Agape Love!

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Rev. George R. Dillahunty
Mount Olive A.M.E. Zion Church
5567 County Line Road (Riverdale Community)
New Bern, North Carolina 28562

March 12, 2005

Text: John 13:34 (King James Version)

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

Topic: Agape Love!

Someone once said, "[Jesus] came singing love - [Jesus] lived singing love - [Jesus] died singing love - [Jesus] ascended into silence: If the song is to continue - we must do the singing!"

The beloved Disciple and Apostle John, in John 15:13 (KJV), records Jesus, the Christ, saying: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." The Twentieth Century New Testament (TCNT), tells it this way: "No one can give greater proof of love than by laying down his life for his friends." Jesus, the Christ, called us "friends" - if, we keep His commandments! The Apostle John went on to say, in 1 John 4:7-10 (KJV): "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (vs. 8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (vs. 9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (vs. 10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." The word "propitiation" means: atonement!

We certainly did not deserve Almighty God’s love - it was, in point of fact, unmerited love - it was "Agape Love"! The poet, Beverly J. Anderson, penned these beautiful words - which, in my opinion, capture the essence of Almighty God’s "Agape Love":

***"How matchless is God’s wondrous love.
***It’s higher than the sky above.
***It’s deeper than the deepest sea
***And lasts through all eternity.

***No limitations has God’s love,
***So full His storehouse up above.
***God’s love can span a boundless chart,
***And yet I hold it in my heart."

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV), tells the church at Corinth and us: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (vs. 5) It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (vs. 6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (vs. 7) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (vs. 8) Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."

The great American evangelist, William Franklin "Billy" Graham (Born: 1918), once said, "Life WITH Christ is ENDLESS LOVE; WITHOUT Him it is a LOVELESS END." Walking in the Light - walking in the way of Christ - my brothers and sisters - is faith in action - and, it brings joy and peace to the hearts of all mankind - both male and female!

Tell me, my brothers and sisters, "Are you a participator or are you an absentee Christian? Are you a pillar of the church or are you a pew sleeper? Are you a promoter of Almighty God’s agenda or are you a provoker in Satan’s agenda? Are you a "cheerful giver" or are you an unhappy taker? Are you a soldier of the Cross or are you a sorehead in a "sin-sick" world? Are you a "friend" of Jesus, the Christ, or are you a fault-finder ... next page »