This is love
Notes
Transcript
This is love
This is love
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9 This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: he has given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
21 And he has given us this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: he has given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
21 And he has given us this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Today is Mother’s day. Traditionally a day where you’d visit the church you were baptised in or the nearest cathedral. Over the years it’s developed into a day where we celebrate our mothers.
It’s a day where we remember their sacrifices for us.
And mother’s come in all shapes and sizes. Some are amazing role models, women who have supported us throughout our lives, and sometimes our Mum’s are close friends, but some mum’s are more difficult. You may be mourning the loss of your mum today, and I want you to especially know the love of God and your church family here today.
I always like to extend our celebartion to celebrate all those women in our lives who have supported us and come along side us. So as we explore our passage today, let’s remember them today.
So who is writing the letter? It’s John. The beloved disciple, Jesus’ closest friend on earth. Throughout this letter so far John has explored what true Christian community is like, he then goes on to expplore how to keep a Christian community going.
Having lived with Jesus for 3 years, he moves into a section on loving eachother. Don’t forget Jesus said
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’
Whats is love?
Whats is love?
love at first sight?
well that’s more what we’d call infatuation, and scientists reckon infatuation lasts anywhere between 3 seconds and 3 years. It’s not a decent foundation for any relationship, and it’s specifically an intense emotional attraction
compassion
to some extent, compassion of course is a huge part of love. It’s where we are moved to respond. We see something and we act to meet that need out of compassion, out of the love of action. We looked at Jesus feeding the masses last week. he was actually trying to retreat to pray, but he took compassion on the people because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
It’s the kind of love which moves us to pop a note through someone’s door, and to pick up something from the shops
John says that love comes from God
he is it’s origin, he is the source of love
Everyone who loves had been born of God and knows God.
let’s just clarify something. John is speaking to Christians and he is speaking specifically about the truest form of love. The truest form of love is given to us from God
We are all made in the image of God, and so we all have the capacity to love. To show compassion and to meet the needs of others.
But here, John is speaking of the deepest love which Christians can show. Something different from all those who live away from God. We are loved with the purest love, and it’s something we can show to others. This truely is the love which changes the wolrd.
So to show the truest, purest form of love requires knowing God
Our church believes this completely and our new strapline, our mission statement starts with
‘Knowing Jesus’
This is where everything flows from. Intentionally spending time coming closer to Jesus, letting him guide us
There has been so much panic buying recently. We were assured yesterday that there is plenty of food to go round, we just need to look out for eachother.
John challenges believers when he says ‘whoever does not love does not know God, becuase God is love.’
My friend over in Yorkshire was telling me on Friday that he’s started a scheme in his village called ‘reverse stockpiling’. It’s a way for those who have panic bought, to share what they’ve bought. There’s no judgement, and it’s done annoymously. And in the apace of a couple of days it’s already it’s been a success.
We do know God, and so we can truely love.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Our time of lent is a time of preparation. Of stripping back all the stuff which isn’t of God, and coming closer to him
We can’t love because we love him, we love because he loves us. He makes himself known to us everyday. He provides for us needs.
And he stepped down from heaven to earth in Jesus Christ. And he died on the cross to make us one with God. Atonement is the action that God took to make us at one ‘atone’ with him.
And so, what is the way of Jesus. how can we follow him
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
The second line in our new mission statement is ‘Loving each other’
It’s a direct command from God, and we are committed to it. To love each other as brothers and sisters who are loved by a wonderful parent, the God of all creation who rescues us.
And john continues,
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
While none of us can see God himself, we can see him at work. And at this critical time as a community, as a nation and as humanity on planet earth, we are called to follow his call on us to rise up and act in an awesome way, with him at the helm, with him guiding our response.
While none of us can see God himself, we can see him at work. And at this critical time as a community, as a nation and as humanity on planet earth, we are called to follow his call on us to rise up and act in an awesome way, with him at the helm, with him guiding our response.
Already this week I’ve heard stories of people recieving the leaflets which have gone through letter boxes and they’ve commented that it’s good to know that they won’t be alone because St Mark’s will be there for them.
On Friday morning, Josh and I put up posters across the windows in front of the church which say ‘How can we help?’
St Mark’s is already known as a proactive church, and so I wonder how God is calling you to respond?
We still have some leaflets which need delivering. The church is open for private prayer later today, but perhaps you feel like you could take some leaflets and cross off a few streets on the roads list.
Perhaps you could email the office saying that you’re happy to either pick up essentials for someone
Perhaps you are at home like me and the family this week. Who can you call? Again, Libby is this week compiling a list of people who are ready to phone. Just email the office or ring our new mobile number.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus.
