Introduction: 

1 Cor. 16:22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha.” 

2 Cor. 8:8, “I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.” 

I.                   OUR TWO TEXTS SHOW US THE FOLLOWING:

A.     That if we do not love God, we will be lost. 

Mark 12:29-31 (READ!) 

B.  That God tests our love.

                     1. We are taught to test ourselves. 

2 Cor. 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 

II.                HOW THEN DOES GOD TEST OUR LOVE?

A.  He does it by: 

Discussion: 

I.                   BY REQUIRING THAT WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT.

A.     We cannot perceive God directly with any of our physical senses.

1.      We cannot see Him with our physical eyes. 

2.      We cannot physically touch Him, etc.

3.      Even if we went into space in a space ship, we could not physically come in contact with Him.

a.       Russian cosmonaut said, “I was out in space, but I didn’t see God.”  Question:  Who expected him to? 

B.  However, we do have evidence of God’s existence.

 1.  From nature: 

Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” 

Rom. 1:18-22, (Emphasize that God is revealed through the physical universe.) 

  2.  From the Bible – God’s inspired Word.

a.       The evidence found therein provides unquestionable proof that it is the inspired Word of God.  

II.                BY PERMITTING HIS GREAT “RIVAL” TO PLEAD FOR OUR AFFECTIONS.

A.     Satan is our great enemy.

1.      He goes about as a roaring lion. 

1 Pet. 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 

2.  He uses the world to entice us away from God. 

1 John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 

B.     We must continue to love and serve the Lord even though we cannot see Him, while we can see the world.

1.      We cannot love both God and the world. 

Matt. 6:24, “No man can serve two masters:  for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” 

2.      Do you love the world?  Are your deepest ambitions centered in the world? 

III.             BY HAVING US TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHICH IS LARGELY UNLOVING.

A.     Man was cast out of the Garden of Eden because of his sin.

1.      In contrast to the paradise of the Garden of Eden, mankind lives in a sinful and cruel world.  There is much suffering, disappointment, hatred, and cruelty.   

B.  We must continue to love and serve the Lord even though we may: 

Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:  but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

2 Cor. 12:7-10, (A child of God should be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ.) 

Heb. 12:5-11, (Elaborate upon this passage). 

                      1.     Be afflicted with disease and sickness.

                      2.     Be wrongfully slandered and persecuted.

                      3.     Poverty stricken.

                      4.     Alone and friendless so far as our fellowmen are concerned. 

IV.              BY HAVING US TO LIVE WITH AND TO LOVE OUR FELLOW MAN.

A.     We must love:

1.      Our families.   

Eph. 5:23-30, (The Apostle Paul compares the relationship that Christ has to the church as like unto that of the relationship of a husband and wife.) 

2.      Our brethren. 

1 John 4:20, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:  for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 

3.      Our neighbor as ourselves. 

Mark 12:29-31 (EITHER READ OR REFER TO!) 

4.      Even our enemies. 

Matt. 5:43-44, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you:” 

Rom. 12:19-21, (This passage could also be included.) 

B.   If we fail to do this, we cannot please God.

                           1.    Do you really love your brethren?

                                       a.    Do you gossip about them?

                                       b.    Are you harsh and unforgiving?

2.      Do you really love your wife or husband?

a.       Are you kind?

b.      Are you longsuffering?

c.       Etc. – see 1 Cor. 13. 

V.                 BY DEMANDING THAT WE “HATE” (THAT IS, LOVE LESS THAN GOD) THAT WHICH IS DEAREST TO US IN THIS WORLD.

A.     Our possessions. 

Matt. 19:16-28, (Tell about the rich young ruler). 

Matt. 6:19-21 

B.     Our “ease.” 

Luke 9:23-24, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:  but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” 

C.     Our loved ones. 

Luke 14:26-33, (Either read or describe this passage). 

D.    Even one’s own life. 

Rev. 2:10, “…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” 

E.  If we fail in one of these points, then we fail the test! 

VI.              BY DEMANDING THAT WE OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS.

A.     We must obey the Lord’s commandments even when they are contrary to: 

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

1.      Our personal inclination – “…nevertheless, at thy word…” (Luke 5:1-11).

2.      Our human wisdom.

a.       Marching around Jericho.

b.      Brazen serpent.

c.       Naaman.

d.      New Testament baptism.

e.       The New Testament church.

f.        Etc.                                           

Conclusion: 

I.                   SUMMARY:  WE HAVE SEEN HOW GOD TESTS OUR LOVE. 

II.                APPEAL:  MAY EACH OF US BE COMPLETELY HONEST IN OUR SELF EXAMINATION AND STRIVE WITH ALL OF OUR HEART TO MAKE WHATEVER CORRECTIONS NECESSARY. 

Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart:  try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” 

--Dub Mowery

(Adapted & revised from a sermon by the late Thomas B. Warren)