Love In a Crowded Heart

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon God, Love Of

God, Love of

Christ’s Kingdom and Napoleon’s Empire

Matthew 20:25–28; Mark 10:42–45; Luke 22:24–27; 1 Corinthians 15:25

Preaching Themes: God: Love, Government, Kingdom of God, War

Perhaps accidentally Napoleon was a grand advancer of human liberty, since he first taught the old kings that the pretense of divine right could not keep crowns on unpopular heads, and that young men from the ranks might still mount a throne. He produced a code of laws, which, for simplicity of justice, has never been surpassed.

Still, he relied too much on coercion and the sword—his enormous armies were his bulwark and security. Strong battalions were the cornerstone of his empire, and though for a while he stood firm, and armies advancing against him were only like so many waves dashing against the rocks of his tremendous power, still after all his many wars he was overthrown. He was said to have uttered in St. Helena that memorable speech, “My empire has passed away. I founded it upon the sword, and it is gone. Jesus Christ established an empire upon love, and it will last forever.”

So will it last. When all that kings and princes can do with statecraft, and with power, shall have dissolved like frost in the sun, Christ’s kingdom must stand because it is based upon the law of love. His person is the incarnation of love, his teachings are the doctrines of love, his precepts are the rule of love, his Spirit is the creator of love, his whole religion is saturated with love, and because of this his kingdom cannot be moved.138

The church in Corinth had divided loyalties. More than one was vying for their affection. Their hearts were crowded and confused. Who would they choose to love? Would it be the false apostles or Paul? Would they choose those that taught a false, works salvation or the gospel of grace which Paul proclaimed. Paul reaffirms his love for them and calls them to renew their affection for him by showing the quality of his love for them.

Unselfish Love

2 Corinthians 7:2 NASB95

2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.

Wronged no one - He called for the discipline of the man in 1 cor. 5:5. But he did not wrong him doing it.

1 Corinthians 5:5 NASB95

5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Many times when a pastor takes a stand on the Word of God and it steps on people’s toes, those who “feel” hurt will blame the pastor. They may call him mean spirited or overly strict.

Paul shows here that pastors have feelings too. It hurts when a pastor in that situation is falsely accused.

took advantage of no one - Used them to get money.

Hopeful Love

2 Corinthians 7:3 NASB95

3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

condemn = final judgement. His defense was not an attack on them. He was not giving up on them. He was not angry.

Loyal Love

2 Corinthians 7:3 NASB95

3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

The common phrase was to live or die together. Paul flips and says to die together or live together.

He was willing to die for them or with them.

Despite the Corinthians questioning Paul and His message, he loved them anyway.

like Ruth to Naomi

Ruth 1:16–17 NASB95

16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17 “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”

He will continue to be loyal to them even if they were to die because he knows they will live together for eternity.

Confident Love

2 Corinthians 7:4 NASB95

4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.

1 Corinthians 13:7 NASB95

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

He could have this confidence because of God’s promise

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Example

2 Corinthians 7:5 NASB95

5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.

(Map)

2 Corinthians 7:6 NASB95

6 But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

Paul sent Titus to Corinth while he was in Ephesus. Paul was hoping to for Titus to Check on Corinth and then meet up with him in Macedonia. Paul got worried when he couldn’t find Titus right away. Finally they met each other.

(Map)

By this time, Paul was exhausted, anxious and depressed.

Believer’s Bible Commentary M. Paul’s Joy at the Good News from Corinth (7:2–16)

Picture the joyful meeting between these two devoted servants of Christ, Paul’s questions tumbling out one on top of the other, and Titus trying to answer them as quickly as possible!

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 7

Don’t miss your Titus, gang. It might be your son or daughter. It might be a neighbor or co-worker. It might be someone you would never think had much to offer, but they’ll come to you with words of encouragement—if you’re wise enough to listen.

2 Corinthians 7:7 NASB95

7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon Oases of Refreshing (Exodus 16:10–36; Deuteronomy 8:3; Joshua 5:12; Psalm 92:10)

Oases of Refreshing

Exodus 16:10–36; Deuteronomy 8:3; Joshua 5:12; Psalm 92:10

Preaching Themes: God: Providence, Promises

When the Eastern nations used to trade across the desert in the olden times, in Solomon’s days for instance, there were stations built, wells sunk, and provisions stored at convenient halting places, so that the caravans might pause and take in fresh provisions. The caravans reached their journey’s end because the long way was broken up by a series of resting places.

Now, the promises are resting places for us between here and heaven. There is a long line of them at well-ordered intervals, and as we journey through this desert world we will be constantly coming, first to one, and then another, and then another, and another, and so we shall find fresh provision stored up, that we may not fail. The manna will fall daily until we come to Canaan. The promises of God are so numerous that we are sure we shall be “anointed with fresh oil” (Ps 92:10).234

The kind of love that Paul had for the church in Corinth is the kind of love that Jesus has for us. Is your heart crowding out His love? Open your hearts to His love.