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COMFORT OF LOVE

Text: Text : Philippians 2:1-4
15 April 2007

(I) THE SITUATIONS IN WHICH LOVE CAN BE ABSENT

1. Self glory

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit…” Philippians 2:3

2. Selfishness

“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests…” Philippians 2:4

3. Envy

“Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife…” Philippians 1:15

4. Strife

“Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife…” Philippians 1:15

5. Fear

“…terrified by your adversaries…” Philippians 1:28

6. Suffering

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, Having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.” Philippians 1:29-30

(II) THE SOURCE OF THE COMFORT OF LOVE IS THE LORD

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy” Philippians 2:1

1. By definition

a) “Comfort”…means of encouragement

b) “Love”…the Lord’s kind of love

2. By context

a) “Consolation in Christ”

b) “Fellowship of the Spirit”

c) “Affection”

d) “Mercy”

(III) THE SPECIAL KIND OF LOVE THAT THE LORD COMFORTS WITH

1. The “To the end” kind of love

“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” John 13:1

2. The “Father’s” kind of love

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9

3. The “Greatest” kind of love

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13

4. The “Friendship” kind of love

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:13-15

5. The “You are special” kind of love

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” John 15:16

(IV) SEEKING TO MAKE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES

1. Pray to comprehend the profound love of Christ

“May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height– To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:18-19

2. Find comfort in His love

a) Sense of belonging

b) Secured

c) Supported

d) Special

3. Sharing the comfort of the Lord’s love with each other

a) Share the same love with each other

“Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2:2

b) Share a humble love

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians 2:3

c) Share a selfless love

“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4