Scripture: John 13:34

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

LOVING PEOPLE

Loving People Love People

Emphasis: A Year of Loving People and Touching Lives for Jesus and His Kingdom.

We are Called to be Spirit-filled people

Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:6)

We are Committed to live and shine for Him

Walk in the Light (1 Jn. 1:7; Isa. 2:5)

We are Commanded to love Him and Others

Walk in Love (Eph. 5:2; 2 Jn. 1:6)

We are Commissioned to reach the lost

Walk in Obedience (John 14:15; 2 Jn. 1:6)

Mark 12:30-31 and Matthew 28: 18-20 are the basis of our:

Worship - Love the Lord with all your heart
Ministry - Love Your neighbour as your self
Witness/Evangelism - Go and make disciples
Fellowship - Baptizing them
Discipleship - Teaching them to obey

12 And now, Israel (Elimites), what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees… (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

Overall Focus: A Spirit-Filled People

4 Major Themes over the next decade:

1. Loving People
2. Exhibiting Passion and Purpose
3. Moving in the Spirit
4. Developing Holiness

I. Who should we love?

Lost – unsaved, unresolved, undecided, unsettled, unholy
Oppressed – bound, tormented, depressed, discouraged
Valueless – discarded, considered as worthless, useless, hopeless and second-rated
Errant – wayward, strayed, drifted, misbehaved, condemned

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II. Why should we love them?

A. We love because we obey God’s will and command

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31; Matthew 22:37-40; Lev. 19:18)

A Command - not an option or a consideration
Vertical and Horizontal: Love God and Love People

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)

B. We love because God first loved us

We love because he [God] first loved us (1 John 4:19)
His love in us enables us to love others

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20)

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III. How should we love them?

A. With God’s love

“… God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

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. (1 Cor 13:4-8)

B. With God’s power (through the Holy Spirit)

“… God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

Loving people without God’s Spirit is tough and difficult
Jesus said He will send the Holy Spirit to help us (John 14:15-18)
It is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit (Zech. 4:6)

C. With our life

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.(1 John 3:16)

We follow Jesus’ example
We love like Jesus loved

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Ephesians 5:25)

True love is sacrificial.

D. With words, actions, and in truth

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

Loving people is costly and sacrificial.

Sacrificial love will cost us something and everything.

Our time, energy, feeling, strength, money, resources, and even your life.

We love without murmuring and complaining

We love without expecting anything in return

We love without receiving credit, glory, appreciation

Sacrificial love is possible because

1. God’s love has been poured into our hearts
2. The Holy Spirit has been given to us
3. Jesus did it and will help us do likewise

IV. How will we love people here at Elim?

We will do it by:

a. Manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit
b. Expressing Generosity
c. Making Evangelism a Way of Life
d. Encouraging/Speaking Life into Others
e. Praying for One Another

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Challenge:

1. To love God and love people with His love and power

Purpose: They will encounter God through us

2. To spend time with God daily and be recharged with His love so that we won’t grow tired of loving people

Major Goals for Elim

At the end of 2022, 30 (thirty) 3-2-1 groups will have been established in Elim
At the end of 2022, Elimites will proactively pray for and connect with at least 20 other Elimites not from their Care Cells
At the end of 2022, Elimites will pray for and engage with at least one non-believer

Ask the Lord to:

1. Give you many opportunities to evangelise the lost
2. Anoint you to do exploits and to shine for Him
3. Restore faith and courage in you to trust Him completely in times of difficulties
4. Perform signs, wonders and miracles in and through your life
5. Bless you and make you a blessing to someone everyday