Speaking the truth in Love -Eph 4:15

Eph 4:11-16

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Many Christians have the perception that IF you don't say things in the right tone of voice, like "Now, now, little Johnny, please don't kick the cat" IF you don't say it in a certain way, you're not doing it "in Love." Some will even go as far as telling you that you have a religious spirit if you "…reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim 4:2). One thing for sure is that people are always going to misunderstand and misinterpret you, what you're doing and how you're doing it.

• Make sure you are praying for the people who are in error. (2 Cor 4:4)
• It's not a personal attack on anyone, it's the spirit of truth or the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6)
• You want to be a God-pleaser more than a manpleaser. (Eph 6:6; Col 3:22; Acts 4:19,20; 5:29)

Jesus is the express image of Love and truth (See John 14:7-11)

Jesus IS Truth: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." -John 14:6

Jesus IS Love: "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." -I John 4:8

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." - I John 4:16-17

So are we in this world - I John 4:16-17

I've seen parents, so-called "Loving" their children, when they should have been taking a rod of correction to them; "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." (Prov 13:24)

What they were doing may have seemed like "Love" to them, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Prov 14:12; 16:25) But all they were doing was "hugging them to hell"

"Open rebuke is better than secret love." Prov 27:5

The prophet Jonah is an example of where you see an extreme case of a preacher who was reluctant to go to the city of Nineveh! In what he said and how he said it, you probably won't see the love as you read the account, until you get to the end. Nevertheless it was the truth! Sometimes it's gentle, and sometimes it's severe, but it the truth that sets you free. (John 8:32) And it's the love of God that causes Him to rise up early and send the prophets to warn the people. (Jer 7:25-26; 26:5;29:19; 32:33; 35:15)

The Trumpet is a unique choice by God for an instrument to use in warning people. "Set the trumpet to thy mouth…." (Hosea 8:1) "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isa 58:1) Sometimes the trumpet can be ear-piercing, annoying, disturbing, frightening, etc. But one thing is for sure "…if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" (1 Cor 14:8) And it's done in love, not wanting to see those people destroyed, that causes that watchman to blow that trumpet loud, even if it disturbs someone's rest, awake them and shake them, cause If they don't take heed they'll perish! Can you see where it's love, to tell someone the truth? To tell them they'll go to hell IF they don't accept Jesus Christ? Someone said, "you don't love the sinner if you tell them they are in sin and on their way to hell." But, even the most popular verse in the Bible, John 3:16, states:

should not perish, (IN HELL)

but have everlasting life. (In Heaven)

"Open rebuke is better than secret love." Prov 27:5

!SHALOM!

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