The Power to Love
The sermon emphasizes the importance of divine love in the Christian life and how it matures within believers through the Holy Spirit.
Theodore Epp emphasizes that love is not something we create but rather something we release, as instructed in 1 John 4:7-21. He explains that while natural love may falter, divine love, which God has bestowed upon us, empowers believers to love even the unlovable. This love, rooted in God's nature, grows within us through the Holy Spirit and matures as we walk closely with the Lord. As Christians allow God's love to flow through them, it becomes a testament to Christ's presence in their lives. Epp concludes with the reminder of God's everlasting love as expressed in Jeremiah 31:3.
Text
1 John 4:7-21
The apostle did not say, "Try to create and produce love." He said, "Let us love." In other words, we are to release that love.
Some may protest and say they cannot love certain people. That is true from the natural standpoint, but we are not dealing with natural love. It is divine love, the love with which God loved us when we were unlovable and our sins had separated us from Him.
God, as to His nature, is love. And this love is shared with the believer. It has been shed abroad in the heart of each one (see Rom. 5:5). This love of God will grow within us and flow through us in an unbroken stream if we will let it. The Christian life, which is the power of the Holy Spirit within, is a life of love.
This love of God matures the Christian. I have seen many of God's people grow older in the Lord and grow more Christlike as they walked with Him from day to day. They took more time to be with the Lord and had their hearts filled with Him. Through this, their love was perfected toward others. This mature love expressed through God's people demonstrates to others that Christ lives in us.
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" (Jer. 31:3).
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding Divine Love
- The Nature of God's Love
- The Role of the Holy Spirit
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II
- Maturing in Love
- The Process of Growth
- Walking with the Lord
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III
- Demonstrating Love to Others
- The Impact of Mature Love
- Christ's Presence in Us
Key Quotes
“The apostle did not say, 'Try to create and produce love.' He said, 'Let us love.'” — Theodore Epp
“God, as to His nature, is love.” — Theodore Epp
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Allow God's love to flow through you to those around you.
- Spend time with the Lord to deepen your understanding and experience of His love.
- Demonstrate Christ's love in practical ways to impact others positively.