What is Love? (Love your Neighbour)

Luisa and expectation. Sometimes about what was going to say to us and through us, like, I want to give you time to read this phone. It's rather me just tell you to read it. And then so please read through the woods. We got to read them all out together in a moment because I believe the way that God changes us The word of God is preached. Scripture in the Bible says that someone is following. These are kind of slide slide.

Thank you. So it's just the one slight. It's just the one slight. Don't worry about it.

I believe the Holy Bible is the unique word of God. I am what it says I am. I have what he says I have, and I can do what it says I can do today. As we learn the word of God here in this spiritual family. I am blessed healed, and anointed for Holy and Victorious living. I will never again, be the same in Jesus name. Amen.

You using high top tennis shoes and hope you're okay. Paul to share your word with us this morning. Father as you are anointed her in preparation. Lord, I know until she speaks now in Jesus name,

I believe it's a good morning.

I believe. What's a word for at least one person in the room as well as online. Waiting for breakthrough can be really challenging, but he has to break through and finances Health in a situation or circumstance has or wasting the Fulfillment of a promise that the Lord is mighty. The fact that we come see or feel any progress, doesn't mean that nothing is happening. God, does some of his best work in secret? He Delights in surprising his children. And whether, you know, it or not, he's busy bringing good things to pass for you right now. And he made a point that I had to say that, Just give him time and you will say. In the meantime, if you don't have to stick this out by the passivity or in frustration this time doesn't have to be wasted, you can Minister from the stepping stone. For some people, the stepping stone can be a place of photo Ministry, although it's important not to get so comfortable that you settle for the stepping stone and don't move on. When the time is right. The others, the stepping stone, maybe a place to regroup and recharge, he'll even especially if the previous season in life was one, which led you to feel being spend physically spiritually and emotionally. Is this is you recognize and acknowledge the stepping stone. Be at peace whether it's a place of ministry or recharging and stay open to the Lord's leading. Whatever his name is the Fulfillment of a word from the Lord like Abraham and Sarah as recorded in Genesis waiting for the child. He had promised despite their ages or something as yet unknown to you in mind for example, Ephesians 2:10 for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. For good rugs which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. I believe the first of the Lord wants you to focus on to answer your cell phone is in Isaiah 26. Verse 3 as my son is 26 + 3, you will keep him in. Perfect peace. Whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you, I kind of say that again. You will keep him in. Perfect, peace. Whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in yang Moving on to the website today, this month's theme is love your neighbor and the types of this morning's message is What is love? I realize for some of you that may bring to mind the song from the 80s by Howard Jones, And some of you look him and can't be blank to me. So I will move on.

What is love is a question that people have debated and written about for Centris. So obviously I wouldn't attempt to cover it comprehensively, but just the points that I believe the Lord wants something about today. Before I move on to the famous, passage in 1 Corinthians 13 that defines love. I just want to briefly mention the contacts. In terms of the first few verses about chapter the Apostle Paul, who wrote this, basically said that great knowledge and spiritual gifts, such as prophecy and Faith, No matter how amazing are meaningless Without Love. Good works even if the sacrificial level on meaningless unless motivated by love. So my first point is love, only love gives meaning and value to our actions big and small on without him that meaningless. The Great Wide used to it. My experience, it's generally pronounced. I got pay or I got a but I have it on, good authority, it's a copy and I hope I've done. That's why we say I got plenty.

Its meaning includes brotherly, love, affection and Goodwill. Once in a previous job someone gave me flowers and it was clear from her and the way in which she gave them to me, but far from her perspective, this was a GT prompted by good manners. I appreciated them don't get me wrong but come back compare that with, for example, a young child, who picks it Daisy and runs up to you with a big smile and says I got this for you. Which has more meaning, which is the best example of loving your neighbor. It's so obvious, it's not the size of the case that matches but it's the answer sheet of the heart.

