“Be kindly affectioned,one to another..” Romans 12:10
THE SECRETE TO DEALING WITH LACK IS BROTHERLY LOVE – ACTS 4:34
The apostles were together in one accord when the spirit was revealed and they continued to be together afterwards,they were always together praying and declaring the word of God and there was so much love and bond between them and much grace was released on them,now christian brothers spend more time fighting than praying,they say “A family who prays together stays together” and that’s true because prayer binds.
They stayed together,prayed together and preached together,that their brotherly love for each other became stronger,we can not walk in unity if we don’t love one another,we make little impact now because we don’t walk in brotherly love,the bible says that they walked so much in love that no one absolutely no one in their midst lacked anything.
How was that possible? the bible records that “those that were possessors of land or houses,went and sold them and brought the money to the apostles feet” Peter didn’t have to raise some kind of fund,these guys were so moved by the love of God,this is how you know they have Gods love,they gave what they had,you can not say you love when you can not give,love expresses itself through giving,”God so loved that he gave” John 3:16,you cant separate giving from love,its part of love.
They brought the proceeds to the apostles feet and distribution was made to everyone,according as he had need,everyone's need was met,everyone because they walked in Philadelphia-brotherly love.
There are folks in church today who are so rich,but they care not about their brother,who has need,how can we say we love God when we see a brother in need and we have the resource to fix the need,but we say “oh brother,its going to be fine just keep praying” you certainly don’t have any love,the bible calls that attitude a sin.
LOVE IN ACTION – 1JOHN 3:17-18
This scripture is very direct and clear and it addresses what we see today in the church,were we close our bowels of mercy toward a brother in genuine need of help,so many people attend a church were there are quite a lot of financially okay folks but they still suffer,were is the love of God.
The writer of John quotes “whosoever hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother have need and shuteth his bowels of compassion,from him,how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
He concluded with a question,because he couldn't understand how you can be blessed with the riches of this world and see your brother or sister in need and not do something to help,such a person doesn't really have the love of God in him.
Its normal now,we select who we help,even in the church,but the word says we are brothers and sisters,how can we say we have the love Of God and still be comfortable,when someone else,a brother is in need and we just ignore it,you better check yourself,that’s is not the love of God.
Let us not love in word or in tongue but in deed and in truth,in other words let our love grow from the verbal “I love you” to actually acting it,doing it.you see a brother who is in need,don’t close your bowels of mercy and feel pity,actually do something about it,he is your brother,that’s how we love in action,when we actually act it,God so loved the word,that he gave” so it was not just verbal,action followed it.
IF YOU HATE YOUR BROTHER,YOU ARE A MURDERER – 1JOHN 3:15
“Whosoever hates his brother in christ is a murderer”- The word murderer in real life is “someone who kills a fellow man,with a motive”.
The scripture say “thou shalt not kill” the actual word there is thou shalt not murder.When you kill someone by a mistake or in self defense,it isnt murder even by natural law,but when you kill someone with an intent,a motive,maybe they did something bad to you or they even killed someone you love and you did it back as vengeance,you have committed murder because of the motive.
So the bible says he that hates his brother is a murderer,its interesting that when I checked the greek,I was amazed;
The greek for murder is anthropoktonos,which means a manslayer,murderer.
When you hate,you hate with a motive,you just don’t wakeup one morning and hate someone,if that’s your case then you got to have a demonic problem there,but when you hate a brother in christ,the bible says that its as committing murder,been charged with that crime called manslaughter,which is same as man slayer.
When you walk in hate,toward a brother in christ,you have committed manslaughter,you have actually killed someone in cold blood,there is no difference between you and someone who takes a gun and walks into a school of kids and shoots everybody to death,you are a murderer.
The bible goes further to say that such a person can not claim to have eternal life abiding in him,the word eternal life is Zoe life,the God kind of life we receive when we accept christ as lord and saviour,that means in actual fact what the scripture is saying is “you are not born-again” that’s the simplest way I can put it.
If you walk in hatred towards your christian brother,you don't have the life of God in you,you are a murderer.
