Can You Relate? Part 5

Let his praises rise well turn around wave at somebody smile real big since your mask is often like. You happy to see them you may be seated a few announcements keep in mind this coming Sunday is going to be our first baby dedication. Sunday and we're excited we have 10 babies we're dedicated yeah I love that that's church growth right there makes me happy really happy. Because all you guys are having babies that makes me happy also Sunday uh afternoon evening at five o'clock in uh room 101 which is right. Behind that wall right there we're going to be doing a special alter working alter training class. So and everyone's invited if you are interested in knowing more and getting more training about working in the altar praying with people. When they come down that'll be going on at five o'clock probably be around about an hour. And then after that for all the ministers will be our next mit meeting at six o'clock I'll be teaching that.

Also in the same room so keep that in mind this coming Monday is going to be our first 24-hour prayer chain here in the new. Building we're excited about that it's going to start at 6 00 a.m on Monday. And go all the way through to 6 a.m on Tuesday and I believe. If I'm not mistaken all of the slots have been filled. So thank you to everybody who has signed up for that just want to. Let you know that just because the slot is filled doesn't mean that you can't come by the church. And use the prayer room so it's always open we just wanted to be sure that. We had continuous prayer coverage for the 24 hour period. So if you get off work or want to come in before work or whatever the case may be. You are more than welcome to come by to the prayer room and if. You need the prayer code to get in the door you can.

See somebody on the pastor's staff and we'll get you the coach. So that you can get in we're also going to be doing a day of fasting that day. So this coming Monday be fasting and prayer going on and I'm just letting. You pick uh whatever fast you want to do of course the point of fasting is that. You sacrifice so as I've said before if you normally don't eat brussels sprouts. And then you say you're going to fast brussels sprouts really you didn't do much there. So it probably needs to be a little bit more of a little bit more of a flesh killer than than that. So but I will commend you for eating brussels sprouts we have been in the middle of a series. And uh our series that we've been talking about for this whole month is titled can. You relate and we've been studying the first 12 verses out of Matthew chapter 7.. And what we're doing is actually studying kind of the conclusion of the greatest sermon ever preached.

Jesus Christ is the one who did it he was it's called the sermon on the mount it starts in Matthew 5 goes through Matthew 6. Into Matthew 7 is where it ends so we were paying attention to the beginning of the chapter there. And I brought this out because he is specifically talking about relationships in those first 12 verses. And we've been going through those things because relationships are about learning understanding and drawing in closer to whoever you're trying to relate with. And we see this pick up in Matthew 7 verse number 1 it says judge not that. You be not judge for with what judgment you judge you will be judged. And with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. So we see that Jesus starts this talk off by telling us that we should not judge in fact. We spent some time five weeks ago and I was making really clear even said. You know what is this message going to be about and you guys responded.

And said judge not there we got a few of you guys that were still there. Remember that so we didn't want anybody to be confused what it was about. And I was talking about how we need to abandon and walk away from this deeply rooted practice of condemning. And blaming and always pushing things off and looking at other people I talk about how sometimes. You know you can just be driving down the road. Look at somebody and just kind of got that look like yeah I'm better than. You my car's nicer whatever the case may be I just use that as one example. But we all every one of us at one point or another in some way or another have been a little bit guilty of doing that. And so I was bringing us to the scripture and showing that Jesus as he's starting talking about relationships says that. You shouldn't judge now in our families in our workplaces at school in our relationships wherever it is home.

We know that it's important to be able to discern right from wrong. So I spent that time on that first week saying that God's not saying that. You shouldn't correct someone if they're doing something wrong it has more to do with looking down on someone. And devaluing who they are and it's easy to blur those lines and cross over. And when you do so you look at them as though they're less than what. God intended them to be here's a here's a truth and it may be a hard truth for. You but it's still a truth you have never ever laid eyes on someone that. Jesus not only loves but loves as much as he loves you regardless of what they've done to. You regardless of how they've treated you he loves them just as much as. He loves you now that's hard for us because we're. So merit-based in our love if it's beneficial for the moment if I'm gaining something out of it.

