YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Part 7 BROTHERLY KINDNESS

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Part 7: Brotherly Kindness

“Rhythm of Life” Series

ME When I got saved back in high school, the Jesus Movement was in full swing. Many of you were experiencing the same thing here in El Paso. In fact, that Jesus Movement led to the birth of five Jesus Chapels and many other churches in the area.

Worship was a uniting factor in the movement and one of the songs we would sing was…

We are one in the Sprit

We are one in the Lord

We are one in the Spirit

We are one in the Lord

And we pray that our unity

Will one day be restored

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love

WE This song was taken from a verse in the Bible…

John 13:34–35 (NKJV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

So, the question for us is this: Does our love for each other show the world that we are followers of Jesus? PRAYER

GOD 2 Peter 1:7 (NKJV) to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

We have come to the final courses of our great feast. They are mentioned in this verse and are closely related. Today the course is brotherly kindness or brotherly love. This phrase is two words in English but one word in the Greek New Testament: philadelphia

Many of us recognize immediately that city in Pennsylvania by the same name. The nickname for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is “The City of Brotherly Love.”

Peter is encouraging us to supply everything that is needed to practice brotherly kindness and brotherly love.

He has said it before…

1 Peter 1:22 (NKJV) Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV) And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

The topic today is LOVE COVERS.

God has always encouraged His people to love and care for each other. Look at this scene in Jesus’s ministry…

Mark 12:28–34 (NKJV) Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” So, the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.

Jesus was quoting two Old Testament passages…

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (NKJV) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Leviticus 19:17–18 (NKJV) You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

YOU How do you live with brotherly love?

Let me suggest four areas where you can demonstrate brotherly kindness and brotherly love. For our purposes, we define a brother as any person we come in contact with: family member, another believer, a neighbor, a friend, anyone.

First, you could meet someone’s physical needs.

This practice has always been a part of God’s Kingdom practice.

Deuteronomy 15:7–8 (NKJV) If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

Matthew 25:34–40 (NKJV) Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

Luke 3:10–11 (NKJV) So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

James 2:15–16 (NKJV) If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

1 John 3:17–18 (NKJV) But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Second, you could meet someone’s emotional needs.

Matthew 5:23–24 (NKJV) Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Romans 15:1 (NKJV) We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Galatians 5:13–15 (NKJV) For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV) Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:14–15 (NKJV) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

James 5:13–14 (NKJV) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Third, you could meet someone’s spiritual needs.

Galatians 6:1 (NKJV) Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

James 5:16 (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Fourth, and most important, you could meet someone’s eternal needs.

James 5:19–20 (NKJV) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

The greatest act of brotherly love is the sharing of the Gospel. We are the last hope that many people have. We need to be active in social justice and social ministry, but if we do all of that and do not share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people, we do not love them. We fail to show brotherly love and brotherly kindness to others if we spend all our time preparing a better world for them to live in here, but do not prepare them for eternity!

Love your neighbor as yourself

Aren’t you glad someone introduced you to Jesus? Is someone else glad that you introduced Jesus to them?

There is coming a day when everyone from all eternity will stand before God and give an account. Believers will stand at the bema, the Judgement Seat of Christ, and be judged for rewards. Those who never put their trust in Christ, who never accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior, will be at the Great White Throne Judgement where they will be judged by their works, found lacking, and will be cast into Hell for all eternity!

Now tell me, what is more important: focusing on earthly things or focusing on eternity. When I moved to El Paso, the church I served had everything for dealing with the “nasty now and now”, but few things for dealing with the “sweet by and by”. I made this statement one day in the office, “We are doing everything here to help people survive down here on earth, but very little to prepare them for eternity!” It was not well-received!

WE Now, how do we apply all this? Let’s look at some applicable verses.

1. It begins with a right attitude!

Philippians 2:3–4 (NKJV) Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Get your head up, look around, and listen! Be aware of the needs around you. Start at home.

2. Keep your antenna up!

John 6:44 (NKJV) No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Be aware of those around you who are ready to receive Jesus.

3. Pray for a broken heart!

Matthew 9:36–38 (NKJV) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

INVITATION

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Part 6 GODLINESS

GODLINESS

2 Peter 1:5-8

(slide 2) So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. (Living Bible)

(slide 3) Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your  faith supply moral [g]excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (NASB) 

(slide 4) This passage begins with the words “For this very reason” which leads us to ask, “For what very reason?” Let’s back up and put those 4 words in context.

