"The Greatest Love" by Gale Nelson
Date: Sunday, September 6, 2020
Tags: #Love #GreatestCommand #Agape

Before you make it to that promise land, you must reverence and love the Lord thy God. In this study, "Love" is captured as an Imperative, an Intention, and an Intensity. Do you love the Lord thy God?!

It is written in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

KEY TERMS:

* Storge = Family love (connected by blood)

* Eros = Love between a husband and a wife (reserved for the marital bed, see Hebrews 13:4)

* Philia = Brotherly love (connected by assocation and life experiences)

* Agape = Unconditional; inspite of you; the greatest love (see 1 Corinthians 13:13)

* Imperative = Command (see Deuteronomy 6:5)

KEY LESSON PRINCIPLES

1) IMPERATIVE: What is the Greatest Command? Matthew 22:34-40

* Love is not purely emotion, but a deep affection based on the connection. God's action made it possible for us to be connected with him. The gift of his dear son brought a connection that no man can separate.

* (v. 37) You can't love God with all your MIGHT if your MIND is not into it. Our attitude/mindset must be right (see 2 Corinthians 10:5).

* "Heart" is the seed of man, our intellect, the conscience, where our decisions are made (see Romans 6:17; Proverbs 23:7) .

* "Soul" is the innerman, the spiritual side of man that never dies (see 2 Corinthians 2:14-17).

* There is no greater priority than loving God.


2) INTENTION: Love is a Choice! Deut. 30:19-20

* Loving God is deliberate...intentional...purposeful.

* (v. 19) Moses calls God as a witness against the children of Israel; Will they choose life?

* Spiritually speaking: God is very inclusive, one must choose to be in or out.

* (v. 20) Your love for God should drive you to please him, to choose his instruction for your life. You can't say you love God, and don't obey his voice. (see 1 John 5:3)

* Love is an action verb... It has to be accompanied by action, not just lip-service. (see 1 John 3:18)


3) INTENSITY: Must Love God first (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 1:18)

* (v. 33) "Seek Ye first..." indicates priority and preeminence-- we must obey God in truth.

* (Philippians 3:8) Give up anything that stands between you and God.

* (1 Corinthians 5:10) We do not want to endorse or adopt the lifestyle of sinners, but if we remain in this world, we will have to deal with people who have not obeyed the gospel.

* (1 Corinthians 10:31) God should be reflected in everything that we do.


CALL TO ACTION:
* God's Plan of Salvation... https://miamigardenscoc.net/salvation.php

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RECOMMENDED LINKS
* Faith Forward: https://youtu.be/dkOb52gcW-8
* Website: https://www.miamigardenscoc.net