10. Understanding Our Love for God

Ezekiel 16:8 — Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

1. INTRODUCTION: What is the big deal?

• Standards, convictions, this is a sin, not necessarily a sin but look like a sin, a slippery slope, thou shalt not except maybe win, CAN ALL BE DIFFICULT AND CONFUSING TO NAVIGATE WITHOUT AN ANCHOR.
• Women wear this, men wear that. Don't do this to your body. This is edifying that is not edifying. etc. All these presume a DISPOSITION, A DIRECTION OF INTENT, A GOAL.
• Lost in the noise can be the foundation of it all: LOVE
• Even our love for God can get out of alignment. Do You love God? Do you want to love God more? FEAR can replace FAITH ("I know you are an austere man")
• We can begin to replace being at peace in God with "doing things for God".

2. Understanding Our Love for God: It is Rooted in God's Love for Us

• "I was raised..." People are raised all sorts of ways, and not all good!
• God CHOSE TO LOVE HIS PEOPLE

Deuteronomy 7:6 — For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

• TO TRULY LOVE GOD IS TO CHOOSE TO LOVE GOD.

It is backwards and anti-love to say to someone "you must love God" in an literal sense. Loving God is teh creative order and what is best, but it is not the only option.

Psalms 91:14 — Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

• 3rd Time:

Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

3. Understanding Our Love for God: It is a Relationship

John 14:15 — If ye love me, keep my commandments. --- && -- Leviticus 22:31 — Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD.

• WE AGREE ON THE FUNDAMENTALS (What is most important to me) - Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
• LOVE IS JEALOUS - IN MARRIAGE COVENANT IT IS EXCLUSIVE - TWO BECOME ONE - "Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
• There is much competing for our devotion to God --- many suitors.
• Why would you not? > Re 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repen

4. Understanding Our Love for God: LOVING GOD IS LIVING

Ezekiel 16:6 ¶ And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

• RECOVER, REPAIR, RESTORE, REVIVE

. Inspired by Matthew 14, James Rowe, superintendant of MHHS the oldest animal welfare society in America, wrote the hymn "Love Lifted Me". The disciples had seen Jesus walking on the water and Peter at Christ's command stepped out of the boat. Peter shortly began to sink and cried out "Lord, Save me!".

Matthew 14:30 — But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him ...

1 I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me– Now safe am I. -- Love lifted me