How We Can Love God

How We Can Love God

One way to love and honor to God with our lives is with our acts of worship by doing good things in His name. So what compels us to do so? I think gratitude for what Jesus did on the Cross to save us, and the impact of the Holy Spirit in our lives once we have been saved, influences how we treat God and others. The Bible exhorts us to do good but because of our human nature to gravitate toward self,  we sometimes don't always fulfill God's desire. However, one who really loves God consistently looks for opportunities to share the Good News, follow God's principles, offers their time, talent and resources for His kingdom purpose,  and spends time with God in authentic relationship. All these things are acts of Worship which express our praise, reverence, and love for God. There are many Bible passages that reflect how we can show love for God and others. Applying God's principles will not only reflect our desire to do good, but also express our love and devotion for God and our neighbor. So how can we love God?:

Principle 1: Be determined to Love God and your neighbor. Become a disciple of 

                   Jesus 

Matthew 22:37-40 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

John 13:34-35 New International Version 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”          

Principle 2: Do good in God's name

Colossians 3:17 New International Version

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Matthew 25:40 New International Version (Loving others shows love for God)

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers

 and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Ephesians 2:10 New International Version (God's desire for us is to do good. He created us for that purpose. Remember, good works don''t save us  but reflect the new life we have in Christ)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Principle 3: Obey God's commands. Our obedience displays the depth of our love we 

                    have for God

1 John 5:3 New International Version

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,


Principle 4: We have to take to heart and apply God's Word 

 James 1:22–25 New International Version But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says.

John 14:15 New International Version

If you love me, keep my commands.  (Jesus telling his disciples)

 So, loving God is shaped by our attitude.

 

The Apostle Paul said this about what our attitude should reflect:

Philippians 2:5 NIV

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Jesus is our example: 

He healed the sick, spoke truth, feed the poor, hungry, loved even the leper, performed miracles, was an example of servant leadership, lived out the definition of humility, did not sin when tempted by the devil, taught about the Kingdom of God and real authentic love

The Greatest of all the things Jesus did was His willingness (Submitting to God's will and purpose) to die on the Cross for the sake of our salvation (Deliverance from sin and its consequences). This is the greatest example of amazing love aside from the creation itself. The Bible confirms that this incredible demonstration of love came in the form of sacrifice.

Romans 5:8 New International Version  (Jesus' display of love through His willing sacrifice)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus also showed love for others in another form. Jesus fed those who were hungry for food and truth. For those of us who are followers of Christ, a daily connection with God will satisfy our need to be filled by His Spirit and His Word which is truth.

Mark 6:34 NIV  

(A good example of Jesus' compassion and desire to teach about the Kingdom of God)
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were

like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

So how are we to live in light of what God has done for us? 

Once we become followers of Jesus living the abundant life is not how much personal wealth we have attained, nor how much stuff we own. The abundant life is represented by the blessings we have received by having intimate relationship with God. The wealth of life we receive comes from the living water that flows within us, the Holy Spirit, which enables us to live God centered, love unconditionally, experience peace and rest, have a new eternal perspective, have Godly discernment and wisdom, grow in our faith, and live joyfully because we have eternal life and fellowship with the creator of the universe.

Sometimes it is hard for me to fathom that a God so big and so awesome would want to spend time in fellowship with me. What benefit could I possibly be to God?  Well, maybe God enjoys being loved. Maybe when we spend time with God each day we increase His Joy. Maybe when we sing songs of praise in worship to Him, He is touched by our reverence and love. We need to remember that God has feelings too. The way we think, the words we say, and the things we do, reflect how we view God in our lives. So there are things we can do regularly that show how much we love God and prioritize Him in our lives

Here is a list of some things we can do that reflect our love for God

·         Spend time with Him (Quiet time)

·         Pray

·         Read and study His Word

·         Obey His word

·         Live a life of Worship (Daily connection and reverence for God)

          Love others as much as we love ourselves

·         Even love our enemies

·         Give our gifts and resources to help others in need

·         Give our gifts and resources to the local church

·         Don’t sin

·         Give Him our best (excellence in attitude and work)

·         Share every aspect of our lives with Him (Let God in and do life with Him)

·         Admit the need for a Savior regardless of our level of depravity and sin

·         Give ourselves in service to God and others

·         Be part of a unified community of believers with purpose (Worship and Serve)

·         Tell others the Good News

·         Put God first and loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength

If God’s main purpose in creating us was to have a personal relationship with us, than

what better way to love God than to put Him first in our lives. The greatest commandment

is about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Also by loving our neighbors as much as we love ourselves, we speak volumes of love to God as well.

