Love Came For Me To Set Me Free Series

Introduction Song by Beth out of communion: Love came for me from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8tjqtJA_xU

Thoughts from Shannon Wexelberg on her song “Love came for me!”

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…

Have you ever wondered how the cast of Heaven reacted to the news? We don’t have any indication as to how much information the Father shared with them about the “plan” before He made the announcement. But can you imagine the moment when Heaven became aware that the Son Jesus, who had spent eternity at His Father’s side, was suddenly stepping off His throne and heading on a radical mission of redemption to planet earth? Seriously? It had to seem outlandish, extreme and rather unnecessary.

But isn’t that exactly what God’s love is for us? It makes no sense why the God who formed everything we see and beyond would stoop down to us, not out of pity, but because of great and compelling love. It’s true. God’s decision to send Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb was entrenched, doused and permeated by pure love.

Love came for me…

But what if He hadn’t? What if God had decided we weren’t worth the time and we were just too far gone? A hopeless case. What would my life look like today? It’s hard to say what decisions I would have made or where my path would’ve led without knowing this Love, or without having the mind of Christ, the Spirit of God and the hand of the Father leading and guiding me. What would my marriage look like? My family? My reaction to tragedy, death and unexplainable detours? My daily struggles? My eternity? My sense of peace? What if I wasn’t able to fall into the soft arms of grace when I fail or immerse myself in the amazing Love that cannot and will not fail me? It’s impossible to determine, but this I do know. My life has been changed because of this Love – this love that culminated upon a cross with a bloodied Savior hanging and beaten for MY sin.

The Lyrics of the song: Love came for me…

If You had not come

Tender baby King

And humbly left Your throne

To reach someone like me

If You had not walked

Upon this broken ground

Where on earth would I be now?

If You had not come

If You had not come

To seek the sick and lame

To set the captive free

To break the prisoners chains

I’d still be in the dark

Grappling for the door

Longing for some way, somehow (but…)

Love came for me

Love rescued me

Love called my name

Love took my place

Sweet Lamb of God

I’m bowing down

My eyes have seen

I’m finally free

Love came for me

If You had not come

Willing, spotless Lamb

My sin would be too much

For You to take me as I am

But, oh, the blood of Christ

That washes over me

Flowing from Your hands and feet

Don’t have to worry where I’d be

Love came for me

Love rescued me

Love called my name

Love took my place

Sweet Lamb of God

I’m bowing down

My eyes have seen

I’m finally free

Love came for me

This manger King

My everything

Love came for me

See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmUXtzn7vy0 her performing it live!

T.S. – I really believe the Holy Spirit is in this theme “Love came for me” for December. Why? Because the Lord helped me to find this song after we had chosen our title and theme for this month. I still find it amazing how it summarizes what we want to speak about this last month of 2016 about Jesus and Love.

Series: Love came for me!

Thesis: “Love is God” says 1 John 4:8 or to reverse this thought “Love is God” God minted and defined what Love is. John 1:1 tells us Jesus and God are one which also implies that Jesus is love.

Introduction Series:

This brings us to our series today “Love came for me” John 3:16, 1 John all point to this historical fact about Jesus. Jesus “Love” came for each and everyone one of us! Is that not amazing to ponder -meditate on and realize?

Over this next month we will be rediscovering – or for some discovering how Love came for you and me! Over 2,000 years ago!

Love came to do very specific things in our life according to Jesus -- let’s recall some scripture references to help us see this fact:

In the Old Testament has a prophetic passage which is found in the book of Isaiah which speaks of what the Savior will do when He comes:

Let’s read Isa 61:1-3: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor and release from darkness for the prisoners…