sermon notes: the cover of love (Greg Mazak)

I took these notes on a sermon that I listened to through Sermonaudio tonight. If you want to listen to it, you can click here. I found it to be quite convicting and quite a blessing so hopefully these notes will be a blessing to all who read as well.

THE COVER OF LOVE
....• Proverbs’ Theme: the fear of the Lord
....• Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
....• Proverbs 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

....• Does this therefore mean that every time someone fails, they should be rebuked?....• No, because Love covers a multitude of sins
....• Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Three points:
....• Love is quick to forgive others’ failures o Love eagerly forgives
........o Question is not if we will sin against someone (that’s reality), it is how will we respond when someone sins against us?
............ e.g. husband forgets to bring back butter and eggs
........o What does cover mean? To forgive
............ Psalm 32:1
............ Love forgives all transgressions
............ James and Peter both quote this text
................• 1 Peter 4:7-8
........o Hatred eagerly fights
............ Love is caring about the other person (forgiveness)
............ Hatred is putting ourselves first (hatred)
............ Hatred – stirs up strife and loves to argue
................• Proverbs 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

• Love is slow to react to others’ failures
....o Proverbs 12:16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
........ Are we easily irritated by other people?
........ If we are easily annoyed, we are foolish – we do not show love
........ If we keep records and hold grudges, we are not showing biblical love
........ A prudent man will overlook insults and let love cover it
............o Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
........ If we are quick to express what is in our head, we are foolish

• Love never broadcasts the failure of others
....o Gossiping and sharing with other people how people have failed
....o Every one of us is sinful, every one of us fails
....o We will sin against one another, but we should be loving enough to one another not to share with others how someone has failed us
........ Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
....o Wisdom is knowing when to keep silent
........ Proverbs 11:12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
....o ‘When you look down on someone else, you judge him by your standards, often comparing their standards to your own – a risky act, unless you are infallible. And which of us can claim to be infallible?’ – Stevenson
....o When someone does something that offends or bothers us – it’s not the person’s problem, it’s your problem.
........ Lack of love
........ We don’t love them with God’s love

Rebuke
....• If someone sins against you, it may be right to rebuke them
........o Luke 17:3
....• Guidelines on when to rebuke:
........o When the sin is intentional
........o When the sin is habitual
........o When the sin is communal (against more than one person)
........o When the person would benefit from a rebuke
........o When it will glorify God

If we find it difficult to forgive, we probably need to spend more time meditating on God’s great forgiveness of us.