We Love Fiercely - Pastor Shawn Coley - 02/18/18
1 John 4:7-11
(This Is Us Series, Part Three)
This series talks about who we are as a church and who we are called to be. There is so much shifting at Destination Church. People say they like change but don’t. People want things to stay the same. It is important to understand why change is essential for our lives. This series explains why the changes were necessary. The church of today reaches other Christians and not necessarily the lost. Destination Church is going to break that trend to the best of our ability. The only way to shift is to plant other churches. New churches have the greatest opportunity to reach lost people.
God always multiplies after a subtraction. To multiply, there has to be a shift and a change. The vision of God, even when altered and grown, remains the same. This series will answer all the questions about the shifts and changes over the last year.
Destination Church has the Destination Way, which was four parts. The Lord has now added a fifth dimension to the Destination Way. Last week, we started about the spirit of excellence. Excellence falls under serving exceptionally. God is planning big things individually and for the church. God has a plan and purpose for your life. You are called to do great things. There are things on the inside of you, if you’re 8 or 88, that the world has not seen. You serve a big God of grace and mercy; if you take the limits off of Him, He’ll take the limits off of you.
Today, we will talk about a foundational principle for the Christian. The problem is that many are shady on their foundation work. If your foundation is not right,the change in weather will shake the foundation. If you do not have a strong foundation when your life has been shaken, it will fall down.
This morning, we’re adding to the Destination Way. Our identity as a church and the believer is wrapped up in love. If you go to a church and don’t experience the love of God, something is broken. There are churches that have love if you’re part of a certain group. If your church doesn’t speak to all languages, it’s not spirit filled.There’s only one God and He wants us to love all people. The God that you serve loves you right in the middle of your mess.
It’s easy to love God; loving each other becomes a problem. The cross doesn’t just go vertical; it goes horizontal as well. God designed mankind to be built for connection. We are better together than apart. Hell is not scared and heaven is not impressed when we operate outside of the spirit of God, outside of love.
Three major issues of love will be discussed: what love is, where you are looking for it, and the church’s responsibility. In life, everyone wants to live in fulfillment. You serve a God who wants to do great things; you walk in frustration by not knowing how love plays a part. John 13:35 - you have to love one another. Everything God does, the enemy tries to counterfeit. Just because something appears to be spiritual does not necessarily mean it’s legit.
Jesus said that love for one another shows how you are legitimate with Him. Having a relationship with God helps you operate in and receive love. We’ve been taught to expect judgment and not God’s love. The pendulum in our culture has swung the other way that makes people feel they can live any way they want under “grace”. People tell you what you want to hear because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. If you are really messed up, you need the balance of the grace and justice of God. You shouldn’t feel good about yourself every time you go to church. There should be conviction that makes you uncomfortable. You are saved by grace; it’s because of Him and not yourself. There’s nothing you can do to make you greater in the eyes of God. You are to be holy as He is holy; this does not mean you have to be perfect. Righteousness is what He does; holiness is a life process. God is not into behavior modification. He’s in to a life change.
God said that love has to be the foundation (1 Corinthians 13).You can’t blame everyone else for why you are not loving the right way. Great giftings doesn’t impress God. Love does.
Where are you looking for God? Is it in the club, social media, etc. Are you looking for love in crazy places? No matter where you’re looking, the hunt is on. Are you even looking in the church? Are you looking without the Father as your guide? Without God being the foundation of your love experience, your love can get you in trouble. Has your mouth ever written checks for you that your heart can’t cash? Have you fallen in love with someone to the point that they are an idol in your life?
True love envelopes three things.You have to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Love Him with everything.
1. Your love has to be heavenly focused. God has to be first in your life. Your love has to be genuine and legitimate.
2. You have to have love for others. You have to love people that aren’t even saved without a motive. You don’t need another jewel in your crown. You should reach the lost. But if you can’t love for the sake of love, there’s a problem. Love doesn’t mean agreement. Love hurts and love is hard; but you must love others. You couldn’t be hurt if you don’t love. To love like God, you have to be willing to hurt like He was hurt.
3. You have to love yourself. What do you do when you can’t love yourself? How do you learn to love and forgive yourself? You can fake everyone out but you can’t fool God. It’s of the devil when you can’t stand yourself because of something someone else did to you.
Here at Destination Church, we don’t just love God, but we also love each other. Don’t hold other people to a different standard than you do yourself. Allow God to give you grace and mercy to love yourself. If you’ve had trouble loving God, others, and yourself, this message was for you. Allow grace to refresh your soul. God knows where you are at and He loves you. Healing of your heart, mind, and soul starts with loving fiercely.