Agape

00:00 Thank you. Thank you, Pastor Justin. Thank you. Shall we do the confessions together? I believe in the Almighty God, our father and creator. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God and my Savior. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He suffered, died, and rose again. He [snorts] ascended into heaven. He shall soon come again. I believe in God the Holy Spirit who is worshiped and my guide. I believe in holy fellowship, faithful giving and service to God and this church. I believe the Holy Bible is the perfect word of God. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have and I can do what it says I can do. Today as I learn the word of God here in my spiritual family, I'm blessed, healed, and anointed for a holy and victorious living. I will never again be the same in Jesus' name. Amen. The Lord [clears throat] bless us. Please be seated.

01:05 The first Sunday of every month, we take time to worship the Lord through the participation in Holy Eucharist, the holy body and the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus. And today as we meditate on the cross of our Lord Jesus, the fact that he died for us and he rose again from the grave on the third day after his death and burial, that he lives forever and that the entire penalty of sin was absorbed in the sacrifice that Christ Jesus our Lord offered when he as the high priest offered himself as the lamb of God. The Bible says in Christ Jesus, we are made complete. >> And today as we are going to eat and drink of his body and blood as baptized believers, disciples of Christ, none of us are sinless, but his blood cleanses

02:10 us from all our sins. >> Amen. Shall we hold the elements of communion in our hands as we say, Lord, thank you for the bread of life, the heavenly mana that came from heaven, for the blood of sprinkling of the covenant of the new testament. Lord, we thank you symbolic in this bread and grape juice. Heavenly Father, today we want to thank you for Jesus, our Lord, whose body, though sinless, was broken on the cross. The blood of Christ, our master, the cup of blessing, shed for the remission of our sin. As we eat and drink of it, this month of October, we ask will be a month of your love and power, a month of your grace and victory. In [snorts] Jesus' name we pray. Amen. [clears throat] Let's eat of his body and drink of his precious blood together. Lord Jesus, we thank you. We belong to

03:29 you. Thank you that you redeemed us by purchasing us after you having created us. We thank you. We love you. Bless each one of us. May your church continue to prosper. May each one continue to be blessed. This month I pray new doors will open especially for those who are looking for a change that they will see your success in their life. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. [snorts] Thank you Ash ushers as they are passing the bags. Those who want to you drop [snorts] the used cups you may kindly do so. I want to take uh this time to quickly uh announce those of you who who who are smart with audio, you know how to handle the console, you're good with sound system, you're a sound engineer or [snorts] you're good with accounts. a couple of things opened up in the church uh as opportunities for those who are looking for a job. So if

04:31 you're good with it, hardware and whatever else. So just go into the church website, you have the details and if you're a believer, you know, definitely there is uh preference for those uh who are good with work also. November uh 1st Sunday onwards we are starting the fifth service in the evening. So yeah so as of now I mean I don't know if your cameras can pan around. Is there a camera that can pan around? Video guys, is there a camera that can pan around? Okay, I'd just like you to take a few clips of the guy standing inside and and the guy standing outside the overflow a little bit, you know, because sometimes some people when they sit inside the church, they only look forward. They have no clue what's happening around. Now, that's a good thing. You should stay focused. But but one Sunday we we did a small numbering and we figured

05:36 there are more than a thousand people standing outside in all the services, right? So put together. So that's why now evening we are going to start. So morning 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 12:00 a.m. continues for now. Okay? But evening from November 1st will be 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Two services in the evening to accommodate the crowds. Amen. [snorts] >> So one of the reasons why we taking time to do this and we did it slow is just to make sure everything falls in place. See we're not in a situation where uh we just announce something and then we expect people to come. No. Right now our situation is uh we're looking at the overflow and and figuring out somehow we have to accommodate the crowd. So we're not starting a service to get more people. We're starting a service to accommodate the existing people. Okay. Trying to give a seat to those who are standing and of course new people will come. More people will stand. I don't know what to do at that time. We will see. I was [snorts] little little uh concerned about you know preaching six times on a Sunday. I mean we're going to start the sixth service also after a few more months. I was concerned but I met a friend. He's preaching seven services

06:39 every Sunday. He starts at 5:00 in the morning. When I met him, I [clears throat] found strength in Christ. So, so anyway, um the last three days uh October 1, 2, and 3, what an anointed time in God's presence of fasting and prayer. I want to appreciate all of you for your love to God and to your commitment in the church to Christ and the way the presence of God moved in the morning and evening was so blessed. Amen. Amen. Amen. We studied on the children of Israel the 42 stations for 40 years. Okay. Is that you're trying to pan the crowds? What am I seeing on the screen? There's a crowd. Okay. Can you those are people who are seated or some standing here can can you pan towards the back where people are standing. Can the person who is handling the camera hear what I'm saying? Okay. Put up the volume so he hears me more clear.

