The difference between us #3
this is a serious message today about something that could become a serious problem.
The comeback 2020.
Here is the New Testament in a nutshell…
Jesus lived… And what an amazing life he lived.
Jesus died… What a brutal death it was.
Jesus was resurrected… What a surprise!
40 days later Jesus ascended into heaven.
10 days after that the church was born.
Jesus said that there was something about this whole church idea that would be different from anything else, anywhere else, at any time else, in the whole world.
- Something that would turn heads.
- Something that would be inviting.
- Something that would amaze people.
This whole church thing would be called by a name that all of us are familiar with; FAMILY.
God created a church family where all people,
of all colors,
of all backgrounds,
from all over the world,
of all incomes,
of all cultures,
of all sexes,
of all languages,
all intellects,
would be one family, one body, one unit, because we all got in the same way - through faith in Christ, and we would be so deeply committed to each other that nothing could tear us apart.
When we are in a family several things happen… We belong to something…
- We have a family name - or an identity.
- We are known - we have a community.
- We are accepted.
- We are valued.
- We have a place.
- We have a role and a responsibility.
- We have a set of common core values - we think alike.
- We have the same common purpose.
A place where we belong.
But a funny thing happened and we read about it all throughout the New Testament and we been talking about it the last few weeks here. Food fights started to break out in the church. People developed different opinions and preferences over what kind of food to eat, over what kind of clothes people should wear, over what role a woman should have in the church, over what color the carpet should be, over our response to politics and government, and many other things that divided people up. It threatened the family.
But Jesus anticipated this and said that there would be something that would set this family apart, this church idea, apart from everything else and keep it intact and it wouldn’t be what you would expect…
It wouldn’t exactly be miracles done in Jesus name.
It wouldn’t be unbelievable healings.
It wouldn’t be supernatural phenomena.
It wouldn’t be that those who follow Jesus would never suffer and live in some bubble of euphoria.
It wouldn’t be because we have halos.
Here’s what Jesus said it would be on the last night of his life: John 13:34 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. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
And he would repeat it again John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus said that what would make this church thing stand out was that his individual followers would follow his example and love each other. In a sense we would take the place of Jesus and treat other people how Jesus treated them.
It would be the kind of love that would turn strangers into friends.
It would be the kind of love that would even make someone like me sacrifice something of my life for someone else.
This kind of love,
this kind of doing good,
this kind of valuing and honoring someone else,
this kind of intentional actions for someone else’s good,
this way of going to the mat for someone else,
this way of serving other people,
this way of giving others access to my life,
this way of standing in the gap for others,
above everything else, will show the world that you follow me.
We are talking about radical, head turning, eye-popping, heartwarming, hair-raising, hand reaching, jaw-dropping, go the distance, never give up, barrier breaking, always ready to help, sacrificial love.
That is the thing that would put the church on the map. Love.
The kind of love Jesus showed you, and what Jesus modeled, you would show to others.
These are saying as plain as anything that the leading economic indicator for God’s people will be their love ability.
Not our…
- Miracle power
- Spiritual gifts
- Great preaching
-great music
- Sound doctrine
We will not be notorious for the supernatural but for how we loved. How we valued each other, the way that we would go all out for each other and watch each other’s back. We would be known as the one group of people who really knew something about real love, and sticking with people, and being generous and kind. It would be the one thing the world couldn’t imitate or do.
When it was hard we would be known…by our love for one another…
When it was easy…
When there were changes…
When there were doctrinal disagreements…
When the music changed…
When some felt overlooked…
When they didn’t have a building…
When they got a building…
Between young and old…
Between black and white…
Between the Baptist and the Pentecostal…
Between the song lover and the preach lover…
Between the rich and the poor…
Between the back pew guy and front pew guy…
And what the church would show was this love that had no conditions attached to it, no strings attached, we would just love.
That would be the thing that separated the church and church people
We must be relentless about being this, not just doing this, but being this person. Loving without limits or reservation.
And notice that Jesus COMMANDS it. He commands us to love.
- He doesn’t say if you feel like loving.
- He doesn’t say if they are lovable.
- He doesn’t say if they’re attractive than you should love them.
- He doesn’t say if they’re going to benefit you then you should love them.
- He doesn’t say if there just like you then you should love them.
- He doesn’t say if they’re part of your tribe or your thing then you should love them.
Nope… He just tells us, or rather commands us, implores us, demands of us, orders us to live the kind of life where we will intentionally and sacrificially connect ourselves with other people who follow Jesus and always do good to them, and always protect them and always seek their best.
