Confident in God's Love
Notes
Transcript
No Greater Love
No Greater Love
Confident in God’s Love
Lesson 13
FOCUS THOUGHT
Even when our hearts condemn us, we can stand confident in God’s love for us.
FOCUS Versehttps://app.logos.com/documents/sermon/82aa7890252bfb9177b71bb43f258ada?title=Confident%20in%20God%27s%20Love
I John 3:21
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
Lesson Text
I John 3:18–24
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
CULTURE onnection
No Greater Love
On August 28, 2013, at Forward Operating Base, Ghazni, Afghanistan, American Army Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis demonstrated the ultimate act of love as defined in John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Ten suicide bombers had breached the perimeter of the Polish-run operating base where many American troops were serving alongside Polish troops. A 3,000-pound vehicle bomb blew a hole in the eastern wall, with mortar fire and rocket-propelled grenades following. Staff Sergeant Ollis and Polish Lieutenant Cierpica fired back-to-back; with the assistance of Special Forces, they effectively neutralized nine of the ten suicide bombers. When a tenth suicide bomber emerged from among some barriers, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis stepped between the bomber and Polish Lieutenant Cierpica. The suicide bomber detonated himself; Staff Sergeant Ollis absorbed the blast and saved the life of Lieutenant Cierpica. The Polish Lieutenant named his newborn son Michael in honor of the man who gave his life for his.
Ollis, a native of Staten Island, New York, served out of Fort Drum, New York, and posthumously received the Silver Star for valor in action. The recipient of his heroism, surviving Lieutenant Cierpica, was a member of the Polish Army. They came from different geographical locations and had different cultural customs; however, they had a common bond because of a common mission. What drives such a selfless sense of purpose? No one forced or ordered Ollis to sacrifice his life for the Polish Lieutenant’s. But greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Outline
I. WE BELONG TO THE TRUTH
A. Love Not in Word Only
B. Love in Deed and in Truth
C. Our Love in Action Shows We Are God’s Children
II. WE HAVE CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD
A. God Is Greater Than Our Hearts
B. Even When Our Hearts Condemn Us, We Can Stand Confident in God’s Love
III. WE ASK AND RECEIVE
A. Because We Keep His Commandments
B. Because We Do What Is Pleasing in His Sight
C. God Abides with Those Who Love Others
Contemplating the Topic
Many of us will never encounter a situation that offers us the opportunity to dramatically save someone’s life as did Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis (as referenced in the Culture Connection). You see, day-to-day opportunities to demonstrate love do not necessarily come packaged with the drama of an attack complete with suicide bombers, rocket propelled grenades, and mortar fire. Day-to-day love often comes in the context of daily drudgery and selfless choices that put other’s interests before our own. Day-to-day love often comes in the form of tackling an overflowing laundry basket. Day-to-day love can come in the form of a husband choosing to spend an evening at home with his wife and children over an evening out with the guys. At the office, day-to-day love can be cheering the promotion of a colleague or promoting others’ ideas over our own. Day-to-day love can cost us much more than the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the dramatic.
Searching the Scriptures
I. WE BELONG TO THE TRUTH
We are most privileged among creation to belong to the truth: We understand who God is and can identify Him by name. We have taken His name in baptism, and His Spirit abides within us. However, this privilege comes with great responsibility—to let our light so shine among men that we display our heavenly Father in our deeds and disposition, so we glorify our Father in Heaven. We do this with Apostolic identity and living a sanctified lifestyle. With all this being said and generally understood among us, we must ensure our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, or we will be held accountable. One could face no greater tragedy than to be condemned on Judgment Day for a lack of love and compassion.
For we are of the truth, and our privileged status demands a level of sacrifice that equals our exalted privileges. John 3:17 sets a context for love that exudes sacrificing for those who are less fortunate. This does not necessarily mean giving money to every person on a street corner with a cardboard sign, but it does mean allowing God to move on us to be charitable within appropriate boundaries and protocols of our local congregation and community. In addition to loving through finances, we are offered other numerous opportunities to put our “actions” where our mouths are.
