Love
Father in Heaven, how we thank you that we have a God who is mighty and true and faithful to our lives and we pray that that as we rejoice in you today and taking the communion and in the listening to your word and in singing praises to you, may we be drawn near to you, the Mighty God, who is our Lord and our guide and our strength, and our Salvation, in Jesus name, we ask these things. Amen. When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, we'll all be there, right? Yeah, let's sing that song.
Land Rover.
All right, I reading this morning is taken from John chapter 15. Verse is communing with the disciples, just after they finish, the last supper and date. He's giving some words of wisdom at 2 to them and a John 15:9 through 12. You says these things as the father is love me. So I have loved you now remain in my love. If you keep my command, you will remain in my love. Just as I have kept my father's commands and remain in his love. I've told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this love each other. As I have loved you and this is kind of a carry-on leading us into the message messages for the next 3 weeks. We're going to be taking a look at 1st Corinthians 13, the love chapter. And Look at our love for one another and how important that is. The one thing I have for prayer today is the Ukraine and what's happening there. We have no idea of God's plan in it, but we need to be praying for all those people. Particularly the Believers that are, they are because they have an opportunity to truly present the gospel in a unique form because we don't suffer persecution, but they certainly are at this point and we'll see where God leads at all, but we need to hold them up in prayer. So let's pray.
Our gracious Father in Heaven, how we thank you that we can gather together and we have this freedom to come before you and this body of Christ in to worship you and know you and the growing you. And we know that that's not all true in many parts of the world. I am down. We thank you for that. We praise your name and we truly rejoice in the fact that you love us and our with us here today and at all times for you. I promise I will never leave you or forsake. You and so father. We thank you for your presence. We do want to pray for the needs that are out there and father, always, the need is for those who do not know you for their lives, are in the balance, and they don't even realize it didn't yet their decision concerning their relationship with you. It's so important for their lives. They need to understand and come to know. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of their lives. The holy God, who is the restore? And so father, we pray for the lives of the people of our community and our world that they would come to know you. Help us to be truly representatives of Jesus Christ, before they are willing to even suffer in that regard for the sake of the Gospel. We also want to remember the struggles in this world. And one of the huge ones that is on the front page everywhere. Is this battle in the Ukraine? When a monster such as Russia, tries to take advantage of another country and Truly the world is just kind of stood by and watched it happen father. Even this we recognize is not a surprise to you, but it is continuing in your plan for all time and we can trust in that plan. But father, we do ask for your hand of protection upon the people. They're particularly those who love you and are representing you to a people that is that are in desperate need. And we pray that you would give them courage and strength to be a true testimony of your love for mankind. We want to remember the unspoken request and we know that each person here has those needs on their heart that they haven't expressed. And yet there they are powerful and mighty and we pray that you would be with them to give comfort and peace through all the struggles and difficulties that are faced. And our father as we continue to worship you. We pray that your Mighty hand would be with us to guide us in this day and help us to know you and understand you more deeply than ever before. In Jesus name. We ask these things. Amen.
A thing. One more time together. How Great Thou Art.
When?
All right. Well, that start with a word of Prayer.
Father in Heaven, how we thank you that we can rely upon you to guide and direct Our Lives. You have taken upon yourself the responsibility to bring goodness to us. And we thank you for your spirit who is here, not only in our Miss, but in us who have called upon your name and you will guide and give wisdom to the words that are in your word, the Bible.
Father, may your spirit speak powerfully through me that.
That your proclamations would be true. And holy. Bless us in this. Oh Lord. In Jesus name. Amen. Well, we are speaking of going through and we're out. Going to be spending three weeks on the love chapter. I had originally thought maybe four, but circumstances cut it down to three. More than action. And sometimes we think you're well if I just do what I'm supposed to do, it's okay, but there's sometimes that there needs to be more to it and I'll give you a little scenario when I was. When I was growing up and thinking about how to apply myself, particularly, I was thinking athletically and I was in volved in tracking, and I was trying to think of some way for me to gain an advantage in in sports. And I was in California, but I'm living in the San Fernando Valley, which was pretty upscale for the LA area at the time and end. So everybody normally ate pretty well and they got the rest that they needed and, you know, they had a lot of the positive so there was no matching people that way and I got to think it. Well, if I just simply take on myself to work harder than the rest of the athletes, that's my advantage, right? I made it makes pretty much sense, you know, if you work harder than your competition, that gives you an advantage. And so I began to do that tonight. I started to enjoy practice and I really put all of my effort into those practices and then I began to think. Well, if I add a little bit more to that and start working on Saturdays and stead of just Monday through Friday, that'll add to it. And then, of course, between Seasons, I started to add to it. And I found that the extra work that I applied to that brought dividends to myself, when I stepped on the track. Because I work harder than those other guys, you know, I ran the 44, 40 yard dash back. Then it was few years back and I always claimed those last hundred yards because I knew I was in better shape than those guys. I was running against and I knew there was more gas in the tank because I put in the extra time. Okay. Well, we're going to talk about love today and love is our extra gas that we put in the tank. As I would say, it gives you the advantage in your walk with Christ. And God calls us to do that. To know, the Bible actually says, God is love. And if we're supposed to walk as God, did that needs to be a part of our lives. So, in the circumstances, we find ourselves in. If we apply love to those circumstances, then we truly Elevate ourselves and allow us to do things that we wouldn't normally do. You might remember the story of Samuel coming to coming to anoint David as king and Samuel doesn't know. It's going to be David. But he's looking at the David's brothers and he looks at the first son, and this guy is head and Toes taller than everybody else. Probably broad shoulders, very strong-looking. Kingly like in San Jose's. All. Yeah. Here's the guy, Shirley. This is the guy and God says no. Not my man. I'm looking at the heart and they finally get down to the little runt of the litter. They even have to send out for him because he's out doing stuff at the others aren't doing watching the Sheep. And they bring you money on and God says, yeah, that's my man. Why? Because God looked at the heart. And saw the David's heart was given over to God and that begins with our willingness to be like God to love as God loves. So let's go ahead and go to 1st Corinthians 13. We all read the first three verses.
