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--1 Corinthians 2:10b

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Our Relationship with the Lord

--Includes dedication, devotion and loving and reverencing the Lord

1. We worship the Lord by loving Him:

A. We are to love the Lord with all our heart:

Deut.6:5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might
Deut.10:12 What doth the Lord require of thee, but...to love Him... with all thy heart and with all thy soul
Mat.22:37,38 This is the first and great commandment
(See also Deut.30:6,20 ; Josh.22:5 ; 23:11 .)

B. Our souls should thirst for God:

Psa.42:1,2 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God
Psa.63:1b My soul thirsteth for Thee...in a dry and thirsty land
(See also Psa.143:6 ; Mat.5:6 ; Jn.4:10,14 .)

C. We should greatly desire Him:

Psa.27:4 One thing have I desired...that will I seek after; that I may...behold the beauty of the Lord
Psa.16:8 I have set the Lord always before me...at my right hand
Psa.63:8 My soul followeth hard after Thee
Psa.84:2 My soul longeth, even fainteth for courts of the Lord
Isa.26:9a With my soul have I desired Thee in the night

D. We are to desire Him above all else:

Psa.73:25 Whom have I in Heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee
Isa.26:8b The desire of our soul is to Thy name

E. We are to worship Jesus as we worship God:

Jn.5:23 All men should honour the Son even as...the Father
Phi.2:9-11 At the name of Jesus every knee should bow...every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
Col.1:18b (He) is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence
1Jn.5:1 Every one that loveth Him (God) that begat loveth Him (Jesus) also that is begotten of Him

F. Why we love and worship Jesus:

1Jn.3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He (Jesus) laid down His life for us
1Jn.4:19 We love Him, because He first loved us
Rev.5:8-13 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive...honour, and glory, and blessing
(See also 1Jn.2:23 ; 4:15 .)

2. How we show our love for the Lord:

A. By loving and obeying His Word:

Jn.14:21 He that [keepeth] My commandments, he it is that loveth Me
Deut.11:1 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep His...statutes, and His judgments, and His commandments, alway
Job 23:12 I esteemed (God's) Words...more than my necessary food
Psa.119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgements (Word) (See also Psa.119:40)
Psa.119:131 I...panted: for I longed for Thy commandments
1Jn.3:22 We keep His commandments, and do things that are pleasing in His sight
1Jn.5:3 This is the love of God...keep His commandments
2Jn.6 This is love, that we walk after His commandments
(See also Psa.119:47,48,97,113,127,140,159,163,167 .)

B. By worshipping Him in prayer:

Psa.18:1,3a I will love Thee, O Lord...I will call upon the Lord
Psa.63:1-4 Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee...to see Thy power and Thy glory
Psa.91:14,15 Because he hath set his love upon Me...he shall call upon Me, and I will answer him
Psa.116:1,2 I love the Lord...therefore will I call upon Him

C. By loving one another:

Mat.25:40 Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me
1Jn.4:20,21 Commandment...he who loveth God love his brother also

D. By listening to His voice:

1Sam.3:9,10 If He call thee...say, "Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth"
Psa.143:8a Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness
Isa.50:5 The Lord hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious

E. By obeying, following and serving Him:

Jn.10:27 My sheep hear My voice...and they follow Me
Jn.12:26 Follow Me; where I am, there shall also My servant be
Jn.15:10 If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love
Deut.10:12,13 What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to... serve (Him)...keep the commandments of the Lord
Josh.24:14 Fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and truth
1Sam.12:24 Fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart
Eph.6:7 Doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men
Heb.12:28 Serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear

F. By self-sacrifice and giving our lives in love:

Mat.10:38 He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me
Jn.10:17 My Father (doth) love me, because I lay down My life
1Cor.15:31b I die daily (See also 2Cor.11:23-28)
Gal.2:20 I am crucified with Christ
Phi.3:7,8 I count all things but loss...that I may win Christ
Rev.12:11 They loved not their lives unto the death

G. By honouring and obeying Him more than man:

Acts 5:29 We ought to obey God rather than men
(See also Acts 4:19)

H. By giving to Him and supporting His work:

Pro.3:9 Honour the Lord with...the firstfruits of all thine increase
(See also Lev.27:30 ; 1Cor.9:6-11 .)

