The Holy Spirit Opens Our Hearts Wide To Love - Ian Robson
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Summary
The central message is that believers must keep their hearts open wide to others, mirroring the openness Paul encouraged the Corinthians to have. The speaker emphasizes that our restraint often comes not from others, but from our own affections. He urges the congregation to make room in their hearts for others, especially leaders, and to continually turn to the Holy Spirit for the grace to maintain this open-heartedness, which leads to freedom and transformation.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Open your hearts widePaul loved the Corinthian church deeply, urging them not to receive God's grace in vain and opening his mouth and heart freely to them.
Do not get offended by correctionWe must never get offended when elders or leaders discipline or correct us, for narrowing our hearts causes us to lose out.
Turning to the Holy Spirit to enlarge our heartsWe cannot enlarge our own hearts; when we turn to the Lord, the Holy Spirit takes away the veil and gives us liberty to love.
Owe nothing except to love one anotherWe carry a lifelong debt of love that we can only pay when the Holy Spirit pours God's love into our hearts.Romans 13:8
The Widow's oil and the flowing of the SpiritJust as the widow's oil kept flowing into every empty vessel she borrowed until it paid her debts, the Holy Spirit keeps flowing as long as we make room.
Receiving the Holy Spirit to overcome hatredBeing baptized in the Holy Spirit brings us to a place where we cannot hate anyone because God's love is poured within us.
Treasure in earthen vesselsGod's glory shines through our broken earthen vessels so that the surpassing power belongs to Him and not to us.
The danger of lacking love like the CorinthiansThough enriched with every spiritual gift, the Corinthian church grew narrow-hearted and bankrupt because they lacked the greatest gift of love.
If I do not have love, I am nothingSpeaking in tongues, prophesying, and giving possessions away profit nothing without the essential gift of love.
Spiritual cardiologists in the home and churchWe need compassionate shepherds and family members to act as spiritual cardiologists, diagnosing heart blockages and helping love flow again.
Drawing a bigger circle of loveWhen others exclude us, we should have the wisdom to draw a larger circle that takes them in, reflecting Paul's expansive heart.
The unfailing compassion of GodEven if a nursing mother could forget her child, God has inscribed us on the palms of His hands and will never forget us.
Not making life too cramped in our homesLegalism in the home can make life too cramped for spouses and growing children, prompting the cry to make room to live.
The Lord causes us to increase and abound in loveWhen we turn to the Holy Spirit, He causes us to increase and abound in love for one another, establishing our hearts blameless before God.1 Thessalonians 3:12–13
Thirsting and drinking from ChristJesus calls the thirsty to come and drink, promising that rivers of living water will flow from the innermost being of those who believe.
The humility of the least of all apostlesRecognizing himself as the least of the apostles and utterly unworthy, Paul displays the posture of humility that receives God's grace.1 Corinthians 15:8–9