Jesus showed His love for us by His willingness to die for our sins.

Our sin was washed away by His blood and sacrifice. There is no greater act of 

love than this.

So, let's think about how we can love God through a willingness for us to sacrifice for His sake. In essence we need to die to self. We should surrender ourselves completely to God through our commitment to living a life that is set apart to Him in worship and in service. We should offer ourselves, our bodies, to Him in such a way that display a pleasing act of reverence and worship. 

Romans 12:1 New International Version 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

 

We need to live a God-centered life. In fact,  when we live sacrificially we gain so much more out of life. The Bible speaks on this as well:

Mark 8:35 New International Version

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Matthew 16:24-25 New International Version 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

So, If we want to show love to God than lets put Him first in every area of our lives. He is our creator, the king of the universe. Doesn't He deserve the best of our heart, soul, mind and strength?

Just Sayin…………………..Dave

Can We Really Become Holy?

Can We Really Become Holy?

A major attribute of God is holiness. God commands His people to be like Him, to be Holy, and to live their lives set apart to Him.  In order to become more like God, followers of Jesus are exhorted by God's Word to live by a different set of standards than the world. The different set of standards contained in the Bible provide great wisdom and principles that  not only help us navigate the turbulent waters of this fallen world, but also shape the kind of people we are going to be.

This Holiness is a very high standard for the human condition. The problem is we all are born with a sin nature which means from birth we are all separated from God.  Due to the sin of disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we; “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). You may think well, that is unfair. Think of it this way, once sin and death entered the world, the perfect state of God's creation could no longer exist. Everything from that point on was tainted.

For us that means, no matter how good we think we are, or how much we try to please God, we cannot escape the fact that we are all sinners with a sin nature. We are tainted too.
 

Many people are deceived into believing that man is born good. That our good works can save us. That doing good works means we are a good people. Nothing can be farther from the truth. There is nothing good about sin and the fact is, we are all infected with it. We have no power on our own to overcome it. But there is Good News: Jesus paid the price for our sin! Jesus makes us look clean in the eyes of God. He bore our sin for us. God no longer sees us as His enemies but now as friends reconciled through the work of Jesus on the Cross. Once we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior we are adopted into God's family and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit becomes the agent of our transformation and the mark of our salvation. The Holy Spirit quickens the new self in us which becomes more like God who is Holy.

So, the truth is this: we need Jesus. We need His love, mercy and grace in order to be saved and in order to become more like Him.

 

Again, the  Good News is that Jesus paid the price for our sin and makes it possible for us to stand in the presence of a Holy God.

Jesus work:

1 Timothy 2:5 NIV    (Jesus the Mediator - one that reconciles differences )

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Romans 5:8 NIV   (Jesus the sacrifice - that paid the price for our sin)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:14-16 NIV (Jesus the Son - part of God's plan and purpose for man's Salvation)

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that

he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Yes we have the Good News but believers are still affected by their sin nature.

  

Because we all have a sin nature we need to understand that playing around with temptations, dwelling on sinful thoughts, can lead to weakening the "armor" that keeps us from acting on those temptations. This is why the Bible tells us that we need the Holy Spirit to play an important role in keeping us living a life set apart to God:

Galatians 5:16-18 NLT

Living by the Spirit’s Power

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

With the help from the Holy Spirit, here are a few of more things we can do to keep us from acting on the temptation to sin:

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV    (Put on the New Self)

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Hebrews 12:2 NIV  (Keep our eyes on Jesus)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 12:1-2 NIV  (Become a living sacrifice to God, live in constant awareness of God's presence, connect daily to the source of all truth, turn on your God filter)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the

pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV   (Put on the full armor of God - Standing on the truth of the Gospel, living a life of Prayer, ingest and apply God's Word, develop a strong relationship with Jesus and constantly enter into His presence, make known your identity in Christ)

The Armor of God

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

The Bible tells us where our thoughts should dwell:

 Colossians 3:1-2 NIV   (Live with an eternal perspective -  take to heart the spiritual realm) 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is

seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:16 NIV  (Dwell on the Word of God, Live a life of worship and gratitude to God)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV (Think about the things of God and put them into practice)

