Temple Baptist Church - 8-2-2009
Ephesians 3:13-21; Romans 8:28-39
Introduction:
A. One of the great attributes the Bible ascribes to the Lord is that of love. The Word of God declares that “God is love.” God does not try to love for He is love.
B. The love of God is incomprehensible to sinful man. We have read so in these verses.
1. The Breadth Of God’s Love – 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (I cannot understand it, but I believe it!)
2. The Length Of God’s Love – Psalms 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (I cannot understand it, but I have seen it!)
3. The Depth Of God’s Love – 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (I cannot understand it, but I have received it!)
4. The Height Of God’s Love – Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (I cannot understand it, but I have experienced it!)
C. How wonderful is love like this! We can never fully comprehend the love of God in this life but it will be wonderfully manifested to us in eternity. The Bible does say that we can “know” it though!
D. Paul’s desire for the Ephesian believers was that they “faint not” at his tribulations. The valleys of this life can cause the believer to faint! It is easy to talk about God’s amazing love for us while on the mountain tops of this life, but it is in the valley that we are to truly know the love of God for us.
Read Romans 8:28-39 – I want you to see four things about the love of God in these verses.
1. Love’s Purpose – vs. 28-34
a. We need to know that God is in control of our lives.
b. We need to know that God allows the bad as well as gives the good.
c. We need to know that God has absolute power in all circumstances of life.
2. Love’s Perception – vs. 35-36
a. In tribulation (troubles), our perception of God’s love often changes. Would God allow this to happen to me if He really loved me?
b. In distress (when I am at wits end and my soul is disquieted and my spirit overwhelmed), our perception of God’s love changes as we often lose all hope and give into despair. Does God really love me?
c. In persecution (when we suffer for righteousness sake), our perception of God’s love sometimes changes as we do right and have to suffer for it. Even those of our own church family will turn upon us. Does God really love me to allow this suffering?
d. In nakedness (when we have needs that seemingly are not met),our perception of God’s love can change. The wicked prosper all around us while we do without. Does God really love me?
e. Or peril (visible or perceived evidence that we are getting ready to catch it so to speak), our perception of God’s love can change when we know trouble is inevitable. Does God really love us?
f. Or sword (when that which we feared comes to fruition), our perception of God’s love can deteriorate when we are accounted as “sheep for the slaughter.” Lord, to you really love me?
3. Love’s Power – vs. 37
a. NAY! God does still love us
b. God will give us victory in every circumstance as He has already overcome the world. Greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world!
4. Love’s Promise – vs. 38-39
a. We need to be persuaded! We need to know that nothing in this world or in the world to come can separate or even diminish the love of God for us that is found in Christ Jesus.
b. When we face the enemy, when our hearts are broke, when we are at wits end, when all we have tried has failed, we need to know that God’s love for us is still as secure as it was in the good times.
c. We need to know that when these times come, He will be there with us (not leave thee) and for us (nor forsake thee).
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