1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,040 You are listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,040 –> 00:00:15,000 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website OpenTheBible.Org 3 00:00:15,000 –> 00:00:19,120 Let’s get to the message, here is Pastor Colin. 4 00:00:19,120 –> 00:00:23,379 Please open your Bible at Romans chapter 12. 5 00:00:23,379 –> 00:00:27,440 This is the last week in our series, Growing In Love. 6 00:00:27,480 –> 00:00:34,639 We have set a priority to intentionally pursue individually and together, 7 00:00:34,639 –> 00:00:36,860 growing in love. 8 00:00:36,860 –> 00:00:43,000 We began with the question, Why should we grow in love? 9 00:00:43,000 –> 00:00:48,279 And we saw that we must grow in love because love is our distinct calling. 10 00:00:48,279 –> 00:00:56,980 Jesus said, By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. 11 00:00:57,259 –> 00:01:03,400 The natural response to growing anger and hostility in the world is going to be growing anger 12 00:01:03,400 –> 00:01:05,400 and hostility in churches. 13 00:01:05,400 –> 00:01:07,519 That’s the natural response. 14 00:01:07,519 –> 00:01:11,239 But you see Jesus calls us to something very, very different. 15 00:01:11,239 –> 00:01:17,400 This is our distinct calling, that we will be marked as those who belong to Jesus, 16 00:01:17,400 –> 00:01:23,620 because we love, By this all people will know that you are my disciples, 17 00:01:23,620 –> 00:01:25,500 that you love one another. 18 00:01:26,019 –> 00:01:29,239 We must grow in love because it is our distinct calling. 19 00:01:29,239 –> 00:01:35,099 Then we saw that we must grow in love because love is our greatest need. 20 00:01:35,099 –> 00:01:41,480 Without love, all of our gifts, all of our achievements, and all of our sacrifices 21 00:01:41,480 –> 00:01:45,580 would be of no value at all. 22 00:01:45,580 –> 00:01:53,139 We saw that love is like a tree that’s just bursting with good fruit. 23 00:01:53,139 –> 00:01:59,440 Grow in love and you will be more patient and more kind, and you won’t envy. 24 00:01:59,440 –> 00:02:04,500 You’ll grow in emotional intelligence and wisdom and in discernment. 25 00:02:04,500 –> 00:02:10,839 And we saw that growing in love is of supreme value because love endures forever. 26 00:02:10,839 –> 00:02:18,520 When everything else passes away, faith, hope and love will remain. 27 00:02:19,300 –> 00:02:23,619 So a desire has been stirred in our hearts. 28 00:02:23,619 –> 00:02:27,059 We want to grow in love. 29 00:02:27,059 –> 00:02:34,440 Love for God, love for family, love for God’s people, love for neighbours and for friends 30 00:02:34,440 –> 00:02:43,520 and for colleagues, love even for enemies, those with whom we most deeply disagree. 31 00:02:43,520 –> 00:02:48,899 And then we asked the question, how, how can I grow in love? 32 00:02:48,899 –> 00:02:55,919 And we looked at the first answer to that question last week, you can grow in love because 33 00:02:55,919 –> 00:02:58,759 you are loved. 34 00:02:58,759 –> 00:03:04,199 And this is wonderful good news that love is not something that we need to find in ourselves 35 00:03:04,199 –> 00:03:06,899 and sort of pull up from within. 36 00:03:06,899 –> 00:03:11,160 No, love, God is love. 37 00:03:11,160 –> 00:03:13,100 And love comes, John says, from God. 38 00:03:13,160 –> 00:03:20,179 And we love because he first loved us. 39 00:03:20,179 –> 00:03:26,960 God poured out his love for us in and through his son who he sent to be the propitiation 40 00:03:26,960 –> 00:03:28,220 for our sins. 41 00:03:28,220 –> 00:03:29,979 That’s how God’s love was poured out. 42 00:03:29,979 –> 00:03:36,320 And then we saw that God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the presence of the Holy 43 00:03:36,320 –> 00:03:37,419 Spirit. 44 00:03:37,419 –> 00:03:44,880 When you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God Himself comes to live in 45 00:03:44,880 –> 00:03:46,500 you. 46 00:03:46,500 –> 00:03:53,139 And we laughed at the incongruous thought of what it would be like if the spirit of 47 00:03:53,139 –> 00:03:57,240 Mick Jagger lived in me. 48 00:03:57,240 –> 00:04:00,899 But think about how amazing this is. 49 00:04:00,940 –> 00:04:11,979 The Holy Spirit of God Himself, the God who is love, lives in sinners like us. 50 00:04:11,979 –> 00:04:18,279 That is astonishing, marvelous, glorious. 