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think

about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

When we focus on the things of God rather the gratifying the desires of our sin nature we can truly live apart from the world and its trappings.  But we have to realize that the enemy plays a role in distracting us from living set apart to God. That it why we cannot get complacent with where we are spiritually. We need to stay connected to God and grow and mature in our faith daily. We also must be ready to fight the spiritual battles that come with living in a fallen world. That is why the Bible exhorts us to stand firm in our faith and be on the lookout for the “Devils Schemes”

Isaiah 7:9 NIV

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

1 Corinthians 16:NIV

 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

So even though human beings will never become “Holy” as defined by behavior while living in this fallen world, we can still become more like Jesus and live a life set apart to God. With the help of the Holy Spirit who transforms, guides  and directs our lives, we can love God and love our neighbor. We can honor and praise our Lord with heartfelt authentic worship and service. We can live joyfully with great hope and celebration even when times get tough. This is because we are convinced that we can place our faith and trust in God and know He is going to keep His promises. Believers are able to discern real truth. Through their knowledge of God's Word, the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit and the peace they have in Jesus, they can come to the conclusion that God is real and worth living for.

   

Just Sayin…………….Dave

Spiritual Battle And The Desire To Live At The Beach

Spiritual  Battle And The Desire To Live At The Beach

Ephesians 6:12 NIV
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,

against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Just when I think everything is going OK, when I’m thinking life is good; I’m starting to chill; Family, ministry and spiritual growth are high up on the priority list; it is usually at this point the enemy begins his attacks. Subtle distraction at first and then total turmoil envelopes my heart and my mind. Why does this happen? Why can’t I just be left alone? Unfortunately for believers we have an enemy that doesn’t want us to do God’s work nor deepen our intimacy with Christ or spend time in prayer. If He can distract us by getting us focused on ourselves and overload us with thought consuming circumstances, our kingdom good gets delayed and we get dismayed.

Depending upon my spiritual condition, I can usually get through these attacks rather quickly. Other times my mind just won’t stop thinking about those deceiving and debilitating thoughts that are filled with self doubt, lack of kingdom worthiness, self indulgence and temptation that twist my perspective.

Unfortunately, there are times when I dwell on those thoughts so I can throw myself a huge pity party and earn the coveted victim of the “world” medal of honor.  Based on flawed thinking that I can run away from my problems, I have also fantasized about escaping from this part of the country (NOVA), to live in Florida at the beach, where I would eat seafood and play golf regularly while earning a modest living playing music at the local tourist hangout. I would also supplement my income by opening Dave's Bait and Tackle Shop along with becoming a Fishing Boat charter Captain taking folks into the high seas for the catch of the day. I even considered running away to Alaska so I could be a greenhorn on the show "The Deadliest Catch".

However, considering these options for a new life are rather short lived as I am reminded I don’t care much for “playing beach music”. I would not be able to manage a bait and Tackle Shop. There is a less than 10% chance I would be a successful Boat Captain.  Nor would I survive flailing around on the deck of a Bering Sea fishing vessel in freezing cold weather and 30 foot seas. My wife Deena told me I would not last 30 seconds on that fishing vessel and would probably be laughed off the show or just fall off the ship and become a permanent resident in Davey Jones Locker.

There is a greater reason for me not escaping my circumstances. I have learned to trust God fully in all areas of my life. I still struggle and wrestle with things yet I am committed to an intimate relationship with God and serving Him whenever and wherever He wants me to. Although, I must be honest with you, I have been thinking a lot about Golf, the Beach and my hankering for Red Snapper and Crab Legs these days.

So, I must be aware that Spiritual attacks come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes subtle, they seem innocent at first look, but the consequences of acting either in fear of retreat can have enormous implications, especially for those dedicated to following and serving God.

Remember, we have an enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). The first part of this verse also warns us to be self-controlled and alert watching out for the Devil's schemes.And believe me, if you are a follower of Christ, you are now a target of the enemy.

Ephesians 6:12 New International Version

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
 

John 8:44 New International Version 

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

We are not immune from temptation. Jesus was tempted and so was Eve. 

Matthew 4:1 New International Version 

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Genesis 3:1 New International Version 

The Fall

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Staying in God’s word along with prayer is our best defense against our enemy. It is also beneficial to be in fellowship with other believers and have them pray for us as well.  The greatest difficulties I have with spiritual battles are when I am alone dwelling on my circumstances rather than seeking God’s protection along with his wisdom and comfort.  One important lesson I have learned when isolated is that I am more vulnerable to attack. The floodgates of deception and thoughts of self destruction have an easier time making headway into my mind and heart when I shut out God and other believers.

