SERMON STARTER
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deu 6:5 NIV)
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Liviu Librescu: A killer's victim
A Holocaust survivor gunned down trying to save his students from the Virginia Tech shooting rampage was buried in Israel Friday to the sobs of his grieving family.
Engineering Professor Liviu Librescu's body was wrapped in a prayer shawl according to Jewish tradition, and his two sons intoned the Kaddish, the Hebrew prayer for the dead.
Liviu Librescu, 75, was a family man with grown children. He worked as a senior researcher and lecturer in engineering, and was a Holocaust survivor. He had immigrated to Israel from Romania with his wife Marlina, also a survivor, in 1978. He was an expert in aeronautics at Tel Aviv University and the Haifa Technion before moving to the United States in 1984. He died by a killer's bullet on Monday, April 16, 2007. Mr. Librescu and the class heard shooting in a nearby room. The students said their professor blocked the door to prevent the gunman from entering while some students took cover underneath desks and others leaped out from windows. The 76-year-old Jewish-Romanian lecturer was hailed a hero after blocking his classroom door long enough for many of his students to escape the Virginia Tech gunman, before being shot dead.
Liviu Librescu pressed himself against the door of the classroom while shots were fired in the corridor and surrounding rooms. He stood firm, attempting to barricade the door, while his students clambered out of the windows
Son Joe Librescu said: “I understand from friends that my father was a hero. By blocking the door with his body he saved all the students who were in the classroom.”
Son Ari added “My father was a very modest man, he never ran after honor and he was completely engrossed in his work. He had a very profound love for the Land of Israel, I can’t even describe it, and in recent years he began showing a greater interest in Judaism.”
Family man, follower of Judaism, teacher, hero – we salute and honor you, and others like you. These words of tribute will not lessen the sting of death, but they will remind us of the accomplishment of one person's bravery at a critical time - bravery that preserved life and hope.
By dying as he did, Liviu Librescu proved his love for his students;
he immediately and instinctively stood up for them, and paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect them. He demonstrated the Godly principle of laying down his life for his friends. He loved his neighbor as himself. We recognize his feat of heroism for what it is – an innate commitment in his life to protect, instruct, encourage and defend those whose lives he otherwise enriched.
We mourn for the loss of this man, and for all the other victims of this massacre. We pray for rapid physical and emotional healing for those who survived this tragic episode.
Excerpts of President Bush's remarks on the Virginia Tech shootings, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions.
Our nation is shocked and saddened by the news of the shootings at Virginia Tech today. The exact toll has not yet been confirmed, but it appears that more than 30 people were killed and many more were wounded.
I have spoken with Governor Tim Kaine and Virginia Tech President Charles Steger. I told them that Laura and I and many across our nation are praying for the victims and their families and all the members of the university community who have been devastated by this terrible tragedy.
I told them that my administration would do everything possible to assist with the investigation and that I pledged that we would stand ready to help local law enforcement and the local community in any way we can during this time of sorrow.
Schools should be places of safety and sanctuary and learning. When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom and every American community.
Today our nation grieves with those who have lost loved ones at Virginia Tech. We hold the victims in our hearts, we lift them up in our prayers, and we ask a loving God to comfort those who are suffering today.
The Godly principles underlying Mr. Librescu self-sacrifice are important lessons from God's word, from the early books of the old testament, to the words of Jesus himself, and extending to today's Christian lifestyles. Let's examine some of them in depth today.
LOVE ATTRIBUTES OF BELIEVERS
How to practice relating to GOD and people through His Love
April 22, 2007
Pastor Ron Wasilchak
As Christian people mature, there should be noticeable changes in our lives. These changes should indicate our entire being is involved in this spiritual maturity process. Pastor Ron
Followers of Jesus have gifts and talents which came from GOD. These gifts manifest themselves in all the aspects of our individual makeups: commitment, emotion, reason as well as spiritual and physical abilities. Isn't it reasonable for us to use these gifts to glorify the giver of those gifts by obedience to His direction?
WHAT DOES GOD SAY HE EXPECTS OF HIS FOLLOWERS?
Several areas of life should be used continually to express, share and teach the Love of GOD.
THE STARTING POINT:LOVE AS SOMETHING WE DO.
The beginning point of Love was set by GOD Himself:
1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
WHO IS THE FOCUS OF THIS LOVE?
Mark 12: 28“ ... "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment (singular) greater than these."
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command. (John 15:12-14 NIV)
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:8-11 NIV)
THE CHURCH HAS A CHAIN OF COMMAND, WHERE GOD IS THE ORIGINATOR.
Ephesians 4:11 “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
HOW DO WE EXPRESS THIS COMMITMENT TO GOD AND HIS INSTRUCTION TO LOVE?
Luke 10: 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
A. HEART
Faithful and strong commitment to the areas GOD has directed you: other-centered behaviors.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mat 6:21 NIV)
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Rom 15:5-6 NIV)
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. (2 Cor 5:12 NIV)
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer.
4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work-- which is by faith.
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.
7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. (1 Timothy 1: 3-7 NIV)
B: SOUL
Consciousness, emotion, passion and enthusiasm to GOD's causes: the “We can get it done” personality trait.
13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk
14 and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."
15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD.
16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." (1 Samuel 1:13-16 NIV)
9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave does not return.
10 He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.
11 "Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. (Job 7:9-11 NIV)
Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor? (Job 30:25 NIV)
The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. (Psa 11:5 NIV)
My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. (Psa 34:2-3 NIV)
C: STRENGTH
Ability to accomplish tasks; ability to do work successfully; spiritual and social power, all from God.
A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; (Prov 24:5 NIV)
Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. (Acts 6:8 NIV)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV)
D: MIND
Reason, calculation, memory, planning, communication, organization, administration, imagination.
Being led by God's ever-present Spirit is a new concept from Jewish (Judeo) belief of earlier years.
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; (Romans 8:5-6 NIV)
14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 2:14-16 NIV)
13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.(1 Corinthians 14:13-15 NIV)
A REITERATION OF GOD'S LOVE PLAN:
31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails ... (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a NIV)
LORD JESUS, GRANT US THE GREATER GIFTS, SO WE CAN MORE GREATLY DISPENSE YOUR LOVE AROUND US!
SONG: “THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD ”
THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER CEASES,
HIS MERCIES NEVER COME TO AN END.
THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING,
NEW EVERY MORNING.
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, O LORD.
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.