Transcript From Egypt to Canaan - avondalechristians.com

Love the Lord
John 14:21
Introduction
John 14:21
“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.
How To Love The Lord
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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
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.
– The 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.
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.
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.”
Benefits of Loving the Lord
• John 14:21-23:
– Jesus will manifest Himself to us, i.e. make His
home with us.
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!
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!
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.