Do Everything With Love

Let all that you do be done with love. (1 Cor 16:14 NKJV – emphasis added)

For the Love of Christ compels [constrains, leaves no option] us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died. (2 Cor 5:14 NKJV – emphasis & definition added)

Love is one of the major themes throughout the Bible. Love is what binds us together as Christians. We’re instructed to love one another¹ and the source of our love is God.² Love is defined as an intense feeling of deep affection.

Human beings, overall, tend to experience love on a conditional basis. Some spouses won’t speak to one another after an argument. Certain friends will stop seeing each other after an argument, and might even speak badly about each other. Some parents even have raised their children in a way that makes them feel unloved or rejected if they’re naughty or disobedient. This is NOT the model of love that God has given to us.

Our Heavenly Father has extended His love to us completely and unconditionally. He invites everyone – yes everyone – to the banqueting table of salvation.³ There are no restrictions upon this invitation because God loves humankind so much, and He yearns to have a vital relationship with every individual. The Father offered love to us through the sacrifice of His own Son as the Savior of the world. He literally gave sacrificially to prove His love to each and every human being. Whether we accept His love and His gift of salvation is entirely a matter of our own choice.

The Scriptures tell us that we are accepted in the Beloved.⁴ Some of the blessings that we enjoy because we are accepted are that we are:

recognized as children of God;
received as a sister or brother in Christ;
admitted into God’s family; and
welcomed always with LOVE.

Because we are loved by God, we have the grace to love others even as we are loved.⁵ God’s love enables us to forgive.⁶ His love gives us the wherewithal to extend mercy and understanding to others, not returning evil for evil, but on the contrary—blessing them.⁷ As we learn to live this way, we become a living example of the love of God; and we demonstrate that His love has been perfected in us.⁸ Then we can truly confess that the love of Christ compels us to act as we do and leaves us no option!⁹ Faith operates by love.

Faith operates by love.¹⁰ When you do everything with love, you can only win. Glory to God!

¹ John 15:12 ² 1 John 4:8

³ John 3:16 ⁴ Ephesians 1:6

⁵ John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17 ⁶ 1 Peter 4:8

⁷ 1 Peter 3:8 ⁸ 1 John 4:12

⁹ 2 Corinthians 5:14 ¹⁰ Galatians 5:6

God’s Promises

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For ALL the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (2 Co1:19-20, emphasis added)

Every beautiful promise in the Scriptures is for us believers. The Lord says “Yes” to us concerning each promise, meaning that we may have it. There is an eternal “Yes” through the name of Jesus to everyone who has accepted Jesus as their Savior.

Every blessing, benefit, and miracle that we receive brings God glory: by the testimony of our lips in answer to simply believing, resting in, and receiving the Word of God as our guarantee. The scriptural promise is God’s verification that our blessings are inevitable.

Just remember that we can’t dictate how the blessing will come or how it will look. That part is in God’s hands, and we must trust Him to do it well. Study God’s Word to find several promises that will bring you the answer that you desire; believe them; rely upon them; and trust God.

You’re Not Under Condemnation, So REIGN!

(All Scriptures NKJV unless otherwise noted.)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1)

This means that there are no legal grounds for condemnation before God. We have been made right with God, and have been reconciled to Him. It also suggests that we who have accepted Christ as our Savior live by obeying the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Since we’re not under any condemnation, we’re no longer heirs to sickness or disease. (See Gal 3:13)

The Bible is pretty specific in telling us that we are not under condemnation. It recommends that we do not judge, do not condemn; but rather, that we forgive.

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Lk 6:37) As we forgive others, and imitate our Father in heaven, we actually operate as children of God, representing His mercy and love.

He who believes in Him is not condemned . . . (John 3:18)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24 KJV)

Not only are we declared righteous, but we’re told to reign in this life through Christ: For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:17) Jesus has given us authority to rule and to reign!

In order to rule and reign on earth, we must imitate the saints in the early Church. It was said of them . . . these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also. (Acts 17:6)

How did those believers live who “turned the world upside down”? They performed signs, wonders, and miracles in the Name of Jesus! (Ac 2:43; 4:29-31; 5:12; 6:8; 14:3; Rom 15:19)

What does that require of us? It requires that we declare and decree the truths and promises of Scripture on behalf of others. It requires that we speak forth the word of faith out of a heart filled with faith. (Rom 10:8)

We, too, as the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21) are called to reign in this earth by turning our world upside down to the glory of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Manifest the Glory

But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. (Jer 9:24)

If we ever want to glory or feel triumphant about something, the Lord tells us that we should exult about knowing and understanding Him! If you are a Christian, you already know the Lord and are in a relationship with Him. If you don’t understand Him well, though, then you need to read more of the Bible because it tells us all about God.

