Exhibiting True Love

Exhibiting True Love

1998040

I. Introduction.

A. Text = Rom. 12:9-21 - Paul talks about behaving like a Christian.

1. text…

2. as one goes throughout the text one will notice that love plays a central role in the life of a Christian.

3. 1 Cor. 13:13 demonstrates the superiority of love.

B. We all should have no problem understanding the context of the Bible verses we just read.

1. each one of us probably on daily basis has opportunity to demonstrate love in one form or another.

2. We may demonstrate love toward family, friends, or even those outside of our normal sphere of influence.

C. This is an opportunity for me to thank brethren at Southside for love, care, concern demonstrated toward me & my family. Honor to be associated w/you.

1. it is my prayer that the bond between brethren here will grow strong & as we grow in Christ our love will grow stronger.

2. However, let us all examine ourselves & make sure that we are doing our best in this area.

D. In middle of Rom. 12, Paul writes about how one can demonstrate what is known as true/real love.

1. with some love just a fabrication. It only goes so far..

a. I love you but…I have/hold this against you.

b. I love you but…I want to talk about your faults w/my friend.

c. I love you but…if you make me mad…I don't.

2. central fact found in Rom. 12:9-16 is that genuine love is sacrificial involvement in lives of others.

3. Any claim of love that is characterized by indifference & un-involvement is not a true but a false love.

E. Love is not something that we catch - like a cold…but is something that we CAN and MUST learn in order to be pleasing to God.

F. Lesson will seek to examine 3 points.

1. where does true love begin?

2. How is true love exemplified?

3. Why true love is not exemplified by some.

G. 2^nd part - tonight's lesson - will take a hard look at what the Bible says concerning why we need to exhibit brotherly love.

II. Where does True Love Begin?

A. Love cannot flourish among brethren until a solid relationship with God has been established! Involves a personal responsibility on our part! Must dedicate our lives to Him!

1. Rom. 12:1-2 - must put ourselves totally at the disposal of God. Do this? Love can come forth from our lives.

a. Mankind from beginning been encouraged to hand life over to God.

b. Deut. 28:9; 30:10 - Israel of old..

c. Rom. 6:3-13 - people living today!

2. Must transform lives from living for ourselves to living for God. As we do this, our attitude, feelings, actions will change for the better.

a. How? More study, service, learning, and growing will cause our mindset to move in alignment w/that of God! Perhaps we have seen this in ourselves & in the lives of others.

b. As we grow we begin to understand why God loves us as he does & why we need to exhibit true love toward others…

3. It has been said…to love at all is to be vulnerable… Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung & possibly broken. I concur w/this statement.

a. perhaps why brethren refuse to open up & be loved & why they themselves do not love as they should. Why many relationships aren't the way they should be.

b. C.S. Lewis has said…"The only place outside heaven where one can be safe from all of the dangers of love….is hell!"

c. Must open our hearts up to God! We put our souls in His hands! Loving one another begins by loving God!

4. Mt. 23 - Pharisees didn't. condemned of by God.

5. Contrasted by numerous examples where people opened their hearts to God:

a. Acts 16:14 - Lydia receptive to gospel - baptized. Wanted to do whatever necessary to obey God! Wish more had this attitude!

b. 2 Cor. 4:6 - early disciples.

c. Heb. 3:8; 4:7 - warning to those who refuse to turn their hearts over to God.

d. 2 Thess. 1:7-9 - those who refuse to open hearts will lose their soul.

6. must look to the Lord & turn the focus off ourselves & the world.

B. Within ourselves.

1. Rom. 12:3

a. as we work at the transformation process we learn to evaluate ourselves in the proper manner.

b. Need to learn that we one of the purposes of our lives is to use the gifts God has given us to contribute to lives of others.

2. it has been said…people are illogical; unreasonable; self centered. Love them anyway.

a. it has been said…if you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

b. It has been said…honesty & frankness make one vulnerable. Be honest & frank anyway.

c. It has been said…what you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

d. It has been said…give your best and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give your best anyway…

3. Those who deserve love the least need it the most!

III. How is True Love Exemplified?

A. Rom. 12:9 gives us two major characteristics of the kind of love that God expects Christians to have. Do we love in the manner Paul talked about? For example:

1. 12:9a - is not hypocritical.

a. some verbally praise & admonish individuals while at the same time on the inside they are churning w/indignation toward the person.

b. Person not expressing true love!

c. Love we to show is an outward expression of what lies deep inside!

d. It is a sense of honesty that is tempered w/humility, grace, & tact.

