ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH SERMON OUTLINES
Understanding Love And Lust
Text: II Samuel 13:15 IBCWPM February 14, 2007
Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
Understanding love and lust through the help of the Scriptures is truly a blessing because it will surely guard us from love-related confusion and trouble. We must keep in mind that love-coated lust is very dangerous.
Apparently, countless young people and even adults could hardly differentiate love from lust. We know that true love could stand the test of time and live vividly forever, but lust always dies a natural death. Genuine love has its own incomparable and unique distinction that fleshly lust could not afford to match.
A good knowledge of the four kinds of love will guide us to categorize the love we give or receive from others. Knowing physical love as “Eros”, family love as “Storge”, affectionate love as “Phileo” and divine love as “Agape” is a great advantage in studying the depth of love.
The world presents love with its emphasis on physical and emotional realm, but the Word uncovers all kinds of love. The Word of God extremely emphasizes the reality and importance of God’s love which is “Agape love”.
As we study the professed love of Amnon for Tamar, we could learn a lot of things that will help us become more aware of the kind of love we are sharing and receiving. It will stir up our minds to ask, “Am I really living in love or deceived by destructive lust?”
In II Samuel 13:15, it is written, Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. What a heart-breaking situation Amnon and Tamar experienced during their days. Be watchful because lust may come to you in the name and face of love and its sting may wound your heart for a lifetime.
(I) True Love Cannot Tolerate Guile
II Samuel 13:1-6 I Corinthians 13:4-13
-True love is pure
-True love has no wicked imagination
-True love abides within the principles of Truth
Professed love with guile embedded in it is not genuine love because true love has no pollutant and is pure. Christ-like love repels wicked imagination and cuddles not worldly principles. Sincerity and truth are undeniable marks of true love.
(II) Lust Is A Flesh-triggered Desire
II Samuel 13:1-6
-Lust disregards the will of God
Lust is self-centered and has no interest in the things of God. Obviously, lust-controlled people avoid to seek counsel from godly men, but they tend to ask advice from carnal men. Consequently, they become easy prey of the devil.
-Lust is selfish
Lust is selfish and not advantageous to others while love shows altruism and gives delight to others. Lust is deceitful and he who is trapped by its snare will live in misery.
-Lust is dangerous
Love brings forth excellent things and will never change, but lust has the tendency to transform itself into hatred, especially when unsatisfied with fleshly things.
(III) Christians Must Walk In The Way Of Love
Ephesians 5:1-17
-Put on the new man
-Demonstrate Christ-like love
-Have no fellowship with the works of darkness
As we see many people madly engaged in worldly love, may the true believers stand up and show the world the real essence of true love so others may realize and appreciate the love of Christ.
Christ-like love could only be seen and reflected through the lives of spiritual Christians. In Ephesians 5:1-2, it is written, Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Believers who follow the Lord and walk in love will never become victims of flaming and deceitful lust, but become living testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. The love of Christ being displayed through their lives will touch others’ lives to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH
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