Loving God More in the New Year
Matthew 22:34-39
Interviews and polls taken in America reveal that a high percentage of Americans, 85%, say they believe in God or a higher power. If you walked downtown on the streets of San Jose and asked the question – “What do you believe about God?” You might get some of the following answers given on this video clip.
#Video Clip
There is a big difference about believing in God and knowing God. Matthew 22:34-39 describes how we are to love and worship God – with all our heart, soul and mind.
As we begin the New Year 2006, I want us to consider these five ways to better show our love for God.
I. Praise and Sing Unto the Lord.
“Make a joyful sound unto the Lord.” Psalm 147:7 “Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God, accompanied by harps.”
If you don’t think you can carry a tune, “Make a joyful noise/sound unto the Lord.” Throughout the Psalms a phrase is continued: “Shout to the Lord.” Do you ever shout to the Lord, “Praise the Lord.” “Amen!”
There’s a chorus that goes: “Let’s just praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let’s just lift our hands toward heaven and praise the Lord. Let’s just praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let’s just lift our hands toward heaven and praise the Lord.”
Singing and praise to God are vital parts of the service of worship. When we refuse to open our mouths and sing we are not obeying God’s Word.
Psalm 66:8 NLT “Let the whole world bless our God and sing aloud His praises.”
Psalm 95:1 “Come let us sing to the Lord. Let us give a joyous shout to the rock of our salvation!”
What does worship mean to you? More than anything else worship comes from our heart. Whenever and wherever we gather together to sing and pray we are involved in worship.
This coming year let’s love God more by giving praise and singing unto the Lord.
A second way we can love God more in the coming year is to
II. Pray – Talk to God
Jesus gave the disciples and us a model for prayer – The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 is a good prayer to read and reflect on from time to time.
Prayer is two way communication- - – talking to God and listening to God. Without 2 way communication there is no communication.
#Early in our marriage I thought Carollyn could read my mind, but she would say to me, “Don’t you love me.” I would reply, “Sure I do.” She would say, “Then why don’t you tell me.”
How often do you tell your wife/husband and children, that you love them? How do you know you are loved? You know a person by a person’s actions and by what the person says. Turn to the person next to you and say, “God loves you and so do I.”
Prayer is talking to God. Psalm 116:1-2 NLT “I love the Lord because He hears and answers my prayer. Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath.”
Do you have trouble praying out loud? You don’t have to pray in holy tones or in Old English with “Thees and Thous.” Prayer is conversation from your heart.
This coming year express your love to God more by singing and by praying silently and by praying out loud in conversation with the Lord.
You also express your love to God by
III. Listening To God
Coupled to talking to God is listening to God.
One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is to listen to them. When you listen to another person you are saying to them, “You matter to me.” Love is spelled, “L I S T E N.” When you listen to your wife or husband or children you are expressing love.
A helpful tool in listening to God is the spiritual life journal. The life journal guides you as you read the Bible through in a year, reflect on key passages, and write out your prayers in the journal.
During the coming year why not make a commitment to spend time alone with God everyday. The Psalmist has the answer to a life out of balance, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 - - You can’t afford to get so busy that you have no time to be still and listen to what God wants to say to you.
God speaks through His Word, experiences, trials, and through the wise counsel of godly Christians. Proverbs 11:17 declres, “Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.”
In 2006 consider getting involved in a small study and fellowship group here in the church and trust the wise counsel of others in the group. Pastor Dwight is assuming leadership to train group leaders and multiply small home groups. If you are interested in being a part of a small group, there is a box you can check on the welcome card and we’ll keep you informed of the new groups being formed.
Love God more in the coming year 2006 by singing and praising the Lord, by praying and talking to God, by listening to God, and fourth by witnessing and telling others of God’s love.
IV. Witness
You witness to others when you tell others about God’s love and back up your words with a life of righteousness and holiness. To witness means we take a public stand for Jesus. Our theme for the beginning of 2006 is “Invest and invite.” Let’s take a bold stand for Jesus. Let’s not be ashamed of our faith in the risen Lord.
If you truly love someone you’re not ashamed of them. You are proud to be identified with them. I love Carollyn and I’m proud to introduce her as my wife. I’m proud of Jake and glad to introduce him as my grandson.
If we say we love Jesus, then we should not be ashamed to be identified publicly as a Christ follower. Matthew 5:14-15 NLT, Jesus told his followers “You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.”
What would Carollyn think if I said, “I love you and want to marry you, but let’s keep it a secret. In public let’s act like total strangers. You will continue to be known as Carollyn Reid and I will be Ray Ellis, no one needs to know about our secret marriage.
No, true, authentic love demands a commitment! We are proud to declare our love publicly. Jesus gave his following this warning in Mark 8:38. If a person is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in the glory of my Father with the holy angels.”
Let’s look for opportunities to invite people to participate in the activities of the Willow Vale Church. You might say to a friend; “I attend an exciting church. There are ministries for preschool children, school age children, youth and adults. I invite you to come sometime and check us out.” We have informational cards, “Join Us” you could hand the person.
In the coming year, love God more by giving your public witness to others.
A fifth way to show your love in 2006 is to give.
V. Give More
Let’s commit to increasing our tithe and offerings to the Lord in the coming year. The early church as recorded in Acts was a generous church. Acts 4:32-35 NLT “All the believers were of one heart and mind, and they felt that what they owned was not their own; they shared everything they had. And the apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great favor was upon them all.”
Giving at its core is the essence of love. You spell love – L I S T E N and you also spell love, G I V E. When you love someone you want to give to them. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. If you truly love God then your life, your decisions and your actions should show it. You willingness to give is a test of your love. 2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV “But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
When we give we give in one of two ways, either cheerfully or fearfully.
We give cheerfully when we have the attitude that all we have belongs to God. We give freely of our tithe – ten percent of our income – and ask God how to best use the remaining resources God has given us.
We give fearfully when we have the attitude, “I can’t afford this. I can’t afford to give because I’ve got to take care of me first. I’ve got to protect my interests.
This coming year make the commitment to love God more by
Singing and praising the Lord
Praying and talking to God
Listening to God
Witnessing about God to others
Giving to God’s work
On this first day of the New Year I can think of no better way to start the year than by partaking of communion.
Communion
The Lord’s Supper is an expression of our love of Christ. We take communion together because Jesus died for all. When we celebrate communion we make confession of sin and affirm that Jesus is Lord of our life and we publicly declare our faith in the Lord.
The bread represents the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ. On the night of His betrayal, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take, eat, this is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
The cup represents the shed blood of Jesus. In like manner, after supper He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of this, all of you, for this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
When you partake of Communion you are publicly declaring your faith in Jesus. Partaking of the Lord’s Supper you are declaring publicly that you have given your life to Jesus and want to use your talents, gifts God has given you to help others. In partaking of communion you are committing to share the good news of Jesus Christ to others.
In 2006 let’s all commit to loving God more throughout the New Year.
Let’s pray.
Choir – In Remembrance of Me
Communion