3. We are to love God above all else:

Mat.22:37 Love...God with all thy heart...and soul...and mind

A. We are not to love--or put--anything before Him:

Exo.20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me (See also Psa.96:4)

B. God is jealous of your love for Him; don't provoke Him:

Exo.20:3,5 Thou shalt not serve them (other gods): for I the Lord... am a jealous God
(See also Exo.34:14 ; Deut.32:16 ; 32:21 ; Isa.42:8 ; 1Cor.10:22 .)

C. We are not even to love our loved ones more than God:

Gen.22:12 Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me
Mat.10:37 He that loveth father or mother [or] son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me (See Lk.14:26)

D. We are not even to seek our physical needs above God:

Mat.4:4 Not live by bread alone, but by every Word...of God
Mat.6:24 No man can serve two masters: for he will hate one, and love the other...Ye cannot serve God and mammon
Mat.6:33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness
(See also Psa.84:10,11 ; Mat.6:25-32 .)

E. Seek Heavenly things, don't be overly attached to earthly things:

Mat.6:20,21 Lay up for yourselves treasure in Heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also
Lk.12:15 A man's life consisteth not in abundance of things
Col.3:1 Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God
Col.3:2 Set...affection on things above, not things on earth
(See also Heb.10:34)

F. Don't even put God's service above loving God:

Lk.11:42 Ye tithe...[but] pass over judgment and the love of God
Rev.2:3-5 For My name's sake hast laboured...nevertheless...thou hast left thy first love...thou art fallen
Lk.10:38-42 [The story of Martha busy serving, Mary listening to Jesus]

4. We are to fear and reverence the Lord:

A. Fearing God:

Deut.10:12 What doth the Lord require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God
2Ki.17:35,36 The Lord...Him shall ye fear, and Him shall ye worship
Eccl.12:13 Fear God, and keep His commandments
Isa.8:12,13 Let Him (God) be your fear, and let Him be your dread
Lk.12:4,5 Be not afraid of them (men)...I will forewarn you Whom ye shall fear: Fear Him (God)...yea, I say, fear Him
(See also Mat.10:28)

B. Fearing (reverencing) God is healthy:

Psa.19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean (Compare with Pro.29:25)

C. The benefits of fearing God:

Psa.111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (See also Pro.9:10)
Pro.1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
Pro.14:26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence
Pro.14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death
Pro.16:6b By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil

D. God's blessings on us for fearing Him:

Psa.25:12 He that feareth the Lord...shall He teach in the way
Psa.31:19 How great is Thy goodness...for them that fear Thee
Psa.103:13 Lord pitieth (has compassion on) them that fear Him
Psa.147:11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him
Lk.1:50 His mercy is on them that fear Him
Acts 10:35 He that feareth Him...is accepted with Him

5. Resting in the Lord:

A. The Bible instructs us to "rest in the Lord":

Psa.37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him
Heb.4:3a We which have believed do enter into rest
Heb.4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God

B. Take time to sit at Jesus' feet:

Lk.10:38-42 Mary...sat at Jesus' feet and heard His Word. But Martha was cumbered...serving. Mary hath chosen good part

C. Cast your burdens and worries on the Lord:

Psa.55:22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee
Mat.11:28-30 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...unto your souls
1Pet.5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you

D. Quietly meditate on God's power:

Gen.24:63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide
Job 37:14 Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God
Psa.46:10 Be still and know that I am God
1Thes.4:11 Study to be quiet

E. Be humble before Him:

1Ki.3:7 [King Solomon prayed to God:] I am but a little child
Isa.57:15 The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity...I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit
Mic.6:8 What doth the Lord require of thee, but to...walk humbly with thy God

6. Drawing close and resting in the "Secret Place":

Heb.4:11 Let us labour...to enter into that rest
Jam.4:8a Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you

A. The "secret place" of God's presence:

Psa.91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty
Psa.17:8 Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings
Psa.31:19,20a Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence
Psa.61:4 I will trust in the covert (secret place) of Thy wings
(See also Psa.27:5 ; 32:7 ; 119:114 .)

