The Enduring Power of Love

THE ENDURING POWER OF LOVE:
LOVE NEVER FAILS

Scriptures: John 17:6-26, Matthew 25:14-30, 1 John 3

I. Jesus’ Prayer in John 17
a. Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up. (1 Corinthians 13:7- God’s Word Translation)…why…because Love NEVER FAILS
b. Jesus knew that our love would be tested and He prayed for complete unity so that the world would know that we are His
c. Love defines who God is and what we should be
II. Love Never Gives Up- Jesus at Gethsemane
a. Between the Now and Not Yet- 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,[a]we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
i. Jesus faced the ultimate test of his love when he moved towards the crucifixion. His love was able to endure because it was a deeper love that looked to not what is but what would be.
ii. How many times am I to forgive the unfaithfulness of others?
1. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.
2. Always- Eccl. 11:1- Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
3. Don’t let the unrighteous acts of others rob you of what God has given you! Don’t give up on others because God has not given up on them.
iii. The love that we express towards others—is God’s love working through us.
1. 1 John 4- 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
III. Love Never Fails
a. Philippians 1:6- 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
i. Recognizing that God is in control (Philippians 2:1-11) we are able to humble ourselves to express our love through service.
b. 1 Corinthians 9- 24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
c. The prize is seeing the resurrection power of Jesus Christ!
IV. Love Remains
a. Galatians 5:6- The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
i. John 12:25- 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
b. Matthew 27- 54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son[e] of God!"
c. Matthew 25:14-30- Parable of the Talents
i. Invest our love in the kingdom for it is what will transform the world!