Transformative Love: Experiencing God’s Passionate Presence

To love the Lord is not a theory or a doctrine, but a living, burning passion that transforms every part of life. It’s not about checking boxes, following rules, or simply attending church because of tradition or obligation. Real love for God is a fire in the bones, a longing that can’t be hidden or contained. Like David in Psalm 18, who declared, “I will love you, O Lord, my strength,” this love is born out of real encounters with God—moments when He showed up in the darkest nights, wrapped us in His presence, and proved Himself faithful time and again.

This kind of love is not quiet or reserved. It’s the kind of love that overflows, that can’t help but be expressed in worship, in gratitude, and in the way we live. It’s the love that changes our priorities, our habits, and even our desires. Just as earthly love for a spouse or child changes how we act and what we value, loving God with all our heart changes us from the inside out. It’s not about performance or image, but about giving God the deepest, most hidden parts of ourselves—the places we don’t show anyone else.

When we love God like this, it’s not about what He can do for us, but about who He is to us. He becomes our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, our everything. This love is not dependent on circumstances; it remains steadfast through storms, battles, and seasons of uncertainty. It’s a love that runs after God, thirsts for His presence, and finds satisfaction in Him alone. Nothing else—no amount of money, success, or human approval—can fill the place that only God can fill.

True love for God always leads to action. It’s not just a feeling or a private belief, but something that overflows into praise, obedience, service, and testimony. Like the saints of old who danced, gave, and poured out their lives for God, we are called to let our love for Him be seen and heard. Even in our weakest moments, when words are few and strength is gone, that love can still whisper, “Thank you, Jesus.” This is the love that carries us through every storm and draws us ever closer to the heart of God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Loving God is not about religious performance or outward appearance, but about a deep, personal relationship that transforms us from within. When we give God access to the hidden places of our hearts, He brings healing, restoration, and true intimacy. This kind of love is honest, vulnerable, and life-changing. [35:52]
• 2. Real love for God is passionate and expressive—it cannot be contained or kept private. Just as David danced before the Lord and Mary poured out her costly perfume, genuine love for God overflows in worship, gratitude, and bold testimony. Love for God is meant to be seen, heard, and shared. [55:11]
• 3. When we truly love God, our priorities, habits, and desires are transformed. Just as love for a spouse changes how we live, love for God changes what we pursue, how we spend our time, and what we value most. This love compels us to seek God above comfort, convenience, or personal preference. [40:19]
• 4. God’s love for us is the foundation and source of our love for Him. Even when we were lost, broken, or running in the opposite direction, He pursued us, rescued us, and called us His own. Our love is always a response to His relentless, unfailing love—a love that nothing in heaven or earth can separate us from. [54:49]
• 5. True love for God is resilient; it endures through storms, suffering, and seasons of uncertainty. Even when strength is gone and words are few, that love can still whisper gratitude and trust. This is the kind of love that carries us to the end, sustains us in weakness, and draws us ever closer to God’s heart. [57:27]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Trusting God in the Storm
• [03:05] - Joyful Praise and Worship
• [05:20] - Reading Psalm 18:1-3
• [07:00] - What Does It Mean to Really Love the Lord?
• [10:45] - Personal Encounters with God’s Love
• [14:30] - Invitation to Experience God’s Love
• [17:15] - Love Is More Than Religion
• [20:00] - The Fire of Loving God
• [23:30] - David’s Declaration of Love
• [31:00] - Love Beyond Circumstances
• [35:02] - God Wants Your Whole Heart
• [38:12] - How Love Changes Us
• [43:14] - Thankfulness for God’s Love
• [45:51] - Thirsting for God’s Presence
• [49:00] - Overflowing Testimony
• [52:12] - God Is Our Everything
• [54:49] - Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
• [56:44] - Love That Endures to the End
• [57:27] - Invitation to Respond in Love

Bible Reading

Psalm 18:1-3 (ESV) — > I love you, O Lord, my strength.
> The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
> my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
> my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
> I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
> and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV) — > As a deer pants for flowing streams,
> so pants my soul for you, O God.
> My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
> When shall I come and appear before God?

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) — > For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation Questions

1. In Psalm 18:1-3, what are some of the ways David describes God and his relationship with Him?
2. According to the sermon, what does it look like when someone truly loves the Lord? ([32:35])
3. In Psalm 42:1-2, what kind of longing does the psalmist express for God?
4. What does Paul say in Romans 8:38-39 about the security of God’s love for us?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think David uses so many different images (rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, etc.) to describe God in Psalm 18? What does this reveal about his experience with God? ([50:13])
2. The sermon says that loving God is not about religious performance or outward appearance, but about giving God access to the hidden places of our hearts. Why is this distinction important? ([35:52])
3. The psalmist in Psalm 42 compares his longing for God to a deer thirsting for water. What does this metaphor teach us about the nature of true love for God? ([44:39])
4. According to the sermon, how does real love for God change our priorities, habits, and desires? ([40:19])

Application Questions

1. The sermon described loving God as a “fire in your bones” and a passion that can’t be hidden. When was the last time you felt this kind of passion for God? If it’s been a while, what do you think has changed? ([32:35])
2. The pastor shared that real love for God overflows into worship, gratitude, and testimony. What is one practical way you can let your love for God be seen and heard this week—at home, work, or in your community? ([55:11])
3. The message challenged us to give God access to the deepest, most hidden parts of our hearts. Is there an area of your life you’ve been keeping from God? What would it look like to invite Him into that space? ([35:52])
4. The sermon compared loving God to loving a spouse or child—how it changes what we value and how we act. Can you think of a specific habit or priority in your life that needs to shift because of your love for God? ([40:19])
5. The pastor said, “When you love him like that, nothing else can satisfy.” Are there things you’ve been chasing for satisfaction that have left you empty? What would it look like to seek God’s presence above those things? ([47:20])
6. The message reminded us that even in our weakest moments, love for God can still whisper, “Thank you, Jesus.” Have you ever experienced God’s love carrying you through a storm? How did that shape your relationship with Him? ([57:27])
7. The sermon said our love for God is always a response to His relentless, unfailing love for us. How does remembering God’s love for you change the way you approach Him in prayer, worship, or daily life? ([54:49])