Do You Really Love The Lord? And Is He First Place In Your Life?

First Church of God in Harvey

Sunday Morning, August 5th, 2012

Let us pray

Welcome

As we listen and watch the news during the course of last week, so much has happened. We have heard good news, bad news, baffling news, but amidst all the news, we are still alive, and still being kept by the mighty hand of God. Are you thankful to be in God’s house one more time?

Last Sunday we were blessed as our speaker spoke about the Christian armor, and that we should put on the whole armor of God, so that we may be able to withstand in the evil days, and having done all to stand. Just in case you have forgotten, we are living in evil days, and Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3 about the evil days, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come,” or “You may as well know this too, Timothy, that in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian.” There used to be a time when Christians would have the desire of wanting to be in the house of God, but do not be surprised, because the Bible says in Matthew 24 verse 12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Today as we look into God’s Word, a personal question is asked us, Do you really love the Lord?

Our scripture reading will be taken from St. John 21 verses 15 through 17.

Our topic for today is, “Do You Really Love The Lord?” Number 1: Do you love me more than these? Number 2: Do you love me with God’s love? Number 3: Do you love me as a loyal brother?

In St. John 14 verse 15, Jesus said, ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments.” In St. John 14 verse 21, Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 verse 3, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” In 1 John 2 verses 3 through 6, the apostle John writes, “And hereby we do know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” Listen to what the apostle John writes in 1 John 4 verses 20 and 21, “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. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” So the question for us today is, Do you really love the Lord?

What do you do when someone says something offensive to you? How do you react? Do you show that you really love the Lord? What do you do when your faith is tested? Do you try to fight back? Or Do you show that you really love the Lord? What do you do when you have made some great achievement in life, and great honor is bestowed upon you? Do you say, look what I have done or do you show your love for the Lord? At age 16, Gabrielle or Gabbe Douglas, an Afro-American gymnasts won the gold medal in the Summer Olympics in London, England. When she was interviewed, amidst all the glory, she took the time to give thanks to the Lord. This young girl somehow showed to the world her love for the Lord. I do not know anything about her Christian walk, but at that moment of glory, she gave thanks to the Lord. Do you really love the Lord?

I imagine Jesus might have said to Peter, Peter, you said you did not know who I was. I was the one who called you from a life of fishing to fish for men. We have walked and talked for over 3 years. You were part of the inner circle, but you said you did not know me. Peter, do you remember in the garden you were ready to fight, when I was arrested, you even took your sword and struck off the ear of a servant of the high priest. Peter you also said, “though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” (Matthew 26: 33)