LET LOVE LEAD
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LET LOVE LEAD
LET LOVE LEAD
We are all on this journey called, LIFE. In this journey we experience highs as well as lows.
Joy and sadness, love and hatred. grief and happiness, etc.
We are on a journey to one day be with our heavenly father.
There are two primal emotions and that primary leads us.
LOVE OR FEAR
We cannot feel both at the same time. The same way light removes darkness.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
The interesting thing here is that Paul is not speaking about the world or the un-believers or atheist.
He is speaking about the CHURCH!
There are going to be people who have the appearance of Godliness but they deny its power.
They keep learning, but never come to the knowledge of REAL truth.
The crazy thing is many of the things we read on this list we just kinda shrug our shoulders at it.
They seem like terrible sins.
Disobedient to parents (i have seen a lot of that working in children & youth ministry).
It seems like we are more shocked when a child actually obeys! lol
My wife was actually sharing with me that the government is actually giving more power to kids rather than teachers. How kids now can choose their own electives without the consent of their own parents.
electives such as:
1. LGBT
2. ETC.
I love my son to death, and there is no doubt that we express that, by always enjoying the time we have and trying to always take family trips, etc.
But don’t get confused,
Every night i grab oil and land my hands on his head and pray over him.
We even bought him a journaling bible already and my wife for the most part writes notes. That way once Elias is grown he can read them so that they can encourage him and he shall know the truth and the truth shall set him free!
Lovers self so much, that they will turn away from sound doctrine.
Having itching ears - accumimlate teachers to suit there own passion.
and turn away from listening to the church and wander off.
They will go and find a teacher that will tell what they want to hear.
Because they are a lover of pleasure - if they want to get divorced. They’ll find someone with a P.H.D that will tell its ok to divorce.
Sex outside of marriage - They’ll find someone to tell them it is ok.
You want to abort your child, marry someone of the same sex and stop preaching about hell.
What do you want to believe what are your pleasures, you’ll find someone to teach whatever you want to hear.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
“FROM CHILDHOOD”
Fathers - keep on preaching
Fathers - start to preach truth!
The doctrine has not changed the message is the same!
Lovers of self , lovers of money
Why do you love money? Because you love yourself. Why are you so abusive? Because you are not thinking about others, but rather than yourself.
This idea of self love is so normal And my God the greatest influence of it all, SOCIAL MEDIA.
All you see is adds of how you can love yourself more and more!
The root of this all is being lovers of self.
Sociologist - are saying this culture this generation is thee most narcissistic culture to ever exist.
We think is normal and acceptable for every single person in our country to create a page talking about themselves and wanting everyone to look at them.
Paul says people in the church are going to be lovers of self.
All of this can be driven by fear, fear of being accepted and loved by others. Fear is the driving factor!
FEAR
When we feel emotionally attacked, blamed, or criticized in some way, we experience fear, even if we are not consciously aware of it. Our ego is threatened. Our identity is threatened. Our narrative on our self is threatened. Conflict feels dangerous to the survival of the ego organism. As a result, we react from the place of fear, which means defending our ego or attacking back, attempting to disable the threat. Fear, as a primal emotion, can sweep over us like a tsunami and cause us to react without thinking or consulting our more evolved and loving self. Our reaction is often out of alignment with how we feel, in our heart, about this other person.
Fear is something we face every day that can steal our joy and peace if we let it overwhelm us. What do we do when faced with valid fears like the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, the future of our children, and sickness.
Fear causes
• Hurts and wounds from the past that haven’t fully healed
• Guilt and shame about the past
• Insecurities
• Low self-esteem
Because they are lovers of self .
Are you driven by fear?
OR
LOVE
Now i want to speak about love too through a man by the name, John.
My main text:
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
In the last supper ALL of the 12 Disciples were present (maybe cause there was food there) but at the final days of Jesus life (at the cross) only one Disciple was present.
John was the only Disciple present at the feet (the cross) of Jesus
Now the disciples did follow Jesus, and made history, but only one made it to the end to be with Jesus at the cross.
Everyone else did not end well, only John Ended well.
These were 12 guys who risked so much to follow Jesus but at the end when Jesus needed them the most, only one was there....
Now we see the story of the last supper...
