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PUTTING JESUS FIRST BY LOVING EACH OTHER!.
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Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Putting Jesus First!
John 13:35 (NKJV)“By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.” Putting Jesus First!
1 John 4:20 (NKJV)“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? Putting Jesus First!
1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NKJV)“Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armour, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.” Putting Jesus First!
1. We need to love each other as our own soul. • In this passage of Scripture we see Jonathan being drawn to David to the point that he wanted to knit his soul (his life) with his life. • In this moment Jonathan is handing over the right to the throne to David. Putting Jesus First!
This Old Testament story contrasts Saul and David. • Saul does not want a covenant with David; he just wants to use him. When the maidens begin to sing he is filled with jealously and feels that his throne is threatened. • Whilst Jonathan is a picture of a covenant brother, Saul is a picture of a superficial friend. Putting Jesus First!
2. We should cover each other from exposure. • Jonathan gave David his robe. This signifies a covering. He is saying to his friend, 'David, I will not expose you. Your secrets are safe with me. I will not tell others of your weaknesses'. • Covenant people do not expose the weaknesses of their brothers. Putting Jesus First!
3. We should protect each other from danger. • Jonathan gave David his armour; by doing so he became dependent on David to protect him. • We no longer fight our battles alone. Putting Jesus First!
4. We should never attack each other. • Jonathan gave David his sword. This signifies that covenant brothers are disarmed. They do not carry weapons among each other. • They are committed never to harm each other in word or deed. The sword should only be used against the attacks of our spiritual enemy. Putting Jesus First!
5. We should provide for each others needs. • Jonathan gave David his bow. The bow was not only used in battle but also for hunting. • In other words through their covenant Jonathan was promising to David that he would help to provide for his needs. Putting Jesus First!
6. We should strengthen our Brothers & Sisters • Finally Jonathan gave David his belt. The belt speaks of support & truth. • A warrior's belt supported his back and held his outer garments in place. • As Jonathan's armour-bearer said to him, 'Do all that is in your heart, here I am with you.' (1Sam14.7). Putting Jesus First!
The belt holds all the other things in place. It represents truth (Ephesians 6). • It you walk in the truth all your weapons will function correctly. • By giving David his belt he was saying to David I am here as a brother to always help you walk in the truth! • Let us put Jesus first by loving each other! Putting Jesus First!
