Transformation Through His Love

Solomon states, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7) Jesus tells us, "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matthew 15:11) "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." (Matthew 15:18) Basically, these verses of scripture deal with ones character. What begins in the heart must be carefully cultivated to come to full fruit in actions that bring glory to the Lord. The Apostle Paul tells us, "...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) Whether we want to accept it or not, God deals with the heart of all believers to develop their character so they may be vessels of honor for His use, and effective in their ministries. While the gifts of the Spirit are given freely, character development comes only with time through self-denial (Luke 9:23) and a greater dependence upon the Lord in every area of life. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The provision of the divine nature through repentance from sin, faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit belong to the divine sovereignty of the Lord. But the application of these become the responsibility of every believer to apply in their lives. God has given believers all things pertaining to life and godliness, (2 Peter 1:4); He has given us His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8); He has given us His abundance of grace (Romans 5:17); and in Christ, believers lack nothing. (Colossians 2:9-10) Therefore, believers have all that it takes to develop a mature Christian character as they follow the Lord Jesus Christ. But, if believers do not do the things necessary for these promises to be fulfilled, Jesus tells us that they could lose the things that should be theirs. (Matthew 25:29)

The writer of Hebrews reveals specifics concerning the Lord dealing with believers, "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens,and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:3-11)

Notice, the Lord deals with believers as "sons"; He deals with His sons through His great love; His dealing are for His sons to profit; His dealing yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. If every believer would keep these things in mind, they would never have anything manifest in their life but joy. (James 1:2) There are several purposes for God's dealings in believers. (The following are not all inclusive nor do they have a particular order) To transform us, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18) To purge us from  any and all dross (worthless rubbish) from our lives. (Matthew 6:24; Philippians 3:8) To cleanse us from all unrighteousness (Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 1:9)

To cause fruitfulness in our lives. (John 15:1-8) To prepare us for service. (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 2:19-21) To bring enlargement to our lives (Isaiah 54:2), in areas such as, our vision, our steps, our heart, our confession, our prayers, our ministry, our dominion, our love, our service, and in our gifts and callings. To provoke us to seek God, His Kingdom and His Word. (Matthew 4:4; Matthew 6:33) To produce more spiritual wine in us. (Ephesians 5:18) To give us a new focus and perspective of the world in contrast to the Kingdom of God. 

The Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

The Apostle Paul also tells us to, "be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) This becomes more evident as we yield ourselves over the the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, daily, as He builds the very character of Christ in us. So, let us, "put off, concerning our former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and that we put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) Amen...

Let Love Arise

The word lord is defined as, "someone having power, authority, or great influence; a master or ruler." Now for most believers, the word Lord is a name that is attributed to the Living God, even Christ Himself. One of the verses of scripture that reveals this is, "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool." (Psalm 110:1) With that said, some questions arises. If believers address Jesus as Lord, and He is, the one with all authority, (Matthew 28:18) the master and ruler over all, then shouldn't we obey and carry out His commands? If every believer, every congregation, every denomination, which is referred to as the church, were truly obeying and carrying out His commands, then why is there so much disunity? There are many things that Jesus has commanded the church to obey and carry out, such as, what we call the "Great Commission" (Matthew 28:16-20), however, let us look at what Jesus gives as a new command or commandment and the reason behind it. 

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 132:34-35) To take this a step further, look at what Jesus tells us concerning His commandments, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15) To command, is to give an authoritative order. The word "keep" means more than to simply hold on to, but "to attend." It implies to obey and carry out the authoritative order giving by a master or ruler. Now, let's look at what Jesus immediately says concerning loving Him and keeping His commandments, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)  

In other words, Jesus knew that it would take His help, His strength, His ability working in and through the believer, not only to love as He loves, but to also obey His commands which are to be accomplished because we love Him. This is absolutely great news, because it is all about Jesus not the believer, nor any congregation or denomination. Throughout the New Testament we see a repeating fact that God calls all people to, especially believers. It is only this one thing that God has asked us to do, believe or have faith. Jesus said, "...You believe in God, believe also in Me." (John 14:1) This is only one example in John's gospel of the numerous scriptures that repeat this very important fact concerning Christianity. To believe or to have faith in Christ is one of the most expressed themes throughout the New Testament. The Apostle Paul tells us, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10) Humanities very salvation and the believers continuing salvation hangs on believing or having faith in Jesus Christ. 

Another example of this is found in Hebrews, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) In Matthew we find recorded one of the greatest examples of a non-believer having a wonderful understanding of how faith works, "Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:5-9

This is a highly important principle that all believes need to understand and not take lightly. The centurion not only gave commands to his subordinates, but was subordinate to others himself and carried out the commands of those who were master or ruler over him. He also recognized that Jesus was a man under a master or ruler, who was a master or ruler over sickness. It is apparent that the centurion loved his servant and was willing to humble himself, go to Jesus, and ask Him to simply "speak a word" knowing that anything subservient to Jesus, here sickness, would obey and carry out His command in the same way that those subservient to the centurion obey and carry out his commands and so on. This is a lesson in great faith as well as this non-believer going to Jesus, depending on Jesus, deferring to Jesus, relying on His strength, His ability not his own. Look at what takes place next, "When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" (Matthew 8:10) 

The Apostle Paul also reveals more great news concerning believers living in the "new commandment" that Jesus gave us, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Notice, this is not on the believers ability to love, but simply knowing that it is the Holy Spirit Who was given to us, Who gives us His ability and strength to love as God loves. Again, this all comes back to believing, to faith in Jesus Christ and not depending on ourselves. Solomon also gives great insight concerning believing or having faith in God, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

Solomon uses the words "trust in the Lord." To trust is the have total confidence, to be fully convinced, to have faith in. Again, notice that we are not to rely on our understanding, but to make known to Him all our ways, to seek Him for His ways, depend on Him to order our ways, and He will direct our Path. I believe the Apostle John reveals the very thing that can hold believers in the realm of unbelief, that is, not totally relying on Jesus, more than any other thing. He tells us, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) Keep in mind that "no one can serve two masters." (Matthew 6:24) The very things that believers hold near and dear to themselves that are of the world, are most likely the very things that rob them of letting the love of the Father operate in and through them. 