Jesus said the them all,
“all of you are going to forsake me”
Can you imagine hearing that? All these years of following the master, then you hear him say
all of y'all are going to ditch me
So Peter is like the spokesperson of the group
telling Jesus,
"Are you serious, we're all Going to deny you?"
Then Peter says, well not me, Jesus no sir not me!
Peter says, if all are made to forsake you
I will NEVER forsake you
Then Jesus says, Peter this night you will deny me three times.
Peter couldn't believe it!
Later that night, Judas is identified And leaves
the scene.
Now I look at John at the foot of the cross...
Jesus actually addresses John from the cross
- 1 out of 12 disciples ( John) & the three Mary's were
at the foot of the cross.
- Question: why & how does this happen
- Now John was at fault too, because Jesus said
all will forsake me (and all did)
And they all forsook him, and fled.
After the dinner party they go to the garden party and Jesus was apprehended then all flee the
scene, including John.
Which sheds an interesting light on Johns situation.
John as well failed God but made a comeback going to the feet of Jesus (John 19)
There's something about John that enabled him to fail,
FORWARD
SOMETHING about John that has the ability to mess up, but he's where he needs to be for, at
the feet of Jesus.
So John is not perfect, as you can see...
I believe this dinner scene makes John unique &
different form everyone else.
As John says in his own book, he called himself " (5times) “the disciple whom Jesus loved"
This means that he is absolutely Convinced & persuaded that he was the one whom Jesus loved. That Jesus had a unique love for John, and he enjoys being a recipient of Jesus's love.
Let's go back to the scene...
John is next to Jesus, it's not odd for family to lean on each other's chest, it was the culture.
John is leaning on Jesus, Jesus told the twelve
that someone in the room is going to betray him
Now if I was John and after hearing these words I would have gotten up or changed my position, but we see John doesn't move an inch and is still
reclining on the chest of Jesus.
What is this?!?!!?!
I mean what is worse than being betrayed by someone you love & you thought who loved you?
John is just chilling.......
Peter was next to John...
So Peter is doing what you & I would do.
He's asks John to ask who it is!
Peter is probably like you and me, we're trying to find a solution to the problem or figure out the
problem.
Now we see TWO comparisons
Between JOHN’S illogical pOsture
PETER’S logical posture
seems like Peter is going to work it out
peters is like "we might be able to eliminate the betrayal just give me some time I KNOW A GUY" LOL (ex san Jose gang banger)
meanwhile “selfish” John has clearly forgotten
how much pain Jesus is in
because all he wants to do is lay around.
HOWEVER
Just a few hours later
Peter will be painfully absent.
John will be at the feet of Jesus
Now - We know where Peter was at during the cross, bible says he wept during that process, he
couldn't see past his failures...
Then we say it's almost as if is Peter is justified, right?
who does John think he is to be leaning on Jesus when he’s in pain?
Peter is the one fired up trying to find a
solution?
John should be like Peter trying to figure it out
but who ended well? Who was at the feet of Jesus?
ANSWER - JOHN
PETER = STONE
JOHN = THE LORD IS GRACIOUS
Now the 10 commandments was written on stone:
1. It was about doing
2. Law
3. Accomplishment
4. You better get up, and you better get Up & ad it
5. Get it done
6. And if you don't, you are unqualified and and not accepted.
It's the very thing that Jesus came to do for us, because we could not do it for ourselves.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Why because we are all imperfect people, yet that is EXACTLY WHAT WE STRIVE FOR!
The truth is we shall never reach perfection on our own, our own talent, ability.
Thank God that Jesus fulfilled all the commandments of the law
JOHN = THE LORD IS GRACIOUS
John, “the beloved”
John the loved
John seemed to hang his hat even in the most
painful moments on......
Jesus loves me and i am safe in his arms
That despite the situation that can cause fear and insecurity. John feels safe and at rest. Even though after the most horrific news they can possibly hear.
I
Peter seems to be defined by what he was DOING
what he's was sayings and his
accomplishments
John was defined by how much Jesus loved him
Though they both forsook Jesus in that garden,
Guess who had the courage to face Jesus before
he died?
JOHN
Peter was like I cannot face Jesus I don't deserve to stand by the cross (Reality who does?)
