God's Love Makes us Mature

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.

1 John 4:18-21
18There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]. 19We love Him, because He first loved us. 20If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detests, abominates) his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen. 21And this command (charge, order, injunction) we have from Him: that he who loves God shall love his brother [believer] also.

Introduction:

Love is not just a character quality for God, it is God.
Because of God’s integrity He cannot do anything other than what he is. He cannot lie (Numbers 23:19) and he does not change.(Malachi 3:6) Therefore when the Bible says that God is love it means he’s love all the time.

Trying to understand God’s ways and God’s character. God’s love is not the same as most people’s understanding of love.

God has an agenda for mankind and also throughout the Bible demands justice.

Understanding God’s justice and agenda to get things to line up a certain way helps me to understand why God would do things that might not look loving to me.

Isaiah 55:9  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Outline

• I.   The love of God, when received by his people, causes our motivation to be correct, expelling any unhealthy fear of God. 
•  
• II.  As long as a believer in Jesus Christ feels like God is going to smite them they cannot mature!
• 
  
• III. Our love for God is a direct result of us making a withdrawal from the love God placed there. No love from God means no love for God. God is the source of all love.
•  
• IV. Love for God can be measured in the way we love the family of God

I. V. 18 The love of God, when received by his people, causes our motivation to be correct, expelling any unhealthy fear of God.
God is not waiting for you to make a mistake so he can judge you.

Because of Jesus the wrath and justice of God have been satisfied for the believer.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:9
• For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Galatians 3:13
• 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

For the sinful unbeliever
Hebrews 10:27
27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

II.  v. 18 as long as a believer in Jesus Christ feels like God is going to smite them, they cannot mature!

     A. Other things that stifle maturity for the believer. (Luke 8:14)
     Worry (Phil 4:6)
      Love of money and what money can provide. (Eccl 5:10; Mt. 6:24; Lk 16:14; 1 Tim 6:10; Heb 13:5)

     B. What maturity looks like
     Ephesians 4:13b become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

     C. The Mature View of Things
     Phil 3:12b-15a

• I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.

III. v. 19 Our love for God is a direct result of us making a withdrawal from the love God placed there. No love from God means no love for God or man. God is the source of our love.

IV.   v. 20 Love for God can be measured in the way we love the family of God.

1 John 2:9-11
1. 9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

B. We’re instructed
Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Loving the Unlovable
Matthew 5:43-48
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Walking in God’s love toward others means to treat others the way you want to be treated.
God’s love allows people to chose their own path.
Matthew 7:12-14
12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus is the Gate
John 10:7-9
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

The road is narrow because salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

The verse following the narrow way has to do with false prophets further solidifying the position that believing in Jesus is the narrow way.
John 14:6b
“No man comes to the Father accept by me.” ~Jesus Christ

In Conclusion
Fear of God prevents a believer from developing into maturity because they run from God instead of to God when they fail and have a need.

Gen 3:9,10
9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" 10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
 
Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


View Larger Map

Need Washing?

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was
pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so
much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all
stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their
hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and
sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of
running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve
from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught
in 'Mom let's run through the rain,'she said.
'What?' Mom asked.

'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated

'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run
through the rain,'

'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said..

'No, we won't, Mom.. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said
as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?

'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said,
'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the
rain. We all stood silently.  No one came or left in the next few minutes.
Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would
laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was
said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when
innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD lets us get
wet, well maybe we just needed washing,' Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted
past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over
their heads just in case. They got soaked.  But they were followed by a few who
screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here. Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via Internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
 
Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124
View Larger Map

The Love of God Changes our Identity

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.

Is this an all inclusive list?  Does anything else contribute?

Identity – How we see ourselves.
Identity is something that will be a continual blessing or a continual curse to you.

The meditation of your heart will be one of two things when God speaks.

1. We can take the land.
2. Those giants are big and I’m like a grasshopper.

Identity is shaped by

• Authority
• God
• Parents
• Coaches
• Teachers

• Ourselves
• Consciously and subconsciously meditating on the words and expressions of those in authority from our present and past.

The more honor that is extended to the one in authority the more ability the one in authority has to shape the identity of the one extending the honor.

Have you ever tried to talk to a young person, directing their life in what you see is the correct direction and they completely ignore you? Not appreciating your wisdom or the time it takes to talk to them?
By them not honoring you it severs your ability to speak into their life constructively shaping their identity.

Another thing that effects the strength of the identity shaping by the one in authority is their level of authority.
If your dad thinks you’re an amazing kid but your friends little brother thinks very poorly of you, you’d be wise to accept the opinion of your father over the opinion of the other child.

Obey God or Man?
Acts 4:19
But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.

Jesus is the Highest Authority

Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
Humility is a kingdom key to receiving heavenly authority

Jesus has the highest level of authority in the universe. Therefore what Jesus thinks about you should be the most important opinion in your life.