It says, if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love. I'm a, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of Prophecy and can fathom all Mysteries, I am only a Mysteries and knowledge. And if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I'm nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love. I gain nothing. Another words what God is trying to say is it's more than an action that he wants from our lives. That doesn't mean we're not supposed to be active Believers in Christ. We are. But there's an ingredient that has to be added to that activity before we begin it before we process and that's love. We are supposed to add love to that activity so that we truly can walk in these lot in this life. That doesn't mean all these things are of no consequence or powerful consequence, but if love isn't a part of it, It means nothing to our lives. Let's take a look at that a little bit. First of all, love and that's agape love. And that's a love that's willing to give of ourselves. Even when there's something else that we could be doing. That would benefit us, we choose to set that aside so that we can care for somebody else and whatever need there. Is there. Jesus said, as he talked to the disciples, remember we just read John 15. That's cured until you at one more versed. Sur 13. Greater. Love. Has no one than this to lay down. One's life for one's friend. And we often think of, you know, somebody who jumps on a grenade, so he protects his other people, but essentially what it means is that you choose to take what is important for your life and be willing to give it up. So that you can help somebody else out.
And that isn't so that you can help him out. So you get a reward for it, is they help them out? Because you love them enough, that you're willing to set aside what you think is it valuable important and give it to them because then that love becomes more valuable in portent than anything else you have. It's what Jesus did when he came to this earth and he chose to give up all the glory he had in heaven to live life on this Earth and then die for us. but most of us don't have to die for somebody else, but We have the opportunity, almost everyday to be willing to give up something. That is valuable to us. And give it over to God and love somebody else and give them that love.
In fact. It's almost imperative we do this because God is love. And so, if we truly love God and Jesus says, if you love me, you'll keep my commands. He says in 1st John 4. Hate whoever does not love, does not know. God, because God is love. And if you claim to love God. And yet you're not willing to give up yourself for other people, then you really don't love God. And that's what he's trying to get across here. That love is shoes, powerful issue, and it makes a difference in everything. We do. There's a responsibility. In fact that we have because okay, I love Jesus because he gave up for me now. I accept him as my Lord. Okay, that gives me a responsibility to act as he acted. Continuing on and 1st, John 4 verse 11, dear friends, since God. So loved us. We also ought to love one another, and that calls each of us to love and care for one another. Now, we have some time after church to Fellowship together to find out what is going on in each. Other's lives to be able to connect and be willing to get to know each other just a little bit more. That's the time that set aside as a time for each of us to build that love into one another. And so, you know, if you can stick around just a little bit chat with somebody, find out about them, get to know them. So that somehow along the way you can pass love on to them. All right, but it goes through a whole bunch, a whole series of different things that our love is more important than these things. You know, I think about when you were saved the Holy Spirit brought gifts into your life in the in, instilled in your life, some gift that he has now the Bible list eight different times. A listing of these gifts. I'll read you one. But there are many lessons or something or other things along the way that we could call gifts as well, and they're really important. I mean, if God gives it to you. It's really an important thing, right? And so,
It's so God gives us these gifts Asians for 11 says, so Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists and Pastors in the teachers. Now, that's a short list of different things that we can look to take advantage of butt and still in our lives. But to perform these gifts without without loving. It doesn't give any power to the gifts. Now, the gifts might influence, somebody else in this life. Thank you very much Russell.
To perform these gifts might Empower somebody else in in life, but it does nothing for you. Can you imagine having a gift of evangelism like Billy Graham? And yet having him not love the people. He speaks to. And he brings so many to Christ and the changes all their lives, but his life is not changed at all when that be a tragedy. Or even me as the pastor standing up in front of his church. And preaching messages week after week and messages, that may change your lives or may not. But I have no love for you. It would do me a salute Lee. No good.
