Abiding in Christ: The Power of Agape Love

Devotional

Day 1: God Is the Source of True Love

Agape love is not something we can manufacture on our own; it is a selfless, sacrificial love that flows from God Himself and is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, enabling us to love others—even those who are difficult or have wronged us—in ways that are impossible by human effort alone. When we love one another with this kind of love, we demonstrate that we have been born of God and truly know Him, for God is love. [42:53]

1 John 4:7-8 (ESV)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Reflection: Who in your life is difficult for you to love right now, and how might you invite God to love them through you this week, rather than trying to do it in your own strength?

Day 2: Love Is Action, Not Just Emotion

Biblical love is not merely a feeling but is expressed through patient, kind, and selfless actions that reflect the very character of Christ; it keeps no record of wrongs, endures all things, and seeks the good of others, even when it is costly or undeserved. This agape love stands in stark contrast to pride, which holds grudges and demands its own way, reminding us that true love is always outward-focused and sacrificial. [46:40]

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (ESV)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive or a wrong you need to release today, trusting God to help you act in love rather than holding onto pride or resentment?

Day 3: Walking in the Spirit Produces the Fruit of Love

The ability to love with agape love is only possible when we are walking in the Spirit, not relying on our own willpower or striving for outward conformity, but allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in us as we abide in Christ and keep our focus on Him. When we notice impatience, frustration, or lack of love in our hearts, it is a signal to turn our attention back to Jesus, inviting Him to work in and through us. [51:20]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Reflection: When you notice yourself lacking love, patience, or peace today, will you pause and intentionally turn your focus to Jesus, asking the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh?

Day 4: Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus Enables Us to Love

Just as Peter could walk on water only while his eyes were fixed on Jesus, we can only love others with God’s love when our focus is on Christ, not on our circumstances or our own efforts; when we become distracted or overwhelmed, we are invited to cry out to Jesus and let Him lift us up. Abiding in Christ—through His Word, prayer, and daily dependence—empowers us to love beyond our natural capacity. [56:20]

Matthew 14:28-31 (ESV)
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can keep your eyes on Jesus today—especially when you feel overwhelmed or tempted to act in your own strength?

Day 5: Pursuing Christ, Not Just Good Works

The Christian life is not about striving to do good works or to be righteous in our own power, but about pursuing Christ Himself—abiding in Him, knowing Him, and allowing His life and love to flow through us; as we focus on Jesus, He produces righteousness, good works, and victory over sin as the natural fruit of our relationship with Him. Our greatest calling is to know Christ and let His love be expressed through us to the world. [01:08:18]

Philippians 3:8-9 (ESV)
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Reflection: Are you more focused on “doing the right thing” or on knowing Jesus today? What is one step you can take to pursue Christ Himself above all else?

Sermon Summary

First John 4:7-8 calls us to a love that is not merely a feeling or a moral checklist, but a supernatural reality that flows from God himself. This agape love is the very nature of God, and it is only possible for us to express it when we are walking in the Spirit, abiding in Christ, and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. The stories of Chinese missionaries and Elizabeth Elliot remind us that this love is not theoretical—it is lived out in the most difficult and even tragic circumstances, forgiving enemies and loving those who have wronged us. Such love is not something we can manufacture by willpower or self-discipline; it is the fruit of the Spirit, the evidence of God’s life within us.

John addresses believers as “beloved,” reminding us that we are cherished by God and called to love one another as a reflection of his love for us. This love is not limited to those within the church, but extends to the world, even to those who are hostile or unlovable. Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 shows us that agape love is patient, kind, selfless, and enduring. It keeps no record of wrongs and is not provoked. The opposite of this love is pride, which holds grudges, demands its own way, and reacts in the flesh.

We cannot produce agape love on our own. When we try to do so in our own strength, we end up frustrated, hypocritical, and inwardly empty. The key is not to focus on behavior modification, but to focus on Christ—abiding in him, setting our minds on things above, and allowing the Holy Spirit to express his life through us. Just as Peter could only walk on water when his eyes were on Jesus, we can only love with God’s love when our focus is on him. When we sense that we are losing patience, peace, or kindness, it is a “red alert” to turn back to Jesus, to pursue him, and to let him work in and through us.

