1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,480 Would you open your Bible together with me please to the book of 1 Thessalonians in the 2 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:10,480 New Testament. 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:14,760 If you don't have a Bible with you, there may be one there in the pew right in front 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:20,760 of you, and we encourage you to grab it and look up 1 Thessalonians in the table of contents 5 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:28,820 if you don't have it, and follow along in the first chapter with us. 6 00:00:28,820 --> 00:00:35,320 I want to join the perfect church. 7 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:43,180 The challenge is that all perfect churches have one thing in common. 8 00:00:43,180 --> 00:00:45,540 They don't exist. 9 00:00:45,540 --> 00:00:46,540 That makes it difficult. 10 00:00:46,540 --> 00:00:54,320 And of course, that's because a church is made up of people, people who are redeemed 11 00:00:54,320 --> 00:01:01,840 by grace but who are not yet perfected in it. 12 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:07,280 Someone wrote, if you should find a perfect church without one fault or smear, for goodness 13 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,360 sake, don't join that church. 14 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,240 You'd spoil the atmosphere. 15 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:18,760 If you should find the perfect church where all anxieties cease, then pass it by. 16 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:23,600 Less joining it, you mar the masterpiece. 17 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:29,120 Since I can't find the perfect church, what kind of a church do I want to join? 18 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:38,200 Well, one answer to that question is the kind of a church that I hope to build together 19 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,560 with you. 20 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:47,820 I can't think of a group of people anywhere in the world that I would rather work together 21 00:01:47,820 --> 00:01:52,040 with than you, because I love you. 22 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,640 You are a wonderful congregation. 23 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,700 And the kind of a church that I want to be a part of is the kind of a church that I want 24 00:01:59,700 --> 00:02:04,040 to build together with you in the days ahead. 25 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:11,640 It is a church that reflects the energy, passion, and devotion to Jesus Christ that is shown 26 00:02:11,640 --> 00:02:18,740 by the first century Christians, like those in Thessalonica. 27 00:02:18,740 --> 00:02:24,520 Last week we talked about being a church where faith works, where faith works. 28 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:33,880 That is where authentic faith powerfully transforms lives and brings God's desired outcome. 29 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:43,000 I want to be part of a church that worships and serves and prays to a big God, one who 30 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:52,120 is infinite and glorious, and yet one who is also very present and real to the people 31 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,280 of that church. 32 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,380 When it comes to faith, there are a couple of realities that we have to keep in mind. 33 00:02:59,380 --> 00:03:01,840 The first is this. 34 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:08,840 Just having faith is not enough in itself. 35 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:15,560 Because you see everyone in the world has faith of some kind. 36 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:25,640 It's possible to have the wrong kind of faith, a faith that is merely intellectual or theoretical. 37 00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:33,120 It's the kind of faith that the demons have, says James, and which causes them to shudder, 38 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:38,180 but it does not produce repentance and works, good works in their lives. 39 00:03:38,180 --> 00:03:40,800 It's a dead faith. 40 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:45,380 Authentic faith produces changed lives. 41 00:03:45,380 --> 00:03:48,240 And so merely having faith is not enough. 42 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:53,280 It has to be the right kind of faith, authentic faith. 43 00:03:53,280 --> 00:04:01,480 But secondly, faith is only as valid as the object of that faith. 44 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:10,120 In other words, it's possible to have a passionate faith, but to place it in the wrong God or 45 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:17,360 in a false idea that will not bring me what I think it will bring me. 46 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:23,680 Faith is only as valid as the object of that faith. 47 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:29,800 The writer of Hebrews says, without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone 48 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:38,040 who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek 49 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,200 him. 50 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:44,920 I want to be part of a church where faith works. 51 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:50,560 The Thessalonian church was that kind of a faith, that kind of a church as we saw last 52 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,280 week. 53 00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:58,360 The Thessalonian church was also remarkable for its love. 54 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:02,240 A love that motivated them to good works. 55 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,680 Let me go back and read verse two with you of chapter one. 56 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:13,360 Paul says, we always thank God for all of you mentioning you in our prayers. 57 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:20,920 We continually remember before God our Father your work produced by faith. 58 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,720 See there's the faith. 