The Light Brings Love

Our hunger for love is harder to remove than even our hunger for food - Mother Theresa

Love is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person - a feeling of warm, personal attachment.

Verb - Actions we are willing to take to demonstrate something.

Ahavah (Hebrew) - an act of doing - to give

Love in the Family Love amidst hostility Love among our enemies

Romans 12:9–13 NKJV

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Agape

Agape love is the gold standard for Christian love.

Eros (Physical) Philia (Friendship) Storge (Family) Agape (Unconditional)

Romans 12:9 NKJV

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Romans 12:10–11 NKJV

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Love amidst hostility

Romans 12:14 NKJV

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:17 NKJV

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

Romans 12:19 NKJV

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Romans 12:21 NKJV

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

When you are plugged into Jesus you have an endless capacity to show love

Who is it you need to stop hating?

1. Sympathise

2. Harmonise

Romans 12:15 NKJV

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Sympathise

Love tries to enter in to the emotions of others

Romans 12:17–18 NKJV

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Peace-keeper

1. You initiate it

2. Both parties have to want it

Love Among Our Enemies

Romans 12:19–21 NKJV

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Jesus Commanded it

Matthew 5:43–44 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Jesus Lived It

1 Peter 2:23 NIV

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

People will notice it

Romans 12:20 NKJV

Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”