Title: “Do We Love The Lord Enough?”
Scripture: John 2:23-25
Introduction:
Jesus has just begun His earthly ministry. He had turned the water into wine over in Cana, had gone back to Capernaum, and then on from there He had gone up to Jerusalem to observe the Passover feast. He then entered the Temple where He cast out the moneychangers. There they questioned His authority, and it was here that we are told that many believed on Him when they saw the miracles that He did. However it is said in verse 24, "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because He knew all men." In other words Jesus knew that these people did not really love Him, but they were just following Him to get what they could out of it.
Now it seems to me that there are a lot of people like that today, just as long as they can gain personally from going after the way of the Lord, they are all in favor, but if the way gets a little bit hard, then they are ready to turn aside for another walk of life. This leads to our thought today, "Do We Really Love The Lord Enough?"
Do we love the Lord enough to:
I. TO READ HIS WORD
- “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105)
A. The good reading of this world is found in God’s Word
1. It tells of God’s love
2. It tells of God’s grace
3. It tells of God’s son
4. It tells of God’s heaven
5. It tells of the devil’s hell
B. God’s Word is a lamp
1. A reading lamp - God’s thoughts revealed
2. A heating lamp - Warms cold hearts
3. A miners lamp - Suitable for the deepest pit
4. A night lamp - Shines into darkness
5. A safety lamp - Never leads astray
II. TO GO TO HIS HOUSE
- “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
A. If a person loves the Lord, they will want to be in His House when the services are taking place
1. It is in God’s House that the Christian is fed
2. It is in God’s House that the Gospel is preached
3. It is in God’s House that songs and testimonies are given
4. It is in God’s House that sinners are saved
5. It is in God’s House that God meets with His people
B. Do we love the Lord enough to go to His house
III. TO LOVE HIS PEOPLE
- “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1 John 4:11)
A. The Bible teaches that it is possible for God’s people to have misunderstandings, but they are certainly not to have hatred on for another
B. God’s people are our dearest friends
1. In sorrow
2. In sickness
3. In suffering
4. In sin
IV. TO SEEK HIS BLESSINGS
- “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (Ephesians 5:18)
A. It is easy to say that we love Him
- I wonder how many of us love Him enough to have Him fill us with His good Holy Spirit, and to let the Spirit take control of our lives
B. Many churches sing “Oh How I Love Jesus,” but in reality there is very little love in their hearts
- If we love Him enough to seek His blessings, He will enrich our lives
V. TO SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD
- “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17)
A. When a person gets saved they start walking a new road
B. A person that makes a profession, and never changes their walk of life, their is nothing to their profession
VI. TO HONOUR HIS SON
- “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)
A. To honour the Son of God is a great privilege
1. We should honour Him by trusting Him
2. We should honour Him by telling of Him
3. We should honour Him by testifying of Him
4. We should honour Him by thinking of Him
5. We should honour Him by triumphing in Him
B. The Lord is worthy of glory, honor, and power because He created all things, and by His will we all exist
Conclusion:
Today, there is the need for us to examine ourselves and ask ourselves, "Do We Love The Lord Enough?”