So, let us go beyond ourselves, our abilities and put our faith in Jesus Christ' finished work. Let's, let the Holy Spirit in us, lead us and teach us how to love as God loves so that "all will know that we are His disciples." As believers love in this way, we will see the walls, the prejudices, the political correctness, the doctrines that divide us, be wiped out and the church move in unity as one. We will see God move in ways that will make every revival and outpouring since the early church seem minimal. We will see millions and millions of non-believers come to Christ, be healed, delivered, set free from Satan and the worlds grip upon them. We will see the power of God's love destroy the schemes of the devil and the church once again will become the envy of the world. Envy meaning, having a great desire to be a part of. 

Finally, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity...It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore." (Psalm 133:1, 3) Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) Let us no longer let the thief have his way, but let the abundant life of Jesus flow throughout the entire church as we love one another as Jesus loves us. Amen?               

The Greatest of All Is Love

The gospels record numerous times how the Pharisees, Sadducees and their disciples "plotted how they might entangle Jesus in His talk." (Matthew 22:15-33) However, the wonderful wisdom of God in Christ always corrected their hypocrisy with Truth. On one particular incident, a lawyer of the Pharisees "asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus 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.” (Matthew 22:34-40) 

The Apostle Paul tells us, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:8-10) So, who do you love? Who is your neighbor? For many believers, we can love those who fellowship with us; those who believe as we do; and possibly the unsaved, but, and unfortunately, for many believers, their love for their neighbor stops and oft times turns to criticism, judgment and even hatred for those who do not fellowship with us, believe as we do or even those criticize us for what we believe. Neither Jesus nor Paul ever said there are exceptions to the law of love. In fact look what Jesus says, “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." (Luke 6:32-33) 

I believe the main reason for the lack of loving as God loves, is due to believers not breaking free of natural love and exercising the God kind of love. Every person has within themselves the natural kind of love. However, natural love is based on selfishness. One moment it says, I love you, and the next moment selfishness rises up releasing anger, jealousy, hatred and even murder. If all believers would exercise the God kind of love, the entire world would be changed. If you are born again, then know that "...the love of God (the God kind of love) has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Notice, that the God kind of love is in each and every believer. Paul also reveals this, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22) Notice, love is first. Paul also tells us, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) 

To exercise the God kind of love simply comes down to choice. Am I going to yield to the God kind of love and let it prevail or let natural love and selfishness reign.  Look at the wonderful biblical definition of the God kind of love, "Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP) 

The natural kind of love manifests in the complete opposite of the God kind of love shown above. Not to be critical or condemning but honest, many believers have followed after money, after pleasure, after the things that please our senses rather than following hard and relentless after God, who is love. (1 John 4:8) But if we are truly willing to follow hard after God, we will find ourselves going where love leads and doing what love suggests. That is the way Jesus lived. He followed after love. Jesus' path led Him to Calvary where the greatest expression and show of love took place, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  

The God kind of love can stand the test of the things that come against us in this life. It is only His love that will enable us to love the unlovely, the disagreeable and the hateful. God's love will lift us up into God's class where we love the ungodly, the unworthy, just like Jesus did. It is only the God kind of love that will enable us to love them when they are doing all they can to injure us. It is only the God kind of love that will have us say as Jesus, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) Yes, the God kind of love works. It makes hard, bitter people, gentle and loving as Jesus. It will take a man like Saul of Tarsus and turn him into Paul, a man who said, "For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us..." (2 Corinthians 5:14 AMP), a man moved and motivated by the love Jesus Christ. The God kind of love will take people out of the lowest depths of the slums and prisons, leading them into the streets and pulpits where they will lead multitudes to Christ. It continues to be a miracle of even today and will be forever. Why? As it has been already stated...

"Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP)

The Father's Love

 Did you ever have someone come and say to you, "God loves you", but were not really sure that He did (does)?  There are many in the church today that have experienced new birth but are not absolutely sure, deep within their heart, that God loves them. Jesus tells us, "For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (John 16:27)  In this sentence, Jesus has given us a picture of God the Father's Heart. It is a Father who loves His children; a Father whose heart is reaching out tenderly toward His own family. So, take a moment and meditate on the above verse. What comfort there is in this precious thought, that the God of creation, Almighty God, the Father Himself loves us without condition. This means that even with all the burdens, cares and even our failures that we may carry or experience in this life, the Father Himself loves us. No matter whatever the heartache, whatever the struggle, whatever the secret grief, the heart of God the Father yearns over us.

When believers come to accept the surrounding abounding love of the Father, what peace floods the soul; what courage to fight the battle when every reason for living has gone and death would be a relief. We can take the battle up again and carry it on to victory, because we know that He loves us. As long as we are loved, and as long as we can love, there is a reason for being in the world, but when we cease to love and cease to be the object of 1ove, then the reason for being ends. Look at the Words of Jesus, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23) This is such a wonderful promise. The Creator of everything seen and unseen, He who has charge of every form of life, every star in the universe, every blade of grass, every flower and tree, He whose ear is open to the heart of every human, will come in and make His home with us.

