January 24, 2021 - 1 John 4:7-12
Well, good morning. Maybe I can already tell.
Is great to be here what to refresh your memory is a little bit. I know it seems like probably I don't really know but seems like most times I show up here. I may look different to maybe have a shaving face and they have a big beard and it confuses people because that the look does change but just to calm your heart. I am Lucas that is so I'm Lucas fair in my life freezes over here sitting with me. We also we have three boys, we did not bring them cuz they're big and and but the mini fit in a car, but I know not all of you know, or for remember who you are funny just need a quick little introduction who we are we are at your missionaries are serving down in the southern part. Brazil city of Oporto legatee and we are there to make disciples and then to organize those disciples to established churches that will then make more disciples more churches. We've been down there since 2009 and I remember when we first came here in in Oak Grove Church has been with us the entire time and I remember when we came here for the right first time and we are three little boys that time really gone 864 and they got that she got in trouble for doing what little boys do and we got a little bit of trouble. But you guys still decide to love us and to our department with us. That was good and so back in 2009. We move down to Brazil. We've been there if you've been there ever since it's interesting as in the soul care of science book class and Kurt was was teaching and and he's a Lucas what would happen if you went to Brazil for the people in your life and I've got this all figured out. I'm I'm perfect and righteous and he's been how would you connect with those people? I give an answer but in the back of my mind, I'm thinking well that is exactly how I went to be as you say all that and a bag of chips and in God had to go through a lot of difficulty what not start to break down that facade that that holier-than-thou righteous got it figured out kind of facade. Sometimes we put on or we called a mask and threw up some hardship and trial. And just live in another country. God had his voice break down in Forsyth lovingly. So take off that mask to become or to see ourselves Through The Eyes Of God, he loves us but y'all so he knows the Deep recesses of our heart that the dark stuff still loves us, which is awesome. Thankful. We were Gardens patient and merciful and gracious and through ongoing humbling moment and come to terms with our own weaknesses and failures. Send a guy began to rebuild us and I say yes is a family experience and and he's still doing that praise God and still building a step read reforma nothing holdin it into the image of Christ. Is what he has in his desires for all this right? Anyway, I had to hear but all that to say it's really good to be here and need to say thank you. I don't want to ever get up and down the platform without saying the words. Thank you because we feel so blessed to be able to serve our King in Brazil. And we're able to do that because a Partnerships like this one and you guys have you prayed for us you have loved us you have supported us when you have enabled us to follow the leader. I've got a life to its move to Brazil to be a part of a church planning effort Ministry down there. Thank you. I will be able to do what we do because you guys so we love you. We're so thankful. It's a privilege and honor for me Bill to come here and to be able to open guys were to share some things been going on our lives to share what God has been doing it God's in teaching me.
Every couple years or so two to four years were able to come back to the United States and it's kind of fun. I get a chance to speak because I got to look back and wonder what God has been teaching me for the past couple years and then I get to Bob and all that on you guys, but it's really fun. I like that, you know to come and just going to share those things, right? Mental image I wanted to lay out there, but you know what? I mean anyway of you who don't know me or don't know me. Well, I consider myself a simple guy well, Let me back up a little bit. I'm very complicated is that my wife? There's a lot of layers to Lucas, right? There's a lot of, complexity there. But when I say I'm a simple guy, I like to think on things in a simple fashion or cut to reduce things through their least common denominator to make things simple to get our mind around it so we can more easily applied think it live it and thought I'd like to flee complexity, you know to be in his life in general, but even the Christian Life, I I think sometimes we can over
