Practing Love

Accountability involves "one anothers" that every members are encouraged to be actively serving and ministering their gifts. A local Church understands that people are not just looking for a Church to Worship, but a place where they can make real friendship, meaningful fellowship, and truly serving God. The writer of Hebrews 10:24-25 commands every believer to be a part of such a local body and reveals why this is necessary. NIV: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

The Scriptures teach every believers to be committed to a local church where he or she is loved and cared for, instructed in the things Christ commanded, encouraged to grow spiritually, and serving Christ effectively. Every believer who attends a Church of faith, commitment, and fruitfulness.

James 5:16................Confess to and Pray for one another
Colossians 3:13...........Forgive one another
Colossians 3:16.......... Counsel one another
Galatians 6:2..............Bear one another's burdens
Titus 1:13.................Rebuke one another (with love)
1 Thessalonians 4:18....Comfort one another
Hebrews 10:25...........Exhort one another
Romans 14:19............Edify one another
Romans 15:14............Counsel one another
Galatians 5:13............Love one another
Ephesians 4:12...........Love one another
1 Peter 1:22..............Love one another

Practicing charity (love) is a toughie depending on someone's view from where they are sitting/experiencing. We can fake other people but we can't fake God. Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Man's doctrines often gets in the way of the doctrine of love. Are we heavenly minded or earthy minded? Christian's accountability involves "one anothers" that every Christians are encouraged to be actively serving and ministering their gifts. Often pre-occupation of doctrines and pride often interferes their uses of spiritual gifts. They think they know it all when they actually DON'T. They closed their minds to everything that was happening around them so they grieved others by their burdensome doctrines which some of us do not agree with. People who live with chronic illness or daily physical pain often feel as though no one understands what they are going through. Chronic illness can become a part of a church's ministry for members. Too often those with invisible and visible disabilities are forgotten or their handicaps are taken too lightly. It would be nice if churches offers ministry for the chronic illness and how to restore faith and hope.

When I am involved in ministries, my Christian service motive is important to God because it is motive that gives to every holy act that Glorifies God. I need to "take delight in the Lord, and He will give me my heart's desires" (Psalm 37:4).

Maybe it is the Holy Spirit conviction in my heart to be like a Prophet to let people hear what is going on even though they may not like what they are hearing. If your conscience is not convicting you to acknowledge, then it is not my problem but rather that's between you and God. The Word of God is tuned to speak to our inner conscience and demonstrates with spiritual convictions. It is the Holy Spirit's conviction that God’s design for us is to be radically transform by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2)

Apostasy always begins with the heart where a person is turning back which is deliberate and decisive. Faith is a gift, whether a person actually "recieved" faith as a gift is the question. Jesus is the Lord who says, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny Himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). To obey Him is to enjoy the fellowship of God and true believers, a fellowship of light (1 John 1:5-7). A person's heart is always found running in the direction of his/her desires. The heart that desires often leads a person towards the wrong direction. Those who believed that God will not allow Christians to suffer are in big trouble and probably won't last.

Jesus and New Testament writers warned that there will be "Christians" who will reveal their true self whether they are a Christian or playing a Christian.


Quote:

Jude 1:17-25
But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

When people are teaching doctrines wrongly, fear is created. Certain doctrines have planted false fear throughout Christian history. Worst case scenerio, fear of something would happen is always often in everyone's mind. God distributed the gifts according to His will and plans that lightens the burdens for all believers. This makes it possible for every believer to smooth carrying out of His purposes among believers in unity. Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. We who know and love Him are the living church that has been born into the family of God by the Holy Spirit. As members of "the general assembly and church of the first-born, who are written in heaven" (Heb. 12:23), we have been declared righteous because our sin has been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:5).

That if we have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make our joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:1-2). Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16).

This is all come down to the "object" of LOVE.

A pastor and elders can't do everything however at the same time spiritual leaders to teach their members how to love others more than how to love their doctrines. Doctrines are important and Christians might argue for those issues. But, how far? What shall we unite with and from what shall we separate?

Jesus also didn't say: "Love your doctrines with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor who believes the same doctrines as you you.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

What did Jesus REALLY say? " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

In 1 Corinthians 13:5 says "Love does not act unbecomingly". Through the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life and light and love. Act like Jesus toward brethren in compassion, toward saints in warm affection, toward others in love without conditions (or doctrines). Love should be in priority. Without Christ, we are nothing. Along with love and under the control of the Holy Spirit, the power of love and Holy Spirit flows through us. The only way the spiritual gifts are going to operate is love. Love is the key. God is love. He gave us two commandments. We are to love God and others.

When doctrines takes over "Love" then we are disobeying God. 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. With love, the Holy Spirit will work with each person without our help. All God wants from us is "love".