Walking in Love through Words that Edify (Part 1)

Welcome to NECF sermons. Each message here is

designed to uplift and strengthen you in your

walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until

the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive

right in. As you are sitting down, just to your

left and right, just extend a hand and welcome

your brother. Say, brother, you're welcome to

church. Sister, you're welcome to church. Hallelujah.

And when we were praying, there was something

that we prayed for that is very important. We

sang a song about God as a father. And one of

the revelations that we need oftentimes is the

revelation of God as a father, as our father.

Because the revelation of God as father will

go a long way in solving many of the anxieties

that we have and that we experience in our day

-to -day life. Sometimes we forget that God is

father to us. And the picture of the father that

you have in your mind, maybe you come from a

home that you probably didn't have your father

present. So when you hear the word father, there

is a misunderstanding of what fatherhood is.

But through the scriptures, we see the clarity

of God's fatherhood. Hallelujah. Our biological

parents are not the standard for fatherhood.

All right? God is a standard for fatherhood.

Our parents in their earthly dealings with us

may fail in their responsibilities as men, but

God is a God that is faithful to his children.

And I'm speaking to somebody this morning. Regardless

of where you are, God is your father. Hallelujah.

And he's able to meet all your needs because

he's a responsible father. So what should be

stayed up in your heart this morning is faith.

The clarity, the revelation you should have this

morning is the fatherhood of God in your life.

Hallelujah. So not only that God is our father,

but all Christians, all of us are children of

God. Amen. We are children of God. So our faith.

is a family matter. All right? When we become

Christians, we are brought into a family. Now,

when I speak of family, again, some of us might

have come from families that everybody is on

his own. You know, when we look at you and we

look at your experience, your actions towards

your brothers and sisters, even in church, oftentimes

a reflection of where we are coming from and

the things we've experienced, even from family.

But the word of God... Gives us the clarity of

the kind of family that we are in. Hallelujah.

The kind of family that is not like our imperfect

families. It's a spiritual family. And God is

a father of that family. The idea of God's family

is perfection. Even though individually as men.

In our dealings, in our work with one another.

We may see. some degrees of imperfection in our

dealings. So by the grace of God, in this era,

in this season, I will be leading us through

a teaching that will help us. Oftentimes every

year, you know, it's mandatory that in church

we teach the issue of love. It's mandatory. It's

our, it's like a necessity in the church that

we explain the issue of love. Because that is

the culture of this family. That is the culture

of the family that we've been born into. Without

the understanding of love, without a proper understanding

of what God has done for us is actually love.

And how we ought to, you know, love one another,

it's impossible for us to enjoy the benefits

of the family that we have. So the topic is walking

in love through words that edify. Walking in

love through words. Words that edify. And this

will be like a kind of a foundation for what

we will be dealing with in some few sessions

coming up later. So let's turn to Ephesians chapter

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

4. Having laid a foundation that God is our father

and God is not learning fatherhood from our biological

fathers. And the example of fatherhood we should

look for is how God has demonstrated his love

to us. And we also... are equally members one

another of God's family. And a perfect, you know,

example of what a family should be is what God

has expressed to us in his word. Ephesians 4,

Ephesians 4:25

verse 25. I'll read down to the last verse in

that chapter. Therefore, putting away lying,

let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.

For we are members of what? Of one another. Hallelujah.

So we are members of one another. We are members

of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Do not

let the sun to go down on your wrath. No grief

plays to the devil. Let him who steal. No longer.

Steal no longer. But rather let him labor. Working

with his hand. That what is good. That he. may

have something to give to him who has need. Let

no corrupt words proceed out of your mouth, but

what is good for necessary edification that it

may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve

the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed

for the day of redemption because every believer

is sealed by the Spirit of God. There is a seal

of God on every man that has believed in the

gospel and the seal of this is the Spirit of

God. And we ought to, you know, walk in love

so as not to grieve the Holy Spirit. So it says

30, and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God

by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, wrath, So God is calling

us into something that he himself has done. That

in Christ, he has forgiven us all our trespasses.