complicate what it means to follow Jesus Like that just to think deeply but to think simply or to think deeply so I can think simply about what it means to the follow Jesus in if I'm convinced that we can summarize. The Pursuit Of God the Christian Life we can we can summarize that in that entire effort the entire Adventure that Journey you can summarize that entire thing down to one word. We can simplify it down one word and I feel confident doing that because scripture simplifies The Pursuit Of God the Christian Journey down to one word in Jesus himself in his teaching. Reduces it to just one word. In and out a Brian. If you write Brian the Brian with the shiny that Ryan the shiny Ryan he was sitting in front of me in the class and he said that he says, you know what it comes down to it. I was afraid you said, you know what we're supposed to do for people who love God love people. And I'd like to my wife. I'm like, I think he's looking at the because when you look at what it means or this journey this adventure this half going with what you want to call a searching and seeking after of God the Christian Life, you can reduce that simplify that down to one word. That's love. That's that's what we're called to the Christian. Life is a life of love. And what I want to do this morning cuz I want to open up the first John because the Apostle John. Has a lot of things that teach us about love not the Apostle John. He walked with Jesus right on the 12 Apostles of Jesus, and he was referred to as the Apostle Jesus loved he was known as the Apostle of love. It in the book of 1st, John. the book of 1st John which is made up of only five chapters. The book of 1st John the Apostle John uses the word love over 40 times in just five chapters with his idea of love with on John's mine. He knew love experience love he was the Apostle of love and he has some things this morning. I believe that teach us about love. And so what I want to do is is open up first John this letter that the Apostle John wrote, And let him teach us a little bit about his idea of love and how it relates to. our Christian experience just go ahead and Jump Right In will be the first John chapter 4. You can open your own bylaws if you like her on your phone or you look up on screen if there as well. First John chapter 4 verse 7. He jumps right and he says it pull up. Let us love one another. Love is from God. And whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. But yours is first verse that makes it through that love is so Central. They said that it is the mark. Or if the proof of a genuine relationship with God if it's the proof that our Salvation is real. Ask yourself a question or if you ever ask yourself these the types of questions, but you might ask yourself a question. Do I know God? You answer that question with another question that question being will do. I love people.
If I love people if my life is marked by love. That is the proof of my genuine salvation in my genuine relationship with Christ. But love is so Central so foundational. To our identity as followers of Jesus that Jesus himself and John 13 for 35. He pulls his disciple the side and he says that he says what all people will know that you are my disciples my followers. If you have love one for another Claire in demonstrate to the world that you really know me that you that you are my followers if you have love one for another love is foundational to our identity. Jesus is the central. Orting put this in a negative sense you can say, you know, if if you have if you profess to know Jesus as your savior if you have been baptized if you to take communion every Sunday and you can come to church every Sunday your volume in science, what is serving these various areas and you're a member in good standing here at church you've done all those things, but you do not love people. You do not know God. I know it's not go back and white John. He doesn't pull out of punches and he's the bare-knuckle. He just like leave it out black and white, you know. I think it's important that might sound extreme for me to say that and I'll look and feel nap salute, but look at the next first verse 8. He said anyone. Who does not love does not know God?
Why because God is love. John doesn't mince words here. If I say that I know God. But do not live a life of Love online.
because the essence of God is love if this is Okay, be careful with metal. Nervous, but Lucas dog's butt.
Does Bosley do you have to make some tough decisions about love, right? Because right now we are in a climate in our country. When we have a lot of excuses not to love people who are different than us. for whatever reason And this is the moment that those who Proclaim Jesus as their savior, this is the moment that they will declare. If that is true or not. By how they respond to other people. Jesus wants us to love. If I say that I love God, but I know Jesus but I choose to not love the people and serve the people who are different than me even politically different than me. I have the game myself.
Can I have some conversation myself? It's easy does it but this was so fast and so important moment in time because we're not really going to know if we really Love people and torque thrust in these kind of moments. when it's really hard to love people for went when everything in our flesh screams against the fit argue into these are the moments. This is a blessing and opportunity for the church the first exam itself.
And to test their self esteem in okay. Am I really going to follow Jesus am I going to love people?
He's a tough word important anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love. Because the essence of God is love. No, God. For the effective knowing god who is love is full of people. That's why I sent that's like saying it's so important and doesn't make sense to say that. I know this God of love by vert. I've been do not love people look at is an extent to can't we can't be like that.
like like at 5 you had a skunk farm for what if you had a skunk farm, right you like? I love guns. I live with a gun. you walk in and it since like I don't think it would suffer right if you did, I'd smell it smell like a skunk.
