1. The love of God is foundational & unquestionable.
• Jesus is GOOD SHEPHERD who laid down His life for the sheep!
• In His life, His death, His resurrection, He poured into our very hearts His own special love!
• He didn’t just sprinkle His love, or scatter His love, but rather He LAVISHED IT upon us in overflowing amounts!
Romans 5:5 (NKJV) 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
NOTE: We have this increasing joy of His love in our lives.
• THE LOVE of God is so different than what this world offers.
• Truly, the WORLD’S LOVE is in opposition to God’s love.
• Read through 1 John 2:15-17
NOTE: It’s true, God’s love is unlike any other love.
• Today we’ll see just how wonderful God’s love is and how He demonstrated it through his Son Jesus Christ.
• So, if you’re taking notes…
#1 – (v6) God’s love is UNCONDITIONAL. V6
• Jesus died for who? The UNGODLY.
• We were absolutely hopeless & helpless when Lord died for us.
• We couldn’t help out even a little bit.
• Really, God doesn’t need my help.
HAVE YOU NOTICED how many times we read of people in the Bible that decided to help God out a little… and failed.
• Abram & Sarah… they decided to help God out a little and Ishmael was born to them.
Genesis 17:19 (NKJV) 19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
• King Saul… he decides to not destroy ALL the Amalikites, but ends up dying at the hand of one.
1 Samuel 15:14 (NKJV) 14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”
• James & John… they decided to help the ministry a little by calling fire down from heaven to take of people.
Luke 9:55-56 (NKJV) 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.
• Even Peter… he tried to defend the Lord in the garden and cut a guys ear off.
Matthew 26:52-53 (NKJV) 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
THE TRUTH IS YOU & I cannot help God out. He doesn’t need it.
• That’s why my heart grieves when I hear of ministers & ministries talk about how much God needs your help.
• If you don’t send in you pledge or seed faith vow, our ministry will shut down.
LISTEN… God isn’t broke. He isn’t dependent upon us either.
Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Philippians 4.19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Where & When God guides, He always provides!
• Oh what a wonderful lesson to learn. God’s faithfulness!
• If God’s in it, then He is going to provide all that we need.
• He’ll provide the money, people, open doors, the faith!
• It’s just so awesome to step back and watch God work!
• You are sitting in something that forever will remind us of God’s faithfulness to a group of people who simply want to seek Him!
• We have learned to trust in the Lord for all of our needs.
MAYBE you’re here today for the first time, or for the first time in a long time and have a hard time admitting you’re helpless!
• It’s hard to say isn’t it? But you can cry out to God who helps the helpless & sends His Son to those who are without strength!
#1 – (v6) God’s love is UNCONDITIONAL. V6
#2 – (v7) God’s love is INCOMPARABLE! (v7)
• We experience love on so many levels with others in this world.
• But the love of God has no comparison.
• Think of someone like Pastor Chuck Smith taken hostage.
• They say, “We’re going to kill this man unless someone steps up to replace him.” Well MANY PROBABLY WOULD step up.
• But then think of the worst criminal, the worst person and who do you think would step up and die for them?! Forget it… kill em!
BUT JESUS CHRIST came to die for the very worst of people!
• HE even came to die for us.
• YOU Might even feel like the worst right now… so far from God.
• Don’t be afraid to admit your helplessness, to come to Jesus just as you are and believe.
John 1:11-12 (NKJV) 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
#1 – (v6) God’s love is UNCONDITIONAL. V6
#2 – (v7) God’s love is INCOMPARABLE! (v7)
#3 – V8-10 God’s love is INCOMPREHENSIBLE v8-10
• Jesus died for the ungodly, still sinners, enemies!
• That’s the demonstration of God’s love…
• While we were living like God didn’t even exist.
• When we didn’t have any reverence or respect for God.
• While were mocking Him, making fun of Him, taking His name in vain, stomping on His precious work… He died anyway!
