The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
I’m Trevor Lund of https://RevTrev.com and the Founder of Live LIGHT Academy on https://LiveLIGHT.ca. You can connect with me easily any time that works for both of us by going to https://TrevorLund.com. This is the Live LIGHT LOOP for Friday December 16, 2022
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take His yoke that is easy and burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living light. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.
The Live LIGHT Academy has books and courses and resources and community and coaching to help not conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.Learn more and sign up at http://livelight.ca/
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
I’m Trevor Lund of https://RevTrev.com and the Founder of Live LIGHT Academy on https://LiveLIGHT.ca. You can connect with me easily any time that works for both of us by going to https://TrevorLund.com. This is the Live LIGHT LOOP for Friday December 9, 2022
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
About Live LIGHT
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take His yoke that is easy and burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living light. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.
The Live LIGHT Academy has books and courses and resources and community and coaching to help not conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.Learn more and sign up at http://livelight.ca/
Soul Seers is one book that I would recommend to all fantasy readers. 👉 Rida Hijab http://revtrev.link/SSS
Christi Connelly is an investigative reporter whose intuition leads to a story that reveals her past and points her to a potential destiny. Will she choose to embrace this destiny or will the paranormal assassin that pursues her across the globe and through parallel worlds succeed in his designs for her future?
This is one book that I would recommend to all fantasy readers.The secret society of soul seers will take you on an amazing adventure through time and space which will keep you at the edge of your seats and biting your nails till the very end. - Rida Hijab
Hi. My name it Trevor Lund and I am author of several books including the novel Soul Seers.
Christi Conelly is an investigative reporter whose intuition leads to a story that reveals her past, and points her to her potential destiny.
Will she chose to embrace her destiny or will the paranormal assassin that pursues her around the globe and through parallel worlds, succeed in his designs for her future?
If you enjoy your fantasy writing in worlds you have to explore, with characters you really hope for, this book is for you.
Oh, By the way. A publisher told me this book would send people to hell. I disagreed, and assumed they didn't like what I put the characters through. You can decide who's right when you pick up your copy of Soul Seers today.
Every day we are confronted with situations that require us to show patience. Whether it is in our relationships with family, friends, or colleagues, patience is a virtue that can be difficult to master. The Bible tells us to be patient with one another. It's not possible without Holy Spirit's help and the revelation of what Biblical Patience really is. Learn more in the message Biblical Patience and Why We Need to Have It
Listen to Biblical Patience and Why We Need to Have It
Watch Biblical Patience and Why We Need to Have It
TL/DL/DW
When I was a kid there was this album called Music Machine. It had a song on it that our parents would sing to us whenever we didn’t want to wait.
I sang it to my kids too. They would pretend to hate it like I did. But I have heard them singing it to each other to get a rise.
Here’s the song in CGI.
Have Patience - Music Machine
How many remembered that?
I suppose you can tell what we’re going to be talking about today.
I’ve got to tell you, sometimes you have to smile with God.
The first day in a long time I was late to church… the day I’m speaking on patience. I had to wait for you to get cupcakes… when the message was already preached about three times already today. I’ve started a new job, and need to wait for a new computer before I have access to everything. God won’t let me teach on anything I am not currently re-learning. I need to live it out before I can declare it out.
Scripture tells us to be patient with one another.
Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Can we pray?
We know we should be patient in trouble…
Romans 12:10-12 NLT Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
We know God is patient with us…
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
I trust we know patient isn’t something we can will ourselves to be.
Colossians 1:10-12 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.
We may think we know everything about being patient and having patience… and that is the problem.
The problem with Patience
There is a problem with patience and it’s not the song.
As Christians we seem to to accept a Stoic view of patience, not a biblical view of one.
Have you ever heard the joke - I’ve told the joke - “Never pray for patience, or else you’ll have to wait.” ?
That is not a biblical view of patience. It’s a Stoic view.
Stoicism was a School of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno in Athens early in the 3rd Century BC. It flourished throughout the Greek and Roman world until the end of the 3rd century AD. It experienced decline after Christianity became the state religion. Christian writers wrote things that Stoics would have loved. “Treat all hardship as discipline.” “The testing of your faith produces endurance.” “I have run the race, I have finished the course. “
Christianity co-opted Stoicism.
There is a difference between Christian thought and Stoic thought.
