Love- Promise and Presence

Intro- some story about experiencing love because of someones presence when it was not convient

How do kids know they are loved by someone?

That someone gives them their time.

One scholar, J. Barton Payne, has found as many as 574 verses in the Old Testament that somehow point to or describe or reference the coming Messiah. Alfred Edersheim found 456 Old Testament verses referring to the Messiah or His times.

Conservatively, Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry.

What is love?

The four Greek Loves

Storge – empathy bond…affection

Philia – friend bond.

Eros – romantic love.

Agape – unconditional "God" love.

Agape love

-unconditional love

-sacrificial in nature

-pure and selfless

-Comes from God

1 John

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

God is love.

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails.

Love is not realized by words or intentions, love is realized by action and presence.

Genesis 22- Abraham....

Love and obedience...

Love will always show up and provide

Talk about passover...

Isaiah

The New International Version (Chapter 53)

4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering ,yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.5 But he was pierced for our transgressions ,he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth ;he was led like a lamb to the slaughter ,and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

At the heart of true love is sacrifice.

The New International Version Psalm 86

15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Love isn’t something you say, it is something you do.

The New International Version Chapter 1

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Romans

The New International Version (Chapter 5)

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The New International Version (Chapter 15)

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Jesus wants you to live in His love and give out His love.

Are you loving people like Jesus did?

Are you really living like you are loved by Jesus?