The Answer Is Not Trying Harder, It’s Loving Deeper

This past Sunday our church had the privilege and honor of welcoming Pastor Roy Ellis as our guest speaker! He brought us a wonderful message titled, Loving Deeper, stating “It’s not about trying harder, it's about loving deeper.

In Greek, the word agapē is the highest form of love. In the New Testament, it is the fatherly love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God. (1)

The Apostle Peter, was asked by Jesus “Do you agapē me?”, two times. And each time Jesus asked Apostle Peter this question, he responded by saying, “Lord you know I philia you.”

In Greek, the word philia means “affectionate regard, friendship”, usually “between equals”. (2)

Pastor Roy Ellis points out that at this time Peter had just denied Jesus three times, and he may have felt very ashamed and unworthy of the highest form of love Jesus was asking for. Peter had messed up, some might say he blew it, but each time Jesus receives his answer He reminds him of his purpose... reaffirming him and loving him.

The third time Jesus asks him, he says “Peter do you philia me?” This is powerful, it shows us that Jesus met Peter right where he was. He came down to his level, but He was also showing Peter just how far he could go. That he could move from philia to agapē love, there was room to go deeper with Jesus.

“Sometimes you and I, we know God loves us. But sometimes we blow it! And we don’t feel worthy of His love, and the enemy uses that to try and prevent us from loving deeper. In essence, the answer is loving deeper to fulfill your purpose.”

- Pastor Roy Ellis

We all have a purpose to fulfill, but it is very hard for us to accomplish what God has planned for us by just trying harder. It’s loving deeper that enables us to step into true service to others. It is through deep love that God enables us to do more. He takes us to a deeper, more meaningful life, through our love of Him and others.

“The Martha’s in the church haven’t discovered the blessing of the Mary’s”.

- Pastor Roy Ellis

Martha is busy preparing something the Lord didn’t ask for. She’s trying harder, but Mary knew that loving Jesus was enough. Mary pursued Him first, she listened to Him, she positioned herself in a position of love and adoration for Jesus.

Trying harder may result in us failing. The Apostle Peter tried harder but ended up denying Jesus three times, but Jesus's response to Peter was love. The love of God will change your heart faster than any amount of effort you can put forth.

You can accomplish a lot for the Kingdom of God when you do it out of the motivation of deep love for God. You may find that when you are doing things with the right motivation, deep love for God, you can accomplish more than if you are trying and striving harder. You don’t become frustrated, worn out, anxious, or face spiritual burnout if your motivation comes from the right place.

“The answer is not trying harder, the answer is loving deeper. For when we love deeper we will serve His purpose for our lives more effectively.”

- Pastor Roy Ellis.

It’s time for us to desire God more. To love Him deeply. It’s time to stop striving and trying harder, and just lift our hands saying, “Father, I agapē you, I live for you.” No amount of work will earn you a seat in Heaven, it is only surrendering to Jesus, and loving Him deeply with the right motivation.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

- 1 Corinthians 13:13

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/k8bOHct8Xfc

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You'll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post blogs every Monday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

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1) agape | Definition, Scripture, & Uses - Encyclopedia Britannica

2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love

Loving Deeper

This past Sunday our church had the privilege and honor of welcoming Pastor Roy Ellis as our guest speaker! He brought us a wonderful message titled, Loving Deeper, stating “It’s not about trying harder, it's about loving deeper.”

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

- 1 Corinthians 13:13

Without love, faith can be misappropriated and hope can be misdirected. Jesus himself stated that the qualifying proof that we are truly disciples of His is that we love one another. But He also instructed us that commandment-keeping is not about trying harder, it's about loving deeper! The greatest commandment is to love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Every other commandment can be easily met once we place others above ourselves, choosing the higher good of others rather than ourselves, because that’s what love is!

Pastor Roy Ellis took us to the book of Song of Solomon, walking us through an illustration of Christ’s love for the church and the love of the church for Christ. He pointed out that we will never truly love God until we experience the love of God.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for your love is better than wine. Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you. Draw me away! -Song of Solomon 1:2-4

Through this verse, Pastor Roy Ellis showed us that love should be what motivates us to draw near to God. Love is the proper motivation to pursue God, but sometimes people can fall into the trap of only pursuing God when they need something, in times of hardship. Our pursuit of God should stem from loving Him deeper, not us trying harder to get what we need or want.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Sustain me with cakes of raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am lovesick. -Song of Solomon 2:4-5

“We need a revival of lovesickness in the American Church. Where it places Him at the center and not us. We don’t need to try harder, we need to love deeper”.

- Pastor Roy Ellis

We shouldn’t come to church just out of ritual, but because we are in love- in proper pursuit of God. Don’t settle for only going through the motions of religion, but become lovesick for Jesus Christ! The dictionary describes lovesick as: in love, or missing the person one loves, so much that one is unable to act normally. (1) Maybe you remember being a lovesick teenager? But is this the way you feel about Jesus?

