Last week I stopped somewhere along in here. Tonight I want to go back for just a few minutes and pick up on the subject of Obedience.
We we truly have an unselfish love, we will then be obedient in all things no matter what.
No matter what the circumstances, good or bad.
No matter the out look from human prospective, doom & gloom or
Sunshine all the way.
In sickness and in health,
When friends cannot be numbered and when all have forsaken.
The Word;
c. honor it.
d. love it.
e. obey it. I Samuel 15:22-23
1 Sam 15:22-23 (KJV)22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
The Spirit Of The Lord; (The Holy Ghost)
Honor Him
Love Him 5
Obey Him; (He will show us, teach us the ways of God.)
John 14:26 (KJV)
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
2. The Church Hebrews 10:25 "not forsaking"
We are commanded by the Lord to attend Church, to attach ourselves
To a local church body.
Heb 10: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
And why is it so important that we attend church and that we be attached to a local body of believers? The answer is found verse 24;
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Unselfish love produces unselfish actions, unselfish commitment,
Unselfish labor, etc;
3. Prayer
4. Witnessing
5. Discernment
C. MOTIVATION -- (Our Love for God should be all of the motivation
that we need to render faithful service unto Him.)
Christians are not motivated by Money, Selfish Gain,
Fame, Popularity,
Friends or Family,
Our main motivation for rendering faithful service comes from
Our love for God and our love for His People and the compassion we feel in our hearts for those not connected to the family of God.
This why Jesus Questioned Peter to the degree He did over the Love Peter had in his heart towards Christ;
This was after the resurrection and just before the ascension of Christ;
John 21:15-17 (KJV)
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 was looking for Peter to respond with the Greek Word Agape.
Agape -- Unconditional, unselfish, unfailing love.
Peter never did use this word.
{A} Jesus said ;”Peter, if you love me feed my sheep.”
1. For God’s glory and honor we must love Him at all times, serve
His kingdom at all times.
2. Satan is working over time trying with all of his might to displace
God’s Children, God’s Commanders, God’s Generals, God’s
Ministers, God’s Lay people, God’s Evangelist,
[B] The point that Jesus is trying to drive home to Peter;
(1) I need you to love me so much that no matter what comes your
Way, no matter who opposes you, who hurts you,
Who turns against you, who threatens you,
You will not think of TURNING BACK.
[C] Jesus wanted Peter to take a good long hard look at the Love
He had in his heart for Christ and the Kingdom Work.
[D] You see Peter had already failed Christ and forsaken one time,
Because he feared for his life.
Matt 26:33-35 (KJV)
33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
(1) Peter made a bold statement but Jesus knew that at this Time
Peter’s love was not deep enough to withstand to threat of
losing his own life.
(2) Jesus is teaching us that we can develop such a LOVE for Him
That absolutely nothing can deter us from our mission.
(3) Absolutely nothing can displace us, or though us out of pocket.
Nothing, no matter what!
(4) Do you love Christ that much?
[E] This is the Very Love Jesus exemplified while on earth.
We see it here;
Matt 8:20 (KJV)
20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
**Though Jesus never had what some would consider ideal circumstances in which to minister, He never once failed in the mission the Heavenly Father had given Him.
John 1:10-12 (KJV)
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Members of His own creation
Members of His own Nationality,
Members of His own family, rejected Him and said of Him;
He’s crazy, He’s mad,
He’s pretending to be something that He is not;
They made fun of Him, they ridiculed Him, they laughed at Him,
They mocked Him, they spoke all manner of evil against Him,
But He just kept own going;
And Look at the results!
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Look all around this room tonight and see the results of His dedication, His determination, His Love for us!
Luke 22:41-44 (KJV)
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
This next bit of scripture that I want to share with you is the greatest example of unselfish love I have ever discovered;
Luke 23:33-38 (KJV)
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Even in times like these Jesus wasn’t move away from His mission.
He stayed the course, He finished the race a champion over sin.
III. Real Sacrifices "seeketh not its own"
A. "I can’t be tied down Pastor." Did you know Jesus was nailed down!
"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34
B. "It’s more than presenting our soul to God, it’s our entire body, soul
and spirit.
1. Is your body His by possession?
Mothers’ are probably the greatest example of our day of sacrifice -
dishes, clothes, etc.,
some would walk out the door and never come back---
Are you living a crucified life? Galatians 2:20
Gal 2:20 (KJV)20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
1 Cor 6:19-20 (KJV)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
[A] Because we are not our own, we cannot do as we please!
(1) Because we are not our own we cannot use this bodies just any
way we want to use them.
[B] We are His property, I am His body soul and spirit!
[C] I will answer to Him and to Him alone for everything that I do
with this body and with all that I am.
IV. Real Sensitivity (no tunnel vision!)
1. awareness of other’s needs
2. assuming responsibility for helping others
3. abandoning unselfish motives
[A] Unselfish love serves while it has the chance;
John 4:35-36 (KJV)
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Jer 8:20 (KJV)
20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Jesus warned Peter;
John 21:18 (KJV)18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
[B] Unselfish Love is always concerned with the soul condition of
others no matter Who they are.
{c} Unselfish love protects the reputation of God’s church;
(1) Nothing speaks louder of the condition of the church then the
way we treat one another in all circumstances!
Matt 7:12 (KJV)
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
John 13:35 (KJV)
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Luke 6:27-29 (KJV)
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Mark 11:25-26 (KJV)
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
[A] What is the right thing to do if you have an ought against
someone?
(1) Is it to get revenge?
(2) Is it to tare the other person or persons down?
(3) Is it to spread gossip about the whole matter?
No! because these things ultimately tare down the body of Christ.
[B] Too many churches are taking 2 steps forward and three steps
backwards because they are not willing to do as the scripture says
for us to do.
(1) If you have be offended, it is your responsibility to go to them
and get that matter taken care of, get the thing out of the way
and continue on serving God to the best of your ability.
(2) Many times when someone has been offended, the one who
offended them isn’t even aware of what has happened.
(3) If we will just practice what the scriptures tell us, the church
Will NOT SUFFER any lose and the problem will be corrected!
[C] Work through the problem and then everyone can go on and live in
victory.
[D] Don’t let Satan set back and laugh at you, do what Jesus would do.
(1) The greatest words ever spoken is “I forgive!”
(2) There is no greater feeling than to come before the cross and
empty yourself of all bitterness, all malice, all envy,
All jealousy, All anger, all wrath etc;
1 John 4:21 (KJV)
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
The many praises given to love
1 Cor 13:3-8 (KJV)
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all
things. 8 Charity never faileth:
