REFRESH �
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Nothing will refresh you more than growing in your understanding of God’s love by studying his word
Ps 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect,� to the soul.�
Study his word and grasp his love...that is one way to refresh your soul. Unfortunately, our idea of love is drawn from romanticism of our secular culture in music, movies, art and literature, for example the phrase, “Love means never having to say you are sorry”....
refreshing
For example, the word “love” is used in so many ways. Love between two people, for example:
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Various components of God’s love:
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Love in English language has been stripped of the depth of its meaning especially when it comes to this kind of deep, loyal type of relationship.
There is a word in Hebrew that does encapsulates the meaning that the faithful party has for the other.
A love that is driven by loyalty, and steadfastness and the sense of stickability, not based just on feelings.
In the Hebrew culture that word is called “chesed”.
I am not a Hebrew scholar but studied this out.
It is used over 243 times in the bible.
There is no one equivalent word in English for this but there is one word that comes close to it... “troth” and later on it became “betrothed”.
(S)�It has in the meaning of loyalty. This kind of love is more and more rare and perhaps this is why this word is also rarely used.
�The closest we get to understanding this in our culture is when we hear wedding vows to this effect:
“I [bride/groom] take you, [bride/groom] to be by [wife/husband], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law, and this is my solemn vow.”
E.g. Mike Meyers
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Psalms 89:2
Your love, God, is my song, and I’ll sing it!� I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are.�I’ll never quit telling the story of your love—� how you built the cosmos� and guaranteed everything in it.�Your love (chesed) has always been our lives’ foundation,� your fidelity has been the roof over our world (The Message).
I will declare that your love (chesed) stands firm forever,� that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself .
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Psalms 63:3
So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,� drinking in your strength and glory.�In your generous love (chesed) I am really living at last!� My lips brim praises like fountains.�I bless you every time I take a breath;� My arms wave like banners of praise to you (The Message).
I have seen you in the sanctuary� and beheld your power and your glory.�3 Because your love (chesed) is better than life,� my lips will glorify you.�4 I will praise you as long as I live,� and in your name I will lift up my hands.
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1. “Chesed” – A Love That Would Not Let Go
Hosea appeared about 10 years after Amos preached in Bethel. It was the last message to the 10 tribes of Israel before they fell.
It was affection rather than accusation.
Wooing rather than warning.
Tender rather than tough.
What happened to our marriage?
Most painful experience – love someone who does not return it.
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God showed this visibly when he told Hosea to go and marry a prostitute and then she bore him three children. God told Hosea to call them these names:
God wanted Hosea to experience what God experienced. That helped in Hosea’s preaching...
God did that to Jeremiah – not to marry but to be single; Ezekiel – don’t weep.
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Then God changed his mind, and in Hosea 2:14
14 “Therefore I am now going to allure her;� I will lead her into the wilderness� and speak tenderly to her.”�
(S)�Again in Hosea 2:19-20, it says:
19 I will betroth you to me forever;� I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,� in love and compassion.�20 I will betroth you in faithfulness,� and you will acknowledge the Lord.
God changed because of His “chesed” nature
(S)�Hosea 4
Bill of Divorce – Hosea 4
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Hosea 11
Changed his mind again...
“How can I give you up, Ephraim?� How can I hand you over, Israel?�How can I treat you like Admah?� How can I make you like Zeboyim?�My heart is changed within me;� all my compassion is aroused.
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2. “Chesed” for Each Other
Ruth demonstrated this chesed type of love to Naomi – When Naomi had nothing to give back to Ruth, cant provide, lost her own husband and her two adult sons. She was left with her two daughters in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Then in Ruth 1:16�
“16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
Ruth demonstrated chesed to Naomi...
(S)�In Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
God’s generosity is very inclusive and not exclusive.
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(S)�You have heard “Oral tradition...” not : It was written” – comply with the norm of the day.
What have you heard recently that is also the norm:
“Church is just about God and me”.
“If you want people in your life, you have to ask for it”.
“If people don’t respond then leave them”
“If people are difficult, then leave them be; we just carry on”
“If you have problems then go for therapy”
Each other’s marriages?
Each other’s kids/adult children?
(S)�This description is given because this is how the Father also deals with mankind as He sends rain and sun to the righteous and unrighteous with no strings attached. When we love like this we reflect God’s love, especially to those who hurt us. We are the most like Him when we demonstrate Chesed type of love. The more we understand God’s love the more we will be able to love others with chesed type of love.
“Perfect” - If we show chesed to each other we will have God’s integrity...
We will be called “sons” of God...
(S)�Chesed includes and when we are like this we become His children.
Matthew 5:48 says when we love others in the midst of persecution and hurts inflicted by them then we are “sons/children of the Father in heaven”.
Personality disorders
BPD – Intense neglect, abuse, trauma
NPD - conditional love
Limited Reparenting = Intense Reparenting
How did early disciples change? Experience of love from one another...
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“Devoted” to each other, Acts 2:42 – verb used is describe disciples
Don’t be afraid of one another relationship don’t be standofish especially with prickly people.
Effects of Covid-19 our love for one another has eroded
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3. Apply Chesed to the Unchurched
Map of Thames Valley with churches...
What will happen if we all did so locally with our neighbours?
Travel time is huge. Do things locally.
Speak to them about the word of God, not just demonstrate kind deeds.
E.g. Sebastian and Jeanette...since 2007.
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Small church Plantings in Malaysia
Seremban – 2008
Kuching - 2009
Melaka – 2016