FAITHFUL LOVE

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SERMONS FROM OUR SONGS
“FAITHFUL LOVE”
“WHAT CAN IT DO FOR YOU?”
(SONGS OF FAITH AND PRAISE #18)

Intro:
Imagine if you will that we are all guests at a beautiful wedding. The room is a buzz with excitement, joy, and love. Everyone is in their seats in anticipation of that magical moment.
Just then, the music starts, heads turn, and the minister intones, “Please rise.” As we stand, we see her. She is a vision. A long white flowing dress, a smile that can be seen even through the vale which covers her blushing face, and a daddy who looks both happy and sad all at the same time.
As she passes by, we all marvel at her beauty. We follow her progress to the front of the church where stands a young man in a nice suit, and a smile to rival that of the bride. They meet, the traditional words are spoken, and we resume our seats, and look on with pride at these two wonderful people who have come to declare their obvious love for one another.
The minister begins, and a hush falls over the whole of the assembly. Finally, the time comes for the exchanging of rings and vows. The bride and groom are told to face one another. However, before the minister can speak, the groom holds up his hand and says that he has something which needs to be said before vows are spoken. We are all puzzled, but we expect that he is about to offer up some spontaneous proclamation of love. “Honey”, he begins, “I do indeed love you.” We reach and wipe away a tear which has formed in our eye. “I will always love you, but there’s something you need to know.” We set up straighter. What is going on? “I am going to marry you today, but please understand that it is impossible for me to promise to be faithful to only you for the rest of my life.” “I will provide for you, love you, help you in any way that I can, but faithfulness just isn’t something that I can promise.”
Well, we are outraged! Of course she will now stomp away, and she will leave that bum right where he stands. However… “Yes”, the bride replies, “That’s fine.” Talk about being shocked, you could knock us over with a feather. “In fact, I cannot promise to be faithful to you either.” “There will be times when I want to go out with someone else, or perhaps I will put my work, friends, family, or personal pleasure ahead of you.” Much to our astonishment, the wedding continues as though these ridiculous words had never been spoken.
Did you catch what just happened? The idea of committed love, everlasting love, honest love, faithful love was discarded like a dirty napkin. You hear that story, and your first reaction is disbelief. You think to yourself, yeah well that doesn’t really happen. However, brethren I am here to tell you that it does happen, and you and I are the perpetrators. We are guilty of entering into a committed, loving, trusting, honest, faithful relationship with God, but we offer very little in exchange. We want the benefits, but without all the hassle.
Tonight, we want to continue with our sermon series. You will recall that we are examining the different lessons which we can take from the songs which we sing. Tonight we come to song #18 “Faithful Love.” This song was written by Ken Young in 1994. This is one of those songs which has grown in popularity over the last several years. More and more congregations are implementing it into their worship services, and rightly so.
For the purposes of our series, I want us to closely examine the real message behind this song. As we go, I want you to remember that young couple we spoke of in the introduction of our lesson. I want you to fix them in your mind, and I want you to decide if they are representative of you. Here’s what I’m going to suggest to you tonight. As we look at the words to this wonderful hymn, we are going to learn what it is that true, honest, committed, faithful love can and will do for you. I want you to learn why you yourself need to have a faithful relationship with the savior. After all, if you look at the chorus, you can clearly see who the writer says that faithful love is. “For I’ve seen faithful love face to face, and Jesus is his name!”
I want to begin this lesson by pointing something out to you. It is absolutely impossible to simply say, “Jesus is faithful love.” First of all, that doesn’t explain anything about him. Secondly, Christ cannot be summarized in a cute catch phrase, or song chorus, or even in a sermon. However, if you take the song as a whole, you will find a much greater appreciation for who Jesus is, and what it is that he does for you and me.
Here tonight, I want us to take a few moments, and examine the words to this beautiful song. I want us to leave here tonight knowing more about the savior we have been given.