B. Rest in "the shadow of His wings":

Deut.32:11,12 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young...so the Lord [watches over His people]
Mat.23:37b [Jesus longs to gather us to Him] even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings (See also Lk.13:34)
Psa.91:4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust
Psa.57:1 My soul trusteth in Thee...in the shadow of Thy wings
(See also Psa.36:7b ; 63:7b ; Ruth 2:12)

7. The benefits of taking quiet time with the Lord:

A. God heals and restores our souls:

Psa.23:2,3a He leadeth me beside still waters...restoreth my soul
Mal.4:2 Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness [Jesus] arise with healing in His wings
2Cor.4:16 We faint not; though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day (See also Eph.4:23)

B. He gives us joy:

Psa.5:11 Let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice...Let them that love Thy name be joyful in Thee
Psa.16:11 In Thy presence is fulness of joy
Psa.40:16 Let those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee
Psa.51:12 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation
(See also Neh. 8:10b ; 1Pet.1:8 .)

C. He gives us spiritual strength:

Isa.40:29-31 They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings...and not be weary
Isa.41:1 Keep silence before Me...renew their strength
Isa.30:7 Their strength is to sit still
Isa.30:15 In quietness and in confid ence shall be your strength
Dan.11:32b The people that do know their God shall be strong
Judg.5:31 Let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might
Eph.3:16 That He would grant you...to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man (See Psa.138:3)
Col.1:9,11 Strengthened with all might, according to His...power

D. He gives us rest in the Spirit:

Exo.33:14 My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest
1Ki.8:56 The Lord...hath given rest unto His people
Mat.11:28-30 Come unto Me...I will give you rest...unto your souls

E. When we take time to love Him, He loves us:

Pro.8:17 I love them that love Me
Jn.14:21,23 He that loveth Me (Jesus) shall be loved of My Father
Jn.16:27 The Father...loveth you, because ye have loved Me

F. Other benefits of loving the Lord:

Deut.30:16 Love the Lord...walk in His ways...that thou mayest live ...and the Lord shall bless thee
Psa.91:14 Because he set his love upon Me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known My name
Psa.119:132 Be merciful...unto those that love Thy name
Psa.145:20 The Lord preserveth all them that love Him
Pro.8:21 I...cause those that love Me to inherit substance
Eph.6:24 Grace be with them that love Jesus Christ in sincerity 1Cor.8:3 If any man love God, the same is known of Him
Jam.1:12 The crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him (See also 2Tim.4:8)
(See also Deut.11:13-15,22,23 ; Psa.36:10 .)

8. Hindrances to our relationship with the Lord:

A. Being "too busy" to take time with Him:

Isa.28:12 This is the refreshing wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest: yet they would not hear
Mat.23:37b How often would I have gathered [thee], as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not
Lk.10:39,40 Mary sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His Word. But Martha was cumbered about with much serving
Jn.5:40 Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life

B. Becoming caught up with the world and its cares:

Mat.13:22 The care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches... choke the Word (See also Lk.8:14)
2Tim.2:4 [To please God, don't become entangled with the affairs of this life]
1Jn.2:15 If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him

C. Cooling off and losing our "first love":

Jer.2:2-5 The kindness of thy youth, the love...when thou wentest after Me...[now] gone far from Me...become vain
Mat.24:12 The love of many shall wax (grow) cold
Rev.2:4,5 I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love

D. Doubting the Lord's love for you:

Mal.1:2 I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast Thou loved us?

E. Harbouring unrepented sin in our hearts:

Psa.66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, Lord will not hear me
Isa.59:2 Your iniquities have separated between you and your God

F. Being too full of our own thoughts:

Isa.65:2 I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walk...after their own thoughts
(See also Psa.10:4 ; 119:113 ; Isa.55:7 .)

9. Our special relationship with the Lord:

A. Obedient believers are a blessed and chosen people:

1Pet.2:9 Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (special) people
Exo.19:5 If ye will obey My voice...ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people
Deut.7:6 God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people...on the face of the earth
Deut.14:2 Thou art an holy people...a peculiar people
Isa.43:4 Thou wast precious in My sight...and I have loved thee
Mat.22:14 Many are called, but few are chosen
Jn.15:16 I have chosen you, and ordained you
(See also Eph.1:4b ; Rev.17:14b .)

