What is Love? / Pastor Pete Gillott / FCF Church

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge. Stop right there. Read that again. Prophecy, mysteries, knowledge. I have faith that can move mountains. But I have not love. I am what? Nothing. Good theology with good theology with bad love is not good theology at all. [00:57:50] (36 seconds)  #LoveOverDoctrine

Now, for some of you, for God so loved the world is easy. Like, you can get your head around that. Of course, he's a loving God. He made us. He he died for the world. But you struggle with the concept that he died for you. He died for you. Put your name in there. [01:16:26] (31 seconds)  #JesusDiedForYou

Speaking truth is one of the most loving things you can give your children because if you don't speak truth to your kids, someone else will. But I want them to feel good. Love speaks truth. Biblical love never asks truth to step aside so a lie can feel good. No. We speak the truth in love. [01:08:11] (28 seconds)  #TruthIsLove

See, biblical truth should be wrapped in love and biblical love must be anchored in truth. Why? Truth without love is brutality, but love without truth is hypocrisy. Truth without love is harsh, but love without truth is hollow. It's empty. It's saccharine. Inauthentic. Love without truth deceives, but truth without love destroys. [01:02:51] (29 seconds)  #TruthAndLoveTogether

I'll say it this way. Our horizontal connection is a vertical reflection. We will not get Christianity right if we're getting love wrong. It is the defining feature of a Christ follower. There was a Christian author named Brendan Mannon, and he coined this phrase that the single greatest cause of atheism in the world was Christians. [00:56:43] (28 seconds)  #LoveReflectsFaith

God is patient. The personification of love. God is kind. He does not envy. He doesn't boast. He's not proud. He doesn't dishonor others. He fits perfectly. He keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with What is it? And if you're struggling with how could a holy, beautiful, all powerful God love me, I will tell you there is nothing that could ever separate you from his love. He came to this earth to show his love for you and for me. [01:20:35] (39 seconds)  #NothingCanSeparateUsFromLove

We are called to speak the truth in love. If someone's sharing that, ask yourself, do I want them to tell me what's killing me or just pretend everything's fine? The truth may sting, but lies will kill you slowly. True love is having the courage to confront. Admonishment is God's antibiotic. [01:10:32] (32 seconds)  #AdmonishInLove

The problem is scripture doesn't say to affirm ourself. Scripture says to deny yourself, to take up your cross and to follow him. It's not some Play Doh God that we shape into whatever we want, make truth to be what we want it to be. We push back against the creator. And pushing back against, pushing back against God in defense of my truth is like yelling at a compass when it doesn't point in the direction I want it to. It may feel liberating, but if you're lost or when you find yourself in a storm, it will not lead you home. That compass is not just useless, It's incredibly dangerous. [01:01:39] (53 seconds)  #GodsCompassNotCulture