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Text: 1 John 4:7-11, 18-11;5:1-3.
INTRODUCTION: Love is of God and God is love. God wants His children to reciprocate same to Him according to our ability in light of His word so as it will be an act not mingled with hypocrisy.
The Christian work is all about growing just as a parent who gave birth to a child, expect his child to grow in the right direction as he/she moves from one stage to another so that his/her impact in the family will be the one of joy and peace.
Growing in love towards God is a process of striving to do the "will of God" as regards relationship and worship. First it was God who loved us unconditionally by sending His Son as a propitiation for our sins and He urges Christians to demostrate the same unconditional Love towards one another. When this process is maturing in our lives it could be seen as growing in love towards God.
REASON FOR GROWING IN LOVE TOWARDS GOD.
1 He is our creator (Gen. 1:26-27)
2 He Loved us first (John 3:16)
3 He is the King of our Lives (1Tim. 1:17)
4 He paid the price for our sins (Rom. 5:8-11; Acts 20:28)
5 He is our Life (John 1:4; 4:14; 5:26; 1 John 5:12
DIMENSIONS OF GROWING IN LOVE TOWARDS GOD (Matthew 22:37-39)
1 To love the LORD your God with all your:
• Heart -- Your heart must be inclined upon God always (prov. 23: 26)
•• Soul -- Your soul must be longing for His presence (Deut. 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22) and
••• Mind -- Your thought should ne upon the Lord in all circumstance (psalm 48:9; 1Cor. 2:16)
2 To love your neighbour as yourself: This simply means you have to do everything humanly possible to, live at peace with all men because love covers multitude of sin and while you are developing this love towards one another, you are at the same time growing in love towards God. Rom.13:10; said love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 1pet. 4:8.said and above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins (Kjv).
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Your Days are PROSPEROUS.