The heart can hardly take it in. The mind can barely comprehend the fact that the Father and Son will come and dwell with (in) us. Honestly, it does not seem credible that He will live in us but He has promised to do it. (John 14:16) What a blessing, what a wonder, that the Omnipotent God will come into us and make His home. He does this because of His great love. He comes and gives us wisdom to deal with all areas of this life, (Colossians 3:16); to help us in those dark hours when we do not know what to do, (Psalm 18); to strengthen us in our times of weakness, (2 Corinthians 12:9); to give us the ability to know His will, (Colossians 1:9) and much, much more. How the Father's heart yearns for us, craves for us. What a blessing He has bestow upon us, what riches are ours to inherit, what fellowship we can have, all due to the Father's limitless love for us.

Look at just how great the Father's love is for you, "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) The Father loves you even as He loved Jesus. You may not be able to understand it. It may not sound reasonable, but it is true and utterly beautiful to not only think about, but moreover receive it in your heart. Not only is God love (1 John 4:16), but He gives His love nature to us. (1 John 4:7-11) Think about it, if we walk in love, we will never sin. Isn't that wonderful? God's love solves the problem of the human condition. To live in love's realm; to learn love's language; love's methods and love's way, will set us completely free (1 John 4:17-19) and we will speak aloud, "God is love; this God of love is my Father; I am His child and He truly loves me. (1 John 3:1)

So how can I come to know the love of the Father? Learn to think in terms of love. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8) Learn to give in to love so that your actions are a reflection of Jesus, who is love. Let the Jesus kind of love reign in your heart until every thought and all of your words will be covered in love. So, today let us declare that we are going to let the love of God rule us in every way, in all that we think, do and say. "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Open your heart and receive God's love today, knowing that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ." (Romans 8:39)

The God Kind Of Love

Although we can list many things that seem to have the greatest impact on humanity, I believer the two greatest forces in the world today are love and selfishness. Selfishness is what makes a person concerned chiefly or excessively with himself, and having little or no regard for others. It is a robber. It breaks friendships and hearts. It wrecks marriages and homes. It flat out steals, kills and destroys because all of these things are a product of Satan. (John 8:44, 10:10) There is only one force able to conquer selfishness and destroy its destructive nature. That force is not simply love, but the God kind of love. Natural human love is motivated by human desires, that is, what satisfaction, what pleasures can "I" get from another without giving anything in return. It can turn in a moment from expressing affection and concern to neglect, hatred, jealousy and even murder.

A home could never be destroyed if every member would love as God loves. The wife would never remember the past mistakes of her husband, nor the husband ever remind the wife of any unpleasant happenings of her past. All the mistakes and failures of the past would be wiped out. What homes we would have if we were to love as God loves. There would be no more quarreling over finances, no more bitter hurtful words spoken, but each one would be seeking how they could put others above themselves even at their own expense. Why is this? Love never takes advantage of anyone. Love always bears the burdens of the weak. Love says, "It is all my fault. Had I done differently, or spoken differently, or lived in love, it would never happened." People who walk in the God kind of love never injure anyone, never take advantage of anyone. They simply walk and live in God. They respond to the fruit of the spirit and give no place to the selfish works of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16-26)

No matter what evil the adversary may bring into a life, love will change evil to good, and will bring forth good fruit. (Romans 12:21) Jesus said, "Al1 things are possible to him that believes." (Mark 9:23) That means "a believing one" can operate in the God kind of love. How do we know this? "For the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) Jesus tells us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Believers, the branches, are linked up with Jesus, Who is the Vine. The branch is the fruit-bearing portion of the vine. Therefore, the believer has a legal right to the Father's love and Jesus' ability to carry it out. (Philippians 4:13)

The believer is to take Jesus' place in this life. He is a reproduction of Jesus (John 17:20-26) to carry out the will of the Father just as Jesus did when He walked this earth. Jesus was the first man who ever walked in the God kind of love on this earth. When selfishness is eliminated in us and love gains the dominion, we will not seek our own any longer. We will live as Jesus lived. We will seek only the Father's will as Jesus did. (John 6:38) As we walk in the God kind of love, we will be walking just as Jesus walked. There isn't a thing in the New Covenant or in the finished work of Christ that does not belong to every believer, especially the God kind of love. God is able to make us all what His great heart desires us to be. He delivered us out of the hand of the enemy. (1 Peter 2:9) He gave us His own nature. (2 Peter 1:3) He made us a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Ephesians 2:10) He is in us now living and working His own good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) Let us all yield to His Word and give Him the right-of-way in every area of our lives.

Please take some time, slowly read and meditate on the God kind of love as revealed in the Gospels from the Garden of Gethsemane to resurrection of our Lord. Paul tells us, " But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Also, take some time to read and reread the Amplified Version of the God kind of Love as revealed in
1 Corinthians 13:4-8...
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].  

Getting Seasonable

This year, Thanksgiving fell on November 24, 2022. Thanksgiving Days is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the USA and is a national holiday of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Thanksgiving has its historical roots in religious and cultural traditions. Thanksgiving also sets the tone for the season of Advent.

Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the West. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve. However, if Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas Eve beginning at sundown. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The Advent season (also considered the Christmas season) is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his first Advent. However, also celebrated is the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. In fact, Advent is actually celebrating a truth about God, which is, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God.