The difference was Christians focussed on the actions because of what Christ did, was doing and what would do. Stoics focussed on fundamental virtues.
For the Stoics, patience is a fundamental virtue – one that arises from, yet also sustains, the reasoned detachment crucial to Stoic ethics. Basically it’s a “suck it up, buttercup” approach. Deal with what you can deal with, don’t worry about things you can’t control.
Biblical patience isn’t that.
Yes, we are to treat all hardship as discipline, but it’s because we have a good father who disciplines us for our good and will work all things together for good.
Let’s look at Romans 5:1-5 and James 1:2-4 so you can see what I’m saying.
Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance (enduring patience or patience over time). And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
James 1:2-4 NLT Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance (enduring patience or patience over time) has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance (enduring patience or patience over time) is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
steadfastness/ constancy/ endurance/ patience/ is the same Greek word - hypomonÄ“ (hoo-pom-on-ay’)
Patience is the evidence of Holy Spirit’s working. Biblical patience is not a passive toleration of things we don’t like.
That is stoic philosophy not biblical patience.
Biblical patience defined in these verses is an “Unyielding, defiant perseverance in the face of aggressive misfortune and thus a kind of courageousness.”
Biblical patience is not a passive toleration of things we don’t like. Biblical patience is unyielding, defiant perseverance.
What does Biblical Patience mean to how we treat one another?
That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.
That’s how we’re to treat one another. Not passive toleration of one another, but unyielding defiant perseverance to see God finish the work He’s started in you and started in me.
If God is good and I can trust Him to finish the good work He’s started in me, I can trust Him to be good and finish the good work He’s started in you.
If you don’t think He’s going to finish the good work work He’s started in you, you need to stop and ask Him for the revelation of that truth today. Experience His grace for you, and realize His grace flows through you to others.
Patience is not passive toleration of things we don’t like.
It’s not passive toleration of sin or selfishness.
Patience is TENACITY
Patience is…
T - The authentication of love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
E - Evidence of Holy Spirit working. Galatians 5:22
N - Never not forgiving. Colossians 3:12-13
A - Always being slow to anger. James 1:19-22
C - Correcting and encouraging. 2 Timothy 4:2
I - Inviting and extending peace. Isaiah 26:3
T - Thanksgiving not complaining. Philippians 4:6
Y - Yielding to God’s timing. James 5:7-8
T - The authentication of love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
Agapeo - this kind of love is choice. We are to do everything in love 1 Corinthians 16:14
When we are patient with each other we are showing love to each other. You’re not showing love if you’re not showing patience.
Am I choosing to love when it’s difficult to love?
E - Evidence of Holy Spirit working. Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23
Biblical patience is not something you can work up in yourself. It’s Holy Spirit work in you. We can all be patient for so long… if we assume patience is the passive toleration of things we don’t like.
But Biblical patience is unyielding, defiant perseverance. It’s not something that we can work up in our own, apart of Holy Spirit’s work in us. It’s a fruit that grows. Our role is to not stop it from growing. He will finish the good work He’s started in you. (Philippians 1:6)
Am I more or less patient than I was in the past?
N - Never not forgiving. Colossians 3:12-13
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:12-13
You can’t be patient and not be forgiving. When we have patience for each other we forgive one another. You need to know, you can forgive with your whole heart. (Matthew 18:21-35). That means you make the decision to forgive, you do some action to bless the one who cursed you, and you feel the freedom forgiveness brings. If you don’t feel like you’ve forgiven, we can help you allow Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of what your feelings show that you actually believe.
Is there anyone I need to forgive?
A - Always slow to anger. James 1:19-22
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:19-22
Proverbs 19:11 Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
We condemn anger in other people and justify it in ourselves. Anger isn’t sin, but it can lead to sin. We can’t be quick to anger and think that we are patient. Patience is not passive toleration of one another, but unyielding defiant perseverance to see God finish the work He’s started in each of us.
Have I been slow to anger lately?
C - Correcting and encouraging. 2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2
Have you ever had more patience for stranger than you have had for family members? We expect more from those who should know better. Being patient with everyone means not only our family, but other drivers in Edmonton. We can’t do this without Holy Spirit working in and through us.
Best way I’ve found to correct people is to ask questions. I learned this from my Uncle Gordon. He would ask “What do you think God thinks about that?” And “Is this going to matter in 100 years?” And you knew you were being corrected. And you knew you weren’t being condemned. It’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.
