Love...The Mold Breaker
I. John 13:34
A) Look how Jesus loved/loves us. He was and is totally unselfish. When He walked on earth he constantly had compassion for the hurting. He constantly went around healing people; sometimes to the point he became physically exhausted. (John 4:6 ‘Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.’) *Jesus traveled a long way specifically to have this divine appointment with this woman*
Even when he was tired, Jesus still took time to minister to someone in need. I believe that God refreshed Jesus at some point between talking w/the woman and her bringing the whole town to meet him (John 4:4-42). God can do the same for us. No matter how tired we are, I believe God will refresh us and give us the strength for the divine appointments that come into our lives. God gave Jesus the refreshing he needed to be able to preach, do miracles or whatever needed to be done to minister to not only that woman, but her entire village!!!
II. Romans 12:2-12... The love of Jesus is TOTALLY opposite from the way of the world
A) 12:2
The Word tells us we are not to be like the world...we shouldn’t think or act like them. We should behave differently than those who don’t know Jesus. One way we do this is by loving people.
B) 12:9&10
People in the world only pretend to care/love others to get what they need, but the Word tells us we are to be different. We are supposed to truly love others. Is it possible to love everyone? Humanly speaking, no, but the love of God can give us the ability to love anyone. In day to day living, I believe that this verse also tells us that if you’re not to the point of genuinely loving others you can still show love.....in that we should still be kind and not use fake care and concern as a way to manipulate people. You show love/kindness and do the right thing even if you’re not having warm & fuzzy feelings for the person. The world is “dog eat dog.” People who don’t know Jesus are insensitive, inconsiderate, uncaring, self-centered and only see how things affect them. They could care less how their actions affect those around them. So to be loving show love to others is definitely not fitting the mold of the world (**Mold means - a distinctive nature or character; the frame on or around which an object is constructed) . Having compassion and putting the feelings of others before your own is TOTALLY opposite view of the world who “only watches out for #1.”
III. Proverbs 10:12, 1Peter 4:8......What love can do
A) Hatred and anger causes more conflict and hurt; love allows wounds to heal and forgiveness to be given. Love covers/makes up for all offenses/sins/wrongs. The depth of Jesus love for us was ultimately shown by him voluntarily giving up his life on the cross to save us from our sins. His love/death negates/makes nonexistent all of our sins. His love gives us a full pardon from our sins/past and gives us a fresh start free from condemnation. The love of Jesus we show in our everyday lives will cause us to let go of offenses and hurts that others cause us. We will extend the same pardon so to speak to others and release them from the debt of offense we hold against them.
IV. 1 Corinthians 13:13....The power of love
A) The Word says three things will last forever, 1)faith 2) hope & 3) love. We all know that faith is one of the most powerful forces known to man. Faith causes God to move and the impossible to become a reality. However, here the Word tells us that love is even greater. Wow!!! Love is the key to stopping the enemy in his tracks. The enemy has no defensive or offense against love. Love is the perfect weapon to overcome the enemy in every situation. Love is the enabling force that allows you to do things that would normally be impossible....forgiveness, unselfish acts, be generous, do good for evil, etc
**Definitions: 1) faith - firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust
2) hope - to expect with confidence;
3) love - unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another
V. 1 John 4:18, John 3:16, Proverbs 3:12 & Romans 5:8... Love the Father has for us
A) 1 John 4:18
When we really know how much God loves us, we can do anything!!! We can have a full and fear free life. Freedom from fear of failure, the unknown, sin, etc
B) John 3:16 & Romans 5:8
God love for us was so great that He allowed his ONLY, dearly loved Son to die a brutal death to guarantee our freedom from sin and allow us to spend eternity in Heaven w/Him.
C) Proverbs 3:12
God corrects us because He loves us. If our actions are going to cause us injury, he has to correct/stop us because He doesn’t want us to get hurt. He loves us enough to redirect us when we’re headed the wrong way. If you see your child walking on a path that leads them to the edge of a cliff, you’re going to redirect them because you don’t want them to fall to their death. God’s the same way. Now, God’s correction is not in the form of sickness or harm. It’s more of an enlightenment, revelation or sometimes a “you shouldn’t have done that” type scolding. :) However, if our mistake is a sin that causes us to step our from under God’s protection and open a doorway for the enemy to come against us....then the enemy can bring sickness or some other type of curse caused by sin into our lives. David is a perfect example....his sin with Bathsheba and then the murder of her husband allowed the devil to bring sickness upon the baby conceived by David & Bathsheba, which ultimately ended w/the baby’s death. David asked for forgiveness and God forgave him, but the sin still had a consequence and allowed the devil an opportunity to attack.
D) Romans 5:5 & John 14: 16-17
The Holy Spirit is tangible proof of God’s love. God gave us the Holy Spirit to be our constant companion, counselor, comforter, and guide.
No comments:
Post a Comment