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Finally Brethren

2 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 6:10-18; Philippians 3:1; 4:8; 1

Thessalonians 4:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5; 1 Peter 3:8-11

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“Finally, be Strong In The

Lord”

Ephesians 6:10-18

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“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord”

Philippians 3:1

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“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if

there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these

things.”

Philippians 4:8

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“Finally then … excel still more”

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2

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“To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic,

brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit”

1 Peter 3:8-9

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•1 Peter 3:8-9•Galatians 5:13-15•Matthew 12:25

“… not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the

very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only {do} not {turn} your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the {statement,}

"YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not

consumed by one another.”

Matthew 12:25“And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself

will not stand.”

Be Harmonious, Brotherly

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Be Harmonious, Brotherly

•Likeminded–1 Corinthians 1:10–Philippians 2:1-4–We are characterized by sameness of:•Speech, agreement•Mind•Judgment•Love

“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no

divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and

in the same judgment.”

“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any

affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind,

maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from

selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not {merely}

look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

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Be Harmonious, Brotherly

•Sympathetic–Romans 12:15–1 Corinthians 12:26–Hebrews 13:3

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”“And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if {one}

member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”

“Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, {and} those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves

also are in the body.”

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Be Harmonious, Brotherly

•Brotherly–Love as brethren – KJV–1 Thessalonians 4:9–John 13:34-35–1 John 4:20-21

“Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for {anyone} to

write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;”

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I

have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know

that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

“If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the

one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who

loves God should love his brother also.”

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Be Harmonious, Brotherly

•Kindhearted•Humbleminded•Forgiving

–Matthew 7:12

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want

them to treat you, ...”

Proverbs 24:29“Do not say, "Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."”

Proverbs 25:21-22“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give

him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the

LORD will reward you.”

Romans 12:17-21“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect

what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave

room for the wrath {of God,} for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

1 Thessalonians 5:15“See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one

another and for all people.”

Luke 23:34“Father, forgive them; for they do

not know what they are doing.”

Acts 7:60“he cried out with a loud voice, Lord,

do not hold this sin against them!”

1 Corinthians 4:12“... when we are reviled, we bless;

when we are persecuted, we endure;”

2 Timothy 4:16“at my first defense no one

supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.”

Philippians 2:3“Do nothing from selfishness or

empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more

important than yourselves;”

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Be Harmonious, Brotherly

•Forgiving–Forgives others as God has forgiven him•Ephesians 4:31-32

Ephesians 4:31-32“Let all bitterness and wrath and

anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Colossians 3:12-13“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart

of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,

whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you,

so also should you.”

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Be Harmonious, Brotherly•Forgiving

–Forgives others as God has forgiven him•Willingly•Unreservedly•Immediately•Completely•Permanently•Repeatedly

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Pray for the Preaching of the

Gospel

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread

rapidly and be glorified, just as {it did} also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil

men; for not all have faith.”

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Pray for the Preaching of the Gospel

•“Brethren, pray for us.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:25

–That he might be delivered from the disobedient – Romans 15:30-33

–That doors of opportunity might be opened – Colossians 4:2-3

–That he might say the right things – v.4

–That the word of the Lord might have free course – 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

“Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for

me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for

Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the

will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. Now the God of peace be with you

all. Amen.”

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of

thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;”“that I may make it clear in the way I

ought to speak.”

“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread

rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be

rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.”

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Be United

2 Corinthians 13:11

“Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and

the God of love and peace will be with you.”

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Be United

•Be Complete–“be mature, be restored and fitted for life”

–Philippians 3:12-16

•Be Comforted–“be encouraged”

“Not that I have already obtained {it} or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I

may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of {it} yet; but one thing {I do:} forgetting what {lies} behind and

reaching forward to what {lies} ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that

also to you; however, let us keep living by that same { standard} to which we have attained.”

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Be United

•Be Like-Minded–“think the same thing”–Romans 12:16

“Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not

be wise in your own estimation.”

Romans 15:5“Now may the God who gives

perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind

with one another according to Christ Jesus,”

Philippians 2:2“make my joy complete by being of

the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on

one purpose.”

Philippians 4:2“I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche

to live in harmony in the Lord.”

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Be United

•Live in Peace–2 Corinthians 12:20

“For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be

not what you wish; that perhaps {there will be} strife, jealousy, angry

tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;”

Romans 12:18

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be

at peace with all men.”

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Acts 20:32“And now I commend you to God

and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among

all those who are sanctified.”

Numbers 6:24-26“The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The

Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'”

2 Corinthians 13:14“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with

you all.”

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“And now I commend you to God and to the

word of His grace, which is able to build

you up and to give you the inheritance among

all those who are sanctified.”

Acts 20:32

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