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
He had feelings – of wanting to get away ……from our stuff
Our sin
Our judgment
Our punishment
But – out of love for the Father and love for you
He laid his feelings aside – and he did it
He took our sin our judgment and are punishment
And I will be forever grateful
He laid his feelings aside – and he did it
And if he can do it – you can do it
Say it with me: I can lay my feelings aside - and I can love people
You do it by faith
It’s a decision
It’s an act of our will
The great thing about it is – if you have no feelings……
And you keep walking in love – eventually you will love!!
How many remember in 1st Corinthians
the scripture that tells us that love never fails
You see… God is love
For… love to fail – that would mean that God would fail
God cannot fail
There is nothing the devil can do
He is defeated -
love - the God kind of love – cannot fail
There is no defense for it
The enemy has no defense against love
I have made a decision to walk in love – so there is no defense against me
There is no weapon that can prosper
When walking in the God kind of love
You’re into something bigger than anyone can come against!!
You into something bigger than any devil to try to do against you!!!
It’s something as big as God himself!!!!!!
Say it with me: God cannot fail
Love cannot fail
Q: Don’t you like things that can’t fail?
Q: Don’t you like things the devil has no formal action towards
Q: Don’t you like things they causes you to have victory in every situation
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The bible says that we’ve been ordered to love
As he has loved us
And that we are taught of God how to do it
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So how do we love each other?
Number one) love prefers
Prefer means to choose one from the another - !!!!!!
Philippians 2:3 says…that we are to----- esteem other better than themselves.
1. Jesus demonstrated that when he laid aside his garments and took on the garb of a servant
2. He took some water and knelt down in front of his disciples and washed their feet like their servant
3. He was treating them - as they have more dignity and honor than himself
Q: were they in a higher place of authority than Jesus
A: certainly not!!
Q: did Jesus believe – they were intrinsically superior to himself
A: No!!
Q: even though Jesus is the master
– can he treat the disciples as though they have a high place than He does?
A: he can – and he did
Then he said – if I can do that - being your master
You should do it too
Q: can you treat somebody like they’re better than you? –
Without feeling inferior
Q: can you esteem them as better than you?
Q: can you treat them like there are more honored?
A: yes you can --- love does that!!
Love prefers
Love takes care of you
- and - makes sure that you have what you need
Before I take care of mine
It takes faith - to let go of what you need – and let someone else have it
Then believe God will take care of you
Number one) love prefers
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Number two)
Love does no harm to his neighbor
Love worketh no ill to his neighbor
Love will never do anything intentionally to harm someone else
Love take the burden upon you
Number three)
Love covers a multitude of sin
As the Lord has said:
Your sins and iniquities I will remember no more
Aren’t you glad that God is love?
Aren’t you glad that – is not going to bring up your mistakes in the future
Thank God
Q: so when it comes to other people – with their mistakes
Q: are you to bring them up?
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Number four)
T.T. 1 Thessalonians 2
The bible talks about in….
2 Corinthians 12:15 (KJV)
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
That’s the love of Christ
Selfishness of the flesh – is perfectly satisfied
For you to spend – and be spent – so I can have what I want
The selfishness of the flesh is perfectly willing to ---let it cost you
“its fine if four people get laid off so I get my promotion”
An interesting thing with - the selfishness of the flesh
1. You got it
2. I have it –
3. we were born with it
When we are born again ---- our flesh was not regenerated –
our spirit is
Your flesh – if you let it
….will be selfish as it ever was
The love of God was not shed abroad in your hand or your flesh
That’s why we got a control the flesh
We’ve got to let the man on the inside – dominate the man on the outs side
The problem with Christians is they keep their few spirit man locked in prison
God the creator of the universe – is trying to bust out –that you want let Him
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (KJV)
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls,(that is the spirit of Christ) because ye were dear unto us.
1 Thessalonians 2:7 (NIV)
7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
We were gentle among you – love is gentle - this will preach all day
I’ve seen people be harsh and hard
– all in the name of being righteous
All for just being “right”
The more harsh your –doesn’t make you any more right!!!
Proverbs 16:21 (KJV)
21 ………..the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
- Look at your neighbor and say:
- the sweetness of the lips increases learning
If you want people to receive more of what you say!!
Sweeten up
Listen:---how something is presented makes a world of difference
I’m not going any fingers
As you grow in the Lord your more aware of this
Being a undeveloped and the Lord – is being undeveloped in love
As a Christian grows up spiritually –
There are more aware of how they say and do things
People have no grown in the word of God – some think the need
To come across strong or harsh
Let me say this: love is strong – God is strong
God will correct you –the scripture says - whom the Lord loves he corrects
As Christians
we should all look to see
how we can eliminate harshness
Men in particularly – have a tendency to be harsh
But –the scripture tells us to not be harsh with our wives
How many know: that you can be strong without being harsh!!!
You can speak with a smile – and soft – and be completely unmoved
Rather than yelling.. and being harsh – “saying I said no”
Many times when a person is come across strong –
1. It’s an indication that their week
2. They really don’t have the authority they think they do
3. They think harshness indicates authority
The Lord showed me one time in dealing with people
“It’s not what a person needs to know” – “it’s what can they receive”
In dealing with people –
especially people who are young and the Lord
Gentleness is of the utmost importance!!!
Think with me
Your little 3 year old child brings you a picture they colored
And you look at it and say this isn’t art
– you fool take this back and do it right
No
You take the picture and say…. oh how beautiful –
I love it when you give me pictures – make me another one
God ministers to us in a way that we can receive
1 Thessalonians 2:7 (NIV)
7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
Usage Notes:
translated "nurse"
in 1 Thess. 2:7, denotes a "nursing" mother,
as is clear from the statement "cherisheth her own children;"
There’s nothing like a real mothers touch
Gentle and soft
Not throwing your child around the crib
a real mothers touch – will nourish the child – EXPOUND!!
The word and nourish – is depicted as like a hen takes care of their chicks
You remember:
Psalms 91:1-4 (KJV)
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
This is how the lord treats us - He shall cover thee with his feathers
And this is how the lord wants us to treat other people
To Cherish and be gentle!!!!!
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (KJV)
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse (like a mother caring for) cherisheth her children:
One translation says: “like a mother tenderly caring for her children”
Someone say: love takes care of
Look at your neighbor and say: love takes care of
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Turn to Luke 10
Love takes care of – Jesus use this as an example
Luke 10:25-37 (KJV)
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. (are we talking about love?)
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
It’s amazing what intellectual world we live in
People trying to talk their way out of believing God
People wanting to talk themselves out of what God that she tells them to do
People wanting to know what they can get away with
Q: why is this man bringing the question up - what is he wanting to know?
A: who he doesn’t have to love
Think with me:
Q: he’s willing to just justify himself for what?
A: for not loving people
• He wants Jesus to agree with him
• That he is OK and justify
• Not a loving most people
In his heart he knows he’s not right
Have you ever seen people like that
–people wanting you to agree with them
About something they know is not right!!
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, (a minister of helps) when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, (EXPUND) as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Hope you’re seeing this
Is he preferring the other man –over himself
Q: Is it costing him
- It’s cost him his time
- It’s messed up his day
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; (what does love do) and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Isaiah 49:14-16 (KJV)
14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
There’s nothing like a real mothers touch
Gentle and soft
This is how the lord treats us
And this is how the lord wants us to treat other people
To Cherish and be gentle!!!!!
“like a mother tenderly caring for her children”
Someone say: love takes care of
Look at your neighbor and say: love takes care of
