Message preached by Scotty Killingsworth to the Evergreen congregation Sunday morning September 22, 2002
Love creates the heart of a servant from Philippians chapter one
Last Sunday we discovered through the life situation of Hosea that you may break God’s heart, but you can’t make him stop loving you. Oh, I wish Hosea could write an epilogue to his story and tell us what life was like with Gomer following the drama of the auction. Did the Synagogue people ever learn to love and accept her? Did Hosea’s unfailing love work to redeem the wayward wife? Did she become faithful? Did she learn to love the Lord with all her heart? I want to believe love changed her.
It would be interesting to revisit Gomer later in life? What does love look like when it reaches maturity? We saw what sin can do, but what does love look like when it is complete? What does life become when love has captured it? How many positive changes can unfailing love make?
Today I want to make the case that when unfailing love captures our lives it changes us.
The story of Hosea ends without these details, but in the life of another Biblical character we see what unfailing love can produce. The Gomer of today’s story is a man. He is a radical fundamentalist hell-bent on reeking havoc on anyone or any group of people who dare break with his tradition. What a surprise love has in store for him. Unlike Gomer, we will be able to see how love renovated him entirely.
Today I want us to see what the unstoppable love of Jesus can produce in our lives through the example of Saul the high-ranking Pharisee who becomes Paul the Apostle. I hope you will join me as we slip into his shoes for a moment and look through the eyes of a heart that has been captured by love. Come with me as we live in his skin and witness how his radical fundamentalism was turned into unbreakable love.
Paul is confined by chains, but his love can’t be stopped. When cursed, he blesses in return. When mistreated, he does to his tormentors what he would have them do to him. When struck on the face he doesn’t hit back or swear but stands humbly offering the other cheek. His pride has been captured by the love of Jesus. His mission is clear. His message is redemption and forgiveness. Love is turning a prison into a chapel. His love is the gossip of the palace guard. Love has broken down many walls and barriers.
His young colleagues on the outside have found new boldness as they preach the good news of Jesus. Paul’s confinement has given them the courage in their preaching. Every heart in the vicinity is open to hear what people say who love Jesus at risk to their freedom. There is an air of expectancy all around as more and more people confess faith in Jesus. Those who come to Christ become instant evangelists who in turn tell their friends and kin about a love that changes people forever.
He who has been forgiven little loves little. This terse little statement describes the self-righteous person perfectly. This sad person rejects treatment by the Great Physician because they believe they are spiritually healthy an need nothing further. The self-righteous have reserved their love for themselves. No one else deserves their love. The only way to be loved by the self-righteous is to somehow add to their hypocrisy. Love that is turned inwardly eventually becomes sours and putrefies. Love turned outwardly blooms and produces infinite fruit.
When love is radically received it is radically given. Redeeming and unfailing love changes people
So today we want to deal with the question, How does unfailing love change people?
The first thing Paul tells us is that it ends your isolation and separation Phil 1:3-11
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, . . . 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Love lets you have a seat at the table of life. Unfailing love picks you to play on the team. Love allows you to be in the center of the family picture. Love ends your isolation and separation.
I have this haunting picture of street children with noses pressed against windows of restaurants watching families eat together. The scene only heightens their despair and deepens their hunger. They only dream of belonging. They hope to someday be part of a family.
There are people all around you who dream of belonging. They are separated by life choices, age, sickness, sin or a million other reasons. They long for the day when a believer puts their faith into action and knocks on their door and invites them to sit at the table of life.
They will not expect the church to welcome them. They will expect judgment, and criticism. When the love of Jesus is unveiled by unfailing love on the part of the church the dream can come true. Why don’t you consider becoming part of the greatest adventure ever imagined and be someone who includes. Bring someone with you to church. Help them become part of a community group. Help them find a place to belong.
The partnership Paul found with fellow believers was the source of his joy and the power behind his prayer.
He knew that his ministry depended on those who were his partners in prayer and faith. The support they gave the Apostle gave success to his efforts.
Here are a few things I want you to add to your life as a result of this truth.
