It's A Love Thing

[0:00] Welcome. You are about to hear an inspirational message by David Entry. May your faith increase and your heart be stirred towards God as you listen to this life-transforming message.

[0:13] Press subscribe so you're the first to know when the messages are released. Blessed are your ears for the things they hear. When we say it's a love thing, if it's a love thing, we need to talk about, let's define love properly.

[0:30] As you heard in spoken word, they said three, but four, potentially, Hebrew, Greek words for love. We have the phileo, phileo is brotherly love, phileo is ph.

[0:44] Phileo is brotherly love, phileo.

[0:57] We have phileo love, which is brotherly. The kind of love you have for your family, your friends, there are people you love in your life. It has not got any romantic connotation.

[1:10] It's just brotherly, your mom, your brother, your sister, your people, the way you love them. It's phileo love. Phileo love is necessary for every community.

[1:22] It's what makes the church, church. We must have phileo love amongst ourselves. When someone offends you, you can have phileo enough to ignore it's okay and stuff like that.

[1:34] Where someone, let's say one of us gets into trouble, we knew we want him, we want her, don't do it, and she went ahead and did it, got into trouble. We don't abandon her, we don't abandon him.

[1:45] We surround him and protect him, because you are our own. We don't give up on our own. Phileo. And then we have epithumia. Epithumia is a very bad type of love.

[1:57] It's not love. It's manifestation of lust. So I just want it at your expense, and it's just me, and it's just me. That's where people will use pedophiles.

[2:11] A desire. You have a desire to use somebody for your own pleasure at their expense. So that's epithumia. It's dirty love. Dirty desire. And no society endorses epithumia.

[2:24] Epithumia is for the backstreet kind of lifestyle, ghetto kind of lifestyle. It's dog-eat-dog kind of lifestyle. Yeah, it's bad.

[2:37] Epithumia is, that's why anyone who rapes somebody is epithumia. And you have to be imprisoned. You know, because epithumia is you violate others just for what, you don't care about them.

[2:49] You don't care about how much you hurt them. It's all about, you need just what you want, and whoever can be hurt, you don't care. That's epithumia. It's a strong desire, which is very evil, and it destroys so much.

[2:59] So there's no society that even endorses epithumia love. Okay. And then we have, so we have fellow epithumia, and then we have agape. Agape.

[3:12] Agape is the God kind of, the proper love, which I'll probably explain in a minute. And then we have the eros. In fact, there's stoigetu, so it's five, really. So we have the eros.

[3:24] Let me leave it at the eros. Eros is erotic love. Erotica. We have the erotic love. And now most of the time, when they say Valentine's Day, people are thinking about erotic love.

[3:38] When they say love in their head, they are thinking about erotic love. And erotic love can destroy society. If it's not controlled. That's right. Because it's, you see, people just express their feelings and carry it out as long as you agree with me.

[3:55] Oh, you're like, okay, let's go. But it's hurting society. It's hurting you. And when you are hurting, society is hurting. And erotic love is meant really to be between one man and one woman.

[4:14] You know, really. In an extreme case scenario, it can be, a man can have different. So you know what happens when a man cheats on his woman.

[4:28] And he says, please, I love you. You say, how can you say you love me? How can you say, look at what you did? A woman can understand. You say you love me and you did this. And they love me. Yes, I do. I really do.

[4:39] But how did you love me? And so you went, no, you don't understand. I really do. Please believe me. And the woman said, are you sure? We may have such a beautiful heart.

[4:54] Are you sure? Very gallible when it comes to love. So that's why you don't have to put yourself in a place where you're a woman and desperate for love. Because you'll be too vulnerable. You'll use all your money to buy Chinese and stuff for him.

[5:09] You'll use your credit history to secure him a loan. Yeah. It's true. Not because she's stupid. But she just is so tenderhearted towards him. And he's callous.

[5:21] He's just found opportunity. You know. And it doesn't mean everyone is bad. Some people are really good when they're in love. Some guys, they're really in love. But listen, a guy can be genuine, but he can be short-lived.

[5:34] Yeah. Very true. He can be short-lived. Because how many of you have felt romantic love before? Some of you won't raise your hand.

[5:46] Hypocrite. Hey, look at you. You have felt it before. Or you have been in romantic life. You really feel so soft. Now, there's someone who asked a question. If you feel something, you see somebody you like in church.

