LIVING LOVE – IN MY HEART
Sept. 11, 2011
Sermon in a sentence: I will allow love, the fruit of the Spirit, to grow and flourish in me.
Scripture: 1 Cor. 13
Main Points: Ten years ago today, an incredible act of hatred and violence took place that shook the world and became a part of the vernacular as “9/11”. It puts the exclamation point on the need and purpose of this series of messages – we need to live in love, not hate.
This type of hateful act is not new. From the dawn of human history, we see that humanity usually resorts to violence to solve conflicts. Even when there is no conflict, the physically strong often take pleasure in abusing or killing the physically weak and disadvantaged (e.g. slavery, bullying).
Examples:
-Cain killed Abel
-Esau sought to kill Jacob
-Moses killed the Egyptian
-Saul chased David to kill him
-David had Uriah killed
-Jesus and all the apostles except John were killed
-Christians thrown to the lions in the Coliseum
-20,000 Christians killed under Diocletian (3rd century)
-John Huss burned at the stake by the Catholic Church in 1415. Crimes: believed all Christians are part of the church, not just clergy and priests should not extort money from the people for their services
-Under Elizabeth I, Jesuit missionaries were killed for not being a part of the Church of England
-Hitler killed 6 million Jews
Whether it is religious, political, ethnic or economic disparity, people exhibit hate and kill each other instead of engaging in rational discussion and debate.
In the past few months we have seen bloody uprisings in Egypt, Syria and Libya. In recent years we’ve had similar events in Israel, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ireland and the former Yugoslavia – death before discussion. Religious strife has been a prominentcause of many of these conflicts.
How have we fallen to such depths of intolerance, misunderstanding and hatred so that we kill one another? In a word, we just don’t love each other.
In the context of the church, Paul didn’t speak of Christians physically killing each other, but of the worthlessness of all our spiritual activities and displays of piety if they’re not motivated by love.
He lists some great gifts and sacrificial acts before stating they all mean absolutely nothing without love. The key phrase comes at the end of 13:2: If I can speak in tongues, understand all mysteries, possess all knowledge, have great faith, give generously to the poor, and surrender my body to be burned as a witness for Christ, without love, I AM NOTHING!! The total value of a life without love for others is ZERO.
No gift of the Spirit supersedes love.
No revelation supersedes love.
No sacrifice supersedes love.
No act of generosity supersedes love.
Not even martyrdom supersedes love.
The practical application of this message comes in this question: “Do I truly love my brother or sister in Christ in my heart?”
Start thinking of names. When I look at Bro. or Sis. So&So, what thoughts go through my mind? “Oh she’s such a wonderful woman!” Or, “You know, I just can’t stand that man!”
Our first and foremost need as a church is that we have true, heartfelt, uncompromising love for each other that allows us to interact without rancor. Similarity is not the issue. Agreement or disagreement is not the issue. Background, history, pedigree, education, wealth or position, are definitely NOT the issues.
Here’s the issue: When I see, think about or speak to my brother or sister in Christ, what is going through my mind? What am I feeling? Am I filled with sincere Christian love for them?
Am I allowing the word of God to condition my heart to love ALL of my Christian family, or do I feel justified in excluding some and speaking ill of others?
Do I honestly feel the urge to see my brother or sister saved, and help them to be saved, or am I willing to write them off and ignore them, saying “they should know better”.
What personal commitment do I truly feel toward my brother or sister that will cause me to do the right thing toward them? The hard thing? The loving thing?
What is the level of my love for the body of Christ in the secret places of my heart?
When last have I honestly and sincerely prayed for my brother or sister with a true heart of care, compassion and goodwill?
We are all different, which can lead to frustration and misunderstandings. This is totally normal, natural and necessary. We are not all the same. (We shouldn’t even desire that we all be the same!)
Do I love my brethren at all times, or is my love conditional upon compatibility, understanding and agreement?
The Love test:
-Who am I speaking to about your faults and our disagreements?
-How am I speaking about you? What emotions am I feeling: anger, sorrow, judgmental, a longing for peace, joy, resentment?
-Am I praying for you? “He loves me best who loves me in his prayers”[1]
Homework: Seek out a brother or sister in Christ this week and converse with them. (Maybe even your spouse or child if your love for them has been lacking.) Get them talking about themselves through asking questions. Listen to them and let them speak until they are done. Don’t be concerned about getting your own responses and/or ‘correction’ into the conversation. Invest the time in building a bridge, mending a relationship, showing genuine concern for who they are, as they are, where they are.
If necessary, confess your faults regarding your lack of love, acceptance, tolerance and willingness to try to understand them.
Conclude your conversation with prayer. You pray for them, in their hearing. Pray until you feel and know you’ve broken through the spiritual barrier the enemy has placed between you. Pray until you can feel love flowing from you to them.
“I can’t be closer to God than I am to the person I love the least.”(Rev. T. F. Tenney)
1
[1] J. C. Ryle, A Call To Prayer, Charles Nolan Publishers, Moscow, no publication date given, 32