• While we were actively & purposely & willingly breaking God’s Law, he died for us.
• It’s absolutely mind-blowing.
The true story is told of Prussian king Frederick the Great. He was once touring a Berlin prison and as he walked by, the prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence. Man after man proclaiming that he didn’t do it, he wasn’t guilty, there was a great miscarriage of justice.
That is, all except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, “Why are you here?”
“Armed robbery, Your Majesty,” was the reply.
“And are you guilty?”
“Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment.”
Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, “Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it.”
http://net.bible.org/illustration.php?topic=307
Finally, someone who was honest, not trying to cover up things.
• I was wrong. I did it. I deserve to be here.
• It’s at the point when God rushes in to help!
1 John 2:1-2 (NKJV) 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Jesus, in His love, can take care of the sin problem in your life!
• You don’t have to get upset to hear of your need.
• You don’t’ have to run away from God in sin.
• You can come to Christ and get your life cleansed by His love and His work in your life!
That’s exactly what happens when you surrender to Him!
• He washes you from the inside out.
• Not like my car that gets a quick wash on the outside while the inside gets ignored.
• (I had a friend get in my car not too long ago and say, “YUP A TYPICAL PASTOR’S CAR.”)
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Ezekiel 11:19 (NKJV) 19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,
The love of God… unconditional, incomparable, incomprehensible…
• And finally, God’s love is SIMPLY WONDERFUL!
• A drawing love, a protective love, a love filled with hope!
• Look at v9-10--- much more then…
• Saved from wrath… saved by His life.
NOTE: We will be saved from wrath into life.
• Salvation has present blessings but also future blessings.
• You can look forward to not ever having to experience the wrath of God ever, never!
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NKJV) 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NKJV) 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
SO what is your destiny? If you’re in Jesus Christ it’s not wrath!
• Yet, if you’re not in Jesus today, then wrath awaits!
• That’s scary to me. But in God’s love He warns us…
• You can come out of this world and be separate…
• Flip over to Revelation 3:7ff
Here’s a church so close to eternity, walking in the Spirit…
• That the encouragement from Jesus is that He would keep them from the hour of testing…
• The hour to come upon the whole world!
• Our Father’s love will rescue us, deliver us, snatch us out!
• But only to those who are in Christ… reconciled as v11 says!
Let’s close with Hebrews 3:7-15
• The Bible says today is the day to accept Jesus.
• God loves you so much that he took away every barrier that there was to draw you to Himself.
• He’s not mad at you and His desire is that you not perish.
Jesus says you must confess your sin & say you have done wrong.
• And if you call upon Him to save you… He will!
Acts 4:12 (NKJV) 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
God’s Creation is so fantastic! I read about a type of spider that builds its nest in the branch of a small tree or bush. In this delicate enclosure the baby spiders are hatched. If the nest is disturbed in any way, the little spiders will all rush out in fright. At once the mother goes to their side.
She is alerted to their potential danger in a most unique manner. Each of the young ones has a thin silky strand attached to it, and all of these threads are joined to the body of the mother. When the babies are threatened by an enemy, they naturally scurry off, giving their lines a sharp tug. This is instantly felt by the adult spider. Within seconds she pulls them back to the nest where they are protected from harm.
I’m sure many of you have never heart of Mary Slessor. She was an unsung hero sent by God as a missionary to Calabar (Nigeria). Her calling was to rescue babies who were in danger and dying, and often the infants filled her home by the dozens. How to care for them through the night became a problem, especially when one of them stirred and cried. Mary learned to tie a string to each little hammock, lay in bed at night, and pull the strings as each baby needed soothing.
And as we look to God and His great love through Jesus today… we’re reminded of what the Prophet Hosea said…
Hosea 11:4 (NKJV) 4 I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.
THOSE GENTLE CORDS OF HIS ETERNAL LOVE BIND OUR HEARTS AND HURTS, OUR LIVES… to HIM!
The love of God… unconditional, incomparable, incomprehensible…