Look at Paul the questions he posses in his letters. Sure, some are sarcastic, some are rhetorical, but both of those types of questions can get us to stop and examine ourselves. When we ask questions we leave room for Holy Spirit to speak truth into their lives.
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Have I been asking questions or demanding conformity?
I - Inviting and extending peace
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3
Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea. Isaiah 48:18
Peace is proof of your authority.
We get peace by trusting God. When we trust God we know peace. When we don’t trust God there is no peace.
Peace begins between us and God. It flows from us to others and the situation.
We can speak peace to the storms in other people’s lives.
Did I tell you I had a self-proclaimed atheist come to me and ask me for prayer because she needed my peace?
You can’t have patience without peace. Patience without peace is passive toleration of things we don’t like. That is not biblical patience. Biblical patience is unyielding, defiant perseverance that comes alive in peace.
It’s not something we will in ourselves, but receive when we trust God is good and working all things together for good.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Do I have peace that passes understanding? Do others comment on my peace?
T - Thanksgiving not complaining. Philippians 4:6
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6
The journey of patience will be a short one, if we choose to complain instead of remembering to give thanks. We need to give thanks with our whole heart (Psalms 9:1). So that means we decide to be grateful, we do something to show appreciation, and we feel gratitude rise up in us… in no particular order. Gratitude is the attitude that makes patience last and extends patience out.
Do you want to lose patience? Start complaining. Do you want to show patience? Give thanks with your whole heart.
Have I been thanking or complaining?
Y - Yielding to God’s timing. James 5:7-8
James 5:7-8 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Patience is not - not putting the work in. The farmer needs to plough the fields and to sow the seed. When we do our part we wait with expectation for God do His part.
Patience is not inaction.
When that comes to others, we have to remember - sometimes we plant, sometimes we water, sometimes we harvest where we haven’t planted or watered. It’s God who give the increase. He’s the one who is going to finish the good work He started in us. He’s the one who will finish the good work He’s started in others.
Be encouraged, in the waiting, with the Word. I feel someone needs to hear this verse today. You need to paste it on the mirror and memorize it.
Jeremiah 31:16-17 But now this is what the Lord says: “Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you,” says the Lord. “Your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy. There is hope for your future,” says the Lord. “Your children will come again to their own land.
Remember what Biblical patience is…“Unyielding, defiant perseverance in the face of aggressive misfortune and thus a kind of courageousness.” Some of you have given up on your kids or your grandkids.
Whenever you have to wait for God’s promises - whether it’s for your relationships or finances or health - strengthen yourself in the Lord. One way we do that is in waiting with the Word. If that verse doesn’t sing to you find, go into the book and read until one does. This word is life.
Have I been patient with God’s timing?
Conclusion
Have you been passively tolerating things you don’t like thinking you were being patient?
Remember - Patience is unyielding, defiant perseverance.
When we are patient with each other we realize God is going to finish the good work He’s started in each of us. So we don’t need to demand our own way or insist on our preferences.
Remember Patience is TENACITY
T - The authentication of love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
Am I choosing to love when it’s difficult to love?
E - Evidence of Holy Spirit working. Galatians 5:22
Am I more or less patient than I was in the past?
N - Never not forgiving. Colossians 3:12-13
Is there anyone I need to forgive?
A - Always being slow to anger. James 1:19-22
Have I been slow to anger lately?
C - Correcting and encouraging. 2 Timothy 4:2
Have I been asking questions or demanding conformity?
I - Inviting and extending peace. Isaiah 26:3
Do I have peace that passes understanding? Do others comment on my peace?
T - Thanksgiving not complaining. Philippians 4:6
Have I been thanking or complaining?
Y - Yielding to God’s timing. James 5:7-8
Have I been patient with God’s timing?
Closing blessing
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
The Live LIGHT Academy has books and courses and resources and community and coaching to help not conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.Learn more and sign up at http://livelight.ca
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
What’s in the Works
Conversation Cafe, Prayer Time, Coaching and Group Coaching… stay tuned.
