Last night (Wednesday) I spoke on “The Strength of the Church” (archive at our church website below). That strength is not based on the talent and abilities of those that are in the church. Those things may be present in our congregation. The strength of the Church is not found in gifted ministries that are able to manifest the gift that is present in their life. And we think God for gifted ministries, that are placed there for our edification.
However, the determining factor for the strength of the local Church is our LOVE for the LORD Jesus. The depth of our relationship with God is found in that. Our LOVE for the LORD should be our supreme reason behind all we do and all we are as Christians ((1 Cor 13:1-3).
1 John 4:7-11
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
[For God is love] He is not merely kind and loving, He is LOVE itself. In spite of the darkness of this world of sin – we have the assurance that our God of infinite kindness rules over all; even though we as mortals do not understand. We have a consolation in “believing” that it is so, and may look forward to a time when we will. Regardless of what we see as bad and sad, there are abundant evidences that God is love.
Knowing there would be a fall, God of LOVE made arrangements to alleviate sorrow, and to put an end to it, by the gift of a Saviour. A expression of LOVE.
Even in this world of confusion, disorder, and darkness, we have evidence that proves that He is LOVE. Even though the full meaning of that truth will be known only in heaven. Meantime, we must hold on to the truth that He is love. Let us believe that He sincerely desires our good, and that what seems dark to us may be designed for our welfare; and amidst all the sorrows and disappointments of the present life, let us feel that our interests and our destiny are in the hands of the God of love.
1) GIFTS MUST BE OPERATED BY LOVE
It is in this way we know the true or the false.
1 Cor 13:1-3
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned , and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
The only acceptable motive in service. “…lovest thou me more than these?”
John 21:15-17
60-0522M ADOPTION.3_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN AD.3 SUNDAY_
I’m fifty; if I live to be ninety or a hundred, have another fifty years to preach, and I never preach a time, go down and set on the river, I’m saved anyhow. God saved me by His grace, unmerited of anything I ever could do, did do, or anything else. I preach because I love Him, and I love His people. And I… That’s the reason I know I’ve passed from death unto Life, because that I love them, and I go after them. No matter what kind of condition they’re in; I go after them anyhow. Go get them anyhow, pull them anyhow. If ministers disagree and others disagree, and denominations disagree, that don’t stop me. There’s something… It didn’t stop Him. He come right in the midst of unbelief, and it didn’t stop Him; He moved right on anyhow. That’s what we do: go out and get them, catch them anyhow. No matter, reach, grab, hold on with all your might. You don’t know who they are. Save them. That’s because of love. Not because that I have to, but because I love, because you love.
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« E-50 † So it isn’t some law that I have to preach the Gospel; isn’t some law that I have to do this; it’s because I love Him so much. I just love to do it. And if you love Him like that… As long as I love my wife like that, she don’t have to never worry. And as long as she loves me like that, she don’t have to worry.
56-0726 LOVE_ SHREVEPORT.LA THURSDAY_
« E-79 † You know what, while you’re praying, what’s the success of my praying for the sick? Here it is: I love you. That’s what makes it. Why will He answer my prayers? Because I love Him. He loves me. I got confidence in Him.
54-1114 REDEMPTION.BY.JUDGMENT_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN SUNDAY_
Sometimes those trials come just to try us. And every son that cometh to God must be chastised of God. And if we cannot stand chastisement, then we are illegitimate children and not the children of God. Brother, there’s something about Christianity, that when a man is born again, it puts something in him that keeps him. Now, there’s just something in there that does something to him. Sure. Now, I didn’t come over on the Lord’s side over here or him say–over here just to have a good time. I come over here because I love Him. And I must help Him bear the burden.
Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go free?
There’s a cross for every one,
… there’s a cross for me.
2) CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A LAW
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Brother, you don’t serve God under a frown of a serpent. God is not one of these guys with a blacksnake whip, driving you around. He’s a Father. He’s Love. God is Love. And the Bible said, in Saint John, “He that loveth is of God.”
« 365 † You love God. I wouldn’t be, if I went out and–and got on a drunk tonight. I never drank, in my life. But if I went out and got on a drunk, I wouldn’t be afraid of getting a whipping. That isn’t the reason I don’t go–go, don’t go do it. The reason I don’t do it, is because I love Him. He loves me. It’s not a works of law. It’s not something that I got to do. It’s because He’s already done something for me, and I love Him for it. There you are.
57-0908E HEBREWS.CHAPTER.SIX.2_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN HEB SUNDAY_
« 381 † You get scared. And that’s the reason scare, a scare, fear companies doubt.
Love companies faith. I love my Father. I’m not afraid of Him, because I love Him. He wouldn’t hurt me. He will do good for me. If I was scared of Him, and, “Oh, I don’t know whether He will do it, or not.” See?
