The Bible and Love There are 4 Greek words translated into love. EROS - which means sensual desire PHILEO - used for friendship STORGE - family love AGAPE - God’s supernatural love "Agape" is love because of the character of the person loving, rather than the worthiness of the object being loved? It is love ‘in spite of’ rather than love ‘because of’.
Five Keys to God's love through us Recognise that - God's love is a four letter word G I V E Key 1 God unconditionally Loves Us Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us".
Five Keys to God's love through us Key 2 God Commands Us To Love a. God commands us to first love Him Matthew 22:37 "Love the Lord your God with all year heart and with all your soul and with all you mind".
Five Keys to God's love through us Key 2 God Commands Us To Love a. God commands us to first love Him b. God commands us to love our neighbours as ourselves Matthew 22:39 “Love your neighbour as yourself'". 1 John 3:17-18 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth".
Five Keys to God's love through us Key 2 God Commands Us To Love a. God commands us to first love Him b. God commands us to love our neighbours as ourselves c. God even commands us to love our ENEMIES - Matthew 5:43-47. The acid test
Five Keys to God's love through us Key 3 We Cannot Love In Our Own Strength Romans 8:8 “Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God". Romans 5:5 “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us".
Five Keys to God's love through us Key 4 We Can Love With God's Love Romans 5:5 “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us".
Five Keys to God's love through us Key 5 we Love By Faith Hebrews 11:1, 6 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him".
Five Keys to God's love through us Key 5 We Love By Faith COMMAND - GOD commands us to love John 15:12, 17. "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you". "This is my command: Love each other". PROMISE – GOD PROMISED TO HEAR AND ANSWER US WHEN WE PRAY ACCORDING TO HIS WILL 1 John 5:14-15. "This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of Him".
Some practical application 1. Say I Love You! Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love…
Some practical application 2. Say I Love you in Writing! Psalm 32:10 …The LORD'S unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 1 John 4:7, 8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Some practical application 3. Say I Love you through Appropriate Touch Mark 1 - the Leper Luke 18:15 - 17 People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Some practical application Say I Love you through Small Acts of Kindness 1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Some practical application John 13:34, 35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."