Loving Others
What does it mean to love people?
I. Isn't this the second greatest commandment?
A. It is one of the greatest needs we have.
B. God loves and He wants to be loved - we are made in His image
C. We need to love and we want to be loved
D. There are many ways to love another person
E. One of the most important ways we can love people today is:
1. To let them know that God loves them
2. To let them know the Jesus died for them
3. To let them know there is hope
4. To let them know this world is not all there is
5. To let them know there is a rock they can depend on, there is a shelter they can find rest in, there is a Name above every other name that they can become a part of.
II. You want people to know that God loves them
John 3:16-18 (NASB)
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. 18 "He who believes in Him is not judged;
A. Love is the one thing we all need
B. No one can get enough love
1. To feel the warmth and security of being in our mother's arms
2. To feel the safety of having a friend you can spend time with and grow old with
3. To know you are cared for and your soul is at peace and you do not stand alone
4. We need love and people need to know how much God loves them
C. We need to be with someone we can share our innermost thoughts and feelings with and we want people to know that they can do that with God.
III. You want people to know that Jesus died for them
Romans 5:8 (NASB) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
A. This world doesn't do much for anybody
1. It is selfish and self serving
2. It is full of greed, coveting and envy.
B. If anything, this world is very unfair
1. You work hard only to see everything you have done slip away, or be stolen away.
2. Life cheats you and bleeds you to death it would seem
C. People need to know that Jesus came and lived a life of love without any sin so He could take their sin and my sin upon His body on the tree and die for us
1 Peter 3:18 (NASB) For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God,
Isaiah 53:5-6 (NASB) 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.
D. We need to know we have hope, that there is a promise of another life beyond this world of pain and misery and hopelessness.
E. Jesus is our hope and He is our life and He is the Way to find that life
F. People need to know Jesus is the truth in a world full of man made religions - false religions - false hopes
G. In a world where everyone and every religion is in it for what you can do for them or for it, Jesus came to show us what He wants to do for us
Romans 5:6 (NASB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
H. People need to know this!
IV. You want people to know there is hope
A. Hope is not in the financial market because Satan has his dirty hands in it - hope is in being able to one day wear a righteous robe that our Father wants to give us.
B. Hope is not in possessions in a world that is perishing - so many feel hopeless because sooner or later they discover that all their efforts in this world is simply like rearranging the furniture on the Titanic - this ship is going down and we need to look to where our true possessions lie - only God can give us true possessions
C. People need to know to not put their blood sweat and tears into an effort that will never bring them peace and fulfillment - it is a dying perishing rusting and moth eaten world
D. Hope is living for treasures that will never perish, for an inheritance that will never fade away, for a Kingdom that will one day stand alone
Luke 12:15-34 (NASB)
15 And He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." 16 And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a certain rich man was very productive. 17 "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' 18 "And he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' 20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' 21 "So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
22 And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. 23 "For life is more than food, and the body than clothing. 24 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storeroom nor barn; and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 "And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life 's span? 26 "If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why are you anxious about other matters? 27 "Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. 28 "But if God so arrays the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O men of little faith! 29 "And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 "But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. 32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 33 "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. 34 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
E. Hope is one day walking with perfect peace in a place of perfect love.
F. People need to know there is hope.
V. You want people to know that this world is not all there is
A. Our happiness can get so dependent upon this world that we become so vulnerable
1 John 2:15-17 (NASB)
15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.
1. This world is shifting and unstable - there's a holy war going on between the Evil One and Almighty God and we are in the crossfire
2. Our flesh pulls us one way toward the passions and lust for the things in this world.
3. And the Spirit of God pulls us another way toward the eternal treasures that bring us true joy and peace.
4. When we get our focus off of God and on this world we become unstable and tossed like the waves on the ocean.
James 1:5-8 (NASB)
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
B. The really sad thing is we gave up our lives in the Garden of Eden - God said we would die, and die we did.
a) We lost our security from God
b) We lost our closeness with God
c) We lost the blessing of God's goodness
d) We lost our souls.
2. When we try to grasp our hopes on the sand of this fleeting world it is bound to slip out of our hands and we are bound to feel insecure
3. Insecurity is probably one of the most stressful influences in our world today. Jesus gave us a picture that we need to desperately pay attention to.
VI. You want people to know there is a rock they can depend on, there is a shelter they can find rest in, there is a Name above every other name that they can become a part of
Matt 7:24-27 (HCSB)
24 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"
A. Jesus will win the war, he will extinguish the fire of wickedness and evil and oppression and deceit.
B. Our Father has control of the time table of this world and He has declared that there are "end times" coming
C. People need to know that they have an opportunity to find what they need the most through Jesus
D. People need to know Jesus as their Savior.
