26/08/2026
Ministering: Pastor Shirley
Message: A new layer of love and passion for God.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9
1 Corinthians 2:9
1. THE EMPHASIS: “FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM”
-Paul does not say:
“For them that prayed.”
-He does not say:
“For them that fasted.”
-He says:
“For them that love Him.”
-There are things God has prepared that cannot be accessed merely by activity.
-There is a realm of God that is connected to love.
1 Prayer is powerful.,
2 Fasting is powerful.
3 Giving is powerful.
4 Serving is powerful.
5 Ministry is powerful.
But beyond all these things, God wants the heart of the person.
The question is not only:
What are you doing for God?
The deeper question is: Do you love God?
Many of us we don't love God, but we love what God can give us.
But God is looking for people who can say: “Lord, even if You don't give me anything, I still want You.
THERE IS A SECRET TO THE JEALOUSY OF GOD.
Exodus 34:14
-God is jealous over what belongs to Him.
God's jealousy is His holy determination that nothing should take His rightful place in our hearts.
And sometimes the very things God gives us can become competitors for our affection.
And yet the gift can become more important to you than the Giver.
That is why we need another layer of love.
The goal is not merely:
“Lord, bless me.”
The goal is:
Lord, make me love You more.
Mark 12:30
Notice the word:
ALL. (Not part of your heart. Not Sunday's heart. Not prayer-time heart. Not ministry heart.
God wants your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF GENUINE LOVE
1. Solomon — 1 Kings 3:3
Solomon's relationship with God was described first through love.
Before we talk about what Solomon received, the Bible tells us that
Solomon loved the Lord.
1.God loved the world — John 3:16
2. The Father's love — 1 John 3:1
The greatest revelation is not merely:
1 Corinthians 13:8, says ‘ “Charity never faileth…”
-You may fail.
-People may fail you.
-Plans may fail.
-Systems may fail.
-Opportunities may fail.
But:
LOVE NEVER FAILS.
This is why the greatest thing God wants to develop in us is not merely spiritual activity but love.
HOW DO WE LOVE GOD?
Ephesians 3:17–19
IN LOVING GOD, THERE ARE 4 DIMENSIONS
1.PASSION
True love is expressed through passion.
How you pursue something reveals what you value.
Psalm 122:1
-David had excitement about God's house.
-He wasn't dragged into God's presence. He was glad.
-There must be a passion that says:
Lord, I want You. Lord, I need Your presence.
-Lord, I want to be where You are.
Thee is a song:
“I am chasing after You, no matter what I have to do. I need You more and more.”
That is the language of passion.
Passion says:
“God, I don't want to lose You.”
-You must become vulnerable in your love for God.
-Don't be ashamed to demonstrate your hunger.
-Don't be ashamed to worship.
-Don't be ashamed to pray.
-Don't be ashamed to pursue God.
When you love somebody, you don't have to be forced to spend time with them.
Love creates pursuit.
2. COMMITMENT
-Love is not only passion. Love is commitment.
-Commitment is expressed through relationship.
-It is the ability to stay.
-The ability to remain.
-The ability to say: “I am still here.”
There will be seasons when the heavens seem silent.
There will be seasons when you pray and don't immediately see results.
There will be seasons when you will come to church carrying tears in your eyes.
There will be seasons when you must drag yourself into God's presence.
BUT COMMITMENT SAYS
-Even when I don't see Him, I will stay.
-Even when I don't understand Him, I will trust Him.
-Even when nothing is happening around me, I will remain.
Psalm 46:10
Sometimes loving God means knowing how to be still.
3 PLEASURE
-There must also be pleasure in God.
If your entire Christian experience is crying, pain, fear and pressure, something is missing.
-The Kingdom of God also carries: Joy, peace, laughter, celebration, fullness
Psalm 16:11
-There should be evidence that you love God.
-You should be able to smile.
-You should be able to rejoice
-You should experience peace.
-You should enjoy His presence.
I don't only come to God because I need something from Him. I come because I enjoy Him.
4 SACRIFICE
-The foregoing of comfort to demonstrate worth is sacrifice.
-Love eventually becomes costly.
-There are times when love will cost you something.
-Your time, comfort, resources, your sleep, your reputation, your convenience and your preferences.
1 Kings 3:3 ‘Solomon loved the Lord, and then the Bible says that he offered sacrifices.
There is a connection between:
LOVE → SACRIFICE → ALTAR
-You cannot say you love God and refuse to sacrifice anything for Him.
-Fire comes upon an altar where something has been placed upon it.
Romans 12:1
-God is not only asking for your money.
-God is asking for you, for your body, your time, your heart, your strength and your life
-Tonight, the prayer is not simply:
“Lord, give me more.”