07:41 Right. Pan towards the back where people are standing. No, that's not what I asked. Please smile when you see yourself on the camera. Okay, go on your left, bro. Or sister, whatever. Left. Your left. That sound take so long to travel. Left. Further left. Pan to the left. Do I sound like a movie director? Left. Yep. All of you standing there, would you say hello? Praise the Lord. Something. Just wave your hand. Oh, there you go. That's a that's a lot of people standing. I mean, the camera is not capturing the full crowd, but anyway, God bless you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You guys are fantastic with the camera. All of you are

08:42 standing. your greatest consolation. Your pastor stands with you. Right? You're not alone. I'm with you. Okay? But but [clears throat] we also want to start one more service in the morning. So somehow we'll be able to accommodate the crowds. Right? We're done with collection of cups. Let's get into God's word. We are going to um uh this month we are learning on the word love from the Bible. Let's say that together. The word >> love >> is the most complicated, misunderstood and easiest thing. In one word, it's the definition of God. The Bible says God is love. Bible doesn't say God is power. God Bible doesn't say God is faith. Bible doesn't say God is church. The Bible doesn't say God is Christianity. But the Bible does say God is love. >> And therefore love is a important thing and the converse of it is not true. Love is not God. Every feeling of love is not God. Some love may be demonic. Some love may be manipulated. Some love could be lust. So all love is not God but God is the most pure form of love. Love what is

09:46 really the uh Bible introduction of love? Bible introduction of love is choosing to seek another person's real good even at a cost to yourself whether or no they deserve it whether they will return it to you or no that's called love. Love is doing good, allowing good, desiring good for somebody whether they deserve it or no and whether they can revert, whether they can do back, give back or no, that's love. And the difficulty of love is this. Many times we feel love is something that just happens like weather just happened to rain, it just happened to shine, it just happened to be sunny, it just happened to be windy. And many people think love is like that. I just like it and hit the like button and then by evening I don't like it and hit the I don't like button if there is one. So

10:51 the these things people feel is automated. They feel they don't have a control on love. I know what love is but I don't seem to have the power to command love when I really need it. I'm not able to have control on love when I really want to practice it. And and interestingly the Bible talks about this. Let's go to 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse number 11-13. Now may our God and father himself of our Lord Jesus >> direct our way to you and may the Lord increase [snorts] >> make you increase and abound in what >> for one another and for all as we do for you. Verse 13. So that he may establish your hearts blameless. Have you ever heard love leading to holiness? That's what is written here. So that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness >> before our God and father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. You know

11:54 Thessalonica to whom this letter was written by Apostle Paul. Thessalonica was a city in which Apostle Paul went and preached and a few people turned to Jesus our Lord and all of a sudden persecution started. Apostle Paul had to run away from that place. Now he's writing to that church. It's an infant new church just a few months in Christ Jesus. He's not praying that persecution will get over. He's not praying that guys will have personal success and prosperity. He's saying the biggest prayer is you will grow in love. The fundamental of God's way of working is love. >> Amen. >> A lot of times we Christians focus on prosperity, success, and I think it's required. It's we for we we focus on other aspects of God's power, healing, guidance from God. And I think all of that is true. But the scripture places a huge important role for the character of love and says, "Let love grow." And this month we going to study on love. And of

12:58 course in four Sundays you can't finish it. But we'll see if we can at least scratch the surface. But there's another church. It's called the Corinthian church. They were filled with gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thessalonica church was a brand new church. They don't know much about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They don't know much about prophecy and speaking in tongues. They're all at the bare minimum levels. They don't know much about Bible doctrines. But Corinthian church, oh they were superfluous with tongues and prophecy and gifts of the Holy Spirit. You know it was very common that they would go for funeral services. Many of them turn into resurrection services. They were powerful people had no love at all. You can sometimes have so much power, faith, grace, gifts, everything but zero love. And therefore, Apostle Paul wrote one whole chapter for Corinthian church explaining what love is. But if God has anointed you so much, don't you think that'll be love? Anointing is a gift. Love is a character. Gift comes from God. Character is what you build.