I'm aware that sometimes loving our neighbor, may be a duty prompted by good manners and that's the best we can do at the time and it's definitely better than doing nothing. But something small and simple, may be more effective or at least just as effective if it's from the halt. Who is our neighbor 90 days? Fake spoke about it previously, but just simply put on neighbor is any person with whom we interact. Be at for example because we live with them or someone whom we chance to meet Leaving to 1 Corinthians 13 verses 4 to 8, which gives us such a great definition of love. That's 1 Corinthians 13 verses 4 to 8 and I'll read it from the NIV. Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. 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 and always perseveres love never fails or comes to an end as it sometimes. Translated Love by its very nature. Always involves people or animals unless we're talking about coffee. So how we live out these different aspects of Love, affects other people and always affect cells. Isao. It's invariably effects of the people because there were times when we will do something for someone else and they'll never know if I don't, sit will never know what it's cost us in terms of time and energy patience, Etc. And it's right that it should be. So But God always says. Colossians 3:23 is the best. I mention again later, but I'll read it. Now in the passion translation, Colossians 3:23, put your heart and soul into every activity you to a so you'll doing it for the Lord himself and not many fathers put your heart and soul into every activity you do. I say you're doing it for the Lord himself and not Millie for others. I said how we live out different aspects of life always affects us because if we are, for example, impatience, unkind at cetera, it puts us under stress. A very quick Google search on the effects of impatience on the body brought. A number of Articles, none of which were Christian. The old recognizing, the negative impact on patients can have on us, especially over a prolonged period of time, all of which are symptoms of stress. For example, raise blood pressure and raised levels of stress hormone cortisol and adrenaline, when women spoke about how it took some relationships A married again to look at just one eye specs of love in the definition, in 1 Corinthians 13 and that's in first for which is my second point. So 1 Corinthians 13, verse for love is patient. So what does it mean to be patient? The dictionary definition of the Greek word used to it, which I wouldn't attempt to pronounce and cleats to be long-suffering to be patience and bearing. The offenses of others to be slow to anger and slow to punish is pretty comprehensive and thankfully but not stirred, not surprisingly describes God heavenly father who is love? At a basic level. Patients, love might be our attitude waiting in the queue to supermarket or WellSpan. Kept on, hold on the phone.

Find how to call as my wife and Company yesterday and he spoke to a guy from Newcastle who said to him. Thank you so much for being calm and polite. I've had a tough day. That's the difference. It can make it wouldn't have been a pipette for Simon see directly share the gospel that he could show Jesus to this guy. I Make a Difference by expressing patients and being calm and polite.

So how many different factors come into play but can affect her attitude, how patient will how long we have to wait? Whether we feel we can afford to wait? Or do we have lots of other things competing for our time or do? We need to be somewhere else? Is it? Someone else's fault that we're having to do what we doing and then have to wait as well. I know these are out questions. What is it costing us in terms of time energy and or money to be patient? The Bible doesn't say to be patient and you when it's convenient. In other words, the Bible doesn't say to love your neighbor only when it's convenient. This is a good time to remind ourselves that God never calls us to do anything in our end strength but he's able and willing to help us. We only have to ask so many verses in the Bible, tell us that this is just one and two Corinthians 9:12 in the Christian Standard Bible. It says my grace is sufficient for you for my power is perfect in weakness.

So here's a question for you. Why do you think patience is the first ice packs of the definition of Love listed in 1 Corinthians 13?

Officemates not to definitive answer but if we patients it helps us to stay calm and live out. The other aspects of Love be kind, don't be envious. Oldest owner of us will be easily angered, Etc. All of his way with God's help. All that depending on your character, you'll probably find different aspects of love, not too late to you than others. Patience and never giving up on the two bookends. So to speak at the definition of Love, they saw him. Finish it. Love is patient. Before I love never fails in fire site. That tells us something about the enduring nature of love and loving your neighbor.