51 00:04:18,279 –> 00:04:26,279 The presence of the Spirit of God who is love makes it possible for you to grow in love. 52 00:04:26,279 –> 00:04:32,519 That is, as God’s love flows into us, that it then flows out from us. 53 00:04:32,519 –> 00:04:37,700 And if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ today, you really can grow in love 54 00:04:37,700 –> 00:04:44,600 because of the Spirit of God who lives, who dwells in you. 55 00:04:44,600 –> 00:04:50,160 So the first answer to the question, how can I grow in love? 56 00:04:50,160 –> 00:04:54,459 is you can grow in love because you are loved. 57 00:04:54,459 –> 00:04:59,100 And you are more deeply loved than you will ever be able to fathom. 58 00:04:59,100 –> 00:05:05,140 We love because He first loved us. 59 00:05:05,140 –> 00:05:12,820 Now, today we’re going to look at two further answers to the question, how can I grow in 60 00:05:12,820 –> 00:05:13,820 love? 61 00:05:13,820 –> 00:05:19,700 We’re going to look at several different scriptures today, but we’re going to begin in Romans 62 00:05:19,700 –> 00:05:21,799 and chapter 12. 63 00:05:21,799 –> 00:05:27,839 And this chapter, rather like first Corinthians 13 and 1 John and chapter 4 that we looked 64 00:05:27,839 –> 00:05:32,940 at last time, it is an exposition of love. 65 00:05:32,940 –> 00:05:35,079 Love is the theme that runs all the way through. 66 00:05:35,079 –> 00:05:43,720 So, for example, in verses 3 to 8, uh, the apostle lays out how we serve with our gifts 67 00:05:43,720 –> 00:05:48,480 and how this is a wonderful expression of love. 68 00:05:48,579 –> 00:05:53,399 Then in verse 9, Paul says, let love be genuine. 69 00:05:53,399 –> 00:05:58,839 Verse 10, love one another with brotherly affection. 70 00:05:58,839 –> 00:06:01,859 Then he lays out what a life of love looks like. 71 00:06:01,859 –> 00:06:09,760 Verse 13, it involves contributing to the needs of the saints or practicing hospitality. 72 00:06:09,760 –> 00:06:14,440 Verse 14, blessing those who persecute you. 73 00:06:14,600 –> 00:06:19,380 Verse 15, weeping with those who weep, rejoicing with those who rejoice. 74 00:06:19,380 –> 00:06:24,500 Verse 16, living in harmony with one another. 75 00:06:24,500 –> 00:06:29,200 Or verse 20, feeding your enemy when he is hungry and giving him something to drink 76 00:06:29,200 –> 00:06:31,119 when he is thirsty. 77 00:06:31,119 –> 00:06:33,899 This is what a life of love looks like. 78 00:06:33,899 –> 00:06:39,059 But here’s the question, where does it begin? 79 00:06:39,420 –> 00:06:41,859 So if you look at the very beginning of this chapter, 80 00:06:41,859 –> 00:06:44,559 verse 1, you have the answer. 81 00:06:44,559 –> 00:06:50,899 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies 82 00:06:50,899 –> 00:06:58,320 as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your 83 00:06:58,320 –> 00:07:01,399 spiritual worship. 84 00:07:01,399 –> 00:07:04,160 And you see what he’s telling us right from the beginning? 85 00:07:04,160 –> 00:07:10,679 Love, that is the theme of this whole chapter, involves sacrifice. 86 00:07:10,679 –> 00:07:17,260 If you want to grow in love, you have to lay down your life 87 00:07:17,260 –> 00:07:20,859 on the alter of God. 88 00:07:20,859 –> 00:07:23,720 That is what he’s saying. 89 00:07:23,720 –> 00:07:26,959 Jesus said it this way. 90 00:07:27,040 –> 00:07:36,720 Greater love has no one than this than that someone laid down his life for his friends. 91 00:07:36,720 –> 00:07:41,679 Love always involves sacrifice. 92 00:07:41,679 –> 00:07:48,559 And the life of love is a life in which we learn to say no to ourselves 93 00:07:48,559 –> 00:07:54,440 so that we can bring help and blessing to others. 