14:02 >> Love comes from God only sorry only if you want to receive it. And God's love leads to holiness. Now this is what many times churches don't understand. We Christians feel no no no no love is unholy. Love, God's love is holy. It leads to holiness. When you deal with each other with love, it leads to holiness. >> Amen. >> It leads to a blameless life. It leads to a clean life. Amen. [snorts] Love leads to holiness. Love is the means. Holiness is the goal. and the return of Christ is the region around which it is going to be revealed. >> Amen. >> We often separate you know many of these things we we many times think love is the opposite of holiness and uh we we think that love were warm or cold as though becoming more loving means becoming more sanguin and buoyant and >> [snorts] >> um [clears throat] becoming less loving means being careless. But bi Bible says

15:07 no love is leading to holiness. It it doesn't actually mean temperament. It actually mean a conscious decision. That's why 1 Corinthians chapter 13 which apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church becomes very important. And he explains in verse number 1 2 and 3. Let's run through it. In fact in this whole month I'm going to try and finish 1 Corinthian chapter. If I speak come on let's do it. If I speak in the tongues of >> but I am a >> or a clanging. If I have a prophetic power and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith as to remove mountains but have no love. >> Oops. If I give away all I have and if I deliver up my body to be burned but I have not love. Three things apostle Paul is saying with what we are studying for today. Rest we will study in the coming Sundays. He's saying even if I have so much anointing

16:11 that my speech is so powerful that I not only talk in English, Canada and other languages and Hindi and Tamil and Talu and Ura and Gujarati even if I speak in all these tongues and then I graduate to start speaking in angel's language and I start talking language of Gabriel and Michael and I start talking they're like you learned our language and if there is no love. God says zero. I'm looking at a zero. In the eyes of God, it's a zero. The other day I found that in one of the planets in our solar system, when it rains, water drops don't fall. Diamonds fall. I know some of you want to go there right now. But [clears throat] but do you know the most useless thing in that planet? Diamonds. because it's everywhere. People are fed up of it. What is rare becomes valuable

17:15 in in the in in our world today. Diamonds are so expensive, so valuable because they are very rare. Love has become very valuable because it's become very rare. If you don't have love, God says all your preaching, singing, bashan, you know, is just a political speech. God says it's zero. You sat in my presence and prayed for one hour because there is no love. God says I heard some sound. [clears throat] You remember long back plates hitting together. Was it during lockdown? I don't know how Apostle Paul knew that. Read that again. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse number one. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I have not loved, I am a noisy gong. or a clanging symbol. God is saying the question is not if

18:23 gifts are operating. The question is is love operating. >> If I have faith and knowledge, these are very important things. Okay? By the way, please don't think that speech is not important. Speech is very important. But speech without love becomes a zero before God. Faith and knowledge are very important. We need to have it. But if I even if I have the faith that can move mountains, so to speak, to use a verbatim of our Lord. Even if I have the faith to move mountains and I have all the knowledge and I understand relativity theory and it becomes my basis of alphabets. But if I don't have love, God looks at me and says, "Another useless fellow amounts to nothing. Zero." We all want to impress God. Yes, >> faith is important. But love is primary. >> God is impressed with love. God likes love. Doctrinal understanding of Bible details is a gift from God. And truth is important, but truth without love before

19:26 God is zero. Third, he's saying sacrifice. If I sacrifice, if I give offerings, if I give tithes, if I give, I sell everything I have and I give all that is good. But if I don't do it with love, I am lost eternally. Sacrifices don't always prove love. It shows sacrifices actually show how much you feel for something. How strongly, passionately you feel for something. Some people sacrifice their life. They become suicide bombers. They become suicide bombers. They go kill others. They throw stones at others. Is it because they love? They are not moving in love. Sacrifice doesn't mean love. Every sacrifice is not love. Some are manipulated. Some are with hatred. Some are with foolishness. Some are with anger. Please don't think every sacrifice comes out of love. Oh, he sacrificed one class. He bunkked just to pick me up. Darling, [snorts]

