Love is so much more than a concept. Love is the key to so many things in our lives. How would you like to have the confidence and boldness in your faith? How would you like to have sweet communion with the Lord? Would you like that? The key to all these things is love.

1 – Four levels of life

How do you live your life? Here are four levels of life:-

• Murder (vs. 11) – The first murder was over religion. False religion is almost always murderous.
• Hatred (vs. 13-14) – Hatred is not much better than murder. In God’s sight He might see you as a murderer.
• Indifference (vs. 17) – The Bible does not encourage this.
• Love (vs. 18) – Love is important. It is the greatest virtue. See 1 Corinthians 13:1-2. Love is the greatest commandment. See Mat 22:37-40. Not to love is the greatest sin. Love is the greatest testimony. See John 13:38. Take love off the bumper and put it behind the steering wheel! The love of Christ constrains us. Love is the greatest investment you will ever make.

2 – A good conscience (vs. 19-20)

You cannot fail to fail to love and have a good conscience. Your conscience is not your enemy. It is something that was put into you that was not put into animals. See 1 Timothy 1:19 & Acts 24:17. A good conscience is transparent to everyone. There is no way of having a good conscience without love.

3 – A great confidence (vs. 19)

When there is a good conscience then there is a great confidence. It is this great confidence that allows the believer to come to God in boldness and have their prayers answered. You cannot have this without a good conscience.

4 – A gracious communion (vs. 23-24)

The Holy Spirit whispers to us that we belong to God. The great confidence leads to gracious communion. But you have none of this unless you first of all love. See Ephesians 4:26. The only way to be angry and sin not is to be angry at sin. When you grieve the Holy Spirit you give place to the devil. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit is grieved by bitterness, wrath (slow burn), anger (blows up), clamour (Speaking loudly, shouting), evil speaking (words you should not say), and malice (desire to harm someone). You grieve someone when you don’t show them love. The Holy Spirit becomes grieved when we don’t show love to others.

Categories: Matthew