Remember

Heritage Meal-July 19th

Daily Devotional (if you aren’t getting them, text Hillcrest to 94000)

Summarize the definition of love and what we talked about last week.

This morning we are going to discuss about Remembering our first love and how we should respond to it.

PRAYER

Hook-Sheep detectives-Mopple can’t forget

Transition to Scripture-As we continue our journey to Fall in love with Jesus again, the first step we need is to Remember the importance of Loving God.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Timeline-Israelites have left Egypt and are traveling to the Promised Land. Moses begins to give commands to the Israelites from God.

First, he reminds the people about God’s promise to lead them to the Promised Land. Also, they were told that it is important to follow the commands of God.

Second, they are told to love God with their heart, soul, and mind.

Heart-not the seat of emotion. In this time, the heart was considered the center for intellect and will. It is possible that because of this thought process, Jesus recited the command and added mind.

Matthew 22:37–39 “He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Soul-The soul represents the life force or essence of a person. Loving God with all one's soul suggests a dedication that encompasses one's entire life and being.

Psalm 42:1–2 “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God?”

Strength-Loving God with all one's strength involves using one's physical capabilities and material resources in service to God. This comprehensive love calls for action and sacrifice, reflecting a life fully dedicated to God's purposes. 

Third, the Israelites were told of the importance of remembering this command and teaching it to their families. God gave a command and spoke of HIs promise to the Israelites. Also, the Israelites needed to respond in kind to God’s promises.

We need to do the same thing:

REMEMBER GOD’S PROMISE AND RESPOND WITH DEVOTION

GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

EXPLAIN

The promised land is one of many promises God has made.

Deuteronomy A. The Introduction to the Great Commandment (6:1–3)

The final stated purpose of the law was that Israel would increase greatly in the land they were receiving. The land could support such an increase because it was a fertile place, flowing with milk and honey.

Abraham’s promise

Genesis 12:1–3 “The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Promise in the Garden

Genesis 3:15 “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

God keeps his promises

ARGUE

“I’ve been let down by many people” God has never skipped out on a promise.

ILLUSTRATE

Taking dogs for a walk

APPLY

Remember the promises of God.

RESPOND WITH LOVING GOD COMPLETELY

EXPLAIN

The best way for us to show God our affection is obeying God’s commands. Even the ones we don’t like to follow.

Love God with your heart is not about an emotion. Its about choosing to love HIm other everything else.

Love God with your soul looks like using every part of your self to follow Him and obey Him.

John 14:15, John 14:21

John 14:15 CSB

“If you love me, you will keep my commands.

John 14:21 CSB

The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”

Loving God with your strength is about your intensity in following Him.

ARGUE

God doesn’t want us to have any fun

Proverbs 15:31–32 “One who listens to life-giving rebukes will be at home among the wise. Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.”

In his book “Crazy Love” Francis Chan, he writes,

John Piper essentially asks whether we are in love with God:

“The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?”

ILLUSTRATE

Speed limits and other regulations for driving

APPLY

Show your complete and total love

RESPOND WITH DAILY DEVOTION

EXPLAIN

Deuteronomy B. The Definition of the Great Commandment (6:4–9)

Israel was to take the law of God and to use it in every realm of life. It is clear from the context that the references to binding the law as symbols upon the hands and on the foreheads are intended to be understood figuratively, although these verses are taken in a physical sense in some expressions of Judaism. Moses’ instruction to write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates forms the basis for the Jewish custom of placing a small Scripture portion inside a small box (a mezuzah) that is then attached to the entry door frame of the household.

The Israelites were told to dwell on the command every moment of every day. Also, the importance of Loving God was to be talked about among families and friends.

We should devote our entire lives to show our love for God. We do this by daily reading of the Bible, prayer, and share with others about what God has done.

We need to disciple others throughout our life. You have knowledge that must be passed down to other generations.

ARGUE

Really? Every day?

ILLUSTRATE

Imagine a clock: every hour it ticks, moving steadily onward. Just like that clock, our daily devotion to God requires consistency and faithfulness. If we don’t set aside time to engage with Him, we risk losing track of His presence in our lives. The psalmist wrote, 'I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words' (Psalm 119:147). Make your daily time with God as regular as checking the time on your clock.

APPLY

Choose to love God daily

CONCLUSION

David wrote many Psalms about his love for God.

Psalm 73:25–26 CSB

Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.

We should show the same passion for God on a daily basis, so we desire only Him.