20:30 wake up. Every sacrifice doesn't come from love. Hallelujah. Every sacrifice doesn't come from love. We must sacrifice. We must live a sacrificial life. And that's a good thing. But it must be motivated with love. >> You know, in the Greek, you know, English Bible is translated from every Bible. is translated from the original in which it was written and mostly Greek is what uh is the reference and then the Greek language uh the scriptures written use four different words for the word love in fact more but I want to deal with four the four different words one is the most prominent which we all use and the Greek word is agape Bible translators have just translated it as love in the Bible for example 1 Corinthians chapter 13 let's look at that verse one more time 1 Corinthians chapter 13:1 if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love the word there is agape now agape in Greek what does it mean it

21:34 means unconditional God's love in its impact I'm not into the polomics of it I'm into the application of it means the unconditional love of God it means the effective love of God the pure love of God the love of God that gives without an expectation that's the love of The other word used in the Bible in the Greek language which again Bible translators use the word love for that also in English is the word filia. Fyia or uh is a [clears throat] Greek word which is about friendship affection between uh those who have a common liking or a common life. You know when when two people like two things when you're a child and what's your hobby? Stamp collection. Mine stamp collection. Ah we like each other right? You like blue. I like blue. We like each other. Common things in life. You're IT guy. I'm it guy. I don't know if you like each other. But point is point is many times common things attract. That's fia. Sometimes opposites attract

22:39 at least for a season. That's fia in the Greek language, but it's translated as love in the Bible. Stogy is the third word. It's natural affection between family members. affection of a parent for a child, affection of uh people that are cousins that are because it's a family bond. And then the fourth word is the word o, which is desire, romantic love, sexual love. That's also translated as love. They haven't really made a distinction when they translated into English. Now, we are mostly dealing with the word agape. There are these various kinds of love and therefore the Bible says in Romans chapter 5 and verse 5, let's look at that together. And hope does not put us to shame because God's love >> has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. >> One of the big things you and I should receive from the Holy Spirit, he will

23:40 give us prosperity. He will give us vision for life. He will give us gifts of the Holy Spirit. He will give us faith. He will give us many things. But one thing you do not forget to receive from Holy Spirit is love that flows inside us. >> Many times we don't feel love. We feel dry. Come on, let's face it. That's the reality. We don't feel the emotion of love. We tired. We're dry. There's no love. Don't know what we love. Don't love food. Don't love people. Don't love job. Don't love ourselves. Don't love what we see in the mirror. Don't love anything. Human beings go through these experiences. Some of you are looking like, "Pastor, you just define my whole life in that last sentence. Happens to me every week." Listen, brother. We all go through that, sister. We go through that. That's that's life. And and that's where we run to the source. We run to the Holy Spirit in prayer and he fills our heart with love. >> Receive love from God. But that is a

24:44 pure love. >> Amen. That is pure love. That is different from lust and sexual romances and infatuations. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Your silence is very clear. Today's message is doing a 100 out of 100. >> Maybe 110 out of 100. Hallelujah. Amen. >> And some of you are looking at me saying, "Pastor, your preachings are so good." But God is looking and saying, "John Johnson, if it's not with love, he's a big zero man." God looks at things on the basis of love. >> Liking is a preference. There's a difference between liking and loving. Liking is a preference. It's not a virtue. It's not a sin. We naturally like some people more than others because it's a matter of disposition of the heart. It's not a moral guilt. Like and dislike are common. Liking is a feeling that comes by chance. I like that bike.

25:46 [snorts] I like that guy. Danger. But anyway, I I I like that job. I mean, these things happen by chance. I like to be young like that person. These things they are like weather. Likings just happen. Am I helping anybody here? >> It happens by chance. It's a feeling that comes by chance. But loving [clears throat] is a commitment by choice. >> When you like something and then you make a commitment to that by your choice, it's no longer liking. It becomes love. >> Hallelujah. God looked at the sinful humanity. There was nothing to like us. But he made a choice and a commitment to save us and loved us. That's love. Hallelujah. Amen. In theology, like means it's a part of our God-given temperament. It's a