If you think consider what it means to sacrificially, love your neighbor, that takes it to another level doesn't temp. On-site to my third point. Love costs. I'll leave you to debate the point to, whether it's always sacrificial in table, talk for any way. The ultimate example of sacrificial. Love Of Love, Of course, is expressed in John 3:16 on a retest from the passion translation to John. 3:16, say here is the way God loved the world, he gave his only unique, son was a gift, so not everyone who believes in him. Will never perish, but experience everlasting life. Out of love for us. All Heavenly Father gave us his precious only son. Jesus, who was tortured and died, Jesus Paid the ultimate price when he took the punishment for the sin of each. One of us when he was nailed to a wooden cross a Roman form of execution. Praise God. Jesus rose again and because he lives we too can live. Not only for them for him on us. But then eternity with him in heaven, when we physically die. I'm just reading the old spot Cafe at the son of Richard. Abraham was an American poet. He was normally Jewish as far as I can tell, but to the point when he surrenders his life to Jesus, he stays very simply for questions, his turns to find out to him and his response. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Yes. Do you believe that she died for you to pay the penalty for your sin? Yes. Do you believe that God will forgive you and accept Christ death as payment for your sin? Yes. Do you want to receive Jesus Christ as your lord and savior? Yes, it's not simple. If you said yes, all those questions for the first time you can pray, another. Let's talk to God and Jesus to be Lord of your life. Going back to 1 Corinthians 13. Just looking at the beginning, 1 Corinthians 13. Verse 4. It says love is patient. Love is kind. So, what does patience look like when its sucker Fishel? What does kindness look like when it's sacrificial? We could go through all the different aspects of Love listed in this passage and ask the same questions, but I don't think the Lord wants me to do that right now. But I did come across a great example of sacrificial love. I got to test you all at history. Now, has anyone heard of the Renaissance artist? I'll bet you Laura. LOL. I'll teach you a very tiny bit. He was a German painter and printmaker who lived in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, whose pen and ink drawing of praying, hands with the result of an amazing friendship between him and a guy, you will never have had a cold Friends next time and this is a story. A student's time labor has to try and enough and enough money to carry on that status. However, the economic climate of the timer such that there was no way that either of them could buy study and have time enough to enough with casual part-time, jobs to survive in this way. So they decided to draw a lot to settle which of them should find full-time employment and support them both. While the winner with then divided all his energies to his studies. However, when Jura having become a great success in his field came back, he discovered that connect Stein has made the sacrifice that can explain how it's made was far greater than either of them had for sane. Through hard labor, sneaks X fingers, had become twisted and bent so he could no longer that they control paint brushes. I could never hope to become a great painter. However, the Knicks signed this played no business, he was glad to have played a part in his friends success. One day, you're a friend of friends. Friends, can you stand up prayer? I was so struck by his hands, but he's got them a late to completed. One of the great masterpieces of the anywhere, nice songs. But we now know, as the praying hands. So France played an even greater part in his friends success than even his, more obvious sacrifice and it was impressed.

I come on and Luke 10:27 to love your neighbor as yourself carries with it and haven't sacrificed. That's often only God. And sometimes those closest to us a, but at times I viewed by why do rodents, which says to inspire and that defy us Year of the Year. France, made the sacrifice without complaining. The only way is possible to maintain the right attitude over a. Of time like that in my opinion, is to choose to do two things. First lie as it says in Philippians 2, verse 14 and I'll read from the New Living Translation that's playpens 214. Do everything without complaining and arguing. On the message, turns it around and says, do everything Reginae, then Cheerilee. Chick-fil-A is very easy for me to stand here and say this and you just sit here and not in agreement and I'm speaking to myself now. But when you consider that would everything in the Greek means everything, it's important for us, to be honest, with ourselves and the Lord and to see if there are any areas where we haven't yet applied this or Appliance sporadically,

Say one question is, what would help that may be some practical on sister this depending on your situation. It may be about activity choosing All Souls Episcopal active on the my son so we don't have a chili go down and negative Paul. But for example, cheese and I teach you to gratitude What can you sign the Lord for, in the situation? For example, if you're frustrated in your job, you can thank the Lord. You got one

