Love That Abounds

Joy Unspeakable - 4 Love That Abounds How many people are on Facebook or some other social media? Do you ever see the reactions they have? Instead of commenting, it’s become normal to “like” or “love” something. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “A picture is worth 1000 words.” Isn’t it interesting how a simple picture expresses more than words can? Or at least, every picture tells a story... This is a picture I found on NASA’s website. Does anyone know what it is? Matthew 5:14-16 NIV 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Philippians 1:9-11 NIV 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Main Idea: Just like the galaxies overtaking each other and becoming one, have you experienced the type of love that overwhelms everything else in your life? If so, do you share it with others? Love is like a searchlight We are all lost at sea… – dating/marriage – lost get found Job 42:5 5 I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. Open the Eyes of My Heart! Those who know the Lord have seen them with the eyes of their heart. It’s why we’ve encouraged you all year, to turn your eyes upon Jesus. Nothing looks the same as you walk with Him. Have we forgotten our first love? - Can we come back, just as we are? - Better question, do we trust Him to love us and heal us. To keep us...? - How do we lose it? - What did we hold in higher esteem than Him? Revelation 2:2-5,7 NLT 2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. 4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lamp-stand from its place among the churches. 7 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. Love that has Grown Cold - stifling the love languages Do you have a “root of bitterness” in your life that is stopping your love from abounding?? Hebrews 12:15 NLT 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Matthew 24:4-14 NLT 4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. 9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Illustration - Refusal to Love Sin has a willful, defiant, or disloyal quality; someone is defied, offended, or hurt. The willful disregard/ sacrifice of the welfare of others for the welfare or satisfaction of self is an essential quality of sin.… And sin is thus, at heart, a refusal of the love of others. Love Bears Fruit You will bear fruit - what kind is determined by who/ what you abide in… John 15:5-8 NLT 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. I believe the word “fruit” here is singular, just like in Galatians 5. Galatians 5:22–23 TPT 22 But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. The joy, peace, patience, etc are the works/what happens when love is put to action. When we live out our sinful desires we produce all kinds of nasty stuff - Gal 5:19-21 Closing Video - (Healing of the Leper and Paralytic) Three Daughters The story is told of a king who desired to know how much his three daughters loved him. The first two declared they loved him more than all the gold and silver in the world. The third said: “I love you better than salt.” The king was not exactly elated and attributed his youngest daughter’s reply to her immaturity. The cook, overhearing, left salt out of the king’s breakfast. Then the father awakened to his daughter’s declaration: “I love you so much that nothing is good without you.” John 3:16 NIV 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. Questions: How do we find love? Finite or infinite Things, people, etc