I think idea if we if we we love God and we walk with God and we are just dedicated to the god of love, but we don't have the fragrance of love in our life then the world and are we ourselves need to question God if I knew God at least a little bit. He is the god of love who he is. Felicity the sink in it is a cause deep self-examination me do I love people really? Moments in my table my Bible open looking and just thinking to myself do I really love people and I can handle my life. I see Tendencies. I'm soaked with the love myself the way I spend my time my money and I thought how I react. When someone interrupts my schedule and opportunity to serve somebody I am so quick to love myself. Slow to love others and examination saying wow, that's not the fruit of someone who knows Jesus. That's a fruit. Someone who doesn't know Jesus have a big Dam in Asian. You have to come to the conclusion that either I'm in this moment a disobedient follow Jesus.
Well, I don't know him at all. Those are questions that we have to wrestle with that. I think this text this morning vipers to wrestle with.
Love is so Central to knowing god. That we can in a thin measure our relationship with Christ. Based on the health of our relationships with people. I don't like the word measure, but I don't know what other word to use there. But daddy is this that my relationship with others informs me about my relationship with Christ. This is Matt. grab ahold of it
If I don't have healthy loving relationships with people, I don't have a healthy relationship with the Lord. I've got to thinking that's like way to give it a checkup or look at how how we are doing and relationship of Christ. But not actually love if I am not actively loving people I'm not loving Jesus. It's so easy to disconnect these things like no. I have my relationship with God over here than my relationship with everyone else over here now touch or not that much. But our relationship with people informed us about our relationship with Christ remember few months ago, right the beginning of the pandemic numbers Hilton different than here in Brazil our partner Church in so we have a part of church planting churches with them. But our partner churches were large Church. They had their very first in-person Gathering last Monday. It's been over 10 months made never gathered in over 10 months and all the small groups. We a lot of smaller. That's none of them gathered everything. I thought I was being held down in Brazil. and at the beginning of the pandemic we have we met with some of our our key leaders an older couple and they are just key leaders close friends of ours down Brazil. What are small groups? and I the neighbor Father and Son didn't get a chance to come down to Brazil to the Lord opens the doors and actually happen. We we hope so yummy, I get to spend everything figured out but you will one day have the opportunity maybe maybe this year but we're praying that way you'll have enough to meet this couple. Don't tell him I said this story.
but following Thunder. They were even married many many many many many years, but they are having some struggles within their marriage that happens sometimes right and they're just not in This and Heaven is pandemic going to happen with a force to be together in a sense was kind of Cottonwood struggles to grow and it was so interesting and I can I can remember it like it was yesterday. In the image is so very because it was sent back on her back little patio area and was like a counseling session my wife and I intend them in and I'm sitting in my wife is next to me and then follow sitting right here in Santa Rosa right right over here and can send the right. She's like she's full of energy my just like you really quiet and it's kind of funny how they should be there. But so she's going on and on about how deep and how fervent her relationship with Christ has been for the past few months. I should get the Pearl deep prayer time in in worship with the Lord and she's she's just overflowing with with these with these acculate that how great and passionate her walk with Christ is You get that image in your mind is woman right here say anything about how wonderful her time with the Lord is it is sitting right next to her is her husband who is in tears. Because he feels so unloved by his wife. And she couldn't she couldn't. the disconnect my references this passage Thunder
you can't say that you love God. If you choose not to love your husband.
You love God In This Moment, Michigan. Are you love God by loving your husband? We are connected. you can't say it did not. Impressive right? Do they all have a great prayer time in Bible time? You're not loving your husband. You're not loving. You'll find yourself. We have to make this connection between our relationship with God and our relationship with people. I love God in proportion to my love for people. I love people in proportion to my love for God May. These things are connected. I cannot say that I have a great love for God if I don't have a great love for people. Right. Now you can look at your relationships in your home at work and community and they will inform you on the quality and depth of your relationship with Christ. It's so easy.
You don't know my wife or you don't know my coworker. Are you? All right, you say that or who my husband was in this one?
but look
How you respond to that relationship that's between you and the Lord right and how this other person responds you have teaching them in the Lord. But even if if you have a really difficult situation in your home, for example My beautiful spouse you need to come to grips with a couple things one. God loves that person. So therefore you need to as well.