It's worth noting that you can raise an issue. If one needs to be raised without being impatient or complaining, Years ago, Simon and I wear out one evening with friends having dinner. And we do got some food apart from one. Couple he sat patiently waiting for this, they said nothing but ages and ages and eventually realize the food was ready to eat and had been for some time, but the person calling, their name wasn't English on the pronunciation of that wasn't readily recognized and said, they'd been waiting unnecessarily. Hindsight is great but basically they could have gone up to the South before that. I politely also the food was and realized what the issue was and go bad in a Cena. They're all times when it's right to raise any. She do the right, people won't know that there is one on the matter will be resolved. Loving your neighbor. I'm being patient, is not to come on to be a doorman. How we raised an issue and potentially the timing of it is the key thing. I love you night by sacrificially to take me over a. Of time with the right attitude involves fussy doing everything without complaining and second play, do everything as unto the Lord. As it says, in Colossians 3:23, on our way, to get, from the Amplified this time Colossians 3:23, what type what type of your task may be? What from the soul that is put in your very best effort as something done for the Lord and not for men. Another translation, says whatever you do do from the heart, as, for the Lord. It makes it sound so simple, but to maintain it over a long. Of time. Can only be done by making a decision and continue to make to make that decision over and over and over again. This isn't about being perfect, we all make mistakes, but with God's help, we can learn from those mistakes, we can dust us all gassed up and keep going. We can pacify her with help from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the part or parts of the Lord wants us to play in Life or not, what we would have hoped for ourselves, but have great value that we may, or may not say, But if we learn to do those two things don't complain and do everything as unto the Lord will be a lot happier and have more peace and find it easier to be most sensitive to the Holy Spirit as he guides us. We can take so much from this story about Dora and his friends. On another note, which part do you think you'd been at you to been able to accept most resume? Lots of Jordan or his friend. This isn't a loaded question. It's just about being honest with yourself. At the end of the day, it was done fairly by drawing Lots nowadays. We could probably have tossed a coin or pops a credit card. Best Buy's joy and the challenge in giving and receiving. How would you feel about going off to fulfill your dream while sleeping your friend to work to support you both? This puts us in the role of receiving. Is Jorah has been able to receive. He wouldn't have fulfilled his potential or being able to go back and help his friends. How would you feel about being the one left behind to do the unskilled work? The hard labor instead of training to do the job. It's at your house on. This puts us in the role of giving. Sacrificial giving. And this is my final Point love both gives and receives. We will all have been in the possession of both giving and receiving. But if you struggle with either of those, for whatever reason, your relationships will be lopsided imbalance. Loving your neighbor, involves both giving and receiving God gave his only son Jesus, but only those who winning to receive the gift of his sacrifice, can be born again and live eternally with him. Giving can be painfully cosplay. Receiving can be extremely humbling. I make us feel quite vulnerable, especially if we're in a position where we feel, we have no choice because we called m. I needs Different people with different personalities. Give and receive love in different ways. Some of you will have heard of a great book by a guy called Gary Chapman, the five love languages. Which came out some years ago. For those who have not heard about the premise of the five love languages is quite simple, different people, give and receive love in different ways. As the website says, by learning to recognize these differences in yourself, and in your loved ones, you can learn to identify the root of complex connect more profound and begin to grow more place. We get to Barclays Center. The five love languages all acts of service for these people. Actions speak louder than words. Receiving gifts for some people. This makes them feel most loved. Quality time. This is about giving someone your undivided attention. What's the fascination of physical touch? So appropriate, physical touch makes some people feel really loved. One or two of these love language is may be key to what makes you feel loved or appreciated and others may not do anything for you. and it may change over time for different reasons to Example, I know someone for whom receiving gifts whiskey, once she was in a happy relationship but she fighting regularly receive guests. I might have been expensive and she wasn't like that. It was just about a thoughtful gesture but one that she was receiving them relatively regularly, it became less of an issue for her. Another love language became more important.

So, we can change. There's a whole series of books space on this including showing appreciation in the workplace and recognizing the love language is if your children. It's worth being aware of because it can help us to demonstrate love and a way that's most appropriate and is fast going to be received. On another note, though. I remember one time a friend and I were going through a really difficult time. Neither of us was looking for answers from the other. It was just about walking through stuff together. Loving your neighbor can be as simple as sharing. As I've said many times before, they my opinion, trust is the most precious gift. The one person can give to another we need to be wise about who we trust with Walt as well as realistic in our expectations of other people. But that's not a reason to never trust anyone, but simply to exercise wisdom, Sewing summer rates clothes. My first point, love gives, meaning and value to our actions. My second Point, love is patient. Sadly, love costs, do everything without complaining as unto the Lord. I'm full today, love both gives and receives Let's pray.

Lord, thank you so much that we love because you first loved us. We need you. Teacher has to be patient as you are patient, both with ourselves and others and please help us to do everything without complaining on does unto you because we all skate in Jesus name. I'm with so thankful, but nothing is too difficult for you almond.

Thanks Jasmine. Hey man.