First, find a prayer partner. Next I think you should consider joining a community group. There is no doubt that if you would join a church you could have tremendous support and it takes a commitment to join a church that you need to make. The last suggestion is consider becoming involved in ministry.
The support of partners in Christ opens the door for the next change
So love ends your isolation and it also gives you confidence to make changes vs. 6
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. .
Paul had one partner who was the power behind all else. It was Jesus who had begun the good work in Paul. It was Jesus who was his confidence.
Making life change is tough. But know that when Jesus leads you to make changes he will carry you through the ups and downs to completion. It may mean you take three steps today and two backward tomorrow, but it is His mission to see you reach the goal. You have divine help.
This promise is limited to this time. This is the age of the church and in these days (that have gone on for 2,000 years) Jesus supernaturally comes to the aid of his children. The Day of Christ Jesus speaks to the second coming and reign of Christ on the earth. In that day the lion will lay down with the lamb and each of us will be changed into the eternal creature we are destined to be.
Listen to the lyrics to an old Imperials song. “He hasn’t brought you this far to leave you. He didn’t teach you to swim to watch you drown. He didn’t build his home in us to move away. He didn’t lift us up to let us down.”
Rahab hung a red ribbon in her window with courage she found in a God that never fails.
Ruth put her entire life on the line and left all she knew to follow a God who had promised her he would never fail.
Abraham left his home not knowing where he was going, but he knew who was leading.
The Israeli’s were between the devil and the deep blue sea when God blew in and saved his children from certain death.
If you feel the need to make some major changes, step out in faith and you have the promise of God that he will complete what he starts.
If you are struggling and aren’t sure you will make it, be assured he will never leave you or forsake you. Trust God.
The final argument that love changes people is seen in this point.
Love makes sense even on our worst day 12-14
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
Paul’s imprisonment must have been a nightmare for him. He was intelligent, well read, and powerful yet he was in chains for promoting a new religion.
From his prison cell he trusted the unfailing love of Jesus and began a prison ministry. It was so successful that he was said to be in chains for Christ.
His refusal to give in to the pain because of the unfailing love encouraged his young colleagues on the outside.
God’s love will not fail you even on your worst day. He will bring about good in spite of your circumstances. Just don’t give up on Him.
No one ever had a worse day than Peter. The day Jesus was crucified was the worst day of Peter’s life. He went from a spiritual high to and extreme low in about 12 hours. He prayed with the Son of God and later denied knowing him. A few days later Peter saw that love didn’t fail. Jesus forgave and restored Peter.
He will still love and restore you too!
So Don’t give up
So keep on believing in the triumph of good
Finally always remember Jesus never fails. His love never fails. His love will remodel your life.
When your life is remodeled you will find you enjoy participating as a partner with God as He remodels others you are in relationship with.
Message preached by Scotty Killingsworth to the Evergreen congregation Sunday morning September 22, 2002
Love creates the heart of a servant from Philippians chapter one
Last Sunday we discovered through the life situation of Hosea that you may break God’s heart, but you can’t make him stop loving you. Oh, I wish Hosea could write an epilogue to his story and tell us what life was like with Gomer following the drama of the auction. Did the Synagogue people ever learn to love and accept her? Did Hosea’s unfailing love work to redeem the wayward wife? Did she become faithful? Did she learn to love the Lord with all her heart? I want to believe love changed her.
It would be interesting to revisit Gomer later in life? What does love look like when it reaches maturity? We saw what sin can do, but what does love look like when it is complete? What does life become when love has captured it? How many positive changes can unfailing love make?
Today I want to make the case that when unfailing love captures our lives it changes us.
The story of Hosea ends without these details, but in the life of another Biblical character we see what unfailing love can produce. The Gomer of today’s story is a man. He is a radical fundamentalist hell-bent on reeking havoc on anyone or any group of people who dare break with his tradition. What a surprise love has in store for him. Unlike Gomer, we will be able to see how love renovated him entirely.
Today I want us to see what the unstoppable love of Jesus can produce in our lives through the example of Saul the high-ranking Pharisee who becomes Paul the Apostle. I hope you will join me as we slip into his shoes for a moment and look through the eyes of a heart that has been captured by love. Come with me as we live in his skin and witness how his radical fundamentalism was turned into unbreakable love.
