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5.The Secret Of Loving Is Knowing
I. THE SECRET OF LOVING IS KNOWING
A. THIS TRUTH DEMONSTRATED IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS...
1. True love between husband and wife is based upon
knowledge and
understanding of one another
2. Strong friendships are also based upon knowing each other
well
3. Brethren who love one another are those who have made the
effort to know each other
B. SO IT IS IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD...
1. The more we come to know God and Jesus, the more we will
love
Them!
2. Especially when we grow in our understanding of Their
love for
us - John 3:16 For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.;
1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life
for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
3. Only those who have come to know God have learned to love
both
man and God - 1 John 4:8 He who
does not love does not know God; for God is love.
[Knowing God, then, is the first major step in the
process of living
"the abundant life":
1) By knowing God, we come to love Him
2) By loving Him, we will obey Him
3) By obeying Him, we will abide in Him
4) By abiding in Him, we will bear fruit
5) By bearing fruit, we will experience the joys of abundant
living
"How can we come to know God in such a way as to produce
this
'chain-reaction' that leads to the abundant life?
II. THE KEY TO KNOWING GOD
A. WE COME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH COMMUNICATION...
1. Is this not true in our human relationships?
a. Where there is communication, knowledge of one another
grows
b. Where there is little or none, relationships flounder
-- And so it is with our relationship with God!
2. Communication with God is a two-street...
a. He speaks to us through the Bible, written by men
inspired by the Spirit of God -
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.;
John 16:12-13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them
now.[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into
all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.; 1 Corinthians 14:37
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
b. And we speak to God through prayer -
Phillipians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.;
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18Pray without ceasing.
[18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you.
3. As simple as it may sound, reading the Bible and praying
to God can be the catalysts starting the "chain-reaction" that will lead one
to experience "the abundant life"
a. The value of God's Word in bearing fruit is described in
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in
the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in
the seat of the scornful.
[2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his
law doth he meditate day and night.
[3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of
water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not
wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
b. The value of prayer to receiving blessings from God was
taught by Jesus in Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall
be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
[8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
[9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread,
will he give him a stone?
[10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
[11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give
good things to them that ask him?
B. WE ALSO COME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH EXPERIENCE...
1. Sharing experiences with friends and loved ones certainly
helps
us to know them better
2. As we go through life, walking with Yahweh and Yeshua, we
will experience such things as:
a. Their love for us
b. Their strength that is imparted to us -- Both of which
(love and strength), Paul prayed that the Ephesians would experience and
comprehend - cf. Ephesians 3:14-21 For this cause I
bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
[15] Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
[16] That he would grant you, according to the riches of his
glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
[17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,
being rooted and grounded in love,
[18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
[19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
[20] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
[21] Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
3. Experiencing such blessings from God will not only help
us to
know God better, but to love Him more -
Psalm 116:1-2I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice
and my supplications.
[2] Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will
I call upon him as long as I live.
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will save)
would
affirm today; it's the same truth He
attested to as he walked this earth
some 2000 years ago - an exclusive way to the Father
(John 14:6) and that man,
as a sinful creature, is in need of a
Saviour.(John
3:16-21).
