Do you really love Jesus?

Do you really love Jesus?

John 14:15

Intro:

I have a question for you, do you love Jesus? Oh course you say yes. Let take it a bit further and examine this subject, do you love Jesus.

1. If we are not seeing people saved, if we’re not sharing the love of Jesus with others, it should really make you think about that question, do you really love Jesus?

a. Some more questions for you. Not through your own eyes, but through the eyes of God.

b. Does your life show that you love Jesus?

c. Do your actions show that you love Jesus?

d. Are the choices that you make based on your love for Jesus?

e. Would others testify of your love for Jesus?

2. When you go to a funeral, listen what is said about the deceased.

a. Boy, he/she sure loved the gators.

b. He had a passion for hunting and fishing.

c. She love to cooked and bake.

d. He was dedicated to his job.

e. He was a good man, she was a good woman.

f. He was a great friend.

g. She sure loved her church.

h. Those nice things (other than the gator one)

i. What I would like for someone to say about me is, he sure did love Jesus. Wouldn’t you?

j. When you are not around, do people say that about you?

k. Even better what does the Lord say about your love for him?

l. The word of God tells us that many don’t love him at all.

Malachi 1-6-8

Malachi 1:6–8 KJV 1900

6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: If then I be a father, where is mine honour? And if I be a master, where is my fear? Saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; And ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. 8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor; Will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.

1. These were priest of God that Malachi is talking to here. They were not truly dictated to God. Their sacrifices were lame, they gave God no fear (reverence) no respect. They may have been priest, but they were not truly devoted to God.

a. If you were as devoted to your job as you are to Jesus would you still be employed?

b. What if you were as faithful to your wife/husband as you are to Jesus, would you still be married?

c. If you paid your bills like you pay your tithes would you have food, a vehicle or a home?

d. If you were as obedient to the secular laws and you are to God’s commandments would you be free or behind bars?

2. So, do you really love Jesus?

a. Jesus is not persuaded by your words alone. He sees directly into your heart.

b. You may fool your friends, you may fool your family, you may fool your spouse, you may even fool yourself. But, you can’t fool God.

c. HE KNOWS YOUR HEART. So, again do you love Jesus?

I. The evidence of your love for Jesus.

John 14:15 NKJV

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

1. Notice Jesus didn’t “since” but “if” you love me. He knew that not everyone loved him. One of his own would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver.

a. If you really love Jesus there will be evidence. Jesus makes it very clear, that the evidence of your love for him is “obedience”.

b. Do you live a life that is in complete obedience to Jesus?

c. Can a person that is not a Christian see what it is to be a Christian by watching your life?

d. Do we want to just wear the name Christian or do we want to live as a Christian, not the way we think we should or the way Jesus says we should?

e. Are you more concerned about your own desires and what you want to do, or with what God wants and His commandments?

f. So, since the evidence of loving our Lord Jesus is obedience, then we must examine our lives to see if we measure up.

II. The examination of your love for Jesus. Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 22:34–40 KJV 1900

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

You think that after so many times of trying to trick Jesus and not doing it (Jesus always, in a meek manner, but put them their place, exposed them what they really were)

1. Here a lawyer speaks up. Someone knew the law, but he didn’t realize that he was speaking to the one that wrote the law.

a. Jesus sums up the entire law in these verses, notice what He say in VS 40 “On these two laws commandments hang all the law and the prophets”

b. If you really want to know if you really love Jesus, then you must measure your life and actions to these verse.

c. You may be saying, I really love Jesus. Jesus says, “If you love me you will keep my commandments”

d. Law enforcement uses lie dictators, to find out if you are telling to truth or not. Just imagine if you were hooked up to one now.

2. Do we put God first or do we place everything else first? If we truly love the Lord, we will place Him first in every area of our life.

VS 37-38

a. Let’s take a look at the first of the 10 Commandments. Ex 20

1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

3. Thou shalt not take the Lord name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.

VS 37. We will love with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength: We will not have any other Gods, will not create idols, will not take His name in vain, will remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.

1. A major study by Lifeway Christian resources shows that most young people don’t pray, don’t worship, don’t read their Bible. 67%

a. You say you love Jesus, but how much time do you spend talking with Him?

b. In a marriage communication is very important. How long would your marriage last if you never talked with your spouse?

c. How would your spouse feel if you never or very seldom talked with them? Or them you only talked to them when you needed something? Or have something to complain about?

