March 29-3-, 2003      IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE!    Acts 9:36-41, Selected

HAVING A LIFESTYLE OF LOVE!

TO HELP EVERYONE FIND AN EVER-DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST THROUGH THIS, HIS CHURCH!

*** 2 Cor. 5:18-20 “God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak ….!” [NLT]

*** Matthew 28:19-20 “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you." [New Living Translation]

$ THEY WON’T KNOW IF WE DON’T GO!

$ THEY WON’T CARE IF WE DON’T SHOW COMPASSION!

*** Romans 12:9 “Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.” [NLT]

*** Acts 9:36-42 “There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died. Her friends prepared her for burial and laid her in an upstairs room. But they had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, "Please come as soon as possible!" So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other garments Dorcas had made for them. But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, "Get up, Tabitha." And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he showed them that she was alive. The news raced through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.” [NLT]

HOW TO ADOPT A LIFESTYLE OF LOVE!

1. BY BECOMING A BELIEVER!

*** Acts 9:36 “There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha/Dorcas.” [NLT]

$ CHANGING OUR COMPASSION MEANS CHANGING OUR CHARACTER!

*** 1 John 4:19-20 “We love because God loved us first. But if we say we love God and don't love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don't love the people we can see?” [Contemporary English Version]

2. BY ACKNOWLEDGING OUR RESPONSIBILITY!

*** Isaiah 58:10 “Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark….” [CEV]

*** Matthew 5:14-16 “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” [CEV]

$ NOTHING ILLUMINATES JESUS LIKE ACTS OF LOVE!

3. BY DOING WHAT WE CAN!

*** 1 John 3:17 “If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.” [The Message]

$ WE CAN’T DO EVERYTHING BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING!

*** Matthew 25:34-40 “'Receive the kingdom God has prepared for you…. I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then the good people will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry…or thirsty…when did we see you alone and away from home…when did we see you without clothes…when did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?' Then the King will answer, 'I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.'” [NCV]

*** Mark 9:35 “Jesus said, "Anyone who wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else." [NLT]

4. BY BEING CONSISTENT!

*** Acts 9:36 “There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha/Dorcas. She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.” [NLT]

$ THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTING CHRISTIANS AND AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANS IS CONSISTENCY!

*** 1 Cor. 15:58 “So…be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” [NLT]

*** Galatians 6:9 “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up.” [Living]

5. BY ACCEPTING THE REWARDS!

Ý IT PLEASES GOD! – Hebrews 13:16 “Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.” [NLT]

Ý IT SHOWS OUR FAITH! – James 2:17 “Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead! “ [CEV]

Ý IT BRINGS GOD’S REWARD! – Mark 9:41 “I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a drink of water because you belong to the Christ will truly get his reward.”

Ý GOD WILL NEVER FORGET IT! – Hebrews 6:10 “God…will not forget your work and love you have shown…as you have helped his people and continue to help….”

Ý IT NOURISHES YOUR OWN SOUL! – Proverbs 11:17 “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.” [NLT]

*** Acts 9:42 “Everyone in Joppa heard what had happened, and many of them put their faith in the Lord.” [CEV]

$ WORDS MUST BE BACKED BY WORKS!

“Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.” 1 John 3:18 [Living Bible]