Post by Tom Green on Feb 9, 2007 23:35:35 GMT -5
LOVING THROUGH LISTENING
God accomplishes incredible things through people who are able to respectfully and lovingly listen. He offers His quiet, gentle direction to those who wait peacefully upon Him, and He guides us to minister to one another through patiently listening to and sharing of one another’s burdens.
Listening and waiting upon God for direction...
If you will humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in His good time He will lift you up. Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. 1 Peter 5: 6-7 TLB
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answer. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. Phil 4: 6-7 TLB
For the eyes of the Lord are intently watching all who live good lives, and He gives attention when they cry to Him. But the Lord has made up His mind to wipe out even the memory of evil men from the earth. Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to Him for help and saves Him out of all his troubles. The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. Psalms 34: 15-18 TLB
In everything you do , put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3: 5-6 TLB
When we listen attentively we extend ourselves to others in the love of Jesus Christ...
Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you; so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts. For you have a new life. It was not passed on to you from your parent, for the life they gave you will fade away. This new one will last forever, for it comes from Christ, God’s ever-living Message to men. 1 Peter 1: 22-23 TLB
Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12: 9-10 TLB
Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on other. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing. Philippians 2: 3-4 TLB
When we listen respectfully we become instruments of God through which He offers encouragement and hope...
What a wonderful God we have -- He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 TLB
Now we can look forward to the salvation God has promised us. There is no longer any room for doubt, and we can tell others that salvation is ours, for there is no question that he will do what he says. In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and king to each other and in doing good. Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near. Hebrews 10: 23-25 TLB
Now glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of -- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3: 20 TLB
Why then be down cast? Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise Him again. Yes, I shall again praise Him for His help. Psalms 42: 5 TLB
MARRIAGE
The apostle Paul sets forth a concise discussion concerning the marriage relationship in his letter to the Ephesians. The Holy Spirit establishes the husband as the spiritual leader of the home, yet he is not to be domineering. The wife is to be respectful and submissive, but is not to be considered a door-mat. Unconditional love is foundational to the relationship, and given human nature, only possible when the marriage is dedicated to seeking the love of Jesus Christ.
And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. You wives must submit to your husband’s leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord. For a husband is in charge of his wife in the same way Christ is in charge of his body the Church. (He gave his very life to take care of it and be its Savior!) So you wives must willingly obey your husbands in everything, just as the Church obeys Christ. And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the Church when he died for her, to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s Word; so that he could give her to himself as a glorious Church without a single spot or wrinkle or any other blemish, being holy and without a single fault. That is how husbands should treat their wives, loving them as part of themselves. For since a man and his wife are now one, a man is really doing himself a favor and loving himself a favor and loving himself when he loves his wife! No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Chris cares for his body the Church, of which we are parts. (That the husband and wife are one body is proved by the Scripture, which says, “A man must leave his father and mother when he marries so that he can be perfectly joined to his wife, and the two shall be one.”) I know this is hard to understand but it is an illustration of the way we are parts of the body of Christ. So again I say, a man must love his wife as a part of himself; and the wife must see to it that she deeply respects her husband -- obeying, praising, and honoring him. Ephesians 5: 21-33 TLB
Characteristics of LOVE...
SACRIFICIAL: And here is how to measure it -- the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends: John 15:13TLB
STRONG AND ENDURING: If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. 1 Corinthians 13: 7 TLB
FORGIVING: Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults. 1 Peter 4: 8 TLB
BEYOND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING: and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself. Ephesians 3: 18-19 TLB
Characteristics of RESPECT...
DEMONSTRATES HONOR AND UNSELFISHNESS: As a result we were showered with gifts, and when the time came to sail, people put on board all sorts of things we would need for the trip. Acts 28: 10 TLB
SHOWS REVERENCE FOR THE LORD: Oh, that they would always have such a heart for me, wanting to obey my commandments. Then all would go well with them in the future, and with their children throughout all generations!
Deuteronomy 5: 29 TLB
LEADS TO A RIGHTEOUS LIFESTYLE: Obey God because you are his children; don’t slip back into your old ways -- doing evil because you knew no better. But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to be his child. 1 Peter 1: 14-15 TLB
STRENGTHENS OUR INTIMACY WITH JESUS CHRIST: Jesus replied, “Because I will only reveal myself to those who love me and obey me. The Father will love them too, and we will come to them and live with them. John 14: 23 TLB
SEXUAL INTIMACY OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE
God speaks directly to this subject through His Word, calling us to focus upon the benefits and blessing of self-control and obedience, rather than the denial of physical pleasure. Consider the biblical perspective.