I. FAITHFUL LOVE IS A FRIEND

There is an obvious question that we must address in order to understand the point which is being made here in verse 2. That question is: “What is a friend?” In order to provide an answer, I decided to go out looking for definitions on the internet. Literally there were thousands of hits which came back to me. I finally narrowed it down to a site which provided quotes from different sources. I’d like to share with you the top ten answers which I found.
• “A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.”
• “A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be.”
• “Friendship isn’t a big thing- it is a million little things.”
• “Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.” (Sicilian Proverb)
• “The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.” (Aristotle)
• One who multiplies joys, divides grief, and whose honesty is invaluable.”
• “One who understands our silence.”
• “A volume of sympathy bound in cloth.”
• “A watch that beats true for all time and never runs down.”
• “A friend is one who does his knocking before he enters instead of after he leaves.”
I think we can all agree that each of these definitions have merit. However, in my mind, there is one which stands out above the rest in terms of illustrating who Faithful love is in regards to being a friend. Faithful Love is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.
In order to see this concept in scripture, I want to invite you to turn to John 11. I’m confident that many, if not all of you, recognize this as the account of one of Christ’s most amazing miracles. Here in this passage, we see the resurrection of Lazarus. Again, I’m certain that many, if not all of us, know the account quite well. However, what I think we often miss is the wonderful example which Christ gives us on the type of friend we ought to be. I’m not saying that we should raise the dead, but I would suggest that this passage speaks to the need for friends to make sacrifices for one another.
IN order to understand this idea, you will need to back up into the previous chapter. There we find Jesus, along with his disciples, in Jerusalem. Christ has recently restored sight to a blind man in John 9: 1-, and beginning in John 10: 1, we find him addressing both the Pharisees who had heard and questioned this healing, as well as those who followed after him.
In John 10: 19, we find that there is a division among the Jews, and while some believe him, still others want to stone him. (John 10: 31) In fact, John 10: 39 reveals to us that the Jews, “sought to take him”, or as we would say, “kill him”, but he escaped from their hands.
Now, let’s return to John 11: 1. There we learn that this friend of Jesus, this man named Lazarus, is sick, and stands at the door of death. As we continue to read, we learn that these weren’t just acquaintances, but people whom Christ loved. (John 11: 5) Before Jesus reached Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, the latter passed away. (John 11: 11) The real point that I want you to see here is the discussion which takes place between Jesus and his disciples, in verses 7-10. There Christ declares that they must go to Judaea. What jumps out at us is the statement made by the disciples in verse 8. There they ask: “His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?” Wait! Where is it exactly that Christ is going? According to John 11: 1, Lazarus lived in the land called Bethany. The question then becomes, where is Bethany.
(Map will be shown on PowerPoint, not available in text version.) Here you can see the location of this small village which existed in the 1st century. Bethany was located on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives. For our purposes, the most important fact is it’s proximity to Jerusalem. As you can see, it was only about 2 miles from Jerusalem. That’s right, the very same Jerusalem where attempts to kill Christ had already taken place. I want you to notice the fact that Christ didn’t allow that to stand in his way. Yes, he knew of the opportunity which existed in Bethany to show the power which God had given him, that is true and we wouldn’t try to deny it. However, we must also admit that these people meant something to Jesus. As already stated, he loved them. (John 11: 5) It is in that spirit of love, that spirit of friendship that he traveled to Bethany despite the danger to his own life. Christ understood that true friendship sometimes requires sacrificial love.
In his book, “DAD, THE FAMILY COACH”, Dave Simmons relates the following story. He states that their family motto wasn’t “Love is action”, rather it was, “Love is sacrificial action.” “Love always pays a price. Love always costs something. Love is expensive.”
Mr. Simmons had taken his kids, Helen 8 and Brandon 5, to the Mall to do some shopping. When they arrived they noticed that there was a petting zoo set up outside for the children. Both children asked if they could go, and Dave gave them each a quarter, and sent them off to enjoy the animals.
As Mr. Simmons was walking through the hardware department, he found that his daughter was walking along behind him. This struck him as strange because he knew how much Helen enjoyed animals.
He asked her why she wasn’t at the petting zoo. She replied, with a very sad look on her face, that it cost fifty cents to get in, and she had given her quarter to Brandon so he could pet the animals. She then looked to her father and quoted the family motto. “Love is sacrificial action.”
Mr. Simmons concludes by saying that he had more money that he could have given her, but the lesson she learned that day far exceeded any time she might have spent with the creatures.
Brethren, from the second verse of #18, “FAITHFUL LOVE”, we see that the faithful love that we call our friend is willing to make the sacrifice for us despite the danger to himself. He does it that he might restore hope! He does it that he might be that welcome face, provide that sweet embrace, that tender touch filled with grace! Indeed and without question, Jesus, our Faithful love, is a wonderful friend! He is a friend who comes in, offering comfort, even when the whole rest of the world has gone out!