382 But if I love Him, “Yes, Father, I–I love You. And I know You’re–You’re my Father, and You love me, and I’m not afraid but what You’ll keep Your Word. It’s Your promise to me.” That’s the way the Spirit of God does.
383 “But, oh, if I did this, if I did that.” See, there you come to the legal side, again. Never go to the legal side. It’s negative.
« 384 † The positive side is what you want. It’s already a finished work. Christ died, and the sin was killed when He died. And if God foreordained you to Eternal Life, “All the Father has given Me, will come to Me.” There you are, can’t be lost. You’re secured forever. “For by one Spirit we’re all baptized into one Body, and by one sacrifice He has perfected forever.” There you are. There’s no way for us to lose. Correctly. Now, don’t it make you feel good? [Congregation says, “Amen.”–Ed.]
385 Now, how do you know you’re a Christian? When your spirit bears record with His Spirit, when the love of God is in your heart, when you have love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, patience, goodness, meekness. That’s when you… The fruits of the Spirit is following your life.
386 Not because you can dance in the Spirit, oh, to this modern rhythm, whoop it up on a piano, to a lot of this here dancing in the Spirit. Them things are all right. But they took the whole thing over on that legal side, see, and therefore, they left the Spirit of God in the back.
3) I LOVE HIM GOOD OR BAD
54-1024 THE.UNPARDONABLE.SIN_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN V-26 N-8 SUNDAY_
« 102 † I’ve been through depression. I’ve been through prosperity. I’ve seen it, altogether. But I wouldn’t turn loose the hand of Jesus Christ for all the money and the wealth that you could pile on the face of this earth, and everything else. He’s my Friend when I’m broke. He’s my Friend when I got plenty. I love Him when I’m hungry. I love Him when I’m filled. I love Him when I’m in sorrow. I love Him when I’m happy. I love Him because I love Him, because He first loved me. Amen. Hallelujah.
4) OUR SALVATION IS NOT A HEAVEN OR HELL ISSUE – LOVE
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«114 † But I don’t serve the Lord because I think He’d send me to hell if I didn’t; I serve Him because I love Him. I serve Him because there’s something in me. If you go out and say, “Well, I have to quit doing this because my church don’t believe in it,” you’re just playing the part of a hypocrite. That’s right. But if you do it because that it–you love it, and–and it’s a contribution to God, and something in your heart making the love of God so greater to you than these things, now you’re on the right line. But if I didn’t drink, smoke, chew, cuss, do nothing else, I’d still go to hell. Sure. I joined all the churches, was baptized, and had my name on all the books, and played a good part, and lived a good life: “Except a man be borned again, he can’t even see the Kingdom of God.” That’s right.
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And since being converted and giving my life to the Lord Jesus some thirty years ago, when I was just a boy… And if I had one regret in my life, the greatest regret that I… I have many of them. But the greatest regret is: that I did not give my life to the Lord Jesus when I were younger. I was perhaps about twenty years old when I made that decision.
But if I’d have did that when I was the age of this little lad setting here, I believe, maybe, I could’ve won more souls to Him. And if I am turned down at the end of the road, He won’t let me in, I’m–I’m going to love Him anyhow. ‘Cause I just love Him, because I love Him.
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« 107 † Oh, there’s so much of this legalism today, the “touch not, taste not.” You don’t do things legally. I didn’t come to this church tonight legally. I feel tired; I–I–I’ve been nervous; I’m upset; I’m wondering about something that’s out before me; my heart’s burning, even as such as much till my heart’s fluttering. I got a cramp, pain, right at this minute, just shooting back and forth, up and down through here; weak, nervous, trembly; catch a hold here and squeeze; got my toes squeezed up in my shoes. I felt anything but come down here. Why did I come, then? Because I love God. Live or die, I must stand here for Him. It’s not because I have to. He wouldn’t care about whether I did or not. I’d–If I’d die I’d go to heaven anyhow. But I’m coming because I love Him. You serve God because you love Him, not because you just got to do it. Because you love Him enough…
57-0519A HEAR.YE.HIM_ SASKATOON.SK SUNDAY_
« E-77 † The state senator of Indiana comes to my church. He met me going up the road a few days after that. I was walking along crying. He said, “Billy, I want to ask you something.” He jumped out of his car, put his arm around me. He said, “I’ve heard you down here on the street corner.” I was just a young Baptist preacher. He said, “I’ve heard you on the street corner, preaching. I’ve heard you over yonder at the Baptist church preaching, in the Tabernacle and so forth.” Said, “What does Christ mean to you now. Do you still love Him?”
I said, “Mr. Isler, if He sent me to hell, I’d still love Him.” Why? It wasn’t just something in my mind. Something happened down here. That’s what I am talking about, brother, is love.
Pastor Bill Ivy – Living Word Tabernacle, Campbell Missouri USA