Biblical Hospitality. In a world that is so full of hate and division, it's important to remember what the Bible tells us about hospitality. By being hospitable to one another and to strangers, we can help to create a more loving and accepting world. This is especially important today, when there are so many people who are feeling lost and alone. By reaching out with kindness and warmth, we can make a real difference in the lives of others. Learn how to practice Biblical hospitality in the message Biblical Hospitality Today
I went to my UPS store a couple of weeks ago and got in a conversation with the owner. He asked me how I was doing and I told him about how I’m enjoying visiting people on their work sites. He’s from China and told me the town that he’s from never sleeps, but in your neighbourhood you know everybody and their business. You share food and meals and you take care of each other when they’re sick. Since moving to Edmonton he doesn’t know his neighbours and so he sees why the service I get to do is so valuable. I told him about another friend from Ethiopia. He said they don’t have doctors or psychologist or coaches, they have coffee. And coffee takes four hours. If you have coffee a couple times a day, all your problems find a solution. We both agreed that in Edmonton we drive home and park in our garage and don’t really see our neighbours until spring, we need to make our own communities.
Don’t worry, I heard what he was saying. He’s the reason I still have my mailbox at that UPS store.
Today we’re going to look at Biblical Hospitality.
Can I pray?
In a world that is so full of hate and division, and snow and garage doors - it's important to remember what the Bible tells us about hospitality.
By being hospitable to one another and to strangers, we can be blessed by blessing others and be refreshed by refreshing others. Others need to be blessed and refreshed. This is especially important today, when there are so many people who are feeling lost and alone. By reaching out with kindness and warmth and real friendship, we can make a real difference in the lives of each other and others.
We need to treat strangers as family. That’s a big part of Biblical hospitality. But the Bible also tells us to to be hospitable to one another without complaining. (1 Peter 4:9)
What is hospitality?
PHILOXENOS Strong's Number: 5382
Given to hospitality, generosity towards guests, love towards strangers.
Why practice Biblical hospitality?
We are told to show hospitality to strangers
Hebrews 13:2 HCSB Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.
PHILOXENOS is also used to describe how we’re to treat one another.
Romans 12:13 HCSB Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
We practice hospitality because that’s what God wants us to do. He has created us to be in community. We need to know we matter to each other.
Define the problem
We live in a world where winter roads and cold weather keeps us from naturally getting together. We’ve been in isolation for so long, it’s strange to get back to opening up our house. We don’t know what someone would like or what nut will kill someone else. Some people are vegans, some are vegetarian some are pescatarian or practices paleo and still others have religious requirements for food and drink. What pronouns do people want to be referred by?
It’s not so easy to get together as it once was.
Does this really matter?
We also live in world where people are lonely and alone. Biblical hospitality is the natural God-given solution to this epidemic of loneliness in our world.
We need to practice biblical hospitality with one another and strangers.
What you need to know
Secret for all the “One Another” Commands in Scripture to treat everyone as a friend. If you consider each other as friends, you will naturally do all the one another commands that we find in scripture. This is especially true when we talk about showing hospitality to one another.
How to Practice Biblical Hospitality Tool
BEFRIEND
B - Be Intentional
E - Embrace Generosity
F - Follow Compassion
R - Remember to be positive
I - Invest in Honour
E - Embrace strangers as family
N - Nourish friendship by accepting hospitality
D - Depend on Grace
B - Be Intentional
Biblical hospitality comes from love.
1 Peter 4:8-9 HCSB Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Love = Agapeo (the love that is a decision)
We make a mistake when we think hospitality is gift. Some people want to have others around. It’s their personality, not a spiritual gift. Even people who like having people over will tell you it takes work. It’s not always easy. You have to put yourself out.
I can’t find PHILOXENOS in the imperative. It’s an adjective and a noun. It means we’re never commanded to practice hospitality. It’s an invitation to a way of life. I think that’s kind of cool.
Hospitality is not a gift. In scripture it’s assumed we would be hospitable. Even if it was a gift, we’d have assumed responsibility to show hospitality to each other (1 Peter 4:9) and strangers (Hebrews 13:2).
Tip:
Biblical hospitality is intentional hospitality.
Intentional Hospitality is kind and sensitive to others’ needs. It focuses on what guests want, so they feel at home rather than just providing a place for them to come without any regard. It welcomes the guest into your space and welcomes them into your life. Being intentional with your guest creates an atmosphere that will nurture your guest and make them feel like they belong.
Do I intentionally practice Biblical hospitality?
E - Embrace Generosity
Biblical hospitality is an attitude of generosity.
Proverbs 11:25 NLT The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Biblical hospitality can be uncomfortable for us. We want to make the other person comfortable. This means we serve food that they will eat and provide drink that they will enjoy.
