Summer Road Trip Part 2

SUMMER ROAD TRIP SERIES
PART 2

Galatians 5:19-25 (NIV)
‭‭The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Our lives as disciples should bear proof of and be defined by how we love God and how we love people!

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

LOVE IS NOT A SUGGESTION BUT IT IS A REQUIREMENT.

BOTH LINES BELOW ON A SINGLE SLIDE
YOU CANNOT LOVE GOD AND NOT LOVE PEOPLE.

YOU CANNOT LOVE PEOPLE AND NOT LOVE GOD.

John 13:34-35 (NIV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”'
Application Questions:
Where do you get your definition of Love from?
Who or what defines love for you?


GOD IS LOVE. THEREFORE WE MUST DEFINE LOVE THE WAY HE DOES.

APPLICATION QUESTION: HOW DOES GOD DEFINE LOVE?

GOD’S LOVE IS UNLIMITED

Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.’”


GOD’S LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL.

GOD’S LOVE IS UNCIRCUMSTANTIAL.

Romans 5:8 NKJV
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


GOD’S LOVE IS UNSELFISH.

John 15:11-13 (NIV)
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

I John 3:16 NKJV
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.


APPLICATION:
Is the fruit of love the kind of love that is UNLIMITED - UNCONDITIONAL - UNCIRCUMSTANTIAL - UNSELFISH?


IN ORDER TO LOVE LIKE JESUS WE NEED TO ABIDE IN JESUS!

John 15:5-12 NIV
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept 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.

APPLICATION:
WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYING TO YOU?
AM I ABIDING IN JESUS?
HOW CAN CAN I DEMONSTRATE THE LOVE OF GOD IN A WAY THAT IS UNLIMITED, UNCONDITIONAL, UNCIRCUMSTANTIAL AND UNSELFISH?