94 00:07:54,440 –> 00:07:59,160 Now this of course is what our Lord Jesus Christ so wonderfully did. 95 00:07:59,160 –> 00:08:04,600 By far the easiest and by far the most comfortable choice for the Lord Jesus Christ 96 00:08:04,600 –> 00:08:12,519 would have been to remain in heaven and to enjoy the love he had always enjoyed there with the Father. 97 00:08:12,519 –> 00:08:16,559 But if he had done that we would have lived and died without hope 98 00:08:16,559 –> 00:08:22,119 we would have been utterly lost forever and forever. 99 00:08:22,119 –> 00:08:29,420 And so Jesus did not grasp onto what was easiest and most comfortable for him. 100 00:08:29,420 –> 00:08:33,840 He took the form of a servant the Bible tells us. 101 00:08:33,840 –> 00:08:41,900 He was made in the likeness of men he left heaven, he came to earth he loved us 102 00:08:41,900 –> 00:08:45,299 and he gave himself for us. 103 00:08:45,440 –> 00:08:54,979 Jesus said no to his own comfort in order to bring blessing and life to us. 104 00:08:56,039 –> 00:09:04,140 Love involved a cross for the Lord Jesus Christ, and love will involve a cross for us too. 105 00:09:04,140 –> 00:09:05,739 You remember that Jesus said, 106 00:09:05,739 –> 00:09:08,359 If anyone would come after me, 107 00:09:08,359 –> 00:09:09,820 you’re going to be my disciple. 108 00:09:09,820 –> 00:09:14,719 He said, let him deny himself and take up his cross 109 00:09:14,840 –> 00:09:16,400 and follow me. 110 00:09:16,880 –> 00:09:20,440 Love always involves sacrifice. 111 00:09:21,140 –> 00:09:29,640 It always involves saying no to self in order to bring help and blessing to others. 112 00:09:29,640 –> 00:09:35,520 And you know this can happen in the simplest of ways in the most ordinary things of life. 113 00:09:35,520 –> 00:09:41,739 Love chooses to get up and help rather than simply to sit on the couch. 114 00:09:42,460 –> 00:09:52,700 Love gives more weight to the needs and even the feelings of other people than it gives to our own. 115 00:09:52,700 –> 00:09:59,200 Love is always putting itself in another person’s shoes and asking the question 116 00:09:59,200 –> 00:10:05,780 how can I bring help and blessing to him or to her. 117 00:10:05,900 –> 00:10:12,440 Now when the apostle Paul describes a life of love in Romans and chapter 12 this is 118 00:10:12,440 –> 00:10:14,219 where he begins. 119 00:10:14,219 –> 00:10:19,020 I appeal to you therefore brothers by the mercies of God to present your bodies as 120 00:10:19,020 –> 00:10:27,640 a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. 121 00:10:27,640 –> 00:10:34,580 Now you read a verse like that and of course you say, we all say, how am I to do that? 122 00:10:34,739 –> 00:10:41,380 Now I want you to notice that the key word in this verse is the word therefore. 123 00:10:41,380 –> 00:10:49,859 I appeal to you therefore brothers by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a 124 00:10:49,859 –> 00:10:51,640 living sacrifice. 125 00:10:51,640 –> 00:10:57,539 Clearly the therefore refers back to something that was said before in the earlier chapters 126 00:10:57,539 –> 00:10:58,840 of Romans. 127 00:10:58,840 –> 00:11:06,020 We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices in the light of something. 128 00:11:06,020 –> 00:11:13,659 There’s something then in the earlier chapters of Romans that when fully grasped and fully 129 00:11:13,659 –> 00:11:22,260 embraced makes it possible for you to give yourself for the blessing of others to present 130 00:11:22,260 –> 00:11:26,059 yourself as a living sacrifice to God. 131 00:11:26,380 –> 00:11:27,880 Now what is it? 132 00:11:27,880 –> 00:11:30,619 What is it that makes this possible? 133 00:11:30,619 –> 00:11:37,299 Well, there is of course a sense in which what Paul is referring to here is everything 134 00:11:37,299 –> 00:11:41,520 that is in Romans chapter 1 through 11. 135 00:11:41,520 –> 00:11:50,119 But there is one truth in these chapters that is repeatedly presented in the New Testament 136 00:11:50,119 –> 00:11:54,559 as the key to growing in love. 137 00:11:54,580 –> 00:12:03,299 And that is that in Christ you have already died and risen. 138 00:12:03,299 –> 00:12:10,059 This is stated most clearly in Romans chapter 6 and verses 3 and 4. 