Advent: Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 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. How about that…Love never fails!
New Testament Love
Storge “STOR jay” - Familial-Mary and Martha had for Lazarus-strong and bonded, Philos-Brotherly Love-Devoted, Eros-Romantic Love, Agape – Selfless, sacrificial, devoted, committed
How do we know if we have it?
1 John 5:1-5 (NIV)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
By faith we receive Love…1 John 4:7…God is love
Hebrews 11:1-Faith is, sure/certain, 11:6-without faith, Romans 10 – Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God…teaching “Believing”
How do we know he Loves us?
He didn’t’ talk about loving us, he demonstrated
The Resurrection seals the deal
How well are we doing with Loving?
Completing His Commands: 10 Commandments Old Testament, 1,050 New Testament Commandments
Mark 12:30-31 (NIV) 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." God/Others/Self
Yourself/Christ/The Church/Others
1. Yourself: How well are you honoring the Father, by losing Yourself to find Yourself? (John 12:24)
2 Corinthians 12:9 –When I am weak then I am strong!
2. Christ: How well are you honoring the Father, by imitating the Son?-Phil 2:1-11 (NIV)
3. The Church: How well are you honoring the Father, by loving his Bride?…
Ephesians 5:25-26 (NIV)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…Prophetic Word…attached/committed
4. Others: How well are you honoring the Father, by loving others…Matthew 28:19…go and make disciples