The "Agape" Factor

One guy that's going to happen every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, unto either their condemnation are unto their glorification. I'm glad by grace. Some of the last group. Hebrews chapter 10.

Let's look at verses 24 well versus let's look at verse 24 RI let me just give you this background Paul, I believe, is the author of Hebrews, we can't be dogmatic about that is writing to something of a mixed multitude. There a lot of folks out of the Jewish economy the Jewish religion who come over to Christianity to embrace it, but many of them were also tempted and prone to also embrace the law, and as time went on, many of them begin to diminish their confidence in the Christian gospel and in Christ and turned back to the law so he's dealing with a good number for a good bit of falling away if you will.

A good percentage of false professors among the church and so in that context, he says a lot of things but we get to chapter 2 verse 24 he says and let us consider how to stimulate one another on to love. That's the Greek agape and good deeds. I call this packaging the exegesis of this text, the agape factor is the most wondrous most encouraging, most marvelous truth the agape factor the agape factor something you can't get over it.

It's with you always. What you have but it's eternal, you can't get around it. It lives in you. It's always there and what you taste it and won't get it to some degree. Will that be perfect down here but what you taste the agape factor in walking in some degree, you can't live without it.

It's the sixth sense, but it's far more than just that.

The agape factor on this what I call the sixth sentence is far more important than the other five senses put together.

It's not natural.

This sixth sentence was not in you when you were born naturally you had the other five. You had seeing in smelling and hearing and tasting and touching but you didn't have this is not natural. It in fact is the product of the new birth, the spiritual new birth when you became a child of God is something that was given to us even more.

It's someone living in the us. The Bible says God is love. Again, the Greek word there is agape. God is agape and agape means God's in us can't really separate the two. God lives in us by the person of the Holy Spirit. So this unique special love of Christendom is in us, and it's God in us Christians therefore love one another in an added dimension, but it is true, and it is right that we love one another. The way natural men love one another. We get to liking this about each other. We have this in common are that in common. We like this personality or that personality. We like that hairstyle to meeting one things that we can like and even love about one another like the world look for another, but we have an extra added dimension agape factor that only the assembly the same task together. No one else has this.

It's a supernatural love that only we possess.

The Bible tells us God is love. That's agape you. The Bible tells us love our agape love. That love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5 when the apostle lists the fruit of the spirit. What is the list first love agape, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, goodness, self-control. Because agape is the foundation stone is the core that all the others come out from this. The main thing and here's what I think we miss so often in Christendom today. Agape is not only in us as individual Christians.

The agape factor is incomplete if we if it is not shared corporately. Agape wasn't meant for you just to have it and will be bopping through the world and if you come up out of the Christian how you fellowship, and in agape love for one another. That's what no, that's not the way it works that is good but God has wisdom to have organized us into local assemblies, local churches and fire agape thrives is shared. It's a corporate reality. Units meant to be that listen to me without that a great part of God's great wisdom and plan is vacated.

It's missed local church assemblies are essential as a pastor we can assemble right now. I know this is a little before while they were going to get back to an essential component of what it means to be a Christian and that's to bring us all together but but but nothing's more important when we get together then the strengthening and the sharing of a God day among us.

The listen when local churches are fellowship thing in the flow of agape at no other time and in no other way is God more seen and glorified than at that time. Now Satan constantly substitutes and counterfeits here. There are countless professing Christian assemblies where far too often. Agape, true agape fellowship is way over here on the side and what they're calling the love of God is more what the world calls. Love is not true. Agape fellowship is not bad. It's just way out of balance, they may have the Leo that's the Greek word for why call it familial love and it's has the broad idea would you have something in common with somebody just can feel bonded to them.

We love the same team. We love the same hobbies.

We love the same whatever it is, so we just feel bound. We love all this love them.

It's not wrong it's just not important in the church unless agape is under it, supporting it, giving it its right definition. So we come to this thing called the agape factor in this going to flavor all the organs saying that's the word here in the in the Hebrews 1024 what he says I want you to consider how to stimulate one another unto agape, not the Leo that's not the word you not Eros that's romantic love. That's the Greek word that's not here affect Eros does not occur in the Greek New Testament, but agape that's very very very very very very important that you begin to grasp.

