LOVING AND SERVING GOD
MATTHEW 22:36-40
PART 3
Introduction:
In this third lesson on loving and serving God, we deal with our personal love for the Lord in comparison of our love for family.
It cost something to serve the Lord, as He requires in the Scriptures. Many Christians fail in the area of their Christian experience. Love of family must take a backseat in regard to our love for Jesus Christ.
I. WE ARE TO LOVE GOD ABOVE ANYONE OR ANYTHING
A. What does it take to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
1. The stress here is on the priority of love, Matthew 10:37, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
2. In order to be the Lord’s disciple we have to forsake all, Deuteronomy 33:9, “Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.” (This was Levi standing with Moses on the matter of the golden calf.)
B. The results of that discipleship.
1. Who is on the Lord’s side, Exodus 32:26, “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.”
2. Levi stepped up to stand for the Lord, Exodus 32:27-28, “And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. 28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.”
II. CHRIST’S LOVE FOR US, MUST CONSTRAIN US TO LOVE AND SERVE HIM.
A. We should not live for ourselves, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
1. You know the grace of our Lord, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, “I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
a. The love of God is worthy of our acceptance, Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
b. Where sin abounded God’s grace abounded more, Romans 5:20, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”
c. Where sin brought death God’s grace brought life, Romans 5:21, “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2. Therefore reckon yourselves alive unto God, Romans 6:11-12, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
a. Don’t let sin run your life, Romans 6:12, Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
b. Don’t let yourself be used as a “weapon” against the grace of God, Romans 6:13, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
c. Rather be an instrument of God’s grace, 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
3. Let God order you life for His glory, Psalm 119:133, “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”
B. We are to seek the things of God, Colossians 3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
1. We are to be a “living sacrifice,” Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
2. We are a purchased possession, 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
a. Glorify God in your body, 1 Corinthians 10:31,“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
b. Glorify God in your spirit, 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
1) We are a chosen people, 1 Peter 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
2) We are a royal priesthood, Revelation 1:6, “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
3) We are a holy nation, Isaiah 26:2-3, “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
4) We are a peculiar or purchased people, Titus 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
CONCLUSION
1 Peter 4:11, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”