Throughout the Old Testament the coming of Christ was foretold by the Prophets. They announced the time of His coming, the place of His birth as well as the manner in which He would be born, the  miraculous virgin birth. The fact that the one true God would put on human flesh to save humanity from the tyrannical power of Satan is the apex of human history to date. The scriptures declare, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16) and "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) This reveals the unfathomable love that God has for humanity even though all people were completely antagonistic toward Him. (Romans 6:23) Yet, through all that God did for humanity, a vast majority of westerners still have disdain towards Him.

The Bible further tells us, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) It does not matter what one has done in their past, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth to save all mankind. His miraculous birth was only the means for a horrific end to His life which He freely gave for mankind. (John 10:11, 18) Although, Jesus died for us all, it is a new beginning, a new life for all who call upon His Name to be saved. (Romans 10:9-10, 13) For those who are believers, let us be mindful throughout the year, especially during Advent, that though many people either celebrate Christmas for the wrong reason or do not celebrate Christmas at all, and who may not believe in Christ, that many hearts are softened due to the season. So, let them know about our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ and His great love for them. Amen?  

The University Of Love

A university is an educational institution of higher education and research designed for instruction, examination, or both, of students in many branches of advanced learning. It provides academic degrees upon the completion of any variety of subjects offered. It also provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education. God has a university. However, it is small and very few enroll and even fewer graduate. He has this university because He has very few broken men and women. Instead, what He seems to have is people who claim to be broken but really aren't.   

David, son of Jesse is a great example of one who not only enrolled but also graduated God University. Shortly after David defeated Goliath and returned home, "the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him..." (1 Samuel 18:6-8) "The next day that the distressing spirit came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice." (1 Samuel 18:10-11)

What do you do if someone throws a spear at you? Would you pick it up and throw it back? Well David did not throw Saul's spear back at him nor did he go out and make his own spear to throw at him. David simply escaped Saul's presence. If David were to respond to Saul by throwing a spear at him, David the shepherd boy, anointed by God to be king would have grown up to be nothing more than King Saul II. Although Saul sought to destroy David, he actually became the very instrument of God that would eventually mold David to become a man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22)

David accepted his fate. He embraced the circumstances although unfair and even cruel. He lifted no hand nor offered any resistance. Even when David had the opportunity to retaliate and take Saul's life he would not. He would not return evil for evil even when prompted. "Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time! But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?" (1 Samuel 26:8-9)

How about you? When others throw spears at you in the form of evil speaking, gossip, slander or when they treat you with disrespect; how do you respond? Do you throw spears back? or do you exercise the most potent characteristic of our God, which is love, toward those who may do these things? The Bible tells us, "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) 

Believers that walk in this kind of love, agape, the God kind of love are those like David who have enrolled and graduated from God University. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) The God kind of love is a part of the recreated human spirit that becomes a part of the believer the moment they confess and believe the Lordship of Jesus Christ. However, just like David had the choice to retaliate but chose not to, walking out the God kind of love is the same. In the mind of God, those who choose this path truly understand brokenness and selflessness. They have graduated God University because they know the power of love.         

Sons and Daughters

One of the greatest misunderstandings concerning how God deals with the believer comes from the writer of Hebrews, "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons, My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:5-11)

To understand what the writer of Hebrews is conveying we must define the word chasten. Chasten is defined as: To train up a child; instruct; educate; teach; discipline. Where we tend to go wrong is when we look at the word discipline. Discipline to most means punishment. Although the word discipline has the word punishment in its definition, it also means to correct; to instruct; to chasten. As we can see the words chasten and discipline are synonymous words. Now let's look at what it means for God to chasten or discipline the believer, His child.

First and foremost, God loves us and His chastening is always immersed in His love. Next, He deals with us as with sons and I might add daughters. This is very foreign to most peoples thinking. For many parents, when it come to disciplining their children there is a tendency to punish the out of frustration, disappointment and even anger, rather than through love. This has nothing to do with the method in which parents chasten their children but the attitude of the heart when bringing discipline. Gods most potent characteristic is love and we must always keep in mind that He chasten His children through His abounding, surrounding love.

Next, we see that the chastening of the Lord is for the believers profit. Honestly, how can the believer profit from chastening? We profit because it is always for our good. It is always to promote our welfare. Look at one of the benefits that we profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. The believers becomes so holy that it may be said that we are partakers of the very holiness of God. "And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24) Now for some this may be hard to believe, nevertheless it is fact. However, finding such a claim hard to believe actually reveals doubt in the believers heart. The evidence that the new man, New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness has nothing to do with how we feel or our performance, but faith in Jesus Christ and the integrity of God's Word.

Next, we see what else the believer profits from the chastening of the Lord, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. What is the fruit of righteousness? To determine this, we must look to Jesus. The prophet Jeremiah refers to Christ as the "Righteous Branch." (Jeremiah 23:5) At His death, a Roman centurion glorified God by saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man." (Luke 23:47) The apostle Paul states, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus tells us,  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit..." (John 15:5) The fruit of righteousness is doing the works that Jesus did and speaking the Word of God in the same manner as He walked the earth as the Son of Man. It is carrying out the will of the Father as Jesus did. Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12)

As parents, so also the methods to which God chastens His children may vary. The misunderstanding concerning the chastening of the Lord come from such phrases as, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him, He scourges every son, If you endure chastening, Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Unfortunately, believers take these phrases and twist them to mean that God chastens His children with financial struggles, sickness, disease and so on. If this is true, if God truly uses financial struggles, sickness, disease and so on to chasten His children, then one of two things come into play. First, we do not truly know Him (Job 42:1-3, Hosea 4:6) or we believe that He does these things contrary to His Word which is so very far from the truth (Psalm 89:34, 107:20, 119:89, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, John 1:1)

