Love And Its Power

  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. SCRIPTURE READING:

      2. Romans 12:20-21 = "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
      drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.      "

    2. LOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE:
      1. More powerful than physical force or sarcasm.
      2. More powerful than rebuking or argument.
    3. LOOK WITH ME AT HOW THE POWER OF LOVE WORKS IN THREE WAYS.

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. ON OUR SELF:

      2. Note: Every emotion whether it be good or bad will have bring forth reaction and love is involved
      in these emotions.

      1. The man we hate suffers as a result of our hatred, but not to the degree that we suffer.
        1. It is impossible to hurt an other individual and not hurt ourselves.
        2. Hatred works like poison in one’s mind and will destroy even the finest qualities
          within us.
      2. The individual loved is blessed by our love, but not as greatly as we are blessed.

        3. Acts 20:35 = "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to
        support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is
        more blessed to give than to receive.        "

        1. You can not help a fellowman without helping yourself as well.
        2. Even if our love fails to touch an enemy’s heart, it is never wasted for love:
          1. Purifies.

            2. Romans 13:8-10 = "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

          2. Makes us more like God.

            3. Matthew 5:44-45 = "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
            that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them 
            which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the
            children of your Father             which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to
            rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on
            the unjust.            "

            1 John 4:8 = "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

          3. Prepares us for heaven.
    2. ON OTHERS:

      3. Note: When love is manifest before and unto others happiness will result.

      1. It overcomes their animosity or hatred.
        1. Love disarms the foe, hushes the cynic; and put the enemy to shame.
        2. When drastic methods fail, as they always do, love will prevail.

        Proverbs 15:1 = "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up
        anger.        "

      2. It will draw others to us.

        3. Comment: While hatred drives people from us, love will draw them to us.

        Jeremiah 31:3 = "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have
        loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.        "

        John 12:32 = "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."

      3. It binds others to us:
        1. Love is like a cement that bonds things together, in this case mankind.

          2. Colossians 2:2 = "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together 
          in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the
          acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;          "

          Colossians 3:14 = "And above all these things put on charity, which is the
          bond of perfectness.          "

        2. Love in combination with the Word of God is what binds the people of God 
          together in "keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." 
          [Ephesians 4:3].
      4. It opens the door of hope:
        1. It gives us encouragement when it seems there is no hope.
        2. It makes live worth living.
        3. The love of one person will cause another to desire to live.

      1 Corinthians 13:13 = "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest
      of these is charity.      "

      Hebrews 6:18-19 = "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;"

      1 Peter 1:21 = "Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."

    3. ON GOD:

      4. Note: Love causes the great Spiritual force in the universe to operate in our favor. When "We
      love him, because he first loved us      ." [I John 4:19] It is this love that reaches up to the throne 
      of throne of the Almighty and moves it.

      1. For it is in a loving heart, that God takes up His abode.

        2. John 14:23 = "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep 
        my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.        "

      2. By the deeds of love, the divine memory of God is refreshed.

        3. Hebrews 6:10 = "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of 
        love, which ye have shewed toward his name        , in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.        "

      3. For those that love God, He will makes all things work together for Good.

    Romans 8:28 = "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THIS POWER OF LOVE IN ORDER TO RENDER THE
      GREATEST SERVICE TO GOD.

      2. John 14:15 = "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

    2. WE ARE WEAK, AND YET THERE IS A MIGHT FORCE WITHIN OUR GRASP.
      1. Let us take it and use it not selfishly – for selfishness will bring to an end true love.
      2. Life is sweeter -- the circle of our influence is wider -- we are more powerful when love
        motivates us.
      3. The keeping of God’s commandments is that which avails through faith.

      Galatians 5:6 = "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor
      uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.      "

    3. HOW POWERFUL IS THE LOVE IN YOUR HEART?
      1. In you for salvation?
      2. In others for their salvation?
      3. In reaching the throne of God in prayer?

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