Men's MeetingMen's MeetingNovember 7 at 8:00 AM

1October 14, 2009

Church Fellowship and Dinner

November 14 at 1:00

Cloudland Canyon

1 Peter 4:8-9 (KJV) 8 And above all things have fervent charity (agape; 1Cor 13) among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

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When we love peoplewe love people with this godly love, it's notit's not too much trouble to serve them.

Hospitality is a natural partnatural part of this love for people.

We need to learn to both givegive and receivereceive love.

There are so many things amiss in all, that unless love covers, excuses, and forgives in others, the mistakes and faults for which every one needs the forbearance of others, Satan will prevail to stir up divisions and discords.

Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.

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Who among us can say, "I have no faults and need notneed not the grace of forbearance."

If I need such grace, I must also grantalso grant that grace,

Not to somesome, but to allall.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

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A steward has no wealthno wealth of his own, but administers the wealth of his masterhis master

according to his master's willhis master's will.We have, each and every one, been blessedbeen blessed with

God's GraceGod's Grace in forgiveness and forbearance.

We must be as generous in grantingin granting that grace one to another.

For some it is easyeasy to be gracious to those we perceive as weakperceive as weak,

But we find it hard to be as graciousas gracious to one we perceiveperceive as strong.

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We expectexpect so much more of one than we do another.

But God's Grace must be extended to all menall men.

We find some faults easiereasier to forbear and forgive than we do others,

But God's Grace is sufficient for allsufficient for all.

We must administeradminister His Grace to every one.

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The devil'sdevil's greatest joy is to trick Christians into discord and division.

God's JoyGod's Joy is to see His children loving one another fervently (intentlyintently) with pure hearts.

Who do you want to make happy?

For some it's not too hardnot too hard to overlook the sin of gossipgossip, or the sin of gluttongluttony or of the failurfailure to be

dependabledependable in the church.

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But those same people would judge harshlyjudge harshly the people who find these sinsthese sins hard to overlook.

11a If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;

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The subject is administeringadministering the Grace of God one to another.

We do that in chiefly two ways: speakingspeaking and servingserving.

We need to take caretake care that we speak only words that God would speakGod would speak.

God's PurposeGod's Purpose is always to bless and edify, so our wordsour words must be used to bless and edify.

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Proverbs 18 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: …

A careless word can do tremendous harmtremendous harm, but a word fitly spokenword fitly spoken can lift up and encourage

someone who needs to hear it.

11b if any man minister (serve), let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:

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When we willingly humble ourselveshumble ourselves to be servants one to another,

We can be great benefitbenefit to the church.

Be careful to serve as Godas God would have us serve:

GladlyGladly, FreelyFreely, WillinglyWillingly, HumblyHumbly.In a manner that blessesblesses and nevernever humiliates.

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GraciouslyKindness Humility

11c that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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We have no other purposeno other purpose for living,

But that is the Greatest PurposeGreatest Purpose.