LOVE AS A LIFE GIVER

A.               AIMS OF LOVE

Love is the language of life. Love is a life generator...Ephe.5:23-25; Jn.3:16

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God is a giver of life, and God is love....Job 33:4; 1Jn.4:8

Job 33:4  The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

1Jn 4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Life is a gift from God, love is the instrument to perpetuate it.

·            Loving one another is creating an atmosphere to generate life.

·          Love has a language. When u speak it, it diffuse tension, create room for highly productive life, make way for cordiality and mutual respect

·           It is not love until it betters the lot of the object of love.

·      Until we have the correct definition of love, we will continually misuse and misapply it in relationships.

·            Love never fails. Anything that fails has no love content. Love considers its partner before itself.

The author of love defined the true meaning and application of love...1Cor.13:1

1Co 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

·           Love does not see the partner as a tool to achieve a goal but as a companion to attain fullness of life.

·            God places the solitary in families. Ps.68:6

Psa 68:6  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

The essence of being in a family is to be in an enclave of love.

B.               WHY IS LOVE IMPORTANT IN HOMES AND CHURCHES???

·            The home is the foundation of the church.  Whatever runs in homes run in church.

·            So if love is required to sustain true life at home; the church will reflect real life.

·           The home is the place for nurturing peace, healing, no revenge, no grudges, and enhancement of life....Same goes for our churches. (Rom. 13: 8,Math. 22: 36 – 40, Jhn. 13:34 - 35)

Rom 13:8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Mat 22:36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. th.22:36-40

Jn.13:34-35...as I have loved you, you should love one another.

Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1)        it's a sign to unbelievers..Jn.13:35

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

2)        it's a proof of real faith...Jn.17:21

Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

C. ENEMIES OF LOVE

1) The number one enemy of love is Carnality. (2 Cor. 10: 3 – 4)

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

·        Carnality is expressed via selfishness, self-centeredness, self-seeking, self-gratification, all these are vices known with the devil. Those who engage in it are satan's agents in homes and churches. E.g. stealing someone's property is selfishness. The one you are stealing from is not the reason you don't have your own. Why must you afflict others with pain so you can make a gain.

2) Offenses..Math.18:7

Mat 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

·          Offenses must come. They are a part of life due to the imperfections in man.

·          The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is how you use them

·        Offenses most times occur when motives and intentions are misread or misinterpreted. No man can speak beyond his understanding..eg Peter n Jesus.

3) Rumours, hearsay, backbiting, fault finding, contentions for position etc.. Acts.13:2; 15:39.. Paul and Barnabas.

Act 13:2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Act 15:39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

·        Love does not wait for the other to be right before he is loved, but love corrects the wrong in the other by expressing itself.

·       Love is not about how you feel, it's a deliberate choice. It's a decision to care and treat someone right inspite of how you feel.

·         It's unconditional, transparent,

·         Until you can love the unlovable, you have not started loving. (Rom. 5:8)

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

D.              SUMMARY.

Develop love intimacy with God. The more you love God the more you have capacity to love your spouse and others. – John 15: 9

Joh 15:9  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

God bless you...