8/28 What is My Response to God’s Love?

Hi Guys – here are the notes from this morning. As always, I enjoyed our time together.

We discussed the rains that recently fell here in our area. The earth needed the rain and we can be assured that it served its purpose. The same is true when we read God’s Word regardless of how we feel about our time reading and studying (Isaiah 55:10-11).

If God’s name is majestic, then how MAJESTIC is God Himself?

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the fore and the avenger. 3When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet. 7all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 NIV

Ø How majestic is your name in all the earth

Be joyful always, 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Example: flat tire on the side of the highway – give thanks in all circumstances.

Sowing Generously

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 NIV

What is your response to God’s love?

Greatest Commandment

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

Matthew 22:37-39 NIV

My response should be……..

Love

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails…………..

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

When I sense (the Spirit led man) that I’m being impatient I can ask God to be an imitator of Him by giving me “patience” in a situation. The same if I’m proud, rude, self-seeking, easily angered, or keeping record of wrongs.

We get the picture that of what love IS and what love DOES.

I love how God tells us what love does…………..it always protects. Do you? It trusts……….do you? It has hope……………do you?

Let’s face it – not many of us believe we are envious, proud, or self-seeking. For me, when I’m living a Spirit-filled life – it’s the Holy Spirit who teaches me and convicts me of my wrong heart. Those hidden area’s that are impossible for the natural man to see.

I’ll give you a practical example. Recently, I had a friend of mine call and I was pretty short on the phone and he gently probed to see what the problem was. That was even more irritating to me and my short response made that clear. He was patient and remained kind as we got off the phone. Almost immediately, I had a lengthy discussion with God about my actions. My attitude was revealed as I spoke. I repented and prayed for an opportunity to speak with him soon (couldn’t just call him right back). We talked a couple days later and I wept oh so hard as I acknowledged my sin and asked for his forgiveness. He comforted me and accepted my apology. He didn’t understand what the big deal was. My sin was against God (Psalm 119:11). My response to sin (or lack of response) is important. I’m so thankful for God’s Word.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

1. Teaching – the Scripture provides the complete body of divine truth necessary for life and Godliness

2. Rebuking – aka “reproof” Rebuke for wrong behavior or wrong belief. It exposes sin that can be delt with through

confession and repentance.

3. Correcting – Scripture not only rebukes wrong behavior, but also points the way back to Godly living.

4. Training in Righteousness – Scripture provides positive training (originally used in reference to training a child) in

Godly behavior, not merely rebuke and correction of wrong behavior (Acts 20:32; 1 Timothy 4:6; 1 Peter 2:1, 2).

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12

Let’s not miss this “love” command and apply it only to those who love us in return.

Love for Enemies

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Luke 6:32-36 NIV

The Value of Discipleship

“Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:16-17 NIV

Our Teacher

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him.

1 John 2:27 NIV

All children of God are given the “anointing” (i.e., the Holy Spirit) to help lead them into truth (John 14:26; 16:13). As we believers remain in Christ and submit to the Word of God, the Spirit helps us understand its redemptive truths and draw upon its life.

1. All believers may study and know God’s truth and learn from each other through mutual teaching and exhorting (Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 3:18; Colossians 3:16).
2. Thus, believers have three safeguards against doctrinal error – remaining in the Son and the Father according to Biblical revelation (v. 24), the truth or anointing of the Holy Spirit and the safety of remaining in the fellowship of a body of committed believers.
3. Believers do not need those who teach extra biblical doctrine. This is the meaning of John’s words, “you do not need anyone [else] to teach you.”

Who should I trust? What is the source for the decisions I make today?

Confidence in Christ

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions for my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I do not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

Galatians 1:13-17 NIV

Ø Paul knew he could never go back

Ø Paul knew nobody would believe him

Ø Paul didn’t consult other people

Add to Your Faith – Godliness

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 1:5-9 NIV

Add to Your Faith: 7 Qualities

1. Goodness
2. Knowledge
3. Self-Control
4. Perseverance
5. Godliness
6. Brotherly Kindness
7. Love