THE LAVISHED LOVE – 2021 FIRST FRUIT FASTING EXERCISE (Day 16 OUTLINE)

Text: Acts 20:20 As we proceed in this last lap of the exercise, we shall be glancing at some clips of truth profitable to the wayfaring pilgrim. Lack of knowledge has done great damage to many as people fail to take advantage of available and accessible resources to power their Christian journey (Hos.4:6). At a time of trusting the Lord for conception and parturition, a believer should have information of the things that can assist or abort conceptions (Prov.1:5). We shall be looking at the love of Christ which when appreciated will keep one perpetually in the kingdom harvesting the dividends of the sacrifice. Our message shall come under (A) Love described (B) Love Lavished. (A) LOVE DESCRIBED Love is defined as (i) a strong positive emotion of regard and affection (ii) strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties (iii) affection based on admiration, benevolence or common interests (iv) warm attachment or enthusiasm (v) attraction based on sexual desire. All these definitions refer to natural love which is one of the kinds of love viz. friendship (Gk. Philia), Erotic or Sexual (Gk. Eros); Playful love (Gk. Ludus); Self love (Gk. Philautia); Obsessive love (Gk. Mania). These definitions are all applicable to natural human love. It is love based on sentiment: friendship, feeling and credit of the object of love. The love that Jesus demonstrated is the highest degree of love called divine love (Gr. Agape). It is an essential nature of God (1Jn.4:8b). The positive emotion or regard is not drawn out by any good quality of its object but rather as a matter of divine nature/principle (Rom.5:8). (B) LOVE LAVISHED To lavish is to expend or bestow with profusion, generously, unsparingly, extravagantly, without restriction. The Lord Jesus extravagantly unleashed this love toward the object – mankind (Rom.5:5-8). The unlimited abundance of the released love revealed by the Holy Spirit to Paul foreclosed the possibility of any adverse condition separating the saint from the love (Rom.8:35,39, 2Cor.5:14). The apostle prayed that the saints will have knowledge of the magnitude of this love for there in lies the fullness of God (Eph.3:14-19, 1Jn.4:8). Consider the cost of leaving the indescribable splendor of heaven and the paraphernalia/appurtenances (possession/rights) thereof as the Creator (Jn.1:1-3, Col.1:15-17), and coming to this planet to live and die with the absolute dishonor and inexplicable pain as Jesus did (Jn.13:1, 15:12, Matt.27:26-54). It is only the lavishing of divine love that can make it possible, the convergence of two extremes of life. THE IMPLICATION is that we appreciate the unrivaled deed and invest our lives to please Him without my attachments (2Cor.5:14,15, Eph.5:2, 1Jn.3:1-3). Failure will be disastrous (Heb.2:1-3). WATCHMAN CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL MOVEMENT 2021 FIRST FRUIT FASTING EXERCISE Jan.20 – Feb. 2021 (Day 16) Theme: IDYLLIC ERA OF CONCEPTION AND PARTURITION Topic: THE LAVISHED LOVE