LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns Over Our Present 4-21-24

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns Over Our Present 4-21-24

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Welcome, Church. We are so glad you have chosen to worship with us today. We believe God has you here for a reason, and we pray that you experience him in a fresh and new way today. We are in the middle of a sermon series called “Love Reigns”. We began on Easter, when we discovered that though Jesus was mocked by being called King of the Jews, the clearest proof of his authority was not in avoiding the cross, but in defeating the cross and resurrecting from the dead. Last week we were encouraged to know that when we are united with Christ through faith in Him, we become a new creation. Our past no longer defines us. It is the love of God that caused Jesus to endure the cross, and it is the love of God that forgives us our past. Love reigns in our lives. Today we continue this series by taking a look at how love reigns over our present. Because of God’s great mercy, we can live lives that honor Him.

 

Story: When we were kids, we all used to play the game Simon Says. If you do not remember, let me quickly refresh your memory. When I say “Simon Says”, you respond by doing that thing. If I give you an instruction without saying Simon Says, then you should not to do it. Let’s give it a try. Simon Says – clap your hands. Simon says – stop. Simon Says – blink your eyes. Simon says – stop.  Simon Says – stomp your feet. Simon says – stop. Simon Says – look up and down. Stop. Oh no. Some of you stopped, and I did not say Simon Says. But you remember the game, right? Simon Says was a test of your willingness to listen to instruction or to decide to ignore it all together. It is a test, because we all have been given a will of our own. This will consists of our own desires and convictions.

 

As we live day to day, we make thousands of decisions. We are constantly having to weigh out options and choose what we think is best. Sometimes our decisions are influenced by things that we are told to do. We find ourselves being obedient to voices around us that do not have our best interests in mind. However, God’s love for us gives us another option. That is to listen for his voice to listen to in order to make the best decision possible right now, today.

 

I.  OUR CHOICES REVEAL WHO REIGNS IN OUR LIVES

 

    A.  Humans are followers.

                      1.  We follow our heart.

                      2.  We follow our desires.

                      3.  We follow our conscience.

                      4.  We follow.

 

          B.  Who we follow determines who reigns in our lives.

 

           C.  We must choose God.

                      1.  We must choose a new perspective.

 

”Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.“

          Romans 12:1 NIV

 

Story: Paula and I went to western New York last week.  We stayed in Erie, PA.  We stayed on the 8th floor of the Sheraton Bayfront Hotel.  The bay was beautiful from the ground, but it was magnificent from the top floor.

 

                      2.  We must see our lives “in view of God’s mercy”, His sacrifice.

 

”Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.“

           Psalms 51:6-7 NIV

 

                      3.  We must allow God’s perspective to become our new perspective.

 

”Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.“

          Romans 12:2 NIV

 

II.  CHANGING OUR PATTERNS WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES

 

           A.  We need to understand the patterns of our lives.

 

Illustration: Shapes Pattern Recognition worksheet

 

           B.  We need to choose to follow God’s patterns, not ours. 

 

III.  TRADE OUR WILL FOR GOD’S WILL

 

A.  Submission

 

 ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.“

        Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

 

Story: Being a parent has not always been fun and games. I certainly enjoy our son, but there has been a fair share of struggles and difficulties along the way. My son has a will of his own, and often that will and desire is in direct conflict with my will and desire for him. The most difficult thing to teach him is that he can trust me because I love him. When I say no to something, instruct him in some way, or even punish him, I am doing it all because I love him and I want what is best for him.

 

          B.  Trust

 

Trust is a hard thing to teach and even harder thing to learn. But if we are going to live the full life God has for us, we must trust his love for us and let that love reign in our lives and over our present.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Our choices reveal who reigns in our lives.  Changing our patterns will change our lives.  Trade our will for God’s will.

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.