Loving God

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:            Luke 10:25-27

I.          Our Purpose Statement:  “Our purpose is to know Jesus and to make Him known.”

            A.        There is a saying:  “To know Jesus is to love Him.”

B.         The greatest evidence that we know Jesus is that we love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

II.        The summary statement of Christianity (Luke 10:25-27)

            A.        Love God—Worship

            B.         Love People—Relationship and outreach

III.       How to love God in Worship (Matthew 6)

            A.        Your HEART:  Devotion (Lordship)

                        1.         The heart is the seat of affections, motives, and desires

2.         To love God from your heart is to be undivided in your loyalty to Him.  It is the same type of commitment made at during marriage, when you pledge all you have, all you are, and all you will ever be to your spouse.  You cannot give your marriage partner half of your heart, half of your devotion, and half of your finances.

3.         Loving God means selling out to Him with no reservations. 

4.         Matthew 6:21  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

5.         Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

            B.        Your SOUL:  Passion (Prayer and Fasting)

1.         The soul is the area of the mind, will, and emotions.  It determines your passion.

2.         Psalm 42:1  “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.”

3.         Something within your soul will remain dry and empty unless you spend time alone with God.

4.         Prayer and fasting reflect a passion for the presence of God.  Fasting does not change God, but it cuts off the distractions of the flesh and focuses our attention upon God.  As we do, our passion for Him will grow.

5.         If you become infatuated by the pursuit of worldly pleasures and entertainment, then fasting and prayer will become a religious duty.  If you detest the idea of prayer and fasting, then it could be an indication that we have left our first love.

            C.        Your MIND:  Meditation (Word of God)

1.         To be in love with God is to have your mind consumed with thoughts for God.

2.         We must renew our minds by the Word of God.

3.         Psalm 4:4-5  “Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Selah.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.”

4.         Psalm 77:4-6  “You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.  I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.”

5.         Psalm 119:15-16  “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.  I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”

6.         Psalm 119:99  “Oh how I love Your law!  It is my meditation all the day.”

7.         Psalm 104:34  David said, “May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord..”

            D.        Your STRENGTH:  Expression (Praise and worship)

                        1.         Love must have expression, or outward release.

                        2.         Proverbs 27:5  “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.”

                        3.         Love that is never expressed is not love at all.

4.         God has given us a physical body to express joy, happiness, love and energy.  Our hands, our feet, and our voice are all involved in expressing our love to God for what He has done for us.

5.         David said,  “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME bless His holy name!”

6.         2 Samuel 6:14  “David danced before the Lord with all His might.”  His love for God was expressed in an outward and exuberant way.

7.         Luke 19:40  Jesus answered the Pharisees and said,  “I tell you  that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

8.         Praise and worship is a vital part of expressing our love for God.  It is not the “warm up” for the preaching, but a vital expression of true love to God.

IV.       Have you left your first love? (Revelation 2:1-7)

            A.        Characteristics of the Ephesians

                        1.         They had lived good lives

                        2.         They were workers for God

                        3.         They were perseverant in hard times

4.         They were diligent to safeguard the flock from the influence of false apostles

5.         They had labored and not grown weary for Christ’s sake

6.         Only one thing Christ had against them:  They had left their first love.

            B.         Jesus’ command

                        1.         Repent from where you have fallen

                        2.         Do the first works

            C.        Consequences if we ignore Christ’s command

                        1.         He will come quickly

                        2.         He will remove our lampstand from its place