139 00:12:10,059 –> 00:12:19,159 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into 140 00:12:19,159 –> 00:12:21,719 his death. 141 00:12:21,719 –> 00:12:32,239 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death in order that just as Christ was 142 00:12:32,239 –> 00:12:42,159 raised from the dead by the glory of the father, we too might walk in newness of life. 143 00:12:42,159 –> 00:12:52,080 Now very simply, when you became a Christian, you came to be in Christ. 144 00:12:52,080 –> 00:13:01,219 And because you are in Christ what was true of Jesus is also true of you. 145 00:13:01,219 –> 00:13:10,820 Jesus died and Jesus rose again and when you’re in Christ the same is true of you as well. 146 00:13:10,820 –> 00:13:17,880 The person that you were before the person living for himself or herself died and you 147 00:13:17,880 –> 00:13:21,200 have been raised to a whole new life. 148 00:13:21,200 –> 00:13:28,340 That’s what Paul is referring to here that you might walk in newness of life. 149 00:13:28,340 –> 00:13:33,419 And of course all of this is beautifully expressed in baptism. 150 00:13:33,419 –> 00:13:41,440 Going down into the water is a sign that the person you were has died. 151 00:13:41,440 –> 00:13:50,179 And coming up out of the water is a sign that you are now walking in newness of life. 152 00:13:50,179 –> 00:13:54,739 In Christ you have already died and risen. 153 00:13:54,739 –> 00:14:02,479 Now that’s the principle and what I want us to see today is how it works out in practice. 154 00:14:03,239 –> 00:14:16,000 First you can grow in love because having died you are no longer a slave to yourself. 155 00:14:16,000 –> 00:14:19,179 Now what a wonderful truth this is. 156 00:14:19,179 –> 00:14:24,979 Because in Christ you have died already, you are no longer a slave to yourself. 157 00:14:24,979 –> 00:14:29,880 And that is why and how you can love. 158 00:14:29,880 –> 00:14:35,179 You see this very clearly in 2 Corinthians 5 and verses 14 and 15. 159 00:14:35,179 –> 00:14:37,880 Notice how Paul speaks about love here. 160 00:14:37,880 –> 00:14:43,919 For the love of Christ controls us. 161 00:14:43,919 –> 00:14:49,880 Because we have concluded this, that one has died for all, therefore all have died, and 162 00:14:49,880 –> 00:14:57,859 he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him 163 00:14:57,859 –> 00:15:01,419 who for their sake died and was raised. 164 00:15:01,419 –> 00:15:03,840 Now, what a marvelous statement this is. 165 00:15:03,840 –> 00:15:08,619 The love of Christ controls us. 166 00:15:08,619 –> 00:15:12,979 Who would not want to be able to say that? 167 00:15:12,979 –> 00:15:17,500 The love of Christ controls me. 168 00:15:17,500 –> 00:15:18,659 What would that mean? 169 00:15:18,659 –> 00:15:26,979 Well, it would mean that the love of Christ restrains me from speaking a harsh or a hurtful 170 00:15:27,539 –> 00:15:28,539 word. 171 00:15:28,539 –> 00:15:36,260 It would mean that the love of Christ moves me to care and to bless and to support others. 172 00:15:36,260 –> 00:15:47,260 A love controlled by, a life controlled by the love of Christ would be energized, moved, 173 00:15:47,260 –> 00:15:51,619 directed, active. 174 00:15:51,619 –> 00:15:59,179 Love would reach into and touch the lives of other people inasmuch as we are controlled 175 00:15:59,179 –> 00:16:01,979 by the love of Christ. 176 00:16:01,979 –> 00:16:06,380 Now, how does this come about? 177 00:16:06,380 –> 00:16:08,659 That’s Paul’s purpose in these verses. 178 00:16:08,659 –> 00:16:14,039 How is it that a person comes to be controlled by the love of Christ? 179 00:16:14,059 –> 00:16:16,619 Well, notice what he says. 180 00:16:16,619 –> 00:16:22,780 The love of Christ controls us because we have concluded this, that one has died for 181 00:16:22,780 –> 00:16:25,840 all and therefore all have died. 182 00:16:25,840 –> 00:16:32,119 You see, he’s picking up the same wonderful truth that we just saw in Romans, in chapter 183 00:16:32,119 –> 00:16:40,039 six, that if you are in Christ, you have already died. 184 00:16:40,039 –> 00:16:45,719 And what is the effect of the person you were already having died? 185 00:16:45,719 –> 00:16:55,840 Well he says this, that having died, they might no longer live for themselves. 