Love the Lord (Mark 12:30)

Mark 12: 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

A. Love the Lord with all your HEART

1. If you love the Lord with all your heart it will have a major impact on what you say

a. Matthew 12:34

Whatever is in your heart will determine what you say

2. If you love the Lord with all your heart it will have a major impact on your interests

a. Matthew 6:21

Where ever your treasure is, there you heart and thoughts will also be

3. If you love the Lord with all your heart it will have a major impact on your actions

a. Ephesians 6:6

As slaves of Christ we are to do the will of God with all our hearts

4. If you love the Lord with all your heat it will have a major impact on who you chose as friends

a. 2 Timothy 2:22

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust.

Follow anything that makes you want to do right.

Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

B. Love the Lord with all your SOUL

1. First what is your SOUL?

a. It is an immaterial (not physical) part of each of us that exists independent of your body. During the time that our bodies are alive here on earth our body and soul abide together.

b. Both Christians and non-believers have a soul that will live forever.

2. If we love the Lord with all our soul our lives are anchored with the promises of God in His word.

a. Hebrews 6: 17-19

This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

3. If we love the Lord with all our soul he is a vital part of our very being

a. Psalms 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

b. Psalms 63:8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me

c. Psalms 143:6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

C. Love the Lord with all your MIND

1. If you love the Lord with all your mind it will have a major impact on the way you think

a. Philippians 4:8

Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.

Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

b. Romans 12:2

Don’t copy the behavior and the customs of the world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think

c. Romans 8:6

If your sinful nature controls your mind there is death.

But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

D. Love the Lord with all your STRENGTH

2. Don’t under estimate the power of sin

a. Heed the exhortation of Ephesians 6: 10-18

1. Be strong in the Lord’s mighty power

2. Put on the whole armor of God

3. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy

4. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth

5. Be prepared to use the gospel

6. Exercise your faith in times of trial

7. Use the gifts God has given you in salvation

8. Be grounded in the word

9. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit and stay alert

E. Mark 12: 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

D. Love the Lord with all your STRENGTH continued

2. I Peter 4: 10-11

God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts.

Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you.

Are you called to be a speaker?

Then speak as through God himself were speaking through you.

Are you called to help others?

Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies

3. Isaiah 40: 31 But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

F. Closing

1. Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is full of living power.

It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires.

It exposes us for what we really are.

Nothing in all creation can hide from him.

Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes.

This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.

577- Be Strong in the Lord