We need to decide how generous we can be.
Need an example?
What if you don’t drink alcohol but know your guest likes to imbibe?
I don’t drink but when we had our neighbours over, we had a bottle of wine for him. After we got to know them better, I explained why don’t drink alcohol and why I have no problem if he wants to.
Tip:
Biblical hospitality doesn’t have to be elaborate to be effective, but it does need to be generous. We need to be generous with our time and generous with our attention.
Am I being generous with my time and my home?
F - Follow Compassion
Biblical hospitality means we follow where our compassion takes us.
Matthew 9:36-38 HCSB When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
We all have the need to be seen, to be heard, to be known, to be honoured and respected. When we are led by compassion it’s so easy to provide this to others.
Tip:
Be led by compassion, not guilt or shame. The difference is obvious. Guilt or shame will lead you to feeling busy. Compassion fills you with love.
Have I turned off my compassion or am I led by it?
R - Remember to be positive
Biblical hospitality builds everyone up.
Romans 1:11-12 HCSB For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
Have you ever experienced untouchable hospitality? Untouchable is defined as inaccessible, unapproachable, inconvenient, unattainable, unavailable, and unreachable.
Have you ever gone for coffee with someone and they keep checking their phone? Have you ever come in for a visit right during a fight? Have you ever felt you were putting someone out having you there?
I tend to be in theses situations more than most people I talk with. Take my advice when it happens…
My policy is “I came. I saw. I made it more awkward.” Sometimes that’s just what you need to turn those situations around.
If you’ve felt people felt that towards you, you know you never want to have others feel that.
You can’t be that way when you practice biblical hospitality.
Ephesians 4:29 NLT Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Tip:
When we refresh others, we are refreshed. When we bless others we get blessed.
Am I building the others up?
I - Invest in Honour
Biblical hospitality creates safe space for others to be the themselves.
1 Peter 2:17 HCSB Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor.
How do you honour when you want to show hospitality?
4 Tips:
1. Get to know your guest even before they walk through your door. This way you have something to talk about when they arrive. It also saves you from being blindsided.
2. Make your home welcoming with a place to sit and talk and welcome them - learn the names of their family members.
3. Talk about them more than yourself. Ask questions. Don’t be drilling with your questions, but ask questions to learn about your guest.
4. Find out ahead of time a food item that they love and try to have that prepared for them.
My wife is so good at this. She’ll ask about allergies and preferences. I tend to stick to coffee.
Am I honouring the ones I show hospitality to?
E - Embrace strangers as family
Biblical hospitality treats strangers as family.
Luke 14:12-14 HCSB He also said to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbours, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Have you ever had someone invite you to be part of their family? It’s usually not so much in those words. I’ve had a couple of Muslim men address me as “My brother” and that’s been amazing for me. I want others to know they’re part of my family as well.
Listen to this story I found on showing hospitality to strangers.
Do all things in love. Don’t do it to look good. Don’t do it to have great stories. Do it in love.
The question we can ask ourselves is:
Is what I’m doing rooted in love for God and for others?
N - Nourish friendship by accepting hospitality
Biblical hospitality allows others to serve us.
Mark 2:15 HCSB While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him.
When Jesus sent His disciples to the towns of Judea, He basically told them “find a person of peace and let them serve you.” It’s a secret to reaching those who want to connect with us.
We know it’s easier to give than receive (Acts 20:35), and often the most awkward thing to do it accept an invite into the unknown.
Sometimes it’s a response to reciprocity. When you have someone over, they want to have you over. Sometimes it’s out of the blue. Pay attention to when it’s out of the blue. Let them serve you.
Tip:
Don’t expect anyone to be a perfect host, try to be a perfect guest. Talk about them and their family and interests.
How to we graciously receive hospitality?
In the New Testament, Jesus practiced hospitality and he received it. He practiced hospitality when he fed the 5,000 and 7,000. He received hospitality when He ate with sinners and tax collectors.
Accepting their hospitality was not just about sharing a meal, it was a way of identifying with them and making them a part of his community—a point the Pharisees both understood and reviled.
Am I accepting hospitality offered to me?
D - Depend on Grace
Biblical hospitality builds trust and breaks down walls.
1 Peter 4:10-12 HCSB Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Grace is God’s empowering for us to do what we can’t do on our own. He empowers us to accomplish every good work prompted by faith.
