The Eleventh The Eleventh CommandmentCommandment

The undercover pastorThe undercover pastor

New to the areaNew to the area Decided to dress Decided to dress

up like a beggar up like a beggar and find out what and find out what the Christian the Christian community is like.community is like.

He went to the nearest townHe went to the nearest town

A town quite A town quite like Petersburglike Petersburg

He blends in to He blends in to the crowd, and the crowd, and goes to goes to McDonalds…McDonalds…

While at McDonalds.While at McDonalds. He met Mrs... Self Righteous.He met Mrs... Self Righteous. She is Prim and Proper, and She is Prim and Proper, and

very proud of her storehouse very proud of her storehouse of Christian knowledge…of Christian knowledge…

The subject turned to religion.The subject turned to religion. To prove her storehouse of To prove her storehouse of

biblical knowledge and to biblical knowledge and to prove his ignorance, she asks prove his ignorance, she asks him a question… him a question…

How many How many commandments commandments

are there?are there?

The beggar/pastor The beggar/pastor answered, “Eleven”answered, “Eleven”

Obviously horrified at Obviously horrified at his incompetence she his incompetence she says… says…

"Why, you know "Why, you know nothing about religion nothing about religion at all! Be gone, beggar at all! Be gone, beggar man! Why should I man! Why should I spend my time with spend my time with such as you?such as you?

The Next The Next SundaySunday

Imagine her surprise Imagine her surprise when she looks up when she looks up and sees that her and sees that her new pastor was the new pastor was the very beggar at very beggar at McDonalds a few McDonalds a few days before…days before…

And to make matter’s worse the title And to make matter’s worse the title of his sermon was “The Eleventh of his sermon was “The Eleventh

Commandment”Commandment”

John 13:34-35John 13:34-35

(34) A new commandment I give (34) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.one another.

(35) By this shall all (35) By this shall all [men][men] know that know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.one to another.

11stst Reason we must Love Reason we must LoveThis is a COMMAND...not a SUGGESTIONThis is a COMMAND...not a SUGGESTION

NotNot “I PREFER YOU TO” “I PREFER YOU TO” NotNot “TRY TO” “TRY TO” NotNot “WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT” “WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT” NotNot “IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU” “IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU”

BUT “ Love one another”BUT “ Love one another”With the With the same forcesame force that that God the fatherGod the father

gave the Israelites the commandment, gave the Israelites the commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” “Thou shalt not commit adultery” God God

the sonthe son says, I am giving you a new says, I am giving you a new

COMMANDMENTCOMMANDMENT… …

““Love one another”Love one another”

Impact on John…Impact on John…

John focuses on Love in his epistles… John focuses on Love in his epistles…

I John, only 5 chapters long, has some I John, only 5 chapters long, has some form of the word “Love” 51 times…form of the word “Love” 51 times…

An Old TraditionAn Old Tradition A weak, fragile, elderly, Apostle John A weak, fragile, elderly, Apostle John

would preach and simply say, “My would preach and simply say, “My Little children, Love one another”Little children, Love one another”

Some asked him why he was hung Some asked him why he was hung up on this subject, he simply said, up on this subject, he simply said,

"Because, it is the Lord's command, "Because, it is the Lord's command, and if ONLY THIS is done, it is and if ONLY THIS is done, it is enough.“enough.“

Look at these CharacteristicsLook at these Characteristics

I do not drinkI do not drink I do not commit I do not commit

adulteryadultery I do not steal.I do not steal. I have never I have never

murdered anyone.murdered anyone. I stand straight and I stand straight and

true in society. true in society.

I don’t cussI don’t cuss I have never I have never

gossipedgossiped I am not greedy.I am not greedy. I do my job without I do my job without

complaining.complaining. I serve the purpose I serve the purpose

God has given me.God has given me.

How many would say that these are Characteristics How many would say that these are Characteristics of a Good Christian?of a Good Christian?

Are you

Are you

Sure?Sure?

Those describe a fence post!Those describe a fence post!

So how can you tell a fence post So how can you tell a fence post from a Christian?from a Christian?

A Christian is known by their Love…A Christian is known by their Love… This is our 2nd Point today:This is our 2nd Point today:

Through love we PROVE Through love we PROVE that we really do have a that we really do have a RELATIONSHIP with God.RELATIONSHIP with God.

(35) By this shall all (35) By this shall all [men][men] know that know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love ye are my disciples, if ye have love

one to another.one to another.

Do youDo youLove as Love as Christ Christ loved?loved?

The only way for someone to The only way for someone to know you are a Christian is for know you are a Christian is for them to see Christ’s love them to see Christ’s love through you!through you!

Or are you so judgmental that Or are you so judgmental that others cannot see Christ’s love.others cannot see Christ’s love.

