Brothers and Sisters, You MUST know who they are! RETHINK
You must be compassionate and kind, but knowing your brothers and sisters in the kingdom of God is important. A kingdom divided against itself will fall.
The world is a divided place and there is a war going on between two sides. Those who serve God in opposition to those serving the kingdom of earth and Satan. In this struggle, there are many war tactics employed, two of which are deception and employing the resource of the other side. Everyone is not your enemy; if they were, how would anybody change sides? However, your brothers and sisters are not everyone but those who serve the Father.
The definition of words morphs over time, and at one time, I imagined this to be an organic phenomenon. But then I realised that Satan spans the lifetime of men, and his goal is the destruction of us all. Consequently, through these tactics, the number of people saved per generation dwindles through these changing definitions.
Co-opting Love
The enemy has co-opted the resources of those who serve under the guise of love. Many of us have at one or another, or still are, investing our time and energy, thinking we are investing it for God, but are investing in the adversary. The passage in Proverbs 5:7-14 speaks that so many people will have regret at judgement despite investing time, energy, expertise and money into what they thought was for God.
There is always a danger when defining what is written in the scriptures, from the scripted definition that parades worldwide. The world is not a big place, contrary to what your eyes may tell you. The enemy has control of almost everyone in this world through his guardians, who control information and influence. This is to say that it is necessary to use the scriptures as the dictionary for any doctrine, even those that seem obvious as love.
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
2 John 1:6 KJV
Breaking down this verse shows several things:
Love is walking after the commandments of the Father, where the Father is referenced in 2 John 1:4
We must walk in the commandments that have been there from the beginning.
The world defines love as follows:
an intense feeling of deep affection.
a great interest and pleasure in something.The scriptures define love as keeping the commandments of God and within the commandments, we are required to have compassion, be kind, and conduct ourselves with the same grace as our Father.
46. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47. And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:46-48 KJV
Co-opting brothers and sisters
The standard usage of the phrase "brothers and sisters" is universal across cultures and religions and used throughout societies to mean blood relations—siblings. These words can also signify a close relationship based on mutual understanding. This touches on the topic under discussion but is commonly based on a different value system from the Bible throughout society.
The phrase "brothers and sisters" in part or a whole is littered throughout the scriptures and adopted by different groups culturally or religiously to mean various things:
a member of a religious order of men
anyone who attends a church
anyone who voices the name "Jesus" and claims to worship him
a male associate or fellow member of an organization
or even a black man or woman.
This usage is not that which is defined by precepts within the scriptures.
Who are your brothers and sisters
Jesus leaves no doubt as to who are your brothers and sisters.
46. While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49. And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50. For who soever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12:46-50 (KJV)
Blood relation is seen through lineage, not only from a physical birth but also a spiritual birth. To be reborn in the spirit is to become a child of God. God is a Spirit and thus, we must be born of the Spirit to be part of his family.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24 KJV
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:5-6 KJV
We can become relatives of Jesus by serving his Father. This is the only way to enter the kingdom. Therefore, keeping the commandments of the Father brings us into the family.
Whose kingdom will you build?
At times our hearts bleed with compassion. We desire to help those in need in the world. Many are in need, but the world has devolved into a cesspool of greed with the wolf pretending to be the sheep. Of course, we must help and we must follow the commands of the Father.
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:5-6 KJV
However, there is a line where we are building the kingdom of God or simply destroying it by empowering the enemy. If you know that an institution is deliberately exploiting God for profit, why give them our tithes? But, if your neighbour needs help, why not help them?
Many people in this world are aligned against God and they will persecute and exploit you. We must do good to these people, but at the same time, we must not destroy our brothers and sisters. We must not fight against the kingdom of God—ourselves, in the process. Otherwise, how will our kingdom survive?
The holy
We live in this world and we live amongst unrighteous people. We can live side by side, but once they have declared they stand with the world, let them only see your life example.
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Matthew 7:6 KJV
Jesus in Matthew 15:21-28 gave the holy things to those who have faith and believe in his Father. There are material things and holy things and while Jesus fed them with bread and fish, he gave miracles to those who had faith. He gave the holy things to the children of God.
The world
The systems of the world reward only those who serve it. At the same time, the systems of the world demand the servants of God also reward the world. Whenever a servant rewards God, they are penalised—persecuted. We will be persecuted; these are the words of Jesus, yet so many who claim they love him, stop rewarding the true believers for the rewards of the world.
This is the message that I wish to surface. Love your enemies, pray for them that curse and use you, but never forget to exhort in all ways those who serve the Highest. Do not be afraid to build the kingdom of God even if you are persecuted.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13 KJV
Why you need to know this
God rewards those who build his kingdom the same way Jesus did. Following the instructions in Matthew 25:34-46, we must show compassion to those within the world. However, we are not called to be foolish but rather show the same discernment which Jesus demonstrated daily.
Daily, I see those who call themselves Christians putting all their efforts into the world and none into God. This distresses me, and even though I encourage them, they dawdle and many never take up the mantle. Nevertheless, they serve their earthly masters with zeal for the rewards of money and material possessions and, in addition, out of fear.
A kingdom divided will fall (Mark 3:22-26) and we must follow Jesus's instructions and do as the Father does. We must love our enemies and help in the world. But we must not build the kingdom of Satan. If we know that religion is stealing from us to empower their kingdom, why give them your tithes? Are they the Levites without an inheritance? Do they govern our lives in the commandments of God, or do they preach fanciful sermons but allow the people to live as the world?
We must not compromise God's instructions at every turn. Use your tithing and help the poor and spread the Gospel instead of only giving to the wicked.
Conclusion
Love God by keeping his commandments and enter his kingdom by building his kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30). Lead by example, do not be afraid to stand up for him and support his kingdom. Do not be afraid to represent his name out loud and in the eyes of the world. We live with those who do not know God and must love and pray for them.
You must Erase your fear!
Choose today to follow the God of heaven and take comfort in his promises and his power.
5. I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isaiah 45:5-6 (KJV)