HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE?
Matthew 22:37: Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Matthew 22:38: This is the first and great commandment.
Matthew 22:39: And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:40: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
THIS A QUESTION WORTH ASKING OURSELVES. DO I LOVE CHRIST MORE THAN ANY OTHER THING.
I. WHAT IS OUR LOVE THERMOMETER READING?
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
A. LOVING GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEART (PASSION) OR WHOLE HEARTED DEVOTION TO CHRIST
1. Christ first
2. He’s our all in all
John 21:15-17
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Romans 12:11: Not lacking in zeal; aglow with the spirit; serving the Lord;
B. SPIRITUAL TRAP: LOVING WITH LESS THAN ALL OF OUR HEART
(PASSION) . 2 Chron. 25:2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.
C. LOSS OF LOVE FOR THE THINGS OF GOD HAPPENS GRADUALLY
OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Revelation of John 2:1: To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things said he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks;
Revelation of John 2:2: I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars:
Revelation of John 2:3: And have borne, and have patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and have not fainted.
Revelation of John 2:4: Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.
Revelation of John 2:5: Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent.
II. THE TEST OF LOVE IS OUR LEVEL OF OBEDIENCE!
2 John 1:6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
A. WHEN OUR PASSION FOR CHRIST IS GREAT, OUR LEVEL OF OBEDIENCE IS GREAT
B. WHEN OUR PASSION FOR CHRIST IS LOW, OUR LEVEL OF OBEDIENCE IS LOW
C. ALSO, IT IS NOT A BURDON TO CARRY OUT THE COMMANDS OF GOD
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
III. THE PROOF OF LOVE IS OUR LEVEL OF TRUST
SEE GENESIS 3 … TRUSTIN GOD'S LIMITS IN OUR LIFE!
A. TRUST (BELIEVE IN ME – JOHN 14)
1. Comes from a gr. Word meaning to entrust ones spiritual
well being to Christ.
2. Similar to placing your money in a bank for safe keeping
and peace of mind.
3. The Lord has promised to personally direct our life when we
completely entrust ourselves to Him. - Pro. 3:5-6
4. It’s a simple thing for God to care for us when we entrust
Ourselves completely to Him. - Luke 12:22-31
Not many people enjoy going to the doctor, but according to Reuters, in 1994, one London accountant to that to an extreme. The 63 man needed bladder surgery, but he couldn’t overcome his fear of doctors and hospitals. So he self-reliantly did what had to be done. He tried to perform the surgery upon himself. Tragically he got an infection and died. The coroner said, “Unfortunately, his drastic remedy went wrong. A simple operation would have solved the problem.” Just as many don’t trust doctors and hospitals, many people wont trust God. In their self-reliance, they destroy themselves.
IV. THE FRUIT OF LOVE
John 14:21
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
SATAN WANTS US TO QUESTION GOD'S LOVE AND ABILITY TO CARE FOR US …. BUT, GOD WILL NOT LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US!
John 14:16: And I will pray to the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
John 14:17: That is the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him, neither does it know him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:18: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
CONCLUSION:
GOD WILL NOT LEAVE HIS CHILDREN LOVELESS OR COMFORTLESS!
GOD'S CARE FOR US IS PROOF OF HIS LOVE
LOVE NEVER FAILS!