2. 12:9b - a type of love that is discriminatory.

a. not talking about playing favorites, bigotry, prejudice. Read v. 9 again.

b. True love involves abhorring that which is evil & stands against it at every turn.

c. True love bands itself to good & supports the virtuous in every way.

B. notice as you go throughout 12:9-13 that Christians are exhorted to put beliefs about true love to work! Each illustration in v. 10-13 is in the form of a directive. Notice:

1. 10a - devotion.

a. phrase kindly affectionate means full of tenderness in Greek.

b. Brings out idea of true affection between one another. Usually this term used to describe love in natural family, i.e., parents/children.

c. Notice Paul ties Bro. Love in the context! The lesson!

d. We are to express in our spiritual family the same loving qualities shared in our physical family.

2. 10b - unselfishness - give preference to one another.

a. love as we should? Will esteem others better than ourselves. Readily give them honor deserve!

1. Phil. 2:3-4

2. 1 Thess. 5:12-13

b. are we demonstrating selfishness? If so-change!

3. 11 - enthusiasm

a. involves a fervent spirit as the Lord is being served.

b. Not to be lazy, indifferent in our service.

c. Should engage in love w/enthusiasm and delight!

4. 12a - hopefulness

a. love should manifest itself as we rejoice in "hope."

1. sometimes limit horizons to:

a. visible & temporal. No hope in them!

b. Past & present - no hope there!

2. remember: our hope lies in God! 1 Jhn. 3:1-3

b. what a great reason to hope! God wants us to do all that we can to put off the old man to change into a way that is like Christ!

5. 12b - consistency

a. real love displays the ability to persevere in midst of adversity & trial.

b. Some at times difficult to get along with! True love has dedication and staying power to keep bldg. Bridges & tearing down walls.

6. 12c - prayerfulness

a. believers truly devoted to God have regular prayer life!

1. while praying mention needs of family, friends, & even enemies in petitions of prayer.

a. Stephan - Acts 7:60 - prayed even for those who stoned him.

2. Paul a good example of prayer.

b. Mt. 7:12 - good example of golden rule.

7. 13 - generosity

a. those who truly love express their care helping various brethren w/their needs.

1. Christians responsible to help meet any needs their brethren might have.

2. Might need assistance in spiritual, psychological, physical, or even financial matters.

b. fail to help in these areas: demonstrate lack of love - 1 Jhn. 3:17-18

8. 13b - hospitality

a. been called to express our love by practicing hospitality.

1. Include show affection to strangers. Just b/c we don't know certain people well, or do not consider them among our friends doesn't give us the right to ignore them!

2. Remember Lk. 10 - parable of good Samaritan. Need to invite others/not just strangers but fellow brethren as well - into our lives & express to them some kindness & love!

IV. Why true love is not exemplified by some.

A. Wouldn't it be great if the love mentioned by Paul in Rom. 9:9-13 was exhibited more abundantly & consistently among us!

1. not God's fault. We have all resources we need to exhibit every characteristic just mentioned.

2. The fault lies w/us. Individual basis. We often keep love from flowing as it should!

3. Why? Must recognize why it doesn't & seek to eliminate such reasons from our lives.

B. Fear.

1. fearful of being rejected, misunderstood, or ignored.

a. result: keep distance b/t our selves & others.

b. Remember beginning of sermon.

2. can be overcome by realizing our acceptance & value in the estimation of Christ!

3. No matter what - as long as I do what God expects - He will love, appreciate me - even if no one else does!

C. We become too passive.

1. many not motivated to demonstrate love!

2. Feel that love just a feeling or emotion.

3. 1 Jhn. 3:16-18 - must act upon our love. Must demonstrate it!

4. Perhaps some wait on others to love them! What if Christ did this?

D. We become preoccupied.

1. don't like to be bothered or interrupted.

a. important things going on in our lives. We don't want to have to take time to stay & deal with someone else.

b. Such is the way of the world.

2. interject: love is a bother & interruption.

a. look at the cross!

b. Been said some of loves greatest opportunities come at the most inconvenient times.

3. must be ready as God's ministers of love!

V. Conclusion

A. quote by Leonard Turner:

1. love costs nothing but creates much.

2. It enriches those who receive, but w/o impoverishing those who give.

3. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

4. None are so rich that they can get along w/o it and none are so poor but the richer for a smile.

5. Love creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business and is the countersign of friends.

6. It is rest to the weary, uplifting to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and nature's best antidote for trouble.

7. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen; for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody until it's given away!

8. The hand of God is always outstretched to us in love.

B. How is your love for God?

1. turn your life over so that you can begin to exhibit true love toward others.