59 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:29,200 And he says, your labor prompted by love. 60 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,080 Your labor prompted by love. 61 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:39,680 Love was so real in this congregation of people that it produced a labor that could only be 62 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:47,200 described as an intensive labor that led them to weariness even. 63 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:52,200 It was a labor that was prompted by deep love in their hearts. 64 00:05:52,200 --> 00:06:00,040 Love would not allow them to be self-focused or to be only half-hearted in serving others 65 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,540 or to serve only when it was convenient. 66 00:06:04,540 --> 00:06:13,560 Love prompted them to serve wholeheartedly and self-sacrificially to the point of weariness. 67 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:20,400 Love like this is a love that steps forward at personal cost. 68 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:26,980 It steps forward without any thought of compensation for itself. 69 00:06:26,980 --> 00:06:31,960 Convenience is not a consideration of this kind of love. 70 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:39,520 The value of the one who is loved is all that matters to agape love. 71 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:43,880 This is God's kind of love. 72 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:50,920 Agape love is willing to pay any price and make any sacrifice for the welfare of its 73 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,300 object. 74 00:06:54,300 --> 00:06:57,760 This is a challenging kind of love. 75 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:03,300 This is not a kind of love where people merely come together and like to see each other and 76 00:07:03,300 --> 00:07:06,760 enjoy one another's presence. 77 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:11,000 This love is deeper than that. 78 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:18,680 I want to be part of a church where God's love is potent and compelling. 79 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:26,760 Potent that is powerful and where it brings a compelling force to those who are a part 80 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:27,760 of it. 81 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:32,280 That's the kind of a church I want to be a part of where God's love is potent and compelling. 82 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:37,640 And I invite you to think with me quickly about how powerfully God's love motivated 83 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,720 Him. 84 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:46,040 In Romans 5, 8, which was read from the message a few moments ago, it says, but God demonstrates 85 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:52,200 His own love for us in this. 86 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:59,160 While we were still sinners, are the next four words. 87 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,880 Christ died for us. 88 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:07,000 John says this is how we know what love is. 89 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:13,520 Because Christ laid down His life for us. 90 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:18,040 Do you find that to be a potent love, a compelling love? 91 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:25,780 In Ephesians chapter 2 verses 4 and 5 it says, and read it together with me if you will, 92 00:08:25,780 --> 00:08:34,080 because of His great love for us, God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead 93 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:35,080 in transgressions. 94 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:41,160 And it goes on to say by grace you are saved. 95 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:47,280 Because of His great love for us, God did this. 96 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:53,000 There is nothing like this love. 97 00:08:53,000 --> 00:09:00,800 How great is the love of the Father that He has lavished upon us, writes John. 98 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:06,280 How great is the love of the Father that we should be called children of God. 99 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:10,840 And that is what we are. 100 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,600 God's love is potent and compelling. 101 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:19,360 When you stop to think about it, there is no power that exceeds the transforming might 102 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:21,800 of God's love. 103 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,960 It revolutionizes every life that it touches. 104 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,480 It cannot help but do that. 105 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:38,320 And God has put that love into the hearts of His children. 106 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:43,120 You see God's love changes your life and mine. 107 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:48,400 And it motivates us to serve others selflessly. 108 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,000 It did the Thessalonians. 109 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:59,720 Paul says I thank God for the labor that has been prompted by love in your church. 110 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,120 He describes this more in chapter 4. 111 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,080 I invite you to turn over there to verse 9. 112 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,680 And notice his somewhat brief comment here. 113 00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:16,180 Although he touches on this theme of love many times as he writes to the Thessalonians. 114 00:10:16,180 --> 00:10:17,920 Chapter 4 in verse 9. 115 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:26,200 Now about brotherly love, we do not need to write you for you yourselves have been taught 116 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:30,160 by God to love each other. 117 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:35,320 And in fact you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. 118 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:41,200 And yet we urge you brothers to do so more and more. 119 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:48,960 The Thessalonians had this love of God put into their hearts and it caused them to love 120 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:51,440 others in return. 