River Church NOLA
Wed Nov 13 Courageous Love
  • One Way
  • Rest On Us
  • Overcome
  • Great Are You Lord
  • ​
    Hello River church! We’re going to learn today from John the apostle, someone who was very close to Jesus himself. John watched Jesus, learned from Jesus, listened to Jesus, and was an eyewitness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. So John is a well-informed person when it comes to the things of God, and he has a lot to teach us.
    The things John teaches are the things he learned from Jesus. One of the words John uses over and over again is the word “love.” Jesus was the perfect embodiment of self-giving, life-giving, courageous love. And if something is true for Jesus, it’s true for God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
    God’s core nature is self-giving, life-giving, courageous love. (1 John 4)
    When we receive God’s self-giving, life-giving, courageous love, we realize, because of this love, we have nothing to fear and nothing to prove.
    We have nothing to fear because God is always with us, loving us. We need not fear death, nor sickness, nor loss. We need not fear economic downturns or financial collapses. We need not fear war, hunger, or poverty. Some or all of these things can and will occur. But, because of His love within us, we will endure and overcome everything this life throws at us. In that sense we have nothing to fear.
    And, we have nothing to prove. God loves us deeply and unconditionally. He accepts us right where we are, no matter what. The power of His love breaks us free from the need to constantly prove ourselves and seek approval and recognition from others. We go from insecurity to security. In that sense we have nothing to prove.
    Today we are talking about self-giving, life-giving, courageous love, and how that kind of love naturally flows through us into the lives of everyone around us.
    The Good Samaritan demonstrates courageous love.
    Let’s start with a story from Jesus. Our primary verse today is in 1 John, but remember, John learned from Jesus. So, let's start with Him. Jesus tells a story that shows exactly what self-giving, life-giving, courageous love looks like:
    Luke 10:30–35 MSG
    30 Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. 31 Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. 32 Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. 33 “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. 34 He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. 35 In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’
    Let’s make some observations from this story so that we can hone-in on what Jesus is teaching about courageous love. Observations:
    Someone was in great need.
    Two people passed by, both closing their hearts to him (religious people!)
    A third person came along and was moved with compassion to intervene
    He used his own resources to help: oil and wine for first aid, and his donkey for transportation.
    He took this man to an inn for recovery
    He paid for the inn out of his own pocket
    He committed to paying whatever additional expenses might be incurred
    Then Jesus says this in Luke 10:36-37
    Luke 10:36–37 NLT
    36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
    IOW, who showed courageous love towards this man?
    Jesus is teaching us how to love our neighbor. He says this is how we are to love one another with a self-giving, courageous love.
    John, being a disciple, heard Jesus teaching this story and watched how Jesus lived it out. John listened to Jesus, watched Jesus, and encountered the love of Jesus and practiced what he learned from Jesus. I would think that although the Bible records this story once, that Jesus most likely taught this story many times so that people, his followers would learn to love one another.
    Now, let’s look at 1 John and see what John wants to teach us about courageous love. Let’s look at the similarities between John’s teaching and Jesus teaching.
    1 John 3:16–18 NLT
    16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
    Does that look familiar? John is pretty much saying exactly what Jesus taught. Jesus taught it with a story and John is teaching it by being direct and to the point.
    Lay down your life for others because Jesus laid down his life for us.
    Share your resources - material possessions - with those in need.
    We are people of action and truth, not people of words and speech.
    This is what the love of God looks like in a person.

    1. Courageous love lays down it’s agendas and schedules.

    1 John 3:16 NLT
    16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
    Jesus was full of self-giving, life-giving, courageous love, and that caused Him to lay down his life for us.
    Philippians 2:5–8 NLT
    5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
    Jesus laid down his life in the ultimate way… obedience all the way to the cross. But before he did that, He laid down his life in other ways. We can also sacrifice our lives for others, but what if we don’t have a chance to literally die for someone? How can we lay down our lives daily?
    For starters, we can lay down our agendas and schedules when others are in need. If you think about it, about half, maybe more, of Jesus ministry happened through interruptions. Take a look…
    His mother asked him to provide wine at a wedding.
    Some friends dug a hole in the roof of someones house while he was teaching and lowered their friend down to be healed.
    While he was on the way to heal a sick child, a bleeding woman reached out and touched the hem of his garment and was healed.
    A group of men drag a woman caught in adultery to him to try and trap him.
    A sinful woman pours perfume on his feet.
    None of these encounters were scheduled in advance. There are plenty more examples of Jesus laying aside his schedule and agenda to minister to someone who interrupted him.
    The story of the Good Samaritan involved someone laying aside their agenda and schedule to help someone in need.

    Some of the best, most impactful opportunities we will have will be unplanned.

