Love that Inspires - Building a Legacy - Part 2

Building a Legacy Pt 22 Corinthians 81. Inspiring love is a result of God’s grace activated in and through our lives. 2 Corinthians 8:1- Is God’s working in our lives a testimony for others?Romans 5:2–52. Inspiring love is a supernatural response to events and circumstances. 2 Corinthians 8:2 - God’s grace doesn’t make natural sense…Severe affliction → abundance of joyExtreme poverty → wealth of generosityOnly God can produce those kinds of results.
That’s why Paul calls it a “grace of God.”- Are your decisions determined by feelings and circumstances or the Spirit and obedience?- Do people get from you what is natural or supernatural?3. Inspiring love goes beyond expectation and partners with God’s kingdom work. 2 Corinthians 8:3–4 - Am I giving as an obligation, or as a delight in worship to God?* God’s grace inspires more* God’s grace cares more4. Inspiring love flows from a life fully surrendered to the Lord. 2 Corinthians 8:5 - The foundation of inspiring love:
Total surrender → Total availability which results in Total usefulness“A life fully surrendered is a life fully available to love like Christ.”- Remember:*We cannot give what you haven’t surrendered*God desires our hearts, not just resources*When surrendered, love flows naturally5. Inspiring love is our response to the life-giving and sacrificial love of Christ. 2 Corinthians 8:6–9 -Am I willing to give of myself—even at personal cost—to serve others?- His love equips us and also is an example!Christ-like love is:*Other-focused*Self-giving*Costly*Joyful*Redemptive* Act of worship to our Holy GodDon’t wait for a feeling or love in order to share Christ with a stranger. You already love your heavenly Father, and you know that this stranger is created by Him, but separated from Him, so take those first steps in evangelism because you love God. It is not primarily out of compassion for humanity that we share our faith or pray for the lost; it is first of all, love for God.”
― John Piper