Mother’s Day - it comes with a lot of different emotions from both mothers and from women who desire to be mothers. There also deep emotions from all of us regarding our mothers. There is great joy because of the gift they were/are to us. There may also be great pain because the relationship is broken or severed. What does God have to say to us as we work through the emotions that Mother’s Day brings? We’ll be looking at 1 John 3:7- 20.
Radical Love #6 - Fortified by Love
Ascension is a big deal. Over the years, I think we’ve forgotten about it. Or maybe we never really thought much about it. I won’t bother to speculate tonight why that might be. But I do want to start by simply saying: the Ascension of Jesus into heaven is a big deal. Let me just list some of the reasons. Let me briefly tell you why (and this will not be a complete list).
It means that Jesus has taken his seat at God’s right hand.
It means that Jesus sits and rules. All things are under his feet.
It means that Jesus intercedes for us now before the Father.
It means that Jesus is preparing a place for us with him for all eternity.
It means that Jesus would send his Holy Spirit. Remember he told his disciples, “Unless I go, I will not send the Holy Spirit.”
It means that Jesus is coming back for us.
John wants to fortify us in three ways: Our hearts, our homes, and our holiness. A look at 1 John 2:28-3:6.
Radical Love #5 - Love for the Truth
We live in dangerous days. The danger I speak of is not necessarily the danger on the roads or streets. The greatest danger we face is the constant assaults against the truth. That assault has been happening since the Evil One rebelled and was thrown out of heaven. Yet, we have an anointing from the Holy One, and we know the truth. We know He who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Continue in him, and we will be unashamed before him when he comes. 1 John 2:18-27
Radical Love #4 - Either/Or Love
Augustine, in “City of God,” writes about a rightly ordered love. He means that we have to get our love for things in the right order. We should love the things that are to be loved. We should not love the things that are not to be loved. John speaks more directly and clearly about what and who should be loved and not loved. It is an either/or love. You cannot love the world or anything in the world. It all passes away and will destroy you. We are called to love our Father in heaven. (1 John 2:15-17)
Radical Love #3 - Four Tests
How do you know?
That is one of the questions that John wants to help answer for us and in our hearts in this letter. Ten times in this letter, he states: “This is how you know...” He wants us to be sure and to know that we are remaining in God and walking in the light.
Today, as Pastor Chris officially begins his ministry here, we apply some of John’s tests to our own hearts as we study 1 John 2:3-14.
Radical Love #2 - Walking in the Light
We have been drawn into fellowship with God. At the same time, our fellowship with one another continues to deepen. But that can only happen when we walk in the light and not in the dark, i.e., when we live authentic and confessional lives. 1 John 1:5-2:2
Radical Love - #1 - Fellowship Enjoyed
John opens his first letter with two crucial things. First, he identifies himself as a first-hand witness of Jesus and all that he did. He saw him. He touched him. He heard him. All with his own eyes, ears and hands.
From then on, Jesus had made it John’s mission to declare the One who is Life and Light to the world. John did this so that we may have fellowship with each other and fellowship with our God. Here is John’s goal for this letter:
“I write this so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:4