WHAT ACTION TRIPS YOUR TRIGGER? HAVE WE LOST OUR PASSION? LOVE IS #1…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (3 PART LESSON)
TEXT: Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
GET REAL? ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT YOUR LIFE? FAMILY? JOB? ARE YOU EXCITED WHEN THEY SAY: LET US GO TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD? TELL ME WHAT TICKS YOU OFF AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT MAKES YOU TICK. Have we lost our first love?
DEFINE:
*PASSION: strong emotion, zeal, desire, intense enthusiasm, eager interest, enjoyment.
*ZEAL: great energy or enthusiasm of an objective, fervor, eager, deep stirring,
Psalm 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Do we really love God? Sure we say God I love you more than words can say. JESUS we are head over hills in love with you. Do we work with our hands or from our heart? Remember when you first accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord? Everything was greener. Everyone was so pretty and wonderful. Then later someone becomes an irritant to you. You still love the lovely, but there is someone that just rubs you the wrong way? YOU LOVE JESUS THE MOST AS THE ONE YOU LOVE THE LEAST? Will you help IGNITE OTHERS’ PASSIONS?
I recently returned to my first pastorate in the mountains of east Kentucky. The snow was laying so beautiful on the mountains. I pastored this little mountain mission 8 ½ years. Back then we never had copy machines, they were spirit fluid duplicators. The lady I was visiting pulled out a copy of a study we taught on love. It was my handwritten notes. I could not believe my eyes. 40 (?) years ago. I asked could I take a picture of the notes.
YOU CAN GIVE AND NOT LOVE. IF YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME: YOU CAN NEVER LOVE WITHOUT GIVING… CHRISTIAN LOVE HAS TO PREFER THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THOSE AROUND US.
WE CAN GROW A SPIRITUAL CANCER OF SELF-LOVE THAT THINKS MORE HIGHLY OF ME AND OURS THAN WE OUGHT TO THINK. WE FACE AN EXCEEDING GREAT DANGER IN THE MODERN CHURCH. JESUS CLEARLY WARNED US:
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
I LOVE TO START WITH QUESTIONS: DEFINE LOVE?
HOW WOULD OUR ENEMY GO ABOUT TESTING YOUR PASSION AND LOVE?
HOW CAN WE INCREASE OUR PASSION AND OUR LOVING ABILITY?
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LOVE?
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE?
HOW DO YOU DAILY SHOW YOUR PASSION AND LOVE?
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LOVE IS #1… THERE ARE 10 FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT… WHAT IS NUMBER ONE?
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
WHAT IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT? IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR PASSION.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
BEING A CHRISTIAN HINGES ON LOVE… LOVE GIVES, LOVE FORGIVES. WHERE THERE IS PASSION YOU DON’T HAVE TO MAKE YOURSELF DO ANYTHING. YOU WANT TO DO WHAT YOU CAN.
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
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.
ONE OF THE HARDEST PASSIONS WE FACE IS TO KEEP ALIVE OUR BROTHERLY LOVE.
Hey, you know your brother and his faults and quirks. It is easier to love an orphan in Africa? WE MUST SET A GOAL… TO LOVE THOSE WE KNOW. To know me is to love me might not always be true?
1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE LOVE AND HATE AT THE SAME TIME?
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.
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.
GOD’S LOVE TEACHES US SOME GREAT TRAITS:
1. GOD IS IMPARTIAL, NO CLIQUES. Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
2. GOD’S LOVE IS UNSELFISH. Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
3. LOVE IS DEFINITELY PROOF THAT YOU ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS. John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
4. JESUS SERVES AS THE PARADIGM OR PATTEN FOR LOVE. John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
5. LOVE IS NOT AN OPTIONAL SUGGESTION. IT IS A REQUIREMENT. John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
6. GODLY LOVE MUST GROW AND INCREASE. IT CANNOT GROW STALE AND MOLDY..
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
7. LOVE IS ALWAYS SELF GIVING AND SELF SACRIFICE. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
8. LOVE KEEPS ORDER AND IT KEEPS OUR MOUTH AND DAILY LIFE IN LINE. 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
9. LOVE IS NOT A PASSIVE DO NOTHING ITEM. REAL LOVE DEMANDS ACTION. Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
John 21:16 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.
