““The First Mile”The First Mile”Christ Connect Church (3-Nov-2013)Christ Connect Church (3-Nov-2013)

1 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth,Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.16 Let Your work appear to Your servants,

And Your glory to their children.17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon

us,And establish the work of our hands for us;

Yes, establish the work of our hands.

From “Psalm 90”From “Psalm 90”

“He’s going the extra mile…”

Before “going the extra mile”Before “going the extra mile”Matthew 5:41Matthew 5:41And whoever compels you to go one mile, And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with go with with him twowith him two

-““Going the extra mile” Going the extra mile” - The 1The 1stst mile can represent mile can represent dutyduty, the 2, the 2ndnd mile mile lovelove- We can only go the extra mile if we’ve done the We can only go the extra mile if we’ve done the first!first!

Before “going the extra mile”Before “going the extra mile”Romans 13:8a Romans 13:8a Owe no one anything except to love one anotherOwe no one anything except to love one another

-The 1The 1stst requirement requirement “owe no one anything” “owe no one anything” - meeting all our legal, ethical and social duties meeting all our legal, ethical and social duties

- Only after this is done can we go to the 2Only after this is done can we go to the 2ndnd “Love “Love one another” one another” - Christian love is inconsistent with the failure to Christian love is inconsistent with the failure to fulfil our duty first fulfil our duty first

Q. Am I guilty of “sloppy agape”?Q. Am I guilty of “sloppy agape”?1 John 3:18 NIV 1 John 3:18 NIV Dear children, Dear children, let us let us notnot love love with words or with words or speech but speech but with actions and in truthwith actions and in truth

-Biblical love is expressed in Biblical love is expressed in actionsactions, not just in , not just in words words

Q. Am I guilty of “sloppy agape”?Q. Am I guilty of “sloppy agape”?Ruth 1:14 Ruth 1:14 (Naomi & her daughters-in-law)(Naomi & her daughters-in-law)At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to herher mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her

- Orpah’s expression of love was a kiss Orpah’s expression of love was a kiss - Ruth’s expression is Ruth’s expression is in deedin deed, for she , for she stood by stood by NaomiNaomi

Q. Am I guilty of “sloppy agape”?Q. Am I guilty of “sloppy agape”?Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss (Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss (Luke 22:48Luke 22:48) )

- the outward expression of love the outward expression of love (a kiss) (a kiss) without without the corresponding action of love is the corresponding action of love is betrayalbetrayal

Q. Am I guilty of “sloppy agape”?Q. Am I guilty of “sloppy agape”?Proverbs 27:5-6 NIV Proverbs 27:5-6 NIV Better is open rebuke than hidden loveBetter is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds . Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy an enemy multiplies kissesmultiplies kisses

-Counterfeit love flatters with sweet words and Counterfeit love flatters with sweet words and kisses, but will betray us in a crisis kisses, but will betray us in a crisis - Genuine love will Genuine love will tell us the truth tell us the truth (even if it (even if it hurts). But this kind of love will not betray us later hurts). But this kind of love will not betray us later

1. Love “covers”, not covers up1. Love “covers”, not covers up1 Peter 4:8b1 Peter 4:8bLove will cover a multitude of sins Love will cover a multitude of sins

-Misunderstanding: Love “covers up” sin Misunderstanding: Love “covers up” sin

1. Love “covers”, not covers up1. Love “covers”, not covers up1 John 1:17 1 John 1:17 But if But if we walk in the light we walk in the light as as He is in the lightHe is in the light, we , we have have fellowshipfellowship with one another, and the blood of with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sinJesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin

-True fellowship is only possible in the light True fellowship is only possible in the light - “ “God is light” God is light” (1 John 1:5) (1 John 1:5) and “God is love” and “God is love” (1 (1 John 4:8) John 4:8) - God’s love is not separate from God’s light. God’s love is not separate from God’s light. - The blood of Jesus doesn’t cleanse in the dark The blood of Jesus doesn’t cleanse in the dark

2. Excellence is Virtue2. Excellence is Virtue2 Peter 1:5-7 paraphrase 2 Peter 1:5-7 paraphrase Make every effort to add to your faith Make every effort to add to your faith virtuevirtue, then , then knowledge, then self-control, then perseverance, knowledge, then self-control, then perseverance, then godliness, then brotherly kindness and then then godliness, then brotherly kindness and then lovelove

- Biblical love needs an orderly foundationBiblical love needs an orderly foundation

2. Excellence is Virtue2. Excellence is Virtue2 Peter 1:5-7 paraphrase 2 Peter 1:5-7 paraphrase Make every effort to add to your faith Make every effort to add to your faith virtuevirtue

-VirtueVirtue (Greek: (Greek: aretéareté) – ) – excellenceexcellence or or efficiencyefficiency- In any job or line-of-work, a Christian should In any job or line-of-work, a Christian should excel in his service, be more faithful, more reliable excel in his service, be more faithful, more reliable and more efficientand more efficient

3. Family comes first3. Family comes first1 Timothy 5:8 1 Timothy 5:8 But if But if anyone does not provide for his ownanyone does not provide for his own, and , and especially for those of his household, he has especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbelieverdenied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever

-Means more than just physical needs (food, Means more than just physical needs (food, clothing, shelter, etc.) clothing, shelter, etc.) - Husbands and fathers should model Christ’s love Husbands and fathers should model Christ’s love for the church (for the church (Ephesians 5:25-28Ephesians 5:25-28) )

3. Family comes first3. Family comes firstEphesians 6:4 NIV Ephesians 6:4 NIV FathersFathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, , do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them bring them up in the training up in the training and and instruction of instruction of the Lordthe Lord

- A father should teach spiritual truths to his family A father should teach spiritual truths to his family - He is both God’s He is both God’s prophetprophet and and priestpriest to his family to his family and and these duties require time and commitmentthese duties require time and commitment! !

““Open Rebuke is Better…”Open Rebuke is Better…”

1.1. Is there any biblical and social duty that I’m not Is there any biblical and social duty that I’m not fulfilling to do? Am I loving in deeds? fulfilling to do? Am I loving in deeds?

2.2. Do I use “love” as a cover-up for sin? Do I use “love” as a cover-up for sin?

3.3. Can my family and friends tell me truthfully Can my family and friends tell me truthfully that I have virtue (excellence) in my life? that I have virtue (excellence) in my life?

““Open Rebuke is Better…”Open Rebuke is Better…”

4.4. Am I neglecting my duties to my immediate Am I neglecting my duties to my immediate family – especially in the fatherly roles of family – especially in the fatherly roles of prophet and priest? prophet and priest?

5.5. Do I strive for the best “first mile” to exalt Do I strive for the best “first mile” to exalt Jesus in the “second”? Jesus in the “second”?