“For the Joy of the Lord is your Strength” Nehemiah 8:10

Jesus Help Me To Love You Lord by Pastor Fee Soliven Matthew 22:34-40 Sunday Morning December 27, 2015

Matthew 22:34-40 34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"

37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

“Yes”

 ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’ ”

Psalm 18:1-3 1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Misconceptions About Loving God

1. Mistaking the Fear of the Lord for Love of Him

Deuteronomy 10:12-16 12 "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

14 Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. 15 The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day.

2. Confusing our Need with Love

1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

3. Equating Serving God with Loving Him

Psalm 145:20-21 20 The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.

4. Assuming that our Giving is always a Sign of Love

Proverbs 8:17-21 17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.

20 I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, 21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.

5. Thinking that Religious acts equal Love for God

 Romans 8:28-30 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Why don’t people Love the Lord?

John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me…

1. They don’t know Him

 John 15:9-12 9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My ommandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  

2. They’re afraid of the Lord’s Judgment  

Revelation 20:15 “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

3. They’re uncomfortable because their sin doesn’t mix with His holiness

3. We Are Highly Favored Of God!

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

4. They feel uncertain about God and the future because they have no assurance about what awaits them after death

John 10:27-30 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and My Father are one."

5. They can’t understand why the Lord allows tragedies and disasters to happen. They don’t realize God has a definite, loving purpose in whatever He permits.  

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Why should we love God?

1. The Lord created us

2. He’s given us His Son  

3. God has made commitments to us

He has forgiven our sins The Lord will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews. 13:5)   He’ll supply all our needs (Philippians. 4:19) He’ll answer our prayers (Matthew. 7:7) He has forgiven our sins (1 John 1:9)

 He fills us with the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live in a way that pleases and honors God. Christ has prepared a place for us in heaven and will someday come again to take us there (John 14:2-3)

The Lord will give us beautiful and perfect resurrected bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51)   Through Jesus, we can have personal relationships with God that transcend any other human relationships

Desire to obey and serve Him Delight in sharing Him with others   Delight in sharing Him with others Trust Him Crave fellowship with Him

Be willing to suffer for Him Desire to worship and give to Him   Want to defend Him and the gospel Make time to study His Word Be willing to suffer for Him

1. Does your life show others that there is something different and special about you?   2. Is the difference due to a closer relationship you now have with the Lord than the way it was in your past?

3.Do you have inner satisfaction and contentment that no amount of success, prosperity, or popularity can provide?   4.As you learn more about your heavenly Father, does your love for Him grow?

5.Does this love permeate your life in ways that will demonstrate to others that you live for His glory and purpose in everything you say and do?

“For the Joy of the Lord is your Strength” Nehemiah 8:10