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Romans 12:9-13 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil Romans 12:9-13  Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11  not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12  rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13  distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

LOVE OF THE BRETHREN

BROTHERLY LOVE Brotherly love has amazed many people throughout the centuries. Love of the brethren is commanded by God: Heb. 13:1 - "Let love of the brethren continue." I Peter 3:8 - "Finally, be ye all like minded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humble minded." Brotherly love must be "worked at" to achieve. I Thess. 1:3 - "remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope..." Heb. 6:10 - "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister."

BROTHERLY LOVE Problems in the church are either directly or indirectly connected to lack of LOVE for one another. Problems at Corinth--- (every problem shows a lack of love) Division, Sexual immorality, lawsuits, feast of Lord’s Supper, etc. Love is the KEY to a growing or even a surviving church. 1 Cor. 13 Paul wrote to the church at Rome about love of the brethren.

THE SINCERITY OF LOVE - V.9a "LET LOVE BE WITHOUT HYPOCRISY" 1 Peter 1:22  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 Timothy 1:5  Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

THE PURITY OF LOVE - v.9b "ABHOR WHAT IS EVIL. CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD." Abhor evil extreme hatred and aversion to evil. True love wants to stay away from evil no matter what. Cling to good "To join fast together, to glue, cement..." (Vine) Do not let go of good. What does that say about your life? 1 Peter 3:10-12  For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11  Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12  For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

III. THE QUALITY OF LOVE v. 10a III. THE QUALITY OF LOVE v.10a. "BE KINDLY AFFECTIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE." 1 Peter 3:8-9  Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9  not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. Love must express itself. 1 John 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. This kind of love cannot go unpronounced. How can it be affectionate love if it is not expressed? How can we "love the brethren" and not express it?

IV. THE HUMILITY OF LOVE v. 10b IV. THE HUMILITY OF LOVE v. 10b. "IN HONOR GIVING PREFERENCE TO ONE ANOTHER." Philippians 2:3-4  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Matthew 20:25-28  But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

V. THE PERSISTENCE OF LOVE v. 11a. "NOT LAGGING IN DILIGENCE V. THE PERSISTENCE OF LOVE v.11a. "NOT LAGGING IN DILIGENCE. FERVENT IN SPIRIT." 1 Peter 1:22  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, John 15:12-13  This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

VI. THE GENUINENESS OF LOVE - v.11c. "SERVING THE LORD." Love gives of itself. Colossians 3:23-24  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Ephesians 6:7-8  with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8  knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

VII. THE JOY OF LOVE - v.12a. "REJOICING IN HOPE." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7  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. Love looks for the best and hopes for the best and that brings joy.

VIII. THE ENDURANCE OF LOVE v.12b. "PATIENT IN TRIBULATION". James 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a  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. 8  Love never fails. Love can see you through many hardships.

IX. THE PRAYERFULNESS OF LOVE v.12c. "CONTINUING STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER." Love should cause us to pray for those we care about. Colossians 4:2  Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 1 Thessalonians 5:15-17  See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16  Rejoice always, 17  pray without ceasing,

X. THE UNSELFISHNESS OF LOVE - v. 13a X. THE UNSELFISHNESS OF LOVE - v.13a. "DISTRIBUTING TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS." Love never lets a faithful brother go lacking. 1 John 3:16-18  By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17  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? 18  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. We must be hard working people in order to help others.

XI. THE WELCOME OF LOVE - v.13b. "GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY." "Hospitality" - "love of stranger" - (Vine). Heb. 13:2 - "Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." 1 Peter 4:8-10  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." 9  Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Love helps others.

DO YOU LOVE THE BRETHREN? Love of the brethren is not optional. 1 John 4:20-21  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. Love is necessary for our salvation. That is how important it is. 1 John 3:14  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. When is the last time that you told a brother or sister that you loved them? Better still when was the last time you showed your love for a brother or sister?

HAVE A LOVING WEEK