“HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE?”
9/27/09 am Service LWC
INTRODUCTION:
If I were to ask you this morning if you love your Husband, you would say yes! If I were to ask you if you love your wife, you would say yes! At the very least I hope you would! “HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE?”
You’ve most likely heard the comment or the question, so “HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE?” Are you having a “LOVE AFFAIR” with someone right now?
No! I’m not asking about your sex life, I’m not asking about your intimacy or marriage. I’m not even asking about your relationship with the one you love the most. I’m asking about your “LOVE LIFE” with the most important person in the world.
The Dictionary says of “LOVE” - an intense feeling or deep affection; a great interest & pleasure in someone or something; a person or thing that one loves “LOVE” as a verb means - to feel love for; like very much; showing love for or great care or interest.
So I ask the question and pose it to you again. “HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE?” From what the Dictionary says “YOUR LOVE LIFE” should be something of an intense nature with feeling & deep affection, with great interest & pleasure, to feel love for, like very much & showing great love, care & interest!
So “HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE?” How does your “LOVE LIFE” with the most important person in the world to you add up this morning? IS YOUR “LOVE LIFE” VIBRANT & EXCITING? IS YOUR “LOVE LIFE ” INTENSE WITH GREAT FEELING, CARE & INTEREST?
Or is your “LOVE LIFE” like many of the people in the world today. Kind of a distraction, well unless you’re a newly wed! Then that is the only thing they think about, their “LOVE LIFE!” But for the most part our, collective, “LOVE LIVES” are rather MUNDANE a DISTRACTION, something we’ve come to terms with and FEEL COMFORTABLE about and with!
Please, don’t get me wrong I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that but if the spark is gone then the excitement of love and life seems to fade and with it the greatest of joy.
My wife & were sitting in a restaurant Friday evening watching a couple of teenagers who seemed to act like they thought they were in love. They were ignoring everybody else, oblivious to all the others who were there watching them, especially us sitting right across from them as they teased, tickled & touched one another. Feeding each other their food from their respective plates. Then they got up leaving & started playing with one another & giggling!
I looked at my wife and said, “Young Love what do they know?” & for a second we looked at each other while I kind of hung my head in shame hoping to recover but there was none! I finally said, “Well, at least we don’t have to act like that!” Yea!
But you know there was something refreshing about what we saw! I’m not one for public displays of affection that are overt & disrespectful but it was young & they were enthralled with one another!
I remember the being young & young in love! I remember calling my wife 10 or 15 times a day. Now it’s a respectful once or twice! I’m sorry honey!
One of the things I remember my Pastor, Bro. Chapin, doing with couples is telling them to go on a date with one another, go on a honeymoon together, get away from the kids, the job, the responsibilities & get alone together! Good advice!
I think we need to have some quality time together with the one we love the most in the whole world! I know you think this is a sermon and message on Marriage. It is! But not the marriage you may be thinking about!
Folk, all that I’ve said thus far is true to be taken in consideration for your human marriage but I’m talking about that GREATEST MARRIAGE OF ALL! THAT MARRIAGE THAT WILL LAST FOREVER! THAT MARRIAGE THAT THE BRIDE GROOM BOUGHT & PAID FOR HIS BRIDE WITH HIS VERY LIFE! THAT ONE THAT WILL BE “CONSUMMATED AT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB!”
THAT ONE WHOSE GROOM IS CHRIST & WHOSE BRIDE IS THE CHURCH!
Folk, we need to get back to that “YOUNG LOVE” we had with our GROOM! We need to get back to that relationship with Him that was & is tantamount to all others! That relationship that cries out for “TOUCH”, that cries out for “INTIMACY”, that relationship that cries out for “FELLOWSHIP”, that relationship that cries out for “TIME!” “TIME TOGETHER!”
I love it when my wife holds my hand! I like it most when she initiates the holding of hands! Don’t you think that Jesus feels the same way! IT’S A MAN THING! WE LIKE IT WHEN OUR BRIDE TAKES OUR HAND ON HER OWN! IT MAKES US FEEL SPECIAL!
I believe JESUS feels the very same way! When WE “INITIATE” the “Holding of Hands” with Him, When WE make it important to us to tell Him We want Him to hold our hands it shows our love for Him!
SAYING IT IS EASY BUT SHOWING IT IS MEANINGFUL!