[6:03] And you know it's not time. And you know it's not time. What do you do? How do you handle it? Just go on with your life. As for Christ, you have a lot of it. Different, different. Especially once, a lot of young people.

[6:14] And everybody's kind of handsome. Some of you girls, when you keep, you say, oh, wow. A lot of handsome guys here. Oh, oh, oh. And when you look at the usher with their muscles. Muscles. I mean, you feel like, oh, this one can carry me really well.

[6:27] And some of you guys, when the people were singing, you just couldn't concentrate on their song. Listen, that's the part of life.

[6:39] All right. So you must learn how to live with it and stay focused. So the fact that you have a crush on somebody doesn't mean, really doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean anything. And get over it and keep going. Sometimes it will take some time for you to grow out of it.

[6:51] But just keep going. Don't make any stupid thing. Don't do anything stupid. And go and tell him, message you. I don't know how I feel. You don't know how I feel about you. I'll message you. Don't do that.

[7:02] Don't do that. Because, you see, when you do that, you are reducing your value. You're reducing your value. Don't reduce your, you are top quality, you know. You are A1.

[7:13] You are premium, premium brand. Don't reduce your quality. You might have some feelings, but don't let them know it. Don't let them know it. We all do. Everybody tells you, if you don't have feelings, you are not normal.

[7:26] Yes. You have feelings. And then you also have feelings for the opposite sex. I mean, it's normal. What I'm trying to say is, it's natural. That is where we all, by the help of God, by the help of the Holy Spirit, we learn how to stay in our lane, bring ourselves under control.

[7:46] Now, sometimes if you put yourself in a situation, you will find you will be out of control. You will be able to control yourself. If you go a certain length, you will be able to control yourself.

[7:56] So by the time you realize the Christian brother is in trouble. But most people are genuine. So that is why, please, I want to make an appeal. When you see somebody who is in church, who has gotten themselves messed up, do not condemn them.

[8:10] You should be the first to want to cover them, protect them. You don't even have to repeat it anywhere. This is what has happened. Don't talk about it. See how you can restore the person. That's the sign of your spirituality.

[8:23] Because it's like people can get into some bad situation. Look, I want to look at your faces. You all look very innocent. But you know, you know, I don't know, but you know I know.

[8:34] That you, you, you, you, you, oh no. I'm not that naive to assume that you're okay. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[8:44] Behind closed doors, you are a different person. Sometimes, sometimes, not all the times. So then, we have to learn how to accommodate one another.

[8:56] That is, I'm moving into the definition of love. The agape love. So, errors love can really ruin a person's life. If it's not properly handled.

[9:08] So, songs of Solomon chapter 2, it says, do not awaken love until it is due. Don't, don't stir it up. You've come a long way to be in church and to be in Christ.

[9:22] Keep your, your sanity. Keep your value. Because it adds value to your life. Don't think you are making a mistake because others are having fun and they are going on staycation.

[9:37] You are better than that. Think about it. You are better, better than that. Going on staycation is people you don't, you have not made covenant and vows to, commitments to.

[9:51] You are going on staycation. Vacation. Why would you do that? Why would, why are you behaving like a husband when you haven't made a commitment to?

[10:03] Before family. And before authorities. Why are you behaving like a wife? And usually it's the women that lose more. A woman that taking you on vacation.

[10:16] In Morocco. Dubai. Dubai. Dubai. Dubai. Khalifa. What is, what's he called? Bash Khalifa.

[10:27] Bash Khalifa. Bash Khalifa. Bash Khalifa. You are there. You think you are having fun. But the guy is very happy. He's very happy because it's like for real.

[10:42] See all this is mine. Your body is holy. Your body is sacred. Your body is precious.

[10:53] Master, I don't believe in you. I don't also care what you believe. You don't believe in that. You grow and you find out that someone told you the truth. At least I need to tell you. So that tomorrow you can't claim that no one told me.

[11:08] Before you start asking, where is God? If there's God, what am I going through all this? God told you. On the 13th of February, 2022. True. Yes.

[11:20] God told you. Let's, as I get ready to close, let's look at this love thing. Love. Jesus said, no greater love has any man that a man should lay down his life for his friends.

