LOVE GOD-STYLE
Happy Valentines Day!
First Valentines Day as a married man!
All of us are on a QUEST to find LOVE.
Perhaps love is our greatest human need – we are created with a void in our hearts, a void that can only be filled by love.
Many don’t realize that the void can only be filled by GOD, because GOD is LOVE!
Love is the Greatest Subject in the Bible
It’s a subject that affects all people
God’s love has life changing POWER
Power to change your attitude
Power to change your relationships
Power to change your ministry
Power to change your future
The Love I want to talk about tonight is God’s love…the greatest love of all!
GOD’S LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED IN THREE PLACES.
FIRST OF ALL, GOD’S LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED IN HISTORY (1 JN. 4:10)
ILL- The Descent – page 109 “Disappointment with God”
History records for us the greatest news of all: GOD LOVES ME!
1 John 4:10 says “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for [1] our sins.
I would argue that all of history points to the ultimate act of love: THE CROSS!
Rom. 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
God’s love sent Jesus to the cross (Jn. 3:16)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, [1] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
We will never be separated from God’s love (Rom. 8:38-9)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [1] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GODS LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED IN HISTORY, BUT HIS LOVE IS ALSO DEMONSTRATED IN OUR HEARTS (ROM. 5:5)
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
God wants His love to flow through us to other BELIEVERS
Jn. 13:35
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
God’s love is displayed in our actions towards others
1 Cor. 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
GOD’S LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED IN HISTORY AND IN OUR HEARTS BUT IT’S ALSO DEMONSTRATED IN THE HARVEST (1 COR. 13:1)
If I speak in the tongues [1] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
We are to love lost people
God is PATIENT, not wanting any to PERISH
1 Tim. 2:4
This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
2 Pet. 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
The most loving thing we can do for someone is to share God’s Love with them.
1 Cor. 9:19-23
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Reaching out in love brings results
Love reaches more people than logic
Love reaches more people than tact
Love reaches more people then training
Love reaches more people than good arguments
We must love people as they are
This is how Jesus loved
His love can make them what they ought to be
Application Questions:
Have you allowed God’s love to fill YOUR heart?
Are your ACTIONS towards believers reflecting God’s love?
What can you do this week to love a friend towards Christ?
LET’s PRAY!
