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Essential Attributes of Divine Love
Listen to the message given on Sunday, May 2, 2010, by Pastor Dan Houze.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
Studies in the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17)
Essential Attributes of Divine Love
John 13:1-17; I Corinthians 13:1-13
John 13:1, "Jesus...because he loved his own that were in the world, made one final demonstration of that love." (paraphrase)
1. Divine love is more powerful than Satan's schemes and man's failures (Jn. 13:2, 38; I Cor. 13:5b).
2. Divine love is administered with humility even with a conscious knowledge of truth and power (Jn. 13:3, 19:11; I Cor. 13:1-2, 4b).
3. Divine love transcends socio-economic barriers (Jn. 13:3-4; I Cor. 13:3).
4. Divine love can be cleansing to the receiver (Jn. 13:6-10; I Cor. 13:7-8).
TAKE AWAY: This account may be best interpreted by considering God's Word as "water" applied with divine love to "feet" represented by the hearts and ways of others.
QUESTION FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION:
If your attitude toward "washing feet" was represented by the "water" temperature, would yours be scalding hot, ice cold, or nice and warm? What would others say?
Disillusionment: the Dangers and Opportunities
Listen to the message given on Sunday, May 9, 2010 by Pastor Dan Houze.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
A Study in the Upper Room Discourse
Disillusionment: the Dangers and Opportunities
John 13:18-30
Three points of probable disillusionment for Judas:
- Social conditions
- Jesus
- Himself
The dangers of disillusionment: James 1:13-15
- Drawing false assumptions about God (v.13)
- Taking life into our own hands (v. 14)
- Progressive self-deception and evil (v.15)
Four opportunities Judas missed after his betrayal: (Ephesians 2:1-10)
- God's merciful love (v.4)
- Grace (v.5, 8)
- Hope (v.6-7)
- Renewed purpose (v.10)
TAKE AWAY:
We gain a proper perspective of disillusionment when we live with the conviction that God's purpose is not to make our lives easier but better (James 1:2-4).
Prevenient Grace: Before we can seek God, God must first have sought us. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him..."-John 6:44
QUESTION FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION:
As you presently reflect on your life, how is God "drawing" you? How will you respond?
Life's Best Questions - Life's Best Answers
Listen to the message delivered on Sunday, May 16th, 2010 by Pastor Dan Houze.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
A Study in the Upper Room Discourse
Life's Best Questions-Life's Best Answers
John 13:31-14:31
Week one of a two week sermon
Question #1 from Peter: "Lord, where are you going?" (Jn. 13:36)
The root issue: "I'm worried about the future."
Answer: Peace about the future involves both a place and a person (Jn. 14:1-4).
Question #2 from Thomas: "...how can we know the way?" (Jn. 14:5)
The root issue: "I need you to show me the details."
Answer: You need to know Me more intimately (Jn. 14:6-7).
TAKE AWAY: Jesus is both our destination and our guide.
Life's Best Questions, Life's Best Answers - Part Two
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
A Study in the Upper Room Discourse
Life's Best Questions...Life's Best Answers
John 13:31-14:31
Question #3 from Philip: "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." (Jn. 14:8)
Root issue: "I need God to come to me in a tangible way."
One of our greatest shortcomings is trying to create God in his own image, or in the image of what we conceive God to be (Ex. 20:4).
Answer: "It is the Father living in me, who is doing the work." (Jn. 14:10)
To substantiate this, Jesus gives Philip and the others assurance of His and the Father's continued presence in a "tangible" way: the coming presence of the Holy Spirit (15-21).
- He is the answer to Jesus' prayer to the Father (Jn. 14:16)
- He is another "Comforter" (Jn. 14:6)
- He dwells permanently with the Christ-follower (Jn. 14:6)
- He is called the Spirit of Truth (Jn. 14:7)
- He is unknown to the "world" (Jn. 14:7)
- He will dwell in the believer (Jn. 14:17)
Question #4 from Judas (not Iscariot): "Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" (Jn. 14:22)
Root issue: "Lord, there is an easier way to do this that doesn't require as much from us."
Answer: "Because a loveless world is also a sightless world" (Jn. 14:23-24 MSG).
It doesn't matter what they see if they don't love me.
Jesus outlines the functions of the Spirit with regard to revelation:
- He would be an accredited representative of Jesus (Jn. 14:26)
- He would bring clarity to revelation (Jn. 14:26)
- He would bring continuity to revelation (Jn. 14:26)
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