{"id":518,"date":"2023-04-13T15:05:43","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T15:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=518"},"modified":"2025-12-16T17:15:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:15:26","slug":"whats-love-got-to-do-with-it","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/whats-love-got-to-do-with-it\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT&#8217;S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>WHAT\u2019S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Series: <em>ILLUMINATE \u2014 Message #4<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1 John 4:7-12, 20-21<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, today we\u2019re going to continue our series ILLUMINATE (from the book of 1 John).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ll be in chapter 4, which contains what is probably the most well known passage in 1 John. It\u2019s a passage that speaks of love. In the words of the late Andy Williams,<em> \u201cLove is a many splendored thing!\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, while it can be found in many places\u2026maybe the best is in the hearts of children.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few years ago \u2014 a group of researchers asked a group of children this question. They asked, \u201cWhat is love?\u201d And they were surprised by the depth and creativity of the responses. Here are a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chrissy \u2013 age 6 said, \u201cLove is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Terri \u2013 age 4 said, \u201cLove is what makes you smile when you\u2019re tired.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Danny \u2013 age 7 said, \u201cLove is when my mommy makes coffee for daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, just to make sure it tastes okay.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bobby \u2013 age 5 said, \u201cLove is what\u2019s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noelle \u2013 age 7 said, \u201cLove is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he wears it everyday.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jessica \u2013 age 7 said, \u201cYou really shouldn&#8217;t say \u201cI love you\u201d &#8211; not unless you really mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. \u2018Cause, people forget.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smart Marriages Mar. 12, 2002<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t you love the perspective of children? Well, hearing from children is great \u2014 but, hearing from God\u2019s Word is even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, in chapter 4, John defines love \u2014 by defining God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As he put it \u2014 in verse 8, <em>\u201cGod is Love.\u201d<\/em> Which begs the question\u2026WHY? Why define God as love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s really the same question that R&amp;B singer, Tina Turner asked in her 1984 hit song, <em>\u201cWhat\u2019s Love Got To Do With It?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From her perspective, love is something small, cheap, and petty. More than that \u2014 it seemed to her that love is nothing more than a self-serving emotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so, when it comes to life, she asks \u2014<em> \u201cWhat\u2019s Love Got to Do with It?\u201d <\/em>And that may be what many wonder, when they read this chapter. Hear God defined as LOVE\u2026may be confusing. And maybe you\u2019re wondering \u2014 What\u2019s Love Got to Do with It?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, that\u2019s what I hope to answer in our study of God\u2019s Word today. So, if have your Bible, follow along as I read. Beginning in verse 7 \u2014 John says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>7&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. <\/em><strong><em>8&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. <\/em><strong><em>9&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. <\/em><strong><em>10&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. <\/em><strong><em>11&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. <\/em><strong><em>12&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And now, skip down to verse 19. John continues by saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>19&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>We love because he first loved us. <\/em><strong><em>20&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. <\/em><strong><em>21&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1 John 20-21 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, what\u2019s love got to do with it? John says\u2026ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>MESSAGE:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And at least three things. The first of which is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>GOD\u2019S LOVE IS WITH YOU!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make no mistake about it, genuine love \u2014 authentic love, comes directly from God. But more than that \u2014 it\u2019s been unconditionally extended to you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, I want to point out \u2014 this book, and the words of this chapter, were not written to everyone\u2026they were written to believers, to the church. And so, most of this today is specifically focused on speaking to Christ-followers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, that being said \u2014 John unapologetic states that God is love\u2026and His love has been given freely to all.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, let\u2019s be crystal clear on this matter \u2014 GOD LOVES EVERYONE! Even those who may not love Him back.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the reason His LOVES ALL \u2014 is because He is ALL LOVE! The very essence of who God is \u2014 is love. It\u2019s woven into His nature. It\u2019s a part of what it means for Him to be God.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, even when we don\u2019t recognize it, or when we might doubt it, or even when skeptics deny it \u2014 even then, God is love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the LOVE of God is with you. It always has been\u2026and always will be.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you were counting, you mentions the Wya God\u2019s live is with you over and over and over again.&nbsp; He uses the word LOVE to describe God\u2019s closeness to you and I\u2019m past I&nbsp; you some 20 times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The very heart of this passage is that God love\u2019s you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just as a battery serves as the source of power to your phone, or an engine is the source of power to your car, God IS the source of power in your life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is through His love that you are even here. But what is even more remarkable is that, by His love\u2026He came here! His journey from heaven to earth was a journey of love. And that journey is what we refer to as the incarnation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God put on flesh and blood and came here (because if his love), to be with you. In verse 9, John says:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>9<\/em><\/strong><em> This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1 John 4:9 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quite literally, God\u2019s love was manifest \u2014 and came to earth to be close to you. So John says, God\u2019s love is with you\u2026But more than that, he says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GOD\u2019S LOVE IS FOR YOU!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s one thing for God\u2019s love to be near you\u2014 but it\u2019s another thing altogether for His love to be for you \u2014 to be supportive, encouraging, and life-altering. But that\u2019s how God responds to your life and your circumstances.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He is FOR YOU! He has good purposes for You to fulfill. And He has promised to stand with you forever. As Jesus put it, <em>\u201cI will never leave you nor forsake you.