1John 4:16
We are like Jesus?
Our final line of our mission statement is ‘Caring for our community’
this is who we are intentionally seeking to be, and the people that we are intentionally seeking to care for
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
Let’s let his love drive out all fear in our hearts this week. Let us not let fear drive out our love. Because if we know Jesus, we can love each other and care for our community. We can be like Jesus here on earth, showing compassion and depp love to all we see.
16 He told her, ‘Go, call your husband and come back.’
17 ‘I have no husband,’ she replied. Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say you have no husband.
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.’
19 ‘Sir,’ the woman said, ‘I can see that you are a prophet.
John 4:16
I want to close with a brief story about raising a shout of praise to God in the prescence of an enemy.
Let’s let his love drive out all fear in our hearts this week. Let us not let fear drive out our love. Because if we know Jesus
We are facing an invisible enemy, COVID-19.
Not only is it spreading fast, but everything we do to combat it also has implications for jobs, work, life routines, schooling, our health system, our mental, physical and emotional healt too.
And we can allow ourselves to be brought down into depression through this, or we can stand in opposition. Because we’re not only called to show love to others. We are also empowered by the Holy Spirit, as loved children of God to stand alongside Jesus in declaring hope, and peace and joy over this world, and to speak against the forces of darkness, whether that’s the spiritual forces at work or a plague on humanity.
"A giant of unbelief is falling"
"A giant of unbelief is falling"
There’s a song which is helping Christians around the globe stand up against this enemy and to praise God despite the fear around us.
GET DAILY INSPIRATION
GET DAILY INSPIRATION
It’s called ‘Raise A Hallelujah’.
Sign up for the GOD TV newsletter and receive a free gift!
Written by Jonathan and Melissa Helser of Bethel Music
The testimony of the song ‘Raise A Hallelujah’ is extraordinary. Jonathan and Melissa Helser of Bethel Music wrote it as a powerful declaration over the life of their friend’s son, Jaxon.
it’s a powerful declaration over the life of their friend’s son, Jaxon.
Jaxon’s kidney got infected by the E.coli virus and he had to have blood transfusions and go on dialysis. Because of this, Jaxon’s parents reached out to their community for prayer and support.
A few days before Christmas in 2017, Jonathan received a text from their friends Joel and Janie Taylor that their son Jaxon was in a critical condition and they didn’t think the child would make it.
A few days before Christmas, Jonathan received a text from their friends Joel and Janie Taylor that their son Jaxon was in a critical condition and they didn’t think the child would make it.
Jonathan says “As soon as I got that text, I felt like this giant of unbelief stood in front of me, I thought ‘Jaxon’s going to die tonight, we’re not going to see the miracle’.”
But something indescribable happened to the Helsers, while they were praying for a miracle. A song suddenly came out of their mouths and they started to sing a powerful declaration against the giant Jaxon was facing.
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
They made worship a powerful weapon against the forces of the enemy. Their hymn of praise became louder than unbelief. A lot of friends visited Jaxon and his sister Addie who was also diagnosed with the same infection. And they kept on declaring the song over them.
After medical treatment and countless prayers, the Taylors received a miracle from God. Jaxon and Addie were able to go home. Their bodies in full health.
Joel, Jaxon’s dad, said “God’s timing often doesn’t make sense until you look back to see that mountains were climbed and canyons were crossed on no strength of your own. In the battle for Jaxon’s life, the global church community rose up like a mighty army and joined us in prayer and worship all over the world. Our son was miraculously healed and today is perfectly healthy,”
“God’s timing often doesn’t make sense until you look back to see that mountains were climbed and canyons were crossed on no strength of your own. In the battle for Jaxon’s life, the global church community rose up like a mighty army and joined us in prayer and worship all over the world. Our son was miraculously healed and today is perfectly healthy,” Joel said recalling his experience.
Indeed, there is great power behind praise and worship as we lift up our God. So never underestimate the power of your praises. Keep on worshipping even if you go through trials, because this is very often when you will experience God’s miracles.
This article was written by Kriza Jo L. Tanduyan.
So just like Paul and Silas who were in prison, with a song and a prayer in their hands, I’d like us to declare this song.
When we raise a hallelujah, we’re raising a praise God prayer
We’re saying in the face of the devil, nothing can seperate us from God, and God is in charge
So you might like to stand in your homes, or you might like to close your eyes and let this song wash over you.
God is here, let’s declare this song of praise
This gospel is not haphazard, it is the absoulte nature of god revealed through his goodness and his kindnedd. What is necessarys ithe God’s people face the impossibilities of life. There is no other option, this is our responsibsility, it is our privielege it is our joy.