121 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:59,560 In 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 14 and 15 the apostle Paul says for Christ's love compels 122 00:10:59,560 --> 00:11:07,040 us because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. 123 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:14,480 And he died for all that those who live should no longer live for what? 124 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:20,160 Themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 125 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:27,020 What is it that compels us no longer to put ourselves into the center of our lives but 126 00:11:27,020 --> 00:11:30,120 Christ and His people? 127 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:35,120 It is the love of Christ. 128 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:42,360 So let me say it again that God's potent, compelling love motivates Him. 129 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:48,760 In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 in verse 16 it says, may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself 130 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:56,240 and God our Father who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good 131 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:57,600 hope. 132 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:06,320 Notice there our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father loved us. 133 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,120 God's love motivated Him to act. 134 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:17,320 In the first place His love motivated Him to initiate your salvation and mine. 135 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:25,000 Notice the phrase of chapter 1 verse 4 where He calls the Thessalonians brothers loved 136 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,040 by God. 137 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,300 He has chosen you. 138 00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:36,120 And then turn in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 in verse 13 where Paul elaborates on this 139 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:45,360 and says, we ought always to thank God for you brothers loved by the Lord because from 140 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:51,920 the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of His Spirit and through 141 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,760 belief in the truth. 142 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,320 It is God who initiates salvation. 143 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,960 It is not us. 144 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:02,280 We're not the ones who bring forth salvation. 145 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:07,760 It is God who has brought it forth and it is God who initiates it in our lives. 146 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:14,380 And the apostle Paul points out he actually initiated it from the beginning which is a 147 00:13:14,380 --> 00:13:20,040 New Testament concept that means that even before the creation of the world, before the 148 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:31,040 time material world and space universe began, God in the beginning loved us. 149 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,120 He loved us before He even created us. 150 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:35,120 Why? 151 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,040 Because He is love. 152 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,080 And He initiated our salvation. 153 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:40,820 We don't initiate. 154 00:13:40,820 --> 00:13:43,400 We simply reciprocate. 155 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,200 We respond to God. 156 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,920 We love Him because what? 157 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,480 He first loved us. 158 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,960 He first loved us. 159 00:13:54,960 --> 00:14:01,080 But not only does God initiate your salvation, God intervenes in your rescue. 160 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:08,920 In chapter one and verse 10, Paul writes to the Thessalonians about Jesus who rescues 161 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:13,320 us from the coming wrath. 162 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:18,600 Now he doesn't get into detail about that wrath and what it means, but we know from 163 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:23,660 what the New Testament teaches us that there is a judgment that is coming upon all of those 164 00:14:23,660 --> 00:14:30,920 who reject our Lord Jesus Christ, upon all of those who are hostile toward God and resist 165 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:32,960 Him and rebel against Him. 166 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:36,240 Wrath is coming from God upon them. 167 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:41,040 But God has intervened on our behalf. 168 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:44,440 He has rescued us from that wrath that is to come. 169 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:52,240 And again in 2 Thessalonians chapter two, it says, because from the beginning God chose 170 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:57,000 you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, belief in the truth, He calls 171 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:05,800 you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 172 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:11,440 God has rescued you from wrath and saved you for glory. 173 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:18,080 That's how much His love compelled Him to act on your behalf. 174 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:24,400 He rescued you. 175 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,640 It's a wonderful feeling to be rescued. 176 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:31,240 I had just a little sense of that in the last week. 177 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,440 I want to tell you about it because some others of you are aware of it. 178 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:39,640 And by the time stories get told two or three or ten times, they can sometimes get stretched 179 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:44,400 or whatever. 