Paul is confined by chains, but his love can’t be stopped. When cursed, he blesses in return. When mistreated, he does to his tormentors what he would have them do to him. When struck on the face he doesn’t hit back or swear but stands humbly offering the other cheek. His pride has been captured by the love of Jesus. His mission is clear. His message is redemption and forgiveness. Love is turning a prison into a chapel. His love is the gossip of the palace guard. Love has broken down many walls and barriers.
His young colleagues on the outside have found new boldness as they preach the good news of Jesus. Paul’s confinement has given them the courage in their preaching. Every heart in the vicinity is open to hear what people say who love Jesus at risk to their freedom. There is an air of expectancy all around as more and more people confess faith in Jesus. Those who come to Christ become instant evangelists who in turn tell their friends and kin about a love that changes people forever.
He who has been forgiven little loves little. This terse little statement describes the self-righteous person perfectly. This sad person rejects treatment by the Great Physician because they believe they are spiritually healthy an need nothing further. The self-righteous have reserved their love for themselves. No one else deserves their love. The only way to be loved by the self-righteous is to somehow add to their hypocrisy. Love that is turned inwardly eventually becomes sours and putrefies. Love turned outwardly blooms and produces infinite fruit.
When love is radically received it is radically given. Redeeming and unfailing love changes people
So today we want to deal with the question, How does unfailing love change people?
The first thing Paul tells us is that it ends your isolation and separation Phil 1:3-11
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, . . . 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Love lets you have a seat at the table of life. Unfailing love picks you to play on the team. Love allows you to be in the center of the family picture. Love ends your isolation and separation.
I have this haunting picture of street children with noses pressed against windows of restaurants watching families eat together. The scene only heightens their despair and deepens their hunger. They only dream of belonging. They hope to someday be part of a family.
There are people all around you who dream of belonging. They are separated by life choices, age, sickness, sin or a million other reasons. They long for the day when a believer puts their faith into action and knocks on their door and invites them to sit at the table of life.
They will not expect the church to welcome them. They will expect judgment, and criticism. When the love of Jesus is unveiled by unfailing love on the part of the church the dream can come true. Why don’t you consider becoming part of the greatest adventure ever imagined and be someone who includes. Bring someone with you to church. Help them become part of a community group. Help them find a place to belong.
The partnership Paul found with fellow believers was the source of his joy and the power behind his prayer.
He knew that his ministry depended on those who were his partners in prayer and faith. The support they gave the Apostle gave success to his efforts.
Here are a few things I want you to add to your life as a result of this truth.
First, find a prayer partner. Next I think you should consider joining a community group. There is no doubt that if you would join a church you could have tremendous support and it takes a commitment to join a church that you need to make. The last suggestion is consider becoming involved in ministry.
The support of partners in Christ opens the door for the next change
So love ends your isolation and it also gives you confidence to make changes vs. 6
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. .
Paul had one partner who was the power behind all else. It was Jesus who had begun the good work in Paul. It was Jesus who was his confidence.
Making life change is tough. But know that when Jesus leads you to make changes he will carry you through the ups and downs to completion. It may mean you take three steps today and two backward tomorrow, but it is His mission to see you reach the goal. You have divine help.
This promise is limited to this time. This is the age of the church and in these days (that have gone on for 2,000 years) Jesus supernaturally comes to the aid of his children. The Day of Christ Jesus speaks to the second coming and reign of Christ on the earth. In that day the lion will lay down with the lamb and each of us will be changed into the eternal creature we are destined to be.
Listen to the lyrics to an old Imperials song. “He hasn’t brought you this far to leave you. He didn’t teach you to swim to watch you drown. He didn’t build his home in us to move away. He didn’t lift us up to let us down.”
Rahab hung a red ribbon in her window with courage she found in a God that never fails.
Ruth put her entire life on the line and left all she knew to follow a God who had promised her he would never fail.
Abraham left his home not knowing where he was going, but he knew who was leading.
