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1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I could speak the languages of men, of angels too, and have no love, I am only a rattling pan or a clashing cymbal. (2) If I should have the gift of prophecy, And know all secret truths, and knowledge in its every form, and have such perfect faith that I could move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing. (3) If I should dole out everything I have for charity, and give my body up to torture in mere boasting pride, but have no love, I get from it no good at all. (Williams Translation)
Think about what people are truly looking for in life; that one true love that will make them complete. How many endless songs, movies, and novels have been written describing those that find that one true love, or those that lose a loved one, how empty their lives are? For those that experience a love relationship it is very exciting in the beginning; then as reality sets in for those that decide to marry they realize in order to maintain a quality relationship it has to be from the heart, with the right motives in order to be long lasting. The same holds true with serving the Lord, once you have tasted and partaken of the goodness of the Lord nothing else will ever come close or satisfy that void that was in our lives. In order to maintain this relationship it has to be from the heart, with the motive of love for our Lord as well as His people. So just like with our earthly marriages, anything less than a commitment based on love will not last, but end up going by the wayside. Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJV) Only those that do the will of God from the heart with the motive of love will be allowed access into our Father’s eternal kingdom. That is why the word of God says ‘blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God’, because without this vision the people perish. We see in the above verses that many thought they were serving our Lord, and may have had a zeal for Him but it was not according to His knowledge, or a faith in Him which only works by love. Many still think that they need to help the Lord out with their own versions of the gospel, and never come to a working knowledge of our Lord and how He intended His word to be ministered. So although many can quote the scriptures backward and forward, and claim they are doing so much for the Lord, they fail to teach the people the mystery of the gospel which is the only truth that will set them free. For myself I am quite tired of the endless works of man who act like God takes orders from them. A true preacher and teacher of the Lord will instruct the people of the love of God that was shown toward mankind, which is based on the completed work our Lord did on our behalf, and not what so many think they are doing on His behalf. Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (KJV) There is a wise man teaching this parable; Jesus of Nazareth taught the people how to operate in the wisdom of God by building our foundation upon a rock, the name of Christ and His doctrine. Those that come to a working knowledge of Christ are able to understand the love of God so that when the winds of doctrines blow through they will not fall for mankind’s cheap imitations and perverted doctrines. Those that do not know the love of Christ will be on shaky ground and fall for man’s self serving doctrines which are based more on the love of money than the love of God. James 2:14-17 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (KJV) If you found a child out in the elements without proper clothing and food would you not do something out of a love for that child to make sure they got what they needed and required to keep alive and healthy? So if you look at the spiritual implications of these scriptures, how many times do we come across the path of God’s children who are in the same predicament spiritually? Are you prepared and ready to give them what is needed, or will you leave them in worse shape than you found them? Faith which works by love is what will give the body of Christ what is needed to restore them; spirit, soul, and body. As harmful as it is to our physical body to bear the elements without proper clothing and food, how much more devastating is it to the spiritual body if one is not able to provide what is needed for them spiritually? This is where many miss the mark, they are more interested in building themselves up than the people; what may have started out as a love for God has now grown cold trying to maintain the outward image instead of ministering to the inward. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV) So whose works are you operating in today? Are you in harmony with the completed work God did on your behalf and ordained for you to walk in, or are you trying to impress people with your own works and how you think God operates? Strong’s definition for workmanship 4161 poiema (poy'-ay-mah); from 4160; a product, i.e. fabric (literally or figuratively): KJV-- thing that is made, workmanship. You are a product, the offspring of a God of love. Only those that establish a relationship with our Father based on a true loving commitment will seek those things that are pleasing to Him and trust more in His work than their own vain empty attempts. Who loves ya? Our Lord endlessly, eternally, and unconditionally based on your willingness and obedience to His plan of salvation that was drawn up for you before the foundation of this world. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (KJV)
