Are We Loving God? (Love of God: part 1 of 3)
Galatians 5:1-6 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Many say that they love God;
-they say that they are very tender-hearted and feel deep love for Him.
-they say they have always felt this way.
What does it mean in the Bible to love God?
How do we know that we actually love God?
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
You can either love the flesh. Or you can love others…
Other ways to say this;
-you can love the flesh or you can love God.
-you can walk in the flesh or you can walk in the Spirit.
Can we only HOPE that we love God?
Can we only BELIEVE that we love God?
Are there evidences or proofs that we love God?
Can we decide to love God?
Yes!! The scriptures show us that EVERYONE (including ourselves) will know if we love God!
Matthew 7:16-20 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Notice that it is IMPOSSIBLE to have both types of fruit…
Galatians 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
We do not know how to DO the things of God (we are flesh). Possibly, we are in agreement with the Lord. Possibly, we want to win souls, heal the sick and to set free those people we find in bondage…
But WHO can do these things?
If we want to SERVE God, we need to have the Holy Spirit to guide us. The first step is to be born again in Christ Jesus. Then we will receive the Holy Spirit (God), our wonderful helper and companion.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
If we live in the flesh;
-we will not see miracles.
-we will not hear the voice of God.
-we will not understand the scriptures.
-we will not be satisfied or happy in our lives.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
…At this point, many become confused.
These fruits are for the love of God!!
-We will LOVE (adore) God.
-We will have JOY talking of God and sharing Jesus!
-We will have PEACE with God.
-We will be long-suffering (have patience) with God.
-We will be GENTLE and respectful to God.
-We will be GOOD to God (treat Him very well)!
-We will have CONFIDENCE (faith) in God.
-We will be HUMBLE before God.
-We will be fair and MATURE with God.
We will not be some sort of emotional extremists or crazies about God.
Galatians 5:24-25 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
I can say that someone is my friend (that’s easy), but if he needs my help, ALL OF YOU will know if I am his friend or not…
Let’s learn a bit more about the love of God:
Ephesians 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Did you know that Jesus showed us how to walk in love?
Jesus showed us that if we follow the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will guide us in how to love God. Jesus did not do any miracles until after He had received the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Jesus didn’t decide where He would go to serve God; He was guided by the Holy Spirit. The next verse tells us:
Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
1 John 4:16-21 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Jesus went (and still goes) to the sinners and unclean people to show them by example what it means to love God.
We need to do the same…
Let’s GO!!
