Series: PURSUING THE LOVE OF GOD
Topic: THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF LOVE
The Christian faith comprises of three basic things:
a. An encounter with the love of the Father as revealed through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus.
b. The transforming power of that love in the believer to produce conformity and empowerment.
c. The third thing the Christian faith comprise of is an expression of that love through you to the world……..this is Christianity!
A. ENCOUNTER WITH THE LOVE OF THE FATHER
Roman 5:6. For when the time was right, the Anointed One came and died to demonstrate his love for sinners who were entirely helpless, weak, and powerless to save themselves.
7. Now, who of us would dare to die for the sake of a wicked person? We can all understand if someone was willing to die for a truly noble person.
8. But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly! (THE PASSION TRANSLATION)
1 John 3:1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (for encounter)
18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Isaiah 53:4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
B.THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE LOVE
The transforming power of that love in the believer to produce conformity and empowerment.
Whenever you encounter the love of the father you will be transformed. When the Samaritan woman at the well had an encounter with the fathers Love, she was transformed.
C. EXPRESSION OF THE FATHERS LOVE.
The third thing the Christian faith comprise of is an expression of that love through you to the world……..this is Christianity!
I John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
a. Christianity is not limited to praying in tongues, revelation or display of physical results.
b. The apex of Christianity is love.
c. The summary of Christianity is the revelation of the love of God towards men.
d. The love of God unexpressed does not profit anyone.
e. When love is expressed to people, it is capable of healing, restoring and transforming lives.
D.SIX WAYS TO DEMONSTRATE OR EXPRESS THE LOVE OF GOD:
1. To love Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind,
Matthew 22:36-38 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' "This is the first and great commandment.
Luke 10:27 So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' "
By worshiping him in the midst of your challenge
a. Psalms 34:1
b. Habakkuk 3:17
c. Job 19:25 I know my redeemer lives
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.
Romans 8:35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. Through the ministry of intercession for the lost and hurting.
a. intercession is not merely a proof of might but a proof of love.
b. Intercession is loving what God loves
c. A genuine prayer can transform any man.
d. There is no one God cannot change.
e. Job 42:10
3. The 3rd way to demonstrate the love of God is to seek the good and the wellbeing of one another especially the brethren
Titus 3:2 (KJV) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
a. One of the ways to show love is to speak evil of no man.
b. People are a compendium of both good and bad.
c. Focus on their strengths and be positive.
d. Most people who judge, judge through the lenses of their personal frustration.
Ephesians 4:31 (KJV) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
a. Your ability to see wrong things and be quiet about them is a sign of maturity.
b. Be truthful, avoid criticism and negativity by all means.
c. Learn to encourage people instead of tearing them down.
4. The 4th way to express the love of God is through giving.
1 John 3:18 (KJV) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave
5. The 5th way to express the love of God is by the determination to be a peacemaker.
Romans 12:18,19 (KJV) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Psalms 34:14 (KJV)Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Luke 23:8. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
9. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
10. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
12. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
6. The 6th way to express the love of God is by obedience to his commandments.
John 14:15-16 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,
John 14:22-23 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
Concluding Remarks.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
Love is:
a. Slow to suspect - quick to trust.
b. Slow to condemn - quick to justify.
c. Slow to offend - quick to defend.
d. Slow to reprimand - quick to forbear.
e. Slow to belittle - quick to appreciate.
f. Slow to demand - quick to give.
g. Slow to provoke - quick to conciliate.
h. Slow to hinder - quick to help.
i. Slow to resent - quick to forgive.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
Prayers Points:
a. Heavenly Father, let Your love be established in my heart.
b. May I begin to experience the reality of Your love.
c. Lord, take away every negative spirit from my life.
d. Grant me the grace to see the good in people.
e. Lord, flood my heart with joy unspeakable.
f. I receive joy like a river.
Salvation Prayer:
Jesus is the gateway through which we experience the supernatural power of love. He is reaching out to you tonight. Surrender your life to Him.
Lord Jesus, I believe in You and Your work on Calvary. Tonight, I hand over my life and worries to You and I declare You Lord over my life.
Amen.
Dr.Tg Badia
