GOD IS LOVE
John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
INTRODUCTION
In the Christian faith there are mainly 2 celebrations that we observe:
• Birth of Christ (Christmas)
• Death and resurrection of Christ (Easter)
Both of these celebrations are highly important for us because both of them marked the turning of world history
As we’re in the Easter period and we celebrate Jesus ‘victory of the cross this morning, let’s focus and really look to Him
Often during this time especially you find many people going to church out of religion
You often find churches full to capacity because people have come to pay their Jews
Testimony: university minister (I-LIFE), over Easter the auditorium would be packed, other days not so full
It’s amazing to me to see that folk do realise that Jesus is King and Lord but not willing to lay a hold of Him, but come and be a part of the celebration once a year
If that is you this morning, i would like to let you know that Jesus loves you abundantly
Whilst seeking the Lord on what to preach about this morning, i felt him lay the word LOVE
Jesus’ birth and death points to one thing: LOVE
This season is all about love
Love that has been poured out for you and me
Love that does not discriminate
Love that welcomes all who acknowledge they are sinners
Love that covers all wrong
Love that provides a way to the Father
Love that gives us eternal life
IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE
1. GOD IS LOVE - JOHN 3:16
A lovely piece if scripture but packed with the heart of God
What we have here is Jesus meeting with one of the rulers of the Jewish council named Nicodemus
Nicodemus whom knew all about God and his laws never knew the heart of God and way of salvation
Jesus uses this to help him understand it
Jesus mentions to him that God so loved the world
The Father had not given up on the human race after sin entered the world
We see this right at the beginning that even when Adam and eve sinned, he removed them from his presence but didn’t kill them
What they lost was the presence and fellowship of God
Because of his great love, he raised up people in different generations to carry out his purposes:
• Moses
• Abraham
• David
• Isaiah
• Noah etc
The fathers love pointed to a certain place, the cross
The fathers love was portrayed (shown) in his Son
The sons love was portrayed (shown) in the cross
The holy spirits love was portrayed (shown) in providing strength to Jesus to accomplish this task
The trinity was at work in bringing salvation to us
APPLICATION
God’s love is all we need
We celebrating as i said earlier this awesome love
Love that we don’t deserve, love we cannot earn, but which is lavished upon us
Just like Nicodemus, we need to understand the heart of God
Look at the fathers face this morning and see the tears in his eyes as he watched and eventually turned his face away as His Son was dying on the cross and the Holy Spirit unable to intervene because Jesus had to face the full length of this sacrifice
What does this love look like?
2. IT IS PATIENT
According to Paul who is writing the Corinthian church speaks about love to them
This is also a famous piece of scripture which is often used at weddings
The chapter of love
But what’s interesting is that Paul is using this in reference to spiritual gifts
Mentioning that without love these gifts are of no value
But if we go back to understand the heart of the Father, this is what we see
That the fathers love is patient
From the time of the fall and generations and centuries passed by, the Father remained patient
Throughout the Old Testament as the Father intervened and tried to bless his people they often rebelled against him, yet still he remained patient
After rescuing them from slavery, they spoke against him and started worshipping other gods, yet he remained patient
What we have in the world today is known as the microwave generation
That everything is fast paced, no patience involved
APPLICATION
I want you to look at your life today and see how patient God had been with you
Can you imagine if he had given up on you, where would you be today
Testimony: look at my life: drug addict, alcoholic, gangster, prisoner – yet God was patient with me
Look at Jesus, who came to his own yet was rejected, spoken against, shamed, beaten and finally murdered
But through it all, he himself remained patient because he saw you and i
It is the patience of God that has brought us here and saved us this morning
His patience is long-lasting which is not forever, one day it will end
This morning if your life is not with him, his patience is calling you in
Further to his amazing patience is his kindness
3. IT IS KIND
Paul goes on to say that love is kind
What’s the opposite of kind – cruel
Imagine if God was cruel to us, none of us would be here, we would be doomed
But no even through all our sinfulness, his kindness overruled
He knew we don’t deserve it but because of love, he extended his kindness to us in ways we could not imagine
Even though the children of Israel started worshipping other gods, God still poured out his kindness upon them by providing and looking after them
All of us have sinned greatly in our lives, there is none that is perfect, but the kindness of God is still there for us
Even though his own rejected and treated him cruelly yet Jesus showed them his kindness
Even though some of them only followed him because of what he could give them, yet still he provided meals for them to eat
APPLICATION
How has God shown you his kindness lately?
Do you thank God daily for his amazing kindness shown to you?
CONCLUSION
No matter what you have done, remember that God loves you dearly
He sent His Son whom we are celebrating this weekend to be the love offering for our lives
Are you being patient and gentle with those around you or are you being hard to them. Remember always the patience that God extends to you. Don’t be like the servant whom the king forgave yet when he went out demanded all that money that another owed him
Are you being kind to those around or are you treating them cruelly. Remember god loves all people and those whom you are treating cruelly are still his children.
Let us love like Jesus loves
Let us be patient just like Jesus
Let us be kind just like Jesus
