THE JOY OF LOVE1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

What Is Christian Joy?

A furnace burning in the heart

• it stirs a Revolution of the heart

The most under-rated,

• unappreciated, overlooked, misunderstood, neglected, and counterfeited reservoir of God’s power available to the Christian.

What Is Christian Joy?

A furnace burning in the heart

• it stirs a Revolution of the heart

The most under-rated,

• unappreciated, overlooked, misunderstood, neglected, and counterfeited reservoir of God’s power available to the Christian.

What Is Christian Joy?

The most under-rated,

• unappreciated, overlooked, misunderstood, neglected, and counterfeited reservoir of God’s power available to the Christian.

A furnace burning in the heart

• it stirs a Revolution of the heart

Counterfeits

Rock ‘n Roll

24-hour party

The jack-pot

What Is Christian Joy?“For who is our hope or joy or crown

of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?” 1Thes.2:19

Eternal

Victor-ious Love

Eternal

Relation-

shipsSignificant!

What Is Christian Joy?“For who is our hope or joy or crown

of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?” 1Thes.2:19

Eternal

Victor-ious Love

Eternal

Relation-

shipsSignificant!

For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account,

1 Thess, 3:9

What Is Christian Joy?“For who is our hope or joy or crown

of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?” 1Thes.2:19

Eternal

Victor-ious Love

Eternal

Relation-

shipsSignificant!

Insignificance

Eastern Religions

Atheistic Views

Hedonism

Materialism

Victory Despite Great Strife

For we wanted to

come to you and yet Satan

hindered us. 1 Th. 2:18

“The one who does not love does not

know God, for God is love.” 1

Jn4:8

Satan Hates God

Hates Love

Persecutes

Distracts

Victory Despite Great Strife

For we wanted to

come to you and yet Satan

hindered us. 1 Th. 2:18

“The one who does not love does not

know God, for God is love.” 1

Jn4:8

Satan Hates God

Hates Love

Persecutes

Distracts

14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men 2:14-16

Victory Despite Great Strife

For we wanted to

come to you and yet Satan

hindered us. 1 Th. 2:18

“The one who does not love does not

know God, for God is love.” 1

Jn4:8

Satan Hates God

Hates Love

Persecutes

Distracts

14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men 1 Thess. 2:14-16

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins…1 Thess/ 2:14-16

TRIBALJEALOUSY

Victory Despite Great Strife

For we wanted to

come to you and yet Satan

hindered us. 1 Th. 2:18

“The one who does not love does not

know God, for God is love.” 1

Jn4:8

Satan Hates God

Hates Love

Persecutes

Distracts

14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men 1 Thess. 2:14-16

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins…1 Thess/ 2:14-16

RABID

Victory Despite Great Strife

For we wanted to

come to you and yet Satan

hindered us. 1 Th. 2:18

“The one who does not love does not

know God, for God is love.” 1

Jn4:8

Satan Hates God

Hates Love

Persecutes

Distracts

14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men 1 Thess. 2:14-16

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins…1 Thess/ 2:14-16

…But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

1 Thess. 2:16 Always Discredited

Victory Despite Great Strife

For we wanted to

come to you and yet Satan

hindered us. 1 Th. 2:18

“The one who does not love does not

know God, for God is love.” 1

Jn4:8

Satan Hates God

Hates Love

Persecutes

Distracts

5 For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain. 1 Thess. 3:5

Rock ‘n Roll

24-hour party

The jack-pot

Victorious Love Requires Commitment!

2:17 “Great desire to see your face…”2:18 “We wanted to come to you…”3:1 “Couldn’t take it anymore…”3:6 “We also long to see you…”3:10 “…that we might see your face…”3:11 “…direct our way to you…”

Means

Time Spent• (Diffuse problem)

Common Experience

Despite Feelings• (Infantile problem)

Victorious Love Requires Commitment! Vulnerability!

3:1,5 “…could endure it no longer…”3:8,9 “for now we really live, if you stand firm in

the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account…”

Means

Shared Emotional Worlds

Personal Inner-Workings

Agonizing!• Work Sub: lazy, detached, safe…

Without Manipulation• Work 4 Love: entrapment

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15

Victorious Love Requires Commitment! Vulnerability! Growth!

3:12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

Means

Able to love anyone

Anywhere!

Diffuse•Can’t love any “one”•Can’t commit

Tribal •Only love “my tribe”•Uptight & Scared

Victorious Love Requires Commitment! Vulnerability! Growth!

1 Thessalonians 3:12 …for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

Tribal Are:

Rigid

Unforgiving

Shrinking world

Diffuse Are:

Flighty

Feelings-addict

Renegade

Victorious Love Requires Commitment! Vulnerability! Growth!Tribal

NEEDS• Love

Values• Structured• Essential

for depth

Diffuse NEEDS• Love

Feelings• Risk-Taking• Essential

for growth

GROWTH: Are You Diffuse or Tribal?

For Diffuse… For Tribal…

You’re an INFANTILEYou’re a love-takerDepend on others to

give you love feelings.Worship Love Feelings.You rely on counterfeit

Love Feelings.

You’re a Work-SubYou love sacrificially…But superficiallyRigid & scared of emotions

You’re a Work 4 LoveYou love sacrificially…But you manipulate…You’re guilty & inflict guilt…

The “Joy of Love” Means Victory:

For Diffuse… For Tribal…

Stop Stimulation Addiction Stop demanding love!

Commit To 1 Relationship With a Tribal Person Regular, weekly time No matter what

Build Love Values Sacrificial Giving

Stop Controlling! Drop the rules (&bitterness)

Practice Vulnerability Personal Inner Workings Shared Emotional Worlds No matter what!

Build Love Feelings Mix w/ Diffuse…

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