Did you need a love that person even if they don't love you back because you have to make the decision to do what's right before the Lord regardless of how the other party respond I need to do. What's right before the Lord is the only way that that I can say that I have a real relationship with Christ is I have to love this person. Wolfpack that little bit more Later on. We can summarize this whole is let me pull versus by saying this. not every person who loves is a follower of Jesus that's important to understand not every person who loves is a follower of Jesus, but every true follower of Jesus loves
but this is only true if we Define love that guy does we need to understand what divine love looks like? In the next 2 verses verses 9 and 10 the Apostle John helps a grapple with the idea of divine. Love you. Look at verses 9 and 10 verse 9. He starts out in the law explain something about God's love. It starts first in almost the same way in. This is love with read it in this the love of God was made manifest Among Us that God sent his son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love not that we have love God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation or the appeasement of God's Wrath for our sins. Now there's a lot of Theology and those verses flip simplify. Do like that? In the same way that you can summarize the Christian life with one word that word being love you. Can you can Define the idea of divine love with one word? That word is Jesus. God didn't only use words to Define love to us. You revealed love through the life and death of Jesus. Jesus was divine love manifested.
when Jesus had mercy and compassion for the woman at the well in John chapter 4 that was divine love that that mercy and compassion was divine love being manifested. that was Define look for through the life and actions of Jesus is like what pastor Matt to the GS is the the the image of the invisible God what's guy like we look at you as we see it look like you shorter.
When Jesus met incredible moment in that picture that we have it when Jesus washed his disciples feet that action of humility with God revealing in defining Divine love the creator of the universe. Humbling stopping washed because I can speak at the powerful image. God is defining for us Divine love. Miss Crescendo this manifestation of Love Christian. All the way to the cross. Images at the cross when Jesus was dying and Agony on the cross. Looking at the people who falsely accused him and unjustly nailed him to the Cross Rick yield him is spat in space. In that moment in that Agony looking at those people. He has got at mercy and forgiveness, but the power plants. That action of mercy and forgiveness towards his enemies with a revelation of divine love.
Jesus dying for our sins, but it seems the world in a car that sacrifice. Is a manifestation of divine love again the act of the father offering forgiveness and Grace Sinners who don't deserve it. To the death burial and resurrection of Jesus is a revelation of divine love.
He is the definition of love the mercy the grace of humility the Forgiveness the service and sacrifice in body in the Life of Christ revealed in Define for us Divine Plus. This Is The Love that Mark the lives of every true follower of Jesus.
Do you want to know? How you relationship advice. Look at how you love the people in your life. You see Mercy race humility forgiveness service. sacrifice a greater presence of divine love in your life signifies a deeper and healthier relationship with Christ. the app of this love signifies at best and immature relationship with Christ or at worst a non-existent or false relationship with Christ.
Who's going to verse 11:11 beginning? He says the love of God so loved us we ought. We also ought to love one another.
What's 12?
Methodist sermon for 12
Foster felt like this is very strange that starts out John's been waxing eloquent about love riding eloquently about love is challenging a lot of importance of love and has to find him and then he slammed the brakes on and just throws this. Freeze out. I don't know where this does not even make sense from Whiplash. Siri says no one has ever seen God.
Okay, we will talk about love and then okay.
It seems really strange.
L'estrange will come back in a minute because it's really important purpose. Obviously that for a moment will Skip and go and come back to it that little section can help us understand with John's get mad if we love one another. God abides in us and his love is perfected in them. now we believe that every person that is a true follower of Jesus as God through the spirit inviting him void Spirit messed up pretty terrible thoughts on its own back at we are temples of the holy spirit that God dwells in it, but I think the idea here in verse 12 of God of biting into two different ideas to do something the first time we've already talked about you this idea that when we are actively love each other, it's that Divine love of Mercy Grace humility forgiveness service sacrifices to me some a few that we are loving people that way the we give the evidence that God is Ashley abiding in us that we actually truly are followers of Jesus if you've already noticed I did that loving people is the evidence that I love God and that I know God. but also this idea of God of biting in US speaks to our actual relationship with Christ the Bible also carries the idea of a close intimate relationship. So I think he's saying that as we love each other in this verse the as we love each other that we draw closer to God. If we love one another God abides in US. So loving people is the evidence that I love God and loving people is what deepens my love and my relationship with God. That's why I think that John is saying he says that that his God's love is perfected in us. If we love one another God abides in us and his love is perfected in us when I love people God abide in me and his love is perfected in me. The loving people develops deepen and matures my love relationship with God through Christ the easiest idea. I deepen my my love for people.