The Bible tells us about Jesus, the son of God, who performed signs and wonders; and in doing so, displayed and demonstrated His glory!

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. (Joh 2:11)

Paul, the apostle, endured many trials as a servant of Jesus Christ. (Rom 1:1; 2 Cor 11:24-28) But he said that none of the negative things that he endured could be compared with the glory to be revealed in him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom 8:18)

Paul assuredly manifested glory in the same way that Jesus did—through performing signs and wonders.

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. (Acts 19:11-12)

We, believers, are blessed in so many ways. We have been made righteous, and have been reconciled to God. God’s glory will shine through us as we live for Him on earth, and perform signs and wonders in Jesus’ Name.

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col 1:27)

When He comes to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at in all those who have believed. (2 Th 1:10)

The Lord will be marveled at IN all those who have believed because of the impact that believers have upon the world. Display God’s glory, and rejoice in Christ!

Christ Alone

Greetings!

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Php 3:3) Just what does this statement mean to us?

We worship God through the spirit within us. We are created with a body, a soul, and a spirit. The spirit portion of us communicates in the spiritual realm. The Holy Spirit of God lives within each one of us. (1 Cor 6:19) Our spirit, within us, communicates with God, the Father; Jesus, the Son; and the Holy Spirit, our counselor and helper.

We are the circumcision may mean several things.

We are the real circumcision. (Rom 2:25-29; Col 2:11)
We are the spiritual circumcision, characterized by three things:
1. Worship in the spirit; (Jo 4:24)
2. Joy in our relationship with Christ, and our attraction to Him.
3. No confidence in the flesh, in outward performances or mankind’s rules. We build only upon Jesus Christ, the everlasting foundation. (Php 3:3; Pro 10:25; 1 Cor 3:11)

We have no confidence in our flesh because it can be negatively influenced by our lusts. (Jas 4:3) We put no confidence in physical advantages or external appearances. These are all subject to change.

According to an old hymn, our faith is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. (2 Cor 5:21) Let’s glory and rejoice in Christ alone!

We Are Chosen

Welcome to this quick meditation on the fact that we’re chosen by God.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NKJV – emphasis added)

Listen my beloved brethren: has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5 NKJV)

All of us were foolish, poor, and despised before Jesus saved us. Now, because we belong to Him, He graciously shares the wisdom of the Holy Spirit; the riches of His own inheritance; and the love that He so freely receives from His Father. He shares all of these blessings with us unceasingly.

God created a plan of salvation that is supernaturally wise, and its unfolding is a continuous miracle in every dimension. God’s plan confounds man’s so-called wisdom because it must be spiritually discerned. (1 Cor 2:14) Here are a few of our blessings:

Now we are rich in faith and joint heirs of the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus. (Ja 2:5)

We are ambassadors of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! (2 Cor 5:20)

We have ALL that pertains to life and godliness. (2 Pe 1:3)

We are seated in heavenly places. (Eph 2:6)

We’re DAILY loaded down with the benefits of salvation! (Ps 68:19) Hallelujah!

Enjoy your life, Chosen One!

Prosperity: A PROMISE

The Lord wants us to prosper in every area of our lives, including our finances. He has given us a number of promises to reveal this exciting truth to us.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. (Isa 48:17)
Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. (Ps 35:27)
God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity . . . (Ps 68:6)
Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits [blessings], the God of our salvation! (Ps 68:19 Definition added)
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. (Pro 13:22)

When we serve the Lord and His Kingdom, by using our gifts, our talents, and our resources to help others, He notices! The Lord loves us, and He enjoys it when we help others with whatever resources we have available. We can cook for someone recuperating from surgery; we can clean and organize a home to help a friend; we can do lawn care for the elderly; we can give financially to missionaries and to our church; etc.; etc. There are many ways to give.

God notices our generosity. He sees our hearts and our willingness to help others. He knows our motives, and He loves to bless us. The Bible teaches us that as we give to others, the Lord—in turn—gives back to us abundantly!

