Category: Love
Subject: Love
Strengthen Those Feeble Knees!
“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13).
The text mirrors Isaiah 35:3 and Proverbs 4:26. The idea is one of discouragement and weakness through exhaustion. The proper response to persecution and distress is to exult in the growth it brings — “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (vs. 11). But, as the writer states, “no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful…” (vs. 11).
We see another in a weakened state, and our love demands a response. It is possible for me to give my brother in Christ encouragement. I can help him to rest, and regroup, thereby strengthening him. I can, and must help! “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
Those who are handicapped (lame) have many challenges. We reserve parking spaces for them near entrances. We build gentle ramps with rails to assist them from one level to another. We supply crutches, splints, braces, walkers and wheel chairs to enable them opportunity where otherwise they would be shut out.
It is so important to supply the spiritually exhausted the same benefits. We have a responsibility to help them, to make their paths as unencumbered as possible to that they will not falter. We need to love. We need to help.
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Sermon: Ugliness
Just like in Roman times, our society is full of ugliness and sin. Violence, oppression, immorality, vitriol and corruption is everywhere. What is the proper Christian response?
It Pleased the Father
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:19-20).
“It pleased the Father.” This is Paul’s assessment of God’s plan for redeeming man. This meaning of this passage is disputed, because “the Father that” is not in the Greek. Rather it is supplied by the translators. A good argument is made by Walton Weaver in his commentary regarding the meaning. He states it as follows: God was pleased to, in all His fullness, dwell in His Son. This principle is set forth clearly in 2:9, “For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
Likewise it pleased God to reconcile man to Himself through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. This is the central message of the Bible. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
God was pleased. Despite the ultimate nature of that sacrifice in offering His only begotten Son, it pleased Him to do so. Why? Why was He so willing to do such a thing? Why did it please Him? Because He loves us! “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” (John 3:16).
There are lessons here for us. First, to rejoice in His love. Second, to recognize the greatness of the debt we owe due to His marvelous grace (cf. Romans 1:14-15). Finally, this: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).
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Sermon: Charitable Giving
A discussion of the importance of individual benevolence as an expression of the love we have for men and God.
Sermon: Tools for Encouragement
It is important for us to be active in encouraging our brethren and others. God supplies us tools to enable us, such as His powerful word, the imperative of love, and patience.
Sermon: Proper Love
The proper love that characterizes the true child of God is that which defines the character of God Himself. It is commanded of us. Yet, many have as the object of their love things that are inappropriate. We should love God, not the world.
Paul’s Love and Concern
“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved” (Philippians 4:1).
The apostle Paul had a wonderful relationship with the church in Philippi. A faithful group, the brethren there had great affection for the apostle, and they showed that love through diligent care.
They sent Epaphroditus to Rome with a gift for Paul. Because of their support, his incarceration was easier to bear. Paul acknowledged their support in his letter, showing his appreciation for their generosity.
“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity” (4:10).
“Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities” (4:14-16).
Because of their love for him, Paul loved them in return. He was invested in their spiritual welfare. His primary concern, as seen in (4:1), was for them to “stand fast in the Lord.”
Who do you love? Who is most important in your life? Have you told them that you are concerned for their soul? Have you let them know how important it is for them to “stand fast in the Lord.” Have you shown them how to do that? If not, why not?
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Sermon: One Another
An examination of both the Lord’s words, and Paul’s writings, showing how Christians are to treat one another.
Sermon: Looking at Parallels
The Holy Spirit uses comparisons, like comparing the lifetime committment of marriage to the Jews relationship with the law (Romans 7), and Jesus relationhip to the church to establish truths in the husband/wife relationship. The Hebrew writer does the same in Hebrews 9, teaching an important lesson about Christ’s sacrifice.
Sermon: The Desires of Disciples
An examination of the proper desires of God’s people. For example to be lovers of God rather than the world, and to Honor and Obey Him, no matter the sacrifices that must be made.
Covid-19 (31) – How Do People View You?
I have an interesting question to ask you. How do people view you? And, is it important to know that? Ultimately, does it matter? There actually is a Bible answer to the second question, which we will discuss. You will have to answer the first by examining yourself, and trying to look at your words and actions as others do.
First, does it matter? Well, in one way yes, and another way no. Consider Paul’s words, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord” (1 Corinthiansa 4:3-4). God will judge us. Because of this, we must ultimately please Him alone. If we are pleasing Him, then it doesn’t matter if others condemn us. All that matters is God is pleased.
However, that doesn’t give us carte blanche to go around acting obnoxiously, with no concern what others might think. Consider that God requires us to concern ourselves with how others might view us. In other words, to please God we need to please men, within certain parameters.
COVID-19 (27) How to Know God
There are a couple of interesting verses in 1 John 4 that are worth talking about. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (7-8).
John’s claim is fairly radical. It is a way of defining what love truly is. Understand that most everyone thinks they know what love is. Because they hold their own definitions, and their definitions conflict with that of God’s, they will go so far as to call Christians unloving, when they are exhibiting true love!
COVID-19 (20) From the Son of Thunder to the Apostle of Love
The apostle John, one of the sons of thunder (Mark 3:17), once reacted strongly to a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus. He along with his brother asked, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” (Luke 9:54). It was obvious that he was a man of great passion and conviction, and one who allowed his anger and passion to lead him to drastic action. On this occasion, Jesus admonished him and James, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (9:55-56).
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Open Your Hearts to Us
We live in cynical times. The dishonesty and fickleness of the world makes it difficult for us to trust our fellow man. We see everywhere politicians breaking campaign promises, marital infidelities and corrupt businesses acting in unethical ways. Each of us from time to time may have experienced betrayal even from family and friends. Perhaps we even have been guilty of failing others in this regard.
However, there are many faithful Christians that we can trust. They love God, and love us, and we can be confident that they are always looking out for what is best for us. It is a wonderful thing to find a faithful brother or sister, especially if we take advantage of their goodness by letting ourselves trust them.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have cheated no one. I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to died together and to live together” (2 Corinthians 7:2-3).
There is no doubt that Paul was true to his word. He was a wonderful man, who even while admonishing the Corinthian Christians, only wanted what was best for them. If they opened their hearts to Paul, they could be sure he would do anything to help them, even to die for them.
You know Christians like that! Open your hearts to them! And look at your own heart, are you such a person?
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The Patternists: Why Will God Condemn Men to Hell?
Time and again we hear objections raised to the concept of hell, based on God’s supposed love for man. “If God loves man so much”, some say, “there is no way He would ever send them to eternal torment!” In this, they misunderstand God’s motivation and capabilities.
First, God does love men, and desires everyone to be saved. God desires every single person (who has ever lived, is living now, and ever will live), to go live with Him in heaven for eternity. This truth is evident in scripture. For example, Paul exhorts Timothy to pray for conditions to allow men to live “quiet and peaceable” lives in “all godliness and reverence.” This exhortation is explained, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
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