[11:32] It's John chapter 15 verse 13. It said, greater love has no man. Greater love. Everybody say greater love. Greater love. Let's not read it out from the screen, please. Let's go out loud. Let's go.

[11:43] Greater love has no man that a man should lay down his life for his friends. Wow. This is what we call love. Not the one who wants to just use you.

[11:55] The one who wants to lay down his life for you. The difference between love and lust. Lust seeks to get at the expense of others. Lust seeks to give at the expense of self.

[12:07] Lust seeks to get at the expense of others. They want to get it at your expense. Lust seeks to give at the expense of self. That's why you can count on, generally speaking, your mother's love.

[12:24] Greater love. Brothers and sisters, guys watch this. There's somebody came to Jesus. This is a serious thing. Somebody came to Jesus and he said, what is the greatest of all the commandments?

[12:38] When you think about God, you know there must be a commandment now. He said, can you summarize the commandment for us in Matthew chapter 22 verse 37? Teacher, which is the greatest commandment?

[12:51] In the law. Do you know what Jesus said? The next verse, chapter 7. Jesus said, you shall, ah. You shall do what? Love. Huh? Greatest commandment is love.

[13:02] If we can convert this Valentine's thing to proper love thing, it will be worth celebrating. Yeah. You shall love the Lord.

[13:17] Is that where it starts from? God doesn't want your money. God doesn't want your worship. He's not looking for your worship.

[13:28] God wants just one thing. He said, can you love me? Can you love me? You shall love the Lord your God with all.

[13:39] Wow! With all your heart. All of it. Not just part of it. All of it. You are really into this God thing. He said, that's the greatest commandment.

[13:52] It's not that shall not steal. It's not that shall not kill. It's not that shall not gossip. It's not that shall not that shall not. It's actually that shall love. Love me.

[14:03] Love me with all your heart. Love me. Now, when somebody is asking, where is God? Why am I going through this? I think, when was the last time you showed your love for God? When you love God, you attract God.

[14:16] When you love God, God will act on your behalf. I want to love God. I want to love God. That should be your greatest life and mission. I just want to love God.

[14:28] I just, so on the Valentine's period, you should be thinking about, how can you boost your love for God? How can I boost my love for God? How can I boost my life and give him all?

[14:39] I want to give him everything. See, when you are really in love, there's nothing too much for you to do. Oh, yeah. Sometimes you know you have interview. You can call it up because your lover is not feeling well.

[14:50] You call it up. So when we talk about genuine love, actual love, godly love, the Bible says that love starts with God.

[15:03] And in 1 John chapter 4, I think verse 16, it talks about how we love him because he first loved us. Ah, verse 19 is there, sorry. We love him, why?

[15:13] I can't hear you. I can't hear you. Why do you love God? Because he first loved us.

[15:24] There should be enough explanation for the naysayers, for the skeptics. Why are you doing this church thing so much? Because he first loved me. I love him because he first loved me.

[15:34] And 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 14 says that the love of Christ constrains us. The love of Christ makes me, verse 14, for the love of Christ constrains.

[15:46] It compels me because I'm in love with him so much, sometimes I cannot not do some things for him. Someone can step on my toes, but because of the love of Christ, I find it easy to say, I forgive you.

[16:00] Because the love of Christ constrains me. The love of Christ. It says, all things work together for good to those that love the Lord and are called, are called. If you love God, things work for your good.

[16:12] Yeah. All things work together for good. Romans chapter 8, verse 28. And 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 9, it says that no eye has seen, nor ear heard.

[16:23] Neither has he entered the heart of anyone. What God has prepared for who? For who? Those who love him. For who? Those who love him. You are asking what God can do for you. Have you thought about how much you can love him?

[16:36] Yeah. In 1 John chapter 3, verse 1, it says, behold, what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the sons of God. What? Someone say, I love you, Jesus.

[16:46] I love you, Jesus. I'm running out of time. Let me just run out quickly. I love you, Jesus. And so when they asked Jesus, what is the greatest of all the commandments in the law? He said, thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

[17:02] Your soul is your feelings, your thinking, everything. And with all your mind, your intellect. Love the Lord. Then look at the next verse. He says that this is the first and the greatest commandment.

[17:16] What's the greatest commandment? Love God. Love God. When you love God, you won't do things against him. When you love God, it influences a lot of things you do.

