My Brethren!
Phil. 4:1-9
1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Luke 11:11-13
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
First let us see…
How Do We Treat Our Brethren?
As Brethren
As dearly beloved - read Luke 11:11-13
As longed for
As our joy and crown
As always (continually) standfast in the Lord
As special family My dearly beloved
To sum, He wants us to treat them right as we would have them treat us!
Next we can see that He wants us to…
Work together - vs. 2-3
Put away differences
Plan together (to work together you need to plan to work together)
Plow together - "yoke fellow" - (actually get in the "harness")
Pull together (actually work in harmony)
Rejoice together - vs. 4
Happy to be together
Happy that God blesses (us and others)
Happy that God loves us (and others)
Happy that we love each other
Be nice together - vs. 5
In front of everyone - in sight for all to see
Especially each other
Let the Lord's closeness shine through - The Lord is at hand
Be trusting together - 6-7
Not anxious - together (building on faith, not fears)
Purposefully praying together
Planning thanksgiving together
Be Christ-like together - 7-9
Trust Him - vs. 7
Think good things - vs. 8
Do good things - vs. 9
Expect good things - vs. 9
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
So what are the results? God will bless us and give us peace.
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church 042102am