1. Transforming Love Transformed Priorities Key Themes: God has designed us for intimacy with Him (Genesis 1:26). In part, God loves us so that we might share close relationship or communion with Him. The Creator of the Universe desires closeness Key Themes: God has designed us for intimacy with Him (Genesis 1:26). In part, God loves us so that we might share close relationship or communion with Him. The Creator of the Universe desires closeness between you and He (James 2:23) and therefore reveals Himself to the upright in heart. God reveals Himself through His Word, His Son and His people. Intimacy with Him is formed in us by consistently “hearing” and listening to the voice of God in these three sources of revelation. The longing to be nourished by the love of God challenges us to put away all hindrances, so that His joy might be made full in us.

2. Transforming Love Key Scriptures: John 12:35: Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. (NIV) John 4:34: “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (NIV) Proverbs 3:32 for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

3. Transforming Love Have you ever known a loved one or friend, who at one time was excited about the Lord? They lived for Jesus for a time in their life and then grew cold and indifferent. They seemed to be overcome by the darkness of sin or despair? In some way they “lost their first love?” They lost their way. How did this happen? Our sermon today stresses that we must walk in the light of God’s love lest the darkness overtake us (John 12:35).

4. Transforming Love I. Jesus’ priority of hearing God A. Jesus loved His father as He gave priority to hearing from Him. “I can do nothing on my own initiative” (John 5:30). Just as the Father revealed Himself and His love to the Son), so He desires to do with us. Proverbs 3:32 tells us that God is intimate (discloses Himself ) with the upright. God is revealing Himself to us, but are we listening? B. Jesus’ custom was to turn aside from other priorities to hear from His Father, even when the disciples didn’t understand (Mark 1:30). Christ prioritized time to hear from the Father, because of His love for the Father, and it led Him to view life differently.

5. Transforming Love II. Our priority of hearing God A. The Holy Spirit speaks to us of the Word, ways and will of God. Christ’s followers have received in the person of the Holy Spirit, One who is longing for this same loving intimacy. B. The Holy Spirit nourishes our souls as we hear Him. As surely as Christ’s nourishment was not of this world (John 4:31- 21), so also our journey in love is to be nourished by hearing from Him. Learning to develop a spiritual hunger which leads to intimacy with God will take a change of our priorities.

6. Transforming Love III. Priority Sources of hearing God A. We hear Him through sanctification Cleansing precedes clarity. Faithful followers have such a deep longing to walk intimately with Him, that they “put away” anything that hinders their relationship—sin, unhealed emotions, childish things, self-initiative (Isaiah 6). Intimacy is grounded in a desire to please the Father, rather than a fear of the consequences of my sin. Our right living must be driven out of a desire to remove any hindrance that might get in the way of my intimacy with my Lord. A joy that is inexpressible and full of glory is an evidence of cleansing (I Peter 1:8, Psalms 51:8, 12) and a testimony of a life lived intimately with Him (John 17:13). B. We hear Him in Bible study: Since God reveals Himself through the light of His Word, Bible study must become more than just a pursuit of knowledge. We will want His word to become “living and active” in our lives (Hebrews 4:12). We will want the Word to become food that nourishes and provides vitality and intimacy between the Father and us. After all, knowledge makes us arrogant, but intimacy with the One who is truth prompts edifying love (1 Corinthians 8:1).

7. Transforming Love C. We hear in worship. Our thanksgiving and songs, liturgy and praise are for a purpose—to enter into His presence. Worship must become more than music, but a lifestyle of hearing from the Father and being transformed by the experience of His love. As we hear from Jesus, “the author and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), we will leave less alone because we have been intimate with Him. D. We hear in fellowship. Our small groups will no longer become times to impress others, but opportunities to be impacted by His love. As the Spirit of God ministers in us and through us, we will become sensitized with the eyes of Christ, so that we can “sharpen” one another (Proverbs 27:17) and rejoice and mourn together (Romans 12:15).