180 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:49,560 A few weeks ago, I had some symptoms that led me to go to the doctor. 181 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:58,040 And as a result of the tests that were taken, I went to a urologist who examined me. 182 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:03,560 And he found that I had a growth in my bladder. 183 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,880 And he said to me, look, this needs to come out. 184 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:09,880 It's very small, but we have to take it out. 185 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:14,680 Now we can arrange for you to go into the hospital. 186 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:19,760 That'll involve, you know, pre-op and anesthesia and it's a big deal. 187 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:26,880 Or he says, we can take it out right now. 188 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:32,640 I'm not going to go into detail about this, but it didn't take me but about a nanosecond 189 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:36,120 to say, you're in there, take it out now. 190 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:37,120 Take it out now. 191 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:38,920 I want that thing out of there. 192 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,320 And so he did. 193 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:46,600 And then they sent that off to the laboratory. 194 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,560 But of course, I asked him the inevitable question. 195 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:53,600 I said, you know, just from your observation of what you've seen, what do you think? 196 00:16:53,600 --> 00:17:00,920 And he said, well, most of the grows that are in the bladder are in fact malignant. 197 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:05,240 And he said, by looking at what I saw, though it was very small, he said, it had all the 198 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:09,720 characteristics of being a malignant growth. 199 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:11,960 I said, well, if that's the case, then what's the treatment? 200 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,200 He said, well, we just did it. 201 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:15,200 We just did it. 202 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:16,200 We took it out. 203 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:17,200 We cauterized it. 204 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:22,680 But he said, you and I'll become the best of friends over the next few years. 205 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:26,680 He said, you're going to need to come in every three months for one of these examinations. 206 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:28,440 Oh, that thrilled me. 207 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:29,520 Let me tell you. 208 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:38,320 I mean, he's a nice man and all of that, but I'd rather pick my own friends. 209 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:42,280 And in other circumstances, he would be one of them. 210 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:48,920 So I waited the week, and knowing that if it came back malignant, it was going to be 211 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:49,920 God's direction. 212 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,520 I mean, my life is in His hands. 213 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,920 I knew that it appeared to be manageable. 214 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,520 And so it wasn't life-threatening in that sense. 215 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:08,600 But on Wednesday, my internist, whom I call the beloved physician who attends this church, 216 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,160 called me and said, I've got good news. 217 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,160 It was benign. 218 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:14,640 Amen. 219 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,320 Wonderful news. 220 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,320 And you know what? 221 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:21,840 Suddenly I felt rescued. 222 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:29,160 Now, it wasn't as though I was just overwhelmed, but it felt so good not to have that label 223 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:31,840 cancer on me. 224 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:42,520 And you know when God rescued you and me, He delivered us from the label condemned. 225 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:51,360 He delivered me from certain death, eternal separation from Him in hell. 226 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:58,800 God's love is so powerful and compelling that He initiated a rescue on my behalf and your 227 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:05,040 behalf and He intervened and saved us from what we were doomed for and set us apart for 228 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:06,120 glory. 229 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:07,400 That's wonderful. 230 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:08,880 That's God's love. 231 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:20,360 Now, that same love of God, that same potent, compelling love of God is at work in His people. 232 00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:31,800 God has poured out this love into our hearts, writes the apostle Paul. 233 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:35,120 And here in Thessalonians, He gives us three facts about this love. 234 00:19:35,120 --> 00:19:36,320 Let me hit them quickly with you. 235 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,440 The first is this. 236 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,120 It mentors us. 237 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:43,240 It mentors us. 238 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:47,080 God's love teaches us how to love. 239 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:52,480 It puts a new motive in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and then the Holy Spirit teaches 240 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,100 us how to love others with God's love. 241 00:19:56,100 --> 00:20:03,480 In chapter 4 and verse 9, it says, you yourselves have been taught by God. 242 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:08,600 That phrase taught by God is really one word in the original language. 