I know of some “Christians” that I know of some “Christians” that refuse to let non-Christians eat refuse to let non-Christians eat or drink with them.or drink with them.

That is not Christ like… Christ That is not Christ like… Christ ate and drank with prostitutes, ate and drank with prostitutes, drunks, the low lifes of that drunks, the low lifes of that time.time.

He showed them love.He showed them love.

And what about your enemies?And what about your enemies?He said to love them too.He said to love them too.

Sometimes you can turn your enemies into Sometimes you can turn your enemies into friends by showing them Christ’s love… friends by showing them Christ’s love…

This is what God did for us.This is what God did for us.We were once His enemy, but he showed us We were once His enemy, but he showed us

his love, thus reconciling us to himself. his love, thus reconciling us to himself. Now Jesus calls us friends!Now Jesus calls us friends!

Let Christ be our Let Christ be our example.example.

This brings us to our 3This brings us to our 3rdrd reason to love reason to love othersothers

3) By loving others it will attract the 3) By loving others it will attract the unchurched to Christ.unchurched to Christ.

In John 12:32 Jesus said, “In John 12:32 Jesus said, “And I, if I And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.”draw all [men] unto me.”

One way we "lift Jesus up" is when One way we "lift Jesus up" is when we love as only He can love.we love as only He can love.

It shows them that we are real…It shows them that we are real… ““They don’t care how much you They don’t care how much you

know, until they know how much you know, until they know how much you care.”care.”

ButBut If we go around hating people, talking about If we go around hating people, talking about

people, beating each other up, no one will people, beating each other up, no one will want to be a part of us… Would you?want to be a part of us… Would you?

People need love. They desire love, as much People need love. They desire love, as much as any other physical need.as any other physical need.

When people find love, they are drawn to it…. When people find love, they are drawn to it…. Just like water draws the thirsty. Just like water draws the thirsty.

People want real love… not superficial, People want real love… not superficial, hypocritical love, where we say we love them hypocritical love, where we say we love them with a smile, then stab them in the back at with a smile, then stab them in the back at the same time.the same time.

4) In order to love with real love, we 4) In order to love with real love, we have to depend on Christ.have to depend on Christ.

We need to ask, “How did He do it?”…We need to ask, “How did He do it?”…

Notice He said, “That ye love one Notice He said, “That ye love one another; another; as I have loved youas I have loved you, that , that

ye also love one another.ye also love one another.

So let’s look at 3 characteristics of So let’s look at 3 characteristics of Christ’s love:Christ’s love:

1) His love is characterized by 1) His love is characterized by ACTION not FEELING.ACTION not FEELING.

Let’s be honest…We don’t always Let’s be honest…We don’t always FEEL like loving others… FEEL like loving others…

Some people it is hard to Love.Some people it is hard to Love. But fortunately this is a command But fortunately this is a command

not to FEEL love but to ACT in love.not to FEEL love but to ACT in love. Jesus acted out His love…Jesus acted out His love… Think of how God loves us… is it just Think of how God loves us… is it just

feelings.. or do we see the action… feelings.. or do we see the action…

John 3:16 John 3:16

““For God so loved the world that He For God so loved the world that He gave”…. gave”…. ACTIONACTION

Or what about this one: Romans 5:8Or what about this one: Romans 5:8

(8) “But God commendeth (8) “But God commendeth (ACTION)(ACTION) his love toward ushis love toward us(ACTION)(ACTION), in that, , in that,

while we were yet sinners, Christ while we were yet sinners, Christ died died (ACTION)(ACTION) for us.” for us.”

But you may askBut you may ask““How can I ACT out love, if I don’t FEEL How can I ACT out love, if I don’t FEEL

the Love.”the Love.”

You do it because you love Christ…. He You do it because you love Christ…. He commanded you to. So out of love for commanded you to. So out of love for

Him, you can love the unloveable…Him, you can love the unloveable…

Whatever we do we are to do it as if we Whatever we do we are to do it as if we are doing it for Christ…are doing it for Christ…

So when you are ACTING out your love So when you are ACTING out your love for others.. do it by FEELING the love for for others.. do it by FEELING the love for

Christ.Christ.

Colossians 3:23Colossians 3:23

(23) And whatsoever ye do, do (23) And whatsoever ye do, do [it][it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;men;

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.do all to the glory of God.

2) Another characteristic of Jesus 2) Another characteristic of Jesus love is that it is INCLUSIVE...not love is that it is INCLUSIVE...not

SELECTIVE SELECTIVE During a war, A During a war, A

soldier died, his soldier died, his fellow soldiers fellow soldiers found a nearby found a nearby church, with a church, with a cemetery cemetery surrounded by a surrounded by a white fence. They white fence. They asked the Priest if asked the Priest if he could be buried he could be buried there…there…

The Priest said noThe Priest said nosince the guy that since the guy that

died was a died was a protestant he could protestant he could not be buried in not be buried in their Roman their Roman Catholic cemetery. Catholic cemetery. But the Priest said But the Priest said that he could be that he could be buried outside the buried outside the fence, and the fence, and the priest promised to priest promised to watch look after the watch look after the grave, and keep it grave, and keep it up.up.