2. Do you love God more than yourself & the world?

C. Are you demonstrating true love?

D. Have you let one of the 3 things mentioned stop your love from flowing?

E. All questions men have to ask themselves.

F. I N V I T A T I O N



Exhibiting True Love 1998040 I. Introduction. A. Text = Rom. 12:9-21 - Paul talks about behaving like a Christian. 1. text… 2. as one goes throughout the text one will notice that love plays a central role in the life of a Christian. 3. 1 Cor. 13:13 demonstrates the superiority of love. B. We all should have no problem understanding the context of the Bible verses we just read. 1. each one of us probably on daily basis has opportunity to demonstrate love in one form or another. 2. We may demonstrate love toward family, friends, or even those outside of our normal sphere of influence. C. This is an opportunity for me to thank brethren at Southside for love, care, concern demonstrated toward me & my family. Honor to be associated w/you. 1. it is my prayer that the bond between brethren here will grow strong & as we grow in Christ our love will grow stronger. 2. However, let us all examine ourselves & make sure that we are doing our best in this area. D. In middle of Rom. 12, Paul writes about how one can demonstrate what is known as true/real love. 1. with some love just a fabrication. It only goes so far.. a. I love you but…I have/hold this against you. b. I love you but…I want to talk about your faults w/my friend. c. I love you but…if you make me mad…I don't. 2. central fact found in Rom. 12:9-16 is that genuine love is sacrificial involvement in lives of others. 3. Any claim of love that is characterized by indifference & un-involvement is not a true but a false love. E. Love is not something that we catch - like a cold…but is something that we CAN and MUST learn in order to be pleasing to God. F. Lesson will seek to examine 3 points. 1. where does true love begin? 2. How is true love exemplified? 3. Why true love is not exemplified by some. G. 2^nd part - tonight's lesson - will take a hard look at what the Bible says concerning why we need to exhibit brotherly love. II. Where does True Love Begin? A. Love cannot flourish among brethren until a solid relationship with God has been established! Involves a personal responsibility on our part! Must dedicate our lives to Him! 1. Rom. 12:1-2 - must put ourselves totally at the disposal of God. Do this? Love can come forth from our lives. a. Mankind from beginning been encouraged to hand life over to God. b. Deut. 28:9; 30:10 - Israel of old.. c. Rom. 6:3-13 - people living today! 2. Must transform lives from living for ourselves to living for God. As we do this, our attitude, feelings, actions will change for the better. a. How? More study, service, learning, and growing will cause our mindset to move in alignment w/that of God! Perhaps we have seen this in ourselves & in the lives of others. b. As we grow we begin to understand why God loves us as he does & why we need to exhibit true love toward others… 3. It has been said…to love at all is to be vulnerable… Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung & possibly broken. I concur w/this statement. a. perhaps why brethren refuse to open up & be loved & why they themselves do not love as they should. Why many relationships aren't the way they should be. b. C.S. Lewis has said…"The only place outside heaven where one can be safe from all of the dangers of love….is hell!" c. Must open our hearts up to God! We put our souls in His hands! Loving one another begins by loving God! 4. Mt. 23 - Pharisees didn't. condemned of by God. 5. Contrasted by numerous examples where people opened their hearts to God: a. Acts 16:14 - Lydia receptive to gospel - baptized. Wanted to do whatever necessary to obey God! Wish more had this attitude! b. 2 Cor. 4:6 - early disciples. c. Heb. 3:8; 4:7 - warning to those who refuse to turn their hearts over to God. d. 2 Thess. 1:7-9 - those who refuse to open hearts will lose their soul. 6. must look to the Lord & turn the focus off ourselves & the world. B. Within ourselves. 1. Rom. 12:3 a. as we work at the transformation process we learn to evaluate ourselves in the proper manner. b. Need to learn that we one of the purposes of our lives is to use the gifts God has given us to contribute to lives of others. 2. it has been said…people are illogical; unreasonable; self centered. Love them anyway. a. it has been said…if you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. b. It has been said…honesty & frankness make one vulnerable. Be honest & frank anyway. c. It has been said…what you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. d. It has been said…give your best and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give your best anyway… 3. Those who deserve love the least need it the most! III. How is True Love Exemplified? A. Rom. 12:9 gives us two major characteristics of the kind of love that God expects Christians to have. Do we love in the manner Paul talked about? For example: 1. 12:9a - is not hypocritical. a. some verbally praise & admonish individuals while at the same time on the inside they are churning w/indignation toward the person. b. Person not expressing true love! c. Love we to show is an outward expression of what lies deep inside! d. It is a sense of honesty that is tempered w/humility, grace, & tact. 2. 