This is the evidence of being born of God and knowing God: that his love is expressed through us. If we are not loving, it is a sign that we are not abiding in him in that moment. The Christian life is not about striving to be good, but about knowing Christ and letting his life be our life. In our weakness, his strength is made perfect, and his love is made visible to the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Agape love is not a human achievement but a divine gift. It is the very nature of God, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and it enables us to love even those who have wronged or hurt us. This love is self-sacrificing, unconditional, and cannot be produced by our own efforts; it is only possible when we are walking in the Spirit. [47:47]
2. The contrast between agape love and pride is stark and revealing. Where agape love forgives, endures, and keeps no record of wrongs, pride retaliates, holds grudges, and demands its own way. Recognizing these patterns in our lives is a spiritual diagnostic—when pride surfaces, it signals that we need to turn our focus back to Christ and allow his Spirit to work in us. [49:32]
3. The fruit of the Spirit and the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 are not separate lists of virtues to strive for, but manifestations of the same reality: Christ’s life in us. When we are abiding in Christ, the Spirit naturally produces love, joy, peace, patience, and all the other fruits. Our role is not to force these qualities, but to remain connected to Jesus, the true vine. [51:20]
4. Attempting to love others in our own strength leads to frustration, hypocrisy, and inner turmoil. Outward conformity to Christian principles without inward transformation by the Spirit is ultimately empty. True love flows from a heart that is focused on Christ, not on self-effort or moral performance. [59:39]
5. The evidence of being born of God is the presence of agape love in our lives. When we are walking in the Spirit, God’s love is expressed through us, even in the most difficult circumstances. Our weakness is not a hindrance but an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed, as we depend on him and allow his love to flow through us to others. [65:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:17] - Introduction and Greeting
[36:49] - Stories of Faith: China and Pakistan
[38:51] - Forgiveness and the Power of Agape
[39:38] - Jim Elliot and Loving Enemies
[42:11] - The Call to Love: 1 John 4:7-8
[43:35] - “Beloved”: Our Identity in Christ
[45:02] - The Centrality of Love in the Christian Life
[46:07] - Defining Agape: 1 Corinthians 13
[47:25] - Agape vs. Pride
[50:46] - Walking in the Spirit, Not the Flesh
[55:42] - Peter Walks on Water: Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus
[58:32] - The Impossibility of Agape in the Flesh
[60:08] - Focusing on Christ, Not Performance
[63:11] - The Fruit of the Spirit: Evidence of New Birth
[66:45] - Recognizing the Flesh and Turning to Jesus
[68:18] - Pursuing Christ Above All
[71:07] - Assurance and the Expression of Love
[73:45] - The Invitation to Know Christ
[76:00] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 John 4:7-8 (ESV) — > Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Observation Questions

According to 1 John 4:7-8, what is the source of true love, and what does it reveal about someone who loves?
The sermon described agape love as “self-sacrificing” and “unconditional.” What are some specific ways the sermon contrasted agape love with pride? [[49:32]]
In the story of Elizabeth Elliot, what actions did she take that demonstrated agape love, and how did her response differ from what most people might expect? [[40:47]]
The sermon mentioned that agape love is not something we can produce by willpower. What does the passage say is necessary for us to express this kind of love? [[50:46]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that agape love is the “fruit of the Spirit” and not a checklist of behaviors. Why is it important to understand the difference between outward behavior and inward transformation? [[59:39]]
When the sermon talks about “walking in the Spirit” versus “walking in the flesh,” what does it mean practically for a believer’s daily life? [[50:46]]
The pastor used the story of Peter walking on water to illustrate keeping our eyes on Jesus. How does this story help us understand how to love others with God’s love? [[56:20]]
The sermon says that when we are not loving, it is a sign that we are not abiding in Christ in that moment. What does this suggest about the connection between our relationship with God and our ability to love others? [[01:11:44]]