243 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:13,040 He says, you have been God taught. 244 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:17,040 God taught. 245 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:24,280 God puts this value and this principle into the hearts of His forever family. 246 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:31,120 And He Himself mentors us in how to love other people. 247 00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:38,000 We follow the example of our Father in whose likeness we have been newly created. 248 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:46,160 And so the apostle Paul says, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a 249 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:53,000 life of love just as Christ has loved you. 250 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:54,120 It mentors us. 251 00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:57,520 The second fact about this love is that it multiplies. 252 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:04,960 In chapter 3 of 1 Thessalonians and verse 12, Paul has a brief prayer. 253 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:12,800 He says, may the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other, for everyone 254 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:18,040 else and for everyone else just as ours does for you. 255 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:22,520 Paul recognizes the fact that love can grow, that it can multiply in our lives and he prays 256 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,640 for that in the Thessalonians. 257 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:26,520 It's a fact. 258 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,840 We can learn to love more deeply. 259 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:35,960 It can flow and overflow in our lives with a greater capacity. 260 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:40,080 When something gets hot, what happens? 261 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,200 It expands. 262 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:47,520 When God's love is hot in our lives, when it's fervent, it expands. 263 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:48,800 It super abounds. 264 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:53,620 It overflows with an excess to touch the lives of others. 265 00:21:53,620 --> 00:22:00,720 And so Paul prays here, God increase the aperture of their hearts. 266 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:05,480 And that's my prayer for me too and for you. 267 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:11,920 That God would cause the aperture of our hearts to expand so that God's love can flow more 268 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,920 freely through us. 269 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:21,960 Again in chapter four and verse 10, he says, you do love, yet do so more and more. 270 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:26,200 You see, we never really arrive. 271 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,120 It's something that keeps multiplying in our lives. 272 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:33,500 And the more we give out, the more we... what? 273 00:22:33,500 --> 00:22:35,920 The more we receive, the more we get. 274 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:39,760 There's a third fact and that is that it matters. 275 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:44,600 The third fact about this glove that God has put in our hearts that it matters in chapter 276 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:46,200 one and verse seven. 277 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:53,960 He says, and so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 278 00:22:53,960 --> 00:23:00,880 You see, the Thessalonians were not just saved, they were model Christians. 279 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,680 He says, you have set a pattern for others by your love. 280 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,440 It matters that you and I love. 281 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:08,440 It matters. 282 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:18,000 And I'll tell you why, because God's love flowing through us is His most powerful witness 283 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,120 in the world. 284 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:28,760 There's nothing, nothing that is more powerful than a Christian who loves others with God's 285 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,920 love. 286 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:35,800 By this shall all men know you are my disciples, if you what? 287 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:37,760 If you love one another. 288 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:42,940 It also matters because this selfless love is the mark of genuineness. 289 00:23:42,940 --> 00:23:48,680 That is that we really belong to the family of God. 290 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:57,060 We know that we have passed from death to life, says John, because we love our brothers. 291 00:23:57,060 --> 00:24:06,520 The fact that we love others is an assurance to us that we really are God's people. 292 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:12,420 He goes on to say, anyone who does not love remains in death. 293 00:24:12,420 --> 00:24:16,080 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal 294 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:17,880 life in him. 295 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:19,480 This is how we know what love is. 296 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:27,240 Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 297 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:31,480 What does this selfless love look like? 298 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:33,280 What does it look like? 299 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:43,360 Well, it looks an awful lot like many of you in this congregation. 300 00:24:43,360 --> 00:24:52,360 When I hear some of the stories of people in this congregation, I thank God that God's 301 00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:56,200 love is flowing through you to others. 