How Should We Love?
Eph. 5:22-33

 Eph. 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
 

INTRO.: So many people have trouble with these few verses. The word submit causes us to halt and say, "Hey wait a minute!" I know you cannot remember, but when you were just an infant in your mother's arms, was it submission that was your concern or was it love. You see love is the theme here, not submission. We need something that will bind our relationships. Submission is not the key, LOVE is.

 I want to talk about love today. Not the mushy stuff we hear about, but the lasting love. Something that will bind us and hold us and keep us throughout our lives. This love does not just disappear over night. Does not go away because of an argument. Does not diminish just because it is raining or snowing. It also does not show up just because it is Valentine's Day!

 Love is real. Love lasts. Love makes a difference in others' lives.
 

Heb. 10: 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
 

Prepared Love - love is a choice - we prepare to love each other by choosing to do so.

Jn. 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
 

Pronounced Love - how long has it been since you told your spouse, "I Love You!?"

 Rom. 5: 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
 

Pure Love - Do you put your spouse before you? Is it a selfish love? Is it a pure love?

 Eph. 3: 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
 
 

Practical Love - love grows if we let it. That is why it is love!

That is why it is so practical -- IT WORKS! It Works, it works! Tell about the lady that wanted to hurt her husband and went to the psychiatrist for advice.   Eph 5: 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
 
 

Purposeful Love - Do you have a purpose for your love?

Is it to help your spouse? Would you give your life for him or her?
  Phil. 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
 

Perfect Love - Completeness is the idea. Do you completely love

or do you withhold your love or use it as a bargaining chip?
  2 Thes. 3: 5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
 

Perpetual Love - Love lasts! If we but nurture our love a bit, it will last!
 
 

Jude 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
 
 

Read letter from Maj. Sullivan Ballou
 
 

HOW SHOULD WE LOVE? AS CHRIST LOVED US - true and unfeigned!
 
 

Ro. 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation (UNFEIGNED). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
 
 

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist Church - 021101am