So we equally, as a response to the life that

he has put in us. are able to extend the same

love which God has loved us. Hallelujah. So that

is a culture and that is a life that God is calling

us to. Walking in love. But especially, especially,

especially, our concentration is through the

words we speak to one another. So the background

is from the last teaching we had from the words

of faith. The last time I was here teaching us,

I was teaching us about the words of faith. And

I said in our previous teaching that we learn

from the previous thing that faith is expressed

through the heart or faith is found in the heart

and can be seen in our conduct and also in the

words which we speak. And then, of course, we

read Romans 10, verse 8 to 10. And James chapter

Romans 10:8–10 James 2:7–18

2 verse 7 to 18 that speaks about love not only

being in words, you know, not only faith, you

know, it's not only in the heart but it's seen

in action, right? And we say that our words reveal

what fills our hearts. Matthew chapter 12 verse

Matthew 12:34

34 and 35. Give me that text. Matthew 12 verse

Matthew 12:34

34 and 35. Just to remind us of where we are

coming from. Matthew 12 verse 34 and 35. It says,

Matthew 12:34

Brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak

good things? Now, this is not talking about believers

here. There's a certain people that Jesus has

been hushed and had to. And they are called Pharisees

and Sadducees. You know, the teachers of the

law who, you know, for the sake of their own

reasons, are not following the truth of the gospel.

So, for out of the abundance of their hearts,

what happened? The mouth speaks. Alright? So,

out of the abundance of our hearts, It's expected

that our mouth should speak. And if we have the

fullness of God in us, in our hearts, so out

of the abundance of the God that we have in our

hearts, our mouth should express words. Verse

35. A good man out of a good treasure of his

heart brings forth good things, and an evil man

out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

And we are not evil people. We are good people.

Hallelujah. So we can express either doubt through

our words or, you know, faith. We've explained

this in the last teachings. We also learned that

believers' confession must agree with God's word.

Therefore, this word of God that we have must

dwell richly in our heart, shaping our thoughts,

our confessions, and our conduct. And Jesus went

on. We saw that Jesus went on. to teach about

the importance of believing. As a man believes,

he speaks, and then we see the result of the

things we speak. Mark chapter 11, verse 22 and

Mark 11:22

23. However, the use of words extends beyond

just confessing God's word, his promises for

our lives. Hallelujah. We establish the power

of words in our last teaching. And the power

of our words, which of course are inspired by

the word of God, The power of confession of which

we are confessing the word of God is beyond just

confessing God's promises and gaining what? And

gaining the blessings that are in the word. Okay?

Our speech towards other believers must also

reflect the faith that we have in Christ. Because

the power of your words is not only in claiming

the promises of God. The power of your words

is not only in... You know, believing God for

miracles to happen or to do miracles. The power

of God's word on your lips is not only, but it's

inclusive, but it's not only in preaching the

gospel. Just as faith finds expression through

our words, love must also find expression through

our words. Now let's see some wisdom from King

Solomon about how words we speak. Can impact

the life of others. Let's see in Proverbs. Some

wisdom from Solomon. How words we speak. The

words we speak. Can have impact on other people

around us. Proverbs 10 verse 11. Give me Proverbs

Proverbs 10:11 Proverbs 10:11

10 verse 11 quickly. We'll move faster from here.

Proverbs 10 verse 11. It says the mouth of the

Proverbs 10:11

righteous. Is a well of life. Who is a righteous

man? A righteous man speaks of a believer. Right?

The mouth of a righteous man is talking about

the words that comes out from the mouth of a

righteous man is what? It's a well of life. But

violence covers the mouth of the wicked. So there's

a distinction between a man who is righteous

and a man who is wicked. And the words that is

expected to come out from the mouth of a man

that is righteous is that which builds up, that

which gives life. Proverbs chapter 12, verse

Proverbs 12:25

25. Proverbs 12, 25. Anxiety in the heart of

a man causes depression. We read about do not

be anxious for nothing, right? Anxiety in the

heart of a man causes depression. But what is

the solution? But the good word makes it what?

Makes it glad. But what if you give a bad word

to that anxiety in the person's heart? What will

happen? It will make it worse. Hallelujah. So

you see the impact of words in the life of others

as we speak them. Proverbs 12 verse 18. Some

Proverbs 12:18

verses backward. There's one who speaks like

a piercing of a sword. There's one who speaks

like what? Like a piercing of a sword. But the

tongue of the wise, what does it do? Promotes

health. Okay? So words are associated to what?

Building up to healing. Okay? To healing here.

It promotes health. The words of a wise man promotes

health. Can we see the importance of the word

we speak? Hallelujah. Proverbs 15, verse 4. Proverbs

Proverbs 15:4 Proverbs 15:4

15, verse 4. Another one. It says, wholesome

tongue, talking about words, is a tree of life.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life. But pervasiveness

in it breaks the spirit. Pervasiveness has to

do with, you know, adulteration to the words

of a man. It breaks the spirit. It has a supernatural

impact on a man. What is spoken has the capability

of breaking the spirit of a man. Proverbs 16,

Proverbs 16:24

verse 24. Proverbs 16, verse 24. It says, pleasant

Proverbs 16:24

words are like a honeycomb. Sweetness to the

soul and water. Held. Can you see how words are

associated to held? Right? Words are associated

to held. They are held to the bones. They are

held to the bones. Another one, Proverbs 11 verse

Proverbs 11:9

9. Proverbs 11 verse 9. The hypocrite with his

Proverbs 11:9

mouth, what does he do? He destroys. Hallelujah.