(slide 5) Verse 3 says, “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us [d]by His own glory and [e]excellence.4 [f]For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,(we must ask, “why did he grant these precious promises?” so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust

(slide 6)

​​​​​​                     Love

​​​​​                     Brotherly kindness 

​​​​                      Godliness

                                                          Perseverance 

                           ​​       Self-control

                   ​​​Knowledge

     ​​​   Moral excellence

Faith

(slide 7) Godliness, Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines it as:

GOD'LINESS, noun [from godly.] Piety; belief in God, and reverence for his character and laws.

1. A religious life; a careful observance of the laws of God and performance of religious duties, proceeding from love and reverence for the divine character and commands; Christian obedience.

Godliness is profitable unto all things. 1 Timothy 4:7.

(slide 8) Alba’s definition of ‘godliness’ – Christ-like behavior when the lights are out and nobody knows you, which shows how much you really honor and value God.

(slide 9) It was Father’s Day and I had to go to Tulsa for our yearly accreditation. I was to leave El Paso by 12:00 noon. Before I got to the security line, I already had a text that my flight from Dallas to Tulsa which would arrive at 5:30 had been cancelled.  I went straight to my gate and sat right next to the desk waiting for an agent to arrive. When she arrived, I told her my plight and she immediately began to check on another flight. “No problem Mrs. Wilcox, there’s one seat left on the 6:30 flight”, but before she could push the button, someone else had taken it. Thank God there was a seat on the 7:30 flight.  I would have a 2 ½ hour layover, but I was meeting some other principals, and their flights were also delayed, so we would have time to go eat a good meal and enjoy each other’s company.

The other agent at the gate asked me if I would mind checking my bag for free to my final destination because they needed more space on the plane. Reluctantly, I agreed to his request.  (slide 10) He told me that since I was going to have to wait in Dallas, my suitcase would go ahead of me and would be waiving at me upon my arrival in Tulsa. I figured that at least I wouldn’t have to haul it around for 2 ½ hours.

(slide 11)As I sat waiting to board a woman with a cat in a pet carrier sat close to me.  I don’t like cats because I am very allergic to them.  My first thought was, “I pray she’s not sitting next to me on the plane.” I watched as she pulled the cat out of the carrier and wrapped it in a baby blanket. My thought was “you are a crazy woman and I want to take your cat and spin it by the tail. (In Christian love)” About that time a guy leading a huge boxer, by a leash,walked by the cat and I wondered if we were going to be treated to a wrestling match.” But the boxer looked at the cat, with authority, as if to say, “you better stay in that pet carrier!” Minutes later, I couldn’t believe my eyes, when I saw a cute young woman carrying two small puppies in a pet carrier.  I began to look for two turtle doves and a partridge in a pair tree.  All I could think was “They all better be sitting behind me!”

We finally boarded and were on our way to Dallas. I was sitting with a lovely African American lady and a Hispanic health care worker who had been workingat the Border Patrol Office in Lordsburg. She talked about the immigration crisis and all the health issues they were experiencing.  In front of us a 6 and an 8 year-old girl, screamed loudly as they wrestled with each other.  Each loud scream brought nasty looks from everyone around.  

I was tired and tried to close my eyes to see if perhaps the trip would seem shorter if I fell asleep.  An hour and a half later I felt us descending. I was so happy to finally be landing in Dallas.  As the wheels touched down we heard the captain say, “Welcome to Austin?” Did I hear him correctly?  I looked at my seat mates and their startled looks indicated that indeed I had! The captain continued, “There is a storm in the Dallas area and we have been re-routed to Austin.  In 20-30 min the storm should pass and when we get the report that all is clear, we will refuel and be on our way, it’s only a40-minute flight to Dallas.”  