By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him. “I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; in the streets and in the squares. The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, “Have you seen the one I love?” Scarcely had I passed by them, when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, -Song of Solomon 3:1-4

“Loving deeper will push you out of your comfort zone.”

-Pastor Roy Ellis

When you love God, it’s not about trying harder to pursue a relationship with Him through a checklist of religious activities but it’s about embracing Him in love, loving Him deeper, and not letting go. Doing so may require us to get out of our comfort zones. Pastor Roy Ellis encouraged us not to fall into the trap of believing we have to do more and try harder because we will accomplish more by loving deeper than we will by trying harder!

Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? -Song of Solomon 8:5

We all go through wilderness times, trials, and difficulties, but when we pursue God in the difficult times out of the motive of love, we will discover that He will give us the rest we need. Loving Him deeper results in the ability to face your trials in His strength and not your own. You can lean on Him! You can lean on your beloved!

“All your effort is futile in comparison with love! Love is the fire of our passion and nothing can quench that flame”

- Pastor Roy Ellis

Love is stronger than anything! When was the last time you lifted your hand in the air and said “God, I love you.” If it’s been a while, maybe now is the perfect moment to pursue God, out of pure deep love. There’s no need to try harder or accomplish the next thing, just take a moment to love God deeper.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/k8bOHct8Xfc

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You'll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post blogs every Monday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

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1) https://www.google.com/search?q=lovesick+definition&oq=lovesickd&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i10j46i10l2j0i10l4j46i10l2.6396j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

This Is How You Catch Them!

Samson was able to catch not one fox but three hundred. In doing so, he was declaring that all of the things that were working against God’s people were going to start working for God’s people! First, he took the foxes away from Israel’s vineyards. This action saved the Hebrew vines from destruction. Then, he tied the foxes' tails together, set them on fire, and released them into the fields of his enemy to destroy their harvest.

God wants to give you that kind of testimony in your life!

The things that have been gnawing and eating at you can be caught and overcome. God can bring the fire of his presence into your situation. And He can send the enemy back to where he belongs so that you can experience victory over the little foxes in your most meaningful relationships.

We are all dealing with a little fox in some way. Most likely, little foxes! Meaning more than one issue or struggle chewing away at our minds and hearts. Song of Solomon 2:15 tells us that we must “catch” the foxes in order to prevent their damage.

So how do you catch the spiritual foxes that the enemy sends into our relationships to steal, kill, and destroy? With much success, I believe we can “meaningfully” apply The Five Love Languages of Gary Chapman, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time, Acts of Service, and Gifts:

1. Meaningfully Affirm

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. -

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

Entitlement and selfishness will keep you from affirming others. Instead, affirm the people within your circle of influence: employees, supervisors, business partners, sponsors, parents, teammates, coaches, and, especially, your spouse and children. Greater levels of meaningfulness tend to arrive on the other side of affirmation.

2. Meaningfully Touch

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. -Hebrews 13:4 (ESV)

Touch your spouse in a loving and meaningful way – physically.

3. Invest Meaningful Time

Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. -Philippians 2:4 (ESV)

If you're going to catch the little foxes that are gnawing away at the person you care so much about, you have to spend meaningful time with them. Care about what they are interested in and lean into their life. Schedule meaningful time with them, for example, a date night or a short vacation just for the two of you. Even just ten minutes of uninterrupted quality conversation can go a long way!

4. Meaningfully Serve

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. -1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV)

God commanded us to meaningfully serve the people with whom we want to have a familial relationship. In fact, God designed it to be a testimony of our faith and belief in Jesus.

5. Meaningfully Give

In all things…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ -Acts 20:35 (ESV)

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” -Luke 6:38 (ESV)

Give from the goodness of your heart without expecting to receive something in return. No strings attached! Just give. Not manipulatively, but from the purity of Christ-like generosity.

There are little foxes who will constantly try to sneak into your life. They are coming to chew, gnaw, and eat at the roots and fruit of your most meaningful relationships. But God has more planned for your relationship than dead roots and devoured fruit. So instead, believe that there will be something healthy – something meaningful – something that stands the test of time.

Jesus is more than enough to help you defeat every fox:

On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ -Luke 13:31–32 (NKJV)

Jesus showed us how to deal with the fox! “Go, tell that fox…” I love Jesus! He announced that even when the spiritual fox possesses a king-like personality, demons will still be cast out, sicknesses will still be healed, and Resurrection Day is still coming!

God has the answer for all the little foxes in your life. He has the solution for the things that are gnawing at your roots and devouring your fruit. He can and will help you catch all the little foxes in your life!

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/s9gactgmBc0

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You'll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post blogs every Monday, Thursday, and Friday morning.