26:48 preference, not a virtue. Bible never commands us to like anybody. But in theology, study of God's word, love means it comes in the area of redemption. It is commanded and it is produced in us by the Holy Spirit. In philosophy, liking is a virtue in the sense of value. Liking something means I find some value in you. Now, that's the philosophy of liking. But the philosophy of love is seeking another's good. It's similar to theology because there is a value in that choosing and there is good in that commitment. The meaning of the word like is to please to be suitable. You know the meaning of the word love is to hold someone dear valuing the person not just what they provide. Even if they can't provide anything, you

27:51 hold them dear not because of the value they bring, but because you just have made a commitment that they are important to you. In the social life, liking means it's it's what we naturally gravitate to in a classroom. you know there there let's say let's say you are a let's okay now let's say okay let's not shall we leave it because I'm worried that it it goes a little bit towards color and cash so I leave that we we tend to gravitate towards those who come from our backgrounds personality income or interest those are common things liking um sorts people out in a coffee shop you know in a few minutes Hindi speaking will be one gang Tamil speaking will be another gang oh nama ka will be another gang [laughter] maloo I don't have to say right good juice I don't have to say right Punjabi you know it just happens like that

28:56 that's called liking they it's it's automatic they sort it out themselves Okay. But love in the scripture, it's a costly affair. It's a sacrificial affair because it's a costly commitment that whether the person is likable or no, I have a commitment to their good. >> Amen. >> And God's word is not just teaching you to love, God's word enables you to love. >> Amen. Even what you could not do naturally, God will give you the grace and you will do it supernaturally. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Sometimes when your love run, you are married for 40 years, 50 years. It's very, it's very normal sometimes that love runs dry. You married for 4 months, love can run dry. You married last night, love can run dry. You are not married. Love can run dry. Love can run dry in a variety of

30:00 relationships. The job that you really loved and today you just don't like it. That's human experience. The party you voted for, you just don't like it. Happens in life. These things happen in life. When your love runs dry for your spouse, for your children, for your parents, or others, don't simply try harder, but run to the source and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with love. And he does answer prayer. Oh, somebody give him a big hand. Absolutely. Now that's why that's why now many people are not succeeding in life because they can't love their job. Many people can't succeed in life because they can't love the things God has given them to handle. Start praying for God's heart for God's heart to be in your heart where you will love what God loves for you. >> Amen. >> And this is very important. Very important. Look at Mark's gospel chapter 12. The gospel written by Mark 12:30 and 31. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all

31:05 your mind, with all your strength. And second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other greater commandment than this. The Lord Jesus himself verbatim spoke it with his own holy lips. The greatest commandment is love. Salvation happens because you love God and you're born again. Baptism happens because you love God. You believe him and you get baptized. Everything is built on love. And that's what the scripture is saying. Jesus is our Lord is not giving two unrelated commandments. No, it's actually a related commandment. He's saying when you love the Lord your God, then his love will flow through you into others. >> Hallelujah. Oh pastor, I love the mobile. But when the new model comes, this is like the useless girlfriend, right? Okay.

32:11 A lot of times we want to love, but there are hurdles. Am I preaching good? >> Because I don't remember when was the last time I taught on love in this church maybe during marriages but maybe here and there bits and pieces but this whole month is about love. You love God. >> Yes. >> You love me. >> You'll come back. >> Okay. Call more people. All these unlovable guys bring them. you know, we'll try to put in God's love by the grace of God Almighty. So, they will change. Amen. I'm I'm going to touch on what love really means in different facets of understanding and what are the hurdles to love as the Bible says and what love really produces when you stick to loving. In in the theological world, I already explained love is a choice to seek others good reflecting God's intention and love. But the hurdles to love is self-centered life, sinfulness, selfishness, misunderstanding the grace

33:18 of God, separating love from holiness. But if you really love as the Bible expects, what it produces in you is you become obedient to God, holy in life, and you become more Christlike. In other words, you become more successful. Jesus was never a failure. You know that, right? >> Hallelujah. No matter how smart you are, no matter how rich you are, no matter how powerful you are, no [snorts] matter how educated you are, everybody's defeated at death. >> Christ overcame even that. >> Jesus is a total success. >> And you should be like Jesus. >> Hallelujah. In the area of society, what does love mean? Loving people beyond our own circle and differences. That's really what love is. And what are the hurdles to love in our society? Prejudice, tribalism, class difference, politics, social media, us versus them thinking.