By loving God more like him and I actually relationship with Christ by serving loving people synergistic. Loving people develop Stevens immature my love relationship with God through Christ. Loving people is the evidence that I love God and a very act that deepen my relationship with God. We love God more by loving people more. This truth will change and simplify your relationship with Christ. sometimes we haven't mystery like how do I how do I how do I love God? How do I Grow my lights with him. How do I follow him what this look like?
What do I do tomorrow to love God?
lucky people you wake up tomorrow. Just the passion. The purpose is simply love and serve the people God brings into your spear. You are loving God and you are in a great practical and tangible weight deepen your relationship because you love God more by loving people more.
Really strange first phrase, but God being invisible.
What does loving people loving God have to do with God being invisible?
Would we love people I wasn't this might just go like Led Balloon. I hope not be so excited. When we'd love people this look like this with the person saying so the idea why John put that hold this whole God thing in there when we love people. We make the invisible God visible. We become a revelation of Jesus to the people around them. That's so powerful to me. That when you love me and I love you the invisible God becomes visible to you to me because those who are observing the invisible God becomes visible.
Me that is absolutely incredible.
When I'm packed with little bit and very practical spend one more little story from from Brazil.
Make it warmer tangible Wilmore understand the idea of of making the invisible God visible to put it. I like to move it how I can say it how to beat how to be a revelation of Jesus. You are to love. In this whole thing became so evident to me really started make sense. When I was doing with that a young couple Donna Brazil's young family and newborn and right before the pandemic man. They were really going through some hard times and I start to meet with the husband. and his wife is in the process of separating from him and these are kind of going bad and And I never went when we get together. He just wanted to talk about his wife is one to complain about his wife. I was going to do that if you weren't going to get together so he could complain I want him to understand that his relationship with his wife was a direct reflection of his lights. It was his wife of garbage because his relationship with Christ was garbage. Inside to look where I can talk about your wife has issues. They're right here about how to relate to your wife.
Start working there. Cuz we did it we started working and talking and it's not talk about my wife talk about him.
They shortly after he found out that his wife moved out with her mom and shortly after you found out that that she had been in a another relationship for more than a year upset.
angry Referred me together talking working to stuff.
Woodland Taco Bell's wife talk about him Amber Center is having meetings over coffee once a week. I said hey Jefferson in Jefferson. I want you to understand something that God is calling you to love your wife and be a revelation of Jesus to her. I didn't go over very well. Imagine you do want to do that. You didn't know how to do that. Eagle River well Remember, I'm telling to look you need to be willing to forgive your wife. This is Lucas. She doesn't deserve my forgiveness. I don't hate you might be right.
but if you choose to forgive her In that moment you are being a revelation of Jesus to her. We can Jesus forgive even when we don't deserve it.
We'll look at it. Sentence with a love for the how can I love her if she's disrespecting me? Jefferson if you choose to love her even while being disrespected you being Revelation Jeezy for her. Because Jesus loves even while being disrespected.
I said it just got raped as well. You need to realize that his wife.
It just seems like you crazy. Any luck, I'll own up like 20% of the problem. Write at least 80% How on Earth do you expect me to seek forgiveness for the 20% if she's not willing to forgive us for the 80% I did but it's always how it is.
Jefferson you need to humble yourself and seek forgiveness than in that moment of deep humility as you go and seek forgiveness from your wife, you know, she hasn't stopped in that moment of deep humility and broken you will be a revelation of Jesus to her. Then Our Saviors humble. He is a humble love.
The Jefferson started too late. Definitely the guy And you begin to write them with his wife?
