Video Transition: Love Changes Everything – Skit Guys
Sermon: Love Like Jesus pt. 3
Thesis Series: To be able to “Love Well” means I embrace the 4 letter word, “Love” with its original definition and application given it by God. The sad reality is the word, “Love” has been twisted and distorted by this secular world and God is reclaiming its original definition. This broken world needs to experience God’s love through Jesus and through His followers. Love has the power to change people’s lives!
Thesis Sermon: Jesus was God’s Love personified in the flesh for all to see, hear, touch, smell and taste! John 3:16 makes this point clear: 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Fact: In the New International Version (NIV), the word love is mentioned 551 times. Roughly 2/3 of these times are in the NT!
Personification of love defined:
To “personify” is to represent a quality or concept by a human form. In a story, it is to have a character which embodies a character trait like “Love” or some other thing that must be communicated to the audience with clarity about what “love” looks like – acts like – or even is. That person in the story speaks and acts out what “Love” is, revealing the nature of that quality to the observers or readers. The gospels are a historical account of a man/God who embodied far more than good qualities. Jesus Christ personified the essence that sustains the universe (Hebrews 1:3) which is God who is love. The life of Christ personified Divine Love in the flesh, thus Jesus personified God Himself (John 14:9) who is “The Love.” The life of Jesus Christ provides that context for Divine Love, that it can be fully disclosed to men – you can experience it in the 5 senses. Jesus said, “No man can come to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6) The bible says “God is Love” (1 John 4). Without meeting the Christ of the gospels, mankind has little clue as to what that means. The Love that Christ embodied described for mankind a supernatural quality, the Divine essence of God Himself. It was Christ’s life that fully revealed God, the incarnation of His Love.
This is why John says in 1 John 4: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
The above was taken and adapted from https://brotherreuben.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/life-of-christ-love-personified/
Scripture Texts:
Matthew 19:19: Jesus said to the rich man, “… and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:36-40: Jesus responded to the religious leaders of the day, “36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
John 13:34-35: Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Introduction:
LOVE’s original definition is spelled out in Scripture – it is not complicated - “God is love” says 1 John 4:8 or to reverse this thought and make a point “Love is God!” God created and defined what Love is and what it should look like, and act like in this fallen world. John 1:1 tells us Jesus and God are one which also implies that Jesus is God’s love manifested in the flesh – in other words a recognizable expression of love in the flesh that all can see and model of God is found in Jesus.
Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life says, “Life is all about love!” “Because God is love, the most important lesson he wants you to learn on earth is how to love. It is in loving that we are most like him, so love is the foundation of every command he has given us; ‘the whole Law can be summed up in this one command; ‘Love others as you love yourself” (123)… “Love should be your top priority, primary objective, and greatest ambition” (124). Why Warren says, “Life without love is worthless” (124).
Point: Jesus is the personification of God’s love in the flesh for us to see, hear, taste, smell and even touch.
This means when we carry out an act of love it demonstrates the qualities and attributes of God modeled by Jesus who dwells in us through the Holy Spirit – Note: When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit moves into our temple – our body – which encompasses heart, mind, soul and spirit.
T.S. - So today I want to continue to explore Jesus’ Exemplary Model of Loving Well.
If we really want to pursue Loving Well in 2022 then there is no better place to look than Jesus himself – God’s personification of love in the flesh to us!
One important observation we can make about Jesus’ approach to loving well is that His work with people was a process. We sometimes think Jesus spoke and people were changed immediately – Yes, that happened for things like – healing and miracles - I saw him heal people like this in Scripture with a word, command or action, I read about how he spoke to the storm and it obeyed immediately – but when it came to people and loving them well it was always a process.
Please note the following points are taken, adapted and quoted from Norman Wright’s book:
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO CRISIS &
TRAUMA COUNSELING WHAT TO DO AND SAY WHEN IT MATTERS MOST! UPDATED & EXPANDED
© 2011 H. Norman Wright
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Jesus model on how to love well! The last few weeks we explored How Jesus was a role model for Love: (Summary of last few weeks points 1-7)
1. Jesus Was Compassionate (The Mercy Giver): Jesus was compassionate – He was the love of God in the flesh – people knew He loved and cared for them - This leads us into how Jesus loved others by accepting them right where they were at – a second observation of His ability to love well is His open arm policy.
2. Jesus Accepted People (The man/God with the open arm policy): Jesus accepted people – he touched them, accepted them, prayed for them, talked to them and showed them love and respect and yes, He even healed them. This act of loving well in turn told everyone watching and listening that Jesus gave people value and worth! It changed many of their lives to know Jesus loved them no matter what or were they had come from!
