The Relationship Principles of Jesus Mount Olivet Baptist Church Adolphus C. Lacey, Senior Pastor 1

Relationship Principle #2 Love As Jesus Loves You Memory Verse John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." 2

I. The Impossible Challenge The first commandment centers on our relationship with God. The second centers on our relationship to our neighbor. And the new commandment centers on our relationship with “one another.” 3

I. The Impossible Challenge Jesus is talking about people who have committed their lives to following Jesus Christ. Jesus did not give us a “do the best you can” challenge; this is “do more than you possibly could.” Matthew 18:21-22 – Peter asks Jesus, “How many times shall I forgive my brother?” 4

II. The Power of Jesus’ Command ◦You cannot command an emotion, but you can command an action. ◦When faced with the challenge to act with love, no matter how we may feel, there is something in us that rebels. ◦Read Luke 22:42 – “Nevertheless Love” 5

III. The Power of New This command of Jesus is “new” not so much in its content but in the way it is to be lived. Some think the only way to make something new is to start over. Instead: Rediscover the attitude of love in the everyday habits of your life. Jesus said, “Change your hearts and do what you did at first (Revelation 2:5). 6

IV. Feelings Are Important Read John 11:33-35 – Story of Lazarus Why had Jesus wept? Jesus took His emotions seriously, and so He expressed those emotions openly and then chose to act accordingly. Jesus even openly expressed the emotion of anger. Jesus desires that we express our feelings in ways that open the door for others to have faith. 7

V. Act Immediately, Act Radically To love as Jesus loved, we must act as Jesus acted. There are two ways to deal with the emotional side of our lives: ◦Give your heart priority by acting immediately ◦Take your heart seriously by acting radically. 8

Act Immediately We must learn to deal with our feelings rather than ignore or excuse them. Jesus gives us guidance in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:24). “First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Focus on that word first. 9

Act Immediately Why is it important to act immediately? Because if you do not, your emptions will fester inside you until they become destructive. Whatever is in your heart will eventually leak out. Make reconciliation your priority! 10

Act Radically One of the most radical statements Jesus ever made was this: “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away” (Matthew 5:30). Jesus is not teaching self-mutilation, for even a blind man can lust. The point is that we should deal as drastically with sin as necessary. 11

VI. Choose to Fellowship, Choose to Forgive Much of what we call love is actually polite selfishness. To love like Jesus, we are challenged to make four powerful choices – Fellowship, Forgive, Accept, and Sacrifice. 12

A. Choose to Fellowship “If we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other” (1 John 1:7, NLT). Fellowship means “the companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere.” ◦“Companionship” fellowship means you must actually spend time with other people. ◦“Congenial” fellowship means you enjoy spending time with these people. 13

A. Choose to Fellowship We need to learn to disconnect in order to connect with other people. True fellowship cannot be forced or scheduled; it must be chosen and accepted. Take the risk to talk to someone about a doubt you are facing, struggle you are having, a joy you are experiencing. Now you are fellowshipping. 14

B. Choose to Forgive Paul urged, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). What do you think it means to forgive? Forgiveness means you let it go. You let go of your bitterness and your desire for revenge. 15

B. Choose to Forgive Who are you trying to punish by choosing not to forgive? You may find yourself thinking you have to hang on to the hurt so you can punish someone for what they have done to you or to someone you love. Of course you are really only punishing yourself. The one who has hurt you likely doesn’t know or even care – what you think. 16

B. Choose to Forgive Jesus said, “When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (Mark 11:25, NLT). If you are struggling to forgive, resist the temptation to focus on your feelings of guilt about that struggle; focus instead on God’s grace and magnify in your mind His great forgiveness of your sins. 17

VII. Choose to Accept, Choose to Sacrifice Choose to Accept The apostle Paul counsels, “Accept one another, then just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 15:7). All relationships are based on acceptance – even though we tend to think they are based on similarities. 18

VII. Choose to Accept, Choose to Sacrifice Choose to Sacrifice “This is how we know what love is: Christ gave His life for us. We too, ought to give our lives for others!” (1 John 3:16, TEV) True love sacrifices. The greatest sacrifices may well be the daily sacrifices. You give up your way and seek another person’s good. 19

VII. Choose to Accept, Choose to Sacrifice Based on the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, we can glean five practical exercise you can do for your heart each day. 1. Be Patient: “Love Is Patient” (v.4) Patience involves the often difficult art of waiting. We have thousands of opportunities to practice patience. 20

VII. Choose to Accept, Choose to Sacrifice 2. Be Kind: Love Is Kind” (v. 4) Kind is one of the most powerful words in a relationship. It is a word that can help heal the deepest hurt and strengthen the weakest relationship. 3. Don’t’ Be Proud: “[Love] Does Not Envy, It Does Not Boast, It Is Not Proud” (v. 4) Alongside envy, boast, and proud, place the word insecurity. 21

VII. Choose to Accept, Choose to Sacrifice 4. Don’t Be Selfish: “[Love] Is Not Rude, It Is Not Self-Seeking, It Is Not Easily Angered, It Keeps No Record of Wrongs (v. 5) All of the above are a signal of a selfish heart. 5. Don’t Give Up: “[Love] Always Protects, Always Trusts, Always Hopes, Always Perseveres” (v. 7) 22

Who do you need to decide to bind yourself to? Love has the power to protect, trust, hope, and persevere. Follow Jesus’ command and learn to “Love One Another!” 23