12:9b - a type of love that is discriminatory. a. not talking about playing favorites, bigotry, prejudice. Read v. 9 again. b. True love involves abhorring that which is evil & stands against it at every turn. c. True love bands itself to good & supports the virtuous in every way. B. notice as you go throughout 12:9-13 that Christians are exhorted to put beliefs about true love to work! Each illustration in v. 10-13 is in the form of a directive. Notice: 1. 10a - devotion. a. phrase kindly affectionate means full of tenderness in Greek. b. Brings out idea of true affection between one another. Usually this term used to describe love in natural family, i.e., parents/children. c. Notice Paul ties Bro. Love in the context! The lesson! d. We are to express in our spiritual family the same loving qualities shared in our physical family. 2. 10b - unselfishness - give preference to one another. a. love as we should? Will esteem others better than ourselves. Readily give them honor deserve! 1. Phil. 2:3-4 2. 1 Thess. 5:12-13 b. are we demonstrating selfishness? If so-change! 3. 11 - enthusiasm a. involves a fervent spirit as the Lord is being served. b. Not to be lazy, indifferent in our service. c. Should engage in love w/enthusiasm and delight! 4. 12a - hopefulness a. love should manifest itself as we rejoice in "hope." 1. sometimes limit horizons to: a. visible & temporal. No hope in them! b. Past & present - no hope there! 2. remember: our hope lies in God! 1 Jhn. 3:1-3 b. what a great reason to hope! God wants us to do all that we can to put off the old man to change into a way that is like Christ! 5. 12b - consistency a. real love displays the ability to persevere in midst of adversity & trial. b. Some at times difficult to get along with! True love has dedication and staying power to keep bldg. Bridges & tearing down walls. 6. 12c - prayerfulness a. believers truly devoted to God have regular prayer life! 1. while praying mention needs of family, friends, & even enemies in petitions of prayer. a. Stephan - Acts 7:60 - prayed even for those who stoned him. 2. Paul a good example of prayer. b. Mt. 7:12 - good example of golden rule. 7. 13 - generosity a. those who truly love express their care helping various brethren w/their needs. 1. Christians responsible to help meet any needs their brethren might have. 2. Might need assistance in spiritual, psychological, physical, or even financial matters. b. fail to help in these areas: demonstrate lack of love - 1 Jhn. 3:17-18 8. 13b - hospitality a. been called to express our love by practicing hospitality. 1. Include show affection to strangers. Just b/c we don't know certain people well, or do not consider them among our friends doesn't give us the right to ignore them! 2. Remember Lk. 10 - parable of good Samaritan. Need to invite others/not just strangers but fellow brethren as well - into our lives & express to them some kindness & love! IV. Why true love is not exemplified by some. A. Wouldn't it be great if the love mentioned by Paul in Rom. 9:9-13 was exhibited more abundantly & consistently among us! 1. not God's fault. We have all resources we need to exhibit every characteristic just mentioned. 2. The fault lies w/us. Individual basis. We often keep love from flowing as it should! 3. Why? Must recognize why it doesn't & seek to eliminate such reasons from our lives. B. Fear. 1. fearful of being rejected, misunderstood, or ignored. a. result: keep distance b/t our selves & others. b. Remember beginning of sermon. 2. can be overcome by realizing our acceptance & value in the estimation of Christ! 3. No matter what - as long as I do what God expects - He will love, appreciate me - even if no one else does! C. We become too passive. 1. many not motivated to demonstrate love! 2. Feel that love just a feeling or emotion. 3. 1 Jhn. 3:16-18 - must act upon our love. Must demonstrate it! 4. Perhaps some wait on others to love them! What if Christ did this? D. We become preoccupied. 1. don't like to be bothered or interrupted. a. important things going on in our lives. We don't want to have to take time to stay & deal with someone else. b. Such is the way of the world. 2. interject: love is a bother & interruption. a. look at the cross! b. Been said some of loves greatest opportunities come at the most inconvenient times. 3. must be ready as God's ministers of love! V. Conclusion A. quote by Leonard Turner: 1. love costs nothing but creates much. 2. It enriches those who receive, but w/o impoverishing those who give. 3. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. 4. None are so rich that they can get along w/o it and none are so poor but the richer for a smile. 5. Love creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business and is the countersign of friends. 6. It is rest to the weary, uplifting to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and nature's best antidote for trouble. 7. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen; for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody until it's given away! 8. The hand of God is always outstretched to us in love. B. How is your love for God? 1. turn your life over so that you can begin to exhibit true love toward others. 2. Do you love God more than yourself & the world? C. Are you demonstrating true love? D. Have you let one of the 3 things mentioned stop your love from flowing? E. All questions men have to ask themselves. F. I N V I T A T I O N