GOD IS LOVE

“GOD IS.. HE IS LOVE”
1John 4: 7-8

Intro:
Sally was only eight years old when she heard Mommy and Daddy talking about her little brother, Georgi. He was very sick and they had done everything they
could afford to save his life. Only a very expensive surgery could help him now . . . and that was out of the financial question. She heard Daddy say it
with a whispered desperation,
"Only a miracle can save him now."
Sally went to her bedroom and pulled her piggybank from its hiding place in the closet. She shook all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.
Three times. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Tying the coins up in a cold-weather-kerchief, she slipped out of the apartment
and made her way to the corner drug store.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her attention . . but he was too busy talking to another man to be bothered by an eight-year-old. Sally
twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.
She cleared her throat. No good. Finally she took a quarter from its hiding place and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm talking to my brother."
"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Sally answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's sick . .. . and I want to buy a miracle."
"I beg your pardon," said the pharmacist.
"My Daddy says only a miracle can save him now . . . so how much does a miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I can't help you."
"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. Just tell me how much it costs."
The well-dressed man stooped down and asked, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?"
"I don't know," Sally answered. A tear started down her cheek. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my folks can't pay
for it . . . so I have my money.
"How much do you have?" asked the well-dressed man.
"A dollar and eleven cents," Sally answered proudly. "And it's all the money I have in the world."
"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the well-dressed man. A dollar and eleven cents . . . the exact price of a miracle to save a little brother.
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your
parents."
That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, renowned surgeon. . specializing in solving Georgi's malady. The operation was completed without charge
and it wasn't long until Georgi was home again and doing well. Mommy and Daddy were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this
place.

"That surgery," Mommy whispered. "It's like a miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?
Sally smiled to herself. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one dollar and eleven cents... plus the love and faith of a little child.
There are times in life, when each an every one of us is pushed to the breaking point. There is that moment in time that comes when we just aren’t sure we can go one more step. It is at this point when we should stop, and consider the amazing love of god for his children. God’s love never grows tired, or contrary. His love is so great, that it is able to forgive our sins. (Psa 103: 12)
Today, I would like for us to look at two ideas about the love of god. Someone once said, “In order to know God, we must know love.” Let us come to know love, that we might truly come to know God.
As in each of the previous lessons, conviction will determine conduct. If you believe that God loves you, then that will be one of the great guiding forces in your life. However, if you do not believe in God’s love, then you will live a lonely life. Join me then as we consider the wonderful love of God.

I WHAT IS LOVE?

1. First, we need to realize that God is love.
A. 1John 4: 8 That he is love is a part of his divine nature, and can not be denied.
B. This fact is obvious both in word and in deed.
2. What is love? First, love is giving.
A. Gen 2: 18-25 God’s love for Adam in that he gave him Eve!
B. Gen 21: 3 God’s love for Abraham, in that he gave him Isaac!
C. Ex 12: 51 God’s love for Israel, in that he gave them freedom!
D. Luke 23: 39-43 God’s love for the thief, in that he gave him peace of mind.
E. Ro 5: 8 God’s love for humanity, in that he gave us salvation!
3. Just as God is love, so love is also a teacher.
A. Jn 14: 21 Love teaches us to love Christ, and his commandments!
B. 1Th 4: 9 Love teaches us to care for one another!
C. Eph 3: 17 Love teaches us to be rooted and grounded in the truth of God’s word!
D. Mk 12: 30 Love teaches us to love God with all that we have!

II TO WHOM IS LOVE SHOWN?

1. There are three groups to whom God has shown his love.
A. god has shown his love to his CHILDREN.
B. God has shown his love to his CHURCH.
C. God has shown his love to his CREATION.
2. In what way has God shown his love to his children?
A. By the fulfilling of his promises.
B. Gen 22: 18 Through the fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham!
C. Jn 1: 29 Through the fulfilling of the promise made concerning the messiah!
D. Heb 9: 28 Through the fulfilling of the promise to return, and reward the faithful!
3. In what way has God shown his love to his church?
A. In the protection he has given.
B. So many times during the history of the Lord’s church, the future has looked so bleak.
C. Yet time and time again, just as the book of Revelation promises, God has seen us through!
4. In what way has god shown his love for his creation?
A. Through the giving of himself.
B. Jn 3: 16 God so loved his creation, that he gave his son.
C. Col 1: 19 In the person of Christ dwelt both man and God.
D. In the giving of his son, God also gave a part of himself, that we might have everlasting life.