186 00:16:55,840 –> 00:16:58,659 No longer live for themselves. 187 00:16:58,659 –> 00:17:00,719 No longer. 188 00:17:00,719 –> 00:17:05,400 So you see, living for yourself is actually the default life. 189 00:17:05,400 –> 00:17:06,959 That’s just how we all start out. 190 00:17:06,959 –> 00:17:08,819 That’s what we are by nature. 191 00:17:08,819 –> 00:17:14,280 The bible says this quite clearly in Philippians, chapter two and verse 21, all seek their own 192 00:17:14,280 –> 00:17:18,900 interests not those of Jesus Christ. 193 00:17:18,900 –> 00:17:21,880 Everyone seeks their own interest. 194 00:17:21,880 –> 00:17:30,459 And unless something changes, we all default to living for ourselves. 195 00:17:30,459 –> 00:17:35,880 Now, living for yourself might sound attractive. 196 00:17:35,880 –> 00:17:42,040 But actually, if you think about it, nothing could ever be more miserable. 197 00:17:42,040 –> 00:17:43,040 Think about this. 198 00:17:43,040 –> 00:17:48,599 To live for yourself. 199 00:17:48,599 –> 00:17:52,660 If you live for yourself, you’re the one that’s doing the living and you’re the one that’s 200 00:17:52,660 –> 00:17:55,459 been lived for. 201 00:17:55,459 –> 00:18:02,599 So if you live for yourself, you are actually both the boss and the servant. 202 00:18:02,719 –> 00:18:06,280 You’re kind of both sides of the ledger, so to speak. 203 00:18:06,280 –> 00:18:13,839 The demands that you set are the demands you must meet and so you’re always in conflict 204 00:18:13,839 –> 00:18:15,280 with yourself. 205 00:18:15,280 –> 00:18:20,699 If you live for yourself, you’re going to find yourself constantly in this very strange 206 00:18:20,699 –> 00:18:24,239 position of beating up on yourself. 207 00:18:24,239 –> 00:18:29,979 You’re going to look at your life and self the boss is going to say, well, you should 208 00:18:29,979 –> 00:18:31,199 have accomplished more. 209 00:18:31,380 –> 00:18:39,060 And then self the servant gets beat up on because of underperforming. 210 00:18:39,060 –> 00:18:44,939 And that goes on until at some point you say, well, this is, I’m not happy. 211 00:18:44,939 –> 00:18:45,939 This isn’t working. 212 00:18:45,939 –> 00:18:49,560 I need to lighten up on myself and that thought will occur to you. 213 00:18:49,560 –> 00:18:51,739 I’m being too hard on myself. 214 00:18:51,739 –> 00:18:53,540 I need to give myself a break. 215 00:18:53,540 –> 00:19:01,420 And so now you’ll lighten up on yourself, except you’ve still got a problem. 216 00:19:01,420 –> 00:19:07,640 Because self the servant gets let off the hook and now self the master doesn’t get what 217 00:19:07,640 –> 00:19:11,199 he or she wants. 218 00:19:11,199 –> 00:19:17,459 Living for yourself is an absolute nightmare. 219 00:19:17,540 –> 00:19:25,380 And when you lay it out as the master, you end up crushing yourself as the servant. 220 00:19:25,380 –> 00:19:30,979 And when you lighten up on yourself as the servant, you end up being short changed as 221 00:19:30,979 –> 00:19:32,880 self the master. 222 00:19:32,880 –> 00:19:39,699 You can never never win. 223 00:19:39,699 –> 00:19:44,780 Now what Paul is saying in this marvelous verse is that when you come to faith in the 224 00:19:45,479 –> 00:19:52,500 Christ, you are actually delivered from the miserable existence of living for yourself. 225 00:19:52,500 –> 00:19:57,099 You’re now a new creation in Christ. 226 00:19:57,099 –> 00:20:00,020 You’ve been set free from this misery. 227 00:20:00,020 –> 00:20:07,280 You’ve been brought into a new liberty of living for Christ who loved you and gave himself 228 00:20:07,280 –> 00:20:09,040 for you. 229 00:20:09,520 –> 00:20:17,099 And the good news is that a life of saying no to self in order to bring blessing to others 230 00:20:17,099 –> 00:20:26,280 goes with the grain of the new creation that you are in Jesus Christ. 