If I'm connected if it's my child if there's some kind then all of a sudden our love value our quotient goes up. But if they've been mean to me they've hurt me or they've mistreated me or they've abused me. Then it diminishes and it goes down but God's love doesn't change in fact. God is love and the only way you really understand love is to understand him is to be in a relationship with him that's why it's. Important that we don't allow our judgment to get in the way condemnation cripples people. And they'll you with your soul and I ended that message on uh five weeks ago by saying that. You tend to get back what you give and it brought a bucket up here. And a thimble you remember that because the verse says simply this with the measure. You use it will be measured back to you so how much grace are. You willing to give because that's how much grace you're willing to get back whatever the measure is.

Now about you but I need a lot of grace and mercy in my life. So I'm a fan of the bucket maybe you're not maybe thimble's all you need. Maybe you're really good and I'm proud of you if that's the case. But whatever measure you use that's the measure it's coming back to you. So I prefer to use the bucket then it goes on to verse number three. And it says this and why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye. But do not consider the plank in your own eye or how can you say to your brother. Let me remove the speck from your eye and look a plank is in your own eye hypocrite first remove the plank from your own eye. And then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. I handed out paint sticks do you remember that everybody got a paint stick that night some kids know full. Well about that paint stick because they got used that night man pastor's supposed to be my friend.

He didn't turn enemy on me gave my mama a weapon of instruction. But I used it this way from the point of we have the ability. And it's so easy for us to see other people's faults. But it's difficult to really be honest with ourself and what Jesus was saying here in trying to build. And make relationships better was you need to first focus on you before you start worrying about everybody else why don't. You start with you before you start railing on everybody else on social media why don't. You worry about you before you start pointing out everybody else's political faults and alliances why don't. You worry about you because you're not perfect there was only one perfect one. And he died for you enough so Jesus is making the point that oftentimes. You can get hung up on somebody who has just a little speck yes it's there. But you you got a plank and he says you can't. See clearly until you handle your issue and that's something isn't that powerful you can't.

See clearly until you work on you blame is not productive and blame wastes energy blame spoils relationships. And poisons family it undermines the relationships that are there and it violates love. And if you don't do what you should do you end up finding and this is what. I talked about as I was kind of ending that message on that second week. You find a scapegoat somebody else that you can dump all of it on. And say it's their fault but I ended the message by saying that Jesus became our scapegoat. And he died on a cross for you and I. So that we would have the opportunity to have life eternal with him Jesus has become against all the odds what. He needed to be in order to save you and I then we talked about pigs. And pearls verse number six says do not give what is holy to the dogs nor cast your pearls before swine lest. They trample them under their feet and turn and tear you into pieces now here's the problem with giving a pearl to a pig has nothing.

To do with whether or not the pig is worthy has a whole lot to do with whether or not it's going to benefit the pig. Now you don't usually see pigs wearing pearls I know there's a few miss piggy. We talked about that but outside of that I don't know that I've ever seen another pig with a pearl. But we know that Jesus was using something to gather to grab the attention in the moment to. Let them know that hey sometimes you can be wasting your energy sometimes you can actually be doing more detriment to the relationship than good. And we talked about being people who are not pearl pushers you know that. I gave you a ring pop we talked about part of love is not just knowing what to say it's knowing. When to say it and maybe more importantly knowing when to not say it that's why. You got to know who it is you're talking to it doesn't mean that the person doesn't need to know about.

God but is the person ready to receive what you have to say about. God are they ready and if they're not ready then you end up wasting the time. Now again there's a whole lot of variants and factors in here. But remember I'm talking about relationships Jesus was talking about relationships in these first 12 verses that's what they're about. They were about relationships and in relationships sometimes you can cause sometimes damage that cannot be reversed. Because you constantly were pushing in an area and they were not ready for it the best thing. You can do is to allow God's spirit that should be living in you to guide. You I'm going to tell you a prayer that's a powerful prayer to pray you're ready for it. God opened a door for me to be a witness all right pray that prayer. And God will open the door and you'll know because his spirit will guide. You and those moments just happen they happen on the regular in my life.

