GOD'S REQUIREMENT OF THEE

TEXT:  Deut. 10:12-14

INTRODUCTION:

A.      GOD'S REQUIREMENTS OF ISRAEL STRAIGHTFORWARD.

B.      WE ARE GOD'S ISRAEL( Gal. 6:15-16 ).

C.      WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US?

I. FEAR JEHOVAH.

A.      FEAR, yare', "to fear; morally, to revere"( Strong ).

                             "to be afraid, stand in awe, fear"( Vine ).

          1.       Jacob's fear of Esau( Gen. 32:11 ).

          2.       Abraham's respect for God( Gen. 22:12 ).

B.      REASON TO BE AFRAID.

          1.       God's power( Gen. 1:1;  Matt. 10:28 ).

          2.       God's promise( 2 Thes. 1:7-9;  Heb. 10:31 ).

C.      WORTHY OF RESPECT( Heb. 12:28-29 )

          1.       Creation( Acts 17:24-29 ).

          2.       Blessing( Rom. 2:4 ).

II.     WALK IN ALL HIS WAYS.

A.      WALK - MANNER OF LIFE, DEMEANOR.

B.      IN CONTEXT, BE LIKE HIM( Eph. 5:1 ).

          1.       Perfect( Mat. 5:48, 43-48 ). Not to leave anything out.

          2.       Holy( 1 Pet. 1:15 ).

                   a.       From sin( Eph. 5:6-11 ).

                   b.       Unto obedience( 1 Pet. 1:2;  Eph. 2:10;  Titus 2:14 ).

                   c.       Unto sprinkling of the blood( 1 Pet. 1:2 ).  Forgiveness.

          3.       Pure( 1 John 3:3 ).

III.    TO LOVE HIM AND SERVE HIM.

A.      CONSIDER GOD'S LOVING SERVICE TO US( 1 John 4:9-10; Eph. 1:3 ).

B.      HOW MUCH SHOULD WE LOVE GOD?( Mat. 22:31 ).

C.      REASONABLE SERVICE( Rom. 12:1;  1 Pet. 4:1-2, 19 ).

IV.   KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF JEHOVAH.

A.      THE EXPRESSION OF ALL THE REST - OBEDIENCE.

B.      1 Sam. 15:22.  NOTHING MAGIC IN THE ACTIONS.  GOD'S APPROVAL

          RESTED IN THE FACT THAT WHAT HE SAID WAS DONE!

C.      CLOSE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FEAR & OBEDIENCE

          ( Ecc. 12:13-14;  2 Thess. 1:7-9 ).

D.      WALKING IN HIS WAYS & OBEDIENCE( 1 John 3-6 ).

E.      LOVE & OBEDIENCE( 1 Pet. 4:19;  1 John 5:1-3 ).

CONCLUSION: WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US?