Okay, what's this unique kind of love I'm to be stirring one another up about strengthening in the fellowship. Let's unpack.

How do we then come to the assembly of believers. Number one come to the assembly focused on your brothers need now his need defined by God through his word, not his need to find by your emotions's are your investigative powers come focused on using the verses here in verse 24, consider consider how when you come together, come considering how the word consider their means to get your mind attentively fixed. It's an emphatic God is saying. Take special consideration over the spiritual condition of those in your local assembly.

It reminds me of my rifle in the scope on my rifle and I got a lot of guns but on the number my guns. I have scopes. That's one thing to aim the rifle in the right direction. That's almost worthless man affected pretty much is worthless is the scope is not focused in, that's the idea here. The point is, do you come to church assemblies. That's good, that's aiming the rifle you go to your small group we could really interact with one another fellowship in the body's yes that's aiming the rifle.

Here's a question.

Are you getting in focus, according to God's word. How you can know where brothers need he is and how you can help it. That's different and that's the key.

Now I don't want to diminish this aspect and for many of us. This is the prop.

This is the primary way were involved and that is Bob being there by showing your love for the word your love for the brethren. Your love for the will of God in the church of God, that in itself is is getting is helping people so that is getting a good focus but there times when we have to go beyond that will impact that little bit more subtle point is don't just be pointing the gun by attending faithfully, and yet be out of focus point the gun and then get focused in what's her need.

Where is she spiritual awareness. He spiritually how can I help and encourage God's work in their life right now. You know this is such are you listen brother and sister out there in cyber land.

Do you go to church lazy you want to church just got here we go. Hope preachers and all the preachers excited.

This will open Tom's. That's a good thing this week. Submit got up your upside you to be considering your to be putting some work and focusing on what's my brother or sisters needed, spiritually speaking, and how can I make Jesus the word how consider how it has the idea of we need to study the Scriptures and studied the brethren to discern how we are to minister to them. Got four quick thoughts here on noticeably on the outline before quick thoughts that I think will be helpful as I mentioned some of these before and I will say this, have made an impact on my own life. Number one die to self every day.

If you go to learn to focus in on meeting a brother and sisters need to please you got to get over you. Here's what I want. Here's what I want I will be blessed.

I will look the way you get blasted churches when you die to yourself and focus on who can I minister according to the word of God and for God's glory into their lives die to self every day specially get up on Sunday morning purchasing Lord I'm going to church today. Dying to self and you watch how much more joy you get out of the worship service at your small group time when you do that Dr. self everyday.

Secondly, start your focusing on Saturday night.

I don't think it's any coincidence that the world goes out so the most exciting and interesting junk.

The gap Sharpening tension on Saturday nights. Years ago, well beyond is with you. 40 years ago. That's when I started preaching I begin the discipline of pulling myself aside on Saturday nights to get in the word study and pray that that that's get you in the flow of the spirit of God is doing so that you're more able, when you go to church on Sunday morning to me that brothers need data self everyday start to focus on Saturday not pray for wisdom, God give me wisdom as I go to my small group this week work were someone that I can help me to need bubbly, this doesn't exclude him natural physical needs so that maybe there but it always goes back to the agape factor the spiritual need is the foundation stone. Look for opportunities.

Pray for wisdom so we want to study the brethren we want to get wisdom from the word to know how to meet that need. All that's involved in focus, our brothers need all that's involved in Paul's work here considering how when I was so years ago I was speaking it up Hindustan Bible Institute and index that was lecturing there all weekend come. They had 90 something church planters in this group, 90 different guys going out in all these villages and towns, and there's a million of them in the same flight planning churches and I was teaching and preaching on the importance of organizing a church in the small group so that real body lot can take place on their forget their leader stood up and he wasn't disrespectful but he challenged me. He said you you can't do that any of your you can't organize these churches in the small groups well. He was quite clear is crop farming wasn't disrespectful so I thought how I need wisdom you have of the responder.