231 00:20:26,280 –> 00:20:34,520 Some of you will know the name of Eric Liddell, his story is told in the movie Chariots of 232 00:20:34,520 –> 00:20:35,760 Fire. 233 00:20:35,900 –> 00:20:46,020 Liddell was an Olympic athlete and he said on one occasion, God made me fast and when 234 00:20:46,020 –> 00:20:50,540 I run, I feel his pleasure. 235 00:20:50,540 –> 00:20:57,760 See, running was going with the grain for Eric Liddell. 236 00:20:57,760 –> 00:20:58,920 He was made for it. 237 00:20:58,920 –> 00:21:02,939 No doubt training was hard work for him as it would be for anyone else. 238 00:21:02,939 –> 00:21:06,520 But God made him fast. 239 00:21:06,520 –> 00:21:09,640 God made him to run. 240 00:21:09,640 –> 00:21:22,800 Now when you are in Christ, you can say, God made me to love and when you love, you will 241 00:21:22,800 –> 00:21:26,920 feel his pleasure. 242 00:21:26,920 –> 00:21:32,140 The last thing you want to do as a Christian believer is to live for yourself. 243 00:21:32,180 –> 00:21:40,020 You died to that when you came to be in Christ, you’ve risen to a whole new life in the power 244 00:21:40,020 –> 00:21:47,900 of the Holy Spirit of God and when you love, you are going with the grain of the new life 245 00:21:47,900 –> 00:21:51,380 that you now enjoy in Jesus. 246 00:21:51,380 –> 00:22:00,239 When you say no to self in order to bring blessing to others you are being who you are 247 00:22:00,359 –> 00:22:11,280 and that is why you will experience peace and joy when you pursue a life of love. 248 00:22:11,280 –> 00:22:15,479 So how can we grow in love? 249 00:22:15,479 –> 00:22:24,859 You can grow in love because having died you are no longer a slave to yourself. 250 00:22:24,859 –> 00:22:29,040 Then the second thing I want us to see today is this and it’s very wonderful that you can 251 00:22:29,040 –> 00:22:36,199 grow in love because having risen you enjoy an endless life. 252 00:22:36,199 –> 00:22:45,619 Now, it’s the apostle John who records the scene at the last supper, the night when Jesus 253 00:22:45,619 –> 00:22:52,819 was betrayed when Jesus beautifully washed the feet of his disciples. 254 00:22:52,819 –> 00:22:58,560 It was a stunning expression of humble-serving love. 255 00:22:58,560 –> 00:23:04,380 How did Jesus do this? 256 00:23:04,380 –> 00:23:10,079 Especially on the night that he knew he would be betrayed, the night that was ahead of all 257 00:23:10,079 –> 00:23:15,640 that he suffered, especially because his disciples when they should’ve known better were getting 258 00:23:15,640 –> 00:23:19,680 into a foolish argument about who was the greatest. 259 00:23:19,680 –> 00:23:24,800 And what the Lord Jesus Christ does is not thinking of himself. 260 00:23:24,800 –> 00:23:34,219 He gives himself to this marvelous expression of humble serving love towards his own disciples. 261 00:23:34,219 –> 00:23:38,660 How did he do it? 262 00:23:38,660 –> 00:23:41,140 John tells us. 263 00:23:41,140 –> 00:23:52,160 John in chapter 13 and verse 3 he says, Jesus, knowing that he had come from God and was 264 00:23:52,979 –> 00:23:59,979 to God, rose from the supper, he made aside his outer garments and taking a towel, tied 265 00:24:02,199 –> 00:24:04,319 it around his waist. 266 00:24:04,319 –> 00:24:07,160 Now you see what John’s saying? 267 00:24:07,160 –> 00:24:12,079 Jesus knew what lay ahead of him. 268 00:24:12,079 –> 00:24:16,040 He knew that he was going back to God. 269 00:24:16,180 –> 00:24:23,180 He knew that the endless joy of life in the presence of the father was what was in store 270 00:24:23,459 –> 00:24:24,199 for him. 271 00:24:24,199 –> 00:24:29,199 And knowing this, he was free to serve. 272 00:24:33,680 –> 00:24:40,680 Put yourself for a moment with me in the shoes of someone who does not have eternal life. 273 00:24:41,680 –> 00:24:47,280 I want you to think about this. 274 00:24:47,280 –> 00:24:54,280 Your life in this world is the best you will ever know. 275 00:24:55,640 –> 00:24:59,680 And your life in this world is short. 