LOVE LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS BROTHER/SISTER IN CHRIST – 1JOHN 3:16
Now this is getting even serious,its easy to talk about the love of God and I know what you are thinking now,yea he was God! and so it was easy for him to do that.If it was so easy why did Jesus cry out to the father in the garden of gethsemane,that he should take this cup away from him,if it was possible because it wasn’t easy but his love for you and I,the desire to free us from death was much more than the pain of the cross,he truly loved us and went all the way,it wasn’t easy,but it was worth it.
That’s what the scripture is saying to us as brothers that we ought to,its not a thing of struggle because we have the ability to,since God shared his love(agape) love in our hearts by the holy spirit,then we can and we ought to lay down our lives also for the brethren.
This doesn’t necessarily mean die for your brother,but the truth is,if the situation demands it,do it,actually lay down your own life for your brother.But when you read the next verse,the writer talked about helping to meet your brothers need,because the truth is,if you cannot help to solve a brothers material need,you sure can not actually die for them,so we start from the small things,how many times have you gone out of your ways to help another,sacrificed time and money to help some brother in need,that is laying down your life.
Brotherly love is so vital for faith,we serve one God and father,one faith that binds us together,one love which is agape that is the foundation of our faith,if we truly share all of these,then we ought to walk in brotherly love,you are my brother and you are my sister in christ.
watch out for the blog on charity..
“Be kindly affectioned,one to another..” Romans 12:10
WHAT IS BROTHERLY LOVE
The word Brotherly kindness in the greek is Philadelphia meaning “love shared between a biological brother and sister,but in the christian faith it is the love shared between one christian brother or sister to another christian brother or sister.”
As christians we are all members of one family,we have one father and one God and one faith and one spirit,so in christ we are blood brothers and sisters,the blood of Jesus is our connection and his love is our bond.If you are in Christ,then you are my brother or sister,no matter the physical location,tribe,country,family,we are a family in christ Jesus,the blood of christ is our bond of connection.
Here we are not talking about agape love,which is the love of God which is the foundation of the christian faith,but we must realise that we are actually spiritual brothers and sisters,we are not trying to be,you are actually my brother and sister,to tell you how serious this is,in the scriptures;
when Jesus was teaching,he was told that his mother and brothers want to see him,"But He answered and said to the one who told Him, 'Who is My mother and who are My brothers?' And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.' "Matthew 12:46-50.
Jesus said whosoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother,its that serious,we are not just colleagues in the lord but brothers and sisters in christ,for real.
To prove to you that it’s the same meaning,when Jesus spoke about his brothers he used the word Brethren and it shares the same greek word and translation when he referred to his disciples as well.The word brethren is the same thing as the word biological brothers in meaning and the greek is Adelphos which is brother or sister of the same parents or different father or mother.
WHAT SHOULD MY ATTITUDE BE TO MY BROTHER
The bible teaches us how we are to behave to our brother,what sort of attitude I should put up when dealing with my brother,the bible teaches us the following;
- BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED,ONE TO ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE – Romans 12:10;1Thessalonians 4:9
To be kindly affectioned means to show affection with kindness to one another,we should be kind and affectionate to one another,with brotherly love,that is Philadelphia,which is love shared between blood brothers,don’t ignore your brother in time of need but show affection and Philadelphia when they are in trouble.
The word kind means to be considerate,generous and friendly.kindness is a fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22,the king James uses the word goodness,which means same thing as kindness.
The word affectionate means readily feeling or showing fondness and tenderness.
I wouldn’t want to see my younger brother hurt,I would give all to make sure he is okay,I love him that much and that is the same love I give to my family.The same love and affection that we show to our blood brothers and sisters that is the same kindness and affection that is demanded of us toward our christian brother.
The greek word for kindly affectioned is Philostorgos which means the mutual love of parents and children and wife's and husbands,God wants us to show that kind of affection to our brother and sister,that closeness that generosity and fondness.
How can we do this,the bible further says “in honor,preferring one another” ; the words in honor and preferring one another are very important words,so lets look at them.
For us to fully comprehend the words in honor we need to understand the greek word used is time,which in translation means,the following;
A valuing by which the price is fixed; the value of the price paid for a person or thing bought or sold.