This then is it why do you say that and he said because when we go in and get folks converted and we organize a church and we put some key men in charge of certain families almost always those men break off and start their own churches with their little group. I said brother, the small group principle is not your problem. It's the leadership principle that your problem. Those churches were not ready they didn't have the maturity among the men to be organized in small groups. I think that's a good example of how you study a situation, it was the spiritual need your hacking for I can I fix this or how can I so you come to the assembly focused on a brother or sisters need. How can I work with God in their lives this Sunday number two you come to church a step beyond that active and in helping him or her change active out to be active about the mess that's what Paul brings out in verse 24. Let us consider then the phrase how to stimulate how to stimulate the stimulate is a word that it is translated often provoke it's even translated tension is, like sandpaper neither thought a balancing statement here are some of you wake up every morning determined to be sandpaper some pockets you wake up in the morning looking for somebody to go to rub the wrong way and and you don't mean it is just kind of the way your gear. You know what you need you need to re-gear some of you just you just a challenger. You just just confront that's just what you do and I can be a great gift. It's got be brought under control some of your lot so much sandpaper we need call you Sandy.

In acts 1539, we have an example of this word that Paul translate are our translators translate stimulate here in 1539 this is in there occurred a sharp disagreement. That's the word I shortness of contention rubbing.

They separated from one another and Barnabas took Mark with him and they sailed away to Cyprus. So here Barnabas and Paul are having a dispute contention, provoking one another, to some degree about should Mark go along with this after he fell out on his wall back. Call disagreed with Barnabas. Barnabas took Mark and I went their separate ways.

Literally the scholars tell us this word stimulate here comes from a root accident which means sharp and are written down, which could be translated vinegar when Jesus was dying on the cross, the root word was used when I said I gave him sour vinegar to drink. What does vinegar do vinegar provokes you. I'm fairly fond of vinegar and salt potato chips and I don't but the third by vinegar and salt potato chips and it provokes me, yet it stimulates me just talk to it for me. It provokes me are stimulates me to drink Diet Coke. It gets a reaction out of me. That's what Paul is saying here when you go to church. You kinda you A little bit. You cannot push a little bit. You cannot sandpaper bring a little bit to get a person to go take the next step in where they need to be in being pleasing and obedient to the Lord. I hear again be balanced against some of you get the doors with that when you got a list will get this one in this that's not what he's talking about what he is talking about this, we come to church to help each other. We mourn the flow of God's will and God's word. You know him.

It's good to eat ice cream can I say that okay I think it's good to eat ice cream. I like eating, but sometimes you need little vinegar to and there's far too much notion in professing churches today that we go make this thing about 97% ice cream around cotton candy cotton candy Zara but God's sister, Paul here when you come to church be determined with meekness and humility to be some vinegar have some shortness from time to time help a brother sister along their journey with God now. Certainly, as I pointed out, there can be a provoking, that's always negative and wrong and sinful.

But this is a righteous and good provoking and stirring up some examples of the way we want to be is Jacob.

The Bible says in Genesis 35 was provoke to put away strange gods in Judges chapter 2 the children of Israel were provoked to sacrifice unto the Lord. William Golightly wrote the best commentary on the on Hebrews says quote by such provocations. Those who provoke others, show more respect to the spiritual good of their soul than to please them in their corrupt state it again. Agape's the root will bring this out again. In just a moment, but it's that love that God's put in our hearts that special and unique.

We want them to do well but more than that.

We want them to glorify God in your provoking, correcting, exhorting, whatever you want to call it is not about you it's about being him and God's glory that I bought. I got this when I got that when I block straighten her out I got it fixed today I'm guilty what the problem little things you this is what that's about. You a biblical godly provoking and correcting his is humbling full of self introspection and meekness will at times in God's word points this out. That's often more the role of the pastor, the elder in the church.

There has to be a sharp rebuke. You see, it is sin to leave a brother in a sinful state.

So Paul tells these Hebrew folks who are prone to have some falling away among them. Some folks are falling out on them. He said those of you that are solid to chair assembling together when you get there. Focus on the post spiritually to keep them strong now to be an active agent in God's hands to help them get on track with God now very very often what God intends to happen. I would say the majority of the time if you take the preached word and you follow it up if all the truths of the preached word in and follow it on through the word of God is preached at links small groups follows up and then does the proper provoking of one another are our stirring of one another to love and good deeds will get to just a moment.