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal 3:10)
The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. (Pro 11:25)
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. (Pro 22:9)
But a generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand. (Isa 32:8)

That last verse says that by our generosity, we shall stand! That’s an awesome concept worthy of meditation. May God pour out His loving and generous blessings upon you, today, in Jesus’ glorious Name.

Power & Authority

Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled [were afraid] and glorified God, who had given such power to men. (Matthew 9:8 NKJV, explanation added)

Jesus had just forgiven the sins of a paralytic man and then, Jesus healed him! The man took his bed and walked away. This was demonstrating Jesus’ delegated authority to forgive sins, and also His power to heal the sick and to perform miracles. The crowd gave all the glory to God.

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Lk 10:19 NKJV)

Jesus was speaking to His followers in this verse. The same power and authority that Jesus had, He gave to us–His followers–in order for us to set the captives free, heal the sick, perform miracles, and bring glory to God. He has also given us grace to enable us to fulfill our assignment. (Eph 2:8 NKJV)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit who has been given to us IS the Spirit of power, love, and self-control. He will direct us in the practical use of these gifts if we will learn to hear His voice, and to obey it.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (Jo 20:21 NKJV)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Lk 4:18, 19 NKJV)

As Jesus was sent to earth by the Father to accomplish the Father’s will, so WE are sent by Jesus to continue Jesus’ assignment here on the earth: that the will of God may be done on earth as it is done in Heaven. We’ve been given authority, grace, and power to fulfill our mission. Exercise your God-given power and authority, and you will have an exciting and fulfilling life. God has created you for this purpose!

The Voice of the Lord

The Bible has much to say about the voice of the Lord. Psalm 29 is filled with statements designed to educate us about God’s powerful Words, carried heavenward by His voice.

Verse 4 says the Lord’s voice is powerful and full of majesty. Verse 5 says it breaks–even splinters–the cedars of Lebanon!

The passage that has always fascinated me is Psalm 29:7, The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. Imagine such power that God is able to part or separate even flames of fire. It astonished me when I learned that the Lord has dominion over fire. Let’s ponder this fact.

If you need fire, say in your furnace, He has control over that. If you are caught in a fire, God has power over those flames; and can command their direction in order to protect you. If you need a spark to light a fire, perhaps at a campfire, God has power to help you! And He desires to help you–always.

In verses 8 & 9 of Psalm 29, we discover that God’s voice shakes the wilderness; causes deer to give birth; and strips the forests bare. We serve the all-powerful God who created heaven and earth.

God’s mighty angels obey His powerful voice (Ps 103:20), fulfilling His Word. The verse actually says it this way: Heeding the voice of His word. The phrase “voice of His word” refers to the actual, unique sound or vibrations of God’s voice. His voice is unique in that ALL of creation recognizes it as the sound of the Creator God, the Supreme Being, the Lord of Lords.

We, who are created in His image, should respond to His Word just as creation does and as angels do. We should honor and respect it always, and obey it promptly.

Patience

Patience is a positive character trait which can be defined as longsuffering, endurance, or perseverance. The opposite of patience is impatience or restlessness.

Here are some Bible passages that mention this character quality:

A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. (Prov 19:11)
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Prov 25:15)
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. (Eccl 7:8)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, . . . (Gal 5:22)
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Heb 6:12)
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. (Jas 5:7)

Like the other foundational character traits, patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The Word tells us to imitate the prophets and the people of faith mentioned in Hebrews 6 to learn patience (Hebrews 6:12; James 5:10). Their faith patiently endured through many trials and tribulations.

Patience goes hand in hand with wisdom (Proverbs 19:11), and we’re told that patience is better than pride. (Eccl 7:8) Through patience, even a king can be persuaded! (Prov 25:15)

As a necessary ingredient for living the Christian life, patience is recommended to us in Colossians 1:10-12, Colossians 3:12, and Hebrews 6:12. If you want to serve the Lord and minister to His people, you will need patience to fulfill your ministry. (2 Tim 4:2; Ja 5:7)

The Lord’s patience with us means salvation (2 Peter 3:15). According to 2 Peter 1:2, 3, the Lord has already given to us ALL that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. God has already given us patience even as He has given us all that we need, but it will grow and mature as we draw closer to the Lord and learn of Him.

May God fill you with His joy as you journey through life with Him.

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You are the Deciding Vote! In your life, you can make decisions that will help you and bless you.

Month: March 2016