Discerning Between Worldly, Soulish, and Divine Love - Ajay Chakravarthy - September 2, 2018
http://rlcfchurch.org/words-of-encouragement River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker urges listeners to develop the ability to discern true, divine love from worldly or superficial affection. Drawing from Philippians 1:9, he contrasts conditional love (like loving someone only when they love you back) with the selfless, sacrificial love exemplified by Jesus Christ. This genuine love requires a willingness to deny oneself and endure brokenness, unlike the outward displays of affection that can mask betrayal.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What does it mean to abound in real knowledge and discernment?The speaker examines Philippians 1:9, noting that he does not naturally think of real knowledge and discernment when considering what it means to abound in love.Philippians 1:9
Recognizing the need to discern different types of loveBecause the word love is used so frequently, there is a great need to discern whether the love being expressed aligns with what the Scriptures actually teach.
Worldly love versus the love of GodLooking at the Sermon on the Mount, the speaker points out that loving only those who love you is merely a worldly love that even tax collectors and Gentiles do.Matthew 5:46
The commandment to love our neighborThe speaker notes that loving our neighbor as ourselves fulfills the law and the prophets, but Jesus calls believers to love in an even higher way.Matthew 22:37
Loving one another as Jesus loved usJesus gives a new commandment in John 13:34 to love one another in the exact way that He loved us, which goes far beyond mere social reciprocity.John 13:34
How God demonstrated His love while we were sinnersRomans 5:8 explains that God proved His love by having Christ die for us while we were still sinners, requiring self-denial and brokenness.
True love requires denying the self-lifeTrue biblical love requires a denial of the self-life and a degree of brokenness in order to love the way Jesus asks us to.
Comparing two contrasting incidents with JesusThe speaker presents a hypothetical comparison between a man who kissed Jesus and a man whom Jesus questioned three times about his love.
Judas's external kiss versus Peter's broken confessionJudas could outwardly kiss Jesus while harboring offense and betrayal in his heart, whereas Peter's genuine love came out of correction and brokenness.
Discerning genuine love from superficial affectionThis contrast highlights why Philippians teaches the need to abound in love with discernment, so we can recognize true love when someone says they love us.
An illustration of true hunger versus conditional appetiteUsing an analogy about children claiming they are hungry only to clarify they want ice cream, the speaker contrasts cheap worldly affection with true spiritual hunger.
The costly nature of the love Jesus gaveGod is calling us to a love where we are ready to die to ourselves when our self-will is crossed, rather than a love that merely expects something in return.
The Holy Spirit sheds abroad the love of Christ in our heartsTo keep our love from growing cold, we rely on the Holy Spirit to shed God's love abroad in our hearts as described in Romans 5:5.Romans 5:5
