SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST MESSAGE
Good morning and welcome to our fellowship. Many nations are represented here today; some represented on stage today France, South Africa, Russia and Venezula. No matter where you are from we are excited that all of you are here today. We have been talking about the theme: Sharing the love of Christ this month and we’ll continue with this topic today. Why focus on this topic?
There’s an old song that says; What the world needs now is love sweet love it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. There’s not enough love in the world. What we need is not just love, but we need the love of Christ. Why?
PT 1: CHRIST’S LOVE NEVER FAILS
(Psa 6:4 NIV) Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
King David appealed to the unfailing love of God in Psalm 51:1. He had committed adultery with Bathsheba, another man’s wife.
According to the law he was to be killed. Lev 20:10 "’If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.
Man’s love may fail, but God’s love never fails. His is an unfailing love. But there’s more! Man life and love is but a mist; here today,
(Psa 89:2 NIV) I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
James 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
(Psa 103:11 NIV) For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him. For those that fear God, have a deep reverence and respect for Him, His love for that person or persons is as high as the heavens are above the earth!
Why focus on and share the love of Christ?
PT 2: CHRIST’S LOVE IS GREAT!
(Psa 57:10 NIV) For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Many of us have experienced and it can be quite intoxicating. We know the feeling. It’s great. It’s beautiful. To love and be loved. To have someone enthralled with who you are. That excepts us. Knows our weaknesses and still cherished us. Love is powerful. We yearn for it and will sacrifice anything to get it We want it to last. When we fall in love, we’re sick. Head over heels in love. So much excitement so much passion, can’t wait to be with the person, joyful, happy. Call everyday, chat about nothing for hours, hang on every word, do silly things (like write on other peoples property), dream big dreams, interested in every facet of the person, it’s just beautiful. Our hearts are enthralled. Love is intoxicating. Here’s the thing: (pause) We experience all that from a sinner. As sinners our love is imperfect. Christ’s love is pure and holy. I John tells us that God is love. He is the source of love. Christ’s love is far, far, far greater than mans love.
A.W. Tozer, a preacher of Gods word for 44 years; says about God’s love. From God’s other known attributes we may learn much about His love. We can know, for instance, that because God is self-existent, His love had no beginning; because He is eternal, His love can have no end; because He is infinite, it has no limit, because He is holy, it is the quintessence of all spotless purity, because He is immense, His love is an imcomprehensible vast, bottomless, shoreless sea before which we kneel in joyful silence and from which the loftiest eloquence retreats confused and abused. CHRIST LOVE IS GREAT!
Why focus on and share the love of Christ?
PT 3: PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND NEED HIS LOVE
Ariel was 20 years old when she set herself on fire and ended her life. Why? Her boyfriend broke up with her and she stated: I just feel so unloved. Or how about this suicide letter posted by the suicide prevention center.
Why did he do this to me? He said he loved me and wanted to marry me. How could he spend so much time with her and not care how I feel. I can not handle this with classes and moms problem. The classes are getting to much for me to copy with. I wish I could just die, then I wouldn’t be a problem to everyone.
Why can’t I have a talk with anyone. You’re all so busy and here I sit. Please someone do something so I can’t feel the hurt anymore. I hurt so bad, what can I do?
I’m trying to watch TV but I don’t know what I’m watching. It’s so lonely here. I want to sleep but it just won’t come. I’m so tired of hurting and being a lone. I keep thinking about the pills in the cabinet but I’m scared. My head hurts so much from crying but if I take anything for it I’m scared I won’t stop and I would want to stop.
Nobody cares why should I? I cause problems for everyone I care about so why should I stay. Why am I such a terrible person. Nothing I do is right. I don’t understand.
I don’t have any choice in the matter. To make everything better I have to die. I can’t make it right by living. I’m so scared I want out but oh I don’t know.
I’m so fat, ugly and stupid, how can I expect me to be able to do anything right? I’ve failed at everything. There is nothing for me here. I don’t want to go on. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. Please believe me. I love you all so very much, and I don’t want to hurt you anymore.
I’m so cold, please do something. I can’t stand this empty feeling that I’m having. My head is horrible. Stop the pounding it hurts so much. I have no control over anything in my life. I’m breaking into pieces.
Somebody do something.
The message of the cross is that Jesus did do something! He died so that you could experience a love that never fails. A love that is great, that’s beautiful, pure, holy and unselfish.
How His heart must hurt when he sees the Ariels of this world crying out, alone, thinking nobody cares, thinking that they have no choices, making a human being an idol in their life. GOD CARES! GOD LOVES!
John 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.
The message from the cross is that Jesus died for wicked people.
1 Cor 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders1 Cor 6:10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.1 Cor 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Rom 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God did something! He demonstrated his love. He died when we his enemies, steeped in lives of immorality, steeped in porn, lies and deceit.
God doesn’t want people to perish! He wants all men to be saved. He wants all to be loved. It pains the heart of God to see people being abused, sitting alone with no friends, thinking no one cares. There are countless examples in the word where you see the heart of God and his willingness to reach out.
Mark 1:40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
Mark 1:41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"
Mark 1:42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
This was shocking for people. To see Jesus touch someone who had leprosy! Jesus was shattering the purity boundaries by doing this. This man was unclean according to law and many thought that he was not worthy of the grace of God.
Lepers were forbidden to live in cities, enter streams, churches. They had to live alone; outside the camp. They had to carry rattles and wear distinctive clothing to warn people.
Lev 13:45 "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ’Unclean! Unclean!’
Lev 13:46 As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.
Think of the rejection, humiliation, embarrassment, deep feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, they were alone; except for other lepers.
The action of Jesus indicates that the time for reconciliation, restoration and healing was at hand. Those who are far off can now come home and dwell as children of the one family of God. Filled with love and compassion Jesus reaches out and heals. Jesus is the great healer. His love is a love that heals broken hearts and lives.
With the touch of Jesus he went from unclean to clean! A state of disgrace to being saved by grace. Years of being an outcast; cut off from his family to going home, walking through the door and hugging his Mother. (Imagine your loved one).
Mom, Dad Jesus made me clean! Think of how he felt with never having to say those words again; unclean, unclean! Now it’s clean.
Have you experienced the unfailing love of Christ? It’s waiting for you if you’ll accept it. You don’t have to be alone, you don’t have to hurt. Jesus says:
Mat 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
If you’ve never seriously committed your life to Christ, we’re not not talking about going through the motions, some half-hearted religion. We’re talking about becoming a disciple of Jesus where he’s first and you learn to embrace the message of the cross. Ask the person who brought you to study out deeply God’s love and may the love of Christ change your life. Amen.