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John describes God\u2019s support for you in this way. In verse 10, he says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>10&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. <\/em><strong><em>11&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. <\/em><strong><em>12&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1 John 4:10-12 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John details the most significant way that God shows His love FOR you \u2014 when he says, that <em>He sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.<\/em> Through the death-defeating power of Christ\u2019s Resurrection \u2013 God takes a STAND FOR YOU!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While John articulates the beauty of God\u2019s love \u2014 He never shys away from pointing to the EMBODIMENT of that LOVE. And that is \u2014 the PERSON OF JESUS.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve told you before, we live in a world that is quick to be PRO-GOD, but only if we leave JESUS out of the equation. They can take a palatable, milk-toast, mild from of God. But leave Jesus out.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s because, Jesus defines His mission and purpose on earth \u2014 by point to our SIN.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You see, His entire reason for coming, was to die and deal with your sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The late author and pastor, John Stott once said, \u201cFor the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; <em>but\u2026<\/em>God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wow. Think about that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Jesus<\/strong> sacrificed His life FOR YOU.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He was beaten and bruised \u2014 FOR YOU.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And, He hung on the cross (suspended between heaven and earth), FOR YOU.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s what Jesus said in John\u2019s gospel. You might recall, Jesus defined LOVE in this way. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGreater love has no one than this: to lay down one\u2019s life for one\u2019s friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>John 15:13 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, through Jesus, God showed the GREATEST LOVE in the GREATEST WAY!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Author and pastor, Timothy Keller says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe gospel (or Good News) is \u2014 that Jesus lived the life you should have lived and died the death you should have died, in your place, so God can receive you not for your record and sake but for his record and sake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Never doubt this fact, GOD IS FOR YOU! HIS LOVE works like a powerful force, holding you up, and championing you forward in life.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He\u2019s not satisfied with your past victories \u2014 He want\u2019s to see you move forward in life. And so, what begins with your SALVATION, should only propel you forward into a GOD-WARD LIFE.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God wants to see you succeed at living well \u2014 and living for Him.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s as if Jesus is wearing your JERSEY! He is a fan of you and your life. He\u2019s passionate about cheering you one. So, be encouraged today \u2014 because God\u2019s love is FOR YOU!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And lastly, understand \u2014 God\u2019s love is with you. God\u2019s love is for you. And\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GOD\u2019S LOVE FLOWS THROUGH YOU!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I know one of the anthems of our day is Taylor Swift\u2019s song \u201cSHAKE IT OFF!\u201d And as she says, haters gonna hate. And that may be true in this world \u2014 at least for those who aren\u2019t serving Christ. But for those who are \u2014 the opposite is true, or at least should be: lovers (or loved ones), gonna love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because, that\u2019s John\u2019s final point here.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He wants you to know that you are loved. And God\u2019s love is with you, and for you. But just as important is that you discover \u2014 God\u2019s love is made complete in you\u2026as it FLOWS through you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Receiving God\u2019s love is not the end of your story. It\u2019s just the beginning. Once you\u2019ve received it \u2014 you are to share it \u2014 to release it to others.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cycle of LOVE that began with God, now flows through you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As John says in verses 19-21,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>19&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>We love because he first loved us. <\/em><strong><em>20&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. <\/em><strong><em>21&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1 John 20-21 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although God\u2019s love is without conditions, it is not without CONSEQUENCES: God commands you to love another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, I want you to remember, John was writing to combat the Gnostic heresy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For his readers, the temptation was to view LOVE as a self-centered emotion\u2026and doesn\u2019t that sound a lot like our culture? Gnosticism taught that love was primarily about what made you feel good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the love God offers is OTHERS-CENTERED!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So we must understand \u2014 that TRUE LOVE is an action. It\u2019s not passive. So, let\u2019s God\u2019s love flow through you. Be intentional. Choose to love others even when you don\u2019t feel like it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And understand this \u2014 when you allow God\u2019s love to flow through you \u2014 OTHERS WILL SEE CHRIST IN YOU!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, may we <em>\u201clet your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Matthew 5:16 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So in a world defined by war and racism, by gossip and bullying, by political division and anger, by lust and violence, by bitterness and negativity \u2014 in a world dominated by such negative forces, BE SACREDLY SUBVERSIVE \u2014 and CHOOSE TO ALLOW GOD\u2019S LOVE to flow through you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Treat people with kindness.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Show everyone respect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Differ to others (rather than taking for yourself).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give generously.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speak graciously.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Welcome others in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hold others up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do more than is expected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And allow the LOVE OF GOD to flow through you always, and often!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, to answer the question \u2014 what\u2019s love got to do with it? I say,\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WHAT\u2019S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? Series: ILLUMINATE \u2014 Message #4 1 John 4:7-12, 20-21 Well, today we\u2019re going to continue our series ILLUMINATE &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-518","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=518"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2732,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/518\/revisions\/2732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}