That's how Peter must have thought, he must have thought of earning And being deserving
and yet Jesus never moved and ministered that
way
Sometimes we are like Peter, We seem to live in fear and wanting to feel accepted therefore we feel like we have to:
Do more
Act a certain way
Look a certain
we have to hold a title
We have how athletes, and actors or popular people can in an instant be “exposed” and scared for life. With absolutely no second chances.
we seem to think that if we are not anything, then we are worthless or insignificant.
The posture of these two men and the dinner
party seem to tell the whole story to me.
Let me ask you a question
Which man seems to depicts you best?
Especially in tough times......
Examples...
If your really living out the way God calls us to live then people should see us crazy cause in tough times, but it is because we trust in God & love with him..
Love will lead you to the proper end
also love leads you to love others
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 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.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
Therefore when we confess we have a spiritual experience in the unsee realm.
Then it has to be measured in the seen.
How we treat the natural world illustrates what we are claiming that has happened in our personal lives.
So if i say i love God, but do not love people then i am lying.
“Perfect love cast out FEAR”
Perfect = complete, Love that is made complete.
Love that is made complete cast out fear
Then he continues the discussion about us loving people.
in other words i have to give away what i have recieved in order for it to be complete.
It is only that kind of love that casts out fear. Also because is the main focus os being self centered.
Perfect will no longer make it about you, but ABOUT OTHERS!
Its the experience that i had with God that has been translated in how i treat people.
Law, religion, ambitions, riches, these things will not lead to where you want to go or you'll end up where you want to be but not who you want to be.
I believe we all want to be like John, it is HARD!
You think it takes more courage to stand up & start pointing things moving in motion like Peter,
But
It takes way more courage to trust and put your faith in God!
When everyone says...
this is your moment
You better get up & do something
You better fix it
You better figure it out!
You better DO something!
This reminds me of Mary & Martha
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Martha was too busy doing!
While Mary was at the FEET OF JESUS
“She has chosen the good part”
We have to learn how to lean back and be at the feet of Jesus.
You may say, “i've never done that before”
You may say
“ i have to earn my stripes and prove myself, my commitment i have to do!
When all you have put your hope in is that God love for you is greater, is grace is sufficient.
And I'm just gonna keep trusting/lean on that..
When John was at the cross, he saw how great the love of the father was. He record what Jesus said at the cross. “FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO”
what kind of love is this? The very own people who are taking your life you ask for forgiveness on their end.
John also saw Jesus provision for those he cared for., his mother. Even till his death.
Can i tell that the fathers loves you today....
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
And he said, “Take your son, your only child, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains where I will tell you.”
This was a test for Isaac. we all know that the lord spared his life. However God the father gave his son (himself) all for love.
I cannot imagine the pain and anguish he must have felt. But he did for you he did it for me. ALL LOVE. BECAUSE THAT WHO GOD IS, LOVE.
Bible says
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
You might do it yourself you might patch it up
but where is this leading too?
Is it leading to where you desire???
Inconsistency? implusivness, not firm.
Because that was Peter!
CONLCUSION:
Then Peter and the other disciple went out and were going to the tomb. And the two were running together, and the other disciple ran ahead, faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first.
Love is always lead and outdo fear/the love.
that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
two phrases that stand out here.
“Just as you and i are one”
Jesus just does not want them to get along, but he wants them to be ONE.
Nitted together!
This oneness, that is what God
wants.
“that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me”
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
You and i are a piece of the temple of God.
We are being stacked up together to build up a temple.
Together we can build this temple so that the world may know!
That the father sent the son and how he loved his son, he loves us!
The driving force to revival is LOVE!
And when Solomon finished praying, then fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of Yahweh filled the house. And the priests were not able to go into the house of Yahweh, for the glory of Yahweh had filled the house.
That is what i want!
I want to see the glory of God!
in the N.T.
in the books of acts, yes the temple in O.T. but there was another temple in the upper room.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
There were in one accord and the presence of God fell!
fire came down and filled the temple!
When we become one, when we allow love to lead!
I know there is a part of us all that want to see revival happen as it did in the book of Acts
example of my cousin DANIEL
Acts 2:43–47 (KJV 1900)
and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Nothing can stop revival!
i know
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