[17:28] When you love God, it affects the entirety of your life. So there are people who are coming to church, but they don't love God. They only want what God can do for them.

[17:40] They are users. They are users. They are coming to use God. But God said, listen, I don't want to give you commandment that shall not kill. Can you just love me? Can you just love me?

[17:51] That means that if God said love me, you have the capacity to love God. Every human being has been given the capacity to love God, especially when you come to Jesus. You have the capacity.

[18:03] You have the capability to love God. Someone say, I love you, Jesus. I love you. That is why in 1 Corinthians 16, verse 22, it says that, And anyone who does not love the Lord Jesus, let him be cursed.

[18:18] Because Jesus is meant to be loved. In 1 Peter chapter 1, I think the verse 8, it said, Whom having not seen, ye laugh. Wow. With love, oh. It said, Whom having not seen, ye laugh.

[18:31] Though now you have not seen him, yet believe him. You rejoice with joy unspeakable. You rejoice because of this love. That's what makes us dance. That's what makes us sing praise and worship.

[18:42] That's what makes us do, Seth, the way we do. Because we love God. We love Jesus. We love Jesus. Seth, that's what makes me not want to fornicate.

[18:55] It's because I love God. It's not because I'm a higher man. That's why. You're not doing something because you love God. Joseph, when Potiphar's wife said, come on, Joe.

[19:07] Come on, Joe. Joe. I'm very sophisticated. Look. Look. Come on, Joe. Come on, Joe. Come on, Joe. Joe. Joseph said, how can I do this wicked thing against God?

[19:21] I can't do this. I can't do this. What's the greatest commandment? Love God. Love God. And then he said, this is the first and the greatest. And then look at what he said.

[19:32] He said, and the second one. Ah, there's a second one. There's a first one. And there's a second. He said, and the second one is like it. You shall love your neighbor.

[19:42] Ha! So your claims of loving God by constant people is fake. Yes. If you love God, it will show in the way you treat people.

[19:53] Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Not people who you like. There are people who are not lovable. They are very annoying. But because of your love for God, you love God so much, you will be able to accommodate them.

[20:07] You'll be able to forgive them. You'll be able to care. You know what? I let you off the hook. No problem. No, because you love God. When you love God, it plays out in loving people. In 1 John chapter 4, verse 20 and 21, 22 somewhere.

[20:21] It says that, I mean, it says that if someone say, I love God and hate his brother, he's a liar. Liar. You're lying. Liar. You're lying. Me?

[20:31] I'm not lying. It's true. And he wants to cry. It's true. No, no, please. He said, okay. Ask the test of your love for God. He said, how can you love God who you haven't seen? But the one human being you can't see, especially the church brother, church sister, you can't love.

[20:45] Your love is fake. Is that in your Bible? Love. Love is the message and the message is love.

[20:58] And everybody can love. It's part of what you have been through in life. Some of us have been through very bitter experiences. People have been very mean to you. You have suffered racism. You have suffered abuse.

[21:09] You have suffered marginalization. You have suffered all kinds of ill treatments. You have suffered in the hands of many people. Like the woman with the issue of blood.

[21:20] She has suffered in the hands of many physicians. You've suffered in the hands of many people. People have treated you wrongly. You've trusted people and they hurt you. You've been there for people.

[21:30] When they were down, you were their strength. And they turn, when you help them to rise up, they turn back to stab you. It hurts. And sometimes your mind can damage you so much that you feel like it's not worth loving.

[21:44] There's an African proverb that says that if doing good doesn't matter, then doing bad should matter. Yeah. So if I do you good and it doesn't matter, then if I do you bad, it doesn't matter.

[21:58] But that's not a gospel. That's not a gospel. It's that greater love has no man that a man should lay down his life for his friends. That means that's proper love. The true love of God is very sacrificial.

[22:11] So that guy who claims he loves you, that guy who claims he loves you, she loves you. Let's check it. Let's check it. If they can accommodate you, they can really relate with you properly. In spite of your messes.

[22:22] In spite of your attitude. In spite of the negative things about your life. None of us is perfect. I hope you know that. Even though some of you look very perfect. But the fact is, love will change your life.

[22:37] But don't start with loving man. Because you will disappoint yourself. Men cannot be altogether lovely. When I say man, I mean human beings.