In fact, God punished Jesus (Isaiah 53:4-10) so that those who confess and believe that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) could enjoy all the benefits and privileges of being sons and daughters. (Romans 8:15-17, 32) He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses so that we are healed (Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24) He came to give us abundant life here on earth. (John 10:10) He died in our place to give us eternal life (1 John 2:25) He was made sin to make us righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He was condemned so that we could go free. (Matthew 27:22-23, 34-35, Galatians 5:1) We also must realize that the believer is a member of the Body of Christ. If we truly believe that God chastens His children with financial struggles, sickness, disease and so on, then we must also believe that Jesus Himself, the head of the body deals with the same. We must also believe that the Holy Spirit who dwells in the believe has no problem with sickness or disease defiling our body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16) No, God child trains; instructs; educates and teaches His children through love.

Always remember that no one has a better new birth, a better righteousness, a better Savior, a better Healer, a better Provider, a better Father, a better right standing with the Father than the believer. No one can get closer to the Father's heart than we His children. So when the Lord chastens us, let us stand in the confidence that it is for our profit because God loves us and wants to reproduce Himself in us.  

A Whole Lot of Love

Although there are many ways to express love, basically, there are only two kinds of love and one or the other will dominate every person. One kind of love is a natural or human kind of love in which every person has to some extent. Natural love though can speak highly of someone one moment and than the next moment completely turn around a spew words of hatred towards the same person. However, when Jesus came to earth He brought with Him a new type of love, a love that emanates from the Spirit which is the God kind of love. The very essence and most potent characteristic of God is love. The apostle John tells us, "...for love is of God..." and "...for God is love..." (1 John 4:7-8) 

One of the most exciting events that takes place when a person confesses with their mouth the Lordship of Jesus Christ and receives Him as Savior, is their dead spirit is reborn from above and they become completely new, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) To expand what this means, the Holy Spirit through the apostle John says, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." (John 1:16) The Holy Spirit speaking through the apostle Paul tells us, "For in Christ there is all of God in a human body; so you have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He is the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power." (Colossians 2:9-10 TLB) The apostle John also states, "...as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17) 

The moment that a person experienced New Birth they immediately receive the fullness of Christ. They are immediately filled with God. They immediately have the character of Christ. Now we may not know this or we may not take advantage of what this means, but it is fact! Another characteristic of this transformation into a New Creation is that our recreated spirit is also immediately filled with the God kind of Love, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Every born again person has within them the ability to love as God loves because His love dwells within us. This new kind of love becomes our nature because we are "partakers of the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4) We also see that our recreated spirit has been infused with nine wonderful attributes that are called "The fruit of the spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23) in which the first one is love, the God kind of love.  

When believers let go of natural love and let the God kind of love dominate their life, it makes them the master of life in the same way Jesus was as He walked the earth as the Son of man. For instance, Jesus never lost His temper which led to sin. His great love made Him master over every situation. When a believer losses his/her temper, the natural man (old man) takes over. The person, situation or circumstance that caused the believer to lose their temper now becomes the master. However, if we let the God kind of love flow from us, then we become impervious to these things and stand in victory over them as master in the same manner that Jesus stood as Master over them. 

How powerful is the God kind of love? Look at the last day of Jesus ministry as the Son of man. He was beaten, mocked, spit upon and nail to the cross and yet those who did this did not realize that the moment they took Him captive, He actually became Master which eventually led Him to become the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords. "For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." (John 3:16) "But God demonstrates His own LOVE toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) 

It takes faith to rest in and depend on the God kind of love to dominate our life. Remember, we have the fullness of Christ in us. God is not limiting us to operate in this manner. The only limits that are upon the believer, are the ones that the believer chooses to imposes upon himself. To operate in the God kind of love is a choice that each believer must make daily. In doing so we fulfill the commandment that Jesus has given to all believers, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  (John 13:34-35) So let us rise above selfish natural love, exercise the God kind of love so that the world will see the Father's tremendous surrounding, abounding love for them operating through us.   

Covenant Partners

Covenant tends not to be spoken of in most Christian circles today, yet the Bible is broken down into the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Every believer should come to understand the depth of what covenant is from Gods perspective. Covenant is often mistaken in the church by many because there is a tendency to think that covenant and contract are the same, when in fact covenant is much more far reaching than contract. Covenant can be defined as a mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; To enter into a formal legal agreement; to stipulate; to bind ones self. 

Now this may seem the same as a contract in many respects but there are some large differences between the two. For instance, covenant has unlimited liabilities whereas contract has limited liabilities. Covenant does not define terms in the way a contract does, but is commitment to the success of what has been stated in the body of the covenant, whereas a contract, the parties are only responsible to fulfill the terms of what has been stated in the body of the contract. Some Components of a Covenant as things such as...

• Agreement: The union of opinions or sentiments resulting in harmony and conformity...
• Commitment: The act of engaging; to pledge; or to pledge by implication...
• Stipulation: An agreement or covenant made by one person with another for the performance or forbearance of some act...
• Conditions:  To make terms; to precisely stipulate terms...
• Duration: In regards to the continuance of time...
• Exchange: To give and receive reciprocally...
• Bind: To tie together; To confirm or ratify...
• Death to independent living: Life shared between the covenant partners becomes the priority...