Application Questions

The sermon described agape love as forgiving, enduring, and keeping no record of wrongs, while pride holds grudges and demands its own way. Think of a recent situation where you felt wronged. Did you respond with agape love or with pride? What would it look like to respond differently next time? [[49:32]]
The pastor said that when we sense we are losing patience, peace, or kindness, it’s a “red alert” to turn back to Jesus. What are some practical ways you can “turn back to Jesus” in the middle of a stressful or frustrating moment this week? [[01:07:49]]
The sermon emphasized that we cannot manufacture agape love by willpower. Are there areas in your life where you have been trying to “force” yourself to love or be patient? How might you shift your focus from self-effort to abiding in Christ? [[59:39]]
The story of Elizabeth Elliot and the Chinese missionaries showed love for enemies and those who have caused deep hurt. Is there someone in your life who is difficult to love or forgive? What is one step you can take to pray for or show kindness to that person this week? [[40:47]]
The pastor said, “Our role is not to force these qualities, but to remain connected to Jesus, the true vine.” What are some habits or routines that help you stay connected to Jesus throughout your day? [[01:08:18]]
The sermon mentioned that the evidence of being born of God is the presence of agape love in our lives. If someone looked at your life this past week, what evidence would they see of God’s love flowing through you? Is there an area where you want to see more of His love expressed? [[01:11:23]]
When you notice pride, impatience, or frustration surfacing, what is one specific prayer or action you can take to refocus on Christ and invite the Holy Spirit to work in you? [[01:07:49]]

Sermon Clips

``Jim's bride, Elizabeth, and the sister of one of the other men who were killed made contact with the tribe. They visited them, and they chose to stay with them and lived among the people who killed their husband and brother. They taught, they cared, they ministered, and they shared Christ's love. Many of the tribe became followers of Jesus, even some of the ones who had taken part in the killings. They were transformed by God's love, which was expressed through these women. [00:40:18] (37 seconds) #TransformativeLoveInAdversity

The fruit of the Spirit. Is it the fruit of the righteous Christian? This is where you say no. Is it the fruit of the obedient Christian? What is the fruit of the Spirit? Right. So we can't produce it any more than an apple tree can produce an olive. It's the fruit of the Spirit. [01:02:41] (26 seconds) #TrueFocusIsJesus

We need to get this thinking out of our minds that we can live a good life for God. And instead focus on Jesus. I want to know Jesus. Amen. One of my favorite teachers used to say. There's nothing that the nearness of Christ cannot overcome. When Christ is our focus and our Teacher and our eyes are on him, we are not focused on the winds and the waves, but rather on Him. No matter what's going on around us, we cannot be overcome. I like the sound of that. We will overcome because he will accomplish his works through us and express his life through us. [01:03:41] (46 seconds) #LoveWithoutSpiritIsEmpty

If I'm not feeling love, joy, peace, patience and self control, it's red alert time. Stop and turn to Jesus. What does that involve? Set your mind on things above, not the things of the earth. Turn to him in prayer in that moment when you hear Picard or Kirk yelling red alert. Because your emotions are off the rails and you are not experiencing the fruit of the Spirit. This involves learning about him, talking to him, listening to him and knowing Him. Some theologians refer to it as pursuing God. I think that's a really great way to say it. Not pursuing righteousness, not pursuing good works, not pursuing victory over sin, pursuing Him. The pursuit of him will naturally result in all those things, Right? He is the cause. Righteousness, good works and victory over sin are symptoms of a life transformed by Christ and hidden with Christ in God. [01:07:43] (71 seconds) #KnowJesusOverGoodWorks

If we want to love like God, we need him. Remember John's purpose in writing this epistle? He wrote it to strengthen their faith and assure them that they had eternal life. Mrs. Elliot. Elizabeth Elliot. She knew the Lord. What an expression of trust in God and agape love for the very people who killed her husband to go and share the gospel with them. You and I may never face such a tragic and awful reality. Or maybe we will. What kind of love did it take for our sister in Christ who lives in China, who lost her child to Isis to say what she did to forgive Isis? What kind of love can we be expressing in our lives? Turn to Jesus and watch him express it. That's the point of this verse. Love is from God. [01:12:25] (63 seconds) #WeaknessAllowsGodsStrength

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?