302 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:04,560 I think of a team of men who right now are working on a project at a home for city team. 303 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:10,920 I think of some of you who have opened up your home to be used for entertaining. 304 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:16,020 In some cases, those who are in need, and in other cases, for children who can come 305 00:25:16,020 --> 00:25:23,120 into your backyard and there spend a few hours and learn about Jesus. 306 00:25:23,120 --> 00:25:29,240 We could go on and on telling stories about people in this church. 307 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,600 Selfless love looks an awful lot like many of you. 308 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:40,040 I like what Augustine said, this love has hands to help others, feet to hasten to the 309 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:48,180 poor and needy, eyes to see misery and want, ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. 310 00:25:48,180 --> 00:25:53,600 That is what love looks like. 311 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:59,900 This selfless love initiates action to demonstrate its selfless concern. 312 00:25:59,900 --> 00:26:02,300 It does not wait to be asked. 313 00:26:02,300 --> 00:26:07,600 It does not wait for somebody else to take the first step. 314 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:13,220 This love of God compels us to initiate just like our Father does. 315 00:26:13,220 --> 00:26:14,560 We take the first step. 316 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:18,440 We make the first move. 317 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:23,880 You see, love isn't a feeling that we have for others. 318 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:26,720 This love is action. 319 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:27,720 It is action. 320 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:33,440 If anyone has material possession, says John, and sees his brother in need, but has no pity 321 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,200 on him, how does the love of God be in him? 322 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,160 So it is a feeling. 323 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:42,640 But he goes on to say, dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with 324 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:46,680 actions and in truth. 325 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:51,660 This love has to go beyond emotion and sentiment. 326 00:26:51,660 --> 00:26:59,120 To motivate us to act in the best interests of somebody else, it initiates. 327 00:26:59,120 --> 00:27:02,780 This love not only initiates, it intervenes. 328 00:27:02,780 --> 00:27:11,980 It causes us to intervene to assist those who are vulnerable and to do that with generosity 329 00:27:11,980 --> 00:27:16,120 and with wisdom. 330 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:18,200 You see, love is accountability. 331 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,680 It's not just enabling people to do things. 332 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,680 God's love is especially for those who are most vulnerable. 333 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:31,280 That's why we are told to watch for the care of widows and orphans. 334 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:36,480 And if you look at the ministry of love incarnate, our Lord Jesus Christ, you see Him going to 335 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:37,540 the downcast. 336 00:27:37,540 --> 00:27:40,320 You see Him going to the rejected. 337 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:44,320 You see Him going to the hurting. 338 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:51,680 He initiated that action and He intervened on their behalf, but Jesus never enabled them 339 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:53,520 in any way. 340 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:58,640 We have an example of that in Thessalonians, in the second letter to the Thessalonians. 341 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:03,840 Paul has apparently told him to share with those who have needs and they're doing that. 342 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:05,540 That's part of the love. 343 00:28:05,540 --> 00:28:11,440 But then he warns, he says, if there are those who are taking from you, but who are not willing 344 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:17,520 to work, he says, don't feed them anymore. 345 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,560 He says if a man won't work, he shouldn't eat. 346 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:23,460 That is off of others is the idea. 347 00:28:23,460 --> 00:28:31,320 So you see there is generosity, but there's wisdom as well in this love when it intervenes. 348 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:35,820 It holds accountable those who are being helped. 349 00:28:35,820 --> 00:28:41,400 It doesn't just give and enable them to continue in whatever situation they're in. 350 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:48,160 It loves with wisdom, a kind of wisdom that really brings them out of the circumstances 351 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:53,600 which hold them captive. 352 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:57,620 The opposite of love is not hate. 353 00:28:57,620 --> 00:29:03,640 The opposite of love is self-centeredness. 354 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:09,560 The kind of love we're talking about is a love that is an active commitment to encouraging, 355 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:19,120 supporting, helping, defending the vulnerable in particular. 356 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:28,280 The challenge that I face and the challenge maybe that you face is to empty myself so 357 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:35,440 that God can show Himself in me. 358 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:40,100 Because of my sinfulness, I tend to be self-centered. 359 00:29:40,100 --> 00:29:44,020 And that self-centeredness, that self-focussedness has to be laid aside. 360 00:29:44,020 --> 00:29:52,480 I have to empty that out so that then God can fill me and show Himself through me. 361 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:58,040 Imagine a church of people who share that vision. 