Do you know that you can destroy with your words?

So a man that decides to be a hypocrite. can

destroy his neighbor with his mouth. But through

knowledge, the righteous will be delivered. Proverbs

Proverbs 20:19

chapter 20, verse 19. Proverbs chapter 20, verse

Proverbs 20:19

19. He who goes about, I said, tell Bira. What

does he do? He reveals secrets. He talks anyhow.

Therefore, do not associate with one. Who flatters

with what? With his lips. He said things that

are not necessarily accurate. He flatters with

his lips. Now some of us come from culture that

there are some certain group of people that they

are anointed in flattering people. When they

begin to sing your praise, you don't know when

you've given your car, you've given your house,

you've given everything you have. Because of

words. Hallelujah. So words that are spoken have

impact on others. So we don't just speak anyhow

as though we don't care. I just want to save

my mind. In saving your mind, it impacts the

person seated by you. Amen. Even if it's the

truth you are speaking, the way you communicate

the truth has impact on the people beside you.

Hallelujah. So it is important that we understand

the impact of our words. Proverbs 25. There are

many, but we'll just read this one more. Proverbs

Proverbs 25:18

25 verse 18. Proverbs 25 verse 18. There's a

Proverbs 25:18

man who bears false witness. These are words

utter. False witness. He bears false witness

by his words against his neighbor. You lie against

your neighbor. You say something that is not

true about them. So a man who bears false witness

against his neighbor is like a club, a sword,

and a sharp arrow. And this false witness is

in words. You go about saying things that are

not true about another. And we can see that that

has impact on the life of other people. So why

should we speak words that edify? Since we understand

that the things we say has impact on others.

How we say them has impact on others. Why we

say them also have impact on others. Not only

on us, but on others. The reason why we must

speak words that edify is because we are a family.

Hallelujah. We are a family. We are a family

and we are a spiritual family. Irrespective of

where you are coming from, we will see later

on in our teachings, probably in the next session,

that we are united in Christ. We are united in

Christ. We are a family. So our words must express

love. regardless of the situation and the context

we find ourselves. We are a family. Now, I want

us to go back from the beginning and seek God's

eternal purpose. God's eternal purpose will help

us understand why we should walk in love. Firstly,

you can write this. God's eternal purpose is

a people for himself. Okay? God's eternal purpose

is a people for himself. Somebody said that,

oh, you know. Even if I'm the only one, Jesus

will come and die for me. It's true. But Jesus,

God's plan is for people. It's not for only one

person. Hallelujah. It's for people. It's for

a family. It's for a people. So God's plan begins

with humanity created in the image, in his image,

in a family, living in a relationship with him

and fulfilling his purpose. That is his plan.

That is his desire. I want to read through. Genesis

1, 26. Let's look at it briefly. 28 and yes.

It says, God said, let us make man in our image

according to our likeness. Let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the

air, over the cattle, over all the earth, over

every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Now you say, when God says, let us make man,

he's not talking about one man. He's talking

about, let us make humanity. That word man there

is what? It's not male man. It's humanity. Adam

there is humanity. So from the inception of God's

plan, it's for a people. It's not for a man.

It's for a people. Let us make humanity in our

image. And we've taught in this pulpit that the

image there is talking about representing God

on the earth. All right? Let us make man in our

image. And to explain that that man is not only

one. He went on to say, let them have dominion.

All right? Humanity will have dominion. Let them

have dominion over the fish of the sea and on

and on. So we see that God's intention from creation

is to have a people who belong to him, live in

his presence and reflect his character. So God's

purpose continued after the fall in Genesis 3,

when we read through Genesis 3, we see where

the first man who is supposed to be, The first

example, you know, fall. The fall also impacted,

the fall of that man impacted human and family

relationships. Both with man and also with God.

But God began to unfold his redemptive plan through

a family. Okay? So God's plan did not stop or

change because of the fall of man. Rather, we

see God in his continuity. to bring about the

fulfillment of his plan through man. So God began

to unfold his redemptive plan through a family

with the blessings ultimately extended to nations.

We see the impact of man's fall in Genesis chapter

Genesis 3:21–24

3, verse 21 to 24. Give me Genesis 3, 21 to 24.

