#1 UNDERSTANDING LOVE...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
WHAT IS LOVE?
TEXT:
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love;
and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN LOVE?
Webster defines love: a feeling of strong or constant affection.
attraction, admire, unselfish loyal concern.
LOVE IS A DOORWAY THAT OPENS FROM THE ROOM OF SELFISHNESS
THAT TAKES US INTO THE NEWNESS OF ACTION AND SERVICE THAT CAN
NOT BE LEGISLATED, COMMAND, --- THAT WHICH MONEY CAN NEVER BUY.
Love knows no boundaries or limits. Love purifies and will always find a
good outlet.
Love can rule with no force.
Love needs no ropes or no cords to bind.
WE ARE ALL ALIKE, AND WHAT WE EXPERIENCE IS COMMON.
I NEED YOU AND YOU NEED ME.
Can we see LOVE AS THE UNIVERSAL KEY...
LOVE IS NOT OPTIONAL IF YOU PLAN ON GOING TO HEAVEN...
John 15:17 (KJV) These things I command you, that ye love one another.
THERE IS A REAL LESSON AFTER THE RESURRECTION...
THE LORD HAS A PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH LOUD MOUTH, QUICK
TEMPERED SIMON PETER SON OF JONAS...
LOVE MUST BE AN ACTION WORD --- MORE THAN WORDS...
LOVE IN ENGLISH MEANS MANY THINGS...
I love chocolate?
I love the dog? LOVE MEANS MANY DIFFERENT THINGS?
I love you?
I love my mom and dad?
I love my sons?
I love my wife Linda?
WHAT IS JESUS SAYING TO SIMON PETER?
John 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that
he was risen from the dead. 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest
that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love
thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest
thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
JESUS QUESTIONS PETER? IN ENGLISH...
DO YOU LOVE ME?
DO YOU LOVE ME?
DO YOU LOVE ME?
IN JESUS TERMS:
DO YOU LOVE ME? EROS--- judgmental and deliberate choice, cold, keep at a distance,
not inviting one to come close.
DO YOU LOVE ME? PHILO, --- personal affection, close as in the same room,
DO YOU LOVE ME? AGAPEO--- satisfying, personal attachment, great affection,
THE HEART IS FULL
ADOPTION: THE GIVING OF ONE'S NAME AND PLACE AND PRIVILEGES
ADOPTION CAN TAKE 3 FORMS:
1. Natural: Moses was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter.
Esther was adopted by Mordecai (her uncle)
2. NATIONAL: God adopted Israel.
3. SPIRITUAL: grace, blessings, redeemed.
LOVE IS THE TEST!
GOD TEACHES US LOVE IS THE SPIRITUAL LAW:
1. LOVE GOD ---
2. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF...
There is a triangle of love:
Love God --- Love others --- Love self...
Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the
brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother
is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this;
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Galatians 5:14 (NLT) For the whole law can be summed up in this one command:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
JESUS WARNS US OF A GREAT DANGER...
I HAVE SOMEWHAT AGAINST YOU?
LOVE IS A LIVING THING and must be maintained to thrive.
Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love.
Ever consider what was YOUR BEST and BRIGHTEST HOURS?
Recall the time at the altar when the burden of sin was rolled away?
Remember when you LOVED EVERYONE?
Think when PEACE was ours?
IS THE FLAME STILL BURNING BRIGHT?
LOVE REACHES FAR BEYOND DUTY
HIS BANNER OVER ME IS LOVE!
WE LIVE IN A "HAVE TO AGE!" DO I HAVE TO TITHES? GO TO CHURCH?
LOVE IS BEYOND HAVE TO...
Song of Songs 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
This area of the coast was dangerous and rocky. Many ships crashed on the perilous
rocks. A VERY TALL LIGHT HOUSE WAS ERECTED TO WARN THE SHIPS.
Often the husband would tell his wife: KEEP THE GLOBE SPOTLESSLY CLEAN
AND THE LIGHT BRIGHTLY BURNING.
The couple worked over 50 years at a LIGHT HOUSE on the ocean front.
The husband would tell his wife: KEEP THE GLOBE SPOTLESSLY CLEAN
AND THE LIGHT BRIGHTLY BURNING.
