Sermon Central
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Loving The Lord, Part 2 Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on May 17, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Focused on Jesus Commandment to Love
Loving the Lord, Part 2
Introduction
Last Wednesday night we began a series of messages surrounded by the focus of “loving the Lord”, and being sure to display that love in a manner that reflects Christ.
This morning, we continue on that same path by discussing the commandment of love given to us, and the application of this love in our lives.
In your bibles turn to John 15
Jesus talked very often throughout the Gospels about love, and about the application of love in our lives.
Wednesday night we discussed loving our enemies and quite frankly might as well have called the message “Mission Impossible”. It is just not easy to love our enemies, yet as believers we do not have the option to not love.
This morning, allow me to challenge you with this question: When people see you, do they see the love of Christ?
Admittedly, that is a very difficult question and it is not always easy to answer. However, for the believer we have a commandment to love, and in order to grow in the Kingdom we must be willing to do this, without hesitation.
Let me say this plainly: If you do not display a Godly love for EVERYONE you see, meet, or know, including a stranger on the street regardless of their status in life ... I challenge you to examine why.
It’s a tough example to follow, but Jesus is Lord and we are not.
We committed ourselves to love one another, period.
This morning, we will look at this deeper and before we dismiss prayerfully maybe our hearts will be opened a bit more.
Pray
Point 1 – The order of love (v9)
Read Verse 9
Look at the sequence of love.
It is VERY important that you understand this order of love.
God loved Jesus first.
He loved Him so much He discussed the creation of Man.
Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
God was not talking to the angels; He was talking to His Son! This is the first instance of the existence of a Triune God-head (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) – and we were not there.
Therefore, Jesus can say with all confidence – He loved me first.
Then Jesus confesses that He has loved us.
At this point He has not gone to the cross, but He knows the cross is coming. He understands His role in the Father’s plan and so He expresses one thing to His followers: Love.
That expression of love commands us to remain!
The Greek word for “remain” is “Meno”, which means “to stay in one place, at a given time, with someone”.
When we obey the commandments of the Father, we are remaining.
When we remain in this kind of love, we are obedient.
St. Augustine (a famous writer in the Christian faith) has been quoted as saying:
“It is not that we keep His commandments first, and that then He loves; but that He loves us, and then we keep His commandments. This is that grace, which is revealed to the humble, but hidden from the proud.”
The love the Father has for Jesus is what allows us to be loved. Because of the sacrifice on the cross we have been loved today, without it, we would be destined to an eternity without Him.
Point 2 – Are you willing to follow? (v10-11)
Read verse 10-11
Are you willing to put it everything aside and obey the Father?
As we grow closer and closer to Father’s Day (a celebration of an eternal gift given to us that we can honor Him) - I want to challenge you to think about a few things. To think about the Word in a way that changes even how this world thinks.
Further down in John 15:19 it says, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
We do not belong to this world! We must forget about the world’s commandments and look to the commands of Jesus Christ.
Are you willing to lay everything you know down and follow God’s love?
Here is a quick test. Your daughter, granddaughter, niece, favorite little girl in the world wants to get married. The man she has chosen is an upright, faithful man and lives by God’s Word in everything he does. Yet, he is black.
Do you love? Or do you condemn? Why? My answer regarding Nicole is simple: He better know the Lord to date my daughter – period - she will not be unevenly yoked.
