How must we practice love in the church? (Phil.1:9-11)
A. There are many kinds of love.
Today we talk about one kind of love which must be practiced in the church!
This is the love prompted by a common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the church there are love between Christ and God, love between
Christians, love between Christ and his disciples....
B. Love is the most human basic quality!
1. Because of love we live and have our being.
Because we were created by God for his glory. (Isa.43:7)
2. All the Christians are suppose to have good deeds for the world to see so
that they can give glory and praise to God! (Matt.5:16)
D. Love must be properly navigated!
1. Our theme scripture for today's sermon is Phil.1:9-11.
And this I pray, in order that the love of you yet more and more may
abound in full knowledge 1922 and all perception 144. For the to prove
you the things differing 1308, in order that ye may be sincere 1506 and
unoffending 677 in day of Christ, having been filled fruit of
righteousness 1343 through Jesus Christ, to glory and praise of God.
2. Original meaning of some specific words:
a. "Love", 26 --> Affection prompted by same kind of faith in Christ.
Willing to perform troublesome service because of love.
Affection in action through sharing food provided by those who can
afford with those who can't.
b. Full knowledge, 1922 -->precise and correct knowledge of the knowledge of
things ethical and divine.
c. Perception, 144 -->The understanding of ethical matters.
d. Differing,1308 -->To distinguish between good and evil, lawful and unlawful.
e. Sincere, 1506 -->Pure in the soul of a man.
f. Unoffending, 677 -->Not let into sin, blameless.
g. Righteousness, 1343 --> Integrity, virtue, purity of life, uprightness,
correctness in thinking, feeling and acting.
3. "Love abound more and more in full knowledge and all perception."
This means the amount of love or the level of love must increase by the day!
This means when practicing love one must have full knowledge of the situation!
Knowing why you help and why you help. Knowing your action of love will not
bring about harm to all parties involved!
4. "For the to prove you the things differing"!
"Differing" means to distinguish between good and evil, lawful and unlawful.
This phrase means when practicing love you must know what you do is good not
evil! Seems good at the time is not good enough! You must distinguish that
your good deeds result in promoting good not evil deeds!
Such as supporting mission work out of Love for God and people, you must
distinguish who you support and what you are supporting. Otherwise your love
action may bring you evil punishment from the Lord! (2 Jn.1:9-11)
you think you are supporting something that is good and biblical is not enough!
If I were a medical doctor on this earth, I would have one big problem and that
is I have to make sure the one whom I saved must not end up doing evil!
Otherwise, I will feel I am responsible, some how I contribution to this evil
done by the person I had saved physically! This is it, right here!!
5. "In order that you may be sincere and unoffending in day of Christ"!
This means, when you see Christ, you are found to be pure and blameless!
Out of my love for others, I did not participate, nor did I contribution to
evil deeds on earth! No evil is done because whatever love action by me!
6. "Filled with the fruit of righteousness"!
How beautiful and how wonderful if my actions of love resulted in this!
All actions of love were acted in purity, uprightness of thinking and feeling!
7. "To the glory and praise of God."
This is the reason we become Christians1
This is why our love action is in full knowledge, and all perception!
We make sure our love is biblically navigated!