Well, here we were on the tarmac, you know me, I have the right to be silent, but not the ability.  So I mention, to whoever might hear, why don’t we refuel now, so that we are ready to go? Obviously, the airline needed my wisdom. Someone asked for a drink and some snacks and they were told that since it was a short flight, not enough snacks and drinks had been packed for two go-arounds. So we would have to sit and wait. Our 20-30 minutes turned into an hour, then an hour and a half, and soon the stewardess came out with one bottle of water and a stack of cups.  She served the first two rows and was soon out of water, so as she came by I askedher why she didn’t ask the man in the van (who wascommunicating with the crew) to bring a some cases of small water bottles. “Great Idea!” she says.  It is obvious that Alba was now running American Airlines. She returned with bottles of water so hot that if I had a tea bag I could have brewed some tea, and a variety of snacks left over from other flights.          (slide 12)   I got popables Two hours passed. Iwas beginning to smell the cat and the dogs.  Not sure why, but I knew what I was smelling. A man on the side of me was wearing a shirt that said, “I’m going to a place where the beer runs freely” and I thought to myself, “if I have to stay here much longer, I’m going to ask him the location of that place!”  

I was now going to miss my 7:30 connection, so I got on my American Airlines app and book the next flight. 

At 2 hours and 30 minutes they announced that we had been cleared for take-off to Dallas, but we hadto fuel and were going to be behind three transcontinental flights to fuel. At which point the man in the beer shirt, spoke up and said, “Why didn’t we fuel up when we landed like this lady suggested” (pointing at me). American Airlines does need me, even the beer drinker thinks so.  So we fueled up and got in line to take off, we could tell we were only a couple of places from take-off, when we heard the all familiar voice of the captain say, “Ladies and gentlemen we have been on the tarmac for three hours, and according to FAA regulations we have to go back to the gate open the door and let anyone who wants to get off do so”. You could hear the growls throughout the plane.  So we left our place in line and went to a gate and opened the door for 20 minutes. One considerate man, wanted us to wait while he talked to an airline agent on the phone to see if he could get a connection from Austin.”  All 180 passengers wanted to choke him. The door finally closed and we headed back to the line, when we heard the captain say, “ladies and gentlemen our three hour countdown will now begin again becausewe have been grounded once again.’ ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

(slide 13) So we wait. One more hour. Change my flight yet again. I also called Priceline because I had rented a vehicle through them.  Great deal, except that its non-refundable and non transferable. The girl told me that according to company policy, I wasgoing to forfeit my car that I had rented for a week. I implored her to help me since I this was not my fault.  She assured me that she would work on it. Another hour… I book another flight. I am now scheduled on the fifth flight since I arrived at the airport. We had been right at 6 hours on the tarmac when we received word that we were cleared for take off. So we got in line, and I am sure that anyone who believes in Jesus was praying.  We took off without incident and I arrived in Dallas at 9:40 pm.  One of my principal friends greeted me at my gate and we went eat.  We were scheduled to fly out 11:15 p.m. (Remember my original flight was supposed to land at 5:30 in Tulsa). We ate and went to our gate in case there was another change. Sure enough our flight was delayed. But, we finally landed in Tulsa at 2:10 a.m. We were praying that the car agency that was suppose to close at 10:00 was still open. We decide that I would go get the car and she wouldwait for my luggage. As I passed by the carousel I looked to see if my suitcase was waiving, as I had been assured.  I didn’t see it, but I knew my friend Connie would get it. (slide 14) I ran to the other end of the building and they were waiting for me to pick up my car.  I had already paid for it but I needed to give a $100 deposit till I brought it back.  No problem, I had left a check with the school for themto deposit and put on the credit card. But, I didn’t know that PawPaw had gone to the hospital so the deposit had never been made and the amount had not been put on the credit card, so when I gave them the school credit card it did not work.   It was now 2:25 a.m. and I was tired.  I figured I would just give them my personal debit card, but when I did, it wouldn’t go through.  I called Gary in a panic and he said, “I’m sorry, I new you had a couple of hundred dollars in cash, so I didn’t deposit our checks yet.  Iwas stressed.  He assured me that he would leave grandma alone for 15 minutes and go deposit my check and I would have access to $300 immediately. The agent reminded me that they were going toclose in 30 minutes.  Could anything else go wrong?  

My friend Connie joined me and informed me that my luggage didn’t make it.  What?  If was supposedto be waiting for me, waving at me when I landed.  She assured me that she went to the agent and it was not here. She offered to give the deposit on her credit card, but she can’t because the reservation is in my name.

I got a call from Gary at 2:55 in the morning, and we finally (slide 15) got the keys and walked to the other end of the parking lot where our car was waiting and drove 35 minutes to our hotel. We got to the hotel and I was checking in with no luggage.  I can’t imagine what the girl was thinking as she was looking at me.  As I got to my room I just wanted to take a shower and go to bed. I got in the shower andI remembered that my makeup and hair products were in my suitcase that didn’t make it, so I made sure the water didn’t hit my head.  

