I need to give a quick explanation then I'll jump right into it. Pastor Jason spoke on the same topic at Alliance as he did at the conference; however, he went into a little more detail about certain points, so I've decided to just merge them.
As much as I'd love to explain why the Alliance title for this sermon is "In Love With A Stripper," I'll have to opt to get straight to the core of the message. Maybe I'll explain it when I get to the end. I guess you'll just have to read and find out.
Before I start, I must note that "The Five Love Languages" is actually a book by Gary Chapman, and that Pastor Jason's sermon is largely based off - though Pastor Jason certainly expanded on - the ideas from this book, so give credit where credit is due.
First, let's talk about religion. As Pastor Jason often says, religion is one of the most dangerous things around. Wars are started over religion. People are killed over religion. Mankind was not created for religion. (If you're thinking, What? Blasphemy!, bare with me a moment). Religion is man's (and woman's) attempt to get to God. However, I think it's safe to say man can't get to God. God has to come down to man. As previously stated, man was not created for religion. Man was created for a relationship.
Now, let's talk about love. You can't have a good relationship without love, right? But what is love? It might surprise you, but love is not an emotion. Love is a choice. If you've ever been in a relationship, do you recall those first few weeks - maybe months - aptly called the "honeymoon phase"? What happens after that phase? Does the love fade? No. Love is not an emotion that can fade. Love is a choice. Now you can disagree if you so like and I could spend a long time expanding on this idea, but I'd like to continue into Pastor Jason's sermon.
Whether it's a secular relationship with another human being or your relationship with God, these five "love languages" are the key to establishing, growing, and maintaining the relationship.
1. Words of Affirmation (Praise)
Basically, this is "building a person up," telling them nice things to show your affection. In your walk with God, this relates to praise and worship. Pastor Jason related this to men. (This next part is all Pastor Jason. I will not insert - to the best of my abilities - any subjective view I have on the subject, since I myself am not male.) When you compliment someone of the male gender, it activates something in them that wants to show you how right you are. Suddenly, they want to prove to you that you are right about whatever you just complimented them about. (end) God is the same way. When you sing out to God how He's a God of peace or a God of healing, His reaction is "You want to see peace, I'll show you peace." of "Healing, huh? What about this healing?" and suddenly He becomes that God of peace or that God of healing in ways you could never have expected.
I'll end this point with some advice from Pastor Jason. When you're hurt and broken, the times you feel like moping and giving up, put on some worship music. You may not feel like you want to worship, but that is the exact time when God needs to hear you praise Him the most.
2. Quality Time (Devotion)
In any relationship, quality time is important. I'd like to draw your attention to a specific word there: quality. Spending time with someone doesn't count, unless there is some substance to it. You can't go up to your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/etc. and say "Okay, you have five minutes. Tell me about your day." and expect that to be your "quality time" of the day. That doesn't count. However, many people put God on a schedule. "Let's see. I have five minutes to read my Bible." *five minutes pass, most of which were probably spent looking at the clock, making sure you hadn't gone over your five minutes* "That was an interesting passage about....something. Well, God, that was fun. Let's do this again sometime."
Quality time, or devotions and prayer, means spending however much time is necessary - not on a schedule - with God, reading His word. Pastor Jason said something quite poignant at this point. Do you think the Bible is boring? Maybe you're not in love with author. If the word of God is boring to you, maybe it's because you don't really love God. Never fear, love is what this entire sermon is about. So pay attention.
3. Giving Gifts (Offering)
What's the point of giving gifts to someone you love? It makes them happy, right? Well, you must do the same for God. God commands you give Him a tithe - or ten percent - of your earnings. On top of that, you can give offerings. Giving your tithe and offerings to God (and His church) is more than just a good idea. A wonderful analogy Pastor Jason gave was: a tithe is a shield; an offering is a sword. The tithe is required to show your love to God. Not only that, it protects you from financial downfall (I could quote scripture at this point, but then again, maybe you should spend your next session of "quality time" looking for it yourself). Even if you're going through financial trouble, as many of us are, you must continue to give that ten percent. If anything, it's especially important to give in times of financial difficulty, for God protects those who tithe.
An offering, on the other hand, is you weapon. Matthew 6: 21 states:
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV)These days, it's easy to see where people's hearts are: just look at what they spend their money on. For some, it's music. Others, it's clothes and appearance. Regardless, if you talk about change and want to see change, put your money where your mouth says your heart is. That is when you'll see the heart of God move and begin to do miracles in this nation and in this world.
4. Acts of Service (Ministry)
A good example of this in a secular relationship is the whole "breakfast in bed" act. Doing things for the person you care about shows how much you care and that you're willing to think of them above yourself and take time to do something for them. This is where ministry comes in. You can show God you love Him by loving His children. As His saved children, it is our job to bring His lost sheep back to Him. By witnessing to others, bringing them to church, showing them the love of Jesus, we show God that His will is the most important thing - even if it's not the most convenient thing for us.
5. Physical Touch
This seems pretty straight forward. However, you might have noticed there is nothing in parenthesis next to it. That's because we, as humans, can't do this. Jesus did this for us. When God became human and died for your sins, he physically showed His love for you even before you were born. Almost two thousand years before you were even thought of by your parents, you were important to God. He loved you before you even knew what love was. If you don't recall the magnitude of Jesus' love and his display of that on the cross, then I suggest you look back at the previous post.
And those are the five love languages. The fourth and final session will be coming soon.
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