And it's not because I'm a pastor and it's not because I'm a preacher it's. Because I pray for it and when it happens I'm telling you. Well I don't know how many times countless number of times that out of nowhere. They ask and I know God just opened the door and it makes it. So much easier when they ask it's a whole lot better than being an encyclopedia or vacuum salesman. Because you know you don't even open your door either peeking out the blind watch what you're trying to push. You have to learn how to make space for God make space for God. And then we went on last week we talked about the ask verse number seven ask. And it will be given to you seek and you will find knock and it will be open to. You for everyone who ask receives and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks it will be open or what man is there among. You who if his son asks for bread will give him a stone or.

If he asks for fish he'll give him a serpent if you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much. More will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him one of the primary ways that. You and I interact with God is through prayer there I say it the main way. We interact with God prayer is our lifeline it's how we stay in touch with him it's how. We understand who he is is what our relationship is built on prayer and in the middle of his teaching. And talking and leading people on how to relate with each other all of a sudden. He turns and says look part of relating with other people is learning to relate with me is learning to have a conversation with me. And in doing so and understanding it helps you and I've said this before this series many many years I've said your relationship with. God directly impacts your relationship with everybody else and if this relationship is off this relationship is going to be off.

But if this relationship is where it needs to be the potential for all of these relationships to be right is very high. Because our relationship with God he has a wonderful way of showing us the things that. We can do to better ourselves Jesus tells them to ask and one of the main purposes of prayer is to make. You and I more like him God gives gifts to people whether they pray or not or whether. They believe or not and I explain this to you and I think it was kind of the hinge point that stuck with us all. Because I simply said this God is good God is always good regardless if somebody else pays him any attention regardless of somebody blasphemes. And talks bad about him he's still good it does not negate his goodness. God is good God is always good so that's where we are that's where we've come in the last four weeks in talking about relationships which. Leads us up to tonight which is verse number 12 that says this therefore all things what things did.

You catch that you can't miss this all right there's a good every word in the scripture has a good good reason that it's there it. Says therefore all things whatsoever you would the men should do to you do. You even so to them for this is the law and the prophets this ladies. And gentlemen has been referred to throughout the ages as the golden rule now is that new to anybody in this room. I think everybody's there now here's what's interesting about the golden rule the golden rule has been around a long time in fact there's been versions. Of it that were before that were before Jesus Christ making this statement what's interesting though about all those. And then there's there's you can go back and study it out in history confucius there's all this these where it was there. But every one of them were worded a little bit different Jesus in his wording of the golden rule didn't approach it from a negative standpoint.

All of the other versions in history that we have all the ones that predated. When Jesus spoke always came from the standpoint of things that you don't like having done to. You don't do those to others there was always a negative to it. But Jesus steps on the scene and as he's writing and he's and he's wrapping up this talk about relationships. He ends it with this by saying do unto others this is a positive the way. You want them to do to you instead of saying not the stuff that. You don't like but from the good standpoint the things that you like do it to them. And I love how he starts to rule out by saying all he didn't say some things. He didn't say the best things he didn't say your top 10 favorite things that's not what. He said what was the word he used all in all things what does all mean oh it doesn't get any deeper than that.

If you look at it in the greek it still just means all everything. You do you should do that to other people in the way that you like having those things done to. You the way you like to be treated in traffic is the way you should treat those in traffic man pastor just stepped on toes. I did you know I did go and put your foot back out we're going to get on it. Again in a minute everything this is demonstrating this new way of thinking that. Jesus is ushering in this sermon there's so much in in Matthew 5 6-7. We could we could seriously preach the rest of the year out of Matthew 5 6-7. Because there's so much depth to what Jesus was bringing out. So much was in this but he he's bringing this to an end and speaking about relationships. And then in speaking about relationships he's bringing this to a conclusion by saying the way. You like it is the way you should do it always he's talking about.

