THE LIBERTY OF LOVE

12-20-09

PASTOR LES SANDERS

MILFORD ASSEMBLY OF GOD

I.ISN’T LOVE HARD WORK?

A.AREN’T YOU TIRED OF TRYING TO MEASURE UP?

1.TRYING TO MEET EVERYONE ELSE’S NEEDS?

2.TRYING TO PROVE YOUR LOVE AND CONCERN?

3.ALWAYS SERVING OTHERS BEFORE OURSELVES?

B.WE PUT SO MANY CONDITIONS ON LOVE,

1.I WILL LOVE YOU IF OR I AM LOVED IF.

a.YOU RESPOND ON MY TERMS.

b.YOU SEE THINGS AS I DO.

c.PROMISE NEVER TO GET FAT.

d.PROVIDE WHAT I WANT.

e.LEARN TO KISS BETTER.

f.SHOW ME MORE ATTENTION.

g.NONE OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH LOVE,

C.LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT GIVE YOU RECEIVE

1.THERE IS POWER IN KNOWING YOU ARE LOVED

2.SUICIDE VICTIMS FEEL THEY ARE NOT LOVED,

3.THE REASON THEY FEEL NOT LOVED IS THEY STOP LOVING.

4.WHEN THEY STOP LOVING THEY STOP BELIEVING ANYONE CAN OR DOES LOVE THEM.

D.NEVER WALKED INTO A SUICIDE SEAN WHERE NOBODY CARED!

II.THAT’S HOW IT IS WITH GOD’S FREE LOVE

A.WE MUST BELIEVE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE IT

JN 3:1616“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

B.I CAN LOVE MY WIFE

1.I CAN TELL HER I LOVE HER COMPLETELY

2.I CAN SHOW HE I LOVE HER MANY WAYS,

3.IF SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE IT

a.MY LOVE HAS LITTLE OR NO AFFECT.

b.IT IS NOT RECEIVED

c.MY LOVE IS STILL THERE BUT NOT REALIZED

III.GOD SHOW US HOW TO LOVE

A.THE JESUS OF CREATION STEPPED DOWN TO BRING SALVATION TO ALL MANKIND.

Phil 2:5-11 ( KJV ) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, ofthings in heaven, andthings in earth, andthings under the earth; Andthat every tongue should confess that Jesus Christis Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1.JESUS LOWERED HIMSELF FROM THE GLORY OF HEAVEN TO BECOME A MAN,

2.OF NO REPUTATION ONLY WHAT HE MADE,

3.A SERVANT,

4.A MAN,

5.TO SUFFER DEATH FOR EVERYONE!

6.THE DEATH OF THE CROSS

B.HE WAS OBEDIENT

1.TO WHOM?

C.LORD HELP US TO RECEIVE YOUR LOVE

Hebrews 2:3-9 ( NIV ) how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

1.TO LOVE IS TO KNOW YOU ARE LOVED!

D.WE SHOW WE BELIEVE IN OBEDIENCE!

John 14:15-24 ( KJV ) If ye love me, keep my commandments.And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.At that day ye shall know that Iam in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?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.He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

John 15:9-12 ( NIV ) “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.