It's a separation between God and that was not

God's intention. God's intention is for union

that will come by faith. Also for Adam, his wife,

the Lord made tunics of skin and clothed them.

Verse 22. Then the Lord God said, Behold, the

man has become like one of us, no good and evil.

And now lest he put out his hand and take also

of the tree of life and eat and live forever.

Verse 23. Therefore the Lord sent him out of

the garden of Eden to till the ground from which

he was taken. So he drove out man and he placed

cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden. and

a flaming sword which turned every way to guard

the way to the tree of life. Hallelujah. So here

we see how sin caused a separation. So God called

Abraham, moving down to Abraham. God called Abraham

and promised to make a great nation. Genesis

Genesis 12:1–3

chapter 12, verse 1 to 3, we see that God's plan

did not stop at Adam. When Adam, you know, did

not find himself in the plan of God. In fact,

immediately, even his two children, one, you

know, believe in the plans of God, in the purpose

of God. But then in Abraham, we see God's plan

begin to materialize. We see how God began to

execute his divine plan from the beginning. So

Adam failed, but we see a man in Abraham who

believed. He believed in God's plan, and then

he accepted God's plan, and he participated in

God's plan. Because God's plan is entered to

by faith. Hallelujah. So God called Abraham and

promised to make him a great nation. Genesis

Genesis 12:1–3

12 verse 1 to 3. Genesis 12 verse 1 to 3. Now

Genesis 12:1–3

the Lord has said to Abraham, get out of your

country from your family and from your father's

house to a land that I will show you. I will

make you a great nation. I will bless you and

make your name great. And you shall be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you. And I will

curse him who curses you. And in you, all the

families of the earth. So God's plan was for

all humanity. The families of the earth shall

be what? Blessed. Blessed here has to do with

shall be included in God's plan. Because blessing

here has to do with being part of God's. Family,

being part of God's plan, being part of God's

family. So through Abraham's offspring, all the

families of the earth will be blessed. Move on

to chapter 17 of that same Genesis. Chapter 17,

Genesis 17:7–8

verse 7 to 8. And I will establish my covenant

between me and you and your descendants. So the

plan is not only for Abraham, but it's for his

descendants and after you in their generations.

For God's plan is for people. many people for

an everlasting covenant to be God to you and

to your descendants after it was ate. Also, I

give to you and your descendants and after you

the land in which you are a stranger. All the

land of Canaan, talking about people, all right?

Land here is talking about people as an everlasting

possession and I will be, what? I will be their

God. I will be their father. Hallelujah. See,

Pastor was teaching us last week about land being

God. Amen. Inclusively. He's talking about all

that is contained in the promise of God. God

promised to be their God. Hallelujah. Much more

than that. It's a people that is the oneness

of God and his people. Hallelujah. God's plan

is to be with his people in the promise. Amen.

He gave us his spirit. We come into oneness in

his spirit. Amen. We come into union with one

another, with God. God and man become one. Hallelujah.

That is God's plan and God's intention. So we

see the continuity of God's plan to the people

of Israel. A people saved and claimed by God.

Exodus 6, verse 6 to 8. Their story is our story.

Exodus 6:6–8

The story of the nation of Israel is our story

equally. Therefore say to the children of Israel,

I'm the Lord. I will bring you out from under

the burdens of the Egyptians. I will rescue you.

Rescue he has to do with salvation. I will save

you from their bondage. And oftentimes we see

in scripture, Egypt is used as a type and shadow

for what? For the deliverance from sin. That

is why I said their story is our story. Hallelujah.

God has redeemed us. He has saved us. That we

will be a nation and a people for him. Hallelujah.

So Moses here is to say to the children of Israel,

I'm the Lord. I'll bring you out from under the

burdens of the Egyptians. I will rescue you from

their bondage and I will redeem you with an outstretched

arm and with a great judgment. I will take you

as what? So why he's saving them? He is saving

them that they will be his people and you as

what? As my people. And I will be your God. You

shall know. That I am the Lord your God who brings

you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,

verse 8. And I will bring you into the land which

I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to

Jacob. And I will give it to you as a heritage.

I am the Lord. Hallelujah. Exodus chapter 19,

Exodus 19:4–6

verse 4 to 6. We see that when he has brought

them out of Egypt. See, the nation of Israel

started after the... The salvation from Egypt.

Before, you know, the deliverance from Egypt,

there was no Israel. So God called them out and

then they became a nation unto him. Hallelujah.

Now look at chapter 4, verse 6 of this text.

