Love Mistaken
Notes
Transcript
“Love Mistaken”
Experiencing God’s Love in the
Church
Top Three Things People Look for
in a Church!
1. Hope – answers for problems
2. Acceptance – Love from the
people.
3. A Sense of God’s presence.
Have you ever received love with
strings attached?
Have you ever given love with
strings attached?
Each of us rather we want to admit
it or not have strings attached to
our love. The only way we don’t is
if we love with the heart of God.
“Now the purpose of the
commandment is love from a
pure heart, from a good
conscience, and from sincere
faith.”
(1 Tim. 1:5)
Attitudes that we see in the church that are
not signs of love:
• The Attitude of Manipulation of others.
• The Attitude of Authoritarianism the control of
people or programs.
• The Attitude of Micromanagers
• The Attitude of Un-forgiveness
• The Attitude of lack of concern for those on the
other side of the church.
• The Attitude of feeling that those inside the church
are more important than those outside the church.
Acts 4:36-37
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the
apostles called Barnabas (which means Son
of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he
owned and brought the money and put it
at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 5:1-11
1 Now a man named Ananias,
together with his wife Sapphira, also
sold a piece of property. 2 With his
wife’s full knowledge he kept back
part of the money for himself, but
brought the rest and put it at the
apostles’ feet.
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that
Satan has so filled your heart that you have
lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for
yourself some of the money you received
for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you
before it was sold? And after it was sold,
wasn’t the money at your disposal? What
made you think of doing such a thing? You
have not lied to men but to God.”
3
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and
died. And great fear seized all who heard what
had happened. 6 Then the young men came
forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him
out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not
knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her,
“Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got
for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
5
Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test
the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men
who buried your husband are at the door, and
they will carry you out also.”
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and
died. Then the young men came in and, finding
her dead, carried her out and buried her beside
her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole
church and all who heard about these events.
9
Science lesson:
“With every action there is an
equal reaction.”
What was the difference between
Barnabas & the Ananias – Sappira?
One was encouragement (love)
the other was selfishness.
The word encouragement means
to give of one’s self to elevate
another.
Hebrews 3:13 it says. . .
13 But encourage one another daily, as long as
it is called Today, so that none of you may be
hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Hebrews 10:25
25 Let us not give up meeting together, as
some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another—and all the more as
you see the Day approaching.
All the believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his possessions was his
own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With
great power the apostles continued to testify to
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace
was upon them all. 34 There were no needy
persons among them. For from time to time those
who owned lands or houses sold them, brought
the money from the sales 35 and put it at the
apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as
he had need. Acts 4:32-35
32
Here are the three main
differences between Barnabas &
Ananias – Sapphira:
1)Barnabas valued his relationship
with God.
Whenever you value something you put
your time, energy & resources into it.
Barnabas valued his relationship to the
Lord so much so that he was willing to give
of his resources to show that value.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-39
2) Barnabas valued his relationship with people.
Acts 4:36-37
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the
apostles called Barnabas (which means Son
of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned
and brought the money and put it at the
apostles’ feet.
Luke 6:27-38
3) Barnabas valued serving others for God.
Barnabas is mentioned more than once in
the bible for his actions of love. He took
Saul under his wings in Acts 9:27, he
became a missionary in Acts 11 and Acts
13,14,15,16 he was an encourager to the
churches and individuals who came to
know Jesus as Lord.
If we are to be a Christian that
Jesus will call a friend then we
need to live out the values that
Barnabas showed.
1 Peter 4:7-11
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be
clear minded and self-controlled so that
you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other
deeply, because love covers over a
multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one
another without grumbling. 10 Each one
should use whatever gift he has received to
serve others, faithfully administering God’s
grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, he should do it
as one speaking the very words of
God. If anyone serves, he should do
it with the strength God provides, so
that in all things God may be praised
through Jesus Christ. To him be the
glory and the power for ever and
ever. Amen.
11
4 Actions that highlight our love:
1. Be clear minded and self-controlled so that
your prayers have purpose. vs. 7
2. Love each other to the point of forgiving the
faults of others. Vs. 8
3. Offer Hospitality to all without complaint Vs.
9-10
4. Watch your words and He will give you
strength so that God will be praised. Vs. 11
The church needs this type of love.
God can withhold blessings from
you the individual and his church
without it.