Whoever Loves

Whoever Loves – John 14:23 -29

Intro: Listen to the following expressions and think about the last time you may have heard them: Luv ya man! / I just love German chocolate cake! / I love your new hair cut! / I love your outfit! --- These expressions all deal with the word LOVE. NOW, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS: When was the last time someone told you that they love you? Did you believe them? Why or why not? --- How do you know when someone REALLY loves you? Can you ever be really certain about their love? How?

I Our society sometimes confuses love with sex. We are careless with the context in which we use the word “LOVE .” Do you think the word love is overused today?

A Who do you love? Why do you love them? Vs. 23 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love the, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” Do you love Christ? How do you love Him? To what extent do you love Him?

B Loving Christ involves more than Sunday Christianity. It is more than singing in the choir, serving on a committee or on the Session. Loving Christ involves OBEDIENCE. Loving Jesus means Hi8s will be done; not mine!

C Sometimes, loving Christ Jesus may involve a willingness to change. Think for a moment about what kind of legacy you may leave behind. What might people think of you when you are no longer alive? Will they think of you in a positive, loving way? Will they remember you as self-centered and selfish?

II Why do some people find it very easy to love and others find it difficult? Why can some see the importance of loving Jesus and others do not? Why do some believe and others don’t? Why do some love and others hate?

A VS. 26 – “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” This is the only place in John where the Advocate is referred to as the Holy Spirit.

B The GK. word is pa?????t?? / parakletos which has several translations: intercessor / consoler / advocate / comforter. All of these can be gathered together as he who has been called to help.

C The Holy Spirit is called alongside us not as a coach; but, as a guide, a helper. So Christ Jesus has promised us a guide to point the way. The Holy Spirit will not stand by and watch us fail. Rather, the Holy Spirit is with us to help us succeed in doing that to which God has called us.

III VS. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the word gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

A We all have fears. What do you fear? Heights, small spaces, people, growing old, losing control, change? Where does our fear come from? For most people it probably comes from not knowing what to expect or what to do.

B How would you feel it I said I was going to call on one member of the congregation this morning to give the prayer following this sermon? Many of you might want to crawl under the pew or hide out of fear that I would call your name. Others would comply without hesitation. What if I said I have a written prayer here that I will stand here beside you and help you read it?

C The Holy Spirit stands beside us helping us do the very thing that on our own we are afraid to do or feel unable to do. We just need to love the Lord, trust the Holy Spirit and allow ourselves to be lead.

Concl: An old woman went from home to home across the countryside selling thread, buttons, and shoestrings. When she came to an unmarked crossroad, she would toss a stick into the air and to in the direction the stick pointed when it landed. One day, however, she was seen tossing the stick up into the air several times. Someone asked her, “Why do you too the stick more than once?” The woman answered, “Because it keeps pointing to the left, and I want to take the road on the right. --- How long will we persist in throwing our spiritual stick in the air because it points in a direction we are afraid or do not want to go? Jesus says there is no need to fear if we love Him and are willing to obey His teachings.