WEEK 3 – FEBRUARY 15 (VALENTINE’S WEEKEND) RIGHT LOVE IN A BACKWARDS WORLD

WEEK 3 – FEBRUARY 15 (VALENTINE’S WEEKEND)

RIGHT LOVE IN A BACKWARDS WORLD

(Redefining love biblically)

“Well, Valentine’s Day was yesterday.” “And for some people, it was roses, chocolates, and reservations made weeks in advance. For others, it was a card from the grocery store, purchased on the way home.”

“Valentine’s Day is interesting, because once a year the world stops and says,

‘Let’s talk about love.’”

“But the problem isn’t that the world talks about love — it’s what the world means by love.”

According To Our Culture, 

LOVE IS Defined: 

*As an emotion

*As a feeling.

*As chemistry. *As attraction. *As something you fall into…

and unfortunately, something you can fall out of.”

“And that definition sounds great, until life gets hard. Until feelings fade. Until expectations aren’t met. Until love costs something.”

“Because an upside-down world loves love, as long as love doesn’t require sacrifice.”

“But when you open the Bible, and you discover God doesn’t define love with a heart emoji ❤️.”

“God defines love with a cross ✞.”

Can I get and AMEN!

“God’s love isn’t based on how lovable we are, it’s based on how faithful He is.”

“And today, whether you’re married or single, dating or disappointed, hopeful or hurting, I pray this message encourages you.”

“Because in a backwards world that cheapens love, God calls us to live right side up, by learning to love the way He loves.”

God Defines Love As:

Sacrifice

Commitment, 

Self-giving.

“So let’s talk about RIGHT LOVE IN A BACKWARDS WORLD, and what real, biblical, life-changing love actually looks like.”

According to Romans 12:2 We love differently because we think differently. 

It’s The Renewing Of Our Minds, from the worlds thinking to God’s thinking.

Romans 12:2 (NKJV) 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

One of my favorite translations of this verse is the NLT.

Romans 12:2 (NLT) 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Let’s see how God see love and how we can change our thinking, to think like Him.  I want to know God’s Good, Acceptable and perfect will, HOW ABOUT YOU!

#1: THE WORLD FALLS IN LOVE; GOD CALLS US TO WALK IN LOVE

John 13:34–35 (NKJV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

“Jesus didn’t say love was a suggestion, He said it was a command”

Culture treats love like a feeling you fall into, and fall out of.

Jesus treats love as a command, not a mood.

Feelings follow obedience, not the other way around.

Love matures when it’s practiced, not just professed.

Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV) 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Colossians 3:14 (NKJV) 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Colossians 3:14 (MSG) 14 And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

# 2: BIBLICAL LOVE IS A DECISION, NOT JUST A DESIRE OR FEELING.

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NKJV) 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

“Paul here doesn’t tell us what love feels like, he tells us what love looks like in action.” It’s a verb, it’s and action word.

In other words he defines love by what it does, not by what it feels.”

“Love suffers long” Love chooses patience

“Love is kind” → Love chooses kindness

“Love does not envy” Love chooses contentment

“Love is not puffed up” Love chooses humility

“Love bears all things” Love chooses endurance

“Love believes all things” Love chooses trust

“Love endures all things”  chooses perseverance

Every description here requires a decision, not a mood.

Love acts before it reacts.

Desire says, “What do I get?” Love says, “What can I give?”

So we see that love isn’t defined by emotions, it’s defined by actions. Every description of love requires a choice.”

Of course there are emotions in love, but if thats all were going to go for, it won’t last long.

Here a few quote’s to cement this

Romance gets you started but commitment keeps you standing.

Attraction may spark love, but character sustains it.

Philippians 2:3–4 (NKJV) 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

# 3 THE CROSS DEFINES LOVE, NOT OUR CULTURE

Romans 5:8 (NKJV) 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God didn’t wait until we were lovable.

The cross  proves love is measured by sacrifice, not convenience.

The world says, “I’ll love you if…”

God says, “I love you — period.”

John 15:13 (NKJV) 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

# 4: LOVE IS MOST POWERFUL WHEN IT’S PATIENT AND KIND

1 Corinthians 13:4 (AMP) 4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

Patience slows us down in a hurry-up world. 

Kindness church family costs us nothing, but it changes everything.

In a harsh culture, kindness can change everything.

Example: Kind words instead of harsh’s words.

Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV) 1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Mother Teresa:

“Love is a fruit always in season.”

# 5: LOVE IS HOW THE WORLD RECOGNIZES JESUS

John 13:35 (NKJV) 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus didn’t say they’d know us by:

Our arguments, Our posts, Our politics

Love is our loudest witness.

Illustration

People may reject our message, but they remember how we loved them.

Love opens impossible doors.

“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

# 6: WE LOVE BECAUSE HE LOVED US FIRST

1 John 4:7–11 (NKJV) 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

The more aware we are of God’s love, the more freely we give it.

Love flows best from a heart that knows it is loved.

Romans 8:38–39 (NKJV) 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 30:18 (AMP) 18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!

So In a backwards world that cheapens love, God calls us to live right side up, loving deeply, forgiving freely, and giving sacrificially.