Part 5 In The Series: Do You Love Me? Message Title: Answering Your Question Review of the Do You Love Me Series Thus Far: Part 1 WHEN ALL WAS STRIPPED AWAY: Main Text 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 The Priority of Love, The Qualities of Love, The Permanence of Love When all was Stripped From Christ? His Love (Agape) was what was Left! Part 2 A LOVE THAT IS FREE TO FAIL: Main Text Galatians 5:13-21 When Love (Agape) Fails, Love Must Be Free & Able to Fail, Let Your Freedom Be Turned Into Action, I Get To Do, Everything I wish!, There is Total Freedom In Agape Love Part 3 A LOVE THAT IS FREE TO FAIL: Main Text 1 John 4:7-21 The DNA of God is Agape/Love, He Paid All of It, God Reveals Agape & Agape Reveals God, Don t Fail to Love First, Let the Big Love in You Never Fail to Love Part 4 The Love Triangle How To Love Him : Main Text John 21:15-19 What Cannot be Known: God has Great things prepared for you, The Impossible Command, Do You Love Me? Can You Agape/Love Me: When You have Loved them, You are Loving me: Part 5: Do You Love (Agape) Me? Answering Your Question 1. Only You Can Answer Your Question John 21:15-17 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (Agape) Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love (Philia) You. He said to him, Feed My lambs. (Feed/Spiritual Food, My Little Ones) 16 He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (Agape) Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love (Philia) You. He said to him, Tend My sheep. (Shepherd [Guide, Gard, Protect & Lead] My People) 17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (Philia) Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (Philia) You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep. (Feed/Lead to pasture All My People) Just Some Agape/Love found in Christ: Who Loved First? 1 John 4:19, Who Sacrificed for You? Gal 3:13-15, Who Loved When Rejected? Romans 3:23-26, Who Loved When It Couldn t Benefit them at all? Page 1,
2. IS GOD LOVE? ARE YOU LOVE? WHO IS LOVED BY YOU NAME! Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry & you gave Me food; NAME I was thirsty & you gave Me drink; I was a stranger & you took Me in; NAME NAME 36 I was naked & you clothed Me; NAME I was sick & you visited Me; I was in prison & you came to Me. NAME NAME 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? 40 And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. 41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. 44 Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? 45 Then He will answer them, saying, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Page 2,
3. LOVE: Not Just My Neighbor, it s Even to My Enemy? Matthew 5:38 You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Love Your Enemies 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, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven (OUR EXAMPLE); for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the]tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Luke 6:27 But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, [h]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Do Not Judge 37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. Page 3,
39 And He spoke a parable to them: Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother s eye. A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit 43 For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil [i]treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Build on the Rock 46 But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say? (WHAT THINGS?v27-42) 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was [j]founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great. 4. We have Received Grace So We Can Be Merciful John 10:8 Freely You have received, freely give. 1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an [d]insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to [e]god who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Page 4,
5. Love/Agape Is Something: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.... 1 John 4:16: And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. REMEMBER: This is only possible if we are receiving what we need from Jesus! * Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person Luke 6:27 But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Agape, Those Who Oppose You, who Look, Act, Believe, Completely Different than You: -TO YOUR ENEMY: PATIENT = Be Patient with their disobedience or lack of care for you. Jesus was when you were His enemy. Be willing to show agape as long as it takes, not ever giving up on them. KIND = Go out of your way to show them kindness in the face of their rejection. Does Not ENVY = Don t want what they have or to be like them. We usually criticize and cut down those who we are jealous of the most. DON T BOAST = Don t Speak as if your better, right, putting them down or be discussed with them at all. Rejoice when them and weep with them HUMILITY = Show Complete Humility, Lower how important you are in the situation and elevate how vital they are to you and to God NO DISHONOR = Find the best in them & show them Honor for what is good in them. Search for the gold even if it s hard or impossible to find. When the opportunity to cut them down comes, lift them up. NOT SELF-SEEKING = Look past what is best for you and do what would sacrificially be best for them. Look out for what is best for them and let God lok out what is best for you. NOT EASILY ANGERED = Do not let yourself be controlled by your anger do good to them with Joy. Search so hard for good that the bad, Faults are hard to see (No faultfinding, Faults have to be blaring to even see). NO RECORD OF WRONGS = Forgive & forget their faults against you as Jesus has yours and paid the price for our failures. No handwriting against us. NO DELIGHT IN EVIL OR FAILURE = Looking for a win (of Good) in all, Never look for them to fail, for you to be ahead of or better than them. REJOICES IN THE TRUTH = Find such overwhelming Joy when truth is found in them for any reason at any time. Speaks Truth in Love to cause growth, peace unity & restoration. ALWAYS PROTECTS = Guard them and protect them even when they are wrong because they matter not what they believe or what they do. ALWAYS TRUSTS = Always has faith for their good. Giving them the benefit of the doubt instead of always questioning their integrity for our own protection, self interest, need to be correct or look good. ALWAYS HOPES = Constantly looking for the best outcome. Finding a way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13 God always making an escape for us. ALWAYS PRESERVERS (LOVE NEVER FAILS) = Die trying, Never give up on your enemy. Never quit trying to bring restoration or showing agape in its fulness of living application READ ALL OF LUKE 6:27-48 This was only one verse Page 5,
Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, [h]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Do Not Judge 37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. 39 And He spoke a parable to them: Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother s eye. 6. What good is it until we do it? James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (Separation) Going the Second Mile: My Action/Agape Report/Journal What did I LEARN most? How will I LIVE out what I Learned? How can I GIVE it, or help someone else with what I have learned? I Choose to be a Life-Giver, This Week In This Way? Page 6,
Part 5 In The Series: Do You Love Me? Message Title: Answering Your Question Review of the Do You Love Me Series Thus Far: Part 1 WHEN ALL WAS STRIPPED AWAY: Main Text 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 The Priority of Love, The Qualities of Love, The Permanence of Love When all was Stripped From Christ? His Love (Agape) was what was Left! Part 2 A LOVE THAT IS FREE TO FAIL: Main Text Galatians 5:13-21 When Love (Agape) Fails, Love Must Be Free & Able to Fail, Let Your Freedom Be Turned Into Action, I Get To Do, Everything I wish!, There is Total Freedom In Agape Love Part 3 A LOVE THAT IS FREE TO FAIL: Main Text 1 John 4:7-21 The DNA of God is Agape/Love, He Paid All of It, God Reveals Agape & Agape Reveals God, Don t Fail to Love First, Let the Big Love in You Never Fail to Love Part 4 The Love Triangle How To Love Him : Main Text John 21:15-19 What Cannot be Known: God has Great things prepared for you, The Impossible Command, Do You Love Me? Can You Agape/Love Me: When You have Loved them, You are Loving me: Part 5: Do You Love (Agape) Me? Answering Your Question 1. Only Can Answer Question John 21:15-17 Just Some Agape/Love found in Christ: Who Loved First? 1 John 4:19, Who Sacrificed for You? Gal 3:13-15, Who Loved When Rejected? Romans 3:23-26, Who Loved When It Couldn t Benefit them at all? 2. IS GOD LOVE?? WHO IS LOVED? Matthew 25:31-46 35 for I was hungry & you gave Me food; NAME I was thirsty & you gave Me drink; I was a stranger & you took Me in; NAME NAME 36 I was naked & you clothed Me; NAME I was sick & you visited Me; I was in prison & you came to Me. NAME NAME Page 7,
3. LOVE: Not Just My Neighbor, it s Even to my Matthew 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-49 4. We have Received Grace So We Can Be John 10:8 Freely You have received, freely give. 1 Timothy 1:12-17 5. Love/Agape Is : 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.... 1 John 4:16: And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. REMEMBER: This is only possible if we are receiving what we need from Jesus! * Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person Luke 6:27 But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Agape, Those Who Oppose You, who Look, Act, Believe, Completely Different than You: -TO YOUR ENEMY: 6.What good is it until we do it? James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (Separation) Going the Second Mile: My Action/Agape Report/Journal What did I LEARN most? How will I LIVE out what I Learned? How can I GIVE it, or help someone else with what I have learned? I Choose to be a Life-Giver, This Week In This Way? Page 8,
#5. Love/Agape Is Something: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.... 1 John 4:16: And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. REMEMBER: This is only possible if we are receiving what we need from Jesus! * Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person Luke 6:27 But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Agape, Those Who Oppose You, who Look, Act, Believe, Completely Different than You: -TO YOUR ENEMY: PATIENT = Be Patient with their disobedience or lack of care for you. Jesus was when you were His enemy. Be willing to show agape as long as it takes, not ever giving up on them. KIND = Go out of your way to show them kindness in the face of their rejection. Does Not ENVY = Don t want what they have or to be like them. We usually criticize and cut down those who we are jealous of the most. DON T BOAST = Don t Speak as if your better, right, putting them down or be discussed with them at all. Rejoice when them and weep with them HUMILITY = Show Complete Humility, Lower how important you are in the situation and elevate how vital they are to you and to God NO DISHONOR = Find the best in them & show them Honor for what is good in them. Search for the gold even if it s hard or impossible to find. When the opportunity to cut them down comes, lift them up. NOT SELF-SEEKING = Look past what is best for you and do what would sacrificially be best for them. Look out for what is best for them and let God lok out what is best for you. NOT EASILY ANGERED = Do not let yourself be controlled by your anger do good to them with Joy. Search so hard for good that the bad, Faults are hard to see (No faultfinding, Faults have to be blaring to even see). NO RECORD OF WRONGS = Forgive & forget their faults against you as Jesus has yours and paid the price for our failures. No handwriting against us. NO DELIGHT IN EVIL OR FAILURE = Looking for a win (of Good) in all, Never look for them to fail, for you to be ahead of or better than them. REJOICES IN THE TRUTH = Find such overwhelming Joy when truth is found in them for any reason at any time. Speaks Truth in Love to cause growth, peace unity & restoration. ALWAYS PROTECTS = Guard them and protect them even when they are wrong because they matter not what they believe or what they do. ALWAYS TRUSTS = Always has faith for their good. Giving them the benefit of the doubt instead of always questioning their integrity for our own protection, self interest, need to be correct or look good. ALWAYS HOPES = Constantly looking for the best outcome. Finding a way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13 God always making an escape for us. ALWAYS PRESERVERS (LOVE NEVER FAILS) = Die trying, Never give up on your enemy. Never quit trying to bring restoration or showing agape in its fulness of living application READ ALL OF LUKE 6:27-48 This was only one verse! Page 9,
My Action/Agape Report/Journal: What Names can I put to my Intentional Love this week: Name Is It Reciprocal? What Did My Love Look Like? Name Is it Reciprocal? What Did My Love Look Like? Name Is it Reciprocal? What Did My Love Look Like? Name Is it Reciprocal? What Did My Love Look Like? Page 10,