How do I love?
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How do I love?
How do I love?
How to Be Miserable in 20 Easy Steps!
1. Use "I" as often as possible.
2. Always be sensitive to slights.
3. Be jealous and envious.
4. Think only about yourself.
5. Talk only about yourself.
6. Trust no one.
7. Never forget a criticism.
8. Always expect to be appreciated.
9. Be suspicious.
10. Listen greedily to what others say about you.
11. Look for faults in others.
12. Shirk your duties if you can.
13. Do as little as possible for others.
14. Never forget a service you may have rendered.
15. Sulk if people are not grateful for your favors.
16. Insist on consideration and respect.
17. Demand agreement with your own views on everything.
18. Always look for a good time.
19. Love yourself first.
20. Be selfish at all times!
I. WHO DO WE LOVE?
A. Love God and your neighbor
A. Love God and your neighbor
Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord;
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
“The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him;
and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.
B. Love God, Love your brother
2. Love God, Love your brother
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
C. Love one another
Love one another
“This I command you, that you love one another.
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love your wife
D. Love your wife
D. Love your wife
Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
COL 3:19
E. Love your enemies
Love your enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
mATT
But How do we love?
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love his appearin
But How do we love?
II. WHAT LOVE REQUIRES FROM US
A. We show our love by keeping his commandments
Jesus said...
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
1 john
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
B. We show our love by relying on the love of God
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
C. We show our love by keeping his Word
but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
But how do we love?
III. WHAT DEFINES LOVE?
Agape love is:
AGAPE (Greek). uh-gah-pay.
Greek word for “love” (the noun). It describes an active, intelligent goodwill toward another without regard to the response. (It is sometimes described as love “in spite of” as opposed to “because of.”)
NT176 The Gospel Message in the Early Church Agapē Meal
In the early church, there’s also something called the agapē meal. Agapē is the Greek word for “love.” You might even say it’s the word for “fellowship” as well. Typically, the early Christian church shared a communal meal that they called the agapē meal. Typically the Eucharist was celebrated in the morning, and the agapē meal took place in the evening. Pliny the Younger, in his letter, again, written at about AD 110, refers to Christians meeting on a Sunday morning and then later in the day would “reassemble, to eat in common a harmless meal.”
Christian love is not primarily a feeling or an emotion; rather it is an intentional involvement in the lives of others.
SOME TRUTHS ABOUT LOVE
Agape love is the love Christ demonstrated to the world when he died on the cross.
Agape love is selfless
Agape love includes fellowship with one another
Selfless
You can’t really love each other until you understand how much God loves you
1. You can’t really love each other until you understand how much God loves you
Worldly love is a counterfeit to God’s love
Real love is not a choice but a fruit of God working in you ()
Love is willful
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.
The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people.
And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve.
And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.
They were glad and agreed to give him money.
So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.
Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”
They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?”
And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters.
“And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
“And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.”
And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;
for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
“But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.
“For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.
And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.
And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’
“But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
“For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
“You are those who have stood by Me in My trials;
and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you
that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!”
And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.”
And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.
“For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.”
They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”
And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him.
When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,
saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.
And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,
and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him.
But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”
And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber?
“While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”
Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.
After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them.
And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.”
But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”
A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.”
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”
And he went out and wept bitterly.
Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him,
and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?”
And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming.
When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying,
“If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe;
and if I ask a question, you will not answer.
“But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.”
Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”
saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Love is graceful
Love is graceful
jo
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
Love is Sacrificial
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
But how do we love?
So far we have looked at...
I. WHO DO WE LOVE
II. WHAT LOVE REQUIRES FROM US
III. WHAT DEFINES LOVE
IV. HOW DO WE LOVE?
IV. HOW DO WE LOVE?
(15 characteristics)
(15 characteristics)
a. love is patient (suffers long, endures)
b. love is kind (show oneself useful, benevolent)
c. love is not jealous (to have warmth of feeling for or against, covet earnestly, desire)
d. love does not brag(boasting, easily provoke, stir)
e. love is not arrogant (blowing, to inflate, puff up, make proud)
f. love does not act unbecomingly (behave improperly, unfit, unsuitable)
g. love it does not seek its own (thinks only of self)
h. love is not provoked (irritate, put out, aggravate, stir up, arouse)
i. love does not take into account a wrong suffered (thinks no evil, forgiving)
j. love does not rejoice in unrighteousness (Injustice), but rejoices with the truth
k. love bears all things (to cover with silence)
l. love believes all things (to have faith, give them benefit of doubt)
m. love hopes all things (trust, to expect or confides)
n. love endures all things (to remain, stay under, persevere, having fortitude)
o. love never fails. ("leaves the light on" - never stops)
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
1
When someone asked a missionary if he liked his work in Africa, he replied: "Do I like this work? No, my wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonably refined sensibilities. We do not like crawling into huts through goats' refuse. We do not like association with ignorant, filthy, brutish people. But is a man to do nothing for Christ he does not like? If not, then God pity him. Liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We have orders to 'go'and we go. Love constrains us" (2Co_5:14). (2001 Bible Illustrations)
When someone asked a missionary if he liked his work in Africa, he replied: "Do I like this work? No, my wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonably refined sensibilities. We do not like crawling into huts through goats' refuse. We do not like association with ignorant, filthy, brutish people. But is a man to do nothing for Christ he does not like? If not, then God pity him. Liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We have orders to 'go'and we go. Love constrains us" (2Co_5:14). (2001 Bible Illustrations)
Let us love.
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
john