December 30, 2007
INTRODUCTION –
I. HOW IMPORTANT IS LOVE = WHETHER IT BE LOVING GOD OR LOVING ONE ANOTHER OR LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR?? 5 reasons why I believe it is the main thing the Holy Spirit is doing in His church in these days; and why it should be the main or most important thing we give ourselves to in these days A. Fufills the whole law like nothing else – ROM. 13:8-10 “…for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. … Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” – GALATIANS 5:14 “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – JAMES 2:8 “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.”
B. Is greater than eloquence, gifts of prophecy, knowledge of mysteries, possession of all knowledge, and great faith, complete sacrifice and self denial – I Cor. 13:1-3, 13 “but the greatest of these is love”
C. Gets Paul excited when he sees it in a church – – Eph. 1:15 “For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,” – Col. 1:3-5, 8 – I Thess. 1:2,3; 3:6; 4:9,10 – II Thess. 1:3 – Philemon 4,5 – Heb. 6:10
D. Jesus says Loving Him and our neighbor is the greatest and foremost commandment of all – Matt. 22:34-40 – “…This is the great and foremost commandment…” (cf. Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27)
E. It is the primary proof or evidence of our knowledge of and love for God, and that we are Jesus’s disciples. – John 13:34,35 “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.’
– I John 4:7,8 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
St. Augustine said, “There is no gift of God more excellent than this (of love). It alone distinguishes between the children of the everlasting kingdom, and the children of the everlasting perdition.”
II. WHAT DOES LOVE ACCOMPLISH OR RESULT IN? WHAT IS ITS FRUIT? 8 things A. It edifies or builds us up – I Cor. 8:1
B. It controls us – II Cor. 5:14 (context is the reality of ulterior and ungodly motives that some in the ministry had back then)
C. When we speak the truth in love, it causes the growth of the body – Eph. 4:15,16 (speaking the truth alone will not cause the body of Christ to grow; only when it is done in love)
D. The more loving I become, the better I can discern and distinguish between things – that which is better, most important, true, etc. Phil. 1:9-10
E. When a group of believers is truly knit together in love, encouragement flows. Encouragement is so important among a group of believers or local congregation – – that Paul says he has gone through a great struggle to see them encouraged. Col. 2:1,2
F. As we grow more loving in our relationships, God is able and pleased to establish our hearts without blame in holiness. I Thess. 3:11-13
G. Love covers a multitude of sins – I Peter 4:8
H. When we love one another, God abides in us; and His loves is perfected in us. I John 4:12 “
III. What true Christ like love looks like? A. I Cor. 13
B. I John 3:18
CONCLUSION – THANK GOD THAT WE HAVE A FOUNDATION TO BUILD ON
THANK GOD FOR ALL THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH AS WE GROW IN LOVE
THANK GOD THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN SPIRITUAL GIFTS OR THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION TO BE ABLE TO GROW IN LOVE
PRAY THAT THE SUPREMACY AND/OR PRIORITY OF LOVE AND ITS FRUIT WOULD STAY IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS IN THIS NEW YEAR
Pray Phil. 1:9-11 & I Thess. 3:11-13