And that's why I says that love is more important than these things. Then what God has placed in your life if it isn't added to the mix. What you have is not important.
There are certain Mysteries that were revealed to us. Particularly since Christ came to Earth. There was this great mystery of how God was going to redeem mankind. It talked about it over and over again in the Old Testament and everybody was looking forward to it. And some of those Mysteries were revealed to us. And God gives us Mysteries along the way and our ability to understand them and talk about it. And if you knew every one of these Mysteries, Entry Express them. And yet, you did it Without Love. Doesn't mean anything for you doesn't change you. Doesn't instill God developing in you if he's in 35 says, which was not made known to the people. In other Generations. It is now been revealed by the spirit of God's, Holy Apostles and Prophets. Okay, there's a lot of things in this scripture that are a great value in great mystery to the world. And yet, they're revealed in God's word. And if you have the ability to express them, that's exciting, but if you don't do it in love, It's nothing. It's nothing. How about understanding? You know, if you understand all things, there was a guy who understood so many things and was blessed by God and that way, and that was King Solomon. And we read in 1st Kings, 4:29. God gave Solomon wisdom and very great inside and a breath of understanding is measureless as the sand on the seashore. Wow. You got everything right?
You know, and he originally started out with the love and yet that love died as he committed himself, more and more to the, to the things of this world. And in fact, begin to take build worship centers for the different wives that he took me on, and he began to worship other gods and all these things. And so, He lost something because his his love for God dissipated and he began to struggle in his last few years of his life because of his walk. And eventually his kingdom was separated after he passed away.
He lost a bit. Well, here's another one about faith. Surely. That's the powerful one. I mean, if you have to have faith to come to know the Living God, right?
It says it here. If you don't have love, if paste. Doesn't do you any good? Another story man named Balaam was a prophet and nobody ever even predicted came true. And the people of Israel. We're kind of moving in to the lands of Moab and the bay, like the king, didn't like it, and he wanted to curse the people of Israel and so he has to Balaam to do this and it hears what Balaam says, but Balaam answered even if they like gave me all the silver and gold in his Palace. I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord. My God. This was a guy who had Faith. You knew that God would answer his prayers. He understood all these things.
And he was obedient to God in that regard. But then in the end of his life, he separated himself. And stayed with the people of Moab and suffer death because of that. Face didn't help him because there wasn't a love for God. It wasn't love for others. Am I giving, you know, we, sometimes take way. I'll let you know if I just give, you know, I've got tons of money. If I just give it that, that doesn't all, you know, give my life, give my property, everything else. Remember that ruler Rich, Young Ruler that came to Jesus and wanted to, you know, get approval from Jesus about his life and what he could do and God do challenged him in the number of areas and he met the met the the measure in each of those areas. And then, finally, Jesus said, the these words you said sell everything you have and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Come then and follow me. Was his love enough to give up the things he had for helping the people of the world and following them and it wasn't enough. He said no. I want to hold on to my wealth. I meant nothing to him because he didn't demonstrate the love for Jesus Christ that could have. Redeemed is life. And finally death. Death is the last thing on the line if our love for Christ, just there then. Not even death, helps us. There was some construction going on, in the land of Israel. And the construction have, it wasn't very good and it fell over and killed 18. People and the people were saying, look, they were, they were Sinners, they weren't living as they should. Jesus answered, Luke 13. 2230. Do you think these galileans were worse? Sinners than all the other galileans because they suffered this way. I tell you no, but unless you repent who will all perish, you know, death is going to come to every one of us.
But if there's the love of God in your heart, that death means nothing. To you. because that death is just a transition to the wonders of the glories of the Eternal Kingdom in Heaven and
That's so important. But the whole idea of the thing that makes everything work. Well, is that we grow in the love of Jesus Christ. Remember that list of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians, 5, 22 and 3. Where is it start? Starts with love. That's the main attribute. That is listed there. Any others just fall in line for that love. Love is so important and we need to be loving others and living that love and do because it expresses who we really are. Anyway, God's calling us to be people that love each other and love the world and those in it so that we might have an opportunity to help them know the love of Christ that can redeem them for all eternity. Let's pray. Grace's Father in heaven, we thank you for the wonderful love that you demonstrate to us day by day for as we walk in your light, we can see how you minister to our lives and
We find that strength and energy and courage to keep going because we have trusted in you. So father, help us to Remember that? That portion of Our Lives is so valuable that love and it truly is the energy that will lead us in wisdom and understanding throughout the things that we do. What we live here on this Earth, bless us. Oh, Lord, and may we take that Upon Our Lives in Jesus name? Amen?
Let's turn the number 326 in our hendel's number 326 and sing that chorus. I am loved. Joey stand.
I can read.