A. Love Not in Word Only
“Words are cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. Let your actions speak for themselves.” We have heard these common sayings from time to time, all having one central theme: “I hear what you are saying; now prove it.” Anyone can talk a good talk. But it takes energy, dedication, and discipline to follow through on your promises. When people engage in flowery escapades of verbal eloquence touting what they promise to do, a helpful fall back is, “They certainly have the inspiration; now let’s see if they have the perspiration.”
Good-hearted, well-meaning people are often quick to say on Sunday morning, “Love you, Brother. Love you, Sister.” This is all fine and good and makes for a congenial Sunday meeting. How many of these people, though, do we actually interface with outside of Sunday service time? Unless our lives give us the chance to demonstrate this love, how much do these words really mean?
What about giving an anonymous gift through the pastor or church secretary to a couple we know is struggling? Is there a community mentoring program that is soliciting volunteers? How about meeting for coffee to lend a nonjudgmental ear to someone who is struggling with the path ahead? How about inviting the new couple to your home for dinner and fellowship? What about helping college students who need a godly mentor to get them through major decision-making times in their lives, or just complimenting them to spur them on in their pursuit of discipline?
» Think of a time when you were the recipient of a church member’s love—someone whose actions went beyond mere words. What did that person do? What did it mean to you?
B. Love in Deed and in Truth
“Actions speak louder than words.” God calls us to put action to our words. We live in a society where many wonder what real love looks like. Many young men struggle to make it through life without a healthy father figure to show them what it means to be a young man who matures into a gentleman. They are hungry to find someone who can demonstrate love. So we of the faith can counter this and many other societal deficiencies by demonstrating love in word, in deed, and in truth. Not only does being called to an understanding of theological truth put us in a position of extraordinary responsibility, but it places us in a context of defining the truth of love as we make our way through life in and out of the context of our local church.
» How can we love in a manner that defines the truth of Jesus Christ beyond doctrinal statements and in the reality of daily living?
To accurately define the agape or selfless love of Jesus Christ demands taking love to the next level, and in a sustainable manner. To selflessly love another requires inconvenience, tolerating annoyance, seeing beyond our own frames of reference, and interpreting the lives of others outside of our comfort zone of “black and white, overgeneralized” thinking. This requires true empathy and getting outside our traditional paradigms of thinking. To sustain this type of love, we cannot give up before we even start due to the perception of an unsurmountable task. We must simply start with one person at a time. Allowing God to give us more resources and energy from day to day is a starting point to success.
C. Our Love in Action Shows We Are God’s Children
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). This is a litmus test to discern who is really one of God’s children. Love is no less a part of Apostolic identity than is Acts 2:38 or a sanctified lifestyle. One without the other is out of balance and incomplete. Sound theology must be lived out as well as stated with words. How are we to claim to have the Spirit of our resurrected Lord when our actions are egregiously in conflict with His? Is this not hypocrisy? Is this not heresy of actions or non-actions?
Loving others selflessly is not rocket science. How to love another is actually easy to discern. Following through on what we know to be the truth in this area is the difficult part. It usually requires inconvenience and putting the needs of others before our own. Charity really does begin at home when it comes to demonstrating that we are God’s children. It starts with a family—a husband loving his wife as Christ loves His church. It continues with a wife returning that love and respect to the degree that the husband makes it emotionally, spiritually, and physically safe and satisfying to do so. The children perceive this atmosphere of love, respect, and safety, and they feel non-constricted to do so as well. Healthy families can reach out to others to the degree that it is healthy and safe to do so. The key is selflessly serving others in a context of emotional, spiritual, and physical safety that does not expose either party to unacceptable risk of boundary violation or toxic impact when interacting with the other.
» How can a husband make his wife feel safe emotionally, physically, and spiritually? Why is an atmosphere of safety important for selfless love to be received and reciprocated?
