1. “For the Joy of the Lord is your Strength” Nehemiah 8:10

3. The Character Of God’s Love by Pastor Fee Soliven John 3:16-17 Sunday Morning January 3, 2016

4. John 3:16-17 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

5. The most beloved and well- known verse in the Bible is John 3:16

6. 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”

7. 1. The Source of This Love “For God”

8. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

9. 2. The Character of God’s Love “So Loved”

10. Isaiah 55:8-9 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

11. Luke 15:11-32 (Modern English Version) 11 Then He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided his estate between them. 13 “Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together, and journeyed to a distant country, and there squandered his possessions in prodigal living.

12. 14 When he had spent everything, there came a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in want. 15 So he went and hired himself to a citizen of that county, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 He would gladly have filled his stomach with the husks that the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.

13. 17 “When he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have an abundance of bread, and here I am perishing with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

14. 20 So he arose and came to his father. “But while he was yet far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and embraced his neck and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

15. 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 23 Bring here the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. 24 For this son of mine was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ So they began to be merry.

16. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. As he came and drew near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 27 He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’

17. 28 “He was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and entreated him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! These many years have I served you. Nor have I ever transgressed your commands, yet never have you given me a goat, so that I might be merry with my friends.

18. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 But it was fitting to be merry and be glad, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

19. Ezekiel 18:24 24 "But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

20. 3. The Object of God’s Love “The World”

21. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

22. 4. The Gift of God’s Love “That He gave His only begotten Son”

23. Jeremiah 29:11-13 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

24. 5. The Purpose of God’s Love “That whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”

25. Titus 3:4-7 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

26. 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

27. Ephesians 4:30-32 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

28. 1. Do you feel safe and secure in God’s unconditional love, or do you worry that you’ve done something to anger him?

29. 2. What does the story of the prodigal son teach you about the character of God’s love as demonstrated by the father?

30. 4. How does this change your perception of His love for you?

31. 5. The Lord wants us not only to receive His love but also to let it influence our lives. How has His immeasurable love motivated or changed you?

32. 6. How has it affected your relationships, your fears, and your sense of security?

33. “For the Joy of the Lord is your Strength” Nehemiah 8:10