The Israeli’s were between the devil and the deep blue sea when God blew in and saved his children from certain death.
If you feel the need to make some major changes, step out in faith and you have the promise of God that he will complete what he starts.
If you are struggling and aren’t sure you will make it, be assured he will never leave you or forsake you. Trust God.
The final argument that love changes people is seen in this point.
Love makes sense even on our worst day 12-14
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
Paul’s imprisonment must have been a nightmare for him. He was intelligent, well read, and powerful yet he was in chains for promoting a new religion.
From his prison cell he trusted the unfailing love of Jesus and began a prison ministry. It was so successful that he was said to be in chains for Christ.
His refusal to give in to the pain because of the unfailing love encouraged his young colleagues on the outside.
God’s love will not fail you even on your worst day. He will bring about good in spite of your circumstances. Just don’t give up on Him.
No one ever had a worse day than Peter. The day Jesus was crucified was the worst day of Peter’s life. He went from a spiritual high to and extreme low in about 12 hours. He prayed with the Son of God and later denied knowing him. A few days later Peter saw that love didn’t fail. Jesus forgave and restored Peter.
He will still love and restore you too!
So Don’t give up
So keep on believing in the triumph of good
Finally always remember Jesus never fails. His love never fails. His love will remodel your life.
When your life is remodeled you will find you enjoy participating as a partner with God as He remodels others you are in relationship with.
Message preached by Scotty Killingsworth to the Evergreen congregation Sunday morning September 22, 2002
Love creates the heart of a servant from Philippians chapter one
Last Sunday we discovered through the life situation of Hosea that you may break God’s heart, but you can’t make him stop loving you. Oh, I wish Hosea could write an epilogue to his story and tell us what life was like with Gomer following the drama of the auction. Did the Synagogue people ever learn to love and accept her? Did Hosea’s unfailing love work to redeem the wayward wife? Did she become faithful? Did she learn to love the Lord with all her heart? I want to believe love changed her.
It would be interesting to revisit Gomer later in life? What does love look like when it reaches maturity? We saw what sin can do, but what does love look like when it is complete? What does life become when love has captured it? How many positive changes can unfailing love make?
Today I want to make the case that when unfailing love captures our lives it changes us.
The story of Hosea ends without these details, but in the life of another Biblical character we see what unfailing love can produce. The Gomer of today’s story is a man. He is a radical fundamentalist hell-bent on reeking havoc on anyone or any group of people who dare break with his tradition. What a surprise love has in store for him. Unlike Gomer, we will be able to see how love renovated him entirely.
Today I want us to see what the unstoppable love of Jesus can produce in our lives through the example of Saul the high-ranking Pharisee who becomes Paul the Apostle. I hope you will join me as we slip into his shoes for a moment and look through the eyes of a heart that has been captured by love. Come with me as we live in his skin and witness how his radical fundamentalism was turned into unbreakable love.
Paul is confined by chains, but his love can’t be stopped. When cursed, he blesses in return. When mistreated, he does to his tormentors what he would have them do to him. When struck on the face he doesn’t hit back or swear but stands humbly offering the other cheek. His pride has been captured by the love of Jesus. His mission is clear. His message is redemption and forgiveness. Love is turning a prison into a chapel. His love is the gossip of the palace guard. Love has broken down many walls and barriers.
His young colleagues on the outside have found new boldness as they preach the good news of Jesus. Paul’s confinement has given them the courage in their preaching. Every heart in the vicinity is open to hear what people say who love Jesus at risk to their freedom. There is an air of expectancy all around as more and more people confess faith in Jesus. Those who come to Christ become instant evangelists who in turn tell their friends and kin about a love that changes people forever.
He who has been forgiven little loves little. This terse little statement describes the self-righteous person perfectly. This sad person rejects treatment by the Great Physician because they believe they are spiritually healthy an need nothing further. The self-righteous have reserved their love for themselves. No one else deserves their love. The only way to be loved by the self-righteous is to somehow add to their hypocrisy. Love that is turned inwardly eventually becomes sours and putrefies. Love turned outwardly blooms and produces infinite fruit.