The word covenant appears 185 times in the Old Testament and 20 times in the New Testament. Maybe this is the reason why so many believers fail when it comes to upholding covenant. Could the thinking be "Well the New Testament does not mention much about covenant, so it is more and Old Testament topic or principle." This is so far from the truth. Look at what the writer of Hebrews says when he contrasts the Old and New Covenants, "But now Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:6-13)

The Father was not establishing this New Covenant through His Son with one person or a specific group of people, but with all humanity. However, those who benefit directly from the covenant are only those who, "Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) We must also keep in mind that, "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12) PTL...

It takes courage and faith to walk out covenant. I believe that as we draw closer to the end of the ages, believers are going to need each other like never before. This means that we will have to accept one another in love and see our diversities as a good thing. Our hearts must be focused on Christ and the purpose of His Body on earth and most important, we must at all cost stop speaking words that offend. We must also let go of all offenses that some tend to hold on to. Finally, let us apply what the Holy Spirit spoke through the apostle Paul, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."  (Ephesians 4:29-32) We are in covenant with all believers. So let us activate our faith, look to Jesus and be led by the Holy Spirit in this wonderful New Covenant provided for all... 

The New Year

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and had taken some time to reflect on the real reason why the church celebrates Christmas, "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) Now that Christmas 2016 is over we all move closer to the new year. New Year's Day falls on January 1st and marks the start of a new year according to the Gregorian calendar. It marks the end of New Year's Eve celebrations in the United States and gives many Americans a chance to remember the previous year as well as contemplate what the new year may bring.

Rather than making what is known as "New Year Resolutions" let us active our faith for the new year and speak forth over our lives and all believers the pray of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ spoke, and believe it to come to pass this new year like never before since the early church, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:20-26)

What the church and moreover the world would be if believers would confess this wonderful prayer over themselves as well as believing that it will come to pass in the entire Body of Christ. I truly believe that this prayer is centered around every believer releasing the God kind of love. Jesus told the disciples, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) Notice, Jesus says, "My Disciples." This applies to all believers. The power of God's love actively at work in and through believers causes the world to know that we belong to Jesus. What a wonderful way to release the glory of the Lord. Simply by loving one another with the same love that God loves us. 

Let this year be the beginning of great restoration and reformation in the Body of Christ. The writer of Hebrews records, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2) In context with the previous chapter, believers are to cast off every "weight," every hindrance that keeps us from running the race of faith, such as, unforgiveness, offenses, all failures, our past, to name a few. We are to also lay aside every "sin," that is, unbelief. These are things that can "so easily ensnare us." However, we get past these things first by casting them aside and then most importantly, we are to look to Jesus, His holy life; His love; His grace; His patience and perseverance in trials; to what He endured in order to obtain the crown, and to His final success and triumph.  

So, let us activate our faith and believe God for the things that may seem impossible. Let us act upon God's Word like Abraham, "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform." (Romans 4:20-21) Let us stand on the words spoken by Jesus, "Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) Let us let God arise manifesting His Kingdom, Power and Glory in His church. Let us love one another with the God kind of love and do as the apostle Paul, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

Have a safe, healthy and prosperous 2017 being united together in Christ, doing all things for the glory of God. 

Who Do You Love

The gospels record numerous times how the Pharisees, Sadducees and their disciples "plotted how they might entangle Jesus' in His talk." (Matthew 22:15-33) However, the wonderful wisdom of God in Christ always corrected their hypocrisy with Truth. On one particular incident, a lawyer of the Pharisees "asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus 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.” (Matthew 22:34-40)

The Apostle Paul tells us, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:8-10) So, who do you love? Who is your neighbor? For many believers, we can love those who fellowship with us; those who believe as we do; and even the unsaved, but, and unfortunately, for many believers, their love for their neighbor stops and oft times turns to criticism, judgment and even hatred for those who do not fellowship with us or believe as we do. Neither Jesus nor Paul ever said there are exceptions to the law of love. In fact look what Jesus says, “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." (Luke 6:32-33)

I believe the main reason for the lack of loving as God does, is due to believers not breaking free of natural love and exercising the God kind of love.  Every person has within them the natural kind of love. However, natural love is based on selfishness. One moment it says, "I love you" and the next moment selfishness rises up releasing anger, jealousy, hatred and even murder. If all believers would exercise the God kind of love, the entire world would be changed. If you are born again, then know that the God kind of love, "has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Notice, that the God kind of love is in each and every believer. Paul also reveals this, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22) Notice, love is first. Paul also tells us, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)   

To exercise the God kind of love simply comes down to choice. Am I going to yield to the God kind of love and let it prevail or let natural love and selfishness reign.  Look at the wonderful biblical definition of the God kind of love, "Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP)

The natural kind of love manifests in the complete opposite of the God kind of love shown above. Let's face it, for many, we have followed after money, after pleasure, after the things that please our senses rather than following hard and relentless after God, who is love. (1 John 4:8) But if we are truly willing to follow hard after God, we will find ourselves going where love leads and doing what love suggests. That is the way Jesus lived. He followed after love. Jesus' path led Him to Calvary where the greatest expression and show of love took place, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) 

The God kind of love can stand the test of modem life. It is only His love that will enable us to love the unlovely, the disagreeable and the hateful. God's love will lift us up into God's class where we
love the ungodly, the unworthy, just like Jesus did. It is only the God kind of love that will enable us to love them when they are doing all they can to injure us. It is only the God kind of love that will have us say as Jesus, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) Yes, the God kind of love works. It makes hard, bitter people, gentle as Jesus. It will take a man like Saul of Tarsus and make him like Paul a love slave of Jesus Christ. It will take men out of the lowest depths of the slums and even prisons leading them into the pulpits where they will lead multitudes to Christ. It is the miracle of modern days. Why? 

