Abounding In Love Pt4 Series

Abounding in love PT4 - Love Takes Care Of

T.T. 1 Thessalonians 4

We’ve been speaking for several weeks now

On the subject of abounding in love

Statement: Jesus is our Lord

the captain of our salvation

He is the head of the church

Think with me:

There are a lot of Christians where - Jesus is not really in their Lord

1. They are holding on to Him as their savior

2. They are holding onto Him so that they will be saved when they die

3. But he’s really not their Lord

Lord means: He, Jesus is in charge - you’re not

With millions of Christians that’s just simply not the case

They! Are in charge of their life

And it’s quite obvious because of the mess their life is in

– that they are running it!!

Statement: if Jesus is your Lord….. then we should do what he says

Say that out loud with me:

1. Jesus is the Lord of my life

2. He’s the head over me

3. He’s Lord over me

4. I’d do what he says

What we must remember is Jesus has given us a command!

That in the New Testament….. it’s called THE commandment

John 13:34-35 (KJV)

34 A new commandment I give unto you, (what’s the commandment) That ye love one another; (here is the new part) as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 Is this important?

 Should be high on our list to understand and know?

I must say that in the body of Christ is a major defunct! - Expound!!

1. This is not a suggestion –

2. it’s not a good idea –

3. it’s a commandment

A commandment is in order

It’s not depending on how we feel toward the person

It’s not a conditional commandment

It’s not based on someone’s merit – or deserving it

We have been ordered and commanded to do it whether we feel like it are not

We have been ordered by the head of the church

So either we will be the rebellious – or do what the Lord has told us to do

 Is Jesus to really our Lord – yes!

 Then we are going to do it!!

As a church we are learning to do this – love one another!

So we can grow – and do what god has called us to do!

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (KJV)

9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

 We are exhorted to increase more in brotherly love

 We are taught of God

1 Thessalonians 4:9 (NLT)

God himself has taught you to love one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 (MSG)

You’re God-taught in these matters. Just love one another!

Look at your neighbor and say - You’re God-taught in these matters.

- I am God taught

The love command has nothing to do with

how you feel towards a person

STATEMENT - You’re obeying the love command

– and submitting to God the most….

When you don’t feel like loving your brother

 Someone said pastor I can love that person

The reason they can’t – is their love is based on a feeling

Love is not a feeling – it’s a commitment – it’s a commandment of the Lord

Love is not a fuzzy feeling we have toward someone

It’s a commandment of the Lord – not based on my feelings

It’s in order given to us by the head of the Church

In the army when someone gives you an order –

you don’t reason in your head to see if you feel like doing it

Obeying orders is not based on how you feel

People have thought that love is a feeling

Most people in the world think that love is the feeling

Most Christians think that love is a feeling

God is love

The bible says

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

And when Jesus laid down his life –

he wasn’t having warm fuzzy feelings towards us

He was loving us

Sacrificing himself for us

Wonder what kind of feeling as Jesus had towards us when he

1. was scourge

2. Nailed to the cross

3. When he offered up himself for us

We know what feelings he had in the garden

He said: Lord if there be any way - let this cup pass from me