THE AWESOME & EXPANDING LOVE OF GOD

 

The love of God is more than just a central concept in Christianity. The scriptures indicate to us clearly that GOD is LOVE [1John 4:8] His love is unconditional, all-encompassing, and eternal because it emanates from Him. LOVE is the source of all creation and the foundation of all life because it is the Creator and Giver of all life; it is LIFE itself. Beyond this and inclusive of it, the ultimate goal of all believers; whether we recognize it or not, is to unite with the Source of it all.

Jesus gave us “the glory” to make this happen! [John 17:22]

One of the most common ways that the love of God is described is as a parent-child relationship. Just as a good parent loves their child without reservation, God (Our Father), beyond all comprehension, expresses Himself to all of humanity through Jesus: greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. This love is an all-encompassing one; meaning that it extends to every person, regardless of their actions or beliefs. This being the case since in Him we live, and move, and have our being. [Acts 17:28] It is this very same “love” that leads us to change our mind (repentance) about a far away God.

This Love is always on display; always accessible and at times referred to as the "ever-present help" of God, this grace is the source of strength and comfort to everyone, especially those who are broken-hearted.[Psalm 51:17] The actions of those who acknowledge His working come up as a "memorial" to Him and He reveals Himself to them. [Acts 10]

In addition to being unconditional and all-encompassing, the love of God is also often described as eternal. This means that it will never end or fade, and cannot be suppressed despite any circumstances. This is so because LOVE is the ETERNAL NATURE of GOD; the only source of hope and peace for those in need.

In summary, GOD the FATHER (LOVE) is the ONLY All powerful, Eternal, and Creative Divine Spirit and Person who is reconciling the world unto Himself. Through the Way; Truth, and Life; Jesus we have the Father revealed to us. We are His ambassadors (2 Cor.5:20); may we determine by faith to release the limitless power of His nature (poured out to us by the Holy Spirit, Rom.5:5)

Jesus said: [Mat 11:27] "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son will reveal .

HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

[Act 2:4, 32-33 KJV] 4 And they were ALL FILLED  with the HOLY GHOST, and began to speak with other tongues, as the SPIRIT gave them utterance. ... 32 This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we ALL (120) are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, HE (JESUS) has shed forth THIS, which you now see and hear.

Let us take a careful look at what happened on the day of Pentecost when the disciples of Jesus were gathered together as instructed by Him.  [Act 1:4-5 KJV] And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Jesus here was alluding to the statement of John the Baptist:          

[Luke 3:16 KJV] John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

It becomes quite obvious that the instruction of Jesus to His disciples prior to His Ascension into Heaven was to wait for Him to baptize them with the Holy Spirit.  This is exactly what happened!  Baptism means to be immersed in water or in this case in the Spirit of God.  When we are immersed in water, we get wet as a by-product or sign of having been immersed.  When immersed in the Holy Spirit of God, there are signs which follow as well.  Scripture tells us that holy men of old spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.  When the Spirit of God comes upon a person, there is an effect on them physically.  God will affect all our five senses in this experience as our physical body is inundated with His presence.  They were ALL filled and when filled, there was an overflow and they spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance.  

We find a similar thing happening when Peter preached at the home of Cornelius (a centurion) in Acts 10.  [Act 10:44-48 KJV] While Peter yet spoke these words (preached Christ), the Holy Ghost fell on ALL them (the household of Cornelius plus others) who heard the word. And they of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

It is clear from our reading, that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was considered by the Jewish believers to be the gift of the Holy Spirit being manifest by the speaking in other tongues by those Gentiles in Cornelius' house.  This was the sign to them that the Gentiles had received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This was also a sign to the entire world that when there is a heart response to the preaching of the gospel, Jesus Himself will immerse people in His Holy Spirit who will give them utterance and they shall speak in other tongues.  

The gift of the Holy Spirit is not for a select few but rather it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit by Jesus Himself.  This immersion in His Spirit will cause people to speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance.  This is the natural result of the supernatural immersion in the Holy Spirit and is available to every believer as Jesus Himself is the baptizer with the Holy Spirit and with fire!  

Here is what the Apostle Paul says:  [1Cor. 14:18 KJV] I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all (addressing the church at Corinth).  [1Co 14:2 KJV] For he that speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understands [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

The Glorious Gospel

Blindness of the mind is not “empty” ignorance but rather firm beliefs entrenched in principles and traditions that are obsolete or no longer relevant.  When Jesus addressed the Pharisees (learned men) as being “blind leaders of the blind” he identified this root cause of their sight-less condition.  

Paul the apostle framed this issue precisely by writing:  But if our gospel be hid (or veiled) it is hid to them that are lost:  in whom the god of this world has “blinded the minds” of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  (2 Cor. 4: 3-4)

💥Unbelief is rooted in this blindness caused by the embrace of “devilish teachings”, “worldly philosophy”, or "obsolete traditions".  These erect strongholds of thought, principles, and traditions of men that obstruct, resist, impede, or distort “present truth”.  

[Col 2:8] Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

When one turns to the Lord Jesus, the veil (blindness) is taken away![2Co 3:12-14]  Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech--unlike Moses, [who] put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains un-lifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the [veil] is taken away in Christ.