    How you respond to those sudden encounters, or interruptions… matters.
    Much in our world is scripted. Professional wrestling… Reality shows… Anyone can live by a script, but who can respond to unplanned moments and interruptions with self giving, life-giving, courageous love?
    example of someone who was open to an interruption and was able to minister to someone
    Us in Home Depot… Kathy was impatient because the guy was takeing a long time to get our order together. Then she shifted gears …
    Can you respond to unplanned moments and interruptions with self-giving, courageous love? Yes you can. How do I know that? because you have the Holy Spirit of God inside of you. He is the source of self-giving, courageous love.
    Think about this…

    What if we developed the same kind of mindset Jesus had… that all interruptions would become life-giving opportunities instead of hassles.

    That would make a huge difference in our lives and the lives we impact.
    Developing this mindset is a skill that we can develop. It will take some time, intention, and practice. If you are like me, you will fail many times, and that’s ok because you will succeed as well.
    You will find that the best opportunities to love the world will be unplanned.

    2. Courageous love is moved to compassion.

    Love is a verb and courageous love moves people to action.
    Look what John says in 1 John 3:17
    1 John 3:17 NLT
    17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
    Think about that. The Greek phrase literally means to close up the heart. John is saying that if we don’t have compassion, the love of God is not in our hearts. Now how we show that compassion will vary, but if we have the love of God inside of our hearts, we will have compassion… we won’t close off our hearts.
    Going back to the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus said in Luke 10:33
    Luke 10:33 NLT
    33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.
    He was literally moved with compassion. What Jesus is saying is that when he saw the man’s condition; his compassion moved him to action. Luke 10:34-35
    Luke 10:34–35 NLT
    34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
    Self-giving, courageous love will move us to action just like it moved the Samaritan to action. The other option is to close our hearts to people in need, and that’s not the love God has for them.
    One of the questions we can ask ourselves at the end of the day is
    Was I moved to compassion today?
    Was I moved to compassion today? Did I close up my heart to someone who needed me today?
    ​
    Reflect … maybe with an example.
    When you ask your self those questions, how do you answer?

    3. Your heart may condemn you, but God won’t.

    According to John, “the truth” is tied to actions and not to words. If, in your heart you know that you have not been “laying down your life” for someone in need - maybe your spouse… your kids… a friend… co-workers… a neighbor…someone on the side of the road… then that’s a signal for you to step up and start loving them with courageous love.
    If, however, you can say with an honest and sincere heart, “Yes Lord, I am doing my best to love others in need… please help me to love them better.” Then you have a clear conscience.
    John continues…
    1 John 3:19–22 NIV84
    19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

    It’s our hearts that condemn us, not God.

    John says whenever our hearts condemns us… God never condemns us.
    God doesn’t condemn you when you miss an opportunity, or mess up, or realize that you have a pattern of sinful behavior. God doesn’t condemn you. Your heart will. But here is what we know.
    The God of self-giving, courageous love and mercy is bigger than your heart.
    if your heart is condemning you right now, go back to God and ask for forgiveness and another chance. God promises that he will forgive and wipe you clean. If your heart doesn’t condemn you, John says to go and ask God whatever you want with a clear conscience.

    You will never run out of love.

    John closes the passage by affirming that God himself lives with in us. God has given us His Spirit.
    1 John 3:23–24 NLT
    23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.
    Do you know that the Holy Spirit of God lives in you if you are a Christian? I hope that by now you do.
    And because of that, you have the life-giving, courageous love that can flow out of you to others.
    In the Gospel of John, Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the living water. Living water is distinct from dead water because dead water is still and has source. Living Water is constantly replenished and never runs dry. This is the Spirit of God within you. He will never run dry.
    ​
    John 7:37–38 NLT
    37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ”
    You can live a life of self-giving, life-giving, courageous love because that river of love within you will never run dry. There will always be more to come. The paradox is that the more courageous love you give away to others, the more you get. You have a never-ending supply. You cannot exhaust God’s love for you or others. It’s endless.
    Conclusion
    Jesus loves you and laid down his life for you, in the most ultimate way possible. All the way to death on a cross. But he didn’t stop there. With God’s mighty power, on the third day he rose from the grave, defeated death, and he ascended to the Father. But he didn’t stop there. He sent the Holy Spirit come and live in your heart and mind. And he didn’t stop there. He’s loving you, today, right where you are in life, with self-giving, life-giving, courageous love.
    Draw on that love. Let that love overflow your hearts in such a way that it flows into the lives of everyone you meet.
    Look for interruptions this week. Watch for unplanned moments. You might be surprised, but God is not. He’s right there, ready to love others wiht yuo as you lay down your life, your agendas, and your schedule.
    Pray

      • Luke 10:30–35NLT

      • Luke 10:36–37NLT

      • 1 John 3:16–18NLT

      • 1 John 3:16NLT

      • Philippians 2:5–8NLT

      • 1 John 3:17NLT

      • Luke 10:33NLT

      • Luke 10:34–35NLT

      • 1 John 3:19–22NLT

      • 1 John 3:23–24NLT

      • John 7:37–38NLT

River Church NOLA
robert@riverchurchnola.com
504-578-8317
https://riverchurchnola.com
5 members • 18 followers