HOW GOD’S LOVE AFFECTS YOU Acts 9:1-6  John 17:23-26

 

This may not be what you think…

·         In these days, much is said about the love of God that just isn’t so

·         There is more to this love than some may think.

 

I.                   GOD’S LOVE WILL  MAKE YOU REALIZE YOUR PRIVILEGES IN CHRIST

 

Notice: In John 17 we are given

 

A-Eternal Life—vs 2

 

B-The Father’s name—vs. 6, 26

 

C-The Father’s words—vs. 8, 14

 

D-His own joy and glory—vs. 13, 22

 

II.                IT WILL CAUSE YOU TO LISTEN TO GOD’S MAN

 

A-The widow woman in I Kings 17:13

 

B-If you love God, you will love His Word. When Saul said: “Lord, what will thou have me to do?,”  Jesus said for him to go into the city and it would be told him what to do. He listened to Annanias.

 

C-When the man of God brings a message, if it pricks your heart, you should take it to the Lord in prayer. NOT GROW BITTER AND ANGRY BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD HITS HOME. Too many run away from what God would have them to do instead of making peace with God.

 

III.             GOD’S LOVE WILL MAKE YOU STAND FOR THE TRUTH

 

A-The Hebrew Children in Daniel 3 would not bow to man’s wishes.

 

B-Paul began to preach Christ in our text, even though he was persecuted for it.

 

C-John was beheaded for his stand for the truth, He basically told the king it was not right for him to have his brother’s wife. Matt. 14:3-8

 

IV.              IT WILL CAUSE YOU TO LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WORLD WILL SPEAK EVIL OF YOU

 

A-If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him

     I John 2:15

B-The world hates you because their deeds are evil, and you do not run to the same excess of riot.  John 3:19-20

 

V.                 GOD’S LOVE WILL GIVE YOU A LOVING HEART OF FORGIVENESS

A-Bible men did not bear grudges.

            1-Stephen-- “ Father, lay not this sin to their charge.” Acts 7:60

            2-Jesus—“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they

               do” Luke 23:34

 

B-Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

            1-Bitterness—deep hated

            2-Wrath—violent rage

            3-Clamour-Loud continued noise

            4-Malice-Disposition to injure others

            5-Evil Speaking-Injurious

VI.              IT WILL GIVE YOU A BURDEN FOR LOST SOULS

 

A-Paul said: “I could wish myself accursed from God, for my brethren according to the flesh”—Romans 9:3

 

B-The love of Christ constraineth me—II Corinthians 5:14

 

VII.           IT WILL MAKE YOU LOVE GOD EVEN TO DEATH 

            A-Psalms 23 “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”

B-Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.