 "Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP)

The Love of the Father

Did you ever have someone come and say to you, "God loves you", but were not really sure that He did (does)?  There are many in the church today that have experienced new birth but are not absolutely sure, deep within their heart, that God loves them. Jesus tells us, "For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (John 16:27)  In this sentence, Jesus has given us a picture of God the Father's Heart. It is a Father who loves His children; a Father whose heart is reaching out tenderly toward His own family. So, take a moment and meditate on the above verse. What comfort there is in this precious thought, that the God of creation, Almighty God, the Father Himself loves us without condition. This means that even with all the burdens, cares and even our failures that we may carry or experience in this life, the Father Himself loves us. No matter whatever the heartache, whatever the struggle, whatever the secret grief, the heart of God the Father yearns over us.

When believers come to accept the surrounding abounding love of the Father, what peace floods the soul; what courage to fight the battle when every reason for living has gone and death would be a
relief. We can take the battle up again and carry it on to victory, because we know that He loves us.
As long as we are loved, and as long as we can love, there is a reason for being in the world, but when we cease to love and cease to be the object of 1ove, then the reason for being ends. Look at the Words of Jesus, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23) This is such a wonderful promise. The Creator of everything seen and unseen, He who has charge of every form of life, every star in the universe, every blade of grass, every flower and tree, He whose ear is open to the heart of every human, will come in and make His home with us.

The heart can hardly take it in. The mind can barely comprehend the fact that the Father and Son will come and dwell with (in) us. Honestly, it does not seem credible that He will live in us but He has promised to do it. (John 14:16) What a blessing, what a wonder, that the Omnipotent God will come into us and make His home. He does this because of His great love. He comes and gives us wisdom to deal with all areas of this life, (Colossians 3:16); to help us in those dark hours when we do not know what to do, (Psalm 18); to strengthen us in our times of weakness, (2 Corinthians 12:9); to give us the ability to know His will, (Colossians 1:9) and much, much more. How the Father's heart yearns for us, craves for us. What a blessing He has bestow upon us, what riches are ours to inherit, what fellowship we can have, all due to the Father's limitless love for us.

Look at just how great the Father's love is for you, "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) The Father loves you even as He loved Jesus. You may not be able to understand it. It may not sound reasonable, but it is true and utterly beautiful to not only think about, but moreover receive it in your heart. Not only is God love (1 John 4:16), but He gives His love nature to us. (1 John 4:7-11) Think about it, if we walk in love, we will never sin. Isn't that wonderful? God's love solves the problem of the human condition. To live in love's realm; to learn love's language; love's methods and love's way, will set us completely free (1 John 4:17-19) and we will speak aloud, "God is love; this God of love is my Father; I am His child and He truly loves me. (1 John 3:1)

So how can I come to know the love of the Father? Learn to think in terms of love. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8) Learn to give in to love so that your action are a reflection of Jesus, who is love. Let the Jesus kind of love reign in your hearts until every thought and all of your words will be covered in love. So, today let us declare that we are going to let the love of God rule us in every way, in all that we think, do and say. "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Open you heart and receive God's love for you today, knowing that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ." (Romans 8:39)

Love; Living in Victory

Although we can list many things that seem to have the greatest impact on humanity, I believer the two greatest forces in the world today are love and selfishness. Selfishness is what makes a person concerned chiefly or excessively with himself, and having little or no regard for others. It is a robber. It breaks friendships and hearts. It wrecks marriages and homes. It flat out steals, kills and destroys because all of these things are a product of Satan. (John 8:44, 10:10) There is only one force able to conquer selfishness and destroy its destructive nature. That force is not simply love, but the God kind of love. Natural human love is motivated by human desires, that is, what satisfaction, what pleasures can "I" get from another without giving anything in return. It can turn in a moment from expressing affection and concern to neglect, hatred, jealousy and even murder.

A home could never be destroyed if every member would love as God loves. The wife would never remember the past mistakes of her husband, nor the husband ever remind the wife of any unpleasant
happenings of her past. All the mistakes and failures of the past would be wiped out. What homes we would have if we were to love as God loves. There would be no more quarreling over finances, no more bitter hurtful words spoken, but each one would be seeking how they could put others above themselves even at their own expense. Why is this? Love never takes advantage of anyone. Love always bears the burdens of the weak. Love says, "It is all my fault. Had I done differently, or
spoken differently, or lived in love, it would never happened." People who walk in the God kind of love never injure anyone, never take advantage of anyone. They simply walk and live in God. They respond to the fruit of the spirit and give no place to the selfish works of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16-26)

No matter what evil the adversary may bring into a life, love will change evil to good, and will bring forth good fruit. (Romans 12:21) Jesus said, "Al1 things are possible to him that believes." (Mark 9:23) That means "a believing one" can operate in the God kind of love. How do we know this? "For the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) Jesus tells us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Believers, the branches, are linked up with Jesus, Who is the Vine. The branch is the fruit-bearing portion of the vine. Therefore, the believer has a legal right to the Father's love and Jesus' ability to carry it out. (Philippians 4:13)

The believer is to take Jesus' place in this life. He is a reproduction of Jesus (John 17:20-26) to carry out the will of the Father just as Jesus did when He walked this earth. Jesus was the first man who ever walked in the God kind of love on this earth. When selfishness is eliminated in us and love gains the dominion, we will not seek our own any longer. We will live as Jesus lived. We will seek only the Father's will as Jesus did. (John 6:38) As we walk in the God kind of love, we will be walking just as Jesus walked. There isn't a thing in the New Covenant or in the finished work of Christ that does not belong to every believer, especially the God kind of love. God is able to make us all that His great heart desires us to be. He delivered us out of the hand of the enemy. (1 Peter 2:9) He gave us His own nature. (2 Peter 1:3) He made us a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Ephesians 2:10) He is in us now living and working His own good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) Let us all yield to His Word and give Him the right-of-way in every area of our lives.

