When Jesus the Son of God came and chose His team (the Apostles) and went about doing good with miracles, signs and wonders which were the validation that He was God the Son and that He was sent to return Israel back to His Word from where they had fallen. It could be said that all the things we are supposed to learn as being disciples of Jesus could be sifted down into our annual challenge, which is extracted from John 13:35 as taught by Jesus, and is our ongoing theme of the year, which is “Learning to love like Jesus”. “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples if ye have love one to another” Last week’s message prepared us for today’s topic which we have called: ” Practicing God’s Love The Banner of Hope”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3:21 – 24 (KJV)
Lam 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lam 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 2John 1:4 – 11 (KJV)
2Jn 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
2Jn 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
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Transforming Power Statements:
1) When Israel had become complacent about the things of God, it became apparent that they had fallen from closeness with God and had rather gotten confused by the many twisted teachings of the Gentiles all around them to the point that it became necessary for God to discipline the entire nation and the Lamentations were written to express the grief and suffering of apostasy; although the Prophet could still see that God was still merciful and that they had not had it as bad as it should have been and that there was hope in the True and Living God!
2) A similar religious disease began to set in on the “Early Church” and continues to attack the Church even today, therefore, we must always be about the practice of checking out the teachings we hear by sifting everything through the Scriptures to see if the teachings can measure up to what thus saith the LORD as the Apostles did and as John required during the latter days of his ministry.
3) Retaining Love for one another and especially love for God, His Son, and His Word are the foundation for all our practices, beliefs, and teachings and we must adhere to these in order to be learning to love like Jesus Who Himself took a lot of flack from the people who rejected and crucified Him in return for His miracles and great works which were the trademarks of His Divinity.
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