God’s love

• There are many misconceptions about God’s love:

  • That He loves us so much that He would not punish us

  • If God really loved us, He would not allow evil in the world

• I Corinthians 13:3 – The greatest of these attributes is love. It is what should underpin everything else in our lives.

• I John 3:1, 11-24

• I John 4:7-21 – Love is at the forefront of our relationship with God.

• Galatians 2:20

• Jeremiah 29:11; 31:3

• John 3:13-36

• John 15:9-17

Introduction

• Matthew 16:19

• Ephesians 4:4

• Even if all these passages were not in the New Testament, it could still be shown that there is one saved relationship with God.

The beginning

• Genesis 2:15; 1:26; 2:17

• To have fellowship with God, Adam and Even had to obey His commands.

• Genesis 4:3-8 – Cain disobeyed God, severing his relationship with God.

Noah’s time

• Genesis 6-7 – Only eight souls obeyed God and were saved.

Abraham’s time

• Genesis 22 – Abraham attempts to obey God in sacrificing Isaac. Abraham followed God’s plan in this.

Lot’s time

• Genesis 19 – Angels come to Lot’s house to rescue him and his family before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. God’s plan for his people was to leave Sodom.

Moses’ time

• Exodus 20 – God gives the ten commandments to guide His people at that time.

• Numbers 13 – Spies search out the land of Canaan.

• Numbers 20 – The people murmur and Moses strikes the rock. God refuses to let Moses enter the land of Canaan. Moses disobeyed and severed fellowship with God.

Romans 15:4

• God, for one people, has never had but one plan by which He would bless them.

• Matthew 16:19; Acts 20:28; John 14:26; 16:13; II Timothy 3:16-17

• Matthew 15:8-9

• Mark 16:15-16

• Acts 2:36; I Peter 3:21 – This is the one way to have fellowship with God!

• Acts 22

• I John 1:6-7

Luke 16:22, 29

Trusting God …

• About the city with foundations

  • Genesis 11:31-32

  • Acts 7:2

  • Genesis 12:1-9

  • Hebrews 11:8-10

  • Ur was a big, opulent city in Abraham’s day. Abraham was giving up a comfortable life to obey God.

  • Hebrews 11:13-16

  • Philippians 3:20 – Our citizenship is in heaven!

  • Colossians 3:2

• When it’s emotional

  • Genesis 22:1-12 – Abraham did not delay obeying God. He arose early to travel three days to sacrifice his son.

  • Hebrews 11:17-19

  • Matthew 5:44

  • James 2:21-24

• In old age

  • Genesis 12:4; 16:16; 17:1-3, 16-19, 23

  • Genesis 21:5-8

  • Genesis 23:1-2 – The death of Sarah.

  • Genesis 25:7-8

Conflict and anger

• Slow down

  • Proverbs 12:16; 14:17, 29; 16:32; 19:11; 25:28

  • Anger can be controlled! Ephesians 4:26-27

  • Adrenaline is often not helpful when dealing with a conflict. We have to deliberately slow ourselves down and avoid sinning in our anger.

• Love others (even enemies)

  • Proverbs 10:12; 24:17-18; 25:21-22

  • Romans 12:17-21

  • Love is not just accepting others’ actions regardless of whether they are sinful or not. Luke 17:3-4; I Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 4:32

• Seek peace with others

  • Proverbs 15:18; 16:7; 17:14; 18:19; 20:3; 25:8-10; 26:17; 29:8-9

  • Sometimes Christians may get the wrong idea that more conflict means that they are serving God better. There will be conflict with people of the world as we serve God, but that does not mean that conflict itself is a good thing. II Timothy 3:12; Galatians 2:11

  • We have to make peace where we can without compromising God’s word. I Kings 17:17-18; Ezekiel 3:3-11; Acts 15:1-2

• Be careful of association with others

  • Proverbs 19:19; 21:9; 25:24; 22:10, 24-25; 26:20-21; 27:3, 15-16; 29:22

  • The world is full of people that are cantankerous and like to stir up trouble. God’s people have better things to do than to get dragged into the mud.

  • There are several proverbs about a “contentious woman,” but men can be contentious, too! I Samuel 25:2-3, 10-11, 17, 25

Patience

• Modern technology and convenience can promote impatience.

• Christ’s patience with His friends

  • Philip – John 14:6-9
    • Jesus was patient with Philip’s lack of understanding.
  • Thomas – John 20:24-29
    • Jesus was patient in showing Thomas the evidence he was seeking.

• Christ’s patience with enemies

  • Saul – Matthew 28:18; Acts 7:54-60; 8:1-3; I timothy 1:12-16

  • Noah – I Peter 3:18-20

• Conclusion

  • Romans 9:20-22; II Thessalonians 3:1-5