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Nov 17, 2009

Steps to Yahweh Likeness: # 1


"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Also, read Deuteronomy 8.

The foundation of a house is its strength. If the foundation is weak, the house will eventually fall. Read Matthew 7:24-27. The foundation is the basis for what everything else is built upon. This commandment that is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, is the foundation of the Kingdom of God. Matthew 22:37-40, “Yashua said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’ Also, read Mark 12:29-34.

God commands us to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.

Love God with all your heart. The Hebrew word for heart is “lebab” (Strong’s #H3834). “Lebab” means – inner man, mind, heart, soul, understanding

Love God with all your soul. The Hebrew word for soul is “nephesh” (Strong’s # H5315) “Nephesh” means-1) soul, self, life, creature, person, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.2) that which breathes, the breathing substance of being, the inner being of man.3) living being (with life in the blood)

Love God with all your strength. The Hebrew word for strength is “m@`od” (Strong’s # H3966). “M@`od” means- exceedingly, much, might, force, abundance.

God commands us to keep these words in our heart and to teach them diligently to our children.

Diligent- constant, careful, effort, perseverance, working hard and carefully, steady effort.

Like a printing press, God wants us to print His ways on the hearts and minds of our children. God said we shall talk of them:
1) when you sit in your house…
2) when you walk by the way…
3) when you lie down…
4) when you rise up…
5) and they should be bound all around you and all that you own

Notice that the words teach, talk, sit, walk, lie, and rise are all action words. God is commanding us, not asking us, to physically act upon His commands. Like a poker game, God wants us all in, holding nothing back. He wants us to have total love, obedience, faith and trust in everything he says and does. God doesn’t want us to hold back any chips. He wants us all in, or nothing at all.

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (the world).” Matthew 6:24

The Lord our God is a jealous God. Read Joshua 24:1-28 and Exodus 34:14. God doesn’t want any other Gods to come before Him. What are other God’s that we put before Yahweh? They are family, careers, fame, riches, material possessions, video games, sports, lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes and the pride of life. If you truly want to enter into God’s kingdom and want your children to love and obey God, then you must saturate your every day experiences with thoughts and actions built on the foundation of the kingdom of God. Leviticus 19:2 says “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.”

1 John 2:3-4 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."