CHRISTIAN MATURITY!
Introduction
Christianity is expected to change us. It is the spiritual and physical transformation from the worldly lifestyle, thinking and ways of doing things to a godly way. A born again Christian is a changed person, with a heart of flesh, who is ready to show compassion and help just anyone he can assist. If this attitude and mindset is not in the believer, he or she is still in the world.
If you still remember the message of John the Baptist, which he preached to the people of Israel, he told them to be ready to share with their brethren the good things of life they have, to shun evil. Brotherly love is one of the signs that we have embraced the Lord. He says we should love the brethren, our brothers and sisters in the faith as He loves us, and by so doing, the world would know that we are His.
So, brotherly love is a command by Christ Himself to all believers, and come to think about it, the brethren is one of us in the same family, and any love, kindness or goodwill extended to a brethren is good done to our Savior Jesus Christ Himself. That was what He was explaining in Mathew 25, when He was talking about those wonderful brothers and sisters, that were visiting their sisters in hospital, those in prison, covering the naked among them etc. They were showing love to their brethren and strangers, without knowing they were also showing love to Christ.
In Mathew 25:32-40, the Lord talks about the faithful servants, the blessed of His Father, who fed him, when He was hungry to illustrate that love shown to the brethren is love shown to Christ. He says in Verse 33 "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world - for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."
Then, the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Jesus answered and say, so long as you did these things to your brethren, you did it to Him.
Christianity is expected to change us. It is the spiritual and physical transformation from the worldly lifestyle, thinking and ways of doing things to a godly way. A born again Christian is a changed person, with a heart of flesh, who is ready to show compassion and help just anyone he can assist. If this attitude and mindset is not in the believer, he or she is still in the world.
If you still remember the message of John the Baptist, which he preached to the people of Israel, he told them to be ready to share with their brethren the good things of life they have, to shun evil. Brotherly love is one of the signs that we have embraced the Lord. He says we should love the brethren, our brothers and sisters in the faith as He loves us, and by so doing, the world would know that we are His.
So, brotherly love is a command by Christ Himself to all believers, and come to think about it, the brethren is one of us in the same family, and any love, kindness or goodwill extended to a brethren is good done to our Savior Jesus Christ Himself. That was what He was explaining in Mathew 25, when He was talking about those wonderful brothers and sisters, that were visiting their sisters in hospital, those in prison, covering the naked among them etc. They were showing love to their brethren and strangers, without knowing they were also showing love to Christ.
In Mathew 25:32-40, the Lord talks about the faithful servants, the blessed of His Father, who fed him, when He was hungry to illustrate that love shown to the brethren is love shown to Christ. He says in Verse 33 "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world - for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."
Then, the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Jesus answered and say, so long as you did these things to your brethren, you did it to Him.
Brotherly Love, a Command
Believers must learn to love their brothers and sisters in the church, no matter the individual experiences you may have had with unbelieving and unfaithful brethren. This is a command of Christ, by which others will know we are His. There may be unfaithful brothers, with filthy eyes and hands, but we, ourselves were once like them, but look who we are today, honest and fearful brothers and sisters in the Lord.
This is why it is very hard and difficult for new believers, who met a wrong and unbelieving brother in the church and goes into business with such a person. It is hard for them to recover from an unexpected experience because they will say, "But I met him in the church...Yes, but not everyone in the church is born again.
At the same time, I will appeal to brothers and sisters to embrace righteous living as the illustration of Christ in Mathew 25, shows that people who have the heart to love their brethren, to visit the sick ones and those in pain are unique people. Jesus referred to them as the righteous. But, such attributes is hard for those who are deeply involved in the things of the world and those who still want to belong to the world after repentance.
Believers must learn to love their brothers and sisters in the church, no matter the individual experiences you may have had with unbelieving and unfaithful brethren. This is a command of Christ, by which others will know we are His. There may be unfaithful brothers, with filthy eyes and hands, but we, ourselves were once like them, but look who we are today, honest and fearful brothers and sisters in the Lord.
This is why it is very hard and difficult for new believers, who met a wrong and unbelieving brother in the church and goes into business with such a person. It is hard for them to recover from an unexpected experience because they will say, "But I met him in the church...Yes, but not everyone in the church is born again.
At the same time, I will appeal to brothers and sisters to embrace righteous living as the illustration of Christ in Mathew 25, shows that people who have the heart to love their brethren, to visit the sick ones and those in pain are unique people. Jesus referred to them as the righteous. But, such attributes is hard for those who are deeply involved in the things of the world and those who still want to belong to the world after repentance.
The question is Have you repented of your sins and worldly ways, if yes, Are you ready to surrender your heart and care to the guide and direction of the Holy Spirit, then you are ready to grow into the likeness of Christ your Saviour and Lord.
Are you ready to share the little you have with one of your brethren that is in need as though he/she is your own flesh and blood? Are you ready to change from old selfish self with selfish hidden agendas to the selfless lifestyle?
Selfless Living
Have you decided never to take advantage of your brethren - Male or female in business or social relationship, never to gossip about him or her, never to cause any of them to fall and never to speak evil about them. Have you decided to be patient with your brethren as you would be with your family members, especially your parents? God is love!
Love your enemies - Mathew 5:43-48: This is perhaps one of the hardest commands of Jesus Christ to believers, one of the few commands that make you shine before your Father in heaven as a STAR. It is also the command that makes you perfect in love like your Father which is in heaven.
