BACK TO THE GOD OF LOVE

 

Today I thought I would do something a little different. I have several bed sheet sermons made by a man named Guss Eoff. You guys know I love to use power point because I understand that most people learn better if they can hear and see what is being spoken about. Well, these ole time preachers understood this as well, which is why they would paint a bed sheet, which usually had some kind of image on it along with their points and their verses.

 

This morning I am going to preach from one of these bed sheets, but I am going to cheat a little bid because I am going to use the power point to display this sheet. I have no idea exactly what Gus said as he used this sheet you see on the screen, but I do a small idea because I also have a very brief outline of what he taught. These ole timers used to preach for 45 min to a hour our longer. Have no idea how long my sermon will be, but I am thinking it will be around the same length as usual.

 

Our lesson is titled Back to the God of love. We should all be aware that we are all in need of something that can solve the problems in our life and in our world. We are faced with all kinds of problems such as personal problems, political problems and worldly problems. It seems like there is always some new crisis to deal with. Morality is low and worldliness is growing by leaps and bounds. The church in general is not growing like it once did, there are fewer men who are willing to preach the gospel.

 

The answer to our problems and what can change things around for man to go back to the God of love. I am not talking about the gods than man makes up such as a the god of pleasure, the god of wealth, the god of popularity an so on. No one will find a solution to their problems  going after these man made gods, but we can find what we are looking for and find true happiness if we go back to God Almighty.

 

I. LOVE IS THE ONLY UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.

A. Love is understood by all. Though we cannot speak to another in his language, the language of love is understood.

 

B. Love is the most powerful thing in the world. Love is an emotion. Emotion is a part of the heart. The heart includes intellect, conscience, will, and emotion. Man cannot explain this part of the heart: love. Love cannot be explained, for God is love and we are not able to explain God. Love works when nothing else will. God works when nothing else will. Try it and see.

 

C. Love always comes back. You cannot give love with out it coming back to you. Even a dog, when his head is patted, will lick your hand.

 

II. LOVE DRIVES THE MAN.

A. Love caused God to give His Son. Why did God make such a sacrifice for a wicked man like me? He loved me! I cannot explain it, but I know it is true.

 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

 

1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

 

B. Love caused Jesus to die for us.

 

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

 

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 

 

 Jesus suffered the horrible death on the cross for sinners like us.

 

C. Love causes a man to die for his friends.

 

John 15:15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

 

This kind of love can change the world.

 

1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

 

D. Love causes a man to obey God.

 

John 14:15  " If you love Me, keep My commandments.

 

John 15:21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

 

1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

 

III. BACK TO THE GOD OF LOVE TO CONQUER.

Love will conquer. If you are tired of failing, and losing, and being on the bottom, I have the answer!

Love.

 

A. Conquer self. The biggest job is self.

 

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  16 For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world.  17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 

Trust God. Overcome fear. Do not worry.

 

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

1 John 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

 

B. We can conquer others. Lost souls can be won.

 

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 

C. We can conquer our enemies.

 

Matthew 5:44 "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,  45 "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.  46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

 

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

 

IV. BACK TO GOD FOR HAPPINESS AND HEAVEN.

 

A. God’s love brings the only true happiness in life. Love for things is temporal and soon fades. Houses, lands, wealth, pleasure, and popularity are soon gone, but God’s happiness keeps flowing.

 

B. Heaven is promised to God’s children.

 

Matthew 7:21 " Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

 

Matthew 25:34  "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

 

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

 

CONCL: There is no other solution for the problems in this life or source of eternal life than the love that comes from the God of love.