3. Jesus Gave People value – worth (The self-esteem booster): One of the ways Jesus gave worth to people was to show them their value in God’s eyes, by comparing God’s care for other creatures with God’s care for them: Jesus gave people value – eternal value and in the process of accepting others, valuing others He met people’s needs.
4. Jesus Met People’s Needs (The Need Buster): Jesus met the needs of people to show them He loved them and to show us how to love well too – he met needs, but he also used the right words to connect with people – Do you recall what I said about Jesus loving well? “I said it was always a process for Jesus in loving others well and trust me words matter through the process.”
5. Jesus Used the Right Words (The Word Smith): Jesus choose His words wisely to love others well and so should we but note he did always emphasize right behavior as a key to loving God and loving others too.
6. Jesus Emphasized Right Behavior (The Behavior Modifier) (Loving Well speaks the truth about God’s expectations of His followers): Jesus loved well by emphasizing right behavior and by getting people to accept responsibility.
7. Jesus Encouraged People to Accept Responsibility (The Counselor): Jesus encouraged people to take responsibility and he also provided them hope!
Sermon 3: Love like Jesus
8. Jesus Provided Hope (The Hope Giver)
a. Someone has wisely stated that if you could convince a man that there is no hope, he would curse the day he was born and then give up. Hope is essential in loving well.
i. Everyone needs Hope – it’s found in a relationship with Love.
b. To many people, Jesus gave them hope: And they were even more astonished when they thought there was not hope “Then who can be saved?” and Jesus responded to them, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible” (Mark 10:26-27, NASB).
i. With God there is always hope! God can always move mountains, open a door, work a miracle – bring a breakthrough!
1. It’s in the being and power of love to do the impossible – to bring a glimmer of hope and healing.
c. Hope is essential to a joy filled life – it’s a commodity missing for many in society today – we need to be dispensers of Hope.
i. Got Questions.com states this about Hope:
1. “The Bible has quite a lot to say about hope. Biblical hope has as its foundation faith in God. The word hope in English often conveys doubt. For instance, “I hope it will not rain tomorrow.” In addition, the word hope is often followed by the word “so.” This is the answer that some may give when asked if they think that they will go to heaven when they die. They say, “I hope so.” However, that is not the meaning of the words usually translated “hope” in the Bible.
a. Hope in the Bible has no “so” attached to it! Instead it has an exclamation point – I hope! It will be so with God!
2. Got questions explains the true meaning of Hope: In the Old Testament the Hebrew word “batah” and its cognates has the meaning of confidence, security, and being without care; therefore, the concept of doubt is not part of this word. We find that meaning in Job 6:20; Psalm 16:9; Psalm 22:9; and Ecclesiastes 9:4. In most instances in the New Testament, the word hope is the Greek elpis/elpizo. Again, there is no doubt attached to this word.
a. Definition of hope according to the Bible: Therefore, biblical hope is a confident expectation or assurance based upon a sure foundation for which we wait with joy and full confidence. In other words, “There is no doubt about it!”
b. One of the verses in which we find the word hope is Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
i. When you are experiencing the God of Love and a relationship with “Love” you have a sure confidence that God is with you, He has your back.
3. The definition of Biblical Hope: Therefore, biblical hope is a reality and not a feeling. Biblical hope carries no doubt. Biblical hope is a sure foundation upon which we base our lives, believing that God always keeps His promises!
a. The above taken from https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-hope.html
d. Jeremiah 29:11: 11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
i. This promise was said to the Israelite people when they were captives and God kept His promise to prosper them!
T.S. – Jesus always gave people hope and so should we if we want to love well! But to Love Well we must also be encouragers.
9. Jesus Encouraged People (The Motivating Life Coach)
a. Jesus regularly and inclusively encouraged people around Him: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light” (Matt. 11:28-30, NASB).
i. Jesus lifted people up – he let them know they are not alone or deserted by Him or God.
ii. He told them they could do the impossible when the world said they could not do anything!
b. Jesus seemed to use three types of encouragement to love well and make disciples - according to https://rickhowerton.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/disciple-making-and-encouragement-3-practices-of-jesus/:
i. Encouragement to move forward in faith – In Matthew 14 Jesus comes walking on water. He approaches his disciples who had gone ahead of Him in the boat. When Peter sees Jesus he cries out, ““Lord, if it’s You, command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus encourages Peter to move forward by simply stating, “Come!” Scripture then describes what Peter did, “And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.
