to love Christ, we are going to love His people. 00:18:55.240 --> 00:19:08.240 Another reason why it's so important that we love and serve His church, because we were bought with a price. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:20.240 Your brother and sister has been bought by a price. 00:19:23.240 --> 00:20:08.240 In 1 Corinthians 6, 19-20, "You are not your own, for you are bought with a price, so glorify God in your body." In Colossians 1, 19-22, "For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross." 1 Peter says something that I think is important to get. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:28.240 He says that we weren't purchased or ransomed with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:36.240 Let me ask you, what greater price could be paid for your brothers and sisters? 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:49.240 What more valuable substance could we possibly get that has ever existed? 00:20:49.240 --> 00:21:03.240 We look at expensive cars and houses, and we tend to look at them and be like, "Man, that's awesome. 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:08.240 Look how much that costs." We'd love to see the inside of them and drive them or see the houses. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:10.240 We're just amazed. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:17.240 The millions that are spent on cars and houses. 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:22.240 Are we ever amazed when we look at our brothers and sisters in Christ? 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:35.240 You see, gold and silver, diamonds, jewels, all those things will be found again. 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:37.240 Those things can be dug up. 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:46.240 Where are you going to get the blood of an innocent man that died for your sins? 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:50.240 Where's that? 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:54.240 Where do you go to dig for that? 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:58.240 Where's that reserve? 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:03.240 It doesn't exist out there. 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:08.240 It's only existed once in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:12.240 There was no blemish. 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:27.240 Perfect man, an innocent man, the Son of God, spilled His blood for us. 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:36.240 This should change the way that we live and the way that we look at our brothers and sisters, shouldn't it? 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:50.240 If this is true, if Christ has paid such a huge cost, how then can we not be patient with our brothers and sisters? 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:55.240 How then can we slander them? 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:58.240 How can we talk ill of them? 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:00.240 How can we not think the best? 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:02.240 How can we not care for them? 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:06.240 How can we not think the best? 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:22.240 If we can only grasp this, I believe that we would serve one another really well. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:45.240 Another reason why we are to serve and love one another and why it's such an important thing to Christ is it glorifies God and is a major part of our witness. 00:23:45.240 --> 00:24:00.240 In 1 Peter 4, he says this, it's the same, I'm just going to read further, it's the same reference I made earlier, 4, 7 through 11. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:16.240 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins, show hospitality to one another without grumbling, as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:24.240 Whoever speaks is one who speaks oracles of God, whoever serves is one who serves by the strength that God supplies. 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:38.240 Here it is, in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:45.240 It glorifies God when we serve one another, when we love one another. 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:52.240 It is our witness to the world. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:55.240 It is a major part of our witness to the world. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:25:11.240 Jesus in John chapter 13 at the very beginning of this discourse that I was talking about earlier at the Last Supper, He says this, a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:14.240 You also are to love one another. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:21.240 By this, all people will know that you are my disciples. 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:24.240 If you have love for one another. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:29.240 So many times we want to fill in so many different things there, don't we? 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:45.240 And I'm not saying any of us are ignoring this, but sometimes I find myself, maybe not focusing on this, but something else. 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:47.240 This is a real testimony to the world. 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:50.240 I canceled Disney Plus because they're a woke. 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:53.240 Whatever it might be. 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:58.240 Now, maybe that is a way. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:04.240 But Christ says, by this, how you love one another. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:07.240 Let us not bypass that. 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:16.240 And so we see that this is a major theme. 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:22.240 We see that this is important to Christ and the apostles, and all of their writings, really. 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:25.240 So how? 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:27.240 How does this come about? 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:30.240 How do we love and serve one another? 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:33.240 What are the things that we are to be about? 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:44.240 Well, the first way that we care for one another, one of the ways is physical needs. 