Love the Lord Your God

Matthew 22:37,38- Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.

John 17:3- And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Its a love relationship with God

Acts 3:19- Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Refreshing (anapsuxis)-drawing breath again, a relieving and recovering from toil and all evils

Presence(prosopen)-the face, that which is in ones presence, before ones eyes

This is Intimacy with God. When everything in us (Matt.22:37) is fixed on His face!

How often do we need refreshed?

Matthew 6:11- Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 4:4- But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

We need refreshed everyday, and intimacy refreshes us and empowers us to say yes to God everyday!

1 John 2:15- Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

You cant have intimacy with God and the world. Its called adultery.

Measures of God’s Presence

We can have corporate and private intimacy with God

Hebrews 13:5- For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Matthew 18:20- For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Psalm 22:3- But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Practical Principles

The sacrifice and warfare of praise!

Hebrews 13:15- Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

Psalm 100:4- Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Praise fights through the battle for our thoughts and affections

1 Kings 19:11,12- Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Matthew 10:27- Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

It takes discipline to read the Word and it takes surrender to hear His voice!