Message Notes

(I) IN DOUBT OF GOD’S LOVE

“In what way have You loved us?”    Malachi 1:2b

1. To doubt God’s love brings great misery to the soul

2. The loveless soul produces the bitterest fruit of rebellious defiance

(II) REDISCOVERING THE GREAT LOVE OF GOD

“The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us, for when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”       Romans 5:5-8

1. Touched by wonderful human love

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends”  John 14:13

a) Difficulty of sacrificing one’s life for another

b) Dying for the sake of “a righteous man”

2. Transformed by profound Divine love

“Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end”  John 13:1

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love”    John 14:9

a) Dying on behalf of others

b) Dying for the ungodly and the sinful

3. Touched a Second Time

“And he looked up and said, ‘I see men as trees, walking.
Then He put His hands on him again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.”   Mark 8:24-25

a) Appreciating afresh the outpouring of God’s love into our life

b) Experiencing anew the ministry of God’s Spirit in our life

(III) A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

“I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
Nor angels nor principalities nor powers,
Nor things present nor things to come,
Nor height nor depth, nor any created thing,
Shall be able to separate us from the love of God
Which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”                Romans 8:38-39

1. To be absolutely convinced of God’s love

2. To be absolutely assured that nothing will separate us from God’s love

POEM

I WAS FOUND OF THEE

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew

He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;

It was not I that found, O Saviour true;

No, I was found of Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;

I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea,

‘Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,

As Thou, dear Lord, on me.

I find, I walk, I love, but, O the whole

Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!

For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;

Always Thou lovedst me.

Anonymous