And beginning to give us an example of how not only should we want grace to be in our life. But how that we should be a conduit through which love and grace flows. Now how many of us in this room love mercy and grace in your life. And you love that it's there every day well you ought to raise your hand some of. You ought to stand up one of you ought to take a lap just off of it. Because I need it in my life y'all may be great. But I struggle maybe it's just me maybe it's just me that stubs my toe on a regular basis. But I need grace and mercy and love in my life I have to have it. But part of understanding grace and you heard me say this before the most abused word in christianity is grace man it gets abused it gets. Abused it's the most salastic word it gets stretched and bent all out of proportion to really understand grace to really receive the grace.

And mercy is to know much more than just me just being someone that is a consumer of it. But I'm also to supposed to allow it to flow through me I'm supposed to be a conduit by which that love. And grace and mercy can flow not just to sit over here and be a reservoir to store it up not just to have it. Because I know I need it in my life but to also be willing to accept what's coming through. And let it flow through me that I need grace and you need grace. And sometimes the grace you need comes through me do you ever think about it that way that sometimes the grace people need in their life. Will come through you but you have to be willing to be the conduit by which it flows through? And see I don't think it's any coincidence that Jesus is spending all this time 12 verses wrapping up the greatest sermon ever preached talking about.

Relationships and then as he's ending the talk about relationships he's bringing it to a conclusion to say hey the things that. You like having done to you you need to do those to other people it should just be the way. You live it doesn't matter if they don't reciprocate it just. Let it flow be a person that mercy and grace can go through. But some people don't deserve it pastor kevin you're right they don't and you don't either. But he gave it to you grace by definition is undeserved favor grace puts us at risk grace takes a chance. But this is how God's grace operates it doesn't make exceptions on when it expresses itself it just shows love even. When the love is undeserved even when it is unmerited even when it doesn't make sense even. When there's no rational explanation for the why it just goes that's grace grace. And you've heard me say this before grace points you back to Calvary and says that's the standard it makes.

You look at that cross it makes you look at that sacrifice and says that that's the standard for even. Jesus himself said you have to take it up and follow me the Bible says in Romans chapter 5 verse 8. But God demonstrates his own love toward us and that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Jesus made no exceptions to the rule of grace he simply died for all of us. He didn't come in and say well if you do this this and this. And this and then my grace and mercy will flow. But until you do that no flow no go he didn't do that he just went ahead. And died for you and I there was no guarantee we would ever do anything in return for him. But he wasn't looking for a guarantee he was willing to pay a price. He wasn't looking for a guarantee he wasn't looking for something to say. Well if I do this then you better do that because that's human logic that's the way human beings face things is I'm only going to.

Do this if I know that you're going to hold up your end of the bargain? Because if you hold up you're in the bargain then I'll hold up my in the bargain as long as it's mutual I'm okay with that. But the moment you drop it then I stop no God didn't do that. God just simply said I'll die to show you my love to show you what real love looks like Paul said it this way in Romans. 5 20 where sin abounded grace did much more abound God grants us the grace even. When we don't deserve it how can anyone refuse the love of God how would. They do that doesn't make sense to me but some do they refuse it Matthew 7 same chapter we've been in. But we're going to kind of skip down a little bit down to verse number 24 it says this therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine. And does them I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat on the house. And it did not fall for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these saiyans of mine and does not do them we'll be like a foolish man who built his house in the sand. And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and it beat the house. And it fell and great was its fall now what's he talking about he's talking about everything. He said in chapter five six and seven what I just read to you is the end. And he was saying if you will listen to what I've said and apply these into your life. You can build on a solid foundation now notice he didn't say that it's always going to be sunny did. He did you get that no he included it's going to be windy and rain. And the wheat's going to the wind's going to blow it's going to beat on.

