Love What is It? This is a 30 day devotional based on a message by this title given by Dan Needy on 9/19/18 at Calvary Chapel St. George. You can watch this message at You are encouraged to do five things each day: 1. Pray before you read the verses asking the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and open the scriptures to your mind, heart and life. (John 14:25-26; 1 Cor 2:13-14) 2. Read the verses look them up and read them from your own Bible. 3. Study, meditate, and memorize the verses. (Prov 2:1-6; Phil 4:8; Ps 119:11) 4. Look for correction from the verses, and look for encouragement in the verses. (2 Tim 3:16-17) 5. Pray for forgiveness, wisdom and empowerment from the Holy Spirit to live out the verses.(matt 4:24-27) * Four Greek Words for love: Storge Familial love Phileo Brotherly love Eros Erotic Agape - Unconditional Day 1 Love is not what God does. It is who He is.
1 John 4:16 (NKJV) 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. * Have Known Gk/ginosko by personal experience vs. intellectual, in proximity * Believed the love thought to be true, place total confidence in John 3:16 = Jesus * God is love = It is not what God does. It is who He is. (Source, the fountain) * Abide in love - When I abide in agape, I am abiding IN GOD 1 John 4:8 (NKJV) 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. * He who does not unconditionally love does not know agape, for agape is God. * Five Things for Devo Day 2 The Love Chapter. 1 Corinthians 13:1 8 (NKJV) 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. * These were all gifts/evidences of the Holy Spirit in a person s life. (1 Cor 12:7-11) * These were what people/corinth looked at/determine if someone was spiritual spirit filled/led. * But they are not the greatest, the greatest of these is agape (1 Cor 12:31, 13:13, 14:1) * Without Agape the Greatest (for them) Tongues, 2 nd Greatest (Prophecy) (Ch 14) Worthless! * Five Things for Devo
Love What is It? This is a 30 day devotional based on a message by this title given by Dan Needy on 9/19/18 at Calvary Chapel St. George. You can watch this message at You are encouraged to do five things each day: 1. Pray before you read the verses asking the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and open the scriptures to your mind, heart and life. 2. Read the verses look them up and read them from your own Bible. 3. Study, meditate, and memorize the verses. 4. Look for correction from the verses, and look for encouragement in the verses. 5. Pray for forgiveness, wisdom and empowerment from the Holy Spirit to live out the verses. Day 1 Love is not what God does. It is who He is. 1 John 4:16 (NKJV) 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:8 (NKJV) 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Day 2 The Love Chapter. 1 Corinthians 13:1 8 (NKJV) 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Day 3 The Love Chapter Part 2 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails
Day 4 The Greatest Commandment. Matthew 22:35 40 (NKJV) 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Galatians 5:14 (NKJV) 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Day 5 Who does God want us to love like this? How does He want us to love them? Leviticus 19:18 (NKJV) 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:34 (NKJV) 34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 10:19 (NKJV) 19 Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Day 6 Jesus words to us. John 15:12 (NKJV) 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:17 (NKJV) 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. Matthew 5:43 44 (NKJV) 43 You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, Day 7 I can t love like that.
* You may say, I can t. I don t know if you can or not, but Jesus can. So just start heading that way Philippians 3:14 (NKJV) 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Day 8 Why didn t I know this? * Where have I been God? Why didn t I know this before all of this? It s taken me 72 years to get to where I have begun to understand Your heart for love! 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV) 1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Timothy 6:11 (NKJV) 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Day 9 How can I do this? * It is the Greatest Gift to you from God!
Romans 5:5 (NKJV) 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Ephesians 6:23 (NKJV) 23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NKJV) 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. Day 10 The Greatest Gift Part 2 John 17:26 (NKJV) 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NKJV) 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Day 11 Love is what it is all about.
* You may say, I thought it was all about Jesus. It is, and Jesus is all about love. John 3:16 (NKJV) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 15:10 (NKJV) 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father s commandments and abide in His love. 1 John 5:3 (NKJV) 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. Day 12 Put on Love. 1 John 4:12 (NKJV) 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1 John 2:5 (NKJV) 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. Colossians 3:14 (NKJV) 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. * Put it on like a cloak. When you go out to face the world, friends, family, and neighbors, put on love.
Day 13 Owe No One Anything. * Owe no one anything, but you owe them your love. Romans 13:8 (NKJV) 8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Matthew 18:21 22 (NKJV) 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? 22 Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Day 14 Walk in Love. Romans 14:15 17 (NKJV) 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:2 4 (NKJV) 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named
among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Day 15 Walk in Love Part 2 1 John 3:18 (NKJV) 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NKJV) 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 1 Corinthians 16:13 14 (NKJV) 13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love. Jude 20 21 (NKJV) 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Day 16 Love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV) 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.
Proverbs 10:12 (NKJV) 12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. Romans 13:10 (NKJV) 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Day 17 I am sure there are things * I m sure there are things that you have done and said that you would like concealed I know I have. Proverbs 17:9 (NKJV) 9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. Romans 13:10 (NKJV) 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Day 18 Four Questions. * These are four questions my wife and I use before we say anything about anyone. Question 1 - Does it glorify God? Colossians 3:17 (NKJV) 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Day 19 Question 2 2. Will it harm someone s reputation or respect? Proverbs 16:27 (NKJV) 27 An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. Proverbs 16:28 (NKJV) 28 A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. Day 20 Question 3 3. Does it edify the body of Christ? Ephesians 4:15 16 (NKJV) 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Day 21 Question 4 4. Did you pray for them? Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV) 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Colossians 1:3 (NKJV) 3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NKJV) 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 1 Timothy 2:8 (NKJV) 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; Day 22 Three Benefits for you. Benefit 1 Quiet your soul Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV) 17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Jude 1 2 (NKJV) 1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Day 23 Benefit 2 Grounds you. Ephesians 3:17 19 (NKJV) 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Day 24 Benefit 3 Removes Fear from your life. 1 John 4:18 (NKJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Genesis 15:1 (NKJV) 1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward. Jeremiah 1:8 (NKJV) 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Day 25 Forgiveness is a manifestation of Agape love. * I suspect some of you are trying and having a bit of a challenge of how to relate to this unconditional love. You have been through a lot of pain, a lot of heartache, there s a lot of scars, there might even be some open wounds. Luke 23:34 (NKJV) 34 Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. And they divided His garments and cast lots. Mark 11:25 (NKJV) 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Day 26 Jesus is the Manifestation of God s love to us. John 13:1 (NKJV) 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. Day 27 The Holy Spirit can give you the ability to love like this. Acts 7:55 60 (NKJV) 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not charge them with this sin. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Day 28 Let your anger be turned into brokenness. Genesis 42:24 (NKJV) 24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. Luke 19:41 42 (NKJV) 41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Day 29 All Things Are Possible With God. * You may say, That will take a miracle. Well, God does miracles. Luke 1:37 (NKJV) 37 For with God nothing will be impossible. Mark 9:23 (NKJV) 23 Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. Matthew 19:26 (NKJV) 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. * It s not impossible. Take that first step, head in that direction, meditate on being love.
Day 30 Faith, Hope and Love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Why do Christians go to other people s wars? God compels us to do it. This is what we do out of love. (Karen Eubanks talking about why her husband, Dave, and their three children travel the world to bring help, hope and love to people in the conflict zones of Burma, Iraq, and Sudan. www.freeburmarangers.com.)