Now there's no guarantees that this marriage would work out in this beautiful eyes. I thought I told him my goal is not to get you guys back together. My goal is simply to get you to Love Of Christ and follow him whatever happens on her side, and that's not what we can do. Our goal is for you to start to love Jesus and follow after And he started to do that. But what was so cool is unbeknown unbeknownst. makeup before that
and then she came back to him and she sought forgiveness him and think she even came in right before we came back to the States back and in October they came to our house and we had a meal together. She's from us because she want to talk to us and now they have a lot of work to do. But God bring that thing back together. So cool. Is as they are on this road of restoration. In this business uncommon outside of the church in Brazil between the Steve someone humble themselves seek forgiveness work to restore a relationship, but they're doing that now because they are being Revelation Jesus to the other to the community around them as they look and see something Supernatural big place.
Got the store in it, and it's awesome. The God is calling us. To be the revelation of Jesus to the world true love. The lobster bisque to give at Murphy at Compassion to be humble. To be the revelation of Jesus to the world from love this world love each other. And you make me visible. Visible YouTube Revelation Jesus.
So just real quick if you close up. quick question Are you? Are you being the revelation of Jesus the world around you?
Are your relationships in your life marked by Divine love? At work at school in the community in your home.
husband Are you revealing Jesus to a wife through your humility your forgiveness your compassion your mercy? Does your wife get a revelation Jesus from your from your life? Hawaii your husband see Jesus. Are you revealing Jesus today? Do you like?
and swiping by parents
Are we being a revelation Jesus for children? George Jetson look at us and see that the humility in the forgiveness and mercy and compassion. What image of God are we giving your children? The kids are you being Revelations used your parents? Lizzy Jesus in you
Green Oak Road This community look in on this church. Do bass see through your acts of love and kindness towards each other to also we're flowing to community around do they see Jesus? Are you being a revelation of Jesus?
reactive love we need to examine yourself. You got eczema. Not to look at my life, and I have to be honest. Do I see that love? If if if my relationships are informing me right now that there's something wrong. I don't have that love I think damn myself. I've asked myself one of two questions either I'm being disobedient. I need to repay. Start to love people or better yet. Allow Christ. Love people through me. Or I need repentance maybe for the very first time believe in Jesus.
Look at my life. Apparent I don't really know him. I don't love people. I don't know.
It's just a moment. I'm afraid we're going to have communion. and communion is awesome moment as he pause and reflect on the death of Christ. Malcolm X emotions, I feel during communion her. Bereavement I feel emotions of tremendous Joy because I think I'm the death burial Resurrection price and think I could forgive it and that's awesome. And I have overflowing Joy at the same time at times. I am confronted with the realities of my own sin. That's my sin that put him on the cross.
Just a wonderful time just to examine yourself. If you look at the bread in the carpet that represent the body and the blood of Christ his life perfect life lived for us his blood shed for us. But if you look at those things that is the revelation of divine love to us that shows us that the depth of God's love. What you caused us to just weep with joy. But in there is also thinking about today passage in those elements is also question. My loving other people my loving people. My life has been Divine love. There's also a moment of examination. celebration and examination how to help me live humble
Humble servant of yours. Jesus revealed a blind girl of people turning 50 Mercy compassion From This Moment is me and you time to do that. It's also time.
Cuz it my love of my life is lacking that love. Jesus the Revelation effect
father as we prepare to take communion and as you reflect on the life of Jesus We are strapped with the reality that his life. Is the revelation of your love for us?
You think you for that we worship you for that we give you our lives because of that that is our response to that love. Lord today in the very same moment that we're celebrating your love for us to help us ask ourselves and I'm truly loving people that way as well.
His great love given to us cannot when people stop in. It must continue. I need to pass that love onto other people.
Follow, Jesus is Love people.
So what happened? Help us to be true father Jesus. sacrificial Love Goes Around.
Give our lives people around us. humble ourselves to suffer people to serve them to put them first. Act of divine Supernatural love that they would have a clear image of Jesus through those actions through his rise to our lives at this world desperately needs to see Divine love that they would begin to see arrest. You may be glorified. Thank you lover. I pray you think your son's name.