Above All By Steve Mann

Bailey Yard North Platte Nebraska

One is labeled… “Above all” There are many instructions as to how we should conduct ourselves in the letter of 1 Peter One is labeled… “Above all” [1Pe 4:8 NIV] 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

How important is Love [1Co 13:1-2 NIV] 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

How important is Love [1Co 13:3 NIV] 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

How to Love- Deeply NIV – Deeply Actually there are two words in the Greek, so some translations seek to give the meaning with fervent, earnest, constant, deep…etc. The idea is that this love is like clothes you put on, so you wear it. It can also be like property you own, so you possess it.

Loving Deeply The second word intensives the first and communicates that the love we have for one another is something we own and give constant care to. It’s like that property you see and one glance tells you how the owner feels about it.

Work with what you have

Who to love Each other… [Rom 12:10 NKJV] 10 [Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; (Other translations “outdoing one another in love”)

We are built together [Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV] 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Stone upon stone [1Corinthians 3:16-17 NIV] 16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Why love each other like this [1Peter 4:8 NIV] 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

What is “covering sin?” At the “atmosphere” level love keep us interacting with one another in a way that God is happy to be with us… It is very evident that we are to love one another

[John 13:34-35 NIV] 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another [John 13:34-35 NIV] 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.“ [1John 3:11 NIV] 11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

“Cover” can’t contradict other teaching [James 5:19-20 NIV] 19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

[Matthew 18:15-16 NIV] 15 "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

[Mat 18:17 NIV] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

You must want to – Desire Make the effort – Work Love for one another You must want to – Desire Make the effort – Work Keep it up - Maintenance