I remember when we did our our first membership update here. Grace, like churches, it would a few years after I became your senior pastor that I realize this is just honoring to God in a disservice to people to have these hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people's names on the membership role who never come to church again. I thought if I do think that was a wonderful thing to do and so I preached on it thoroughly.

There's not look what I will do anything and try to reform a church on anything.

What's very very clear in the Bible.

All right.

And secondly found out very clear and church history scope.

So we preached on it at at links and then we commission the small group to try to call contact visit and despite their best efforts of so many people at that time is almost impossible to get in touch with them so we sent out letters and try to be kind and try to be gracious in tone, but told them you know we want to be back in church. Is there a need, we can meet us there problem.

We can discuss with you. Have you become providential hindered. Let us know we want to care about you because we don't know who truly ought to be on the membership role. If you can't come of the reason we will try to fix it well when those letters went out. I'm going to use it provokes some people get splashed vinegar on some people. Some people, however, never remember some some older mom's mom's of adult men who had basically abandoned the church for decades were just very upset that we were going to take their baby's name off the role and I thought why we get the roles mixed up. The important role is the role in heaven. That's the salvation role role of the church is the server service role into you get home. All who are on salvation's role ought to be on the service role is not showing up and serving that you don't need to be on that role if other means you're not on the other role either. But it starts with people and to some summit provoke them to repent and come back and be faithful. That's what I that's good thing that's over talk about it.

Summit provoke them to rebellion and forsaking Peter talks about this ministry, we have one to another like this. We were active in helping one another change.

Second Peter on 112 and 13. Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you these things even though you've already known them and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right as long as I'm in this earthly dwelling was I'm humanly here with you to stir you up.

The way reminder same concept. Starla that's what this English for two some of you been out there away from this simply is not your fault.

Try to honoring co-labor with our government and doing good during this pandemic. But right now there's some of you, but I couldn't be true, including Jeff, now that all of us need to get back together again inspired something or around stirring ups up again. You know why because were weak, we need the assembly of one another together. I remember reading the story of DL Moody DL Moody 100 hundred years ago was the most feigned evangelist in America. He was friends with Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He wasn't brilliant in the Queen's English is pretty blunt and crashing crests.

Rather it and and and and pointed in his preaching that a lot of people converted under his preaching, but DL Moody grew up in a troubled home, and DL Moody was a very shy attributed boy in in those days, Sunday schools was only for reaching children whose parents didn't go to church. That's generally the way since you started and so that Sunday screws for little boys little girls wonderful thing in and this saw this man had DL Moody enrolled in his Sunday school and he learned very quickly that little DL Moody was not going keep coming because he was embarrassed he did know was Bible he did know the books of the Bible teaches know anything I can understand that SOL came to church first.

But this Sunday school teacher took him aside before the Sunday school lesson ever. We can show him where those books of the Bible were and underlined the verses they would be looking at some DL Moody would be prepared that's studying and considering and helping him come along. That's the kind of thing we need to be about in the church III we come to the assembly resolved to stay in the arena's first policy consider focus it in focus what her brother's neediest consider then he said stimulate me active and it is time to be active and then he says to me are used are we just us Christians was the God of the world.

If we bounce into a Bible study at the coffee shop are Fellowship of Christian athletes at the school and a Christian organization are Fellowship at work that's all wonderful and good. I'm glad you're in those things. But that's not I can find a verse on any of that but I can find an abundance subversives only organize local church.

That's the primary that's what he means when he says one another here that's the arena which are primarily responsible for the years I've had people asked me pastor. Should I get involved in this ministry that ministry and I think some of those are very, very good, but here's what always saying that you've already got an obligation when God added you to this church that you fulfill that first.

Everything else gets left over energy. That's the arena one another. You see, we are not here as Christians to make the world a better world so that he and we are not here as Christians to make the world a better world. We are here to build his church in the world and when we do that well this the best anyone can do to make the world a better world did you get that is a lot in so-called liberal Christianity today that is basically adopted what the world calls social work and social justice and in meeting needs.