When love is radically received it is radically given. Redeeming and unfailing love changes people
So today we want to deal with the question, How does unfailing love change people?
The first thing Paul tells us is that it ends your isolation and separation Phil 1:3-11
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, . . . 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Love lets you have a seat at the table of life. Unfailing love picks you to play on the team. Love allows you to be in the center of the family picture. Love ends your isolation and separation.
I have this haunting picture of street children with noses pressed against windows of restaurants watching families eat together. The scene only heightens their despair and deepens their hunger. They only dream of belonging. They hope to someday be part of a family.
There are people all around you who dream of belonging. They are separated by life choices, age, sickness, sin or a million other reasons. They long for the day when a believer puts their faith into action and knocks on their door and invites them to sit at the table of life.
They will not expect the church to welcome them. They will expect judgment, and criticism. When the love of Jesus is unveiled by unfailing love on the part of the church the dream can come true. Why don’t you consider becoming part of the greatest adventure ever imagined and be someone who includes. Bring someone with you to church. Help them become part of a community group. Help them find a place to belong.
The partnership Paul found with fellow believers was the source of his joy and the power behind his prayer.
He knew that his ministry depended on those who were his partners in prayer and faith. The support they gave the Apostle gave success to his efforts.
Here are a few things I want you to add to your life as a result of this truth.
First, find a prayer partner. Next I think you should consider joining a community group. There is no doubt that if you would join a church you could have tremendous support and it takes a commitment to join a church that you need to make. The last suggestion is consider becoming involved in ministry.
The support of partners in Christ opens the door for the next change
So love ends your isolation and it also gives you confidence to make changes vs. 6
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. .
Paul had one partner who was the power behind all else. It was Jesus who had begun the good work in Paul. It was Jesus who was his confidence.
Making life change is tough. But know that when Jesus leads you to make changes he will carry you through the ups and downs to completion. It may mean you take three steps today and two backward tomorrow, but it is His mission to see you reach the goal. You have divine help.
This promise is limited to this time. This is the age of the church and in these days (that have gone on for 2,000 years) Jesus supernaturally comes to the aid of his children. The Day of Christ Jesus speaks to the second coming and reign of Christ on the earth. In that day the lion will lay down with the lamb and each of us will be changed into the eternal creature we are destined to be.
Listen to the lyrics to an old Imperials song. “He hasn’t brought you this far to leave you. He didn’t teach you to swim to watch you drown. He didn’t build his home in us to move away. He didn’t lift us up to let us down.”
Rahab hung a red ribbon in her window with courage she found in a God that never fails.
Ruth put her entire life on the line and left all she knew to follow a God who had promised her he would never fail.
Abraham left his home not knowing where he was going, but he knew who was leading.
The Israeli’s were between the devil and the deep blue sea when God blew in and saved his children from certain death.
If you feel the need to make some major changes, step out in faith and you have the promise of God that he will complete what he starts.
If you are struggling and aren’t sure you will make it, be assured he will never leave you or forsake you. Trust God.
The final argument that love changes people is seen in this point.
Love makes sense even on our worst day 12-14
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
Paul’s imprisonment must have been a nightmare for him. He was intelligent, well read, and powerful yet he was in chains for promoting a new religion.
From his prison cell he trusted the unfailing love of Jesus and began a prison ministry. It was so successful that he was said to be in chains for Christ.
His refusal to give in to the pain because of the unfailing love encouraged his young colleagues on the outside.
God’s love will not fail you even on your worst day. He will bring about good in spite of your circumstances. Just don’t give up on Him.
No one ever had a worse day than Peter. The day Jesus was crucified was the worst day of Peter’s life. He went from a spiritual high to and extreme low in about 12 hours. He prayed with the Son of God and later denied knowing him. A few days later Peter saw that love didn’t fail. Jesus forgave and restored Peter.
He will still love and restore you too!
So Don’t give up
So keep on believing in the triumph of good
Finally always remember Jesus never fails. His love never fails. His love will remodel your life.
When your life is remodeled you will find you enjoy participating as a partner with God as He remodels others you are in relationship with.