That means that we place value according to the price fixed on the person,that takes us back to redemption,the bible say that we were redeemed by the blood of the lamb,the price paid for our lifes and salvation was the blood of christ,what can be more valuable than that,what can be more expensive than the blood.1Peter 1:18-20.
So I should value my brother according to the price paid to redeem him or her,the blood of christ was the price,that means he is priceless to God,I should treat him as such.
The word preferring in greek is proegeomai which means to go before and show the way;to go before as a leader.So in honor preferring one another would mean,be the first to show kindness and affection,brotherly love,don’t wait for it to come before you show it,show it according to the value on your brother.
I would think the bible is saying be proactive in helping others,don’t wait for them to ask you first,In honor preferring one another,be the leader in brotherly love,be the first to show it.
Sometimes we want to be at the receiving end,we want to receive first before we reciprocate,no the bible says be the leader,lead the way in showing affection and kindness,knowing that your brother is as valuable to God as you are.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER WITH A PURE HEART FERVENTLY – 1PETER 1:22.
Firstly lets see what 1John says about loving one another,so important and profound this subject is,our faith walk is to please God and without faith its totally impossible to please God.
Our love for God is measured by our love for our brother whom we can see;
The bible says “if a man says he loves God and hates his brother,he is a liar” I am very curious and I checked the word liar in the greek,it is Pseustes - meaning a liar; one who breaks faith,a false and faithless man.
This is so serious,if you claim to love God and yet hate your brother,you are a liar,you are one who breaks faith,you are false and a faithless man,this is serious,cause without faith its impossible to please God,so you cant love God and hate your brother,there is no justification to hate your brother,when we live by the law of love and forgiveness,so when you walk outside of love with your brother,you are a false and faithless man,you have broken faith and God will not be pleased with you.
Your proof of Gods love or love for God is on the basis of love for your brother,you can’t fool God,so when you cry out “Lord I love you” and hate your brother,God is saying hey,you don’t love me stop lying,you are walking outside of faith and I am not happy with you,you are false and faithless.
God is a smart person,you have not seen me and you say you love me so much,but the brother,I sent my son to die for that has received me,the guy you live with,worship in the same church with,you hate him? common,God can not be deceived,you cannot outlove God,he has done much more than you can ever do,you can’t impress him,he already loved you even when you were totally bad and away from him,so start loving your brother,if you think you want to ever please God.
The commandment is “if you love God,you love your brother also”1John 4:21.
There is not an argument,it is something that just flows,I don’t have to struggle to love my brother,I just love him,I may not like his attitude but I just love him,if we love God,yes loving God is a choice,we must love our brother also,if we really love God,then loving our brother is not a choice,it is not an issue for contemplation,it’s a command,its an order and its meant to be obeyed,love ye one another.
This is the commandment we have received,that he who loves God shall love his brother also,no question about it,if you don’t like it you can quit,it’s a command,that implies,if you cannot love your brother,then you better quit at loving God,because your love certainly counts for nothing,this is deep,I must say.
I would then like to admonish conclusively,like Paul said in Hebrews 13:1 “let brotherly love continue”,let it abide,let it remain,lets stop hating one another and think we got excuses or reasons but we are making God sad,we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
“Add to your faith virtue” 2Peter 1:5
The Christian walk is a walk of faith,when you receive Jesus as your personal saviour you receive the measure of faith according to Romans 12:3.We all receive the same measure of faith at salvation,that’s why the bible didn’t say a measure of faith but the measure of faith apportioned to us by christ himself.
But that measure of faith is just a potential and God expects us to grow in faith,from glory to glory,your growth is important.
The bible shows us what we need to do to grow,in 1Peter 2:2 says “as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word so that you may grow thereby” and in Romans 10:17,the bible further says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” so for us to grow our faith we must give ourselves to hearing of the word.
You cannot grow spiritually except you eat spiritual food,so if you must grow in faith walk with God you give yourself to the hearing of the word.note the bible didn’t say reading,it says hearing.Hearing by the word is what brings about your growth in faith.That's why we need to position ourselves in a church were the word is taught for real,cause this is the only way we can actually grow in God.