God’s Word, not our feelings, needs to be our guide.
I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin. Psalm 119: 11 TLB
The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. 2 Timothy 3: 16 TLB
Our natural desires run contrary to the way God would have us live.
Obey God because you are his children; don’t slip back into your old ways -- doing evil because you knew no better. But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to by his child. He himself has said, “You must be holy, for I am hole.” 1 Peter 1: 14-16 TLB
Those who let themselves be controlled by their lower natures live only to please themselves, but those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God. Romans 8: 5 TLB
For the free gift of eternal salvation is now being offered to everyone; and along with this gift comes the realization that God wants us to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures and to live good, God-fearing lives day after day,
Titus 2: 11-12 TLB
God tells us through His Word that sex outside of marriage and sexual immorality are one in the same: they are both sin.
For God wants you to be holy and pure and to keep clear all sexual sin.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 TLB
Honor your marriage and its vows, and be pure; for God will surely punish all those who are immoral or commit adultery. Hebrews 13: 4 TLB
Let there be no sex sin, impurity or greed among you. Let no one be able to accuse you of any such things. Ephesians 5:3 TLB
But if you give yourself to the Lord, you and Christ are joined together as one person. That is why I say to run from sex sin. No other sin affects the body as this one does. When you sin this sin it is against your own body. Haven’t you yet learned that your body is the home of the Holy Spirit God gave you, and that he lives within you? Your own body does not belong to you. For God has bought you with a great price. So use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it. 1 Corinthians 6: 18-20 TLB
God calls us to turn from our sin, enjoy fellowship with Him, and allow His strength to sustain us:
Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3: 19 TLB
But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. (And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.) 1 John 1: 9 TLB
He is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trusted in him, and he helped me. Joy rises in my heart until I burst out in songs of praise to him.
Psalm 28: 7 TLB
As believers, God calls us to be examples of His love:
We try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act, so that no one can find fault with us and blame it on the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6: 3 TLB
For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other. Galatians 5: 13 TLB
God accomplishes incredible things through people who are able to respectfully and lovingly listen. He offers His quiet, gentle direction to those who wait peacefully upon Him, and He guides us to minister to one another through patiently listening to and sharing of one another’s burdens.
Listening and waiting upon God for direction...
If you will humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in His good time He will lift you up. Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. 1 Peter 5: 6-7 TLB
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answer. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. Phil 4: 6-7 TLB
For the eyes of the Lord are intently watching all who live good lives, and He gives attention when they cry to Him. But the Lord has made up His mind to wipe out even the memory of evil men from the earth. Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to Him for help and saves Him out of all his troubles. The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. Psalms 34: 15-18 TLB
In everything you do , put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3: 5-6 TLB
When we listen attentively we extend ourselves to others in the love of Jesus Christ...
Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you; so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts. For you have a new life. It was not passed on to you from your parent, for the life they gave you will fade away. This new one will last forever, for it comes from Christ, God’s ever-living Message to men. 1 Peter 1: 22-23 TLB
Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12: 9-10 TLB
Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on other. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing. Philippians 2: 3-4 TLB
When we listen respectfully we become instruments of God through which He offers encouragement and hope...
What a wonderful God we have -- He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 TLB
Now we can look forward to the salvation God has promised us. There is no longer any room for doubt, and we can tell others that salvation is ours, for there is no question that he will do what he says. In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and king to each other and in doing good. Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near. Hebrews 10: 23-25 TLB
Now glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of -- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3: 20 TLB
Why then be down cast? Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise Him again. Yes, I shall again praise Him for His help. Psalms 42: 5 TLB
MARRIAGE
The apostle Paul sets forth a concise discussion concerning the marriage relationship in his letter to the Ephesians. The Holy Spirit establishes the husband as the spiritual leader of the home, yet he is not to be domineering. The wife is to be respectful and submissive, but is not to be considered a door-mat. Unconditional love is foundational to the relationship, and given human nature, only possible when the marriage is dedicated to seeking the love of Jesus Christ.
