Sermon Outline 5/15/22: But because of the love of God

James Weidner III - May 15, 2022

Introduction:

Today’s message’s intention is to again enlighten our hearts to the Love of God.
The love of God is very personal for each person individually
The love of God is the very thing that provokes us to pursue the love of God.

Because of the great love of God.

Ephesians 2:1-7 (ESV) 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

- Our Heavenly Father’s rich mercy gave us life with Christ.
- “A loving personality dominates the Bible (the Word of God), walking among the trees of the garden and breathing fragrance over every scene. Always a living person is present, speaking, pleading, loving, working, and manifesting himself wherever and whenever his people have the receptivity necessary to receive the manifestation” (Towzer Pursuit of God pg 36)
- Being receptive to the love of God.
- Not only aware of it by means of it being told to us by a preacher or a t-shirt or a random passer by.
- When is the last time you read your Bible?
- Question: How receptive are we to the love of God?

To know the love of Christ.

Ephesians 3:19-20 (ESV) 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

1. Far too many people walking around unawares of the love of Christ.
2. “A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner cells, waiting for us to recognize it. God himself is here waiting for our response to his presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.” (Pursuit of God pg. 38)
3. Knowing the love of Christ for real is within each of our reach.

Reckoning with reality.

- A person’s reality in many cases is just that person’s take on how they interpret the events that have taken place in their life. This becomes one person’s reality.
- “What do I mean by reality? I mean that which has existence apart from any idea any mind may have of it, and which would exist if there were no mind anywhere to entertain a thought of it. That which is real as being in itself. It does not depend upon the observer for its validity.” (Pursuit of God pg 38)
- In other words “reality is not what each one of us say or think is reality but rather it just is.
- The love of the Father is the reality of Heaven, displayed to people, despite anyone’s acceptance of it on earth.

Our perceived reality can invite in doubt.

Jude 1:22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

- The times when we doubt.
  - There are times when we all doubt.
  - We need to help the doubters.
- Acting in doubt is the opposite to acting in faith.

Mark 11:23 (NKJV) For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

- To doubt is to withdraw from.
  - One doubt God so one withdraws from pursuing the love of God.
  - Sam can be said about the relationships in ur life.
  - Trust is doubted so we withdraw from giving responsibilities.

- Showing mercy to people who are in a times of doubt.
  - People acting out in doubt are not the most pleasant people, which is why mercy is required.
  - Mercy: kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them

- Our doubt is sometimes self inflicted.
  - Ela… like unrealistic expectations in a marriage. Things we expect out of a marriage without communicating, discussing, or even having the eagle type view to know if it is realistic.

- Mercy is a close kin of compassion.
  - Let us grow in showing others compassion.

God’s rewards shatter man’s doubt.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

- “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
- That is, we must believe God exists, and that he exists as a God of love and hope.
- This is the first and most fundamental step toward love.

Conclusion:

Keeping ourselves in the Love of God.

Jude 1:20-23 (ESV) 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

- By building our prayer and devotion life.
- By spending time in the Word of God.

The beauty of Christ’s work in a person’s life is God’s love on display.

- “The beauty of God refers to the understanding of God’s personality (attributes), God’s power, and God’s purpose as found in the Word of God. We discover Jesus’ beauty through long and loving meditation on God’s Word. It will require an intentional setting of the heart and life to go after this.” Stuart Greaves IHOPKC (16 years on Night Shift)
- There is nothing we can do to make Jesus more attractive.
- God’s goodness attracts us into God’s love.