1. The Relationship Principles of Jesus Mount Olivet Baptist Church Adolphus C. Lacey, Senior Pastor 1

2. Relationship Principle #5 As You Judge, You Will Be Judged Last Week’s Memory Verse Matthew 23:11-12 “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” 2

3. Relationship Principle #6 Treat Others As You Have Them Treat You Memory Verse Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” 3

4. I. The Big Question We have come to call the words in Luke 6:31 the Golden Rule. “How do I get my needs met in this relationship?” The answer: “I must give myself to meeting the needs of others if I am to get my needs met!” 4

5. I. The Big Question The meaning of the Golden Rule is seen best in the way we choose to relate to one another. When it comes to this issue of getting our needs met in a relationship, we often play by rules different from the Golden Rule. 5

6. I. The Big Question One of our relational rules is the Reciprocal Rule. We also have the Ricochet Rule. Then we have the Hidden Motive Rule. 6

7. I. The Big Question All of our games and rules pale alongside the simple words of Jesus. The Message paraphrase of the Bible states it, “Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them” (Matthew 7:12). 7

8. I.The Big Question 8 How do you begin to live this rule in your relationships? You must deal with what you do when your needs are not being met You must deal with what you do when your needs are not being met. Ask what you want people to do for you, then do it for them. Ask what you want people to do for you, then do it for them.

9. I. The Big Question What about when neither person wants to meet the other’s need? ◦You can begin by thanking God for the other person. ◦Your heart is open to meet other’s needs when you are thankful for them.

10. I. Love Is Sacrificial The Golden Rule is a picture of the true nature of love. Love is not reciprocal; love is sacrificial. Love is not reciprocal; love is sacrificial. Love gives itself without waiting for others to give. Love gives itself without waiting for others to give.

11. I. Love is Sacrificial It is difficult to love like this. It is hard enough to love your friends – not to mention your enemies. What you cannot do in your strength you can do through the strength that God alone can give. What you cannot do in your strength you can do through the strength that God alone can give.

12. I. Love is Sacrificial See Luke 6:35 “Your rewards from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High”

13. I. Love is Sacrificial “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” ◦I am not only to think about how I want to be treated; I am to look at how God treats people.” It will take a conscious decision to act towards others the way God acts toward me. It will take a conscious decision to act towards others the way God acts toward me. This kind of love will change the world. This kind of love will change the world.

14. I. Love is Sacrificial How can you take the Golden Rule from platitude to attitude? How can you take the Golden Rule from platitude to attitude? ◦Someone has to give you the power.  Jesus provides the open door and the power. ◦You must a decision to take the first step  Take the first step & watch what Jesus can do in your life.  But until you trust Jesus with your fears, you are not going anywhere.  If you never take the first step, you will not experience how much greater His love truly is.

15. II. Love Your Enemies See Luke 6:32-35: If you act in love toward only those who love you, you are not doing anything extraordinary. If you act in love toward only those who love you, you are not doing anything extraordinary. The first and greatest command is to love God. The first and greatest command is to love God. The second commandment is to love your neighbor. The second commandment is to love your neighbor.

16. II. Love Your Enemies The new command is to love one another. The new command is to love one another. And the Golden Rule means you love even your enemies. And the Golden Rule means you love even your enemies. To love your enemies really widens the arch of your love. To love your enemies really widens the arch of your love.

17. II. Love Your Enemies Love does not mean like See Matthew 5:38-42: “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,” or “Treat others as you would have them treat you” – two very different ways of life. “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,” or “Treat others as you would have them treat you” – two very different ways of life. Right a wrong not by revenge but follow the Golden Rule. Right a wrong not by revenge but follow the Golden Rule.

18. The Golden Rule is a decision for Vulnerable Love Do not choose revenge, choose love. Do not choose revenge, choose love. Generous Love Value relationships over possessions. Value relationships over possessions. Sacrificial Love When an opponent tries to take from you, decide to give to them. When an opponent tries to take from you, decide to give to them. Practical Love Choose to act in radical love, even if they treat you as an enemy. Choose to act in radical love, even if they treat you as an enemy. See Matthew 5:44-45 See Matthew 5:44-45

19. Practical Love Forget the Ideal, Go for the Real The goal of love is seeing God at work in our real lives. The goal of love is seeing God at work in our real lives. Idealized images keep us from what God wants to do in our relationships. Idealized images keep us from what God wants to do in our relationships. We always have less than the ideal – so we are never satisfied. We always have less than the ideal – so we are never satisfied. We know we cannot reach the ideal – so we just give up. We know we cannot reach the ideal – so we just give up.

20. Practical Love We make an idol out of the ideal. See Romans 12:1 Love now! Stop waiting for some ideal vision and just begin to love. Love now! Stop waiting for some ideal vision and just begin to love. The circumstances of your life are not perfect. The circumstances of your life are not perfect. You are not perfect. You are not perfect. The people you love are not perfect. The people you love are not perfect. But God is perfect. But God is perfect.