10. LOVE IS NOT ABOUT EGO’S AND WHO IS THE BOSS.
Mark 10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
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READ 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13…
1 Corinthians 13 is what we call the love chapter. If you will note there are 2 chapters on spiritual gifts. The love chapter is sandwiched right in the middle of the two gift chapters, 12 and 14. This makes an important point that if spiritual gifts are not operating in love they are all wrong. LOVE BRINGS BALANCE.
LET US LIST THE TRAITS OF CHRISTIAN LOVE.
LONGSUFFERING: having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially caused by other people. Patiently enduring lasting offense or hardships calmly without complaint, forgiving, to endure abuse and mistreatment, mercy. The Lord is longsuffering and he expects us to practice the same.
KINDNESS: friendly, generous, giving, considerate, treat people with respect, grace, service, thankfulness, gentle, warm, caring. Kindness will strengthen any relationship, to open your eyes and heart to understanding, to help, willing, soft hearted.
NO ENVY: begrudge, covet, want, resentful feeling, discontent, not satisfied, desire more, unhappy about others success, envy is the opposite of love, to feel lack, envy is harmful to one, comparison.
HUMILITY: modest about your own importance, pride goes before the fall, they acknowledge they are human and no better than anyone, they add value to others, they offer no excuses, they are grateful, meek, put others first, they listen, they care.
SELF ABASEMENT: NOT A BRAGGART, does not showoff, does not boast about achievements or possessions, big mouth, talker, making self-parades, big ego, self-centered.
PUFFED UP: vanity, proud, VIP--- very important person, big head, see themselves as bigger than others, swelled up, elevated self-opinion.
GOOD BEHAVIOR: proper or correct, teachable, satisfactory, conforms to the law and what is right, manners, polite, acts with good taste, optimistic, trusting,
DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN. UNSELFISHNESS, willing to put others needs before their own, generous, caring, giving,
IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED: quick tempered, hot head, fiery, explosive, touchy, short fuse, like a momma bear,
We must refuse to be any of the above.
THINKS NO EVIL: REFUSES TO LISTEN TO GOSSIP, refuses to accept less than the best, hopes for the best, refuses to hang out dirty laundry, even if the evil report is ugly we refuse to dwell on it. What if the idea is wrong?
DOES NOT REJOICE IN INIQUITY BUT REJOICES IN TRUTH. We find no delight in sin and wrong doing. Love compels us to come in love and lend a helping hand.
PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE: bears all things…. NO QUIT, to remain faithful, to persevere, love does not walk away, loyal, keep the passion.
HOPES ALL THINGS: Hopes all things is looking forward, investing with expectation, does not write off others, trust God can…
LOVE IS CHARITABLE… GIVING, GOOD WILL. Love loves to give the best it can. Love accepts.
LOVE FINDS JOY AND REJOICES –JOY. Love finds no joy in wrong and sin. But love finds joy in little things, there is joy in truth. Do we find joy every day? Be positive. Money and relationships can never bring joy. JOY IS A CHOICE THAT COMES FROM WITHIN…
CONCLUSION: We are all running in a race. I am not boxing the air. I must take a clear aim at our eternal goal. WHAT IS PASSION? WHAT KILLS PASSION? WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY? WHAT BRINGS JOY TO OUR HOUSE?
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Now there are 3 essentials to exist. FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE. The greatest of these is LOVE. Never play the enemy’s game and be bitter and hate. LOVE NEVER FAILS…
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Will you pray for me? ( This is a 3 part lesson on keeping our passion and love.)