II. FAITHFUL LOVE IS ENDLESS POWER

I want to ask you to open your Bibles to Luke 8, and consider verses 43-48 with me. In the context, we find that Christ is going about the Father’s work. He has just recently cast out the Demons from a man, and cast them into a herd of swine.
Beginning in verse 40, we find that Christ has returned to the city of Capernaum. Before he can begin, a ruler in the synagogue came and begged Christ to heal his sick daughter. As Christ stood speaking with him, a very special woman approached Jesus.
Luke 8: 42-43 reveals to us that this woman had been afflicted with an issue of blood for some 12 years. She had spent all of her money going to different doctors, but had nothing to show for it except a smaller bank account.
When she came to Jesus, she approached him as he was in the midst of a crowd. She reached out her hand, touched the hem of his robe, and was instantly healed.
You are most likely wondering why I shared this story with you. There is one part in particular that I want you to see. Luke 8: 43 states: “And a woman having an issue of blood TWELVE YEARS.” There she has suffered for so long, and the truth of the matter is that all it took was a simple touch to guide her back to health.
Let me ask you something: how often are we like this woman? We wonder about looking for something to help us, yet we refuse to see that the answer to our prayers is right in front of our face?
Let me try to explain what I’m saying with the following story. A missionary was working in a foron land. He, as all missionaries worked on a limited and very strict budget.
One day, as he slipped behind the wheel of the car which his supporting congregation had provided him, he found that the car wouldn’t start. He had to make his rounds, but he knew that he would need some help. So, he went to the local school, obtained permission to use a couple of the stronger young men, and carried them around with him for quite some time. He would park and go into his studies, then when he was finished, the boys would help him push the car off, in order to get it going.
After about two years of this, the missionary fell into bad health. The church back home sent a man to take his place in the field, but asked that he stay long enough to train the new man.
As he was explaining the system for getting the car going, and keeping it going, the young missionary looked under the hood, and said, “Brother here’s your problem!” He then reached in, twisted a couple of wires, got in the car, turned the key and smiled as the engine caught on the first try.
There is a very simple lesson to take from this story. We so often over complicate our problems. We worry, fret, ponder, and stew in every way conceivable, over things that could be fixed if we simply went to the right source. Yes, brethren there is a source of power which has made itself available to us if we simply take advantage of it.
Notice the second half of verse 2: “Faithful love endless power, living flame, spirits fire burning bright in the night lighting our way.” Faithful Love, he whom we have identified as Jesus, is an endless source of power to us.
Now, the question must be addressed, what does he have the power to do? Again, I think the verse provides the answer.
He has endless power to provide endless guidance!
Look at the verse: “Living flame, spirits fire burning bright in the night guiding my way!” This always brings to my mind a camp fire set in the middle of a dark wood. All around the fire is darkness, cold, and many other things we don’t want to consider. However, in the area nearest that campfire, there is warmth, light, and safety!
Christ is that campfire. The dark wood is the world which harbors so many dangers for us. Notice what Jesus himself said in John 8: 12. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
When we try to lead ourselves through this dark sin stained world, we will become lost each and every time! However, when we follow that living flame, that spirits fire which burns so bright for all to see: we will discover that it leads home each and every time! After all, Christ did tell us that he is “the way.” (John 14: 6)
It is because Christ is endless power, that he can provide endless guidance.

III. FAITHFULVE IS MY SALVATION

There is something special that you will find in verse 1. There we sing: “Faithful love flowing down from the thorn covered crown, makes me whole, saves my soul, washes whiter than snow. Faithful love calms each fear, reaches down, dries each tear, holds my hand when I can’t stand on my own.” Here in this verse, we see the focus of God. Notice the wording. “Makes ME whole”, “saves MY soul”, “”holds MY hand when I can’t stand on my own.” There will be some who say, “Well, that’s the author of the song taking poetic license with the song.” However, I would point out to you that these ideas are Biblical in the extreme.
First, let’s think about the fact that Christ’s faithful love can indeed make us whole. Notice Matthew 19: 16-22. If we begin at the end of the account, verse 22 tells us that this young man was wealthy. We might be tempted to think that he has all he’ll ever want. After all, according to our way of thinking money equals happiness. However, this man who “had it all”, comes to Christ in Matthew 19: 16. Why did he come to Jesus? He came because there was something missing. He came because he wasn’t whole. He came because he knew that Christ and Christ alone could make him whole. Now, unfortunately for the young man, he wanted his wealth more than he wanted to be made whole. Nevertheless, I want to encourage you to understand that faithful love can make you whole.
Second, verse 1 states that faithful love “saves MY soul.” Think about the words of Peter as he stood before the counsel in Acts 4. There he is giving a defense of Christ, and he says to them, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Peter’s statement supports this notion that faithful love can save the sin stained soul of man. In fact Peter takes it a step further, and points out that it is the only name which can save mankind.
Finally, we sing, “Holds MY hand when I can’t stand on my own.” Some of the most beautiful verses written by the Apostle Paul are found in Romans 5: 6-8. Beginning in verse 6 we are told: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
“When we were yet without strength.” Folks, that’s speaking of that time when we were unable to stand on our own. That time when the burden of sin took us down, and held us down. This uplifting song is proclaiming to us that it was, is, and forever will be at that time when Christ will hold us by the hand and help us stand on higher ground!
Before we close, I want you to see one other thing about this first verse. We’ve shown that the focus is on our salvation. What I want you to notice as we close is that he has done all the work. That salvation, which we so desperately needed, flows down from that thorn covered crown which they forced upon his head. (John 19: 2

CONCLUSION:

Faithful love is indeed a friend, endless power, and the one and only means by which we might obtain salvation. Christ has made a commitment to you. He has pledged to be faithful to you forever. Let me ask you, have you offered him that same level of commitment? Or, are you like that couple we spoke of in the beginning, and only willing to commit when it fits your schedule? The time is come for you to commit to Christ, faithfully and forever.