Being A Channel Of God's Love

Being a Channel of God’s Love

(Slide 1)

Today I would like to dissect the source of man’s love; the indicators of man’s love; and the necessity of God’s love in our lives. You, like me, may find yourselves becoming frustrated because of our inability to love in given situations. There is a good reason for this: it is called our Adamic nature, it comes natural for us. But, we can become conquers in this area IF WE LET GO AND LET GOD! The love of God is shed into our hearts this morning through the power of the Holy Spirit! Praise God!

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:7-11 (SLIDE 2)

(vs. 7) “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

Beloved,

(1) Let us love one another

(2) For love is of God

(3) Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

(vs. 8) “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

He that

(1) Loveth not

(2) Knoweth not God;

For

(1) 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.

In This was manifested the love of god (toward us)

(1) That God sent his only begotten Son into the world,

(2) 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.

Herein is love

(1) Not that we loved God,

(2) But that he loved us,

(3) And sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

(vs. 11) “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Beloved

(If) God so loved us,

(Then) We ought also to love one another.

Some Things about God’s Love:

- Love is not just a virtue of God. It is God Himself.

- Love is not something God begins.

- God does not “extend His energy to maintain” love.

- The love of God is as eternal as the nature of God.

- The love of God is self existing.

Ref: Towns, Elmer: Theology for Today (Belmont CA: Wadsworth: 2002) 114.

How can we love like God

(1) We must allow God’s love to flow through you.

(2) We must allow our lives to become a channel of God’s love (Thompson, 33):

A.“Love for one’s brother comes “from God.” It is evidence of being “born of God.” . . . It is not a virtue innate (inborn) in us nor is it learned behavior. It is “from God” He is the originator—the giver of love.” (Barker, 342)

We have Yielded our Right to Choose

“When you make Christ Lord of your life ------ you forever surrender the right to choose whom you will love” (Thompson, 31).

LET’S LOOK AT ANOTHER TEXT:

Scripture Text: 1 John 3:16 SLIDE 3

16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

I) EXPRESSIONS OF GOD’S LOVE SLIDE 4

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:5 – God’s love is shed into our hearts through the Holy Spirit: “. . . because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:4-5 - 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

II. GOD EXPECTS US TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE. SLIDE 5

A. Our Message to the World.

1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

(1) God’s act (Jesus death, so that we might live [vs. 9)) has its intention not just for our salvation (Gospel of John 3:17) but our living. And it is to be a “living” in love so that God’s love is seen ‘visibly working’ in us and through us” [Wescott] (Barker, 343).

Three Incentives for Displaying Love (1 John 4:7-12)

(1) … because this is the nature of God (4:8); “for God is love” (Lea & Black, 558).

(2) ... because of the historical demonstration of love in Christ’s death (Lea & Black, 558).

1 John 4:10-11: Herein is love (agape) [Here is what love is], not that we loved God, but [A sharp contrast} that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation [Propitiation: This means the turning away of wrath by an offering] for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.