ABOVE ALL love each other deeply

The instruction is given IN 1 Peter 4:8 is ABOVE ALL love each other deeply

since love covers over a multitude of sins

The second part of the verse explains how it is possible to continue in love

TO COVER the MULTITUDE of sins

The inference to draw is those around us will sin and we need to cover the sins.

God will work it out as we are all a work in progress.

Our responsibility is to continue to love with the Agape AND to cover the sins.

Covering is the opposite of exposing - exposing means we bring it out in the open by even talking to so many others about it and we even pronounce what the enemy says about that person, we give the wrong such power by what we speak from out of our mouths. We need to as Christ dealt with Peter when he knew he would sin

1. Jesus rebuked Peter - Matthew 16:23 "But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

2. He declared Gods will prophetically for Peter - Luke 22:31 to 32 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,[d] that he might sift you like wheat,32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”33 Peter[e] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”34 Jesus[f] said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

3. He prayed for Peter

As we mature we grow in the place of remaining unmoved by "small" things that used to so irritate us before and we move into the place of "Love keeping no record of wrongs"

How can this be possible?

We are taught as Christians

We should never be angry

We should never feel angry

We should never express anger

We “wrestle" with issues.

We are still clothed in the flesh, though we love God

And he continues to do a work in us

Until we leave this earth, God will continue to do the work of transformation.

We may not admit it but the fact is when something comes to wound and hurt us,

If we don't deal with it, it doesn't go away, we bury it

So what happens after the “burial"

We label the person and begin to withdraw, because we say we are being wise and we are protecting ourselves

But is this Gods standard and if we only “bury" issues without dealing with them we could possibly have opened a doorway to the enemy to a Spirit of Resentment through offence

But we say “nah, not me....it didn't bother me at all"

But yet we are not free with the other person – they are now carrying a “label" because

WE HAVE KEPT THE RECORD OF THE WRONG

Here are some truths

1. In every relationship there will be conflict (differences)

2. Many times when we talk to the other person, we will realize that it was our own view and not the whole truth.

3. It may not be how God views the person or the situation. We may be having such resentment when God has granted that “Peter” or that “Diamond in the rough" grace and mercy. Just like the undeserved grace and mercy that we were meted when we just started on the journey and he still pours out for us

4. Simply talking about things peacefully at the shortest time possible can avert so much misunderstanding, division, offence and resentment

Let us be proactive daily at resolving issues. We take away the enemy's power to divide and conquer when we choose the route of loving , peaceful resolution.

You see if we continue to love with the Agape - displaying patience and kindness, covering the sins and keeping no record of wrongs

We would have such peace among us.

We would really shine the light of Christ, by the way we love each other

Amen

Walk Good in Christ

Till we meet again

Pastor J