Relationship: The way in which two or more objects or people are connected

As people we have many types of relationships

We are connected in many ways

All of our relationships take work, and none of them work without work

There is one relationship that is more important than the rest

So, today, being Valentine’s Day, means the world is talking about love

As Believers, we should be thinking about love every day

Colossians 3:1-17 NASB

Seek things above if you have been raised with Christ

Our minds should be focused on things above to make a difference here

Idolatry means we are consumed with something besides God

This keeps us from our true love

Remember believer, you once were a son of disobedience

While we are doing this, we are being renewed

We also call this sanctification and it is a process that continues until Glory

This renewal is for every believer, no matter any worldly differences

DO you recognize any of the things in these verses?

Yes, they are the fruit of the Spirit, which all believers have been given

It is through this fruit that we can overcome the evil of this world

There is one thing that is greater than any other; that is LOVE

We put on love just like putting on clothes; we clothe ourselves in it

When we clothe ourselves with love, it covers all those other things

It is a perfect bond of unity!

Being United in Love is exactly where believers need to be today

This unified love is exactly what the world needs to see

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you

Do you know God’s love today?

Matthew 21:12-13 NASB

"¹² And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. ¹³ And He *said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”"

Sometimes we like this passage because it shows a human reaction from Jesus

We realize he did get angry too

But have you ever stopped to think about what made him angry?

Why were there money changers in the temple in the first place?

Don’t forget about those selling doves as well, why were they there?

Way back in Exodus 30:11-16 God required a half shekel from His people

The temple tax was derived from this requirement for the upkeep of the temple

People outside of Jerusalem came to worship and had different money

It needed to be changed into the correct currency

So why is that a problem for Jesus?

The money changers were extorting money as they made the exchange.

Also, the dove sellers were a problem because of how they cheated the people

They inspected peoples sacrifice and often told them it was imperfect

Then the only option the people had was to buy another sacrifice

So again why is Jesus so angry?

^"13 And He *said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”

In the name of doing something right, the people were robbing the temple goers

Why am I sharing this message today?

The modern church is no different.

There are all sorts of false religious entities that use the name of Jesus to rob people

There are churches today that promote a feel good attitude instead of truth

This robs the people of the true messages God has for them

God’s house is supposed to be a house of prayer not an entertainment venue

Too many believers have been robbed of the real worship they need

That’s why even Christians are seeking ungodly things to fill their heart

When they attend worship, it is everything but worship

When we, as God’s children, are not willing to share the hard truth

Because it may be offensive to someone, we are robbing them of what they need

We advertise one thing, but then cheat people when we don’t share truth

Stop robbing people and start spending real worship with God.

This false religion has also made it hard for people to realize their need for salvation

The blunt question today is, are you a sinner?

Have you ever asked God to forgive your sin and gave your life to Him?

This is the only real reconciliation you can have. If you haven’t done that,

Every religious thing you do is not real, no matter what you have been told.

Are you ready to give up the fake and accept the real Truth today?

Completely giving yourself to Jesus is the only real way for Salvation

I often remind people that we live in the greatest country

We live in a country that gives freedom to it’s people

Unfortunately, some people confuse this freedom….

With real freedom

^"31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³ They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free."

Americans think we are free because we are Americans;

Sin doesn’t care about heritage or government

Sin enslaves every sinner.

Once sin is committed, the penalty is locked on

^"23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

^"6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me."

Jesus is the Truth, but sin is a liar!

Sin says you don’t need Jesus

We live in a world today that loves sin and even glamorizes it

Sin looks beautiful and is popular

Jesus has paid your debt allowing you to be free

But you still have to accept it

Are you ready to be free, free indeed?

President Biden this past week called for Unity

Many politicians have used the word without really meaning it

Regardless of your feelings about our new administration,

Unity is something we should strive for in this world

How is that really possible, you ask?

God is God of ALL

"4 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

Vs 1 says walk in a manner worthy of your calling

In other words, don’t do things to draw people away from God

What we need to do is show God’s love in all we do.

I know that sometimes we let the world’s ugliness get to us,

It is speaking of being tolerant of our human failures, tolerant in love

Meaning, we are to be united with God, and by doing so, walk worthy of Him

Knowing this, we must be unified in our walk with Christ, worthy of our calling

This unity, this oneness, means stop trying to be about you

Satan is the prince of this world, and, because of that, tribulation abounds

We get caught up in worldly things and act all kind of crazy

We don’t understand how some of the leaders of this country got there

Let me remind you that no one gains power without God giving it to them

"13 Every [a]person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except [b]from God, and those which exist are established by God."

^"6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

God and Father of ALL

Over ALL, through ALL, and in ALL

ALL means…….

ALL

So, if God is God of ALL, and He told us to walk in a manner worthy of Him,

We need to do exactly what He called us to do

Live our life reflecting the love of Christ so others can see Jesus in us.

Are you ready to walk worthy for the God of ALL today?

Are you ready to be Unified in the Spirit?