You you're going to face some stuff but he gave you this you'll stand you'll stand life's going to bring. You difficult circumstances and situations it's just a part of living life. But what are you going to build that life on what are you going to build it on. If you build it on him his word you build it on this you can stand it's a sure foundation. When life brings you trouble now that goes to the principle of the golden rule. Also the wise man hears and obeys the word of God and in doing. So he builds his life on the rock storms and troubles come our way. But they come from everybody this is not just a Christian thing it's just being a human being life brings. You storms all men all women have to face terrible things it's a part of the life. We live but the golden rule is not just a wise saying it must be a regular practice it's not just something.

You know let me buy you a little cool thing stick it on your desk in your office or stick it on the wall or whatever. It's more than that and I feel like in our day and age that's what it's become it's just kind of a cool saying. But Jesus went saying hey if you like what I said put it on some kind of print think about it every. Now and then make it a t-shirt or a bumper sticker that's that was not that. He said if you will listen and apply apply it to your life you can make a sure foundation which lets me know that the golden. Rule is not just something that we think about it's something that we live. We have to live it it has to be a part of our life God's word makes its greatest impact on others. When it's seen in your life and mine the Bible says that it's the epistle written in our hearts known.

And read of all men how is that they see the life you live. You know I've said this to you many times you may be the only. Jesus they ever see so how do you represent him are you doing good are. You a good representation do you do you do a good Job of letting his love. And his grace and his mercy flow through you do you are you a poor representation do. You look real good in here but the moment you leave the moment you get in your car. And somebody cut you off or hit you at work and that co-worker who drives. You nuts and you check out and lose your mind like where are you at. Because this is to be a part of our life every day. Remember Jesus started off 7-1 talking about relationships judge not we get down to verse 12. And he was saying hey the things you like you should do that to everybody a young lady was going to be married.

And she was shopping for fabric in order to make her wedding dress and. She asked the owner of the fabric shop for a very unusual type fabric. She wanted to know what kind of fabric would make the most noise when. She walked the shop owner was a bit confused they looked through several examples of what was going on. And she brought out some stuff and the lady kept rubbing it together and rubbing it together. And finally she found the most noisy fabric possible finally the shopkeeper said I'm I'm sorry I've never had anybody come in here. And look at fabric for a wedding dress and ask for that that made the most noise it's what are. You thinking about this and she said my fiance is blind and I want him to know. When I arrive in front of him so he's not embarrassed wondering if I'm there love love will cause. You to do great things go outside the box where you are love will.

Let yourself manifest even in the most difficult circumstances his grace and his mercy how are. You living how are you living so here's the here's the thing it doesn't matter. If your life is not the way you want it to be right now it doesn't matter. If it's been raining in your life for a long time in storms and it seems like the wind is constantly beating. He didn't give an out he didn't say except you have to do this except. If things are not going well that's not there that's not his word his word was what. You like you do to others no exceptions no out plain and simple what. You like that's what you do to everybody else if they never reciprocate it doesn't matter do it. If they never appreciate it doesn't matter do it if they never acknowledge you it doesn't matter do it it's nice to know God's word. But it's even better when we put it into practice I'm gonna read verse 12 to.

You again therefore whatever you want men to do to you do also to them for this is the law. And the prophets the law was given to try to keep sin in check to try to have behavior modification. But that's a terrible motivator in fact by the time Jesus showed up it was. So skewed so out of whack so out of touch that it made it feel like it was an impossibility to have a relationship with. God because who could live up to all those laws such a hard thing such a hardship. So difficult the law came from some pretty firm it came with some pretty firm punishments like stoning or or things being cut off or are. Imprisonment the nature of sin is such that without law and order mankind would destroy itself eventually. We need loss to keep sinful man in check that's why it's dangerous for a nation to proclaim that everything is normal. And permissible that there are no wrongs and no absolutes for in doing.