362 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:09,080 Imagine a whole church of people who are committed before God to empty themselves so that God 363 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:20,500 can show Himself in their own community but beyond it into the world around them. 364 00:30:20,500 --> 00:30:23,760 What does a church like that look like? 365 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:27,520 I want you to think about that for a minute. 366 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:36,040 What phrase or word comes to your mind as you imagine a church that shares this vision? 367 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:37,400 I'd like you just to tell me. 368 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:41,120 I'm going to walk up the center aisle here and I'd like you to tell me what word comes 369 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:42,680 to your mind? 370 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:43,680 Compassion. 371 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:44,680 Okay. 372 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:51,840 What other word or phrase would come to your mind of a church that has the same vision 373 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,400 for this selfless love? 374 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,240 Forgiveness. 375 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:59,560 That's really a key word. 376 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:01,600 Sensitivity. 377 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:03,600 Holiness. 378 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:08,880 It ties together with Ephesians 5. 379 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:11,880 Caring. 380 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:15,160 Wholeness as well as holiness. 381 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:16,400 Wholeness. 382 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:18,400 What is it? 383 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:20,800 Acceptance. 384 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,800 Reaching out. 385 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:25,800 Sacrifice. 386 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:27,800 United. 387 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:29,800 Obedient. 388 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:31,800 Peace. 389 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:37,520 That's an interesting concept. 390 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:38,520 Glory to God. 391 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:40,840 What does a church look like? 392 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:42,840 A merciful church? 393 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:44,880 Joy. 394 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,600 The fruit of the Spirit is love. 395 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:49,320 Joy. 396 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:50,440 Joy comes right after love. 397 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:55,040 It flows out of love. 398 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:59,240 I was hoping somebody would say that and I don't know who did. 399 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:01,680 But the word is safe. 400 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:03,520 Will it come this direction? 401 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:04,520 Safe. 402 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,520 A safe church. 403 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:10,040 Powerful. 404 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:13,520 God's potent, compelling love flowing through us. 405 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:17,120 That's going to be powerful. 406 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:19,720 Unconditional love. 407 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:20,720 Compassion. 408 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,240 What was this? 409 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:26,240 Christ's love. 410 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:32,080 Of course, you'll see Christ in a church like this. 411 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:36,800 What other words or phrases come to mind? 412 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,800 Healthy. 413 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:40,800 Humble. 414 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:41,800 Generous. 415 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:47,240 I'm repeating them all so we can get them on tape. 416 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:51,440 I don't want your wisdom to be lost to those who couldn't be here this morning. 417 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:52,440 Multiplying. 418 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:56,520 Oh, these are great answers. 419 00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:02,400 When you begin to think about what a church could be if all of its people were committed 420 00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:08,200 together to this kind of love, it is an amazing vision. 421 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:14,260 This kind of love produces a sweet spirit of cooperation where everyone works in some 422 00:33:14,260 --> 00:33:16,160 way to bless others. 423 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:19,160 There are no freeloaders in a church like this. 424 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:25,160 It produces a respect for others, creating trust, giving others benefit of the doubt, 425 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:28,520 using the tongue to bless and to lift up. 426 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:31,400 It creates an atmosphere of forgiveness. 427 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:36,300 It deflates anger and destroys resentment. 428 00:33:36,300 --> 00:33:41,440 It makes for patience with others and kindness toward them and protection of their best interests 429 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:44,520 and gentleness in dealing with them. 430 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:49,900 I like what George Sweeting wrote, love is optimistic. 431 00:33:49,900 --> 00:33:52,400 It looks at people in the best light. 432 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:58,720 Love thinks constructively as it senses the grand possibilities in other people. 