1. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
It is not enough just to know God's will, we must do it! (Jas 1:22)

2. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
(James 1:22 NKJV) “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

3. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
In order to do God's will, however, we must also apply other teachings which prepare the heart. (Jas 1:21)

4. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
(James 1:21 NKJV) “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

5. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
Here is where we often fail while proclaiming: "I just cannot do God's will!" It is not just an issue of will but also of wisdom. (Ex. Changing a tire)

6. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
Wisdom does not always come from personal experience. The word of God gives us wisdom. (Psa 51:6; 111:10)

7. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
(Psalms 51:6 NKJV) “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.”

8. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
(Psalms 111:10 NKJV) “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”

9. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
We must always remember that God will never command of us that which we cannot do. (Deut 6:24)

10. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
(Deuteronomy 6:24 NKJV) “’And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.”

11. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
We must never substitute for what God commands. Some switch words for actions or an emotional feeling for action.

12. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
When we say we cannot do God's will we will be fighting God. Guess who will win? (Acts 5:39)

13. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
(Acts 5:39 NKJV) “”but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest you even be found to fight against God.””

14. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
Jesus expected His disciples to have such a love for one another that others would identify them by it. (Jn 13:34-35)

15. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
(John 13:14-15 NKJV) “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. {15} “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”

16. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
The world will not care what we know until they know we care.

17. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
The world will not care what we know until they know we care.
Does this characterize you? …Not just to a few but to all your brethren?

18. Are We Really Following God’s Word?
Are you willing to learn how to love?

19. We must choose to love.
What is this love God has commanded us?

20. We must choose to love. What is this love God has commanded us?
God commands the kind of love He showed us! (Rom 5:5-8)

21. We must choose to love.
(Romans 5:5-8 NKJV) “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. {6} For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

22. We must choose to love.
{8} But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

23. We must choose to love.
The word used here is agape - 1. especially as an attitude of appreciation resulting from a conscious evaluation and choice, used of divine and human love; love, devotion. - Friberg Lexicon.

24. We must choose to love.
Agape love is … profound concern for the well-being of another, without any desire to control that other, to be thanked by that other, or to enjoy the process.

25. We must choose to love.
Agape love is … profound concern for the well-being of another, without any desire to control that other, to be thanked by that other, or to enjoy the process.
God also commands another kind of love. (Rom 12:10)

26. We must choose to love.
(Romans 12:10 NKJV) “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”

27. We must choose to love.
The word used here is philadelphia - brotherly love, love for brother or sister; … in the NT restricted to love for fellow members of a religious group, affection for a fellow believer. - Friberg Lexicon.

28. We must choose to love.
Love That Must Express Itself A man was trying to read a serious book, but his little boy kept interrupting him. He would lean against his knees and say, "Daddy, I love you." The father would give him a pat and say rather absently, "Yes, Son, I love you too," and he would kind of give him a little push away so he could keep on reading.

29. We must choose to love.
But this didn't satisfy the boy, and finally he ran to his father and said "I love you, Daddy," and he jumped up on his lap and threw his arms around him and gave him a big squeeze, explaining, "And I've just got to DO something about it!" That's it--as we grow in love, we aren't content with small-talk love, or pat-on-the-head love. We want to get involved and "do something about it.”

30. We must choose to love.
Under what circumstances are we to love our brethren?

31. We must choose to love.
Under what circumstances are we to love our brethren?
Under the same circumstances God loved us! (Rom 5:6-8)

32. We must choose to love.
(Romans 5:6-8 NKJV) “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. {8} But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

33. We must choose to love.
When we love those who are even our enemies, we show God in our lives. (Mt 5:44-45)

34. We must choose to love.
(Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV) “”But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, {45} “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

35. We must choose to love.
Do not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we learn one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love them. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.

36. We must choose to love.
If the love of God means anything to us, we will choose to love our brethren. (Rom 14:15; 1 Cor 8:11)

37. We must choose to love.
(Romans 14:15 NKJV) “Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.”

38. We must choose to love.
(1 Corinthians 8:11 NKJV) “And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?”

39. We must choose to love.
Imagine Jesus personally saying to you: "Please take care of this one for my sake." Would you turn Him down? Instead of looking at a brother with all of his weakness and observing those things you dislike, look to this brother and see the death of Jesus! If this one is that important to Jesus, then so he will be to me.

