As A Believer // Love & Worship // Pastor Keenen Worrell

One another, that is who we're called to. Not just to love those we like, not just to love those who voted like us, not just to love those who agree with us, and our opinion, those who think like us, those who look like us, or those that we feel deserve love. One another. That's who we're called to love. [00:12:57] (30 seconds)  #LoveOneAnother

He says, you don't he one, there's a scripture that says, don't even come to me if you haven't taken care of the issue that you got with your brother. He says, that first, then come back. True worship says, God, you are the most important thing in my life. My entire existence is an offering to you. At work, in my relationships, with my resources, even in my struggle, all of it is yours. [00:28:01] (32 seconds)  #ReconcileThenWorship

this is what that love is supposed to look like, and this sounds crazy to the world. But he says, this is what I've called you to do. And make no mistake about it, if God has called you to it, then that means you are already equipped to do it. The holy spirit has already equipped you to do it. I am not saying it will not be difficult because it's some difficult people. Hallelujah. We call them EGRs, extra grace required. But we're called to love them. [00:14:22] (41 seconds)  #EquippedToLove

As believers, we are called to agape. We are called to love. The world can't and the world does not define love like this. That's not what they call it. They twist and they pollute the definition and the expression of love. Therefore, when we operate in the world's idea of love, we fall short of God's mandate to love. [00:11:30] (34 seconds)  #GodDefinesLove

And if they don't agree with you, you don't have to love them. They don't look like you, you don't have to love them. This is what the world says. But as believers, we are called to a higher standard. Again, if we call ourselves believers and we are walking out this, not just in our mouth but in our actions, then this is what we are called to. This is what we're called to. It seems like the mandate is high. It is. But that's why we are called to this. [00:12:25] (32 seconds)  #LoveBeyondAgreement

I think somewhere we we begin to inflate our own wisdom, our own importance, and who we are, and our own opinions. And somewhere along the line, we got to this place where we said, if they don't agree with me, fine. If they don't vote like I vote, if they don't think what I think, if they don't spin how I spin, if they don't agree man, we're that's what the world does. We're not called to live like that. We're not called to move like that. We are called to raise the standard. That's what makes us different. That's what separates us from the world. [00:15:03] (41 seconds)  #RaiseTheStandardOfLove

Our ability y'all know my my it is my desire, my mission, my my my side quest if you will, to turn this city upside down for Jesus. But that does not hinge on this building, that does not hinge on our music, our events, or coffee, or anything like that. It hinges on our ability to love people in a way that they have never seen. It we are called to love. [00:21:22] (29 seconds)  #LoveTransformsCities

It's not what he said. He said they will know us by our love. Love is what is supposed to define us as believers. Not, you know, Valentine's Day is coming and I'm not talking about angels and dates but butterflies and you hang up. No. You hang up. No. You hang up. No. We're not talking about that. We're not talking about that kind of love. [00:06:36] (26 seconds)  #KnownByOurLove

Our singing is an outpouring of what our living is. True worship is our entire life becoming a sacrifice. We can sing the most beautiful songs, but if our heart is full of bitterness towards someone or we're selfishly focused on ourself, then guess what? That song is nothing but noise. The Bible calls it a clanging symbol. Noise. [00:27:03] (34 seconds)  #LivingWorshipNotNoise

And this is not a a book club. We don't just come together for the sake of coming together. We said that we are an army. We receive marching orders, and then we go and we are sent out to do what God has called us to do to be and make disciples. We're called to gather and go. [00:03:23] (20 seconds)  #GatherAndGo

A love that's demonstrated through action. A love that transcends, a love that persists regardless of circumstance. Agape love. Jesus says that this type of love should be the defining characteristic of who we are. He says that this should be who we are. [00:08:14] (33 seconds)  #AgapeByAction

Listen to me. The world cannot define what love looks like because the world did not invent it. It only attempts to create a cheap copy of what it is. They can't define it. They will try, but they cannot because they didn't invent it. As believers, the word of God is the final authority. Therefore, we look to the word of God to define the characteristics of who we are. When I need to look to see what love looks like, I'm not gonna look on social media. I'm not gonna look at what's going on around me. I'm not gonna look on the news. I'm not gonna look at what people say. I'm gonna look at the word to define how I should live. [00:09:05] (48 seconds)  #ScriptureShapesLove

Another version says it all hangs on this. This is the example I give is this is the curtain rod. Love the Lord God, y'all with all your heart, soul, and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. Everything else hangs on that. [00:18:14] (15 seconds)  #LoveHangsEverything

He says that we are to love and to love who? One another. That is the difference maker right there. Love one another. The word says love who you wanna love. And then if you don't feel like loving them no more, then hey, find somebody else to love. [00:12:04] (22 seconds)  #LoveIsTheDifference

And so while these things seem outlandish, these are the experiences that people have when they encounter believers. Yet, none of these things are things that Jesus said that we should be known for. None of these things that I have mentioned, none of those things are things that Jesus said that we should be known for. [00:05:12] (21 seconds)  #KnownForChrist

Because there is no way that we can come in here and say that we love God. God, you're good. We love you, God. But you have envy or awe with a family member or somebody at your job. We are called to worship. [00:24:38] (19 seconds)  #WorshipInIntegrity

That's why he gave us the Holy Spirit because he knew we couldn't do it on our own. And so he says, I'm calling you to present your life as a living sacrifice. A sacrifice. God, I don't feel like it, but it's a sacrifice. I'm doing it anyway. God, I I don't want to do this. My emotions are are driving me not to do this, but you know what? I'm a do it anyway because it's a sacrifice. God, I'm a get up. I'm a serve. I'm a I'm a put this smile on my face even though I got all this stuff going on. Why? Because it's a sacrifice. I'm a go back, and I'm a apologize again, God, even though I don't feel like I'm wrong, but I'm a do it, God. Why? Because I'm surrendered. Why? It is a sacrifice because it's not about me. Because I don't know what you're doing in that person or what you're trying to teach me. It is a sacrifice. Every single thing is a sacrifice. That's what worship is. [00:26:00] (63 seconds)

And if they don't agree with you, you don't have to love them. They don't look like you, you don't have to love them. This is what the world says. But as believers, we are called to a higher standard. Again, if we call ourselves believers and we are walking out this, not just in our mouth but in our actions, then this is what we are called to. This is what we're called to. It seems like the mandate is high. It is. But that's why we are called to this. [00:12:25] (32 seconds)

As believers, we are called to agape. We are called to love. The world can't and the world does not define love like this. That's not what they call it. They twist and they pollute the definition and the expression of love. Therefore, when we operate in the world's idea of love, we fall short of God's mandate to love. [00:11:30] (34 seconds)

And this is not a a book club. We don't just come together for the sake of coming together. We said that we are an army. We receive marching orders, and then we go and we are sent out to do what God has called us to do to be and make disciples. We're called to gather and go. [00:03:23] (20 seconds)