When you invite people into your space, you build trust, respect and break down walls. This kind of vulnerability paves the way for lasting community one tiny stepping stone at a time. He empowers you to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. 2 Thessalonians 1:11
Tip:
Know how to know you’re practicing biblical hospitality
How do you know you’re showing biblical hospitality? You do it without complaining.
1 Peter 4:9 HCSB Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Am I doing this on my own strength or relying on God’s empowerment?
Practice Biblical Hospitality Tool
BEFRIEND
B - Be Intentional
Biblical hospitality comes from love. 1 Peter 4:8-9
Do I intentionally practice Biblical hospitality?
E - Embrace Generosity
Biblical hospitality is an attitude of generosity. Proverbs 11:25
Am I being generous with my time and my home?
F - Follow Compassion
Biblical hospitality means we follow were our compassion takes us. Matthew 9:36-38
Have I turned off my compassion or am I led by it?
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
The Live LIGHT LOOP celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/
Honour One Another. In the Bible, we're told to honour all people. But what does this mean? How can we honour someone who is different from us, or who has done something that we don't agree with? It's not always easy to honour those closest to us. We may not like them, or agree with them. But honouring one another is something that God calls us to do. Learn how you can honour one another in this message.
Have you ever found it difficult to honour someone?
If you haven’t, you haven’t lived long enough knowing that when you follow Christ, it means you’re called to honour all people.
That doesn’t mean we don’t confront things that hurt others or keep them from finding God. Jesus did that when he cleansed the temple… twice. John records the first time he took his time to make a whip and chase everyone out of the court of the gentiles - which was the place non-jewish people could seek God. He said,
John 2:16 NLT Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
Temple’s Court of the Gentiles had very recently—perhaps as recently as A. D. 30—also been made available for such commerce; it appears that Caiaphas, the current High Priest, was responsible for this development.
Jesus was not confronting an ancient custom, but to an innovation introduced by the leader of those who opposed him
Matthew, Mark and Luke record the time Jesus did it again, during the passover when he would die.
Look at how each writer describes the event.
All three mention Jesus’ language was a little more harsh. Let me give you what Mark writes. Mark tells us after the triumphal entry he looked around and went back to Bethany because it was already late in the afternoon. The next morning on the way back to the temple, he cursed the fig tree.
Mark 11:17 NLT He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
That’s more aggressive than the first time. It was intentional. It was strategic. It was to make a point. It wan’t enough for the Romans to come in force and put down an uprising, it was enough to get himself killed.
Mark 11:12 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.
Money changers were people who performed a needed service, but everyone knew they were cheats. Money with the face of a foreign god, or emperor made God, was not acceptable for the temple of YHWH. But you know - even today - you lose percentage coming and going. It was worse at the temple.
The ones selling doves…doves were the offering of the ones who couldn’t afford more. And Jesus was flipping over their chairs calling them a bunch of thieves.
Matthew mentions after this that
Matthew 21:14 The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.
So he comes in intentionally. He targets what offends God. And then He starts healing people who were there to beg from others.
Then the teachers and leaders were indignant enough to come to him and tell him to stop what the children were saying.
Matthew 21:15-17 NLT The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”
But the leaders were indignant. They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.
Luke makes it clear that these events - the triumphal entry, the flipping over tables that confronted the ruling of Caiaphas, and the praise even from children for what He had done…these things help push Jewish leaders to kill Jesus.
Luke 19:47-48 After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.
So Jesus cleared them out with a whip at the start of His ministry, now at the end of His ministry He returns on a donkey and they lay palm branches and coats down. Then he comes in and starts flipping the tables, begins healing people and confronts the ones who want to confront him.
Why would I start a message called “Honour One Another” by looking at Jesus cleansing the temple?
That’s a great question. I asked it myself many times this week.
I was wrestling with this sermon for a while.
You see, I wanted to talk about how Jesus honoured his disciples when he cleaned them with His words.
I wanted to say, “Jesus honoured all people”. But I couldn’t get off my image of him cleansing the temple.
How is that Jesus honouring others?
Maybe a better question is WHO was Jesus honouring?
The first time John records, Jesus took the time to make the whip. It was intentional and strategic. It was the first passover at the start of His ministry and He sent a message to Caiaphas, and everyone who felt excluded by the High Priest’s new way of doing things.