40. We must choose to love.
Without distinction, without calculation, without procrastination, love. Lash it upon the poor, where it is very easy; especially upon the rich, who often need it most; most of all, upon our equals, where it is very difficult, and for whom perhaps we each do least of all.

41. We must be taught how to love.
When we trust God then we will add this love to our faith. (2 Pt 1:5-10)

42. We must be taught how to love.
(2 Peter 1:5-10 NKJV) “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, {6} to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, {7} to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

43. We must be taught how to love.
{8} For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. {10} Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;”

44. We must be taught how to love.
We add this love through God's teaching!

45. We must be taught how to love.
We add this love through God's teaching!
It is common in marriage for a couple to need to learn how to love. (Titus 2:3,4)

46. We must be taught how to love.
(Titus 2:3-4 NKJV) “the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; {4} that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,”

47. We must be taught how to love.
This kind of love does not come naturally, it is hard.

48. We must be taught how to love.
This kind of love does not come naturally, it is hard.
When you love, you put yourself at risk.

49. We must be taught how to love.
This kind of love does not come naturally, it is hard.
When you love, you put yourself at risk.
When you love, you give of your life…

50. We must be taught how to love.
This kind of love does not come naturally, it is hard.
When you love, you put yourself at risk.
When you love, you give of your life… your money, your time, your emotions.

51. We must be taught how to love.
This kind of love does not come naturally, it is hard.
When you love, you put yourself at risk.
When you love, you give of your life… your money, your time, your emotions.
When you love you invest in another without knowing that any good will come.

52. We must be taught how to love.
This kind of love does not come naturally, it is hard.
When you love, you put yourself at risk.
When you love, you give of your life… your money, your time, your emotions.
When you love you invest in another without knowing that any good will come.
Why would one be so foolish to place these valuable things in the hands of another?

53. We must be taught how to love.
Because that is what God did for us. (1 Jn 4:19-21)

54. We must be taught how to love.
(1 John 4:19-21 NKJV) “We love Him because He first loved us. {20} If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? {21} And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”

55. We must be taught how to love.
"Those who deserve love the least need it the most.”

56. We must be taught how to love.
"We become vulnerable when we love people and go out of our way to help them." That's what the wealthy industrialist Charles Schwab declared after going to court and winning a nuisance suit at age 70. Given permission by the judge to speak to the audience, he made the following statement:

57. We must be taught how to love.
"I'd like to say here in a court of law, and speaking as an old man, that nine-tenths of my troubles are traceable to my being kind to others. Look, you young people, if you want to steer away from trouble, be hard-boiled. Be quick with a good loud no to anyone and everyone. If you follow this rule, you will seldom be bothered as you tread life's pathway.

58. We must be taught how to love.
Except you'll have no friends, you'll be lonely, and you won't have any fun!" Schwab had made his point -- love may bring heartache, but it's worth it!

59. We must be taught how to love.
This love is the foundation of all that we do. (Mt 22:37-40)

60. We must be taught how to love.
(Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV) “Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ {38} “This is the first and great commandment. {39} “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ {40} “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.””

61. We must be taught how to love.
He who knows he is loved can be content with a piece of bread, while all the luxuries of the world cannot satisfy the craving of the lonely.

62. We must be taught how to love.
He who knows he is loved can be content with a piece of bread, while all the luxuries of the world cannot satisfy the craving of the lonely.
Consider the fruits of the Spirit. (Gal 5:13-15, 22-23)

63. We must be taught how to love.
(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. {14} For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” {15} But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”

64. We must be taught how to love.
(Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

65. We must be taught how to love.
Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love's touch. Goodness is love's character. Faithfulness is love's habit. Gentleness is love's self-forgetfulness. Self-control is love holding the reins.

66. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
If this love is so hard but so important, then we must work to eliminate all obstacles. (Ex. Preparing for a marathon.)

67. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
If this love is so hard but so important, then we must work to eliminate all obstacles. (Ex. Preparing for a marathon.)
In many ways the things that destroy our faith will destroy our love.

68. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
If this love is so hard but so important, then we must work to eliminate all obstacles. (Ex. Preparing for a marathon.)
In many ways the things that destroy our faith will destroy our love.
When our faith is weak we then will become shortsighted. (2 Pt 1:9)

69. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
(2 Peter 1:9 NKJV) “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”

70. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
Consider the "wisdom of Satan" that will guarantee that you will not love your brethren. (Jas 3:13-18)

71. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
(James 3:13-18 NKJV) “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. {14} But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. {15} This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

72. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
{16} For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. {17} But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. {18} Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

73. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
The Risk of Love To love anyone is to hope in him always. From the moment at which we begin to judge anyone, to limit our confidence in him, from that moment at which we identify him, and so reduce him to that, we cease to love him, and he ceases to be able to become better. We must dare to love in a world that does not know how to love.

74. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
"bitter envy.." - This is a combination of pride and hatred. Pride must be the best for one's own glory. The blindness of pride will cause one to do many things while still claiming to serve God. They might even say they love their brethren. (Mt 27:18; Jn 18:28)

75. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
(Matthew 27:18 NKJV) “For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.”

76. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
(John 18:28 NKJV) “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.”

77. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
Love accepts people as they are; love can take insults without ill will.

78. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
Love accepts people as they are; love can take insults without ill will.
Tell me how much you know of the sufferings of your fellowmen, and I will tell you how much you have loved them.

79. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
Love accepts people as they are; love can take insults without ill will.
Tell me how much you know of the sufferings of your fellowmen, and I will tell you how much you have loved them.
"self-seeking" - God's love cannot abide in this heart!

80. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
Love accepts people as they are; love can take insults without ill will.
Tell me how much you know of the sufferings of your fellowmen, and I will tell you how much you have loved them.
"self-seeking" - God's love cannot abide in this heart!
The elimination of self as the first step to conversion. (Lk 9:23-24)

81. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
(Luke 9:23-24 NKJV) “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. {24} “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”

82. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
The most common reason many give for their inability to love lies here.

83. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
"They did not speak to me… they were rude… I think they are proud!”

84. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
"They did not speak to me… they were rude… I think they are proud!“
Forgetting oneself is not a refinement of love. It is a first condition of love.

85. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
"They did not speak to me… they were rude… I think they are proud!“
Forgetting oneself is not a refinement of love. It is a first condition of love.
"boast and lie against the truth" - the fruit of pride is blindness and the end of blindness is that you fight God!

86. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
"They did not speak to me… they were rude… I think they are proud!“
Forgetting oneself is not a refinement of love. It is a first condition of love.
"boast and lie against the truth" - the fruit of pride is blindness and the end of blindness is that you fight God!
This is not just an issue of me and my brethren, but of me and my God.

87. We must eliminate those things that destroy love.
Gossip is often used to evangelize our hatred. This must be stopped.

88. We must guard our love.
Where do you put your money and valuables? Not on the driveway at night!

89. We must guard our love.
Where do you put your money and valuables? Not on the driveway at night!
Likewise we need to guard our hearts and build them up. (Prov 4:23-27)

90. We must guard our love.
(Proverbs 4:23-27 NKJV) “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. {24} Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. {25} Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. {26} Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. {27} Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”

91. We must guard our love.
I will feed on good thoughts that my mouth may say the same. (Eph 4:29)

92. We must guard our love.
(Ephesians 4:29 NKJV) “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

93. We must guard our love.
Do not put yourself in a position to join in with scoffers. (Psa 1:1)

94. We must guard our love.
(Psalms 1:1 NKJV) “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;”

95. We must guard our love.
When we learn to keep and protect our hearts we will always have a "pure love" for the brethren. (1 Pet 1:22-23)

96. We must guard our love.
(1 Peter 1:22-23 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, {23} having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”

97. We must guard our love.
It costs nothing but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None are so rich that they can get along without it and none are so poor but are richer for a smile.

98. We must guard our love.
It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, uplifting to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away!

99. We must guard our love.
And if it ever happens that some people should be too tired to give you a smile, why not leave one of yours? For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give. The hand of God is always outstretched to us in love.

100. We must guard our love.
Do you love your brethren? (1 Cor 13:4-7)

101. We must guard our love.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV) “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; {5} does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; {6} does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

102. We must guard our love.
True Love Love is Slow to suspect -- quick to trust. Slow to condemn -- quick to justify. Slow to offend -- quick to defend. Slow to reprimand -- quick to forbear. Slow to belittle -- quick to appreciate. Slow to demand -- quick to give.

103. We must guard our love.
Slow to provoke -- quick to conciliate. Slow to hinder -- quick to help. Slow to resent -- quick to forgive.