34:22 And what love really produces in the society, unity, compassion, dignity, peace, the list goes on. Among our friends, what does love really mean? It means again not just enjoying their company but being of value and good to them. And what are the hurdles to love among friendships? [laughter] Comparison. Jealousy. His nose looks better than mine. Her skin is better than mine. Jealousy. Disappointment. I went for their birthday. They didn't come for mine. Betrayal. One-sided love. What's one-sided love? In one village recently, one fellow celebrated said, "I'm going to get married. He is 34 years old. Nobody wants to marry him." He announced, "I'm going to get married. I've fallen in love." People were shocked and they asked, "Who is the lady?" And he gave the name of a very very famous uh Bollywood actress. He said, "That person." Uh yeah. They were like, "Oh my goodness, how did it

35:24 happen?" He said, "I'll tell you after 2 days." 2 days people couldn't wait. They were hanging around him to see who he's calling how how could this happen fellow fellow doesn't even have a job and after two days he explained that it's a 50% complete and they asked what is this 50% complete I mean how he says from my side it's complete from her side she still doesn't know about it so a lot of times one-sided relationships is a big hurdle to love when when there is love between friends what does it produce loyalty, honesty, encouragement, forgiveness. Forgiveness has a big role in love. We'll look at uh one of these days how to forgive etc. From the concept of love in the area of work, how does love function? What does it mean? It it means seeking the good of your colleagues while you are pursuing excellence yourself. But what are the hurdles to love in your work life?

36:27 competition, ego, ambition, office, politics, huge difficult personalities. Some people are, let's just be honest, some fellows are difficult. Come on. Oh, I don't know anyone like that. You may be the one in your office. That's unfortunate truths, right? And what does love produce? It produces teamwork, trust, excellence, healthy, robust relationships, transparency, no secrets. In family life, what does love mean? It's about seeking and serving. Everybody say serving. >> Serving. >> Serving means without expecting a return. >> Amen. >> It is seeking and serving the good of those that you belong to. What are the hurdles? Familiarity, treating each other with no respect, unresolved hurts, expectations that are unmet,

37:33 selfishness, taking people for granted. These all become problem in the family. But what really happens when you walk in love in the family? It produces patience, forgiveness, a sense of security, a strong sense of belonging. that is so important for your psychological and physiological growth. There was a test done uh this was a unfortunate test done. I I would think it's very improper but they did this test. I I don't remember exactly which lab but this is a true story. [snorts] They took a set of kids that were just born with the permission of the parents they decided to feed the child but not touch the child. They decided to feed the child through medical methods and never touched the child. Left the child on the bed, fed the child daily in in the proper feeding time. Never allowed the child to really cry because of hunger. Fed the child properly. Another set of children, whatever number, they

38:37 were allowed to be fed by the mother and handled by the father and friends and all of that. So here is one set of children growing up uh in the hospital in the maternity ward uh or in the pediatric ward with physical touch and care and kisses and all of that. And here is another set in the same hospital with nobody even the nurses doctors don't touch except to check the vitals. In a few days, the children who were fed sufficient food but not touched, not given love, they began to show signs of death. Their growth their physical body couldn't handle isolation. They were going to die. And the kids that were being handled constantly, they began to grow well. And medical science drew one very simple thing. Life is not just food, water and shelter. Without love, life will shrink. Without love, life will go to death.

39:44 Food alone is not enough. For some of you hardworking professionals, coffee alone is not enough. We need love. And many times it doesn't happen on coffee. It happens on the word of God. Go ahead. I think you want to clap for this one. Absolutely. In the area of marriage with your spouse, what is love? It's again choosing the good of your spouse. Even when you feel that love is fluctuating, feelings are fluctuating, you staying consistent because now it's not about likings, it's about commitment. And what are the hurdles to love with your spouse? selfishness, resentment, unmet expectations, promises you said you never kept, mishandling of finances, poor communications, bad temperaments. All these things come in the way of love with your spouse. But if you are able to live in love, what does it produce? Greater intimacy, trust, faithfulness, commitment, and the list goes on. Huge productivity in life. When it comes to

40:49 children, how does love actually mean and work? It's of course seeking their long-term good, not just their immediate pleasure. But with children and with spouse, one of the ways you express love is by spending time. One of the biggest languages of love is not gifts, it's not money, it's not surprises, it's time. [clears throat] >> The spelling of love before marriage is L O V E. But after you are married, the spelling of love changes. It's T I M E. Some of you who shouted amen without marriage. Academically you are right. But what are the hurdles to love when it