Stand fast in Sound doctrine
Many people were following Christ until He began to tell them that He is the Bread of life that came from heaven, and they were offended in Him and many of them stopped Him.
Doctrine is very important in the Christian faith. Sound doctrine is critical to your spiritual growth and without it, a believer will be tossed right and left by preachers. Finally, He told them the hard truth that except they eat His flesh and drink His blood, they have no life...They stopped following Him - I mean His disciples stopped following Him John 6:32-66
Have you decided never to take advantage of your brethren - Male or female in business or social relationship, never to gossip about him or her, never to cause any of them to fall and never to speak evil about them. Have you decided to be patient with your brethren as you would be with your family members, especially your parents? God is love!
Love your enemies - Mathew 5:43-48: This is perhaps one of the hardest commands of Jesus Christ to believers, one of the few commands that make you shine before your Father in heaven as a STAR. It is also the command that makes you perfect in love like your Father which is in heaven.
Stand fast in Sound doctrine
Many people were following Christ until He began to tell them that He is the Bread of life that came from heaven, and they were offended in Him and many of them stopped Him.
Doctrine is very important in the Christian faith. Sound doctrine is critical to your spiritual growth and without it, a believer will be tossed right and left by preachers. Finally, He told them the hard truth that except they eat His flesh and drink His blood, they have no life...They stopped following Him - I mean His disciples stopped following Him John 6:32-66
Beloved, the love for brethren will remain a mirage for Christians abiding in their old selves? We are born-again by the Word of God in us. Are you ready to see your female brethren as your own mother and sister, and your male brethren as your father and brother that deserves your love, attention, help, patience and help?
Here are some scriptures to remind us of the importance of brotherly love.
- Strengthen one another Luke 22:32
- Mortify the deeds of the body or die Rom 8:12-13
- Do not cause your weak brethren to fall 1 Cor 8:12
- Restore sinning brothers Gal 6:1
- Be strong in the Lord Ephesians 6:10
- Rejoice in the Lord Phil 3:1
- Think on good things always Phil 4:8
- Grow and increase in Love 1 thes 4:9-12
- Walk honestly towards those that are not Christians 1 Thes 4:10-12
- Be not weary in well-doing 1 Thes 3:13
- Have no respect of persons - James 2:33
- Be Patient James 5:7
- Hold no Grudge James 5:9
- Speak not evil of another person James 4:11
- Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger James 1:19
- Love the brethren 1 Peter 1:22
- Be you holy in all manner of conversation 1 Peter 1:15
- Lay aside all malice, all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies and all evil speaking. Desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby 1 Peter 2:1-2
- Know your Calling in Christ 1 Cor 1:26-31
- Esteem Ministers 1 Thes 5:12-13
Have compassion
May i conclude with the advice of Peter the other day, he says above all, have fervent charity among yourselves - for charity shall cover multitude of sin.
Be ye also of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Be ye also of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Guide your words and Tongue
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile, Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensure it.
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile, Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensure it.
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? See what the bible say about loving one another.
What to do
Finally, on brotherly love, we must be baptized in the Holy Spirit and be filled with the Holy Spirit in other to show brotherly love to one another.
Finally, on brotherly love, we must be baptized in the Holy Spirit and be filled with the Holy Spirit in other to show brotherly love to one another.
You need the seed of love inside of you to practice love freely. It is not easy to forgive someone that hurt you badly, so you need the Holy Spirit to love in an agape way. Remember that Love is one of the gifts of the Spirit, so you need the giver of the gift - Holy Spirit if you truly want to manifest love.
Love
is the New command
This
is His commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and
love one another, just as he has commanded us. You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
might. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one
another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if
you have a love for one another.” This was Jesus Christ speaking to His
disciples, to me and you.
1. Jesus Christ says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
2. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a
liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God
whom he has not seen.
3. Beloved, if God so loved us, we
also ought to love one another. Live in harmony with one another. Do
not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
4. Owe no one anything, except to
love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the
law. let
us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth and through love
serve one another. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly,
since love covers a multitude of sins.
5.
6. But if anyone has the world's
goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does
God's love abide in him? With all humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another in love,
7. Bear one another burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Show hospitality to one another
without grumbling.
8. Be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Now concerning
brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves
have been taught by God to love one another.
9. These things I command you so
that you will love one another. let us consider how to stir up one
another to love and good works. Love does no wrong to a neighbour;
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
10. Love is patient and kind; love
does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its
own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,
but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes
all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will
pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass
away.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Love is caring, and if you speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not to love, you are a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if you have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if you have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not to love, you are nothing. If you give away all you have, and if you deliver up my body to be burned, but have not to love, you gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.
The importance of Kingdom Service
High flyers in the Kingdom are known
for their commitment and service in the house of God. Many of them has
made a covenant of service with the Lord, and so they are serving happily.
In serving God, there is blessings
and crowns, but in addition, the bible says in Proverbs 18:16, that
"A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great
men". You should identify
the gifts of God in you and use such gifts to serve one another, as good
stewards of God's varied grace. Having
gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if
prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
As each has received a gift, use it to
serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as
one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The Lord says - Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid
their hands on you. In Romans
12:6-8 the bible specifically says - Having gifts that differ according to the
grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if
service, in our serving; the on
Finally, in Colossians 3:23-25, the
bible says - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You
are serving the Lord Christ. As you serve the Lord, He will bless thy bread and they water, He will take sickness away from the midst of you and the number of your days, He will fulfil.
FIRE...
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