Real Love pt 2

1 John 4:11-21

…unless we love each other, people won’t see God. if we live as consumers but never contribute, they see greed, but not God. If you show up and sit but never participate, they may see laziness or legalism, but not love..who is God.

…people might hear about God or understand something about God from your posts and words, but they wont SEE Him until you love the body of Christ.

God gives us the Holy Spirit, who is real love and who animates real love within us.

1) Real love removes fear (1 John 4:18).

What is fear? Fear is a evil spirit that whispers and inspires thoughts that are void of God’s power, love, and presence.

loving voice of affirmation from Father to Son (3x in Gospels)….that love kept Him secure and sinless.

it isn’t passive nor selfishly permissive love…it is safety because of love.

removes fear of punishment..something unsafe.

the Holy Spirit speaks truth to us and removes fear.

illus: psychology of love creating safety because it embodies trust. Love and Trust are required in healthy relationships

Fathers - your words and actions combine to either remove fear or instill a lack of safety in your children. Real love of the Father removes fear.

2) Real love gives first (1 John 4:19).

God (father, son, & spirit) gave first.

love gives, it doesn’t seek to take for own benefit.

love serves, not sits back feeling entitled.

illus: if amber would change, i’d change. that is no longer a gift, that is bartering…that is a contract term not covenant behavior. Marriages fail when we approach it as a contract instead of a covenant.

3) Real love forgives (1 John 4:20-21).

Forgiveness is a gift. It is FOR-giving.

Holy Spirit convinces us not to harbor bitterness and offense.

Jesus said to hate in your heart is same sin as murder.

“Hate” often refers to punish or persecute…when we withhold forgiveness, we trying to punish them so we feel better…but that is like murder.

T.S. = here’s a video to help us understand this better.

illus: video of forgiveness & bread

We come to the table every week and partook of bread of forgiveness.

Table is place of forgiveness. It’s a place of mending relationships, and in our brokenness, serving others.

You can’t show devotion to Jesus and despise His body at the same time.

How do i know if I’m offended, resentful, and despise others?

John is contrasting hate and love. He tells us early to love in word and deed.

Hate shows up in our words and deeds.

roots of bitterness show up in our speech - gossip, slander,

Ephesians 4:22–32 (NLT) — 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Holy Spirit fills us, causing rivers of living water to flow from our life (Jn 7:38).

Living water, not bitter water. Living water cleanses bitter water.

Illus: dirty water, receive the clean water of God’s love, that you pour into others. freely receive, freely give.

Water spews from your mouth…speak blessing over others not curses.

Start praying for God to bless them.

who do you despise? time to speak blessing over them.

Response…today is pentecost Sunday…the day HOLY SPIRIT was poured out…do you need a fresh water dose of Holy Spirit?

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PRACTICING THE WAY

As disciples of Jesus, we know our allegiance to Him as King is expressed in our daily practice. We are not pursuing perfection but want to practice our faith each day. These practices will point you toward spiritual formation as an apprentice (disciple) to Jesus.

(1) Start the Bible Recap reading plan.

(2) Recite this prayer/liturgy daily:

Holy Father, there is nothing i have that you have not given me. All i have and am belong to you, bought with the blood of Jesus. To spend everything on myself, and to give without sacrifice, is the way of the world that You cannot abide. But generosity is the way of those who call Christ their Lord; who love Him with free hearts and serve Him with renewed minds. Who withstand the delusion of riches that chokes the word; Whose hearts are in your kingdom and not in the system of the world. I am determined to increase in generosity until it can be said that there is no needy person among us. I am determined to be trustworthy with such a little thing as money that You may trust me with true riches. Above all, I am determined to be generous because You, Father, are generous. It is the delight of Your daughters and sons to share Your traits, and to show what You are like to all the world. Amen.

(3) Talk it Over (with friends, a spouse, or your Group)

Read 1 John 4:7-23.‌ Sunday’s message was about the real love of God through the person of the Holy Spirit. What was one key take-away for you from the message or this passage?

What are some impacts of fear in our life?

How does God’s love remove fear?

Real love forgives. It is for-giving. What

Read Ephesians 4:22-32, noting all the variety of ways our speech is mentioned. What do these verses tell us about our words in relationship to love and forgiveness?

What does forgiveness look like or feel like to you?