1. Disciple makers who aid those they’re discipling to become mature disciples don’t keep them in their comfort zones, they encourage them to move into dangerous places in faith.
a. Jesus encouraged people to step out in faith and watch what God does!
ii. Encouragement to embrace a new identity – Matthew 16 describes a moment in time when Jesus called Simon by his new name, Peter. The HCSB Study Bible describes what took place, “Although Matthew previously referred to Simon as Peter, this is the first time in the Gospel that Jesus did so. Jesus identified Peter as the rock on which His church would be founded.” (p.1644)
1. Jesus revealed Peter’s new identity. Peter, a man who was once flagrantly and outrageously spastic in his ideas and actions, went on to lead the early church. Jesus gave Peter a new identity and it changed Peter’s perspective of himself and his role in the Kingdom of God.
2. Each time a disciple reminds a disciple of their new identity in Christ, that they are Jesus’ ambassador, His child, His priest, and His bride, the disciple steps up and lives the life of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
3. The secular world and the evil power of darkness want to steal away people’s identity in Jesus!
a. The identity thief – Satan is a cunning entity that wants to steal away who you are in Christ! He wants to convince you to not believe the truth of God as to who you are – or how God created you!
i. John 8:42-47: The Children of the Devil
1. 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
ii. He wants you to question “How God made and designed you!”
1. Case in point: the push in public schools to confuse kids with LGBT agenda today – they are telling our kids/grandkids that their gender is their choice and even though they are one gender – God made a mistake designing them that way. They are something they are not!
a. This comes from the Father of lies – Why so as to steal the God given identity away from them - they have been designed by God their Creator!
iii. He “The Father of Lies” wants to convince you that you cannot defeat Him, or resist temptation or bondages.
1. You will never be set free from porn.
2. You will never be set free from drugs or alcoholism.
3. You will never be set free from anger rage.
iv. He “The Father of lies” wants to discourage you from stepping out in faith – growing in faith and realizing you have the power of the Holy Spirit to drive back the lies and change the world around you for good.
1. He wants to convince you to live in fear – to distrust other s- look at others as if they are going to give you a deadly disease!
b. Robby Dawkins quote: “…He was completely defeated when Jesus walked out of the tomb, but he does not seem to realize it. He and his followers never seem to get tired of whispering into the ears of Christ’s followers, doing everything within their power to demoralize and defeat us…Please believe me when I tell you that you are not the person Satan says you are. You do not have to listen to that condemning voice in your head or those negative feelings in your emotions. Do not trust them. They are lies. He would like nothing better than to get you to doubt yourself and the God who created you” (Page 28, Identity Thief).
4. Romans 8:31-37
a. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
iii. Encouragement to forgive ourselves.
1. Jesus did this with Peter after he denied him three times in John 21.
2. If Jesus and God the Father forgive us – then we have no right not to forgive ourselves for our sins and failures!
3. Jesus encourages us and the Bible is filled with examples of people who did not think they were worthy to be used by God/Jesus to do Kingdom miracles and stuff.
a. Like Moses wo was – I am not worthy to do this I killed someone!
b. Like David – I am a adulterer!
i. But God says: “He was a man after my own heart!”
c. Isaiah who said “Woe to me” when he sees the Lord in a vision! “I am ruined!” but he was not God used Him – spoke through him!
d. Paul who said, “I am the chief of sinners!” (1 Timothy 1:15)
i. He persecuted the church but Jesus appeared to him and called Him to his new identity to change the world with the truth of the Gospel – He writes a large part of the New Testament – established churches and sees God do miracles through him.
4. Robby Dawkins says, “You are in good company if you think you are unworthy of being used by the Lord in a mighty way. Again, the key is to remain open and honest with God, with yourself and with others regarding who you really are” (Page 49).
T.S. – Jesus encouraged people and he connected encouragement with peace of mind!
10. Jesus Emphasized Peace of Mind (The Prince of Peace)
a. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (John 14:27, NASB).
i. If there is one thing a person who needs to be loved well and usually does not have, it is peace of mind. Jesus offered that hope. Our task in loving well is to help others discover it.
b. This world needs peace - that peace comes from Jesus and loving others well.
i. Ukraine needs peace – so does the world!
ii. Peace only comes from the power of love – when you have a relationship with “Love” peace comes with it!
T.S. – Jesus connected peace of mind to renewing of the mind and how we view the world.