So you become enslaved the very thing you cry for is the very thing. You push away the over expression of freedom will only create a wicked society without moral underpinnings in a fallen world law still plays an important. Role in keeping sinful man from the full expression of sin the ones that are most able to obey the law are those who are motivated. Not to keep it all in check to make sick everybody make sure everybody does it that can't be the motivation. Because then you start feeling superior in what you are and what you're doing. Because everybody else is not holding your standard no the motivating the motivating factor always always always always has to be love love. And any time we deviate away from that we run off course we run off course it has to come from love it has to come. From a place of love the golden rule as Jesus gives it here sums up the law. And the prophets because it's stated by Jesus in a very positive way it seeks to encourage excellence not just contentment no containment sorry it doesn't.

Just state a problem it talks about how you can fix it it's one thing to go to mechanic. And they can't say hey that's what's wrong with your car. Well that's great I knew it was broke I mean you just defined what was broke about it. But it still broke I need it fixed it's great to have the knowledge. But you have to put it into practice otherwise it's still broken. So more than you just knowing the word you have to live the word there's a whole lot of people that know the word there's a. Whole lot of people that know the word way better than I may ever know the word. They know the word but they don't live the word knowing it in itself. They don't do you any good you have to live it what are the good is it there just to be able to spout it off. Spit it out if you're not willing to live it it is the living word of.

God it's meant to be a plod in your life it's meant to go along with this spirit that is inside of. You and they work together to make you the best version of you that there can be the law was a lot like a plumb line. It can prove that the wall is crooked but the law can't make the wall straight it takes a carpenter it takes somebody with skill. And ability to fix it again knowledge itself it does still stay crooked. But somebody can come in see here's the meaning to the golden rule we are to learn to be conduits of love. And grace and mercy it has to flow through us after all he started off talking about the relationships judge not don't worry about the spec. You got a plank be careful about pushing the pearls in front of the pigs until. You realize there's an open door opportunity and then he goes from relationships with them to relationships with him. When he says ask seek knock right and if you need it it'll work out.

And then he brings it back around to whatever it is you like that's what. You do no judging no pointing out no pushing in areas where you don't need to push learn to have a relationship with me have a. Prayer life and when you do these things then you can live the very things. You love and do the very things you want always to others it'll come back to. You you notice that it does not say say to others do you. See that it didn't say say to others what did it say do to others there's a whole lot of talking going on there's a whole. Lot of saying going on there's a whole lot of people who like to put stuff out there that doesn't change a thing doing it living. It being it that's what's important there is no substitute for action when it comes to the golden rule. God calls us to minister his grace to others in everything and this will manifest his grace to a world that is suffering under sin.

Now just start making an approach into a landing zone here I found it interesting. When studying this out as Jesus is laying out the relationship here and how things are supposed to be. When he said things like on this hangs all the law and prophets that that that term that statement this isn't the only time it shows. Up in scripture it's it's in other places too and Jesus was asked one time what's the greatest commandment. And I think that's a pretty good question to ask now the guy asking it had other motives. But I still it doesn't negate it being a good question we. See this in Matthew chapter 22. it says then one of them a lawyer asked him a question testing him. And saying teacher which is the greatest commandment in the law good question Jesus answers. He says in him you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul. And with all your mind this is the first and great commandment and the second.

Now it's interesting because he wasn't asking what was one and two he simply asked what was one. But Jesus says I can't give you one because two goes along with it one can't stand by itself two can't stand by itself. But you put one and two they have to go together you're going to love. God and he goes on and says you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Now here he goes again on these two verse 40 commandments hang all the law. And the prophets here we are again now he said the golden rule right was where it all hung. But then then here we are a few chapters later as Jesus is much further into his ministry. And he revisits that phrase again so what's going on Jesus which one does it hang on. Well here's the deal they're connected they're connected together these two commandments hang on the law of prophets love. God love your neighbor as yourself but that wasn't enough because I want to draw.