A few years passed and the war A few years passed and the war ended..ended..

The soldiers came The soldiers came back to pay back to pay respect, they respect, they remembered remembered where the church where the church and grave was and grave was but..when they but..when they got to the got to the cemetery, they cemetery, they could not find could not find where they where they buried him.buried him.

They approached the priestThey approached the priest"Sir, we cannot find "Sir, we cannot find

our friend's grave," our friend's grave," "Well," answered "Well," answered the priest, "After the priest, "After you buried your you buried your fallen friend, it just fallen friend, it just didn't seem right to didn't seem right to me that he should me that he should be buried there, be buried there, outside the fence." outside the fence." "So, you moved the "So, you moved the grave?" asked the grave?" asked the soldiers. "No," said soldiers. "No," said the priest, "I moved the priest, "I moved the fence." the fence."

That is exactly what God does..That is exactly what God does..

None of us deserve a place IN God’s None of us deserve a place IN God’s love, but because He loves us, he love, but because He loves us, he reaches OUT to us… and Brings us in reaches OUT to us… and Brings us in his fence…his fence…

Jesus' words from the Sermon on Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount : Matthew 5:43-48the Mount : Matthew 5:43-48

(43) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love (43) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

(44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;persecute you;

(45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is (45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.unjust.

(46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward (46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

(47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more (47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others][than others]? do not even the publicans so?? do not even the publicans so?

(48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is (48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.in heaven is perfect.

Jesus calls for the inclusion of love, Jesus calls for the inclusion of love, for no one stands on the outside of for no one stands on the outside of

the circle of Christ’s love.the circle of Christ’s love.

Rapists

Drunks

Prostitutes

Child Molesters

Homosexuals

Gossips

Drug pushers

thievesliars Murderers

Idol worshippers

rebels

fornicators

All other All other

sinners… sinners…

including including

YOU!!!YOU!!!Proud

The problemThe problem

Our circleOur circle

Jesus’ CircleJesus’ Circle

“Someone God loves has AIDS”

Maybe hard for some of us to swallow, but God is not a

respecter of persons

DRAW a circle in your mind DRAW a circle in your mind Put

yourself in it.

Write:

"There's no one in the whole world that God loves more than He does me."

And then before you begin to feel self-righteous add:

"And there's no one in the whole world that God loves LESS than me.”

God loves all people ... EVEN God loves all people ... EVEN PEOPLE WHOM WE FEEL PEOPLE WHOM WE FEEL

JUSTIFIED TO HATE.JUSTIFIED TO HATE. We all deserve to go to Hell… Yes, you We all deserve to go to Hell… Yes, you

deserve to go to Hell! I deserve it..deserve to go to Hell! I deserve it.. But we pat ourselves on our backs But we pat ourselves on our backs

because we spend 1-2 hours a week in because we spend 1-2 hours a week in worship, and say, “What a good Christian worship, and say, “What a good Christian am I” am I”

But what happens when someone you But what happens when someone you consider a sinner wants to come in and consider a sinner wants to come in and worship?worship?

Do you say?Do you say? Keep em out… they are SINNERS!!!!Keep em out… they are SINNERS!!!! Well guess what, that is the type of Well guess what, that is the type of

business we are in…. business we are in…. We are sinners worshiping God.. how dare We are sinners worshiping God.. how dare

any of us keep someone from God…any of us keep someone from God… As long as I am in the pulpit here, people As long as I am in the pulpit here, people

will be able to come to this church to:will be able to come to this church to:find answers, find answers, to get help, to get help,

to have a relationship with God… to have a relationship with God… The moment this church quits reaching out The moment this church quits reaching out

to others, and becomes a social club, we to others, and becomes a social club, we should close the doors. And shut down….should close the doors. And shut down….

3) A third characteristic of Jesus' 3) A third characteristic of Jesus' love is that it is a SACRIFICIAL, love is that it is a SACRIFICIAL,

SELFLESS love.SELFLESS love.

2 conclusions…2 conclusions…

1) Our world needs the love of Jesus. Hate 1) Our world needs the love of Jesus. Hate comes so easily to people these days.comes so easily to people these days.

2) We can’t love the unloveable… it is not in 2) We can’t love the unloveable… it is not in US to do it, but God through us can… He US to do it, but God through us can… He empowers us to Love others that we so empowers us to Love others that we so naturally want to Hate…naturally want to Hate…

Are you willing to love?Are you willing to love?

Do you have Christ’s love in your heart to Do you have Christ’s love in your heart to share with others…share with others…