276 00:24:59,680 –> 00:25:05,479 And so you are always worried about it slipping away. 277 00:25:05,500 –> 00:25:07,939 If the only good you’re ever going to enjoy 278 00:25:07,939 –> 00:25:10,359 is what you get here and now, 279 00:25:10,359 –> 00:25:16,439 you will live in the constant fear of missing out. 280 00:25:16,439 –> 00:25:19,959 And with so little life, 281 00:25:19,959 –> 00:25:22,439 if something should happen in your experience 282 00:25:22,439 –> 00:25:27,319 that harms or shortens this little life that you have, 283 00:25:27,319 –> 00:25:30,900 you will feel a sense of ultimate loss. 284 00:25:30,900 –> 00:25:35,979 All I have is this little stretch of life, 285 00:25:35,979 –> 00:25:40,579 and now, it’s all been spoiled. 286 00:25:40,579 –> 00:25:41,760 Without eternal life, 287 00:25:41,760 –> 00:25:45,060 you’re going to be drawn to one of two alternatives. 288 00:25:45,060 –> 00:25:48,280 Either you’re going to throw yourself recklessly 289 00:25:48,280 –> 00:25:50,680 into a life of indulgence – 290 00:25:50,680 –> 00:25:53,859 try everything, eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die 291 00:25:53,859 –> 00:25:56,060 just live it up. 292 00:25:56,060 –> 00:26:01,739 Or you’re going to live with a sense of constant fear, 293 00:26:01,739 –> 00:26:04,699 grasping on to what you have, 294 00:26:04,699 –> 00:26:12,479 trying desperately not to let it slip through your fingers. 295 00:26:12,479 –> 00:26:15,760 But brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ, 296 00:26:15,760 –> 00:26:20,939 we have life everlasting. 297 00:26:21,180 –> 00:26:24,040 Everlasting. 298 00:26:24,040 –> 00:26:27,420 Life inexhaustible. 299 00:26:27,420 –> 00:26:30,380 Never ending. 300 00:26:30,380 –> 00:26:34,140 Pleasures greater by far than anything that we can know 301 00:26:34,140 –> 00:26:37,119 in this life and in this world at its very best. 302 00:26:37,119 –> 00:26:40,599 They are stored up forever and forever for you 303 00:26:40,599 –> 00:26:44,540 in the presence of the father. 304 00:26:44,540 –> 00:26:50,319 And knowing this puts you in an entirely different position 305 00:26:50,319 –> 00:26:53,520 throughout the days, and months, and years of your life in this world. 306 00:26:53,520 –> 00:26:55,839 When you know you have eternal life, 307 00:26:55,839 –> 00:27:00,699 you can offer yourself as a living sacrifice. 308 00:27:00,699 –> 00:27:03,680 You can give yourself to the service of others. 309 00:27:03,680 –> 00:27:07,160 You can offer yourself into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ, 310 00:27:07,160 –> 00:27:14,119 and knowing his love for you that is precisely what you will want to do. 311 00:27:14,119 –> 00:27:16,819 When you know that having risen, 312 00:27:16,819 –> 00:27:20,660 you enjoy an endless life, 313 00:27:20,660 –> 00:27:27,359 you will be delivered from the haunting fear of missing out. 314 00:27:29,180 –> 00:27:35,300 And if the life that you had hoped to enjoy 315 00:27:35,300 –> 00:27:40,479 is in some way harmed, or spoiled, 316 00:27:40,479 –> 00:27:45,339 or unexpectedly shortened, 317 00:27:45,339 –> 00:27:48,339 you will grieve. 318 00:27:48,339 –> 00:27:51,540 But you will do this 319 00:27:51,540 –> 00:27:58,099 knowing that you have an endless life of unclouded joy 320 00:27:58,099 –> 00:28:03,319 that stretches eternally in front of you. 321 00:28:03,319 –> 00:28:06,680 And that makes all the difference in the world. 322 00:28:07,359 –> 00:28:11,660 How can I grow in love? 323 00:28:11,660 –> 00:28:15,579 Well, as we saw last week, 324 00:28:15,579 –> 00:28:20,579 we can grow in love because we are loved. 325 00:28:20,579 –> 00:28:25,780 And today we are adding these two further marvellous answers to this question. 326 00:28:25,780 –> 00:28:32,560 You can grow in love because having died you are no longer a slave to yourself. 327 00:28:32,560 –> 00:28:34,839 And you can grow in love 328 00:28:35,180 –> 00:28:43,199 because having risen, you enjoy an endless life. 329 00:28:45,540 –> 00:28:51,880 Some of you will know the name of Amy Carmichael, a marvellous lady 330 00:28:51,880 –> 00:28:57,640 who served the Lord Jesus Christ as a missionary in India for 55 years. 331 00:28:57,640 –> 00:29:01,959 An extraordinary life of love. 332 00:29:02,359 –> 00:29:10,359 Amy Carmichael wrote an extended meditation on what she called Calvary love. 333 00:29:10,359 –> 00:29:13,839 That is love that sacrifices. 