45 – Rethink: Love
Ephesians 3:15 – 19 (KJV)
He can fill you with a fullness and satisfaction that only God can take away.
When Paul wrote this, he was in prison
Paul says for this cause I can a prisoner of Jesus Christ because of you Gentiles…I wouldn’t be locked up but for my love and devotion for Jesus Christ.
Not in good circumstances but he was still content.
The power that drives the entire Bible is love.
Victory from the Lord doesn’t mean the blessings fall just on your house, they can fall on others and we’re still winning.
1. Paul is not praying that God’s people would know that God loves them, but that they would know God’s love.
Difference in knowing that God loves you and knowing God’s love. Example, knowing that H2O is water will not quench my thirst. I don’t need a deeper understanding of water….I just need the glass and ice then I can fully know water. Studying water but never drinking it is what it’s like to know that God loves you but not knowing the love of God.
**The love of God in Christ is:
Four components that tell us how good God’s love is
1. So wide it shows its extent to all nations and ranks…..love has been expanded to whosoever will
2. So long that it continues from that is continues from everlasting to everlasting….goes from the time of His walk to get to us. Need to be living for Him or die in Him
3. So deep, it saves even those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery…..pulled the thief on the cross out. He stopped dying long enough to take a thief to Heaven with him.
4. So high it raises us up to heavenly happiness and glory….so good to us that He won’t leave us here, raised beyond our current existence; the Holy Spirit will give you a foretaste of Glory Divine
2. Love in scripture is a declaration and an obligation. For God so loved the world….He loved me so much that He was willing to give me His only begotten son. All acts declare over and over that He loves us. He’s coming from us.
Once you realize that, it alters who you are. It affects how you live your life. I want others to know about this love. When the sun comes up, He’s saying He loves me.
I have an obligation to share this with others. It will be like fire shut up in my bones unless I tell someone else.
The Bible tells us about His love but it also tells us about our obligation.
Tamala R. Maddox, Ph.D.
Principal
R.F. Bumpus Middle Scho