II. WE HAVE CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD
Having confidence before God is a matter of consistency and congruity. When our words, our deeds, our actions, and the thoughts and intents of our hearts consistently lift up Jesus Christ and demonstrate His selfless love, our spirits naturally rejoice in the confirmation of our hearts that we are being Christlike. It is better to give than to receive.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Love your neighbor as yourself. Prefer your brother. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. We strive for a consistent lifestyle of giving, forgiving, loving selflessly, and having a humble disposition. We experience a dynamic sense of satisfaction when we genuinely provide for the betterment of others using these godly principles. The “what’s in it for my brother” attitude goes a long way in keeping us from our heart’s natural condemnation. We should choose to be others-centered instead of self-centered.
A. God Is Greater Than Our Hearts
One of the great benefits of being baptized in the Spirit of God is that we can be absorbed into His greatness, transcending the limits of our carnal hearts and experiencing the greatness of His heart. Charles Spurgeon stated that even when we cannot trace Him, we can always trust Him. Who are we to condemn ourselves when the greatness of His heart reminds us who is making the judicial calls? “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). He can see beyond our limited capability to comprehend the state of our hearts. Regardless of our limited take on things, I John 3:20 assures us, “God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (NKJV).
B. Even When Our Hearts Condemn Us, We Can Stand Confident in God’s Love
The fact that we are flesh predispositions us to look out for number one. We are hardwired for survival, and the selfless instinct is not natural. Therefore, we must continually tap into the supernatural. The Holy Ghost makes provision for our inability to be on our “A game” every day. There will be days when our hearts condemn us. We can be subject to self-condemnation for any number of reasons: 1) false guilt from an abusive relationship or childhood can hold us hostage to guilt; 2) we might knowingly violate a scriptural mandate or principle in a moment of weakness; 3) a spiritual leader might shame us instead of allowing the Word of God to convict us; 4) a grey area in the Word of God could make us wonder if we are doing the right thing and our default mechanism may automatically trigger self-condemnation. Other reasons abound as well. Regardless of the reason our hearts condemn us, we have assurance as God’s children that we can stand confident in His love.
» What is the difference between a person who consistently and willfully breaks God’s commandments and one who is conscientiously pursuing a godly lifestyle but makes some mistakes along the way?
III. WE ASK AND RECEIVE
When we commit our plans to the Lord, He will make our paths straight. When we ask in faith and not amiss, He is faithful to give us the desires of our hearts. When we do not receive what we ask for, it is often because we ask amiss. God loves us too much to accommodate a request that is not good for us or His kingdom. When we truly engage in mental transformation and proactively develop the mind of Christ, our requests line up more and more with His plan for our lives and for His work. We begin to operate in the realm of making His business our business, and He makes our business His business.
A. Because We Keep His Commandments
Believing on the name of Jesus and loving one another are the primary considerations for receiving when we ask for anything. Believing on the name of Jesus is more than a mental ascent to a historical fact. It is more than a proclamation to trust Jesus. It is more than acknowledging the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The devils believe, and they tremble.
This type of belief is a faith commitment that cannot be separated from works of faith: as faith without works is dead. Biblical, New Testament belief cannot be separated from obedience. We obey the gospel through repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name, and receiving the Holy Ghost. This is the starting point. The commandment to “love one another” is specifically highlighted in I John 3:23. This is an imperative to prefer our brother—not to our own neglect nor to the neglect of those for whom we are responsible—and to be focused on others, being a blessing wherever and whenever realistically possible.
» Does obedient faith mean we are saved by works? Why or why not?
B. Because We Do What Is Pleasing in His Sight
We do what is pleasing in God’s sight when we fulfill His intent for our lives and invest in those around us. The emphasis in our Lesson Text is on allowing His grace and mercy to flow through us, quenching condemnation and those negative emotions and actions that hinder us from realizing His great love for us. This passage puts emphasis on realizing our own joy found in obeying Christ’s commandments and allowing His Spirit, fueled by selfless love, to spill onto others through us. Like a maintenance crew cleaning out the refuse, moss, and general nastiness of a fountain so it can flow freely and be a blessing to those around it, so does this passage encourage us to allow the Holy Ghost to clean our hearts of the refuse, moss, and general nastiness of condemnation so we can love those around us.