The couple had been very faithful to: KEEP THE GLOBE SPOTLESSLY CLEAN
AND THE LIGHT BRIGHTLY BURNING.
The couple devoured their life to: KEEP THE GLOBE SPOTLESSLY CLEAN
AND THE LIGHT BRIGHTLY BURNING.
Now in their old age the husband would say often: KEEP THE GLOBE SPOTLESSLY
CLEAN AND THE LIGHT BRIGHTLY BURNING.
NEVER HAD A SHIP CRASHED IN THE COUPLES YEARS OF DUTY.
The Coast Guard was called and had to take the elderly husband to the local
hospital. The wife was faithful to: KEEP THE GLOBE SPOTLESSLY CLEAN
AND THE LIGHT BRIGHTLY BURNING WHILE HE WAS GONE.
After a few days the Coast Guard Cutter pulled up on the rocky coast and the
wife ran to meet the men. She knew in her heart her precious husband would
not return this time. The officers told her that her loving husband had peacefully
passed away. They spent some time with her.
As they prepared to leave, the lady asked: DID MY HUSBAND SAY ANYTHING
AS HE DIED?
The captain said: OH, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU. HE TOLD ME TO TELL YOU:
KEEP THE GLOBE SPOTLESSLY CLEAN AND THE LIGHT BRIGHTLY BURNING.
SOMETIMES LIFE STILLS OUR LOVE AND THE SENSE OF DUTY DEMANDS
MORE THAN WE ARE WILLING TO COMMIT?
THE LOVE OF GOD CONTRAINS US...
LOVE BRINGS SELF-CONTROL AND SELF-DISCIPLINE.
Any one can love the lovable. Our call is much deeper than that.
Can we love the unlovable? God calls us to love the hard to love people.
Love CONSTRAINS US...
SHOW ME WHERE YOU SPEND YOUR LOVE AND MONEY AND I CAN TELL YOU
WHAT YOU LOVE!
TELL ME WHAT YOU LOVE AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU ARE!
If we love we need no law!
The person that loves right will do right!
The person who disrespects love and who loves wrong will do wrong no matter what the
law teaches.
2 Corinthians 5:14 (KJV) For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,
that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2 Corinthians 5:14 (NLT) Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died
for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
2 Corinthians 5:14 (MSG) Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first
and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center:
One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES? !!!
JESUS TOOK US TO NEW LEVELS IN LOVE.
JESUS SAID LOVE IS NOT OPTIONAL!
YOU PICK YOUR FRIENDS? YOU PICK YOUR ENEMIES?
JESUS TAKES LOVE TO THE Nth DEGREE:
1. TURN YOUR CHEEK WHEN YOU ARE SLAPPED.
2. YOU ARE COMPELLED TO GO ONE MILE, JESUS SAID GO THE SECOND MILE.
3. FEED YOUR ENEMIES...
Matthew 5:44 (KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:44 (MSG) I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies.
Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer,
The LAW OF LOVE is above all laws.
When you are dating: OPPOSITES ATTRACT...
After 2 years of marriage: OPPOSITES ATTACK!
LOVE COMES OPEN HEARTED--- OPEN HANDED
IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL LIFE WILL END CLOSED FISTED?
HATRED CAN NEVER WIN... HATRED BREEDS HATRED...
LOVE Can never be defeated.
LOVE CONQUERS ALL --- LOVE IS THE GREATEST WEAPON...
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth:
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest
of these is charity.
To be the greatest disciple is NOT HE THAT KNOWS THE MOST?
OR HE THAT HAS THE MOST TROPHIES OF SUCCESS?
HE THAT LOVES THE MOST FINDS THE HEART OF GOD AND BECOMES THE
GREATEST SERVANT.
Love has: 1. No reserves; 2. No retreats; 3. No regrets...
IF LOVE DOES NOT GROW --- LOVES DIES...
Love is a like a GARDEN with TENDER PLANTS,
you must do more than just plow and place seeds in the ground.
You must hate WEEDS, and break the fallow ground.
For the plant to become strong and enduring ---
but if you are lazy and neglect your garden the plants will dry up,
be choked out, wither and die.
Duty is the Law --- LOVE is grace and mercy.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