Like I said radical, head turning, eye-popping, heartwarming, hair-raising, hand reaching, jaw-dropping, go the distance, never give up, barrier breaking, always ready to help, sacrificial love.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus loved his disciples? Was it because it they were especially lovable? Was it because they were especially gifted? No. You see with Jesus, love was not a judgment about them or you and how good they were or you are but the love of Jesus is more of a judgment on what Jesus is like and who Jesus is. That is the kind of love were talking about. Not a love that’s bestowed on the worthy but a love that is bestowed that make something worthy.
Let me give you an example; have you ever seen a child with a ragdoll - a beat up, deflated, dirty, matted hair, one eye missing ragdoll. From my vantage point I’m saying, “get rid of the thing.” But what makes that ragdoll valuable is that there is someone who is bestowed love upon that ragdoll and made the unvaluable invaluable. Love makes the ragdoll valuable.
My old neighbor Lila did the same thing. She loved that little dachshund dog and Annie broke her back. Me - that would’ve been it. But not my neighbor - several thousand dollars later she nursed that dog back to health.
You know what Jesus is saying? My love makes you valuable now go and love the rest of my rag dolls…
- And my little dogs with broken backs
- and don’t let the lonely walk alone
- and provide a safe haven for the ashamed
- and be an army for the defeated
- and be light for those consumed by darkness
- and give grace for the stumbling
- and teach the unlearned
- and be a family for the unloved
Love is allowing your life to be complicated by someone else. And let’s admit it, that’s the last thing any of us really want. We want to free life. We want the prosperous life. But we don’t want our lives complicated by other people. I would rather build a privacy fence.
But Jesus said that his church would be known by radical, head turning, eye-popping, heartwarming, hair-raising, hand reaching, jaw-dropping, go the distance, never give up, barrier breaking, always ready to help, sacrificial love.
I would like to tell you 10 practical Biblical ways that you could love me or someone else…
1. Work side by side and heart to heart with me.
Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Phil 2:2 (NLT)
2. Forgive me when I fail you.
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Eph 4:32 (NLT)
3. Accept me for who I am.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7 (NIV)
4. Be patient with me.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love Eph 4:2 (NIV)
5. Build me up, don’t tear me down.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thess 5:11 (NIV)
6. Meet with me and encourage me.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:25 (NIV)
7. Help me carry my loads.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 (KJV)
8. Laugh and cry with me, but to do this you’ll have to know me.
When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Romans 12:15 (NLT)
9. Invite me over or help me out.
When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. Romans 12:13 (NLT)
10. Kiss me.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 2 Cor 13:12 (NIV)
What if this was our environment all the time? Can’t you see how people would thrive and grow in an environment of love like this?
But have you ever thought about what would happen if we withheld our love and created an environment where people had to earn our love?
When we withheld our love we are saying…
- You have no value
- you have no worth
- you don’t belong here
- I don’t except you
- don’t count on me doing good on your behalf
- you have no place here no role to play
some of you have grown up in families like this and it devastated you. That is why Jesus so emphasizes love. Let’s become experts at love.
So why am I talking about this…AGAIN?
I’ll tell you why. Because in a few weeks we are going to re-inhabit this building and discover that life is changed.
- We’re going to find out that not everybody is processing Covid 19 like you are. And you may have a tendency to dismiss them. And that’s not love.
- We’re going to find out that people have all kinds of opinions about this issue that we don’t agree with.
- You’re going to find that this fear and panic that has captured our nation has captured the hearts of good brothers and sisters and that they have changed. And they’re not going to want to touch you. And they may have a mask on that hides their expressions. They may not even look you in the eye. They may sit far away from you. No handshakes. No hugs. It won’t feel like family. And some people will be missing for a long time.
- You’re going to find that is not just social distancing but there’s going to be some emotional distancing. You may have a tendency to make fun of some of those people.
You see, Covid 19 has gotten into all of our blood streams one way or another – and we all think were right about it. And there is a devil standing at the doorway who wants you to get into a food fight and get that food fight to erupt between all of God’s people.
3 LEVELS OF INVOLVMENT IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE.
1. I AM INVOLVED WITH MY HANDS – TO TOUCH PEOPLE
This is the least level because I am just helping people with little expectation that this relationship is going to go any deeper then help. The Samaritan did this.
2. I AM INVOLVED WITH MY HEART – I COMMIT TO BEING WITH PEOPLE
This is where we choose to belong. This is where I decide to part of the Body of Christ, the church, the people, and participate in life with them.
At this level people are a priority. I become part of the community. I learn to open up and share my experiences and problems. I commit to loving with more than just my hands KNOWING that there will be rough patches along the way.
3. THE LAST LEVEL…I AM INVOLVED WITH MY SOUL – I LOVE PEOPLE LIKE FAMILY.
This is where I have learned to love and treat others like family, I am completely committed to them.
At this level I am willing to sacrifice for you.
This is the person that when everybody else walks out during a crisis, you walk in.
