Our theme for the month is “More and More.” We have looked at that subject from different dimensions.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 KJV Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
The Bible says we have received instruction on how we ought to walk and please God.
There are several issues raised in the context of that passage speaking to how we ought to walk so that we continue to abound more and more. There are several ways God wants us to walk in a manner that can be described that we are increasing more and more.
The phrase “more and more” speaks to increase, abounding, and growing. It speaks to continuity. You continue in what you have been taught, you grow in it, and you increase in it.
Let us see one of the specific instructions given in this context. In verse 9, the Bible says:
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 KJV But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
One of the instructions we have received on how we ought to walk is to walk in brotherly love. God’s love became a template for us to learn how to walk in this manner. And the way we walk in brotherly love is to be more and more
The Passion Translation of these verses says: “There is no need for anyone to say much to you about loving your fellow believers, for God is continually teaching you to unselfishly love one another. Indeed, your love is what you are known for all through Macedonia.”
These believers had a testimony, they had a history of walking in love. They were known for it.
The Message Bible says: “Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don’t need me to tell you what to do. You are God-taught in these matters. Just love one another. You are already good at it.”
Believers don’t do life in isolation, we need each other, we need ourselves.
We are looking at walking in brotherly love within the context of “more and more.” The focus of Paul’s instruction was not merely to tell them to walk in love, they were already doing that. They were already good at it. The focus was that they should continue to walk in love and get better at it.
For those who have been taught of God, the evidence of your love work is everywhere.
However, the Scripture says we should get better at it; it should be more and more. Paul raised these issues because there is always a possibility for circumstances to arise that will discourage you from continuing in love.
Wait until you are offended deeply, before you can truly talk about love. Wait until somebody steps on your toes. We can say “I love you” and give high-fives in church, but you do not know how much you have learned about walking in love until you are deeply hurt. You do not know how much of God’s love is in you until a brother has defrauded you.
Paul mentioned that we should not defraud our brothers in any matter. There is a tendency for conflict in any community. There will be people who don’t mind their own business, and people who step on your toes.
Paul’s message is: what do you do when you have reasons not to love anymore? What do you do when your heart is bruised, when you are offended, or when you are backstabbed?
It can all be theory until you are faced with a challenge. The person who can truly teach us about love is the one who has been wounded and says, “What I have gone through will not change me.” Many people allow offense to change them; it makes them stop living the life they were known for.
Consider the story of Dorcas (Tabitha) in the book of Acts. When she died, the believers refused to bury her. They sent for Peter and showed him the garments she had made. They had tokens of her love in their hands.
Acts 9:39 KJV Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
They said, “We can’t bury this woman; she is too good.” Everyone had evidence of her compassion.
What kept Dorcas alive was that she had a testimony. She had touched lives such that they were willingly to stay with her dead body even if it begins to smell until Peter comes.
This is the context of our conversation: being strengthened to continue in brotherly love.
We will step on each other’s toes. Our brotherhood and friendship will be tested. It is not tested when everything is fine, it is tested when there is conflict.
What do you do when a brother borrows money and refuses to refund it, yet comes to church feeling entitled?
I have not seen any organization or family where people are so perfect that nobody steps on anyone else. If we were all perfect, we would not need the teaching of the Word of God. The Word is meant to bring us to maturity.
There are no perfect people. In families, there are siblings of the same father and mother who have vowed never to speak again. There are churches where pastors do not greet each other. Offense comes in, and people allow that offense to change them from who God created them to be. God blessed you with a beautiful heart, but see what offense has made of you.
You must have a testimony before God and man that you have a good heart, even if people take advantage of it.
People change because of the things they go through, but you will stand before Jesus one day.
No offense is great enough to change the bowel of compassion God has placed in you.
Galatians 6:9-10 KJV And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Do not grow weary. Weariness crawls into the soul because of offense. Why make generalized statements like “church people are wicked”? When you talk like that, you are implicating yourself. Often, people who say they don’t go to church anymore are suffering from trauma. They tell a one-sided story and never mention where they went wrong.
The bottom line is the heart. Do not lose this golden heart God gave you. Do not lose this heart. Don’t let anything change who God made you. You are known for walking in love.
What is offense? You have not yet drunk from the cup of offense. Some of you treat leadership with dishonor, but it is the love of Jesus that keeps us together. The love of Christ has removed the partitions and classes, allowing us to do life together.
Some people have taken up “principles” because they were hurt, saying, “Something died in me that year.” They can no longer trust anyone. But the template we are given is the love between Christ and the church.
Romans 5:8 KJV But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus was willing to climb the cross before you repented. He didn’t wait for you to change your behavior before He loved you.
I challenge you to continue walking in love with an open mind, knowing that someone will hurt you. Your spouse, your children, or your friends can hurt you deeply.
If you claim to have fellowship with the Holy Ghost, but He does not put His finger on your hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness, I question which Holy Ghost you are worshipping.
1 Peter 4:7-9 KJV
The end of all things is at hand. This realization should make you forgive quickly. We must have “fervent charity”. Some relationships are hard, but we choose to love.
Offense can make you move prematurely from where God placed you.
Where there is love, you will not notice every offense.
We are all “help-men.” The grace of God and the help of others brought us here. Do not let your pride stop you from collecting help. You should stand before Jesus and discuss what you did with His grace, not discuss offense.
If you do not heal from your trauma, you will bleed on innocent people. You will become a toxic leader, a toxic parent, or a toxic CEO. If you skip the class of learning through suffering, you will repeat it. God brought you to difficult environments to grow your capacity so that you can handle men later.
We all need healing at different stages of life. When a man who is not healed speaks, you will know. They generalize their pain to everyone else. Trace your bitterness to your background, your childhood, or your past heartbreaks. God can help you to heal.
Bitterness brings men to stagnation. Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and thinking someone else will die. The person you are angry with is likely eating well and sleeping soundly while you are losing sleep.
You cannot be a better person while carrying twenty years of trauma. You have great things to focus on. God is taking you to greater heights. Be healed.
Sometimes, it is not the other person, it is our own pain that makes every word feel heavy or every look seem like a slight. Some of you are living to prove a point to those who looked down on you years ago. That is a bad way to live.
In conclusion, Father, we bring our hearts to You. We cannot continue with this pain, trauma, and bitterness. Help us. Heal our pain. We look away from men and we look at You.