And there's good and that and so many in Christendom have abandoned the gospel have abandoned the true church and dumb down Christianity to just being in the lead with the world live trying to help those who need help.

We always want to help those who need help will help those who have special needs, etc. but the best way we can do that is by keeping our arena in focus, that is the local church and building it up when the church is most truly the church, then it is most truly the salt and light that helps the community the best always in that order. I make no apologies. Certainly, the church should be involved in all kinds of issues of social need and social just absolutely, but as an overflow of our primary devotion to build his church were not here to make the world a better world saves the goddess were not on the little better. Satan -controlled world. I'm here to build God's church in the world which is the best thing I can do to help the world be a better place. So this one another here speaks of that special concern and devotion I have for fellow members of God's local church family again. Galatians 610 which is what the what we call our benevolence ministry that goes beyond the doors of the church goes beyond the family of the church so there while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, absolutely. But there's a balance here, especially to those for the household of faith.

You have a priority. Do your best to love and care for all you see what we have together as Christians we have the agape fact will talk more about that just a minute. What we have together as Christians infinitely exceeds what any other collectivity enjoys is just it is not what is not a little different when that's not what we are not just a little more compassionate version of the average guy out there which is not a little more loving up version of average men were know we have something radically different.

We have this agape factor.

We have God in us, and that's the one another. Get with those who have also the agape factor in local church settings.

There is a oneness in the local church family did indeed listen to me didn't is indeed a creation of God. Not only are you a new creature in Christ Jesus. The church itself is a great creation. He's creating a collectivity, a people out of the world and at this point, still with in the world but not of the world. Those who are of the spiritual new birth. The seed ours. The Puritan fathers you save the germ of this special sympathy one toward another in the church is a verse that amplifies that thought. Romans 1215 and 16 rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same tone of the do not be haughty in my but associate with the lowly and do not be wise in your own estimation. So our devotion is to one another market. The converse of that also was implied here. That is, we do not want to be a disservice to another are due evil ever to one another in the body of Christ. We must never be like King Saul, who in his excessive jealousy considered David, but how did Saul consider that he considered them in a way that he might destroy him receive in first Samuel 1817 talk about how he would get David involved in the Army and let the Army bring David to his death. We don't want to be like the jealous administrators in Babylon who consider Daniel but not prisoner they consider, how can we get rid of this.

They set up to entrap David or Daniel rather, we don't be like the Pharisees who considered Christ. They consider them all right. But how did they consider him. I considered how they might entrap him and ruin him. This must never exist in the church we must be the antithesis of that the church and the assembly of the church is the place will walk in love and wisdom one toward another. Seeking out the spiritual good of the brethren because that's what we are. We all have been radically affected by this agape principal. Let's get to that Roman for we come to church, embracing our phone for most objective we come to church, embracing our phone for most objective says in verse 24 Willis back at all this get the the run. The few of let's consider how to stimulate getting focus your brothers need get active meeting.

It under love and good deeds one another was locusts local assembly now. The fourth thing to love and good deeds.

The agape now agape that exists in us as Christians is the primary grace it's a course of affections and of actions that everything else builds upon that William go says that the word agape comes from two other words, one word means rest and one word means greatly think about that to rest greatly. Agape means you come to rest greatly in someone or in something so we rest in what we love so that we are distressed importing with it. We've all heard the testimony. Some of you live the reality of being a mom whose adult son has gone away to the war and your soul is in anxiety. There's no rest until he's back sitting at your kitchen table and sleeping in his own bed. The rest comes them. This love this love that means to rest greatly or to greatly rest is so wonderfully present in God, it's so magnificently true in God. The Bible even since God is love. I think about it.