Revelation 2 tells us...
“These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands. I know your works, your labor, your patience & you cannot bear those who are evil. & you have tested those who say they are apostle & are not. & have found them liars, & you have persevered & have patience, & have labored for My name’s sake & have not become weary, NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE THIS AGAINST YOU. THAT YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent & do the fist works or else I will come to you quickly & remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent.”
Please don’t get me wrong! Here is a church, the church of Ephesus, who was backsliding because they had lost their “FIRST LOVE!” They were devoted, they were busy, they had all the activities of a successful church, did all the things expected of a church but they had lost their “FIRST LOVE!” THEIR DEVOTION TO CHRIST FIRST & FOREMOST!
I’m not saying or equating you with that church this morning! But can we compare ourselves to a MARRIAGE WHOSE “LOVE” IS NOT AS “VIBRANT”, NOT AS “ALIVE”, NOT AS “INTENSE”, NOT AS “INTIMATE” AS IT ONCE WAS!
I was studying for this sermon last night & began to weep & cry as I felt the cry of a Husbandman who was yearning for the “INTIMACY OF HIS BRIDE!”
Paul said it in Revelation 2 when he spoke about their works, the busy-ness but that they had lost something far more valuable than those things! That which is most precious to Jesus Christ & that is the intimacy of a “FIRST LOVE!”
Again folk, do not misunderstand me! “PRAISE” is important & needful but “INTIMACY” doesn’t come out of “PRAISE” alone, or shouting & dancing alone!
“INTIMACY” w/Christ is more than that! Sometimes those things “EDIFY” the “FLESH MORE THAN THE SPIRIT!” I’m talking about a unique relationship that is more than just a feeling!
Make no mistake! Praise is important! But if “PRAISE” substitutes meaningful relationship then “PRAISE MEANS LITTLE!” I don’t believe that God accepts “PRAISE” as a “SUBSTITUTE FOR RELATIONSHIP!” I’ve seen people “PRAISE” & live different than their “PRAISE” & have little “MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP” with God!
I’m talking about a relationship that is “SPIRIT to SPIRIT!” A KINDRED TYPE OF “SPIRITUAL BONDING” THAT COMES THROUGH “DEVOTION!” REAL TRUE DEVOTION TO CHRIST! THAT’S THE “FIRST LOVE” THAT PAUL WAS TALKING ABOUT IN REVELATION!
For the most part many Christians have a relationship with Jesus Christ & God that is pretty “SUPERFICIAL” at most! It’s like they know Who He is, they know Him but they don’t REALLY know Him in the INTIMACY HE DESIRES & REQUIRES!
So “HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE, YOUR INTIMACY WITH JESUS?” IF YOU’RE NOT “CLOSE & INTIMATE” WITH JESUS YOU’LL NOT BE “CLOSE & INTIMATE” WITH GOD!
II. HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE WITH ONE ANOTHER?
There are 19 passages in the in the New Testament about loving one another! Loving one another is important! Jesus said in John 13:34
“This is a new commandment I give you. That you LOVE ONE ANOTHER, as I have loved you. By this all men shall know you are My disciples.”
Jesus said that “all men shall know” by our love for one another! So “HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE WITH ONE ANOTHER?”
III. LOVE OF SOULS!
I Corinthians 8:3 tells us...
“But if any man LOVE God then the same is known of him.”
What does that mean in my sermon this morning on So “HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE?” I’ glad you asked! I’ll tell you what it means! It means that if you “LOVE GOD THEN WHAT GOD LOVES YOU’LL LOVE!”
Just what does “GOD LOVE” the most? Again, I’m glad you asked me cause I’m going to tell you! GOD LOVES PEOPLE!
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD...THAT WHOSOEVER...SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE!”
If you love me than you’re going to love, for the most part, what I love! If you love me then you’ll love my granddaughter Kaci! If you don’t love Kaci then we’ll not have the relationship we could have because I LOVE HER!
YOU SEE! YOUR “LOVE OF SOULS” & PEOPLE IS INDICATIVE OF YOUR “LOVE LIFE” WITH JESUS! YOUR LOVE OF SOULS IS INDICATIVE OF YOUR “MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP” WITH GOD!
IF YOU DON’T LOVE SOULS LIKE HE LOVES SOULS THEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GOD! BECAUSE HE LOVES SOULS!
Altar Call
