God is bigger than whatever you're facing in life right now. But not only is He all-powerful, but very loving. In this message, Pastor Greg Laurie teaches on God's deep love for you, faith in the storm, and much more.
Notes:
Focus verse - 1 John 4
There will be more false prophets and false messiahs in the last days.
“Don’t believe every spirit. Test them, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 John 4:1
The bible speaks of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.
The bible tells us, “To take up the whole armor of God.”
Hebrews 13:2
Read 1 John 4:1–3
#1 We are in a spiritual war.
Antichrist will be a real person, a world leader; he will deceive the world.
John was refuting Gnosticism.
Gnostics believed salvation came through “hidden spiritual knowledge,” not Christ.
To be a Christian, you must believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and was God among us.
He was fully God and fully man and He died on the cross for our sins.
He bodily rose again three days later, and He will come again.
The purpose of 1 John was so we could know God,
and so you could know you have eternal life.
I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,
so that you may know you have eternal life.
1 John 5:13 (NLT)
John uses the word ginosko for 'know'.
John is saying, “there is no secret knowledge, you can know this now.”
#2 God is bigger and greater than everyone and everything.
1 John 4:4
God is greater than Satan, greater than sin, greater than your problem.
A. Moses at the Red Sea
God said, “I will fight for you, you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14
B. David and Goliath
Goliath was big, but God was bigger.
C. The disciples on the Sea of Galilee
Jesus was bigger than the storm.
#3 If we really know God, we will love others.
1 John 4:7–11
#1 God is light.
1 John 1:1–2:2
#2 God is love.
1 John 2:3–4:21
#3 God is life.
1 John 5
Light and love are inseparable, as are truth and grace.
Light exposes darkness.
Love reaches out to the people in darkness.
#4 God’s love is greater than our worst fears.
I John 4:18
This is simply having the confidence that you are loved and forgiven by God.
He lovingly will guide your life and one day welcome you to heaven.
If you are living in fear, especially fear of judgement,
you have not yet grasped what it is to be loved by God.
Jesus absorbed God’s wrath for you.
#5 God will never stop loving you.
Romans 8:38–39
Fears change with the passing of time.
God has something to say to us at every stage of life.
#6 Our love for God is a response to God’s love for us.
1 John 4:19
God’s love is what draws us to Him.
We’re remembering that love moved in, and fear had to move out.
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Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org.
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Greg Laurie: A New Beginning