41:56 comes to children? Frustrations, overp protection, worry, unrealistic expectations. You have to be engineer and doctor also. And generational difference. You don't know. In our time, we had nothing. You have everything. What? Kids are fed up of hearing this. But when you walk in love and you remove the hurdles, children are able to experience security, maturity, discipline, confidence. With parents, how do parents understand love? They understand love in the language of honoring them, caring for them even when relationships are difficult. Sometimes relationship with parents are difficult and that's a reality because the hurdles to love are past hurts, the differences that keep growing, the problem of them aging, disappointments that come along the way. But what love produces if you can remove the hurdles is greater honor,

43:00 gratitude and reconciliation that lives beyond your lifespan. It actually stretches to eternity. How do you handle enemies and difficult people? I think this is the most important one sometimes. How does love matter? What does love mean when it comes to enemies and difficult people? The scripture says without approving the wrong they do. Don't approve the wrong. wrong. In other words, don't support the wrong they do, but yet seek their good from a meaningful distance. And what are the hurdles to this love? It is anger, injustice, pride, desire for revenge. You know, these things come in the way of loving our enemies. But when you are able to love and seek their good without approving their wrong or putting yourself in the path of trouble with them, what love produces is forgiveness, freedom from bitterness, >> and you're finally becoming a witness of Christ Jesus in their life.

44:05 >> Let's go to Mark's gospel one more time. Let's read that verse again. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. >> You see, all all, all all, all all. When it comes to loving God, >> how do you love your neighbor? >> Next line. >> Not there is no all. You have to be careful when you read the Bible. There is no all there. How you love your neighbor? >> As yourself. We'll explain in the coming days how to handle neighbor. >> Because some neighbors are so terrible we left it to God. God, you judge at your time. Neighbor need not be the address on the other card which is next door. It can be your classmate sitting on the next bench. It can be your ex studying in the next uh section. Neighbor is what occupies space in your

45:09 mind. But God says love. This month, devil will do everything to stop you from learning about love. But God is love. >> Don't miss studying God's word. >> Amen. And start practicing God's word with wisdom and right timing. >> Amen. >> Wisdom and timing are very important. Close your eyes and say, "Holy Spirit, I receive your love today. I really welcome your love in my heart. Just as I receive your presence, just as I receive your power, just as I crave for your touch, just as I desire to be filled with the your blessings, Lord, I also open my life for your love. Fill me with your love. Fill me with your love first for you. I want to love you more. I want to love you more, Jesus. Lord, I want to love you more. I want to love you with all my heart, all my strength, all my mind, with everything within me.

46:12 Teach me, Lord, to let your love flow through me into the various aspects of my life. Let me not love things, but let me love people. Let me love the responsibilities you've put in my life. Let me love what you love and [music] let me stay away from what you don't like. Let me not love unholy things, but give me love for holy things. Give me love for success. Give me love for the process to [music] success. Yes, Lord Jesus. [music] Give me love for courage. Give me love for courage. Let my dreams be filled with courage and not with fear, not with hatred, not with [music] envy. Thank you, Lord, for your grace. Thank you that you're turning us into leaders, leaders in our own realms of influence. We love you today, Holy Spirit. Thank you that there are healings happening [music] here.

47:14 Hallelujah. healings of your grace, [music] healings of your miracles, healings of your mighty power. Thank you Lord. What the devil destroyed, you are rebuilding in Jesus' name. Thank you, [music] Holy Spirit. Father, we welcome you today. For some of us who have [music] not yet received Christ Jesus as your Lord and you haven't experienced his love, welcome him in your life today and say, "Lord, maybe I'm a Christian, maybe I'm not, and that doesn't matter. [music] But thank you that I can welcome you in my life. You are truly God. Come in my life. Let your love flow through me." with people who don't agree with what I say, with people who have a different viewpoint. [music] Help me to love in a meaningful manner, not in a foolish way, not in a way that's disruptive and [music] destructive, but in a way that is constructive. Hallelujah. In the process of loving, in the process of loving, help me Lord to

48:16 be built up and not to be broken down. Give me that wisdom. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your favor in Jesus mighty name we pray. And the church said, "Amen." Shall we stand? [music] We'll sing a song and we'll pray together. Lord, I come to you. Let my heart be changed. renewed flowing [singing] from the grave that I found in [singing] you. [music] Lord, I've come [singing and music] to know the weaknesses I see in me [music and singing] will be stripped away by the power of your love.