And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. You wives must submit to your husband’s leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord. For a husband is in charge of his wife in the same way Christ is in charge of his body the Church. (He gave his very life to take care of it and be its Savior!) So you wives must willingly obey your husbands in everything, just as the Church obeys Christ. And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the Church when he died for her, to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s Word; so that he could give her to himself as a glorious Church without a single spot or wrinkle or any other blemish, being holy and without a single fault. That is how husbands should treat their wives, loving them as part of themselves. For since a man and his wife are now one, a man is really doing himself a favor and loving himself a favor and loving himself when he loves his wife! No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Chris cares for his body the Church, of which we are parts. (That the husband and wife are one body is proved by the Scripture, which says, “A man must leave his father and mother when he marries so that he can be perfectly joined to his wife, and the two shall be one.”) I know this is hard to understand but it is an illustration of the way we are parts of the body of Christ. So again I say, a man must love his wife as a part of himself; and the wife must see to it that she deeply respects her husband -- obeying, praising, and honoring him. Ephesians 5: 21-33 TLB
Characteristics of LOVE...
SACRIFICIAL: And here is how to measure it -- the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends: John 15:13TLB
STRONG AND ENDURING: If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. 1 Corinthians 13: 7 TLB
FORGIVING: Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults. 1 Peter 4: 8 TLB
BEYOND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING: and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself. Ephesians 3: 18-19 TLB
Characteristics of RESPECT...
DEMONSTRATES HONOR AND UNSELFISHNESS: As a result we were showered with gifts, and when the time came to sail, people put on board all sorts of things we would need for the trip. Acts 28: 10 TLB
SHOWS REVERENCE FOR THE LORD: Oh, that they would always have such a heart for me, wanting to obey my commandments. Then all would go well with them in the future, and with their children throughout all generations!
Deuteronomy 5: 29 TLB
LEADS TO A RIGHTEOUS LIFESTYLE: Obey God because you are his children; don’t slip back into your old ways -- doing evil because you knew no better. But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to be his child. 1 Peter 1: 14-15 TLB
STRENGTHENS OUR INTIMACY WITH JESUS CHRIST: Jesus replied, “Because I will only reveal myself to those who love me and obey me. The Father will love them too, and we will come to them and live with them. John 14: 23 TLB
SEXUAL INTIMACY OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE
God speaks directly to this subject through His Word, calling us to focus upon the benefits and blessing of self-control and obedience, rather than the denial of physical pleasure. Consider the biblical perspective.
God’s Word, not our feelings, needs to be our guide.
I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin. Psalm 119: 11 TLB
The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. 2 Timothy 3: 16 TLB
Our natural desires run contrary to the way God would have us live.
Obey God because you are his children; don’t slip back into your old ways -- doing evil because you knew no better. But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to by his child. He himself has said, “You must be holy, for I am hole.” 1 Peter 1: 14-16 TLB
Those who let themselves be controlled by their lower natures live only to please themselves, but those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God. Romans 8: 5 TLB
For the free gift of eternal salvation is now being offered to everyone; and along with this gift comes the realization that God wants us to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures and to live good, God-fearing lives day after day,
Titus 2: 11-12 TLB
God tells us through His Word that sex outside of marriage and sexual immorality are one in the same: they are both sin.
For God wants you to be holy and pure and to keep clear all sexual sin.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 TLB
Honor your marriage and its vows, and be pure; for God will surely punish all those who are immoral or commit adultery. Hebrews 13: 4 TLB
Let there be no sex sin, impurity or greed among you. Let no one be able to accuse you of any such things. Ephesians 5:3 TLB
But if you give yourself to the Lord, you and Christ are joined together as one person. That is why I say to run from sex sin. No other sin affects the body as this one does. When you sin this sin it is against your own body. Haven’t you yet learned that your body is the home of the Holy Spirit God gave you, and that he lives within you? Your own body does not belong to you. For God has bought you with a great price. So use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it. 1 Corinthians 6: 18-20 TLB
God calls us to turn from our sin, enjoy fellowship with Him, and allow His strength to sustain us:
Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3: 19 TLB
But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. (And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.) 1 John 1: 9 TLB
He is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trusted in him, and he helped me. Joy rises in my heart until I burst out in songs of praise to him.
Psalm 28: 7 TLB
As believers, God calls us to be examples of His love:
We try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act, so that no one can find fault with us and blame it on the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6: 3 TLB
For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other. Galatians 5: 13 TLB