God has now come to the point where he rest in us because of the mayor to miss out on our behalf is a beautiful picture that God says I have a whole one duress restful satisfaction in you because of what my son is accomplished on your back greatly at rest powerful truth is powerful picture now the Bible says in Matthew 2237 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. Here's the problem. We don't do that we can't do that. We can only begin to grasp and do that when the agape gets in us is that word there is agape Hebrews 1016 reminds us of this is in the context of course 1024 that were looking at look at Hebrews 1016 this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord of the stop right there. What he doesn't say here is I'm going to tell them good at this late at this point that this what put this all put this on the side of the aisle will put my laws upon their heart. I will change the inside of the that's the agape factor in all their minds. I will write them switches I'm going to change, then that's what we call the new birth time to change them on the inside and coming and when I come in. Is this agape love and the only folks that have it and that's what I have to get together because there's something about agape in the heart that makes me want to be with you and you with me feeling complaints.

There will only even, perhaps, desolate. If I can't get with the people of God. I hope your longing for some of that now. But in fact if you're out there in this thing of listening to a sermon once a week over the Internet at your convenience is hearsay is Pretty good church thing right here. I would tell you something you don't have agape something is missing in your heart you need – God this morning. This day when M year. This got what's missing, and there have I got the changed heart.

I told you many times before. I been preaching here for going on 40 years and I get weary and in the work and sometimes I think I just got have a break and by the way, any pastor that's worth his salt and split energy to preaching better take some break is not to be good long but do not take a break going into the second week you know what's in me.

I gotta preach. I want to pray to get back to church while others agape in their and I want to be with the agape people. I've heard that there are support groups for people who've had open-heart surgery there something about that. This just it has a unique complex recovery to it and it's good and I think it's a good thing that the form these groups they can get together and share about what they're going through and I thought that's what the churches we've all had heart transplants and we need to get together to say we want to solve me, not in the end it is kind of mysterious. We can really put our finger on exactly what it is but we know it is the preacher. One time somebody asked the preacher, did you know what the unction is when your preaching is that I'm not sure what it is but I do know when it ain't while I'm not sure what it is but I can get with brothers and sisters in Christ, and I can't define what it is but it's special.

I later refer to it in my notes is a magnet there's a special magnet. We have one for another. So this command.

In this text to stimulate one another unto agape concerns stimulating getting activated. This unique love placed in us by God at the new birth. This special love for God and special love for God's children, less worries going with this, we come to church because Tom Clay links that love Matt Fellner links that love and Jeff not let links that love. I just called them present on people here. We believe that agape a little bit and we need to get fuel and backup and somehow we get together we open the Bible in small groups and we open the Bible you the preaching of the word gets stimulated and started provoking back up again and a lot of the brethren comes back up higher to get me in assembly of God's sure.

So do you. If you're not going to church that really is intentional about agape stirring. You need to pray for you church. They don't have really a reason to meet. If that's not the foundation of what they're about.

Yeah, but we do this and we do that we do this so I don't care what you do the work does all that the only thing we've got the world doesn't have his agape because that's God in us now I will go into in the first Thessalonians 49 gives you for Leo the love that's common in the world.

Brotherly love familiar, love, and it gives agape.

This God love versus .49 now as to the love for Leo of the brethren, you have need for no one to write to you. I think what he saying is you know that's natural you grew up with that, love you, love you, brothers and sisters love you mommy grandmother you love you friend on the street that's natural to best teach you that, but there's a supernatural part of you last part of the first Thessalonians 49 for you yourselves are taught by God to agape one another. You see, agape produces for Leo for other believers, but it always flows in that direction. We bear the image of the earthly are we used to bear the image of the earthly and we love the earthly. Now we bear the image of the heavenly and we are learning to love.

Love those who bear this heavenly image. So in an outline form, just briefly agape number one's origin is in God the origin of agape is in God. Love is from God for Sean for sentencing.

Now course all kinds of love is from God as he originally created this but there's a special Christian love has its own unique part of God's forming us when he forms us in the new birth secondly is this mysterious.

There is some mystery to Odysseus is part of the new birth and is not the new birth, mysterious pieces.

Everyone who loves is born of God to everyone who loves has learned some seminar to learn how to love this place, and now it's not just something learned there is on learning to understanding it and exhibiting it but it's something God did its mysterious number three at unique to Christians. If you need to Christians. John 1726.

I have made your name known to them and I will make it known so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I know he's only talking about believers. There is a special reality. God sent us and his love is agape is in us than the last one. It's fruitful warrant produces the other fruit. Agape is the main thing.