Ever hear the term ‘God’s gift to mankind’? Though many have laid claim to this title, the truth be known, the perfect gift from above came to us and was manifest in the life of Jesus Christ so that we no longer would have to perish in our sin but come to an understanding of everlasting life. God sent His Son not to point the finger at mankind, and threaten them with eternal condemnation, but rather to teach us the love of God, and how to establish a relationship with our heavenly Father based on love and affection for Him. A perfect love, which means mature, is based on trust and communication, not one of fear and doubt. Instead of always wondering what are we doing wrong, or how long before the Lord comes down on us with His wrath, we should be establishing our relationship with God in love and commitment, moving forward in an understanding of His love for us which is unconditional. Of course if you know in your heart you haven’t done all to stand fast in your walk by taking the time to make our Lord a priority, taking time in His word, then you can expect Him to bring the correction which He does in love; doing what is needed for your benefit. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (KJV) Chapter 13 here can be referred to as an inventory list describing the love of God and how to operate in it. As you go down the list, one can do a personal inventory of what their true motives are for serving the Lord, and what it will take to please Him. This list basically separates the motives of the heart, detailing the difference between what man considers love, and what the Lord describes as His true love. There are those that can speak of earthly things, and heavenly things as well, but without doing it from the heart with the motive of love they are like listening to someone who doesn’t know how to play an instrument, it will be a lot of noise without any substance. I think of the times in my life when I have picked up a guitar and tried strumming it, though there is a sound coming forth from it, and I was trying to play a song, it was nothing discernable and certainly not very edifying. The same holds true with many preachers who do not know the love of God, but rather a life of ministry work is more of an occupation than a loving commitment to the Lord and His congregation. The more one pursues this work as an occupation the more they will try to build up themselves rather than the people. So no matter how hard they try, and all the good works they claim to be doing, without the love of God their motives will be wrong and of no profit. Philippians 1:15-18 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: (16) The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: (17) But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. (18) What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. (KJV) Paul was a true apostle of our Lord because He understood the love of God, and was more concerned in building up the people rather than a personal following. Paul rejoiced in the fact that Christ, the Son of God, was being preached and that people were coming to an understanding of the mystery of the gospel through His name. However, he could see how there was strife and contentions within the early churches, and how some had mistaken their calling, thinking it would impress the Lord if they could gather numbers and a big following. Today we see the motive and mindset of man, and how it has manifested more into making merchandise of the people rather than showing them how to be more Christ like, and experiencing the love of God. Those that truly know and have come to an understanding of the love of God will preach the truth that will set the people free, without concern for their own welfare; being more concerned with the spiritual, and not the physical. So what is your motive for serving our Lord, is it because of the love that is being shed abroad in your heart, or is it something else that is more self serving than being a servant? Matthew 6:1-4 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. (2) Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (3) But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: (4) That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. (KJV) Are you looking to be seen of men? Then you have your reward which will only be temporary. Are you only concerned with what our Father sees and asks of you? Then you will have an eternal reward despite what man may think of you. Having watched a big name TV ministry doing one of their endless telethons and infomercials that are nothing more than doing their alms before men, you see how mankind misses the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ by trying to lower God to mans’ standards of marketing and advertising. In fact it is quite fitting that they use the number 700 to identify their ministry, which is about how many money pitches and distortions of the truth one gets per hour. How much more ungodly can it get when only those that give the most money are elevated and given special attention and consideration, while the others are ignored. For the love of God, how did this marketing mindset, and bigger is better attitude, ever sneak past the Christians, and allowed access to the airwaves? Can the blind lead the blind without ending up in a ditch? Take off your blinders Church and let God be true. Just because someone says it’s ok, and they find a bunch of puppets to agree with them, doesn’t mean God approves of this nonsense. James 2:1-5 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. (2) For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (3) And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (4) Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? (5) Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (KJV) Thank God His love is based on the inward motives and not the outward, because I know for myself that I am a complete failure according to my works. God’s love is unconditional, a perfect love, and it is not based on the outward but the inward motive of the heart. So if there is a willingness and obedience, if you truly have a love for our Father, then you can expect to be a partaker of His love which is based upon what is in the heart, and not your wallet. God bless and don’t be taken in by these cheap hucksters who would sell their soul for a buck. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 5:5-8 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (KJV)