C. God Abides with Those Who Love Others
First John 3:24 states that He abides in those who keep His commandments, positioned directly after the imperative in verse 23 to obey the commandment to love one another. Verse 24 goes on to say we know He abides in us by the Spirit He gave us. The fact that God abides in those who love others can be deduced by the manner in which these verses are positioned and stated. The Spirit, when legitimately received, is not only given as a person engages in a state of selflessness, but the Spirit produces selflessness in the receiver. It is highly doubtful a selfish person will maintain the sanctification necessary to continue living under the influence of the Spirit. The Spirit of God living in us desires that we love others as He loves us. He could find a selfish vessel with a deceitful heart unsuitable for habitation, but it would be like living with garbage piled up in the middle of the living room. God is at home with those who accept His love and freely distribute it to those around them.
INTERNALIZING THE MESSAGE
Everyone is looking for acceptance. We all come into this world hardwired with a strong need to be connected to others. When we find ourselves outside the walls of acceptance by others, we can begin to experience shame, disillusionment, and a despairing sense of isolation that causes us to think: there must be something wrong with us. Or we can experience a sense of cynicism that make us feel: no one can be trusted; I will get hurt if I get close. Walls of protection and isolation choke us off from the godly community God made for us to experience with joy and enthusiasm. However, love transcends the boundaries. A church that understands their ministry structure can be designed to go beyond simply facilitating worship in an auditorium and, instead, facilitate healthy and godly relationships. This church will get God’s attention. Christians who make the time and the investment of themselves into others in a godly and appropriate way will find the most fulfilling lifestyle of all.
Love one another. What does this mean? What does this look like in your particular community and culture? How can we do this without jeopardizing our own health and welfare and that of our loved ones? Does our church primarily focus on “keeping the aquarium, fishing for souls, or finding a nice balance between both”? The answers to these questions are not easy. Loving others as we would have them love us can be a daunting task, but the joy and fulfillment of doing so outweighs the sacrifice.
Confident in God’s Love
Lesson 13
FOCUS THOUGHT
Even when our hearts condemn us, we can stand confident in God’s love for us.
FOCUS Verse
I John 3:21
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
Lesson Text
I John 3:18–24
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
CULTURE onnection
No Greater Love
On August 28, 2013, at Forward Operating Base, Ghazni, Afghanistan, American Army Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis demonstrated the ultimate act of love as defined in John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Ten suicide bombers had breached the perimeter of the Polish-run operating base where many American troops were serving alongside Polish troops. A 3,000-pound vehicle bomb blew a hole in the eastern wall, with mortar fire and rocket-propelled grenades following. Staff Sergeant Ollis and Polish Lieutenant Cierpica fired back-to-back; with the assistance of Special Forces, they effectively neutralized nine of the ten suicide bombers. When a tenth suicide bomber emerged from among some barriers, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis stepped between the bomber and Polish Lieutenant Cierpica. The suicide bomber detonated himself; Staff Sergeant Ollis absorbed the blast and saved the life of Lieutenant Cierpica. The Polish Lieutenant named his newborn son Michael in honor of the man who gave his life for his.
