An adaptation of a Bible Study entitled Vertically Inclined by Mary A. Kassian

Mt. Affection

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. Mt. Affection Definition Affection – the inclinations, longings, compulsions that move us towards an object of our desire. Devotion, love, tenderness. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. Matthew 24:12 Love is not a human achievement but rather a gift that is divine in origin. We will never truly understand love if we think it is human in nature. God gives us the ability to love. He puts the Spirit, the Spirit of love, into our hearts. Not only is love a gift from God but our love for Him is also a gift.

I John 4:7-13 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

I John 4:7-13 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

How do we keep love from GOING COLD? Mt. Affection How do we keep love from GOING COLD? Allow God to SEIZE your affections. I John 4:7,8 Only God can transform your love. He is the GREAT AFFECTION! I John 4:7,8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God is love. It does not say God is grace nor God is mercy although we know God is all-gracious and all-merciful but it says God is love. God did not create an emotional feeling or expression at the time when He created man in His own image. He Himself is the personification of love. Within the Godhead there is love. Love finds its origin in God. He gives out love. When He demonstrated righteous indignation in His humanity, it was because of His love for man who is sinful in thoughts, words and deeds. There was not a time that God started loving and would stop loving. Love didn’t begin when God created the universe. Love was already there. There is love within the triune God. Where God was, there was love. Where God is, there is love. Where God will be, there will be full of love. So when we join Him in His eternal glory, the heartbeat of our eternal home, which is heaven, is love—that includes joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. For God is love. It is not to say that God loves. That is true, but John is putting emphasis on the character of God that God is love.

How do we keep love from GOING COLD? Mt. Affection How do we keep love from GOING COLD? 2. Acknowledge, affection begets affection. I John 4:9,10 We are to live, “through Him” I John 4:9,10 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. God’s love was demonstrated by God Himself, Jesus Christ—His life, death and resurrection. The greatest example God has shown to mankind—sending His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. Jesus did not die on the cross for no reason at all. He died for us to pay the penalty for our sins.

“we might live through Him” A basic understanding of God’s love is a prerequisite to living life through Him. God’s love is a proven love. – John 3:16 God’s love is a pure love. – I Peter 1:22 God’s love is a perfect love. – I John 4:18 God’s love is a powerful love. – Romans 8:35 God’s love is a protective love. - Psalm 91:14 God’s love is a patient love. – I Corinthians 13:4 God’s love is a providing love. – Romans 8:32 John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. I Peter 1:22 - Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, I John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. Romans 8:35 - Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Psalm 91:14 - Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. I Corinthians 13:4 - 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

How do we keep love from GOING COLD? Mt. Affection How do we keep love from GOING COLD? 3. Those who have been seized by God’s love, know it. I John 4:13,16 The Holy Spirit “gifts” us with love. Come to “know” (action) and “believe” (faith) I John 4:13-16 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

“we have come to know and to believe” God intends for us to find peace in His love. Lamentations 3:22 God intends for us to find value in His love. I John 3:1 God intends for us to find refuge in His love. Psalm 109:26 God intends for us to find forgiveness in His love. Romans 8:1 God intends for us to find security in His love. Romans 5:8 Lamentations 3:22 - The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. I John 3:1 - See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Psalm 109:26 - 26 Help me, O Lord my God;Save me according to Your lovingkindness. Romans 8:1 - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I John 4:16-18 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

How do we keep love from STAYING COLD? Mt. Affection How do we keep love from STAYING COLD? 1. Allow God to transform your motivation from fear of punishment to love of righteousness. I John 4:18 Where love abounds fear is unnecessary. I John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

“perfect love casts out fear” Perfect love is supplied by God. v. 17 Perfect love is empowered by God v. 18a Perfect love is assured by God v. 18b “I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18a There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, 18b because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

How do we keep love from STAYING COLD? Mt. Affection How do we keep love from STAYING COLD? 2. Allow God to transform your character. I John 4:17 Character without love is mere reputation. I John 4:17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

I John 4:19-21 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

How do we keep love from STAYING COLD? Mt. Affection How do we keep love from STAYING COLD? 3. Allow God to transform your behavior. I John 4:19-21 God’s love transforms our motivation resulting in godly character which naturally produces godly behavior. We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

L I F E Visible Actions Values Invisible Beliefs At the foundation of a person’s life, we find his beliefs, these shape his values, and those values drive his actions.

Four Basic Love Principles 1. Love requires memory. I John 4:14 2. Love requires fuel. I John 4:15,16 3. Love requires confidence. I John 4:17 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us. 4. Love requires growth. I John 4:17,18

Banff Hot Springs Scientists believe the journey begins as precipitation seeps into Mount Rundle's high western slopes. As the water slowly descends through the sedimentary rock layers, it is heated and pressurized and dissolves high concentrations of minerals. Charged with minerals and warmed by the heat of the earth's crust, the water flows up to the surface along a fault plane. This fault is the Sulphur Mountain Thrust Fault - a big fracture in the mountain where rock layers have slid on top of each other. The fault provides an easy avenue for water to flow along until it emerges at one of the outlets here on Sulphur Mountain. When hot springs water reaches the surface, it has not seen daylight for hundreds of years and has travelled over 3 kilometers into the earth's crust.

1. Apart from God we cannot love, love starts with Him. 2. True love is discerned in the person and sacrifice of Jesus. 3. Growing in love requires growing in humble dependence on the Holy Spirit. 4. Growing in love means growing in obedience. Love and obedience are indivisibly linked. 5. Growing in love means growing in mercy, the more we love God the more merciful we will be.