The second time. It was also intentional, it was also strategic. Jesus left in the afternoon and came back the next day. Jesus was on God’s timetable. It was that passover he needed to die.
His ministry was only three years long. The Passover in the middle, he was in Galilee - walking on water and feeding the five thousand. He was far away from Jerusalem because it wasn’t his time.
I was thinking his cleansing of the temple was a spur of the moment reaction to injustice. NO
First off, anger isn’t sin. We’re told to not sin in our anger. Ephesians 4:26 It’s OK to be offended by what offends God, because what offends God is anything that hurts us or draws us away from him or keeps others from finding him. That’s the definition of sin, anything that hurts us, or draws us away from him or keeps others from finding him…basically anything that hurts us or hurts others.
We’re to confront sin, not opinions we disagree with.
The court of the gentiles was the closest place non-jewish people could get to God. And people who cheated others, did their business there. They cut off people’s access to God by what they did and where they were.
Jesus was honouring the Father when he intentionally and strategically cleansed the temple both times.
We may think we are honouring others by not confronting sin, but most the time we’re excusing ourselves from the tough conversations.
I want to have those conversation in relationship. I want to speak the truth in love. But I also teach how to honour when you excommunicate people and hand them over to satan, so, they can be taught not to blaspheme.
When we honour one another we need to honour God first. If we don’t honour God, the honour we show others, can seem a lot like blowing smoke.
Who we are to Honour
It’s easy for us to honour the honourable. We come by it naturally to esteem those worthy of respect.
But specifically , we’re told to honour our parents (Exodus 20:12) our wife (1 Peter 3:7), widows (1 Timothy 5:3 ), one another (Romans 12:10) , all people and kings and everyone in authority (1 Peter 2:17).
These people may not be worthy of honour.
Peter wrote we should honour kings and the king he wrote about who would have him executed.
You may have people who should be worthy of honour treat you without honour.
Our prime minister has labeled my views as extremist. I still need to honour him. Do you know how difficult it is NOT to share some memes and articles at times?
It’s tough to honour people who have chosen to treat you dishonourably
It’s easier to see the dishonourable the closer we are to them.
Jesus said only in his home town is a prophet without honour (Mark 6:1-6).
We judge those we know the best, the most harshly.
Does this really matter?
That’s another great question, I’m so glad you asked.
Yes it matters. Because one of the One Another commands in scripture is for us to honour one another above ourselves (Romans 12:10).
We live in a world that any conversation can devolve into an argument. Even the most trivial statements have people passionately fighting for it and against it. People are offended and highly offendable. And it’s not just in the world, it’s always - in my lifetime - been in the church.
We just don’t honour the ones who don’t do anything ever to upset us. We need to honour the ones God has put us together with, and as you know… life gets messy.
We see each other’s warts. We see the mistakes. We have a history with each other. And most of us, most the time, could honestly say “It takes less to tick me off (I’m sorry - ‘trigger me’) than it used to.”
And we need to honour one another above ourselves.
What does that look like? How can we practically do it?
Let’s see if can follow the example of Christ.
Jesus honoured his disciples…even when they did things that likely embarrass him.
Johns records, In the last time of teaching his disciples that Jesus talks about the vine and branches.
Cleaned disciples with His word
John 15:1-3 HCSB
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Let’s see how He used his words to trim back growth that not in line with his will.
James and John calling down fire;
Luke 9:51-56
As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village.
Some manuscripts add an expanded conclusion to verse 55 and an additional sentence in verse 56: And he said, “You don’t realize what your hearts are like. 56 For the Son of Man has not come to destroy people’s lives, but to save them.”
We don’t know how Jesus rebuked them, but The Chosen series has a scene how it might have gone down…
[[Sons of Thunder video]]
Trim: Jesus rebuked them. He cleansed them with his word.
Or the time James and John asked to sit at right and left;
[[Request of James and John]]
Trim: the greatest among you needs to be the servant of all
Thomas doubting
[[Doubting Thomas]]
Trim: Blessed are those who do not see yet still believe
Peter Rebuking
Peter has the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, and 5 verses later is telling Jesus that He is wrong about being crucified. He agrees with Satan’s temptation to take the easy way out, don’t go through the cross. Jesus’ words were harsh, but most times we’re trimmed it seems harsh.
Trim: Get behind me Satan!
