Love God, Love People - Part II - 5/23/2021

Give Thanks to the LORD and for Pastor Holmes

Opening Prayer

Bible Confession

I. INTRODUCTION:

Saints of God, last week I presented you with a question;

What is your motive behind the things you do?

After this challenging question was presented to me approximately 1 month ago;

This is the response that came up in my spirit;

“In anything you do, be motivated by the love of God!”

The corresponding scripture is found in Colossians 3:23.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the LORD, and not unto men;”

Heartily - with all sincerity; wholeheartedly.

Wholehearted -

Completely and sincerely devoted, determined, or enthusiastic.

marked by complete earnest commitment: free from all reserve or hesitation.

This was Satan’s attempt to get me to focus on outward things.

Remember saints, the devil continually tries to divert your attention away from God, by tempting you with what the world has to offer.

How? By tempting you to focus on the outer man and the things of this world.

The same strategy he tried to use on Jesus during his wilderness experience.

1 John 2:16 says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The Lord wants us to focus on the inner man by walking in the Spirit; on loving Him and our neighbor, not the world and it’s many lusts!

Galatians 5:16 says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Today, I will be continuing in Part II of the message entitled, Love God, Love People.

Last week’s message and today’s message are apart of our series, Reaching The World With The Word.

II. BODY:

GOLDEN TEXT: Matthew 22:34-40

1. THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT:

The Holy Bible: King James Version Chapter 22

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.

Jesus is our example that we should follow on our Christian journey with him.

A very popular slogan was out many years ago, called “What would Jesus do?”

This question was centered around how we should respond to people when mistreated, who we should respond to pressure situations, how we should respond to wrong doings toward us, etc.

These scriptures answers “What would Jesus do”, Love God, Love People!

This would make any situation light if our first motivation is to Love God and Love People.

After all, God is not nearly as concerned about what happened to us, He’s much more concerned about how we respond to what happened to us!

2. GOD IS LOVE:

1 JOHN 4:7-21

The Holy Bible: King James Version Chapter 4

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

3. THE EFFECTS OF FEAR:

First of all, let me establish this; fear is not of God!

2 Timothy 1:7 AV

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Fear weakens your immune system and can cause cardiovascular damage, gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, and decreased fertility. It can lead to accelerated ageing and even premature death.

4. LOVE IS THE MAIN COURSE:

1 JOHN 5:1-5

The Holy Bible: King James Version Chapter 5

5:1 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.

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

You can not love God alone and not also love his children that is also born of Him.

They are your brothers and sisters!

According to the word, if you do this, you are a HATER and LIAR!

1 John 4:20–21 KJV 1900

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

III. CONCLUSION:

The love we as saints have between one another is the trademark of discipleship.

JOHN 13:34-35

The Holy Bible: King James Version Chapter 13

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

GALATIANS 5:13-14

The Holy Bible: King James Version Chapter 5

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Romans 13:8 AV

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

IV: SERVICE WRAP-UP

LIFT YOUR HANDS AND GIVE THE LORD PRAISE

CLOSING PRAYER (For message)

ALTAR CALL

PRAYER FOR CONGREGATION

PRAY FOR PASTOR HOLMES

LADY KAY - PRESENTATIONS

CONFESSION OF FAITH

ANNOUNCE TODAY’S MEETINGS: Paulette Shepherd, Derrell Glover and Wife, Sharon Glover (Willie and Tineesha Singleton if Derrell or his wife is not present)

BENEDICTION