334 00:29:13,839 –> 00:29:19,420 That is what Jesus did when he laid down his life at Calvary. 335 00:29:19,420 –> 00:29:27,099 Let me read just 7 sentences from what Amy Carmichael wrote. 336 00:29:27,979 –> 00:29:36,479 If I have not compassion on my fellow servant, even as my Lord had pity on me, 337 00:29:36,479 –> 00:29:42,500 then I know nothing of Calvary love. 338 00:29:42,500 –> 00:29:50,000 If I can easily discuss the shortcomings and the sins of others, 339 00:29:50,000 –> 00:29:55,380 then I know nothing of Calvary love. 340 00:29:55,699 –> 00:30:01,880 If I can write an unkind letter, speak an unkind word, 341 00:30:01,880 –> 00:30:06,560 think an unkind thought, without grief and shame 342 00:30:06,560 –> 00:30:12,040 then I know nothing of Calvary love. 343 00:30:12,040 –> 00:30:17,239 If my thoughts revolve around myself, 344 00:30:17,239 –> 00:30:23,359 if I am so occupied with myself that I rarely have a heart at leisure from itself 345 00:30:23,359 –> 00:30:29,459 then I know nothing of Calvary love. 346 00:30:29,459 –> 00:30:34,219 If I do not give a friend the benefit of the doubt, 347 00:30:34,219 –> 00:30:38,520 but put the worst construction instead of the best on what is said or done 348 00:30:38,520 –> 00:30:43,800 then I know nothing of Calvary love. 349 00:30:43,800 –> 00:30:46,780 If I take offence easily, 350 00:30:46,780 –> 00:30:51,459 if I’m content to continue in a cool unfriendliness 351 00:30:51,500 –> 00:30:54,319 should no friendship be possible 352 00:30:54,319 –> 00:30:58,319 then I know nothing of Calvary love. 353 00:30:58,319 –> 00:30:59,660 If I say 354 00:30:59,660 –> 00:31:04,359 yes I forgive, but I cannot forget 355 00:31:04,359 –> 00:31:09,739 as though the God who twice a day washes all the sands 356 00:31:09,739 –> 00:31:11,839 on all the shores of all the world 357 00:31:11,839 –> 00:31:15,560 could not wash such memories from my mind 358 00:31:15,560 –> 00:31:20,619 then I know nothing of Calvary love. 359 00:31:21,119 –> 00:31:24,560 Our series has been entitled 360 00:31:24,560 –> 00:31:27,619 Growing In Love 361 00:31:27,619 –> 00:31:30,920 so I want to close it by saying it this way 362 00:31:30,920 –> 00:31:33,459 grow in love 363 00:31:33,459 –> 00:31:36,339 and you will be patient 364 00:31:36,339 –> 00:31:38,660 grow in love 365 00:31:38,660 –> 00:31:41,359 and you will be kind 366 00:31:41,359 –> 00:31:43,579 grow in love 367 00:31:43,579 –> 00:31:46,920 and you will always have hope 368 00:31:47,800 –> 00:31:52,560 grow in love and you will be freed from resentment 369 00:31:52,560 –> 00:31:56,359 grow in love and you will be able to forgive 370 00:31:56,359 –> 00:32:02,199 grow in love and you will deny yourself 371 00:32:02,199 –> 00:32:07,180 grow in love and you will take up your cross 372 00:32:07,180 –> 00:32:09,699 grow in love 373 00:32:09,699 –> 00:32:14,780 and you will be a disciple of Jesus 374 00:32:14,819 –> 00:32:20,420 grow in love and you will shine like a light 375 00:32:20,420 –> 00:32:23,260 in this world 376 00:32:23,260 –> 00:32:25,040 let’s pray together, shall we 377 00:32:31,500 –> 00:32:41,000 Our Father, We thank you for the love of the Lord Jesus Christ 378 00:32:41,400 –> 00:32:46,979 who loving us gave himself for us 379 00:32:49,660 –> 00:32:53,920 grow within us by the power of your spirit 380 00:32:53,920 –> 00:33:00,119 a true reflection of his great love for us 381 00:33:00,119 –> 00:33:04,160 that we too might grow in the 382 00:33:04,160 –> 00:33:08,520 life of love to which you have called us 383 00:33:09,119 –> 00:33:11,760 and may it be for your praise 384 00:33:11,760 –> 00:33:14,239 your glory and your honor 385 00:33:15,260 –> 00:33:18,599 for these things we ask in Jesus’ name 386 00:33:20,260 –> 00:33:21,180 Amen 387 00:33:22,579 –> 00:33:26,280 you’ve been listening to a sermon with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible 388 00:33:26,280 –> 00:33:31,180 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN365 389 00:33:31,540 –> 00:33:35,060 or visit our web site openthebible.org 390 00:33:38,520 –> 00:33:40,579 you