March 17 2013 Learning To Love Christ Back
/LEARNING TO LOVE CHRIST BACK
Rev. 4:116 - You (God) created everything and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.
Romans 12:1 - Because of God’s great mercy to us, offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His Service and pleasing to Him. This is your true Worship that you should offer.
I Peter 4:2 - From now on, live the rest of your lives controlled by God’s Will, not by human desires.
Romans 6:13 - Give yourselves completely to God, every part of you, you want to be tools in the hands of God to be used for His good purposes.
1. Why Love Christ Back?
He shaped us for a specific reason.
Gal. 1:15 - For even before I was born, God had chosen me to be His and He called me, what kindness and grace.
God Knows what’s best for me.
Jer. 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.
I Am grateful for our salvation.
II Timothy 1:9 - Christ saved us and called us with a Holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace.
God Promises to reward our commitment.
Proverbs 7:6 - In everything you do put God first and He will direct you and brown your efforts with success.
WHAT KEEPS US FROM LOVING CHRIST BACK
1. Short term values.
Mark 4:19 - The attractions of this world and the delights of wealth, and the search for success and love of nice things came in and crowded out God.
I John 2:17 - The world and all its passionate desires will one day disappear, but anyone who does the Will of God will live forever.
2. Past failure.
Phil 3:13-14 - Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.
3. We are self motivated.
Prov. 14:14 - The back slider is bored with himself, but the Godly man’s life is exciting.
Mark 8:35 - If you insist on saving your life you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.
4. Fear.
Psalm 37:5 - Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust Him to help you do it and He will.
HOW DO WE LOVE CHRIST BACK
1. Consider the cost.
Luke 14:27-28 - No one can be My disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow Me, but don’t begin until you count the cost.
2. Come just as you are.
3. Do it now.
Hosea 10:12 - Sow for yourselves righteousness, break up the follow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.
4. Give all we have.
Romans 12:1-2 - Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His Service and pleasing to Him. This is true Worship, then you will be able to know the Will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
C.S. LEWIS “THE ONLY THING CHRISTIANITY CANNOT BE IS MODERATELY IMPORTANT.”
