Abnormally Normal PBC Sermon Series

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.

Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

THE MOST COMMONLY ASSUMED ARTICLE OF SPIRITUAL CLOTHING THAT JESUS SAYS HIS FOLLOWERS ARE TO PUT ON IS LOVE

Mark 12:28-31 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

HOW ARE WE TO LOVE A GOD WE CANNOT SEE OR PEOPLE WE MAY NOT LIKE?

According to popular understanding LOVE is when the LOVER FEELS LOVING

Matthew 26:36-44 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Isaiah 51:17 Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, you who have drained to its dregs the goblet that makes men stagger.

Jeremiah 25:15-16 The Lord God of Israel showed me a vision in which he said, “Jeremiah, here is a cup filled with the wine of my anger. Take it and make every nation drink some. They will vomit and act crazy, because of the war this cup of anger will bring to them.”

Psalm 75:8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.

So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

HERE’S THE POINT: Jesus wasn’t feeling good or loving about going to the cross

Jesus dying on the cross was the LOVER doing what was necessary for THE LOVED ONES to feel loved

Jesus didn't die for you because it was fun He hung there for love because it had to be done And despite all the anguish his word was fulfilled Love is not a feeling it's an act of your will

TO LOVE IS TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES SO THAT THE OTHER PERSON – THE RECIPIENT – – THE ONE BEING LOVED – FEELS LOVED

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.”

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband.

In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

John 15:13 (NIV) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (NLT) The greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.

To LOVE is for THE LOVER to act self-sacrificially so that the other person (THE BELOVED) FEELS LOVED

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 LOVE … is patient … kind … does not envy … does not boast … is not proud … is not rude … is not self-seeking … is not easily angered … keeps no record of wrongs … does not delight in evil … rejoices with the truth … it always protects … always trusts … always hopes … always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

Luke 6:27 ; 35 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you … love your enemies, do good to them.

THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE EMPOWERING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Francis Chan: I need God to help me love God Francis Chan: I need God to help me love God. And if I need his help to love Him, a perfect being, I definitely need his help to love other, fault-filled humans.

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? LOVE HAS GOT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH BEING A CHRISTIAN

1 John 4:10–11 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.