So you have seen what I did to the Egyptians

after delivering them. And now I bore you on

eagle wings and bore you to myself. And that

is a testimony of what God has done for all of

us. He saved us from slavery. He saved us from

what? From bondage of sin. He saved us from captivity,

serving sin. And then he brought us by himself.

He alone is a God who has saved us. Knowing that

we have participated in our salvation. So he

said to them, therefore, if you will indeed obey

my voice. Obeying my voice is believing in my

word. Believing in the word. If you will indeed

obey my voice and keep my covenant. Then you

shall be a special treasure to me above all the

people. For all the earth is mine. Verse 7. Yes,

verse 7. So Moses came and called for the elders

of the people and laid before them all these

words, which the Lord has commanded him. Let's

move to Deuteronomy chapter 7, verse 6 to 8.

Deuteronomy 7:6–8

Deuteronomy chapter 7, verse 6 to 8. For you

Deuteronomy 7:6–8

are a holy people. A holy people speaks of people

that have been set apart. especially for God.

For you are a holy people to the Lord your God.

The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people

for himself, a special treasure above all the

peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did

not set his love on you. This is grace. Hallelujah.

If you want to know the teaching of grace, the

teaching of grace is in the writings of even

the Lord. Hallelujah. It says the Lord did not

set his love on you or choose you because you

were more in number than any other people. For

you were the least of all the peoples. But because

the Lord loves you and because he will keep the

oath which he swore to your fathers, the Lord

has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed

you from the house of bondage from the hand of

Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. So God did not merely

deliver Israel from slavery, but he brought them

into a relationship with himself and taught them

how they should live. He declared them his treasured

possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

He gave them his commandments to guide their

lives as his covenant people. Hallelujah. He

equally promised to dwell among them in Exodus

25. Let's go to Exodus 25. We'll see the promise

he made. Exodus 25 verse 8. It says, and let

Exodus 25:8

them make me a sanctuary. Okay? Let them make

me a sanctuary among the people of Israel that

have been delivered. Let them make me a sanctuary

that I may dwell among them. So God's intent

is to dwell among his people. Is to live amongst

his people. Leviticus 26 verse 11. Leviticus

Leviticus 26:11 Leviticus 26:11

26 verse 11. Not only that he serves them, But

he wants to live among them. That is God's plan

and God's purpose. I will set my tabernacle among

you. And my soul shall abhor you. Shall not abhor

you, rather. I will make, I will walk among you

and be your God. And you shall be my people.

And you shall be my people. So God's intent is

what? Is to dwell among his people. Is to walk.

with his people. It's to walk alongside his people

and it's to walk in his people. That is God's

intention. Not only to serve them alone, but

to walk with them, to live with them, to dwell

with them. So after saving the people, God gave

them his law. Why did he give them the law? He

gave them the law, his law. Law for God and law

for one another. Hallelujah. Exodus chapter 10,

Exodus 10:1–17

verse 1 to 17 is what we call the 10 commandments,

right? Let's read quickly. Exodus 20. And God

spoke all these words saying, now the words he

gave them was after delivering them. Hallelujah.

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of

the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall

not make for yourself a calf image, any likeness

of... anything that is heaven above or that is

in the earth beneath or that is in the water

under the earth. You shall not bow down to them

nor serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am

a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers

upon the children to the third and the fourth

generations of those who hate me, but showing

mercy to thousands of those who love me and keep

my commandment. You shall not take the name of

the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will

not hold him guiltless who takes his name in

vain. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Six days you shall labor and do all your work.

But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord

your God. In it you shall do no work. You, nor

your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant,

nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor

your stranger, nor stranger who is within your

gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens

and the earth, the sea and all that is in them,

and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord

blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Honor

your father. Now he has shifted from talking

about the relationship between God and man. And

then he moved on to the relationship between

man and man. And the first place he started is

the family. Hallelujah. He says, Honor your father

and your mother that your days may be long upon

the land which the Lord, your God, has given

you. So this law is to be practiced in the land

that God has given them. Among the people to

which God has saved them and has sent them, you

shall not murder. Between men, men relationship,

right? You shall not commit adultery. You shall

not steal. You shall not lie against your neighbor.

Words. You shall not covet your neighbor's house.

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor

his male servant, nor his female servant, nor

his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is

your neighbor's. Hallelujah. And we see that

God gave them a law. And Deuteronomy chapter

Deuteronomy 4:5

4 verse 5. Let's read Deuteronomy 4 verse 5 also.

