6. Seek Love Because God is Love — Olu Talabi — July 15, 2023
https://rlcf.church/media/sermons/seek-love-because-god-is-love River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker challenges the audience to deeply consider what they are truly seeking in life, referencing Jesus' question to the disciples: "What are you looking for?" He emphasizes that true desire must be anchored in Christ, noting that Jesus knew the motives of those who followed him. Ultimately, the message is that seeking God must be a response to His prior seeking of us, urging the audience to draw near while God is near, as per Isaiah 55:6.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What are you looking for?Jesus asks the disciples what they are seeking, prompting us to examine our own motives for attending conferences and pursuing spiritual things.John 1:38
God made the first moveWe do not seek God of our own independent doing; rather, our desire to follow Him is a response to the fact that He first sought us.
Seek the Lord while He may be foundWe must take advantage of the present day of salvation and call upon the Lord while He is near, because opportunity does not last forever.Isaiah 55:6
God is loveInstead of a vague idea of seeking God in the sky, we must pursue something tangible and vast: the reality that God is love.1 John 4:8
Love is greater than faithWhile faith is essential to please God, First Corinthians 13 shows that love is even greater, meaning without love we do not truly have God.
The rainbow of love's attributesJust like a rainbow requires all its colors, we must pursue all the attributes of love together rather than picking and choosing only the ones we prefer.
Rejoicing in the truth and enduring all thingsTrue love never rejoices in iniquity but rejoices in the truth, bearing all things, thinking no evil, and seeking the good of others.
Putting away childish thingsA spiritual child is someone who does not perceive love; growing to maturity means putting away self-seeking childish things and pursuing love.
Love begins and ends in JesusAny pursuit of love that does not start and end with the revelation of God's love in Jesus Christ devolves into a worldly, fleshly type of love.
Discernment and avoiding bitternessWhile love may sometimes require being stern or walking away from difficult situations, we must guard our hearts against harboring bitterness or anger.
Seeing oneself as a servant or a childA practical way to avoid taking offense is to see ourselves as humble servants or babes who do not hold ground or demand their own rights.
Love has no expectations of reciprocityTrue love does not keep score or expect anything in return; by nature we remember what we gave, but the love of God helps us move past that.
Closing prayer to seek JesusWe confess our weakness and inability to love in our own strength, looking to Jesus as the embodiment of love to help us find rest in Him.
