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Ephesians 4:12-16, 32, 26, 27; Matthew 18:15, 21, 22; Luke 17:3, 4; Romans 15:14; I Corinthians 4:14-16; Colossians 1:25 to 2:3; 3:16, 17; I Thessalonians 5:22-14; Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 14:4; Galatians 6:1; James 3:10-16; Galatians 5:14, 15; Proverbs 26:20; Matthew 12:25; Romans 12:9-21

In the family of God, we should seek love in helping one another to walk uprightly, always standing on guard for one another and never allowing anything to touch the fellowship of love. In God’s eyes, we are precious. We should think that way about each other and never allow anyone or anything to touch a member of God’s family. If someone is "out to lunch", we should help that person, taking him or her aside to instruct and protect until he or she is back on track.

Love is the motivating force, the ethical and moral criteria for being right with God. The Word of God tells us how to help each other in the family with the goal of edifying in love. We are to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving of one another, staying mindful of how God has forgiven us. The opposite of tenderhearted is hardhearted. Forgiveness is a theme that comes up frequently in the scriptures regarding our relationship with God and each other. As children of God, there is never a time to stop forgiving.

When someone hurts us, we could very easily be carnally minded and become bitter and angry. The correct way to handle such a situation is to speak with the person directly and not let the sun go down upon your wrath. Matthew says if a brother offends you, you are to take the matter to him alone. If he hears you, you will gain a brother. Luke says if a brother trespasses against you, you are to rebuke him which means to tell in detail. Again, we are to forgive him.

We are to admonish one another which means "to put in mind." We must have the Word of God in our minds so we can speak the truth to one another in love. This is not a self-appointed "witch hunt," but a time to seek help from God for wisdom. We cannot do it without God’s assistance through the spirit and Word of God. We are reminded in the scriptures that no one really knows the heart of a person except the Lord. We are not to have a judgmental attitude but our goal should always be to edify and exhort with love.
Galatians 6:1 says, "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." To be spiritual requires that we are walking with God. Restore means to mend which we are to do with the truth of God’s Word. Meekness means coachability. To do this requires a humility and reliance upon God, seeking His help. Tempted means to judge carnally. If we find someone with sin in his life and go about to help in the wrong way, we end up so far off the truth we are as big a sinner as that person. The result of that type of help is envy, strife and confusion. This strife is caused by a party or politicking spirit where one goes about saying negative things about another to make one’s self look better. The devil uses this strife to separate people.

We have to stand together in the family. None of us is perfect, but we cannot get an attitude of being judgmental. As we walk with the spirit of God according to the Word of God, we can help each other stand upon God’s Word and edify one another in love.


#241 Edification In Love -- July 29, 2001 ©2001 / Steven A. Michels 60:53 minutes
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"Edification in Love"- Rev. Steve Michels Ephesians 4:12-16, 32, 26, 27; Matthew 18:15, 21, 22; Luke 17:3, 4; Romans 15:14; I Corinthians 4:14-16; Colossians 1:25 to 2:3; 3:16, 17; I Thessalonians 5:22-14; Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 14:4; Galatians 6:1; James 3:10-16; Galatians 5:14, 15; Proverbs 26:20; Matthew 12:25; Romans 12:9-21 In the family of God, we should seek love in helping one another to walk uprightly, always standing on guard for one another and never allowing anything to touch the fellowship of love. In God’s eyes, we are precious. We should think that way about each other and never allow anyone or anything to touch a member of God’s family. If someone is "out to lunch", we should help that person, taking him or her aside to instruct and protect until he or she is back on track. Love is the motivating force, the ethical and moral criteria for being right with God. The Word of God tells us how to help each other in the family with the goal of edifying in love. We are to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving of one another, staying mindful of how God has forgiven us. The opposite of tenderhearted is hardhearted. Forgiveness is a theme that comes up frequently in the scriptures regarding our relationship with God and each other. As children of God, there is never a time to stop forgiving. When someone hurts us, we could very easily be carnally minded and become bitter and angry. The correct way to handle such a situation is to speak with the person directly and not let the sun go down upon your wrath. Matthew says if a brother offends you, you are to take the matter to him alone. If he hears you, you will gain a brother. Luke says if a brother trespasses against you, you are to rebuke him which means to tell in detail. Again, we are to forgive him. We are to admonish one another which means "to put in mind." We must have the Word of God in our minds so we can speak the truth to one another in love. This is not a self-appointed "witch hunt," but a time to seek help from God for wisdom. We cannot do it without God’s assistance through the spirit and Word of God. We are reminded in the scriptures that no one really knows the heart of a person except the Lord. We are not to have a judgmental attitude but our goal should always be to edify and exhort with love. Galatians 6:1 says, "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." To be spiritual requires that we are walking with God. Restore means to mend which we are to do with the truth of God’s Word. Meekness means coachability. To do this requires a humility and reliance upon God, seeking His help. Tempted means to judge carnally. If we find someone with sin in his life and go about to help in the wrong way, we end up so far off the truth we are as big a sinner as that person. The result of that type of help is envy, strife and confusion. This strife is caused by a party or politicking spirit where one goes about saying negative things about another to make one’s self look better. The devil uses this strife to separate people. We have to stand together in the family. None of us is perfect, but we cannot get an attitude of being judgmental. As we walk with the spirit of God according to the Word of God, we can help each other stand upon God’s Word and edify one another in love.