|
|
|
Discipling 12
Lesson 8
The Love Of God
Concept:
It would be impossible to do any kind of
discipleship without talking about the love
of God. I John 4:16 makes the statement that
God is love. This is truly a rich statement
but leaves us with a concept that is not
presented in its fullness. The verb “is” does
not appear in the original language. The
statement should read God Love. God and Love
are inseparable and perfectly and exactly the
same.
The Love that we are talking about is the
New Testament kind of Love called agape in
the original language. Agape was not used in
early Greek writings until Jesus came on the
scene and demonstrated this kind of Love. In the
same manner, we didn’t really understand what
our Heavenly Father was all about until Jesus
came and demonstrated His nature and attributes.
Then we could say that Jesus showed us a true
picture of God and a true picture of Love.
As we look at the scriptures on love we are
looking at the very core of God and our faith
should show because love never fails. Since
our faith is anchored in that Love, our faith
can’t fail. As we see a Heavenly Father that
so loved the world and then manifested that love
through the birth, life, death and resurrection
of Jesus; could He possibly withhold any good
gift from us? The answer is simple, He will not.
Be encouraged as you read about love. Allow the love
of God to penetrate your heart and paint a correct
picture of what your Heavenly Father is really like.
He is different from your earthly father and He has
put a Spirit of Adoption in you that is just waiting
to cry out Abba Father and then experience the
corresponding response from a father that is waiting
to invite you into His arms.
Scripture Application:
Definitions of terms:
* Eros: Sexual love, physical love, and mutual desire
between a man and woman. Found in the Song of Solomon.
The word has degenerated into sensuality.
Genesis 3:16
I Corinthians 7:4-5
Proverbs 30:16
Proverbs 7:18
* Storge: Family love, respect, cares. We are family,
the family, of God and that is where we get the greeting
Brother and Sister when we acknowledge people at church.
That is why we cry with those who cry and laugh with
those who are happy.
Romans 15:10 (Amp)
Romans 1:31 (negative)
II Timothy 3:3 (negative)
* Phileo: Friendship, affection we feel toward people
we like being around, Phileo loves what is loveable,
real feeling in marriage for romance and affection.
Proverbs 17:17
John 11:3
John 5:20
John 16:27
John 21:15
Titus 2:4
Titus 3:15
* Agape: Divine love, non-emotional love, an act of
the will, doesn’t appear in early Greek literature,
secular writing, or early philosophy. Jesus had to
come and demonstrate the definition of the word.
Agape will never love you any more tomorrow than
it will today. Agape always wants what is best for
you and is aggressive to see that goal accomplished.
John 15:13
Romans 5:5
I Corinthians 13:13
Galatians 5:6
II Timothy 1:7
(Definitions from Dick Mills book called
“Four Loves” published by Harrison House)
Scripture Application:
1. Deuteronomy 7:9
2. Psalms 6:4
3. Psalms 13:5
4. Psalms 69:13
5. Psalms 119:97
6. Psalms 143:8
7. Proverbs 10:2
8. Song of Solomon 2:4
9. Isaiah 38:17
10. Isaiah 54:10
11. Matthew 5:43-46
12. Matthew 22:37-39
13. Luke 6:35
14. I Corinthians 16:14
15. I Corinthians 16:22
16. I Peter 4:8
17. Mark 1:11
18. Mark 9:7
19. Romans 5:8
20. Romans 8:35
21. Romans 13:9
22. I Corinthians 13:1-13
23. I Corinthians 13:11
24. Galatians 5:22
25. Ephesians 1:4
26. Ephesians 1:15
27. I Timothy 1:14
28. I Timothy 4:12
29. I Timothy 4:19
30. II John 1:6
31. Revelations 2:4
32. Revelations 12:11
33. John 14:21
34. John 15:13
35. Galatians 5:6
36. Galatians 5:13,14
37. Ephesians 5:25
38. I Thessalonians 3:12
39. I Thessalonians 4:10
40. I John 3:16,17
41. I John 4:12
42. I John 4:18
43. Jude 1:21
44. Philemon 1:5
45. Hebrews 10:24
46. I Peter 2:17
47. I Thessalonians 3:6
48. I Thessalonians 5:8
49. John 15:9
Summary:
We feel like the disciples that walked
with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. We can
say with them “Didn’t our heart burn
as He talked to us through His Word?”
As we meditate on these scriptures, our
eyes will be open and we will be able to
eat the bread of life and drink from the
well of salvation. Pray that you will be
able to comprehend how big the love of God
is for each of us. It has no dimension and
it cannot be measured, but He does want to
show us how great His Love is for all of
His kids.
Action:
Write two of the scriptures on the sheet
that you enjoyed on a note card and memorize
them. As you keep speaking them over and
over, the word will become alive and you
will begin to live those scriptures. People
will see the scriptures printed on your
life style.
|
