Because I Love THee

Because I Love Thee

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

2:35 PM

John Wesley a year or so before his trip to America preached a message titled "On Love" Feb. 20th 1732. Actually several years before his confessed conversion May 24th 1738. In this sermon Wesley gives us a definition of what it is to love God.

Listen to this:

"what is it to love God, but to delight in him, to rejoice in his will, to desire continually to please him, to seek and find our happiness in him, and to thirst day and night for a fuller enjoyment of him"

He gives us several things of what it is to love God. Now there may be more and in fact Dr. Philip Brown in his Bible study "Loving God" adds a little and tweaks this a bit. But I am quite comfortable and satisfied with Wesley's definition. Lets look at it a little again -

To delight in HimTo rejoice in His willTo Desire continually to please HimTo seek and find our happiness in HimTo thirst day and night for a fuller enjoyment of Him.

While I'm not going to develop each of these tonight I may in a future series.

I want to deal with the concept of loving God.

I don't know what the story behind the song is but I love the song written by the Gaither's several years ago that went like this:

I will serve thee because I love thee

You have given life to me

I was nothing before you found me

You have given life to me

I may not know the story behind the lyrics but I do know the motivation. The Gaither's were moved by their motivation of love to serve and obey God.

Paul understood this when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14

"For the love of Christ constraineth us;"

NASB – uses the word "controls"

NIV – Uses the word "compels"

They were motivated by their love for God.

I want us to look for a moment at some verses tonight that will hopefully give us a greater understanding of Loving God.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (KJV)

12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

This told the children of Israel what God wanted of them. We can almost put these into steps

Fear the Lord thy GodThe fear of the Lord is NOTBeing afraid of GodBeing scared God is going to do something or allow somehting painful in your lifeThe fear of the Lord IS:A real fear that leads to obedience - Exodus 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. NT Example – Rev. 1:17 – John fell as dead before Him. Reverent awe that leads to worship - Psalm 22:23 King James Version (KJV) 23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.Revelation 14:7 King James Version (KJV)7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Walk in all his waysLove HimServe the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soulKeep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes. A Commandment - An order to do something or a "charge" given to us to watch over and keep. Statutes – The decrees or requirements describing how to live in obedience to Him. https://www.119ministries.com/119-blog/commandments-statutes-ordinances-and-judgmentswhats-the-difference/

But there is another verse I want to look at in the New Testament -

Turn with me to - 1 John 5:1-3 (KJV)

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

I don't know if you have caught the progression in these verses -

God loves us – and asks us to do something – those that love Him respond with I love God and will do what He wants me to do.

Is it any wonder they penned those words, "I Will SERVE THEE BECAUSE I LOVE THEE!"

Another songwriter perhaps put it better when they wrote:

1 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;

for thee all the follies of sin I resign;

my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;

if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

2 I love thee because thou hast first loved me

and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;

I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;

if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

3 I'll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,

and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,

and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:

If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

4 In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;

I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:

If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

Psalter Hymnal, (Gray)