God’s Love Will Unite Us

This morning, I awoke to ANOTHER physical attack on a church. It also appears the church was purposely set on fire. Charlie Kirk was killed for his beliefs and faith, a Catholic church was attacked last week, and people are becoming more outspoken against Christians, claiming WE are creating this hate. This lie is creating a deeper chasm between peaceful Christians and non-Christians. The number of people intent on hate and doing evil is becoming more and more prevalent. An alarming, but expected trend! (See Matthew 10:22) We must combat this hate with unfaltering, enduring love.  

Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.”  

Jesus warned us that “all men” (non-believers) will hate you, but it is important to hold fast onto your faith and hope in Him, because those who keep BELIEVING through the persecution will be eternally saved! The answer to all this hate and darkness is love and the light shining out from God’s children as we face this persecution with love, faith, and hope.  

Did you know that there are actually ELEVEN Commandments? Before you think I am misinterpreting the Bible, hear me (and Jesus) out… 

John 13:34-35 - “A NEW COMMANDMENT I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (The glue that binds Christians together and identifies them in this fallen world is LOVE) 

John 15:11-13 – “I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My COMMANDMENT that you love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  Jesus is alluding to martyrdom when he discusses a love so strong that we are willing to die for others. Not militarily, but a deep, steadfast, SACRIFICIAL love and willingness to die for HIM. Jesus says He has warned us so that we may find joy, not fear, in the persecution. These events were prophesied to happen (God’s omniscience), but by understanding and expecting these events, we can stay strong and loving while hate surrounds us.  

Jesus felt this commandment was so important, He repeated it (as did John) for two different reasons. One, so that people will know/recognize that WE are Jesus’ disciples (peaceful and loving), and two, that the GREATEST love is a person who is willing to sacrifice their life for their friends! (i.e., Unconditional love) Obviously, it is foreshadowing what Jesus is going to do for us, but it also gives us an example of the love we MUST have for each other as we face evil and hatred in His Holy Name.  

The Book of Acts is your study Book for this week. It is a wonderful description of how people bonded together and formed churches throughout the known world after Jesus ascended. It would take many sermons to discuss all the concepts and lessons learned from the Book of Acts, but if you read it, you will immediately see how the church of Jesus was formed and why (despite horrific persecution) it was/is so strong and eternal! Most importantly, Jesus introduced us to the Holy Spirit as the One left with us to lead, comfort, and help us navigate through life and these trials.  

In this phenomenal Bible Book, it tells us of the coming together of ALL peoples to become THE Christian church. Jews and Gentiles UNITED AS ONE and for ONE PURPOSE, and that was to spread the Good News/Gospel to all people, everywhere! For ease of explaining in this sermon, Gentiles will be used to describe all people not Jewish. Whereas certain people (Gentiles and Samaritans, to name two) and certain “unclean” foods were off limits to the Jewish people prior to this time, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything! Now, instead of just following a bunch of rules, love and caring for each other would bind all Christians together as one. At least that was Jesus’s plan!  

The Jews were no longer required to give living animal sacrifices to God, and they could eat any food not sacrificed to fake gods. People were ENCOURAGED to fellowship together and many gathered in communes, giving all their material belongings to the leaders in order to feed, clothe, and support the entire community. No longer did people ostracize lepers and Samaritans, but the church was ordained to gather every believer with open arms (in love), train them in the ways of Jesus, and send them out to be teachers/disciples! Everyone was to have Philia AND Agape love for each other: 

Philia - Scripture uses this term to refer to the most general type of love, which includes love for fellow humans, care, respect, and compassion. In Christianity, brotherly love unites believers. 

Agape - Sacrificial love 

The Bible best explains this mixture of love in the scriptures that tell us to LOVE OTHERS MORE than we love ourselves: Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3; James 2:8; and Galatians 5:13-14. In summary, these scriptures (in the order listed above) tell us to be united in brotherly love and honor one another above yourself. (Romans) In humility, value others above yourself (Philippians), and you are to love your neighbor as [you love] yourself. (James) Galatians tells us to SERVE each other HUMBLY in LOVE!  

Love is the most important and discussed subject in the Bible; therefore, it should be our #1 focus as well. When I went to college for my Religious Studies degree, they taught that the entire theme of the Bible is love. I agree, as God created us in love, asked us to have dominion over the animals in love, and to sacrificially love each other. He also showed us love when we were not acting loving towards Him. Romans 5:8, for He loved us when we were [are] still sinners, so much so He sent His only begotten Son as a sacrifice and intercessor for us (John 3:16) so that we may have [share in] ETERNAL LIFE! 

I write this sermon to teach you that we MUST NOT allow this evil and secular world to affect our relationship with each other. AS MANY sow hatred and division amongst us, it is only because they want us to be ungodly and separated from God like them! (Misery loves company) For [as I often state] UNITED WE STAND; DIVIDED WE FALL. Love is the great uniter, and hate is the great divider.  

What would be Satan’s greatest wish? To make us all FALL with him and end up separated from God forever. (Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8) My teaching, in love and God’s wisdom, is that we stand tall against those who wish evil upon us. Those who work night and day, conniving ways to divide and conquer us. “WE are MORE than conquerors in GOD who loves us.” (Romans 8:37) 

Remember my friends and family, love is light, and where there is light, there is NO darkness. Amen! Allow your love to shine through when evil people are trying to make us live in fear and separate us from God. Your soul will thank you! Blessings and love, Lisa ><> 

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