Deuteronomy 4:5

Collaborate scriptures together to see. Surely

I have told you statutes and judgments, just

as the Lord my God commanded me that you should

act according to them in the land which you go

to possess. So God delivering them, giving them

his words, that they will become his people by

believing. And as they believe, they go to a

land. And as they live in a land to which they

will live, he has given them what to guide their

conduct in the land which he is sending them.

Verse, yes. Verse 8 to 8. All right. Verse 6.

Therefore, be careful to observe them, for this

is your wisdom and your understanding in the

sight of the peoples who will hear all these

statutes. So, as they leave, the instruction

that God has given them, the people, all right,

that are living around the places who observe

them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding

in the sight of the peoples who will hear. Who

will hear all these statues and say, what will

they say? Surely this great nation is a wise

and understanding people. Verse 7. For what great

nation is there that has God near to it? Which

great nation is there that has God near to it?

Because many nations, their God is a representative

God. He is a wood or a chair or whatever. But

this God lives among them. As the Lord our God

is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon

him, and what great nation is there that has

such statutes and righteous judgments? The statutes

God gave will guide their conduct in the land

that God is sending them. As in all his law,

in this law which I said before you this day.

Leviticus chapter 19 verse 18. Leviticus chapter

Leviticus 19:18 Leviticus 19:18

19 verse 18. Or rather, give me chapter 6 of

that Deuteronomy, sorry. Deuteronomy chapter

Deuteronomy 6:4

6, verse 4 and verse 5. Hear, O Israel, the Lord

our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the

Lord your God with all your heart, with all your

soul, and with all your strength. Leviticus chapter

Leviticus 19:18

19, verse 18 now. Leviticus 19, verse 18. You

Leviticus 19:18

shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge

against the children of your people, but you

shall love your neighbor as your servant. I am

the Lord. So there are many things that God has

said and instructed and many things that Moses

himself have come and then implemented to guide

the conduct of people in where God is leading

them to. So the Ten Commandments establish the

foundational requirements for Israel's relationship

with God and with others. We've said that. The

command to love God summarizes the proper response,

the proper responses they give to Him. The command

to love one's neighbor summarizes responsibility

towards others. Jesus teaches that all the law

and the prophets hang on these two. So to summarize

the law that God gave them is in two. Matthew

Matthew 25:34

25, verse 34 and 40. Let's see. Matthew 22, verse

Matthew 22:34–40

34 to 40. Matthew 22. Let's see how God, how

Jesus taught the Ten Commandments, what we call

the law, the Ten Commandments. Now, when the

Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees,

you know, there are different parties that always

are full of knowledge, some school of thoughts,

you know. When the Pharisees heard that Jesus

had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

Okay? Then one of them, a lawyer, asked him a

question, testing him and saying, Teacher, which

is the great commandment in the law? Which is

the great commandment in the law? Jesus said

to them, to him, You shall love the Lord your

God with all your heart, with all your soul,

and with all your mind. The next verse. This

is the first and what? And great. Great simply

means the foremost. First and the foremost. You

have to love God. And loving God, you obey God.

In obeying God, you believe in his word and in

his instruction. That's how we love God. In obedience

to his word. Faith. It's loving God. Hallelujah.

This is the first and the great commandment,

verse 29. And the second is like it. You shall

love your neighbor as yourself. That is a summary

of what we read in Exodus 20. So God's purpose

of having a people from all nations into relationship

with himself, we see that the climax of that

journey from the beginning to the end, we see

the climax and the conclusion of that in the

person of Jesus Christ. God's purpose of having

a people from all nations into a relationship

with himself. Because the plan is not only the

nation of Israel. The plan is for all people.

But to work out God's plan for all people, he

chose a man called Abraham. And through Abraham,

we see the progression of his work in his descendants.

We call them the Israelites. And from the Israelites,

we see the... The conclusion of God's plan that

everything was intended to be united in the person

called Jesus Christ. Who was prophesied will

come through the lineage of Abraham, David, Isaac,

Jacob, and all the patriarchs. Hallelujah. So

let's see Isaiah chapter 56, verse 6 to 8. Isaiah

Isaiah 56:6–8 Isaiah 56:6–8

56, verse 6 to 8. Also the sons of the foreigner.

Who are the foreigners? Foreigners are non -Jewish

people, okay? Also the sons of the foreigner

who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him

and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants,

everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath

and hold fast my covenant. Even them I will bring

to my holy mountain. So God's plan is for all

people, all right? To bring to my holy mountain

and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their

bone offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted

on my altar. For my house shall be called the

house of prayer for all nations. Say for all

nations. The Lord God who gathers the outcasts

of Israel. Who are the outcasts of Israel? Those

who are not Israel. He gathers the outcasts of

Israel and says, yet I will gather to him others

besides those who are gathered to him. He will

gather to himself who? Others who are not gathered,

who are not Israel. Hallelujah. So God's plan

is for all nations to be in his house. Ephesians

Ephesians 2:11

2 verse 11. Ephesians 2 verse 11. And you, okay,

Ephesians 2:11

therefore remember that you are once what? Gentiles

in the flesh. Now I'm talking about our identity.