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:50.240 We care for each other physically. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:27:03.240 In Romans 12, 13, Paul says, contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:07.240 James puts it really stark. 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:10.240 He drives it home. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:28.240 He says this, religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:36.240 True religion, pure religion, I should say. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:46.240 And if you think back to the Old Testament, we have the same things going on in the Old Testament where Israel was judged again and again. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:50.240 They were judged because they weren't doing these things. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:52.240 They weren't caring for the widow. 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:54.240 They weren't caring for the afflicted. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:56.240 They were unjust. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:28:08.240 So we care for our brothers and sisters. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:12.240 We love and serve Christ when we care for them physically. 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:21.240 How else are we to love and care for our brothers and sisters with the gifts that we've been given? 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:25.240 God has given us all gifts. 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:32.240 Just like I was talking about earlier, we're all not the same part of the body. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:35.240 We all have different gifts. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:39.240 We have different things that God has given us. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:57.240 Going back to that 1 Peter reference, he says, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's very grace. 00:28:57.240 --> 00:29:01.240 Whoever speaks is one who speaks, oracles of God. 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:12.240 Whoever serves is one who serves by the strength that God supplies." We have gifts. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:34.240 I find it interesting that Peter writes that, because if you think back when Peter was restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and he was asked three times,"Peter, do you love me?" What does he say every time? 00:29:34.240 --> 00:30:07.240 Every time to Peter, he says, "Tend to my sheep." He says, "Feed my sheep." He's saying, "Peter, if you love me, if you love me as Lord, if you love me as a friend, you will feed my sheep." We knew that he was going to be an apostle who was going to feed the sheep. 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:09.240 That was going to be his role. 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:36.240 And that was important, so important that that's the way Christ said,"You're going to show that you love me." In Romans 12, 4 through 10, he says this,"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function. 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:53.240 So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, having gifts that defer according to the grace given to us, let us use them if prophecy and portion to our faith, if service and our serving. 00:30:53.240 --> 00:31:07.240 The one who teaches and is teaching, the one who exhorts and is exhortation, the one who contributes and generosity, the one who leads with zeal, the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness. 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:11.240 Let love be genuine. 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:26.240 Abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good, love one another with brotherly affection." So we are to use our gifts. 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:31.240 We're to care for one another's physical needs. 00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:41.240 We're to use our giftings that we have that the Lord has given us, not for our sake, for the sake of our brothers and sisters, for the body. 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:47.240 And it's easier than you think. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:32:01.240 I can imagine there's some out listening right now that are listening and thinking,"I have nothing to give. 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:04.240 I have no money. 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:14.240 I'm a new Christian. I don't know much." Maybe you think that you have no wisdom to impart. 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:23.240 Maybe you're a young Christian that just feels like you don't have much to offer. 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:28.240 Let me tell you this. 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:41.240 By you coming weekly and gathering with the saints and seeing you grow in the Lord, you're serving the church. 00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:47.240 Can you sing a hymn? 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:52.240 Can you come and just be here? 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:59.240 It's such an encouragement to see Christians grow in their faith. 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:03.240 And the Lord serves His church through you. 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:16.240 Kids, if you're in Christ and you're a true believer, you're not too young for this. 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:20.240 You too can serve the church. 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:27.240 Your obedience to your parents, a kind word to an older person. 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:32.240 There's nothing insignificant. 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:45.240 Remember the words of Christ that even a cup of cold water is as if we're given a cup of cold water to Christ Himself. 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:50.240 What an encouragement that is. 00:33:50.240 --> 00:34:03.240 Pastors, when you preach to us on Sundays, when you counsel us, when you care for our souls, you're loving Christ. 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:23.239 The ladies who help out with coffee, the men who help out with coffee and water, and you're serving Christ. 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:25.239 It seems so simple, doesn't it? 00:34:25.239 --> 00:34:29.239 It seems like that just doesn't even make sense. 