Ollis, a native of Staten Island, New York, served out of Fort Drum, New York, and posthumously received the Silver Star for valor in action. The recipient of his heroism, surviving Lieutenant Cierpica, was a member of the Polish Army. They came from different geographical locations and had different cultural customs; however, they had a common bond because of a common mission. What drives such a selfless sense of purpose? No one forced or ordered Ollis to sacrifice his life for the Polish Lieutenant’s. But greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Outline
I. WE BELONG TO THE TRUTH
A. Love Not in Word Only
B. Love in Deed and in Truth
C. Our Love in Action Shows We Are God’s Children
II. WE HAVE CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD
A. God Is Greater Than Our Hearts
B. Even When Our Hearts Condemn Us, We Can Stand Confident in God’s Love
III. WE ASK AND RECEIVE
A. Because We Keep His Commandments
B. Because We Do What Is Pleasing in His Sight
C. God Abides with Those Who Love Others
Contemplating the Topic
Many of us will never encounter a situation that offers us the opportunity to dramatically save someone’s life as did Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis (as referenced in the Culture Connection). You see, day-to-day opportunities to demonstrate love do not necessarily come packaged with the drama of an attack complete with suicide bombers, rocket propelled grenades, and mortar fire. Day-to-day love often comes in the context of daily drudgery and selfless choices that put other’s interests before our own. Day-to-day love often comes in the form of tackling an overflowing laundry basket. Day-to-day love can come in the form of a husband choosing to spend an evening at home with his wife and children over an evening out with the guys. At the office, day-to-day love can be cheering the promotion of a colleague or promoting others’ ideas over our own. Day-to-day love can cost us much more than the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the dramatic.
Searching the Scriptures
I. WE BELONG TO THE TRUTH
We are most privileged among creation to belong to the truth: We understand who God is and can identify Him by name. We have taken His name in baptism, and His Spirit abides within us. However, this privilege comes with great responsibility—to let our light so shine among men that we display our heavenly Father in our deeds and disposition, so we glorify our Father in Heaven. We do this with Apostolic identity and living a sanctified lifestyle. With all this being said and generally understood among us, we must ensure our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, or we will be held accountable. One could face no greater tragedy than to be condemned on Judgment Day for a lack of love and compassion.
For we are of the truth, and our privileged status demands a level of sacrifice that equals our exalted privileges. John 3:17 sets a context for love that exudes sacrificing for those who are less fortunate. This does not necessarily mean giving money to every person on a street corner with a cardboard sign, but it does mean allowing God to move on us to be charitable within appropriate boundaries and protocols of our local congregation and community. In addition to loving through finances, we are offered other numerous opportunities to put our “actions” where our mouths are.
A. Love Not in Word Only
“Words are cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. Let your actions speak for themselves.” We have heard these common sayings from time to time, all having one central theme: “I hear what you are saying; now prove it.” Anyone can talk a good talk. But it takes energy, dedication, and discipline to follow through on your promises. When people engage in flowery escapades of verbal eloquence touting what they promise to do, a helpful fall back is, “They certainly have the inspiration; now let’s see if they have the perspiration.”
Good-hearted, well-meaning people are often quick to say on Sunday morning, “Love you, Brother. Love you, Sister.” This is all fine and good and makes for a congenial Sunday meeting. How many of these people, though, do we actually interface with outside of Sunday service time? Unless our lives give us the chance to demonstrate this love, how much do these words really mean?
What about giving an anonymous gift through the pastor or church secretary to a couple we know is struggling? Is there a community mentoring program that is soliciting volunteers? How about meeting for coffee to lend a nonjudgmental ear to someone who is struggling with the path ahead? How about inviting the new couple to your home for dinner and fellowship? What about helping college students who need a godly mentor to get them through major decision-making times in their lives, or just complimenting them to spur them on in their pursuit of discipline?
» Think of a time when you were the recipient of a church member’s love—someone whose actions went beyond mere words. What did that person do? What did it mean to you?
B. Love in Deed and in Truth
“Actions speak louder than words.” God calls us to put action to our words. We live in a society where many wonder what real love looks like. Many young men struggle to make it through life without a healthy father figure to show them what it means to be a young man who matures into a gentleman. They are hungry to find someone who can demonstrate love. So we of the faith can counter this and many other societal deficiencies by demonstrating love in word, in deed, and in truth. Not only does being called to an understanding of theological truth put us in a position of extraordinary responsibility, but it places us in a context of defining the truth of love as we make our way through life in and out of the context of our local church.
» How can we love in a manner that defines the truth of Jesus Christ beyond doctrinal statements and in the reality of daily living?
