UNLEASHED TO LOVE: THE POWER OF LOVE

Ps. Clement Adu Amoako

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SCRIPTURAL READING

1 Peter 4:7-11 “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

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INTRODUCTION

• The text “love covers over a multitude of sins,” Does not suggest that one Christian’s love atones for another Christian’s sins.
• Rather, Peter is reminding us that love does not stir up sins
• We can demonstrate our love for our fellow believers by truly forgiving them and not talking openly about their past sins

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LOVE

• Agape in Greek
• This is a great love 1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
• The word Agape was rarely used in Greek literature prior to the NT
• When it was used, it denoted showing kindness to strangers, giving hospitality, and being charitable

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LOVE

• In the NT, the word agape took on a special meaning by NT writers to designate a volitional love (doing something on one’s own will), as opposed to the purely emotional kind.
• The agape love, is a self-sacrificial love, a kind naturally expressed by God but so easily by men and women – why?

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THE CHRISTIAN LOVE IS LIKE A SEED

• Philippians 1:9, "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment."
• Apostle Paul's heartfelt prayer for the Philippians
• He expresses his desire for their love to grow continually
• includes a selfless, Christ-like love that seeks the best for others.

Romans 12:10, "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."

• Devoted suggests loyalty, faithful, commitment, true or steadfast
• This text espouses the importance of loving and honoring each other within the body of Christ – among believers.
• It encourages a spirit of mutual respect and affection, urging individuals to prioritize the well-being of others.

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GOD’S LOVE, OUR EXAMPLE TO IMITATE

John 3:16 “John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

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• Immense (immeasurable) for all people (humanity)
• It promises life beyond planet earth - eternal life
• This love is accepted through faith in Jesus Christ. Not feelings
• A message of hope and salvation
• This is the core of our belief - God's grace and love.

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JOHN 3:16

• Notice the word “whoever” in John 3:16. That includes:
• The outcasts society rejects
• The sinners religion condemns
• The broken who feel beyond repair
• The proud who think they don’t need saving
• The doubters struggling with faith

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GOD’S LOVE, OUR EXAMPLE TO IMITATE�

Romans 8:38, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

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• This love is the assurance that nothing can sever the bond between believers and God's love.
• Paul aims to instill confidence in readers regarding their security in God's love.

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AGAPE LOVE IN ACTION

• Jesus Washing the Disciples’ Feet (John 13:1-17)
• God Giving His Only Son (John 3:16)
• Jesus Dying on the Cross (Romans 5:8)
• The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
• Jesus Forgiving His Crucifiers (Luke 23:34)
• The Prodigal Son’s Father (Luke 15:11-32)
• Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17)
• David Sparing Saul’s Life (1 Samuel 24)
• Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-21)
• Stephen Forgiving His Stoners (Acts 7:59-60)

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HOW TO LOVE

• Luke 10:27, 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

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THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK

• Keeping God’s Word is the proof that we love – 1 John 2:5, 5:2-3
• When we love our brother/sister we will live without stumbling – 1 John 2:10
• We are not to love the world or the things in the world – 1 John 2:15
• We cannot love God and love the world also – 1 John 2:15
• God’s love prompted Him to make us His children through the death of His Son – 1 John 3:1; 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” the outward working of love, must be expressed through our actions

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THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK

• Loving other believers is the fundamental requirement of the Christian life – 1 Joh 3:11, here John identifies loving one another as basic to living for Christ and advancing Hid Kingdom
• A failure to love other Christians raises serious questions about the genuineness of our faith – 1 John 3:10, we see that love is imperative “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister”
• Genuine love always result in action – not merely sentimental words – 1 John 3:17-18 “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
• God is the source of all love – 1 John 4:7 & 16, love is considered as a fundamental aspect of knowing God, as love originates from Him. It encourages believers to express love towards one another since this reflects God's nature.
• Mature Love does not produce fear but rather imparts courage – 1 John 4:17-18
• Long before we loved God, He loved us first – 1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”

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THE STANDARD OF GOD’S LOVE (HIS LOVE AND OURS)

• Rom. 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• We weren’t cleaned up when Jesus died for us. We weren’t worthy, righteous, or even seeking God—yet He pursued us with relentless love.
• Think about the timing of Christ’s sacrifice:
• He died while we were His enemies
• He loved us when we didn’t love Him back
• He reached out when we were running away
• He paid our debt before we even knew we owed it

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TAKE HOME

• We must Love without condition: Here we see God's love and the sacrificial nature of Jesus Christ's death. Christ did not wait for humanity to become righteous or deserving of salvation before coming to earth as a sacrificial lamb; rather, He died for us while we were still in our sinful state. This kind of love set us free from guilt and condemnation
• To love is to forgive: Love is complete if a person cannot forgive. Once we forgive sacrifice becomes byproduct

“But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?'” (Luke 10:29, NKJV)

• Jesus answered that question by making our neighbor anyone who needs our help. Agape love doesn’t discriminate based on:
• Religious differences
• Cultural backgrounds
• Social status
• Past conflicts
• Personal prejudices

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