Arouse the Love

Arouse the Love

! Timothy 1: ³ I want you to stay in Ephesus, just as I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia. Some people there are teaching false doctrines, and you must order them to stop. ⁴ Tell them to give up those legends and those long lists of ancestors, which only produce arguments; they do not serve God's plan, which is known by faith. ⁵ The purpose of this order is to arouse the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith. 

 

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Angered by the driver darting in front of me, I yelled out in fury. “You can’t do that!” was my outburst. But words were not enough. I darted into the next lane, hoping to pass the reckless driver, but traffic did not allow me to “win the prize” of getting in front. I drove angrily the rest of the trip.

 

• I was affected by something out of my control.
• I was easily taken away from peace to rage.
• I wanted to “teach” the driver a lesson, but this lesson had the wrong motive.

 

Paul warns Timothy about those who were practicing false teaching. He sent an order to stop their practice of arguing over lineage. He also told them to focus on faith in JESUS. Lastly, he presents Timothy with purpose.

 

My Observations

• A pure heart can only be provided by GOD when HE dwells inside me.
• A clear conscience can only be obtain when GOD forgives me.
• A genuine faith can only be fostered when it is placed in JESUS.

 

Believing that I am better than someone else because of my ancestors is a lie. I mean, every human is a sinner, so no one is better than the next. JESUS deserves the praise and that should be my focus. HIS love should be aroused in my purpose.

 

HE gave me the HOLY SPIRIT who cleanse my heart when I soil it. HE helps me forgive myself when I fail. HE guides me to the truth which is JESUS, upon which I can place my faith. I am glad GOD’s love is aroused towards me and you.

 

Challenge

• Why did the writer give the recipient this warning?
• Have you ever wanted to feel superior to someone else?
• Will you accept GOD’s purpose for your life and arouse HIS love today?

After the Violence

After the Violence

Acts 11: ¹⁹ Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. ²⁰ But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

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When a fight broke out after the game, it seemed like mild chaos enflamed. We looked around for busses that had people who wore our school colors. We ran towards those busses, feeling safe when they left the stadium. We could continue our victory chants as the bus pulled away.

• There were times when I felt safer around my own.
• There were times when I got scared and looked for my kind of people in order to be safe.
• There were times when I simply wanted to enjoy life but something happened to spoil the fun.

Stephen spoke about the love of JESUS directly to HIS murderers. They murdered him too, causing people to spread everywhere. Some were so scared, they only preached the love of CHRIST to each other. But there were a few who spoke to a group of people who were different than them. A great number believed and turned to the LORD.

• GOD wants me to share HIS SON to everyone HE sends me to.
• GOD wants me to give HIS love to everyone who will listen.
• GOD wants me to teach about the love of JESUS to any human who seeks HIM.

GOD’s rewards are given to those who preach about HIS SON. But that is not enough for HIM. HE wants the easy conversations to happen and the hard. HE sends me to my household, my neighbors, my town, city, state, country and other countries to spread the great news of JESUS.

This is not easy, especially in a world of hatred. GOD still wants HIS SON spoken about to everyone who will listen. HE puts people in front of me who do not look or act like me and wants me to pray for them and tell them about JESUS. I am grateful GOD sends me.

• Are you fatigued after the violence?
• Do you think more rage is the answer?
• Will you listen to GOD and speak to anyone HE sends you to so they will believe in JESUS?

Hated

Hated

John 15: ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

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After the sermon, I felt it was time to give up drinking as a vow to the LORD. This came with a price. I went back to visit my “friends” and they wanted me to drink with them. “I’ll pass” I said. They kept pressing the issue and asked many questions. I wasn’t really a drinker anyway, but to stop all together seemed odd to them. They stopped inviting me.

• When I stood ground because of my promise to the LORD, people looked at me strange.
• When I started doing things strictly for the LORD, people stepped away from me.
• When I stopped doing what the popular people were doing, I was no longer popular.

JESUS warns HIS followers that the world will hate them because of their love for HIM. HE then tell HIS disciples that HE chose them to be different than the world.

• JESUS wants me to show love when hatred is shown to me.
• JESUS wants me to be a servant when others want to be the boss.
• JESUS wants me to seek the poor rather than running after the rich and powerful.

It really is not popular to follow JESUS. The world labels the lifestyle as “dull” and “boring.” BUT GOD loves when I follow HIS example. HE gets excited when I mention JESUS as the creator to the “smart” people who believe the world created itself. HE rewards me when I talk about heaven as my home to those who focus all their attention on temporary mansions.

JESUS was hated because HE loved the world. HE died for the world and the world still did not believe in HIM. Every job that believes they have the answer to problems could be a distraction from JESUS. The world hates not getting credit for answers, so they do not praise GOD. I praise GOD for all HE has blessed me with.

• Do you follow humans more than you follow GOD?
• Do you believe in human wisdom without giving GOD any credit?
• Will you drop your fear of being looked at strangely by the world and spread GOD’s message by words first, then example?

Pageant Prayer

Matthew 24: ⁹ “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

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When the person in the beauty pageant spoke, they uttered the words “And I hope we have world peace.” I laughed at the person and turned to something more interesting. That statement made the cartoons I watched even funnier as they too mocked the pageant statement of “world peace” as if the pageant participant were aloof and out of touch.

• My cynical view of the world has prevented me from thinking it can be saved.
• My pessimistic view of the world has stopped me from going out into it to reach people.
• My skeptical view of the world has sometimes made me judge the world, condemning it to hell.

Laughing at “world peace” means I have bought in to the thought that the world cannot be saved. When I step back out of the picture false prophets step in and preach wealth gospels and health gospels. BUT GOD wants me to do something different.

• GOD wants me to stand firm in belief in HIS might to save the world.
• GOD wants me to keep my love “hot” for the world, believing it is worth saving.
• GOD wants me to preach the gospel of JESUS’s love to the whole world as a testimony to all nations.

Giving up leads me to a cynical, pessimistic, skeptical life where every word spoken from “their” mouth or mine is negative. GOD wants me to speak life through HIS power alone. HE doesn’t want me to point people to false gods rather point them to the ONE true GOD in JESUS. My prayer is for world peace.

• Have you given up?
• Have you lost your fire to love others?
• Will you drop your cynical, pessimistic, skeptical view of the world and preach JESUS’s salvation?