The Next-level Believer
Notes
Transcript
The Power of Love
The Power of Love
Jumper cables - who carries them with them? Why?
To help self?
To help others?
When you help self, you are relieved
When you help others, you are satisfied, it feels so good!
Love is action
Love is work
Love is purposeful
Love is intentional
Love asks “How can I be toward others?”
GOAL - to love like Christ - we can only strive to approach it, as His love is infinite
Thus, Paul will encourage those who do not love, to start
And those who do love, to excel, for the glory of Christ
READ: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Recap: 1 Thess 1:3
constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,
In our passage today
Paul says - “…you know love, you’ve done it, I don’t need to tell you, God already has!”
Now excel - why?
Maybe they’ve had enough, growing tired, frustrated
(Compare the verses) What was missing in Timothy’s report? HOPE
Lack of hope holds you back!
(Just wait for a great discussion on hope)
Hope is what keeps us going
And hope we have, shows up in the love we show
Faith, true faith, always results in works, for others, which is love
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Love here, will grow from faith, will excel due to hope
(Hope is a tremendous motivator)
Feeling stagnant, lack of care for others - check your “hope level”
Next level Christianity = maturity
1) Love Grows
1) Love Grows
Keep growing
Yes - Bible, prayer, church
and…testimony to others, examine how you live among others
The life of surrendered following of Christ is LIVED, not FELT
Not Paul’s Word, but GOD’s
“I don’t need to tell you this, God already has”
To us - ‘Read it yourself, hear it from God”
ASIDE - Read the Word. You cannot love if you do not KNOW the one who loves you!”
Growth:
1 - Taught by God
It’s not a book, or a preacher, or a conference, or a song…
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Love is a product of the surrendered life
ILLUST: Healthy trees produce fruit, it is not stressed to do so
Healthy believers demonstrate love, not stressed to do it
2 - Known, growth is known
In Thess.. people know the love of people in that church
People KNEW, reputation spread
In Noble, Cornerstone - can people say we love people?
3 - Always room to grow
“Excel still more”
2) Love Brings Stability
2) Love Brings Stability
Love looks stable, is stable; demonstrates one IS stable
Paul encourages “quiet living”
Paul encourages working, as in “with your hands” - be productive in life for the benefit of your community and others - in so doing, you will be cared for
Inside and out
Inner peace - how elusive is that?
Timeless advice - “mind your own business”
But wait…the context is loving others, so…
“Mind your own business, FIRST, then deal with others in your peaceful life”
POINT - Care for your OWN business!
Sure…some were busybodies, gossips
Some are today as well
Focus on yourself, as in your testimony, then help and encourage others by your love for them
Focus on your business, so you can HELP others with theirs!
Question: When you interact with people, do you leave them more peaceful or more exhausted?
What a picture here:
Working hard, quietly living for the Lord, while loving people
Work is an act of worship, get that!
Some then had quit, or began to coast
LOVE NEVER COASTS
Maybe they felt they missed Jesus’ return - NOPE
Maybe they knew He was coming soon anyway, what’s the use in working hard? - NOPE
Both are extremes and wrong
Back to inner peace for a moment
Here are the opponents, the opposing views:
Culture
Be noticed by standing out, capturing attention, gaining likes and social followers
“Look at me, look at me!”
Paul/Scripture
Be quiet, live quietly and effectively
Testimony - work hard, pay your bills, keep your word, be selfless
“Look at Jesus, look at Jesus!”
Culture
People grow tired of cries of attention-seeking
Scripture
People never tire of seeing your good testimony
You quietly make it through today, loving Jesus
Another day comes soon
The surrendered believer thrives on the new day!
“Quiet” does not mean “Silent”
ASIDE - Speak truth. Most loving thing to do. Our culture embraces sin, and expects you to tolerate that. I cringe when I see churches flying the pride flag, sponsoring events that directly oppose God and His Word.
Jesus LOVED people, and He warned them regarding their sin.
Yes, love is selfless, it is helping and giving to others with the only motive being shining the Light of Jesus - it is active
3) Love Validates the Gospel
3) Love Validates the Gospel
It is real
It is genuine
I know my wife loves Jesus! How do I know?
REM: Love = selfless
ILLUST: TLS barefoot to the car for me
People pay attention to your life
Fair or unfair
We have to win the respect of outsiders - Paul says this is how
Believers - those who have EMBRACED the love of Jesus toward them
Dependable
Keep their word
Respect others - RESPECT for others……
Work hard
Speak truth in love (? not gossip)
Live on Monday what they say on Sunday!
Ouch….
Testimony
The surrendered believer
Does not ask “What’s in it for me?”
Does ask “How can I serve you?”
The reason for not asking the first one
HOPE drives the love, not seeking self gratification
The reason for asking the second
Jesus loved you, so you respond by loving others
What word comes to mind when you hear the name “Jesus?’
POWER!
CLOSE with 1 Cor 13:13
But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I follow a powerful Jesus
Because only He, with His power, could do what He did, He does, and will do!
Save me!
(Explain why love is the greatest…)
Since we are not there yet, we rely on His love, which leads to our faith and the powerful HOPE we cling to!
One more word on love….
When you love others, you reflect the infinite Jesus Christ
I can’t explain why Jesus loves you
I certainly can’t explain why He loves me!
I don’t have to
Go love some in a way they do not deserve, and leaving them not being able to explain why you would
Then just say “Jesus”
AMEN
