Midweek Communion Service - 18 March 2026 by Bishop David Oyedepo: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

What Is Love in Our Context?

Mark 12:30 — "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment."

Can you honestly stand and claim that you love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength? How much of that is at work in you?

2 Chronicles 15:15 — They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord of their fathers with all their heart and all their soul, with the whole of their desire. And it was found of them, and the Lord gave them rest round about.

What do you desire for the kingdom this year? Come down to basic realities. What is your dream this year for souls to be saved? Do you have a kingdom budget at all?

Love in our context means:

• Loving God above all else, including self — without reservation, without holding anything back
• Loving God for who he is, not what he does or does not do — that will not last. When his wife's head was challenged, the answer was: "Whether you heal her or not, you are my God." Not: "If you don't heal her, I have something to say." Loving him for who he is.
• Unashamed pursuit of God and the interests of his kingdom — Every true lover identifies with God publicly and unashamedly. David said, "I will speak of your testimony before kings and will not be ashamed." Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel." If you are in love, that is what happens.
• Delight in advancing his kingdom and caring for the needy — David said, "Because of my affection towards the house of my God, I have given all of my own private treasures." Every true lover is a delight giver. He gives according to the principles of scripture. He promotes the welfare of others in line with scripture — not as a philanthropist but as a steward.

Love Never Fails

1 Corinthians 13:8 — "Love never fails." Love is a failure-proof virtue. Never means never. Love always triumphs over all situations and circumstances.

1 Corinthians 2:9 — "Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, what God has in store for them that love him."

Romans 8:28 — "For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, under all circumstances."

What we saw in the den of lions is love in action. Daniel's love for God was undeterred love. Songs of Solomon 8:6-7 — "For love is as strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."

People with a genuine heart for God cannot be carried away by what is flying around. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace heated seven times hotter, those who threw them in died from the heat. The ones thrown in were celebrating God because love never fails.

When you are genuinely in love, you are shielded, covered, untouchable, unmolestable. No matter the attack in this world against you, love never fails.

What Is in Love That Engenders Exploits?

1. Genuine love for God harbors his presence.

His presence is the greatest virtue of love. His presence clears the way, causes the mountain to melt like wax. You do not struggle to win — you watch your victory on the screen.

The Moses example: by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, enduring as seeing him who is invisible. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land. What cleared the Red Sea? His presence. Psalm 114 — "Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord." Behind every great miracle is God's divine presence.

He said to Moses, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." His presence gives rest — more than conquerors' rest. You are at rest in any battle because his presence is right there with you. Not just your faith — his presence puts him on the spot to deliver what his word says.

Just secure his presence with your ever-growing love for him. Secure his presence with your ever-growing love for him.

2. Love allays all fears.

1 John 4:18 — "There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear. Fear has torment. He that is made perfect in love does not know fear."

When our love for God is in place and intact, fear has no place to hide. Why is this critical in the school of exploits? Everybody is a victim of what he fears. Job 3:25 — "The things I greatly feared have come to me." Proverbs 29:25 — "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord shall be saved."

David the lover approached Goliath with unchecked boldness. There is no fear in love. Everyone persuaded him against going. He said, "The Lord will give me this." What drove him against Goliath was love — not for personal gain. When the king offered him a daughter, he said, "How can a poor man like me marry a king's daughter?" He went against Goliath for love: "How can this uncircumcised Philistine defy the army of the most high God?"

When fear is lurking somewhere in your life, check your love level. Am I in love?

3. Love attracts favor.

Joseph said, "I fear God" — meaning, I love God. Favor will always trail the lover of God. Wherever Joseph went — the pit, Potiphar's house, the prison — favor followed him because his testimony was: I fear God, I love God.

Nehemiah heard about the stress in Jerusalem and went on a fast. He took his life in his hand and approached the king in a way that had never been done. Why are you sad? The king said, "What do you want?" He went and made an impossible list. And the king granted him everything because of the good hand of God upon him. When you are genuinely in love, favor traces your steps from impossible quarters. Favor from impossible quarters.

Favor enthroned Joseph. Favor will enthrone anybody. The love of God is a covenant key to attracting the favor of God. When you are in love with God, you become a candidate for his favor in all areas of life.

4. Love engenders access to revelation.

John 15:15 — "I call you no more servants but friends. For a servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friend because all I have heard of my father I have made known unto you. All I have heard."

Unlimited access to revelation. The hotter our love for God, the greater our access to all that God has spoken. Seamless, sorrowfree access — all I've heard.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 — "Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, what God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit of God searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."

His lovers have access to the deep things of God. Unlimited access to revelation belongs only to genuine lovers. Not just church attendance — a heart for God.

Revelation triggers joy, which is our fountain of strength. Jeremiah 15:16 — "Your words were found and I did eat them. And they became the joy and rejoicing of my heart." Revelation rejoices the heart, and the joy of the Lord is the fountain of strength. Nehemiah 8:10 — "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Only strong people can do exploit — it demands mental, physical, and spiritual strength. Joy is a covenant channel of drawing strength.

5. Revelation engenders peace that secures divine intervention.

Psalm 119:165 — "Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them."

2 Peter 1:2 — "Grace and peace multiplies by knowledge." The more revelation one gains, the more peaceful his life becomes. And the Lord said, "I will fight for you as you hold your peace." Your peace becomes a platform for divine intervention whenever you are confronted.

Revelation — triggered by love — produces peace, which produces divine intervention. And every great open door attracts many adversaries, so we always need divine intervention to stay afloat.

6. Revelation tears supernatural change of story.

"Arise, shine, for your light is come." Isaiah 60:1. Who are these that fly? Where are they coming from? Supernatural change of story is always provoked and triggered by revelation. Arise, shine — the glory of the Lord replaces the shame and reproach of before. A little one shall become a thousand. Supernatural change of story triggered by revelation.

Love Empowers Steadfastness in Stewardship

As long as you are in love, serving God never becomes a burden. All the notable lovers of God in scripture were notable servants — Abraham: "my servant" (Isaiah 41:8). David: "I have found David my servant" (Psalm 89:20). Paul: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:1). Peter: "Peter, a servant."

Only those in active, value-adding service are eligible for promotion. "Well done, good and faithful servant — faithful in a few things, have authority over ten cities." Productive engagement entitles believers to kingdom promotions.

He asked Peter three times: "Do you love me?" Each time Peter said yes. Each time Jesus said: "Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep." Love without proof is fake. There is something to do to validate our love for him.

Your love for God will not wax cold. In the last days the love of many shall wax cold — but your love for God will not wax cold. Your generation will not become beggars. No one in your family will become wayward. You will not leave trouble behind for your generation.