To accurately define the agape or selfless love of Jesus Christ demands taking love to the next level, and in a sustainable manner. To selflessly love another requires inconvenience, tolerating annoyance, seeing beyond our own frames of reference, and interpreting the lives of others outside of our comfort zone of “black and white, overgeneralized” thinking. This requires true empathy and getting outside our traditional paradigms of thinking. To sustain this type of love, we cannot give up before we even start due to the perception of an unsurmountable task. We must simply start with one person at a time. Allowing God to give us more resources and energy from day to day is a starting point to success.
C. Our Love in Action Shows We Are God’s Children
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). This is a litmus test to discern who is really one of God’s children. Love is no less a part of Apostolic identity than is Acts 2:38 or a sanctified lifestyle. One without the other is out of balance and incomplete. Sound theology must be lived out as well as stated with words. How are we to claim to have the Spirit of our resurrected Lord when our actions are egregiously in conflict with His? Is this not hypocrisy? Is this not heresy of actions or non-actions?
Loving others selflessly is not rocket science. How to love another is actually easy to discern. Following through on what we know to be the truth in this area is the difficult part. It usually requires inconvenience and putting the needs of others before our own. Charity really does begin at home when it comes to demonstrating that we are God’s children. It starts with a family—a husband loving his wife as Christ loves His church. It continues with a wife returning that love and respect to the degree that the husband makes it emotionally, spiritually, and physically safe and satisfying to do so. The children perceive this atmosphere of love, respect, and safety, and they feel non-constricted to do so as well. Healthy families can reach out to others to the degree that it is healthy and safe to do so. The key is selflessly serving others in a context of emotional, spiritual, and physical safety that does not expose either party to unacceptable risk of boundary violation or toxic impact when interacting with the other.
» How can a husband make his wife feel safe emotionally, physically, and spiritually? Why is an atmosphere of safety important for selfless love to be received and reciprocated?
II. WE HAVE CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD
Having confidence before God is a matter of consistency and congruity. When our words, our deeds, our actions, and the thoughts and intents of our hearts consistently lift up Jesus Christ and demonstrate His selfless love, our spirits naturally rejoice in the confirmation of our hearts that we are being Christlike. It is better to give than to receive.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Love your neighbor as yourself. Prefer your brother. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. We strive for a consistent lifestyle of giving, forgiving, loving selflessly, and having a humble disposition. We experience a dynamic sense of satisfaction when we genuinely provide for the betterment of others using these godly principles. The “what’s in it for my brother” attitude goes a long way in keeping us from our heart’s natural condemnation. We should choose to be others-centered instead of self-centered.
A. God Is Greater Than Our Hearts
One of the great benefits of being baptized in the Spirit of God is that we can be absorbed into His greatness, transcending the limits of our carnal hearts and experiencing the greatness of His heart. Charles Spurgeon stated that even when we cannot trace Him, we can always trust Him. Who are we to condemn ourselves when the greatness of His heart reminds us who is making the judicial calls? “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). He can see beyond our limited capability to comprehend the state of our hearts. Regardless of our limited take on things, I John 3:20 assures us, “God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (NKJV).
B. Even When Our Hearts Condemn Us, We Can Stand Confident in God’s Love
The fact that we are flesh predispositions us to look out for number one. We are hardwired for survival, and the selfless instinct is not natural. Therefore, we must continually tap into the supernatural. The Holy Ghost makes provision for our inability to be on our “A game” every day. There will be days when our hearts condemn us. We can be subject to self-condemnation for any number of reasons: 1) false guilt from an abusive relationship or childhood can hold us hostage to guilt; 2) we might knowingly violate a scriptural mandate or principle in a moment of weakness; 3) a spiritual leader might shame us instead of allowing the Word of God to convict us; 4) a grey area in the Word of God could make us wonder if we are doing the right thing and our default mechanism may automatically trigger self-condemnation. Other reasons abound as well. Regardless of the reason our hearts condemn us, we have assurance as God’s children that we can stand confident in His love.
» What is the difference between a person who consistently and willfully breaks God’s commandments and one who is conscientiously pursuing a godly lifestyle but makes some mistakes along the way?