Phil 4:6 (Thanksgiving)

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

I Thes 5:18 (Everything give thanks)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

d. Sometimes, (Often) we just need to get alone with God and thank him for something, more than just thank you for blessing me. Name them. (Song, Count your blessings, name them one by one)

Some things to thank Him for. Mercy, grace, love, Salvation.

e. Why is it that so many Christians don’t’ pray of pray very little. Too consumed in other things.

f. Another Lifeway study: 65% of professing Christians rarely or never pray with others and 38 % almost never pray by themselves.

Do you really love Jesus? If you love me, you will keep my commandments. If you love Him, is it shown it the amount of time you spend talking with Him.

2. Lifeway shows that 67% of professing Christian’s don’t read the Bible.

a. People revere their Bibles, but by and large, they don’t read it. This is way we have a nation that is biblical illiterate.

b. The Bible is the infallible, inerrant, and inspired word of God.

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word if a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”

c. You may pray, but to truly communicate on with God, it takes both prayer and study of His word.

d. Do you really love your Bible? How much time did you spend reading it last week? (You can get it on your phone now)

e. More time reading F.B or the Bible? More time watching T.V?

3. When you read the Bible, “The living word” and allow God to speak to you.

a. His work in creation.

b. His plan for mankind

c. The sacrifice of Jesus for our sins

d. What He had in store for us when this life is over.

e. What he wants us as Christians to accomplish.

d. What He wants us to avoid.

4. There are many people around the world that would walk miles to have a copy of God’s word. We have ours with us, in paper and many other devices and many never read it.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

a. You say you love God, but do you come to His house?

Hebrews 10:25 “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some it; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”

Lifeway study shows that 67% of professed Christians do not attend worship service anywhere. What if 67% of season ticket holders didn’t go to a gator football game?

b. We have a great privilege to come together:

Worship:

Pray:

Study:

And fellowship.

Here is a great privilege we have, and most Christian take it for granite.

c. Going share my heart with you. It is very frustrating as a pastor, when you spend hours preparing a message, hope to reach the lost, encourage the believer and Christians have something better to do than go to church.

d. A Sunday school teacher has spent time preparing a lesson and people don’t think it’s important to come to Sunday school.

e. The Choir for months, puts in hours getting ready for a cantata. And people Christians, church members would rather do something or stay home.

Adrian Rodgers: “Every time you willing choose not to attend a worship service you are casting a vote to close the doors”

If you love Jesus you will keep His commandments:

1. Do you give God what is his?

Tithe: 10% some say that was O.T not N.T

Luke 11:42

a. Jesus spoke of giving, he spoke sacrificial giving. Mark 12:41-44; Rich young ruler Mark 10:17-22

b. Does Jesus want you to tithe? I would say, yes He does.

Malachi 3:8

1. How can we rob God? First we have to come to the understanding that everything belongs to Him. He only asks for a small portion back.

a. We also give an offering, something above the tithe. Taking up a love offering for something, someone buying something the church needs. Or buying items and not turning in a receipt.

b. The problem with many peoples attitude with giving to God is simply give him what is left over.

c. We give to Him first, not what is left. If you spend $200.00 on Sat. and give God $20.00 on Sunday, than it may be time to examine your priorities.

d. Some say, I can’t afford it. It should be I can’t afford not to.

If you love me you will keep my commandments.

Romans 12:4-8

Can you sing?

Can you preach?

Can you teach?

Can you play an instrument?

Can you be a leader?

Can you be an encourager?

Can you serve in any capacity? Cleaning, mowing, calling, visiting, etc………..

a. Whatever Spiritual gifts, whatever talents you have, were given to you by the grace of God. Why did He give you the ability? So that you can bring glory to His name.

b. For many years I worked in the steel fabrication trade. The ship yard, and in structural steel fabrication. I still have my tools. But don’t use them much. They are on a shelf.

c. This past week, we had a solar eclipse. Elab the eclipse classes. I got out my welding hood, (helmet) it worked great (until the clouds came out) but I had to wipe off all the dust.

d. Too many Christians today are sitting on the shelf collecting dust. It’s time to wipe off the dust.

f. All of the welding tools that I have, have a specific task that it was created to do. Hammer, claps, tape measurer, grinder, gloves, etc.

g. We are the body of Christ, and that body had many members, it works together.

2. If you are too busy to serve the Lord, you need to change your to do list.

Consolation: I’ve asked this question throughout this message. Don’t you really love Jesus?

I can’t answer it for you. Only you and Jesus really know. Peter messed up bad when he denied Jesus. But, Jesus knew his heart. John 21:15-18

Jesus knew Peters heart, and He knows yours too.