This is my very first sermon so if what I’m saying well writing is not as good as your preacher than I’m sorry lol but enjoy. I decided to write this sermon because this is something that I’m currently battling with and something that I believe a lot of believers are battling with. I pray that as you read these words you will receive God goodness. So enjoy.
Love and Faith
God defines love as: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1Corinthians 13:4-7).
God defines faith as: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
I believe that love and faith is the foundation of a strong relationship with God. We’ve all learned about faith I’m sure, we all know that trials and tribulations built faith, but love. There are 4 types of love
Eros: Greek word for sensual love
Storge: Refers to the kind of love that occurs naturally between family members, which is a good gift from God.
Phileo - Love is a love of the affections. (God never commands phileo since this type of love is based on the feelings.)
Agape: This is God's kind of love. It is seeking the welfare and betterment of another regardless of how we feel.
The love we want is Agape.
It’s hard for a lot of people to love because I’m sure that when we loved or been patient with someone, kind to someone, forgave someone and did for other it resulted in us getting hurt. Just take a minute and ask yourself, “Was I loving with faith or feelings”? Was it Phileo Love or Agape Love? When we love with faith our attitude should be; no matter what the outcome is going to be I’m going to be kind to this person, patient, I’m not going to be envy, boast or be self-seeking, I’m going to give my all because I know that God is right beside me and he sees me being an image of his dear son Jesus. When we love like that, we’re not afraid of hurt, we don’t let the negative outcomes of love affect us because we know that we are doing God’s work, we know that God will repay us, we know that God has our back. God is our father so just like any father, he doesn’t like when anyone hurts his children, he wants to go and may sure they pay for it and he will (not in the way we wants him to lol). Just remember the wicked will NEVER and I mean NEVER outdo God’s children. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. (Psalms 37: 25-26). In order to have an attitude like that we need faith. So you see faith and love go hand in hand. Faith and love is the foundation for a wonderful relationship with Christ. When we have faith, we have strength because when trouble comes we can fight it off because we know that God is in control and so when we know that we can be kind, patient, and not self-seeking. Sounds simple right? Well the part that I find the hardest is the love part. Let’s break love down
LOVE IS:
Patient: Calm self-restraint from punishing others either physically or emotionally for a wrong suffered or for mistakes made. Always forgiving
Kind: Goodness of heart expressed in actions for another’s benefit.
Never Jealous or Envious: Not being resentfully desirous of another’s advantages, possessions or gifts. Not desirous of another’s good that it cannot have.
Never Boastful or Arrogant: Never seeks to exalt self or is puffed up with pride and self-importance.
Never Acts Unbecomingly: Never acts contrary to behavior appropriate to a Christian’s position as a child of God, For example, always acts with modesty, grace, humility and patience.
Seeks Not Its Own: Does not insist on having its own way or rights. Looks out for the interest of others.
Never Takes Into Account a Wrong Suffered: Bears a wrong without holding it against the one who has committed it. Never holds grudges; maintains a forgiving spirit; keeps no records of wrongs.
Never Rejoices in Unrighteousness: Views sin as God does. Is never glad over someone else’s mistakes or sins.
Rejoices With The Truth: Rejoices in all that is found in Christ and His word and in others becoming Christ-like and being used of God.
Bears All Things: Endures any hardship for another’s good. Carries another’s burdens.
Believes All Things: Thinks the best of other people for Christ’s sake. Gives others the benefit of the doubt.
Hopes All Things: Holds fast to God’s promises. Hopes the best for others.
Endures All Things: Will last courageously through any trial for any span of time with patience and a thankful spirit for the sake of Christ and others.
Wow the love like God is hard huh? Your probably thinking what I am; How the heck am I going to be do all of this, be kind to the people I can’t stand and do it from my heart without regretting it. No worry God know that we are made up of flesh, he knows that at times our flesh pauses us (not stop) from doing what we should; he knows that at times our feeling start to kick in. He knows this because Jesus was once a man just like us. God understands but as long as you pray with faith and no doubt doing these things will become easier. God is love. As God’s children our goal is to represent him, so we should be love. God is love and his children are love. Faith & Love, Faith activates Love, Love activates Faith. Faith and Love are the foundation of a believer; it’s what builds a believer up. It’s what makes a believer a strong, powerful, faithful, and loving person. This is what makes our father in heaven smile
Sorry if this sermon wasn’t put together the correct way, again it was my first sermon, I got some of the information from other sources but I hope you enjoyed.
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