11. Jesus Helped Reshape, or Refashion, People’s Thinking (The Mind Renewer)
a. Jesus helped people redirect their attention from the unimportant things of life to the important (see Luke 5:22-25; 12:22-27).
i. Question: How do you view the world? What is your world view? By the way we all have one – but is yours Biblical?
b. He taught that focusing on treasures in heaven instead of on earthly treasures would lead to a joy-filled heart (see Matt. 6:19-21).
i. But many even Christian today think joy comes from having things – material stuff – money and toys!
c. The truth is every one of us whether we know it or not have a worldview. There are no exceptions here everyone has one whether we admit it or not.
i. The authors of biblicalworldview.com state, “Our worldview is the set of presuppositions and beliefs that we use to interpret and form opinions and values concerning life, humanity, family, authority, justice, truth, duty, etc. Our worldview is the “big picture” and culmination of all our beliefs. It is the way we understand reality. It is the basis from which we make daily decisions.”
1. So, our worldview makes a huge difference in the way we approach and live our life! We see through politics and elections how different people’s worldviews are – and many of us say “They are so blind – how can they think that way!” The truth is that person has a different starting point than you do as a Christian. We always start with the foundation of the Bible but others do not and this is why they think differently than we do about serious societal and political issues.
ii. But we need to understand that worldviews do matter in the entire scope of any society – it determines culture – it determines right and wrong - it determines policy – it determines belief systems – family systems – political systems and many more systems in society. It will also determine the health of a society. Opposing worldviews will always collide bringing turmoil, arguments, war, fights, tensions, political dissension and disunity.
1. Do you recall the holiday gatherings when family members with different worldviews clashed over mashed potatoes and Turkey dinner? Do you recall the tension and heated arguments – the family members who left early that night or day! They were most likely clashing over opposing worldviews.
iii. There are 5 key areas which determine our worldview according biblicalworldview.com:
1. God - Is there a personal, transcendent Supreme Being to whom we are all accountable? If so, what is this God like? If not, then what? etc.
2. Creation - Where did the world come from? What sustains it all? Is there a spiritual part of reality or is it all material? etc.
3. Humanity - Who are we? What gives us any unique value? etc.
4. Moral Order - Who makes the rules? Do some rules apply to everyone? etc.
5. Purpose - Why do we exist? Who determines this?
iv. So, let’s now look at what really is a Biblical Worldview!
1. Question to explore: What is a Biblical Worldview?
a. So, what is a Biblical Worldview? A Biblical Worldview is a comprehensive understanding of the world that is formulated by the authority of the Bible (The Word of God) and the person of Jesus Christ (The Word of God).
b. According to Ken Ham creator of the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter and from his book: Divided Nation - cultures in conflict and a conflicted church – He states emphatically that there are two main worldviews in conflict in our society today – He says the battle is between – “God’s Word and Man’s Word!” He believes that you either believe the whole Word of God or you buy into one of Man’s fallen worldviews which are influenced by Satan himself.
d. Jesus sought to help people see things from God’s view! This is loving well by the way! People need to see through the eyes of God - Who is Love.
T.S. – Jesus loved well by helping people see things through a Biblical perspective as God sees and He did this speaking with authority all along the way.
12. Jesus Spoke with Authority (The Word of Life - Mighty God)
a. Another characteristic of Jesus’ approach was that He spoke with authority. He was not hesitant, backward or bashful; He was authoritative: For He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes (Matt. 7:29, NASB).
i. Why because He was God in the flesh!
b. Example Jesus calming the storm:
i. Mark 4:35-41: Jesus Calms the Storm:
1. 35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
ii. Jesus casting out evil spirits:
1. Matthew 8:28-34: The Healing of Two Demon-possessed Men
a. 28When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
c. Jesus was very conscious of His authority.
i. Those who know Christ and are called to a ministry of helping to love well have the authority of God’s Word behind them.
T.S. – Jesus spoke with authority and in doing this He loved well – giving people the truth that would set them free – so even in loving well there is also a thing called tough love.
13. Jesus Admonished and Confronted (The Truth Teller- The dispenser of tough love)
a. Notice how Jesus, when necessary, admonished and confronted people: And He said to them, “Why are you timid, you men of little faith?” Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became perfectly calm (Matt. 8:26, NASB).
b. And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother (Matt. 18:15, NASB).
c. Another example of how Jesus admonished and confronted is in John 8:3-9: And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst (NASB).
d. Sometimes it is necessary to confront the person you are loving well directly about his or her problem.
e. There are times you need to expose the White Elephant in the room.
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: Jesus was God’s love personified in the flesh and studying the life of Jesus you learn how to love well. His love was associated with action! To learn how to love well we have to start with Jesus and learn from Him.
Why do we need to know this?
Answer: We cannot love well if we do not do what Jesus did and learn the steps to Loving Well!
What do we need to do?
Answer: Love well like Jesus and learn from Him. Then we have to do it!
Why do we need to do this?
Answer: Because loving well is what will change the world and others. Loving well opens the eyes of others to the amazing love of God. Loving well will also change our lives!