My alarm went off 3 hours later and I got up to get ready. I feel like a zombie. It didn’t take me long to get ready.  No make up, no product to spike my hair.  I dressed in my very lived in jeans and sweat shirt.  I went to Wal-Mart and got hair gel and hair spray. (slide 16) I had to fix my iconic hair.  I looked in the mirror and thought, “I am going to board meetings where I am an officer for an International Christian Accrediting Association, and I am wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.” I felt sick to my stomach. I had packed my best outfits, but they were not here, so I had to wear what I had.  

I must have apologized to 50 people for the way I looked and explained that my luggage had not made the trip with me.  They would all laugh and assure me that all was well, but I did not have the same sense of comfort. But, I put all of it aside because I had a job to do. Over the next 14 !/2 hours I attended 7 board and committee meetings. We even I might not have looked my best, but I was able to give of my best, because my best was my who I amand not was packed in my suitcase.

So you ask,(slide 17) what does this have to do with Godliness?  Everything!                     

Remember Alba’s definition? “Christ-like behavior when the lights are out and nobody knows you, which shows how much you really honor and value God.”

(slide 18) If you 2 Peter 1:5-8 in the King James version it reads like this, “And beside this, giving all diligence, ADD to your faith virtue.”  This scripture is written in the imperative. It is a command form.  There is a reason it is called “Imperative.”

Imperative means “of vital importance, crucial.” So when a command is given to us in the word it is of vital importance, crucial. (slide 19) The command is simply this ADD.  Nobody can do it for you. Add means to increase in size or amount.  That is left up to us.  Do you want to be godly, then add it to patience, to self control, to knowledge, to moral excellence and to faith.  You cannot skip steps in the process. It is a building process.  2 Corinthians 3: 18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory. 

As I thought about my flight experience over the next couple of days, the Lord brought some realities to my life.  We can prepare for this journey called life, much like I prepared for my trip.  You can pack your best things.  Your money, your talents, your beauty, your education, your position – but rest assured that a storm is going to come, it may be sickness, the death of a loved one, the loss of a of a home, a wayward child who brings you pain - and you will be re-routed to another destination. It will not be the destination of your choosing and your plans will be delayed, you may not have enough in your “spiritual bank account” to pay for the changes that are being brought about in your life.  And when what you thought was coming doesn’t arrive, how do you handle life?  If you have added godliness to your life, you will be able to withstand the storm.

Teachers, you have thought and I’m sure, prayed about this school year.  You are going to have the best syllabus, the best lesson plans, the most creative activities.  You might have thought of something you will show when they come to evaluate you.  You are so excited.  You have packed the greatest “bag” for this year, your very best!  But let me assure you, “a storm is coming!” It may be a personal storm, it may be an administrator that you don’t like, it may be a student that pushes your button daily. But a storm is coming! What’s going to come out of you when your plans are destroyed, when your perfect lesson falls apart in the middle of an observation?    

What do you get when you squeeze a lemon?  You get whatever is inside.  If you have filled it with ink and you squeeze it you will get ink.  If its full of lemon juice, you will get lemon juice. When life squeezes you, you will exhibit whatever is inside of you.  You will revert to the level of your faith in God and it will reveal what you really honor and value God. Love is a cheap word in our language.  We love movies, we love songs, we love ice cream, we love pets, so I intentionally did not put “love God.” Rather honor and value God.  Because when we honor and value someone we will give our best to them.

Teachers today you received a bag to remind you that you are on a journey.  I don’t care how much you plan, and you should, life is unpredictable.  You cannot control life and you cannot control the outcomes.  But, what is inside of you, will rule you heart when the storms of life come your way.

I would like to share with you the Alba version of 2 Peter 1: 5-8.

Now for this very reason, be diligent, so that same faith with which you accepted Christ yields an inward witness of the spirit, to bring us to the point where we truly know Him and not just know about Him causing us to intentionally guard our hearts from sin. This will help us to walk in passionate patience refusing to give up on ourmiracle. Our character will be such that the entire world will see how much we honor and value Jesus. We will be kind to those around us and learn to live sacrificially loving those whom God has place in our life.  If we indeed do this consistently we will be useful to the Kingdom of God and our lives will demonstrate a true picture of our Lord, Jesus Christ. (New Cuban Standard Bible)