Studies In Christianity

Christian Love #3 Love God By Sharing Him

Last week we learn how God’s people were taught to love Him in the O.T. 1. Follow Him 4. Listen to Him 2. Fear Him 5. Serve Him 3. Obey Him 6. Cling to Him

This lesson seeks to explore one effect of loving God on one’s life Matthew 22: 36 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment.” ( Deut. 5:6 )

love that is far beyond what is common to man. I. Jesus refers to a type of love that is far beyond what is common to man.

Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6: 7 … when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

The love God wants from man does not form like love between two people

God doesn’t want conditions based love. John 4: 24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.“ I John 4: 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … 19 – We love, because He first loved us.

God wants our love to be like His love. I John 4: 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Matthew 22: 36 ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment

consumes one can not be hidden, it must be shared. II. A love that totally consumes one can not be hidden, it must be shared.

desires to serve the brethren. Paul compromised his personal desires to serve the brethren. Acts 20: 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.

The Apostle holds his life up as an Example to reinforce His teaching. Acts 20: 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, ( I Cor. 11:1–Be imitators of me just as I am of Christ )

One’s lifestyle must also be gentle. Acts 20: 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; Ephesians 4: 1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity

One who truly loves God must have a compassionate heart. Acts 20: 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;

One must have the strength to continue on in the face of trials. Acts 20: 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;

II Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? — I speak as if insane — I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the … Continued …

II Corinthians 11:23 Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?

We must develop the boldness to proclaim the gospel as Paul did. Acts 20: 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The goal is to lead people to a saved relationship with God NOT just to teach them doctrine.

you actually shared the gospel with someone. III. When was the last time you actually shared the gospel with someone.

It takes a sincere and wholehearted love for God to develop this heart. Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Love for one’s neighbor ABOVE himself grows out of this love for God. Leviticus 19: 18 – … but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. Philippians 2: 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

Have you ever talked to your neighbor about her soul ? Mark 8: 38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

When in the better land before the bar we stand, How deeply grieved our souls will be; If any lost one there should cry in deep despair, "You never mentioned Him to me." CHORUS: You never mentioned Him to me, You helped me not the way to see; You met me day by day and knew I was astray, Yet never mentioned Him to me.“ … continued …  

  O let us spread the word _ where e'er it may be heard, Help groping souls the light to see, That yonder none may say, "You showed me not the way." You never mentioned Him to me. CHORUS A few sweet words may guide a lost one to His side, Or turn sad eyes on Calvary; So work as days go by, that yonder none may cry, "You never mentioned Him to me." CHORUS

Have you given your heart to God ? What has been the result ?

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. I Corinthians 11: 26

This is day 47. Have you read Exod. 20 , Mark 2 & Psa. 22 Good Job !