Okay. Here, Ephesians, Paul was writing to a

people that were not Jewish. All right. It says,

therefore remember, that you were once Gentiles

in the flesh, who were called the uncircumcision

by what is called a circumcision made in the

flesh by hands. Continue quickly. That at the

time you were without Christ, being aliens from

the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from

the covenant of promise, having no hope without

God in the world. But now in Christ, Jesus, you

who once were far off, have been brought near

by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our

peace, who has made both one and has broken down

the middle wall of separation, having abolished

in his flesh the enmity that is the law of commandments

containing ordinances, so as to create in himself

one new man from the two. thus making peace,

verse 16, and that he might reconcile them both

to God in one body through the cross, thereby

putting to death the enmity. All right, verse

17. And he came and preached peace to you who

were far off and to those who were near, again

about the Jewish people, for through him we both

have access by one spirit to the Father. So God

is no longer the God of the nation of Israel

or the God of Abraham. He's also your God. How?

Through the spirit of God, through the access

that we have by the preaching of the gospel that

we've received, the news of peace that we receive,

the gospel that we believe and we accept, and

we come into this union and relationship with

God. And God becomes what? Our father. He says,

for through him, we both have access by one spirit

to the father. So God becomes our father. Hallelujah.

He becomes our God. Verse 19. Now, therefore,

you are no longer strangers and foreigners. But

what? What are we? Fellow citizens. With who?

With a sense. And members of what? Members of

the household of God. So we are now members of

the family of God. Yes. Yes. Yes. Having been

built on the foundation of the apostles, the

message they preach, And the prophets, what is

their message? Jesus Christ himself being the

cornerstone, he is the subject of the message

they preach. He is the foundation of their ministry.

In whom the whole building being fitted together

grows into a holy temple into the Lord. The temple

is where God dwells. So together, God dwells

in us by the Spirit. In whom you also are being

built, or we've studied the scripture right before.

In him in whom you also are built together for

a dwelling place for God in the spirit. Remember

we said God's desire is to inhabit his people.

Is to dwell among his people. Is to walk with

his people. So through Christ we are brought

into this congregation of God. It is what we

call the church today. Hallelujah. It is what

we call the kingdom of God today. It is what

we call the family of God today. Under one God.

Under one father. By the spirit through what

Christ has done. Scriptures will often say that

Jesus Christ becomes our elder brother in the

flesh. He became what? He became, he was first

of all, the begotten. Hallelujah. The only begotten,

right? From there, we became what? We become

sons as well. But what he has done, he brought

us into the family by the spirit. Hallelujah.

So we are families. Look at Revelation 7, verse

Revelation 7:9–10

9 to 10. Talks about this family. After these

things. I look and behold a great multitude which

no one could number, of all nations, tribes,

peoples, tongues, and standing before the throne.

You see, it's not only Jewish people. The revelation

of John is for all nations, tribes, peoples,

and tongues, standing before the throne and before

the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm

branches in their hands, and crying out with

a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our

God and who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.

Hallelujah. and to the Lamb. So we see here that

there are nations, different tribes and different

tongues. So God's purpose included blessing the

nations through Abraham, through Christ, those

who were far off are brought near to God. Jews

and Gentiles, believers reconciling Christ and

brought into God's household. And we see God's

redeemed people come from every tribe and every

nation and every language. Whether you are from

Zimbabwe, you're from Nigeria, you're from Kenya,

you're from wherever you come from, in Christ,

we are brought together under one umbrella, in

love, by the Spirit of God. Hallelujah. So if

God has called us to be His people and has taught

us to love one another, because love, we saw,

is the way we live in this family. Love towards

God, and we see that love towards God reflected

in our relationship towards one another. So if

God has called us to be his people and has taught

us to love one another, how should that love

be expressed in our relationship? And especially

in the words we speak. Especially in the words

we speak. First and foremost, we do not lie to

one another. All right? We do not lie to one

another. We speak the truth to one another. We

speak the truth to one another. As people whom

God has saved. And members of one family, we

don't lie to one another, but we speak the truth

in love. There is a condition for speaking the

truth. If we speak the truth outside love, it

will destroy. Hallelujah. But we must speak the

truth within the context of love in order to

edify one another. Proverbs 12, 22, we read this.

