"He First Loved Us"

FIREPROOF YOUR MARRIAGE

Sunday, February 1, 2009,10:30 a.m.

Pastor Jon Woodward

Today's Message:

He First Loved Us

(1 John 4:7—19)

Rule of Engagement:

Remember that the objective of this series is to strengthen and encourage your relationships. (Do not use any of the information against your spouse. Use the information to better yourself. You can only truly change yourself. See what God does if you work on yourself.)

Our Goal This Week:

To experience God's love personally, and to reflect God's love to others.

Truth for Today:

If we are going to truly love others, we must first know and experience the love of Jesus Christ ourselves! As followers of Jesus Christ in this world we are to be like Him. But how do we do that unless we ourselves are comforted and at peace with God and His love for us? When we experience the love of Christ personally, we are overwhelmed. We are then able to freely give that which we have freely received (free to us). We can't give what we don't have to give!

FIVE PRINCIPLES of RELATIONSHIPS

(Read 1 John 4:7—19 )

1. WHEN PEOPLE HAVE PROFOUND EXPERIENCES, THEY WANT TO SHARE THEM.

• Read 1 John 4:12

This is obvious. If you see a great hockey game you share it with others. If you take an awesome vacation, you share it with others. If you read a great book, you share it with others. Rarely do we hold it in when we experience something great and fantastic, or something awesome happens to us. We are worshipers who are meant to be WOWED! And when we are wowed we proclaim and declare and share it!

2. AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD'S LOVE IS A PROFOUND EXPERIENCE.

• Read 1 John 4:9—10
• Read John 3:16
• Read Romans 5:5

The word profound means "deep" or "not superficial" or "penetrating". In each of these passages, God's love does something profound for the believer. In one case it is said to give "life" and an "atoning sacrifice for our sins". In another case "laying down His life for ours.". And in the third case "hope that does not disappoint". Our receiving God's love is profound!

3 . THOSE WHO LIVE CLOSE TO GOD FIND THAT THEIR LOVE FOR OTHERS IS ALWAYS INCREASING.

• Read 1 John 3:16
• Read 1 John 4:16—17
• Read 1 Peter 4:8
• Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9

Everyone who loves has been born of God. The one who does not love does not know God. Why? Because God is love. The closer and better we know God through daily fellowship in His Word and prayer effects us. The Scripture says that we are being changed or transformed more and more and more and more into His likeness. And if He is love, then the more closely we commune with God, the more we love.

4. LOVE ELIMINATES FEAR.

• Read 1 John 4:16—18
• Read Romans 8:15
• Read Romans 8:31

Fear is the result of perceived or real negative consequences. No marriage can grow, or be "FIREPROOF" with fear. There is no fear in love, in fact love casts out or gets rid of fear. When we are loved by our spouse, we do not fear. And if we are becoming more like Christ as we become closer to Him, then are relationships are less fearful and more rewarding for us and others. Marriage must be based upon God's love, not ours. Our love wanes, fades, changes, is hot and cold. But God's love is constant and secure. When we love each other with this love our spouse should be forever knowing that they are constantly and securely loved!

5. WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.

• Read 1 John 4:19—21
  

We cannot give what we do not have! When we receive God's love we are then able to love. Without His love in our hearts, we cannot possible expect to truly love. There are many who say that they are "in love", but they are also "out of love" sometime later. Human love is blind. God's love is based upon seeing and loving still. When human love sees flaws, human love fails. When God chooses to love us, He loves us seeing and knowing all about us, and His love never fails. Jesus Christ proved that!

Be a Doer of God's Word, Not Only a Hearer: Application of truth is what changes hearts and changes lives. Don't be guilty of knowing the right thing to do and not doing it. Give all your effort this week to remember God's love to you in Jesus Christ and then in turn love Him and love your spouse and friends, co-workers, and friends like God!

LOVE DARE TO HUSBANDS: Every day this week, ask the Lord Jesus to show you one way to love your wife, then do it.

LOVE DARE TO WIVES: Every day this week, ask the Lord to show you one way to love your husband, and then do it.

LOVE DARE TO SINGLES: Make a list of 6 family members, friends, or co-workers and assign a day to each of them. Then, every day this week, ask the Lord to show you one way to love the person of the day, then do it.

Keep looking up!

Pastor Jon Woodward

Community Bible Church

404 S. Main St.

Northwood, ND 58267

701-587-5642 Office

701-740-4445 Cell

jwgracelife@gmail.com