Then there's love, joy, peace, patient comes effective. Agape is the main thing in this rubric rebukes the reprieves and expectations. Agape is the main thing and then there is encouraging and compassionate care in all flows out of agape for Leo that love that's common demand time we get though the name Philadelphia the city of brotherly love from the Greek for Leo, but all men have that and we haven't to Christians and it's not real. I just need to stay in its place. The fillet all flows on top of the agape. The company gets its its flavor and defines for Leo. There's times when you can feel the deepest sentiment, brotherly kindness, compassion for someone you need to step back into agape and say yeah but is that right is like my not need the compassion right now, they might need firm rebuke right now. According to agape, according to God's wished she agape defines how to function in for Leo. Brotherly love is the fountain. The others flow from it flavors all of our works and for Leo is weak and even sometimes wicked.

Apart from being managed by the agape in us so as we get to the landing field and close were to come to the assembly focused on the brothers need consider UConn that's pointing the gun not getting focus. What is needed here. Secondly, you go to be active you're gonna stimulate policies here provoke the little vinegar on it, get him to change.

Thirdly, you will be resolved to stay in the arena.

I know my primary duty and responsibility as the local church. The assembly I belong to. Fourthly, you're going to embrace the foremost objective and that is to stir up the agape. That sentence I remember I said William go defines agape from two root words to rest greatly sold to Pappas better a fine define this. Let's close with these four thoughts number one when you have agape your learning to rest greatly in God's just good stuff. I wish I was all the way there.

When I say there's a pandemic in this natural and normal for us to have some anxiety and some fear that challenges us to start the agape and rest more fully and greatly in God.

So when we come to church every Sunday to listen to me. Paul says here writing to the church with fickleness and falling away happening.

He said the rest of you get there and keep stirring up in one of his heart. Please find our full confidence in God's word. Let's open the book, listen, listen, judge our feelings are emotions are fears or anxieties about the book and help all of us stir up the gospel the agape to rest fully in God. Again this week.

Some of us need to be back so badly because you need to really stimulate the resting in God and yourself God's ordained you need the body of Christ to help you get there in God while she did not do that with the way he did it in God. Secondly, this always natural in God's will now that always means God's word. God's word is God's will. So we come together to help one another. Rest in the will of God means for these particular Jewish profession convert some of were slipping back to the lost open back to the world and the brothers are supposed to sit down with them in the Sims are white brother missed this rest in God's will with books is not what your feelings are thinking right now resting in God's will is always resting in God's word. Thirdly, in God's people is not possible you get kinda hunky-dory at rest, hang out with folks who are not full of agape, you need to be re-provoked unit be restored to say God grow me so that I genuinely actually met great rest with the people of God who are striving to do the will of God. Beautiful stuff.

Just beautiful.

God's word so good I am. I want to go to a church with there's enough agape people that they help me to joy in them. I mean, if people just for sake. They simply don't get together. This just gets diminished diminished diminished but I'm here to tell you, you can't go if you're really here as you can go to the loan, you gotta go get another hit of vinegar to try to go get around him again. I was somewhere long time ago and I have good fellowship with most of the people who used to go to church or with this medium. Love the Lord and just God you know somewhere else. Whatever it is, but it we what we just met in a restaurant to me were talking small talk and he said you know I've been through this inventor that he said brother Jeff. I need some Jeff Napoli preaching. I think I know what he meant. I just think that the word of God again just pounding in my soul again.

Stir me back up a fresh he was. He was yearning to rest again with Ian and with God's people. I bet you could guess the last one off of the glory of God.

All the score.

Because this is God's wisdom and we do God's work. God's way, according to God's wisdom in this text is the local church and how we help each other then it shows God's wisdom to the world.

Tell them know what the world is going to do. I don't know where the world's going I don't know what's going to happen to the world but I know God's church will make God's churches, it's all going to be about him and about, well, that's the agape factor. That's the way you come to church. I hope and pray gets all, say I love you as your pastor, Jesus loves you.

The father loves you.

You be safe. By the way, though we can't meet together and that's the primary means there is waste to minister to one another, even though were separate and you're doing a liar. Somebody good reports keep on keeping on doing