49:26 Holy Ghost [music] all your [music] Jesus please bring me draw me to your side and >> [music] >> I'll rise up. [singing] Thank you, Lord. Thank you for [music] the power of your love. And I will sow with you. [music] Your spirit leads me on by the power of your love. Lord [singing] unwill my eyes. [music] Oh, let me see your face [singing]

50:31 [music] to face with the knowledge of your love as [music] you live in [singing] me. Lord, renew my mind as your [music] will unfold in [singing] my life, in [music] living every day. Come on, church. Sing it out [music] today. By the power [singing] of your love, Heat. Heat. [music] me

51:35 [music and singing] to your right [music] and I will [music] s with you. Your spirit leads me all by the power of Let's [music] sing it one more time. Everybody hold me close by Jesus. Let your [music] love set on me Jesus. Be [singing] close. Let your love surround [music] me. Pray [music] mania please throw me to your side. We all lift [music] up our hands wherever you're standing. Come on church.

52:39 I rise up like [singing] an eagle this month over in the name [music] of Jesus. I will fall with you. Your spirit leads me on [music] by the power of your love. Go ahead, let's give the Lord a mighty hand. [music] Open our mouth. Take a few minutes to praise him. Everybody worship him. Let your heart be filled [music] with praises for him. You're going to rise like a eagle in the love of God. [music] >> [music] >> Bondages are breaking. Shh traumas are breaking in the name of Jesus. Traumatic [music] post-traumatic life is changing in the name of Jesus. Hallelujah. [music] The disabilities are being healed by the power of God. Thank you. Thank you.

53:41 Thank you. Thank [music] you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Lord for the power of your love that's holding us to move forward [music] in your grace in your miracles in the victory in the power of your Holy Spirit. [music] People whose hearts are broken with wrong words with curses with bad words. People whose [music] minds are hurt and wounded with bad words. Now let it be healed in the name of Jesus. Heal by the touch of the Holy Spirit. Let the love of God flow in every heart. Hallelujah. [music] Hallelujah. Heavenly Father, we [music] just want to say thank you, Father God, for speaking to our hearts, into our lives today through your word. And thank you so much for your selfless love that you showed us on the cross. And thank you so much for [music] loving us just the way we are. And it's our prayer, oh Lord, that today that we will love like you and give us the grace and the strength,

54:44 [music] oh Lord, to love you with all of our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, with all our strength, [music] and to love the people that you have hold in our lives. We bless your precious holy name this morning. Father God, we pray for those who have come here for the very first time. We believe, oh Lord, that your message had made a difference in their lives and we bless them in your holy name. Lord, we pray for those who are traveling this week. May your hand of grace and your presence go with them with whatever purpose that they're [music] heading for. Give them favor, give them success. We also pray for those who are celebrating the birthdays, the marriage anniversaries this week. Thank you so much for adding another year into their lives. And [music] it's our prayer, oh Lord, that this year that they will understand a new measure of your love. We bless them in your holy [music] name. We also pray for the tithes and the offering that people have given to you with a sincere heart that [music] you would bless them, Father God. May the church grow in every aspects of their lives. Let there be always abundance and prosperity in their works. We also pray for those who are going through a difficult time of [music] losing their beloved ones. Father God, we pray for your perfect love. Oh Lord, will comfort them, strengthen them, oh God, in this

55:48 season. [music] We thank you that you will do it. Father, we pray that this week will be a blessed, blessed week unto each one of us where we will walk in the power of your love. [music] We give you thanks. We give you glory in Jesus most holy name we pray. Amen. And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of our heavenly father, and [music] the sweet abiding presence of the Holy Spirit rest and be with us from now and forever more. Amen. Amen. Amen. God bless you all. We want to take this time to welcome all of you who are here, those who are watching us online today. Come on church, give them a very warm welcome. Thank you so much for coming. And those who are here, we would love to meet you in our guest launch. And if you need prayers, our pastors are here in the front and also in the overflow. God bless you all and have a blessed week. >> [music]

57:35 >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.