Jesus cleansed them, cleaned them, trimmed them with his word.
The good news is he cleanses us with His word as well. You and I can become less offended by others as we hear Him speak in His word and His presence.
Have you been spending time in His word?
Have you been spending time in his presence?
I find I don’t when I’m living offended at Him. But that’s not the point of the message today, just a little something to prick the conscious. Maybe Holy Spirit will us it to “Trim”
Today, I want to get to how we can practically and with Holy Spirit’s help Honour One Another.
How to Honour One Another
Holy Spirit empowers us to Honour all people. We can’t do it without His help. We can’t even honour one another without him empowering us to accomplish every good work prompted by faith.
Honour One Another Tool - LISTEN
The challenge: we talk at about 225 words/minute. We can listen at 500 words/minute. Our minds fill in the other 275 words if we’re not intentional and strategic.
The good news is you don’t have worry about showing someone you’re paying attention, if in fact you are paying attention. If you can do 1 of these things in your next conversation, you’ll start having better conversations.
L - Learn to be present Romans 12:10
I - Ignore pontification Proverbs 27:14
S - Segue with open questions Ephesians 4:29
T - Tune into Holy Spirit Galatians 5:25
E - Enjoy the interaction Romans 1:12
N - Nurture amazement 1 Thessalonians 5:11
L - Learn to be present
Romans 12:10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.
Be present. Be in that moment. Don’t be half in it and half out of it.
Tip:
Put down the phone. Turn off notifications. Don’t walk away until conversation is over. You’re not listening if your down the hall doing something that popped into your head. If you can’t be present, reschedule.
Can I be present for this conversation?
I - Ignore pontification
Proverbs 27:14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!
You may know more than the person you’re talking to could ever know about a topic. Don’t pontificate. Assume you have something to learn. People don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.
Tip:
“True listening involves the setting aside of oneself” M Scott Peck
Can I keep my mouth shut and let them speak?
S - Segue with open questions
Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Have you ever noticed how many questions Jesus asked? Even though Jesus knew all things (John 16:30)—including people’s hearts (John 2:24–25)—he still asked over 300 questions in the Gospels.
What do you want me to do for you? (Matt 20:32).
Do you believe I can do this? (Matt 9:28).
Do you not yet understand? (Matt 16:8).
Why were you looking for me? (Luke 2:49).
What are you thinking in your hearts? (Luke 5:22).
How is it that you seek praise from one another and not seek the praise that comes from God? (John 5:44).
As Stephen Covey observed,
“Most people don’t listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”
Don’t assume your experience is there experience. It tends to shut people down. Segue withopen-ended questions.
Tip:
Complicated questions bring back simple answers. Simple questions bring more thoughtful responses.
“How did you feel?” vs “You must have been terrified.”
How can I draw them out?
T - Tune into Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Be led by compassion. Ask yourself and Holy Spirit - What does God love about them?
Encourage them with what your compassion unlocks.
Tip:
Go with the flow. Don’t hold onto a question for a part of the conversation that’s been moved on from.
What does God love about them?
E - Enjoy the interaction
Romans 1:12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
People respond to being heard. We like being seen and validated. It’s a joy to see the other enjoy the conversation.
Tip:
Stay out of the weeds. You can fact check later.
Try not to repeat yourself. It’s condescending and boring.
If you don’t know, say that you don’t know. Talk should not be cheap.
Do they seem to be enjoying the conversation?
N - Nurture amazement
1 Thessalonians 5:11
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Be teachable. Be brief. Be interested in the other. Be prepared to be amazed. You’ll be encouraged as you encourage others, you’ll be blessed as you bless others.
Tip:
Seek to understand, not just be understood.
What have I learned and experienced?
It takes effort and energy to pay attention to someone. But if you can’t do that you’re not in a conversation, you’re just two people talking out barely related sentences in the same place.
L - Learn to be presentCan I be present for this conversation?
I - Ignore pontificationCan I keep my mouth shut and let them speak?
S - Segue with open questions How can I draw them out?
T - Tune into Holy Spirit What does God love about them?
E - Enjoy the interaction Do they seem to be enjoying the conversation?
N - Nurture amazement What have I learned and experienced?
If you can focus on one of these things, you’ll be having better conversations. You’ll be learning how to practically and powerfully Honour One Another. Try it out before we leave today.
Can I pray?
Blessing
Romans 15:5-6 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