So when you become saved you should desire the milk,(milk is for newborn babes in christ),the sincere milk of the word,and this desire will pull you to be a part of a christian gathering.I remenber years ago when I and my brother got saved we went from place to place looking for a church since were we where the word wasn’t taught,we kept looking till we found one and that desire made out growth faster.
But just getting faith is not enough God intend that we actually leave successful lives and for that to happen there are some other important character that we must add to our faith to make it more productive.
1Peter 1:3-4 – tells us that God has given us all we need for life and Godliness and he has bestowe on us his precious promises,but for us to actually walk in those promises and see the effect in our lives we need to walk in and by faith,but having the faith isnt enough we need to add to our faith virtue,so lets find out what virtue is.
What is virtue? 1Peter 1:5;
Virtue is defined by the dictionary as “moral excellence and righteousness or an example or kind of moral excellence” the quality and practice of moral excellence is what we call virtue.
Also when translted from the text in the greek it also means moral excellence.
Morality is a character that is hard to find in our society today or the lives of individual. Morality is defined as the quality of being in accord with the standards of right or good conduct.Morality speaks of how we live our lives according to the standards of good and bad,we know the difference of what is right and wrong.
Christianity is a way of life, a lifestyle,that’s why in Romans 1:17 the bible says “the just shall live by his faith”,so we live the christian life by faith.
The bible says further that without faith it is impossible to please God,so you can be all good and God will not be pleased with you because your morality is not based on the foundation of the God given faith,that we receive through Jesus Christ.
The word of God stands for what is good and right,and never what is bad.The bible in 1st John 1:5; teaches us that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
Morality teaches us to live the right life,you don’t have to be a chritian to live a life of morals,before I became a born again christian I was brought up in a home with the right sense of morals,and I was taught to tell the truth all the time,taught that stealing was wrong,and to always stand for the truth.
Though being morally alright does not guarantee you eternity and a right stand with God, but its essential for a successful life.The law is essential and it teaches us morality,in the old testament they had the ten commandment,that was a guide on how they lived their lives and all of the laws we have in this world today are built out of the ten commandments.
The God given faith empowers us to live the right life without struggle,that’s why we need the God kind of faith to be successful in our walk with God and in this life.
Add to your faith virtue,God wants us to live right at all times,he wants us to be an example to the world,such that when they look at us we are a clear description of what God desires.
We no longer walk by the law but by grace and grace is powered by love,where we are not forced to do anything but because of our love for God we do what is right toward God and toward man,to live a successful life we need to work at always doing what is right,no matter the circumstance.
Tell the truthg no matter the cost,stand for what is right at all times even when it doesn’t favor us,that’s what we are talking about.
Today the moral standards in the world has dropped,things that we did not allow are now accepted all in the name of civilization,any pattern of life that is against the purpose of Gods word is totally not accepted.You can not lower our standards because of civilisation.
Morality teaches us to stand for what is right at all times,so God says add to your faith virtue,stand for what is right,don’t compromise your moral standards all in the name of “God will understand”.
The bible says when you add virtue to your faith and all the others mentioned you will not be barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ.
How can we prove our calling when we lower on our standards,standards at work place,standards for writing examination,right now people cheat to pass exams,pay money to get lecturers to give us grades we don’t deserve,we can not overemphasize corruption in our various countries and the lowered standards in politics.
So many have sold their birthright for just a morsel of bread.The disciples were called christians first in antioch because they were christ like,they stood for christ and lived the life.
We need to raise the moral standards,those of us that are christians have been called to show the world how to live the right life and by how lifes others will conme to the knowlkedge of christ,we need to show the world the great gain in living the right life and standing for what is right.People do wrong because they believe that been good or standing for the right brings us under oppression and slow results,but the truth is when we don’t compromise we cause God to quickly come to our rescue.
The bible calls us the light of the world and the salt of the earth,without us how will the world know the right life,we are Gods representatives here on earth,his ambassadors.
Paul in philipians 4:8 tells us further that “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things”
If there be any virtue,if there be any praise,think on this things,so the question is our decision and actions should be based on the standards of virtue is there any virtue? if you read verse 9,it says and the God of peace will be with you,so the quickest way to get the God of peace to come to you is to stand for what ius right at all times.