Please take some time, slowly read and meditate on the God kind of love as revealed in the Gospels from the Garden of Gethsemane to resurrection of our Lord. Paul tells us, " But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Also, take some time to read and reread the Amplified Version of the God kind of Love as revealed in
1 Corinthians 13:4-8...
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].  

Where is the Love

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul reveals to us a very important foundational truth concerning Christianity, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5:6) The Apostle John tells us, "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18) Let us never forget the wonderful yet challenging words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) 

Without faith, we will not be able to love as God loves, yet, without love we will not operate in the kind of faith that pleases God. This is why faith working through love is the quintessential of Christianity. I believe that faith without love or love without faith on the part of believers has been so lacking in the church, that it is the main cause of all the division. The love that was in Jesus revealed throughout the four gospels, is the love that is to rule the church, every believer. When believers are ruled by love; motivated by love; owned by love; they become imitators of the one who is love, "...God is love" (1 John 4:8) and as Jesus said, "...all will know that you are My disciples..."   

The Apostle John has some strong language for the church concerning love that we should not only think about but take to heart and act on. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) One of the things that John addresses is coming to grips with our love for the world and the things of world. This is not just toward material things, but the ungodly attitudes and actions of the the world. Let's be honest, most people who consider themselves to be Christian, would not admit just how much they are rooted in the world; How the cares of the world have become more important to them than the things of God.  John tells us that one of the ways we can know how much the world has captured believers is revealed in the fact that they do not love as God loves, because God's love is not in them.

Next, John says,"...Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother...he who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:10, 14-15) Unfortunately, there is extremely to much unforgiveness in the church. Let's face it, if you cannot forgive another believer, you have hatred in your heart. John says, hating another believer is spiritual death. In other words, the person who hates a brother or sister in the Lord, proves by their hatred that they are not truly saved. 

Unfortunately, many people in the church will say, "But I confessed with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior so how can you say that I am not saved?" I did not say that you are not saved, the Holy Spirit said it through John, plus we must also remember that though one confesses with their mouth, they must also believe in their heart. (Romans 10:9-10) John continues to reveal to us another problem that causes people to hate a brother or sister rather than love them. "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:8) Simply put, if you hate, you do not know God.

So, how can we let go of any ill feelings that we may have toward a brother or sister. It is by simply remembering and acting on the following...

• "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Remember, no matter how good you may think you were before making a confession of faith, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Jesus died for all even when we were antagonistic toward Him...  
• "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:9-11) Put these scriptures together, we have, "faith working through love." The way we love as God loves, is applying faith and live through Christ, love personified. 

Finally, take at least two times every day for forty days without missing one day, and slowly read aloud to yourself the following...

• "Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]..."(1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP) 

Let the God kind of love dominate your life, "By this all will know that you are My (Jesus') disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) Amen.... 

God University

A university is an educational institution of higher education and research designed for instruction, examination, or both, of students in many branches of advanced learning. It provides academic degrees upon the completion of any variety of subjects offered. It also provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education. God has a university. However, it is small and very few enroll and even fewer graduate. He has this university because He has very few broken men and women. Instead, what He seems to have is people who claim to be broken but really aren't.   

David, son of Jesse is a great example of one who not only enrolled but also graduated God University. Shortly after David defeated Goliath and returned home, "the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him..." (1 Samuel 18:6-8) "The next day that the distressing spirit came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice." (1 Samuel 18:10-11)

What do you do when someone throws a spear at you? Why you just pick it up and throw it back, right? After all, in responding this way you are proving that you are courageous; you are standing up for what's right; you are tough and can't be pushed around, right? Well David did not throw Saul's spear back at him nor did he go out and make his own spear to throw at him. David simply escaped Saul's presence. If David were to respond to Saul by throwing a spear at him, David the shepherd boy, anointed by God to be king would have grown up to be nothing more than King Saul II. Although Saul sought to destroy David, he actually became the very instrument of God that would eventually mold David to become a man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22)

David accepted his fate. He embraced the circumstances although unfair and even cruel. He lifted no hand nor offered any resistance. Even when David had the opportunity to retaliate and take Saul's life he would not. He would not return evil for evil even when prompted. "Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time! But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?" (1 Samuel 26:8-9)

How about you? When others throw spears at you in the form of evil speaking, gossip, slander or when they treat you with disrespect; how do you respond? Do you throw spears back? or do you exercise the most potent characteristic of our God, which is love, toward those who may do these things? The Bible tells us, "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) 

Believers that walk in this kind of love, agape, the God kind of love are those like David who have enrolled and graduated from God University. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) The God kind of love is a part of the recreated human spirit that becomes a part of the believer the moment they confess and believe the Lordship of Jesus Christ. However, just like David had the choice to retaliate but chose not to, walking out the God kind of love is the same. In the mind of God, those who choose this path truly understand brokenness and selflessness. They have graduated God University because they know the power of love.