Larry Siegle · I John 4:7-10
Link to sermon video: Love Will Find a Way – L Siegle
Love Will Find a Way
“The Relationship Between God and Believers”
(I John 4:7-10)
Thesis: The very nature of Almighty God is revealed in His expression of Divine Love.
INTRODUCTION
1. The title of the message today is, “Love Will Find a Way”
2. How well do we really understand the core message and substance of the Bible?
THE PROBLEM OF UNFAITHFULNESS
1. God has brought Israel into the “land of promise” but there was still the need to defeat their enemies.
2. The “walls” of Jericho had fallen in exactly the way God told them they would (Josh. 6)
a. It appears that Joshua had made the “headlines” in the eyes of the people (Josh. 6:27).
b. In the next chapter, God sends Israel into this small village called “AI” and Israel becomes a little “prideful” as they are called of God to attack this village (Josh 7:2, 3).
c. Ai had about 12,000 people in it (Josh 8:25).
d. Israel is defeated by this ‘tiny’ group of people from this podunk town (maybe even East Podunk) called Ai (Josh 7:4, 5).
3. All it took for Israel to be defeated was disloyalty from one family—that of Achan (his name means ‘troubler’)
4. This account teaches the “consequences” of sin (Josh 7:20, 25).
a. The process of sin always leads to the same destination (James 1:14, 15; Rom. 6:23).
b. It may seem like a ‘good idea’ at the time (Prov. 14:12; 16:25)
c. It is not within ourselves to provide direction for our lives (Jer. 10:23; 17:9).
5. This was the situation of fallen humanity from the time of Adam and Eve onward, and it got progressively worse over time, and grieved the very heart of God (Gen. 6:5, 6).
TIME WAS NECESSARY
1. From the beginning God used time as the means to illustrate to humanity that we cannot rescue ourselves from the power of sin and its consequences.
2. The challenge of Satan to God with respect to Job was ‘let things get really bad’ and he will curse you to your very face (Job 1:11).
a. I have known some people like this, they are good with God when everything is going the way they want it to.
b. The minute life goes ‘sideways’ they are ready to “curse God” to His face, or blame God for whatever the bad circumstances may be.
3. God already had a plan that was set into motion from “before the foundation of the world” (I Pet. 1:20-23).
THE LOVE OF GOD
1. In the letter of I John, the word “love” is found 36x, more than any other book of the Bible.
2. “Love” is more than a noun, it is a verb, something expressed and manifested through action.
3. Some people, when they look through the Scriptures only see “wrath” “anger” and “judgment” as the nature of God.
4. The apostle John wants his readers (then and now) to be touched with the single greatest expression and manifestation of God’s love in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
a. In 1981, the group Brush Arbor released the song, “Rescue Me” (here are some of the lyrics)
b. It is during these times of testing, trial, and hardship that we understand the most our need for God to rescue us because we simply cannot rescue ourselves—the word “salvation” carries with it the meaning of “rescue or
deliverance” and this is not a human DYI project.
1) I make a mess of putting together something from Ikea, much less trying to “save myself” in my own strength and power.
2) The apostle John tells his readers how God has demonstrated His love on our behalf (I John 4:7-19)
5. God loves us, and actually loved us “while we were still sinners” (Rom. 5:8-10), not we are ‘declared righteous’ and are “saved” (rescued, delivered) by “His life”.
a. When we have “the Son” we have “the life” (I John 5:11, 12).
STORY OF RESCUE AT DAWN
CONCLUSION
1. Everyone of us here today was just like Achan in the Old Testament—doing our “own thing” ignoring what God wants us to do.
2. But God made an everlasting provision for us, in “the life” death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3. There is nothing we could ever have done to “save ourselves” to “rescue and deliver” ourselves from the power and consequences of sin—which is “death”
4. It is the message of the Cross that “saves us” (I Cor. 1:18).
a. When we obey the gospel we enter in and participate in the benefits of the shed blood of Jesus (Gal. 2:16-20)
PRAYER
Outline (Word document): Love_Will_Find_a_Way.docx