B. Jesus bought us; we belong to Him:

1Cor.3:23 Ye are Christ's
1Cor.6:20 Ye are bought with a price...your body and your spirit...are God's (See also 1Cor.7:23)
Rev.5:9 Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us...by Thy blood
1Pet.1:18,19 Ye were...redeemed...with the precious blood of Christ
(See also Mat.20:28 ; Lk.10:45 ; Gal.3:13 ; 1Tim.2:5b,6 .)

C. Instead of making us slaves, He adopted us as children and heirs:

Gal.4:5 To redeem (us)...that we might re ceive the adoption of sons (See also Eph.1:5-7)
Rom.8:14-16 Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father
Mat.12:50 Whosoever shall do the will of (God)...the same is My brother, and sister, and mother
Gal.4:6 Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father
Gal.4:7 Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and...an heir
Rom.8:17 If children...then heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ
(See also Jn.15:15 ; 2Cor.6:18 ; Heb.2:11 ; 1Jn.3:1)

D. We are spiritually married to the Lord:

Isa.54:5 Thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts Isa.62:5 As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee
Jer.3:14 Turn...saith the Lord; for I am married unto you
Hos.2:19,20 I will betroth thee unto Me for ever
Rom.7:4 Ye should be married to another, even to Him (Jesus)
2Cor.11:2 I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ
Rev.19:7-9 The marriage of the Lamb (Jesus) is come, and His wife (us, the church) hath made herself ready
(See also Ezk.16:8 ; Eph.5:28-32 .)

E. We live and abide in Him, and He lives in us:

Jn.14:23 We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him
Jn.15:1-5 [We are to abide in Jesus as a branch joined to a vine]
Jn.17:26 That the Love...may be in them, and I in them
2Cor.5:17 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature
2Cor.6:16b I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and...be their God
1Jn.4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us
1Jn.4:16 He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him (See also Acts 17:28 )

F. We are Jesus' body:

Eph.1:22,23 (Jesus is) the head over all things to the church, which is His body
Eph.5:30 We are members of His body, of His flesh...His bones
Col.1:18a He is the head of the body, the church
(See also 1Cor.12:12-27)

G. We are God's temple:

1Cor.6:19 Your body is temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you
2Cor.6:16 Ye are the temple of the living God
Eph.2:19-22 An holy temple...ye are builded together for an habitation of God
Heb.3:6 Christ...a Son over His Own house; whose house are we

H. Jesus is our shepherd, we are His sheep:

Jn.10:1-29 I am the good shepherd (See also Heb.13:20a)
Psa.23:1-4 The Lord is my shepherd...He leadeth me
Psa.95:7 He is our God; and we are...the sheep of His hand
Psa.100:3 We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture
(See also Psa.78:52 ; 79:13 ; Isa.40:11 ; Mat.25:32,33 ; Jn.21:15-17 .)

I. He loved and rescued us when we were lost and gone astray:

1Pet.2:25 Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd...of your souls
(See also Isa.53:6 ; Ezk.34:1-12 ; Mat.9:36 ; Lk.15:3-7 ; Jn.10:11 .)

Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family International

Request
James Arendt
James Arendt

My name is James Arendt. I was raised in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, served in the USAF from 1970 to 1974, and became a full-time missionary for Christ living 40 years in Japan, 3.5 years in Russia, and a few months in other countries such as Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China where I also served the King of Kings, Jesus, as an Ambassador for His Kingdom. My full bio.

On September 24, 2023, I had an accident and broke the bone of the tip of my left elbow. A boy ran in front of my motorbike less than 2 meters from me as I was leaving home. I stopped suddenly and my front tire slid on the sandy concrete road which caused me to fall. I did not hit the boy. On October 18th I had surgery done on my elbow. The doctor put in titanium rods to hold my bones together. The entire procedure including an entire week in the hospital was roughly $4000 USD. This was done in the Philippines where my wife and I have been living since June this year.


X-rays of bone before and after surgery that inserted titanium rods to reinforce my broken bone.

Before and after one week in the hospital.

Undergoing therapy to bend my arm again.
I'm now undergoing therapy to be able to bend my arm again.

It would be a super blessing to us if any of the visitors of this website can help us cover this expense!

You don't need a PayPay account to send me a donation! Just click on the donate button and you will see an option to send through your debit or credit card.


Or if you have a PayPal account, just log into it and send to my PayPal ID:
james.arendt@jamesjpn.net

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