III. WE ASK AND RECEIVE
When we commit our plans to the Lord, He will make our paths straight. When we ask in faith and not amiss, He is faithful to give us the desires of our hearts. When we do not receive what we ask for, it is often because we ask amiss. God loves us too much to accommodate a request that is not good for us or His kingdom. When we truly engage in mental transformation and proactively develop the mind of Christ, our requests line up more and more with His plan for our lives and for His work. We begin to operate in the realm of making His business our business, and He makes our business His business.
A. Because We Keep His Commandments
Believing on the name of Jesus and loving one another are the primary considerations for receiving when we ask for anything. Believing on the name of Jesus is more than a mental ascent to a historical fact. It is more than a proclamation to trust Jesus. It is more than acknowledging the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The devils believe, and they tremble.
This type of belief is a faith commitment that cannot be separated from works of faith: as faith without works is dead. Biblical, New Testament belief cannot be separated from obedience. We obey the gospel through repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name, and receiving the Holy Ghost. This is the starting point. The commandment to “love one another” is specifically highlighted in I John 3:23. This is an imperative to prefer our brother—not to our own neglect nor to the neglect of those for whom we are responsible—and to be focused on others, being a blessing wherever and whenever realistically possible.
» Does obedient faith mean we are saved by works? Why or why not?
B. Because We Do What Is Pleasing in His Sight
We do what is pleasing in God’s sight when we fulfill His intent for our lives and invest in those around us. The emphasis in our Lesson Text is on allowing His grace and mercy to flow through us, quenching condemnation and those negative emotions and actions that hinder us from realizing His great love for us. This passage puts emphasis on realizing our own joy found in obeying Christ’s commandments and allowing His Spirit, fueled by selfless love, to spill onto others through us. Like a maintenance crew cleaning out the refuse, moss, and general nastiness of a fountain so it can flow freely and be a blessing to those around it, so does this passage encourage us to allow the Holy Ghost to clean our hearts of the refuse, moss, and general nastiness of condemnation so we can love those around us.
C. God Abides with Those Who Love Others
First John 3:24 states that He abides in those who keep His commandments, positioned directly after the imperative in verse 23 to obey the commandment to love one another. Verse 24 goes on to say we know He abides in us by the Spirit He gave us. The fact that God abides in those who love others can be deduced by the manner in which these verses are positioned and stated. The Spirit, when legitimately received, is not only given as a person engages in a state of selflessness, but the Spirit produces selflessness in the receiver. It is highly doubtful a selfish person will maintain the sanctification necessary to continue living under the influence of the Spirit. The Spirit of God living in us desires that we love others as He loves us. He could find a selfish vessel with a deceitful heart unsuitable for habitation, but it would be like living with garbage piled up in the middle of the living room. God is at home with those who accept His love and freely distribute it to those around them.
INTERNALIZING THE MESSAGE
Everyone is looking for acceptance. We all come into this world hardwired with a strong need to be connected to others. When we find ourselves outside the walls of acceptance by others, we can begin to experience shame, disillusionment, and a despairing sense of isolation that causes us to think: there must be something wrong with us. Or we can experience a sense of cynicism that make us feel: no one can be trusted; I will get hurt if I get close. Walls of protection and isolation choke us off from the godly community God made for us to experience with joy and enthusiasm. However, love transcends the boundaries. A church that understands their ministry structure can be designed to go beyond simply facilitating worship in an auditorium and, instead, facilitate healthy and godly relationships. This church will get God’s attention. Christians who make the time and the investment of themselves into others in a godly and appropriate way will find the most fulfilling lifestyle of all.
Love one another. What does this mean? What does this look like in your particular community and culture? How can we do this without jeopardizing our own health and welfare and that of our loved ones? Does our church primarily focus on “keeping the aquarium, fishing for souls, or finding a nice balance between both”? The answers to these questions are not easy. Loving others as we would have them love us can be a daunting task, but the joy and fulfillment of doing so outweighs the sacrifice.