00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:41.239 I was trying to think of a way to try to explain how that could be, right? 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:49.239 That service to the Lord, it's as if we're doing these things unto the Lord. 00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:54.239 Because when we think of it, the Lord, He's not in need of these things. 00:34:54.239 --> 00:35:07.239 But a brother that I was talking to explained it to me this way, and I think it's a good way to put it, is that we do experience this. 00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:21.239 As a father or a husband, when someone comes to your family and they do something for one of your children or for your wife, think about it. You think of it as serving you. 00:35:21.239 --> 00:35:29.239 Your household, because it's a service done to your household, you take that as if they've done it as unto you. 00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:38.239 Another way that we're going to... 00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:42.239 Well, let me say it this way. 00:35:42.239 --> 00:36:05.239 Love in the church is the result of the outpouring of the Spirit and people dedicating themselves to the commands of Christ and to His Word. 00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:22.239 If you look in Acts 4, 32-35, we have this. 00:36:25.239 --> 00:36:37.239 "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:52.239 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to Him was His own, but that had everything in common. 00:36:53.239 --> 00:37:02.239 And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:34.239 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." You know, we pray in this church for revival, and we pray for an outpouring of the Spirit, and I'm glad we do. 00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:46.239 And we always think of people coming to Christ, which is a glorious thing, and that's exciting. 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:53.239 Do we ever think about the fact that what the church will look like in a revival? 00:37:53.239 --> 00:37:57.239 How the saints will treat each other? 00:37:57.239 --> 00:38:13.239 A true revival in the church is a church that is loving one another well for the sake of Christ. 00:38:13.239 --> 00:38:31.239 So in closing, how did we answer the question earlier? 00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:39.239 How do I answer the question of how I've been living my life? 00:38:39.239 --> 00:38:49.239 Have I been doing things while neglecting one of the most important things, the loving of my brothers and sisters in Christ? 00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:56.239 Because see, we can have all this other stuff. 00:38:56.239 --> 00:38:59.239 We can have all the giftings in the world. 00:38:59.239 --> 00:39:08.239 We can have everything and look like we are so knowledgeable. 00:39:09.239 --> 00:39:16.239 That we're so faithful, that we're willing to give it all up for Christ. 00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:23.239 And yet, if we don't have love, what is it worth? 00:39:23.239 --> 00:39:28.239 Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians. 00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:36.239 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal. 00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:50.239 And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but have not love, I am nothing. 00:39:50.239 --> 00:40:17.239 If I give away all I have and if I deliver up my body to be burned but have not love, I gain nothing." We cannot separate loving Christ from being about loving His people. 00:40:17.239 --> 00:40:22.239 If we love Christ, we will love His people. 00:40:29.239 --> 00:40:39.239 You know, I was reading in Revelation, and I'm not going to pretend to have great knowledge and understanding of Revelation. 00:40:39.239 --> 00:40:43.239 But I did find it interesting. 00:40:43.239 --> 00:40:50.239 In chapter 2, the church of Ephesus. 00:40:50.239 --> 00:40:56.239 This church had a lot going for it. 00:40:56.239 --> 00:41:05.239 Let me read verses 1 through 7 in chapter 2 of Revelation. 00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:26.239 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write, The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands, I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil. 00:41:26.239 --> 00:41:33.239 But I've tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 00:41:33.239 --> 00:41:40.239 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 00:41:40.239 --> 00:41:47.239 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 00:41:47.239 --> 00:41:55.239 Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. 00:41:55.239 --> 00:42:03.239 If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 00:42:03.239 --> 00:42:10.239 Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicolations, which I also hate. 00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:28.239 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." These men, this church, they weeded out false doctrine. 00:42:29.239 --> 00:42:33.239 They had so much going for them. 00:42:33.239 --> 00:42:40.239 Not yet, he said, they're not, they had lost essentially their first love. 00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:48.239 And he tells them to go back to do the things that they were doing at first. 00:42:48.239 --> 00:43:04.239 Let us not be people who just acknowledge, who have all of our theology right, who cast out the false teachers and stay away from them and can point out error and all that. 00:43:04.239 --> 00:43:13.239 Let us not be a church or a people that has all that down, but doesn't have love. 00:43:13.239 --> 00:43:17.239 Let's pray. 00:43:23.239 --> 00:43:27.239 Lord God, we need your Spirit. 00:43:27.239 --> 00:43:42.239 We need an outpouring of your Spirit, and we need your Word to have an effect on our hearts and our minds, or through the preaching of your Word. 00:43:42.239 --> 00:43:49.239 Lord, let us not forget. 00:43:51.239 --> 00:44:23.239 One of the most important things that you would have us do, and that's love one another, is that you would help us in this endeavor, that you would grant us this, that we might be a healthy church, that we might be one that is a witness to the world, that glorifies you and lifts up the name, the name of Jesus high. 00:44:23.239 --> 00:44:29.239 We thank you for all the blessings we have in Christ, in Jesus' name, amen. 00:44:29.239 --> 00:44:31.239 . 00:44:31.239 --> 00:44:41.239 [BLANK_AUDIO]