Loving God

Introduction:

1. God is Love – 1 John 4:8

2. Greatest Commandment – Love God with ALL your heart, mind, soul… Luke 10:27, Deut. 6:5

3. Why? How?

God Loved Us –

1. 1 John 4:19 – He loved us FIRST

9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

2. Rom. 5:10 – He loved us when we were ENEMIES – and reconciled us..

10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

3. John 3:16 –

4. Rom. 8:32 -- He spared not His son – but freely offered Him for us

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

5. Concerning Jesus – John 15:13 – No greater love has one than this that he lays down his life for his friends – and He did!

How Much God DESERVES our Love for His gifts –

1. Basics for HUMANITY –

a. Life – and all that pertains to it.

1. Acts 17: - In HIM we live and move and have our very being –

2. Psa. 139 – I am fearfully and wonderfully made –

3. Psa 136:25 – We should praise God who “giveth food to all flesh –“

4. Matt 5:45 – makes sun to rise / rain to fall on just & unjust -

5. Psa. 94:10 -

10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,

He who teaches man knowledge?

b. Wisdom –

1. The ability to think / reason.

c. Love – the ability for us to know and love others, a gift of one of God’s own character traits.

d. Ability to get riches – Deut.

18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

1. hence even our health, wisdom, knowledge, commerce, etc.

2. Spiritual Blessings

To whom LITTLE is given, he loveth little. Luke 7:47, hence those who have received MUCH should logically LOVE much.

a. All SPIRITUAL blessings – Eph. 1:3,

b. Are adopted as God’s children –

c. Even IN SUFFERING – will SHALL reign with Him, 2 Tim. 2:12

1. Phil. 3:20 – what we SHALL be

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

2. Rom 8:18 – sufferings of the present NOT TO BE COMPARED to glory…

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

3. 2 Cor. 4:17 – ‘light affliction’ – not compared to glory..

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

The problem of loving other than God

1. Loveth silver – not satisfied with silver (Eccl. 5:10)

a. Love land – not satisfied

b. Love only beauty of wife – will seek that which is more beautiful

c. Love power / position – will seek more

2. Love of GOD though – there is none greater, there is nothing that can turn us or that is more worthy of such love.

Stages of such Love:

1. Man begins his love of God because of HIMSELF (what do I get out of this) – this is fleshly and selfish.

2. Then, when begin to understand not exist by himself, man begins to seek God and Love Him for what he discovers about life.

3. When begins worship, obey – discovers that God is altogether lovely – and begins to love God because He is God.

4. Then, the problems of suffering – do I Love God because He is GOD? (i.e., Job)

We love what we esteem –

a. Beauty – the standards change from year to year, society to society –

b. YET – many learn to love what others discount, despise, or shun. WHY – they are seeing something different! Their standard of what they are looking for is different.

We must learn to LOVE, Esteem God -

a. When we learn to esteem God for his character we can learn to love Him BECAUSE of who He is…

b. Need then to meditate upon his character –

1. Holiness – Isa. 6 & Rev. 4, book of Leviticus

2. Righteousness –

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

Mercy and truth go before Your face.

3. Kindness -

4. Faithfulness -

5. Mercy & Kindness -

6. Patience and longsuffering -

c. Need to speak to Him – praise Him for his character –

d. Need to speak OF Him – to proclaim such love before the world –

E. Need to be submissive and Obedient - If you love me – keep my commandments --