Love Is An Action!

Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning,  9:30am Stream

1/30/22 (5th Sunday Message)

 

 

{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}

 

Today’s Title:

Love Is An Action!

 

John 14:15

15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.

 

If we love God, we will obey what he commands.

 

If you love…obey.

 

John 14:15 (MSG)

“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.”

 

If you love…show.

 

Our Love For God Is Not Measured In Our Words, But In Our Action!

 

We say we love God.

 

We tell others we love God.

 

But God says the things we do will determine if we love.

 

What type of things are we to do?

 

What God has said!

 

What he has commanded.

 

Well, what has God commanded?

 

John 15:17

17 This is my command: Love each other.

 

God has given us a command to show love to one another!

 

If our love for God is measured by doing what he commands.

 

We Show Our Love For God When We Show Love For Others!

 

You have to show it.

 

Luke 10:30-37

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 

 

Love And Acknowledgement Are Not The Same Thing!

 

Verse 31

31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

 

The Priest Saw And The Priest Passed

 

Verse 32

32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

 

The Levite Saw And The Levite Passed

 

This, being the “church” or “religious leaders” at the time…saw and passed.

 

How many people in need do we see and pass?

 

We are the church!

 

But we say we love!

 

Love Is Not What We Say, But What We Do!

 

These men probably would preach love…

 

But clearly they see the need…and pass right by it.

 

Verse 33

33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

 

(NIV) - Took Pity

(ESV) - Had Compassion

(NCV) - Felt Sorry

(MSG) - His Heart Went Out

 

He took pity, had compassion, felt sorry…his heart went out.

 

The Samaritan Saw, Had Compassion AND Took Action!

 

The Samaritan was an example of what God wanted us to do.

 

He wanted us to SEE those in need.

He wanted us to CARE for those in need.

 

But even further…

 

He wants us to TAKE ACTION for those in need.

 

God Wants Us To Take Care Of One Another!

 

He wants us to see, have a heart for, and take action!

 

1 John 3:17

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

 

We show our love by action.

 

God has called us to care.

 

God has called us to love.

 

Love Is An Action!

 

 

Hebrews 13:16

16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

 

Do good and share.

 

God is pleased with your sacrifice.

 

Here is something interesting about following God…

 

Another story.

 

Man named Elijah.

 

Went to King Ahab.

 

Tells him that unless HE says so…God will not bring rain or dew for the next few years.

 

We NEED water.

 

Droughts can cause problems.

 

But God took Elijah to a place where there was water.

 

He was given food by the ravens each day.

 

He stayed here for a time.

 

But no rain can cause problems.

 

1 Kings 17:7-2

7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’ ” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

 

This woman was ready to go home and prepare her final meal.

 

Yet…there was an opportunity to show love and take care of someone else.

 

Because of that…God multiplied their time.

 

And God extended her life.

 

If You Take Care Of Others, God Will Take Care Of You!

 

{Repeat:}

“If I Take Care Of Others, God Will Take Care Of Me!”

 

There are things we may need in life.

 

Things God wants to multiply in our own lives.

 

We may be wondering how we can care for others while we’re trying to take care of ourselves.

 

We may be wondering why WE have to do it when there are so many others who can do it for us.

 

But God gave us a command!

 

The command is to love!

 

To SHOW something!

 

To care for more than just us and what WE find important.

 

Philippians 2:4

4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

 

We should be concerned about others.

 

If we take care of others…God takes care of us.

 

But what happens if we are like the priest and levite…

 

We see…

 

and do nothing??

 

Proverbs 21:13

13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. 

 

If we ignore the things God tells us to do…

 

We’re on our own.

 

 

{recap:}

1. Jesus Says IF We Love God…We SHOW Love To    Others.

2. It Isn’t Enough To Just See Someone In Need, We    Are To Help Those In Need! 

3. If We Take Care Of Others, God Will Take Care Of    Us!

 

You may wonder how we can be in position to help others.

 

But we have been blessed.

 

Sometimes God Allows Us To Have Things Not For Our Benefit, But For The Benefit Of Others!

 

Even the widow who was about to eat her last…

 

Had enough to share…

 

And by sharing…

 

She gained more than she thought possible.

 

Galatians 6:9-10

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

 

Affirmation:

“Today I Will Be A Blessing To Someone Else.”