One of the blessings and form of protection that I have received form God is that I wake up most days with a God song reverberating in my head. The songs I engage in each week for worship help me focus back on God. These wonderful songs about Jesus, faith, prayer, the Christian life etc., repeatedly play in my mind to the point where the lyrics and melody penetrate deep into my heart and soul. I usually wake up in the morning hearing the parts of a song that are catchy and filled with great spiritual depth.  As the lyrics and melody become my life song for that moment any thoughts or doubts that would affect the level of my faith seem to be kept afar.  My focus is now on God and that helps me get back on the right track. To me this is just one of the blessings I have received through my involvement in music ministry. 

Still another important way to help in the struggle of a spiritual Battle is to memorize some Bible verses. Bible verses help us refocus back on God and His principles. When we memorize Bible verses we can access God’s Word any time any place. Think about the areas in your life where God’s Word can be a constant reminder that you are His, and that He has your best interests at heart. Memorize a verse that applies to a situation you are dealing with right now. You can use a concordance which is an alphabetical index of Bible words and names. Each word is followed by a list of one or more verses containing that word or name. You can find this in the back pages of a Bible. For instance, if you are worried about a situation you are in. Go to the concordance And look up the word worry. For example, you will see that Matthew 6:25 is listed. You can also use a Computer or tablet and go to WWW. BIBLEGATEWAY.COM or the App and enter the word worry in the keyword search. Here is what it says when I go to the chapter and verse:

Matthew 6:25 NIV
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Then continue to read more of the passage:

²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Try to memorize all or part of the passage. The Holy Spirit has a supernatural way of reminding us of God's Word when we most need it. 

Using these tools will also be led to this verse:

Matthew 6:34 NIV

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

I don't know about you but God's Word gives me the perspective I need and the reassurance I desire. 

 

Personally, I need  a constant diet  of God's Word that I can apply to my life and circumstances.

Here is a verse that reminds me about trusting God to get me back on track:

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

  

^{Here are some helpful verses that I can be apply to ministry:}

Philippians 1:6 NIV
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion 

until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:13 NIV
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Philippians 4:13 NIV
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Here is a great reminder that if we acknowledge God, and if we live for Him, He will be looking out for our best interests. Regardless of the length of our lives we have the assurance of salvation. Notice that God says that He will be with us in trouble which means that believers are not immune from having problems in this life.  God promises to be with us in our sufferings and dire circumstances.

Psalm 91:9-16 NIV
If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;  I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in

trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Ask God to help you locate the principles you need and then apply His Word to the situations you are dealing with. I guarantee the perspective you attain will be beneficial.

Regardless of the circumstances, the power of God’s Word renews our minds. Application by acting on our faith through the direction of His Word will strengthen us as we face temptations and struggles that are affecting our Biblical worldview.

I love this verse:

Romans 12:2 NIV 
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Along with spiritual battles, followers of Jesus are going to face trials and the testing of their faith. Regardless of the cause, trials and the testing of our faith can ultimately be beneficial to us.

James 1:2-4 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that 
the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Jesus also told us we are going to suffer in this world. But we can rejoice in our sufferings because when we allow God to work in us during these difficult times, He will develop and strengthen our faith and character. We also have the privilege to witness and experience the power of God in us and through us. This Power is the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:3-5 NIV
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Someone once told me that there is more to this world than we can actually see. There are things that are going on around us that are hidden from our daily perception and existence. This is known as the “The Supernatural”. (Something that cannot be explained by the laws of nature/forces and phenomena that cannot be perceived by natural or empirical senses). As a child, I believed the supernatural meant Ghosts, UFO’s, Dracula and weird stuff that I saw in the movies and on TV. It was not till I was much older that I began to realize I have a real supernatural enemy whose goal is to keep me away from God.   

Now that we are aware that our struggles are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, we need to ask God for His daily protection and the strength to persevere during times of spiritual battle. 

So I encourage you to pray, read and study God’s Word. Take to heart these verses from the Bible:  “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

So, even though I have not moved to the beach yet and fulfilled the fantasies that I mentioned earlier, I can still live in abundance right now, all by just trusting God with every area of my life, as well as fish for people far from God and share with them the hope that I have. 

 Know this, God Keeps His Promises!

GOD'S WORD  Translation
Keep in mind that the LORD your God is [the only] God. He is a faithful God, who keeps his promise [covenant of Love] and is merciful to thousands of generations of those who love him and obey his commands.

So When the Spiritual Battle emerges and temptation comes knocking at your door

remember:

1 Corinthians 10:13 New International Version

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Just Sayin…………………..Dave