Mankind bases love on a ‘what have you done for me lately’ mindset. A love based on conditions, a conditional love. God’s love is an unconditional love based on who you are; that unique one of a kind creation that only you are, and only you could be. People compare themselves many times with others, thinking that they answer the call of God so much better, and that I could never be that pleasing to God. The truth be known, no one could ever answer the call better than what the Lord is asking of you, the unique person in Christ that He created and didn’t make a mistake with, despite what you may think. Our Father’s realm is not like the world where they play favorites and give preferential treatment to those that can give them back something in return, but rather it is based on an unconditional love for ones willingness and obedience to His word. Christ loved us and died for us when we were still in sin, and even died for those that He knew would choose to stay in sin and unbelief. So before you down play your calling, or think the love of God is based on works, understand the fact that the Lord loves you and created you for His own purpose, only you can carry out the calling He chose and selected for you personally. Luke 6:31-35 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. (32) For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. (33) And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. (34) And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. (35) But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. (KJV) As we would like people to treat us is the standard we need to live by. It doesn’t say they will reciprocate the love of God we show to them, but we still need to hold to our same standard. Many today still try to compare the love of God with how they had been taught all of their lives, a conditional love based on the ‘what have you done for me lately’ attitude. Greater love has no man than to lay down His life so that the life and love of God can be shed abroad in their hearts, and be a light to those that are around them. Sometimes we think God loves us less because maybe we are not dealing with large numbers, or because we haven’t been called to pastor a big congregation; but your calling and your obedience to what the Lord is asking does not diminish the love of God one bit in your life. You may have had people come and go in your life, and walk out on you for whatever reason, or blame you because they are unhappy and unfulfilled; but the love of God is eternal and is no comparison to the love of man which is conditional. Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (KJV) To know the love of Christ is not something we can comprehend with the mind; it passes our knowledge and doesn’t make sense. So the more one can stay out of their head, and not lean to their own understanding, the more they will become rooted and grounded in this unconditional love of Christ which is shed abroad in the heart. When watching TV there will be advertisements that promote websites where one can go find their soul mate in life. For many of these people that are looking for love, they will compare pictures and base their choices on outward appearances as well as their financial status, which basically means that if there is a change in any of these situations then the love that was there in the beginning will be like a flame that flickers and burns out. All of us have experienced the heartache of a breakup or lost love at some point in our lives, which was painful at the time because we wondered what we did wrong or how we could have kept the flame burning. Many times it wasn’t anything you did wrong, it’s just that it wasn’t right in the first place and didn’t have a solid foundation. At the time you may have been devastated, not realizing that God had something or someone better suited for you, something that would be long lasting based on a real love with a solid foundation. Once you truly experience the love of God you realize that everything God does on your behalf is for your benefit so that you could have life and have it more abundantly. 1 John 4:16-19 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (19) We love him, because he first loved us. (KJV) Our love for the Lord is made perfect as we mature in Him, and realize that everything that He has done on our behalf is so that we could have fellowship with Him, and walk in the realm of the Spirit. The fear is eliminated when you realize that you are trusting more in what the Lord has done on your behalf, and not in what you think you should be doing on His behalf. We realize that God loves us for the unique individual that we are, and that no one else could carry out the calling and the place in the body of Christ that He has set us in. While some preach only fire and brimstone, and portray a God of anger and vengeance, it’s because they still hold to the letter of the law which kills and keeps the love of God from flowing to their heart. Psalms 45:1-2 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. (2) Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. (KJV) Inditing means to gush; letting the love of God that has been shed in the heart flow through you and water those around you. Out of the abundance of our heart the mouth will speak; our tongue being an extension of it. Have you experienced the love of God? Are you able to give an accurate account of how that love is shed abroad in the heart, which will gush out of you like a fire hydrant and douse the fiery darts of the enemy? There is no comparison. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. What is true love? Look around this world at the example of love? What do you have to look forward to in that? For many in this world, what they consider true love can be here today and gone tomorrow; a fleeting feeling which begins in lust and gets manufactured into what many consider love.
Consider this true love…for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 5:5-8 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (KJV) 1 John 4:11-19 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (13) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (15) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (16) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (19) We love him, because he first loved us. (KJV) Do you really want to know what true love is? Then read Isaiah 53. 1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (KJV) Do you really want to perceive the love of God? Then you will have to do the same. Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (KJV) Christ in us; a perfect and true love that never fails or disappoints. Any questions? God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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