[22:49] So let's get this love defined first. God says that the greatest commandment is love. Love God. And then the second one, love others. When you love God, it affects the way you love others. Some of you have people who have hurt you in your life.

[23:01] But you can't forgive them. When you start loving God, you will realize that forgiveness can come naturally. You'll be able to forgive. Don't try and warn yourself. Okay, I'll try it. You are struggling.

[23:13] Sort out your love for God first. And when you love God, you'll be able to obey him. You'll be able to please him. You'll be able to do things. And you'll be able to bless people. And be a blessing to people. Now, in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verse 4 to 7.

[23:25] The Bible defines what this love God is talking about is. Clearly. It doesn't leave us in any doubt. Love suffers. Give me the new NIV.

[23:38] Love is patient. Love is... I think we should all read it out loud. Let's read it out loud. Let's go. Love is patient. Love is time. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud.

[23:49] Next verse. We are going to verse 7. It does not dishonor others. It is not well-seeking. It is not easily angry. It is not... See that one. It is not easily angry.

[24:01] It is slightly... Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm upset. Whoa. Why are you not coming? Why are you not... I booked the Uber. Whoa. See. It is not easily angry. The slightest thing you are angry. The slightest thing you are angry.

[24:13] The slightest... Anything I talk can tip you over. Love is not easily angry. It keeps no records of wrong. Three years ago, you did this.

[24:25] Seven days ago, you did this. Just a catalog of what they have done wrong. Wow. Catalog of what they have done wrong. I'm telling you, don't do this again. And they always refer to things you have done.

[24:35] They keep records of wrong. Love doesn't do that. Okay. So, when you are talking about, do you love me? This is what you mean. When you tell someone, I love you. I really love you. The way God said I should love you, you are trying to say, I won't keep records of wrong.

[24:48] Huh? Huh? Including what you did against me. Yes, I won't keep it. Huh? Doesn't keep record of wrong. Some of you have diary full of records of wrong.

[25:02] Yeah. The next verse. And then we finish. Do you understand what that means? Should I throw a light on it?

[25:13] Doesn't delight you. When something bad happens to you, he's not happy. Yeah. When the police arrest you, he's not happy. So, that's not the delight of evil, but rejoices with the truth.

[25:25] What is right. He's happy that, oh, this is just true. This is going on well. Things are... The next verse. Last verse. The people always respect. The people always trust. The people always trust.

[25:36] The people always respect. Girls. You see this one? Because of Johnny. You have lost this one. You don't know how to trust.

[25:49] But I understand you. I understand you. Because of the kind of people you are dealing with. Some of you guys, you don't know how to trust. Because everyone you have trusted has hurt you.

[26:02] And especially girls. Some girls have been hurt over and over and over and over again. Your own best friend took your boyfriend. And that was the last straw.

[26:14] That broke the back of the camel. And you decided, no, I think I'm going to look for Jesus. May they do it again to make you keep staying in Jesus. Amen. Amen.

[26:27] Amen. Amen. But you are in church now. But you haven't recovered. You haven't recovered. You haven't regained yourself back. In this season of love and the love of God.

[26:40] Please redirect all your love to God. With all your heart. that is the beginning of recovery. That is the beginning of recovery.

[26:51] Maybe you have been through it so much, but please, I'm not just saying that, just forgive, forgive, forgive. You have to, because forgiveness is the bridge you will need one day.

[27:01] Don't burn it down. But unforgiveness, I said the other time, it's like drinking poison for your enemy to die. When someone hurts you, and you harbor it in your heart, you hold it again, they might even be living their life, but you are in bitterness, and they are moving on.

[27:19] And not bitterness, stifles your productivity. It reduces your progress. Bitterness. You make all kinds of decisions because you want to spite somebody. But you need to set yourself free in this season of love.

[27:33] But you can't be really free until you start loving God. Somebody has hurt you before. We all have been hurt before. Maybe yours has been very radical and very deep. But you know what?

[27:44] The good news is, none of us is beyond recovery and beyond healing. God can heal you, but it starts with, if you can open your heart for him, and say, Lord, I love you forever.

[27:57] I love you forever. I love you forever. God bless you for listening to this message.

[28:07] To hear more from David Entry, follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and visit www.karis.org for videos and upcoming events.

[28:19] Remember, be a doer of the word and not just to hear her. And not just to hear her.