You to one more passage of scripture Jesus and giving his final instructions to a disciple is at the last supper he's washing their feet to. Set an example on how they are to treat each other saying that if you're not willing to do this. You can't be a part of what's going on Peter's trying to get out of it. He tells them Peter can't have no part Peter then says hey don't just wash my feet wash my head watch watch everything. And Peter I just ain't about all that it's about washing your feet it's about submission it's about being submitted in the moment that's there. He tells them that one of them is going to betray him they all of a sudden start looking at each other they're pointing fingers who's. It going to be who's it going to be they're the one that I sup bread with. He does and then we know Judas took the bread and now Judas has left the room Judas has gone to do what Judas is going.

To do and then we get this he's left now with the eleven the betrayer has gone John chapter 13 verse 31. So when he had gone out that he that's Judas Jesus said now the son of man is glorified. And God is glorified in him if God is glorified in him God will. Also glorify him in himself and glorify him immediately little children I shall be with. You a little while longer you will seek me and as I said to the jews where. I am going you cannot come so now I say to you a new commandment. I give you look here he's about to go and all of a sudden. He decides to enter a new commandment that you love one another as I have loved. You that you also love one another by this will all know that you are my disciples. If you have love one for another he changed it he changed it because the golden rule doesn't work. He changed it because in answering the question to the lawyer that doesn't work it doesn't work.

Because it says simply this the way you want to be treated that's how. You do it to other people some people hate themselves some people don't like themselves very much. So the way they would treat others wouldn't be a good representation of his love. He knew this so in one of the most precious sacred moments with his disciples. He comes to them and says I give you a new commandment could I stretch it a little bit. And say I give you a new golden rule because Jesus never called it the golden rule a new commandment. I give you that you love each other the way I love you what was. He saying your love is flawed your love is tainted your love isn't always the way it's supposed to be. So forget that love each other the way I love you what was he saying you're fixing to. See over the next few hours what love looks like I'm fixing to show. You what it means to really love and that is the standard greater love hath no man than this than a man laid down his life.

For his friend that ladies and gentlemen is the golden rule it may not be what the world calls the golden rule nowhere in scripture does. It say it's the golden rule but to this preacher that's the golden rule that. We love each other the way he has loved us and if we do that. Then we will fulfill all that he has asked for us to do. So our relationships are important in fact our relationships are more important than I feel like most of us really realize. We were meant to commune with each other we were not meant to be an island we're not meant to be separated or isolated or to. Be out by ourselves we need each other but the best thing that we could do for the world in which. We live in is to get our relationship with God right and if we'll get our relationship with. God right and we'll learn to treat each other with the love that he has showed us this will be an awesome place.

But the only way that happens is when we learn to push past self. And regardless of what I may think of you I'm instructed to love you regardless of what you've done to me I'm instructed to love. You not just love you with human love but to love you in the same way that. He loved me that's the only way this world will ever know we belong to him our lifestyle convictions are important how. We behave how we all those things are great but he said this is how all men will know. You belong to me when they see how you love each other as you stand with me. Tonight that does not only apply when we're in person. But it also applies when we're texting talking posting tweeting sharing whatever whatever method. You choose to communicate we are to love before you post tweet stick whatever the term is why don't. You ask yourself this question does this show love and if you can't answer that question with a firm yes.

Then just erase it just erase it by this all men will know you're my disciples by the way. You love each other God help us all Jesus we need you we need. You we need you in the hour we live in God we need you. Lord I pray that we're always mindful of our brothers and sisters God you put us here to have relationships. And to do our part to make those relationships right whole and pure God. I pray that we would learn how to operate from love and everything we do to know. God that you have called us to with a high standard to love others the way you've loved us. God I pray you give us that capacity to love Lord we would be conduits for mercy. And grace all around us to live in such a way that people would. Look at us and say to themselves what a good God there must be. Because God made us be with us as we leave this place keep us bring us back this weekend in.

Jesus name we pray and amen. God bless you you are dismissed.