It says that lying lips are what? Lion lips are

what? Please look up. They are what? They are

an abomination to the Lord. But those who deal

truthfully are his delight. And see what he told

the nation of Israel in Zechariah chapter 8 verse

Zechariah 8:16

16. When, you know, he was speaking to them by

the prophet. Zechariah chapter 8 verse 16 and

Zechariah 8:16

17. Zechariah chapter 8 verse 16 and 17. These

Zechariah 8:16

are the things you shall do. Speak each man the

truth to his neighbor. Who is your neighbor?

Your neighbor is your brother in Christ. Your

neighbor is your fellow brother and your sister,

who is of the same father as you, that is God.

Speak each man the truth to his neighbor. Give

judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and

peace. 17. Let none of you think evil in your

heart against your neighbor. And do not love

a false oath. For all these are things I hate.

Says who? Says the Lord. So the Lord is not impressed

by lying. Romans chapter 12 verse 5. Romans chapter

Romans 12:5 Romans 12:5

12 verse 5. Romans chapter 12 verse 5. So we,

Romans 12:5

being many, are what? Are one body in Christ.

And individually members of one another. Ephesians

Ephesians 4:25

4 verse 25, the text we read earlier on. Ephesians

Ephesians 4:25

4 verse 25, which is our anchor scripture in

this teaching. It says what? Therefore, why is

there a word therefore there? Because it says

many things, right? Therefore, because we are

members of one family. Therefore, because we

are in Christ. Therefore, because we are the

church of God. Therefore, because we are the

people of God. Putting away what? Lying. Okay?

Let each one of you speak truth. With who? With

his neighbor. I think Pierre, he is quoting that

Zechariah. Let each one of you speak what? Truth

with his neighbor. Why? For we, our, are members

of one another. Colossians. Okay. Move to chapter

five, verse one. Chapter five, verse one. Speaks

of God as our father. Ephesians five, verse one.

Colossians 3, verse 9. Colossians 3, verse 9.

Colossians 3:9 Colossians 3:9

Do not lie to one another. Why? Since you have

put off the old man, and that old man is the

ungenerated man. His character is what? He's

lying. Do not lie to one another since you have

put off the old man with his deeds. With his

deeds. Matthew 5, 37. Matthew 5, 37. But let

your yes be what? Be your yes. Your no be no.

For whatever is more than this is from the other

man. It's from the evil one. Hallelujah. And

you and I are not from the evil one. Okay? Because

when we lie one to another, we not only hurt

one another. But do you know what we do? Look

at Ephesians 4 verse 30. When we lie one to another,

Ephesians 4:30

because lying hurts people, it breaks people,

it destroys relationships. But most importantly,

when we lie one to another, we grieve the Holy

Spirit of God that has been given to us as a

seal. We grieve the Holy Spirit of God. that

has been given to us as a seal. And do not give

the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed

for the day of redemption. When you read within

the context of all that he said in this scripture,

he's talking about walking in love. And when

we don't walk in love, we are giving the Holy

Spirit. And how we give the Holy Spirit equally

includes speaking the things we say to one another

that is not true. Because every lie has an intention.

And the intention of a lie is to deceive. Hallelujah.

The intention of a lie, you don't lie to people

to edify them. You lie to people to deceive them.

There's neither black or white lie. Lie, the

intent of lie is what? Is to deceive. And we

know the source of a lie. Hallelujah. So lying

grieves the Holy Spirit of God. What does it

mean to grieve the Holy Spirit of God? It makes

the Holy Spirit of God uncomfortable. In fact,

it limits the operation of the spirit from amongst

us. It limits the flow of the things of the spirit

from amongst us. Because the atmosphere must

be an atmosphere of love. Because of time, next

time when we come, we'll see on Wednesday particularly,

we'll see that the character of the father is

truth. We'll see that the devil is a father of

all lies. Hallelujah. And if we are believers

and we are children of God, we must act according

to the nature of our father. Amen? We are not

of the devil. So we're going to see how lying

destroys our relationship, that breaks the union

that we have as a family. Hallelujah. I just

want you to just pray. Pray this, pray this,

pray this. As you pray, you are examining your

words. Am I speaking truthfully? Or am I deliberately?

You know, there are some believers that at the

quickest possible chance they have, they will

say things that are not true. It's natural, but

it's not supposed to be. Because you're a man,

you're a woman in Christ. We appreciate you being

here today. We hope you carry this word with

you throughout your week. Don't forget to check

the show notes for additional insights. Stay

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next time, stay blessed.