1. Love the Lord John 14:21

2. Introduction “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” Love for the Lord is essential for spiritual life. The love of the world is not what God seeks. Therefore He shows us what it means to love Him the way we were meant to love.

3. How To Love The Lord John 14:15: Obedience to His Commands Deut. 11:22: Walk in His ways Heb. 8:10: Write His Laws in Our Hearts Ps. 97:10: Hate Evil Ps. 40:16: Magnify the Lord

4. Circumcision of the Heart Deut. 10:12-16: Those who loved the Lord had circumcised hearts. Gen. 17:11-13: Circumcision was a sign. – Purpose for the covenant was to have special relationship with God—they belonged to Him. – T he richness of God’s blessings was upon those who had a covenant relationship with Him. – Circumcision was the sign or continual reminder of that relationship with God.

5. Circumcision of the Heart Deut. 10:14-17: Those who loved the Lord had circumcised hearts. Gen. 17:11-13: A Sign of the covenant. Rom. 2:29: A circumcised heart belongs to God – Rom. 5:5: The sign of our covenant is a heart that is completely devoted to God. – If we belong to God then we serve no other master (men, personal desires, etc., Lk. 9:23). – Matt. 10:37: The Lord takes the preeminence.

6. Circumcision of the Heart Deut. 10:14-17: Those who loved the Lord had circumcised hearts. Gen. 17:11-13: A Sign of the covenant. Rom. 2:29: A circumcised heart belongs to God Gal. 3:26-27; 4:6: Our hearts are given to God and made acceptable when we obey the gospel. – If we stop obeying Him, we will lose this relationship. – A devoted heart must be an obedient heart. – Hence, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

7. Benefits of Loving the Lord John 14:21-23: – Jesus will manifest Himself to us, i.e. make His home with us.

8. Benefits of Loving the Lord John 14:21-23: Make His home with us How? – His words, commands describe His character. – His words, commands are in our hearts. – When we walk in His way, His character is in our hearts and in our actions. – Gal. 2:20: Christ lives in us! – 1 Cor. 6:19-20: We are temples – But this can only be true of we love the Lord!

9. Benefits of Loving the Lord John 14:21-23: Make His home with us How? Gal. 2:20: Christ lives is us This is life’s ultimate purpose. – Sin will never satisfy. – True fulfillment can only be found in loving the Lord. – Ps. 5:11: “…be joyful in You.” – Ps. 18:1-3: “Lord is my strength.” – This is the relationship we were created to have!

10. Conclusion Do you love the Lord? We know by the way we live (John 14:23). Loving the Lord means showing that love in every aspect of our lives. – Have you given yourself fully to the Lord? – Are you actively and diligently fleeing sin? – Are you seeking ways to bear fruit for Him? Don’t sell yourself short, draw near to God. Love Him and be loved by Him.