What is love How do we define it

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What is love? How do we define it?
Linus Love is a warm puppy
Love Story
Love means never
having to say youre sorry.
Love, by its nature, defies
definingit is best left undefined and left to
be experienced.
A kiss
Two
mouths exchanging tongues and salivic
fluid.
Would you rather define a kiss, or experience a
kiss? Would you rather define love, or experience
love?
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Review Man created in love, lived in
loveParadise Man breathed love It was
all he knew
Love was called into question.
Man believed the lie!
Chose to rebel against love, separated himself
from love, has been on a desperate search for
love ever since!
PROBLEM Looking for love (life) in all the
wrong places
Cf. Rom 125 creation ? Creator He finds
nothing to satisfy
The human Soul, created by God, will only rest
when it rests in God. Augustine
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Ecclesiastes Wealth Power Authority
Significance Sex Lost in a pursuit for intimate
life/love.
I was made for more than this!
When I have tasted all this world has to offer,
and still remain dissatisfied, it is proof I was
made for more than this world. C.S. Lewis
Luke 15 A Man Dissatisfied A Life Without Love
Even unbelievers know this passage
probably because it relates to their
experience, and because it is what they hope God
is like.
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The Prodigal Son
Prodigalreckless, lavish, wasteful (certainly
describes the boy)
PROBLEM!
This passage is not about the boy
v.11 there was a certain man who had a father
and an elder brother
there was a certain man who had two sons
This story is not about the boy, but the
FATHER!!!!
A reckless, lavish, wasteful father!
A PRODIGAL FATHER!!!
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Its not about you, its all about God!
Its not about you, its all about God! But
because its all about God, its all about you!

• Selfish Son v. 12-13
• Robs his father ? give me my inheritance now
• I cant wait till youre dead!
• So self oriented, cannot see his father.
• Takes 1/3 of family fortune
• Total disregard for his family

• Sinful Son v.13
• far country ? hide his sin
• riotous living

• Sorry Son v.14
• when he had spent all, a mighty famine

NOT a mighty famine, and he spent all a
mighty famine, he would have saved
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THE MONEY IS GONE! THEN,A MIGHTY FAMINE CAME!
I Smell God!
The goodness and mercy of God!
Ps. 23 The goodness and mercy of God shall
follow me PURSUE me.
M. Smith God has two sheepdogs and their names
are goodness and mercy and they are pursuing
this boy, nipping at his heels
Goodness I spent all my money
Mercy A mighty famine came upon the land
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IV. The Smelly Son v. 15-16Sells himself to a
pig farmerFeed and care for the pigsEvery day
in the urine and excrementStarving.
All of this was the goodness and mercy of
God Cf. Rom 24 goodness of God leads to
repentance
Every hog that butted him was the finger of
God Go home! GO HOME!
Every rumble in his belly was the voice of
God Look where you are? Have you had enough?
V. The Seeing Son v. 17 and when he came to
himself
Two-fold Revelation..
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Revelation of his fatherProvides for even his
servantstemporary hired workers

• Revelation of himself
• I perish with hunger!
• He saw his need! How far he had fallen.

BOTH ARE NECESSARY!
Revelation of self, no revelation of father He
wont go home!
Revelation of father, no revelation of self, He
wont go home!
BOTH ARE RECEIVED
He heads home!
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NOTE v. 18 complete repentant v. 19
incomplete revelation
An Adamic Mindset
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
Why not?
I have performed so poorly.
Meaning?
I was worthy before
Why?
I performed well.
This boy is on Performance/Acceptance standard
with his father.
He sees love as something to earn, Which is why
he has missed it.
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In reality, he is no different than his elder
brother who likewise sought to earn love through
good performance.
Their only difference was the elder performed
better! (his performance kept him home with his
father, but not in relationship to his father)
VI. The Son with a Speech v. 18-19
I have sinned!
I am no longer worthy to be your son
Make me as one of your hired servants
He went home, HOME came out to meet him v.20
Father saw him a long way off ? He was looking
He had compassion on him.
Webster the desire to relieve the suffering of
another
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He ran!
The only time in Scripture God runs is here.
Not to judgment
Not to war
But to love!!!
Who does he run to love?
The one who has made himself unlovely
He kissed him! (over and over)
VII. The Speech v. 21
Did you see it?
He never got to finish his speech!!!
Before he can say the words Make me a servant
Father says, NEVER!
Never shall you be called a servant
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YOU ARE A SON!
You have always been a son,You will always be my
son.
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Love, lovesv.22-24
It Covers ? best robe
It Restores ? signet ring
It Conceals ? shoes (no slave)
It Rejoices ? fatted calf
v. 24they began to be merry
VIII. The Silent Son v.?
He speaks no more
He has been devastated by the love of God!
There is another brother He draws near, but not
to dance
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v.27 ANGRY! I served you all these
years I never transgressed I never even got a
kid
The Father, All I have is yours
If you never took a kidits because Youre
stupid!
He was so right, He was wrong.
He is the guy you want for a neighbor.
He will keep his yard clean.
He will take care of your yard
You dont want him as a friend.
He doesnt know love!
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He was so busy trying to earn it,he could never
receive it. v.31
Appropriation
We dare not read this passage. We dare not study
this passage.
We must experience this passage! Put ourselves
in the pages.
We are all like the younger..
Done things we dare not let be seen in the
light!
We are all like the older
Trying to earn what can only be given.
We need a revelation of ourselves.
We need a revelation of the Father!
We need to come home
Father is waiting
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With his robe of righteousness!
With his ring of riches!
With his shoes of sonship!
Let the party begin!
Luke 15
Begins with The Good Shepherd ? JESUS
Moves to The Seeker/Finder ? Holy Spirit
Finishes with The Prodigal Father ? Father
We must party!
deistrongest imperative in the Greek language
We must, absolutely, by necessity, have to party!
Let the party begin!
Zeph 313-17 The Father is partying
already The only question is will we join him?