433 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:03,680 All of this flows out of this idea of love. 434 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,440 Do you want to have that kind of a church? 435 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:08,680 You want to join that kind of a church? 436 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:12,880 Me too. 437 00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:19,400 Linus told Lucy that his life goal was to be a doctor, but she reproved him saying, 438 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:24,120 you can't be a doctor, you hate mankind. 439 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:32,960 To which Linus responded, oh no, I love mankind, it's people I can't stand. 440 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:39,580 Mankind is sort of this generic, we love others, love everyone, love people. 441 00:34:39,580 --> 00:34:45,320 The people that God brings into my life. 442 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:53,000 Love is only love when it's expressed, when it's acted on, when it's given away. 443 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:58,920 Oscar Hammerstein of all people wrote this wonderful statement, a bell's not a bell till 444 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:00,800 you ring it. 445 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:04,360 A song's not a song till you sing it. 446 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:08,320 Love in your heart is not put there to stay. 447 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:14,720 Love isn't love till you give it away. 448 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:18,520 The church I want to be a part of, that I want to join, that I want to help build together 449 00:35:18,520 --> 00:35:25,120 with you is a church that is absolutely committed to love of the people. 450 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:31,680 And sometimes we feel really good about ourselves. 451 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:36,640 We like to go to church, we like the people who are there, and we get along well with 452 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:40,760 a group of people, and we love each other. 453 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:43,640 But that's not what I'm talking about this morning. 454 00:35:43,640 --> 00:35:46,440 All that's good in its place. 455 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:51,600 What we're talking about today is a love that reaches those who are hurting, those who are 456 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:53,640 rejected. 457 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:55,880 It goes to the outcast. 458 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:58,920 It's a love that acts. 459 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:11,800 It's the kind of love, for example, that goes to an AIDS hospice, and it serves the men 460 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:18,400 and the women who are dying there. 461 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:24,200 You say, yes, but some of those people are our enemies. 462 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,200 Isn't that just the point? 463 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:34,760 That as while we were enemies of God, that Christ died for us, that He loved us. 464 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:41,200 It's the people that we may see as our opponents, that God calls us to love, and when we love 465 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:49,080 them, it demonstrates the reality of God. 466 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:51,480 They may or they may not see it. 467 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:52,840 That isn't the point. 468 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:55,360 They may or may not appreciate it. 469 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:57,880 Love just has to be expressed. 470 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:01,580 It doesn't expect any compensation in return. 471 00:37:01,580 --> 00:37:07,040 When you and I stand in the presence of Jesus Christ, and we think about how He has loved 472 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:18,160 us, the amazing, awesome love of Christ, the only thing our hearts can do is to say, Lord, 473 00:37:18,160 --> 00:37:30,320 cause that love to be seen in my life, mentor me in it, multiply it through me. 474 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:36,000 Let it increase more and more. 475 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:42,920 I take my eyes off of myself and doing what pleases me. 476 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:49,480 I turn away from what's convenient for me in my schedule and my lifestyle, and Lord, 477 00:37:49,480 --> 00:37:58,400 I ask you to love through me at my cost and whatever the cost. 478 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:01,000 Lord, love others through me. 479 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:09,320 I'm going to tell you when there's that kind of a church, hell itself will shudder because 480 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:10,920 it can't deal with it. 481 00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:13,680 It cannot deal with that kind of love. 482 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:17,520 Let's pray. 483 00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:28,360 Lord, we are humbled at the potent, compelling love that you have demonstrated in the sacrifice 484 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:31,960 of Jesus for us. 485 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:39,280 A love that initiated our salvation, a love that intervened that we might be rescued when 486 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:44,200 we did not deserve it and we were your enemies. 487 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:45,880 You loved us. 488 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:49,920 Lord, thank you for the love of friends. 489 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:57,600 But help us to love those who are not our friends and to serve them for Jesus' sake 490 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:00,600 selflessly. 491 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:09,040 To seek out those who are most rejected and most hurting and most desperate and go to 492 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:10,040 them first. 493 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:34,440 Amen.