Identity Shifting Spiritual Realities
Conviction and Mercy
Being exposed to a righteous and holy God and then being shown mercy.
God shows you your sin then forgives you.
An Example from Scripture

Isaiah 6:5-7
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

Luke 7:47
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.“
This has a lot to do with the person being forgiven and their attitude of gratefulness.
God trumps all other authority.

Romans 8:31
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Conviction is the feeling that comes from the Holy Spirit that makes a believer uncomfortable about their sin. It can make a believer hate sin. It always leaves the recipient in a state of hope.


Conviction and condemnation can feel very similar. However condemnation comes from the enemy and leaves the believer feeling hopeless.

We are dearly loved
Ephesians 5:1
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

Greatest Love
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
How about laying down his life for his enemies?!?
Jesus Loved his “enemies”, us.

Luke 6:27
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Romans 5:6-8
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Enemies of God
Colossians 1:21
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

The cross is the place where God’s love is demonstrated for all humanity to see.

Can you see it?




If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

View Larger Map

The Empowering Love of God

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.

God’s Love Gives
Love gives so the one loved can be better, do better, live better, have more, be more. God’s love empowers!

Empowerment - to give official authority or legal power to enable; to promote; to help an individual realize fully their potential and promote their influence.

The first step to being empowered by God is to surrender your will to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The Great Exchange
     I. Give away your life in order to take up the life of Christ.
          A. Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Mt. 16:24, Lk 9:23

          B. Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Mt. 10:39, Mt. 16:25, Lk. 9:24, Lk. 17:33, Jn. 12:25

          C. Mark 9:35
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.“
Mt. 19:30, Mt. 20:16, Mk. 10:31, Lk. 13:30,

II.  The Holy Spirit Gives Power
     A. The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
          1. 1 Samuel 10:6 The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.
               a. Here we see the power of the Holy Spirit gives Saul the ability to change into a different person and prophesy.

          2. In Judges 14 and 15 we see the Holy Spirit giving Samson incredible physical strength.

          3. 1 Samuel 11:6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger.

          4. Micah 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.

     B. The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
          1. Acts 1:8 (Ampl.) 8But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.
               a. Power to witness
          2. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
               a. The empowering love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit gives overflowing hope.
          3. Romans 15:19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,
               a. The empowering love of God gives signs and wonders as a demonstration of God’s reality.

     C.   The Holy Spirit Right Now
          1.  John 3:34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
          2.  Luke 11:11-13
11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
         3.  Ephesians 5:18
18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

keep on being filled by the Spirit.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.

Visit with us in person at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


View Larger Map

The Supremacy of Love

By Tony V. Hammack
 
These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.

Love is Supreme
Supreme means highest in rank or authority , highest in degree or quality

All Love originates from God
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Love can come through people in Authority also. But the love still originates with God.

• Everything Originates with God:  One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.  The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."  God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!"  But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."  The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.  God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no.  Get your own dirt.

Generational Blessings
Luke 15:12
12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

God’s Love for us is Great
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Cross
The Cross is the place where sin is removed for everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus.
It’s the place where God shows his radical, extreme, like nothing else, love for you.
When you’re loved it puts value into your life and the Cross says, “You’re this valuable to me”.

The Greatest Commandment
Matthew 22:36-39
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

The Ten Commandments Exodus 20:3-17

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The red commandments are man to God commandments. The green commandment #5 is considered the transitional commandment and commandment's 6 - 10 speak to our human interpersonal relationships.


The Mary and Martha Paradox
Luke 10:39,42
Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.“

Being loved by God and Loving God is the “work” of the Christian.


All Christian Activity should spring forth from a Love relationship with the Lord Jesus. If it springs forth from something else there’s a good chance it could be a dead work. Birthed with wrong motivation and not producing fruit.

Without Love We have Nothing
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is Superior to

• Spiritual Gifts
• Prophecy
• Tongues
• Supernatural Knowledge
• Mountain Moving Faith
• Extreme giving
• Martyrdom

Do we Love God?
1 John 4:20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Brotherly Love
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Some Oxymorons

• Military Intelligence
• Jumbo Shrimp
• A Lukewarm Christian

How much time does God give us to get heated up?
Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

In Conclusion
We must position ourselves to receive Love from God.
Once we receive Love we are now able to give, love, obey and serve the Lord with proper motivation.
A true test of our love for God is how we love one another in the Body of Christ.

Receive the Love of God today. Express your heart to Christ this in total and complete honesty and allow Him to speak to you.

Once you experience his radical love you will never be the same.

Our Response
Can we be loved this immensely and not love God in return? The only way we can do anything less than express God’s perfect love is by dis-connecting from a hot relationship with God. Re-connect today, receive God’s love and be a vessel of honor spreading the Love of God wherever you go.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


View Larger Map