💥Let us preach and teach the gospel or good news (the power of God unto salvation) that it may penetrate & disrupt the bastions of unbelief as it unveils the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

Our greatest weapon, the Sword of the Spirit, is the living word of God; its penetrating light chases all darkness and reveals the riches of CHRIST IN US, the HOPE of GLORY!

[1Co 3:19-20] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their [own] craftiness"; and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

                                                     Come Up HIGHER

[Psalm 61:1-4] To the Chief Musician. On a stringed instrument. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the Rock that is Higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah (pause & think)

David, the King, Prophet & Priest sang about it!

[Hab. 3:17-19] Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls--Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my High Hills. To the Chief Musician with my stringed instruments.

Habakkuk, the prophet, played instruments for it!

[John 14:2-3]  Jesus said:  "In My Father's house are many mansions; if not, I would have told you. I go to prepare a PLACE for you. And if I go and prepare a PLACE for you, I will come again and receive you to MYSELF; that where I AM, you may be also.

JESUS SPOKE ABOUT IT!

[Ephesians 2:4-7] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened (gave life to) us together with Christ, and has raised up together, and made sit together in heaven in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

Paul, the apostle, revealed it to the church at Ephesus!

We, the church, get to live there:  Christ is that Place!

CHRIST IN YOU!  (Colossians 1:27)

PRAY FROM THERE.

PRAISE FROM THERE.

PREACH FROM THERE.

WALK THERE!

LIVE THERE!

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REVEALING GOD'S SECRET

REVEALING GOD'S SECRETS

[DEUT. 29:29 NKJV] "The SECRETS (cathar: to hide or conceal) to the LORD our God, but those revealed (galah: uncover, discover, open) to us and to our children forever, that [we] may do all the words of this law.

The secrets of God are many times hidden in plain sight but they are only revealed by His Spirit to those on the earth realm.  The Spirit of God knows the things of God, even the deep things.  They are revealed to His stewards and then to His children as they are taught and preserved.  The natural person cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God since they are spiritually discerned and they consider them foolishness.  (1 Cor. 2:13)  It is critical that we SEE or perceive His Word before we can walk in it.

This principle holds true today:  the WORD of TRUTH must be REVEALED in order for us to walk in truth or be DOERS of the WORD and not hearers only.  But we must recall that BEING come before DOING.  Our doing or fruitfulness is a result of His Spirit.  We deceive ourselves if we HEAR only and don’t go on to DO the word AS PROPELLED BY HIS SPIRIT.  Fruit is seasonal as we are trees of righteousness & bear fruit in our season and at the appointed times.  We can no more force fruit to grow than any tree of the field.  The fruit of the Spirit blossoms organically by Him, in Him, AND THROUGH HIS SPIRIT  in us.  

The greatest secret & mystery revealed to us is CHRIST in you, the HOPE or expectation of GLORY!

[JAMES 1:16-21 NKJV] Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth (born of the Spirit) by the WORD of TRUTH, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures.  So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the WRATH of MAN does not PRODUCE the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD.  Therefore lay aside ALL filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the IMPLANTED or ENGRAFTED WORD, which is able to SAVE your souls.

Notice that the Wrath of Man is the filthiness and overflow of wickedness trying to produce in the flesh what ONLY  GOD'S SPIRIT can bring about in our lives.  The righteousness of GOD is not earned, nor worked for, and is not obtained by achievement but rather is a free gift imputed to our account when we BELIEVE.  So when we lay aside our fleshly works of striving to achieve something by our own ingenuity, we can HUMBLY RECEIVE the word and it will be able to do its work and SAVE our souls (our will, intellect, and emotions).  

[ROMANS 1:15-17 NKJV]  So, as much as is in me, [I am] ready to preach the GOSPEL to you who are in Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL of CHRIST, for it is the POWER of GOD to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in IT (THE GOSPEL) the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD is REVEALED from FAITH to FAITH; as it is written:  "The just shall LIVE by FAITH."

To produce the righteousness of God, it must be first revealed to us by the gospel or the power of God from faith to faith from one position of belief to another in our lives.  The righteousness of God is not produced by wrath but rather imputed to us freely.  We must become aware that this righteousness is not earned, but rather given by grace to us and that this GRACE therefore works in us to continuously to produce an ongoing desire to DO those things prepared for us by God beforehand. 

[Ephesians 2:10 NKJV] For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP (you are His piece of work), created in Christ Jesus for GOOD WORKS which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The law required your obedience to keep it all.  Grace imparts HIS OBEDIENCE to you so that HIS DESIRE becomes yours and the RIGHTEOUSNESS IN YOU propels you toward what was prepared for you. 

[Phil 2:12-13 NASB] So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT (to perform or accomplish) your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is AT WORK IN YOU, both to WILL and to WORK for [His] good pleasure.

God happens to be at work in us by His Spirit and our position to to cooperate with Him in performing or accomplishing what He is working on in our lives.  We are to release what His grace has worked in.  We are a conduit meant to display the wonderful things that He is working in us.  

[2 Cor.10:3-6 NKJV] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal but mighty in God for:

***the greatest weapon is the gospel or the POWER of GOD

pulling down strongholds,

casting down arguments

(logismos: reckoning; computation; reasoning)

every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, (elevated thought against God’s knowledge)

bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and (every mental perception or thought)

being ready to punish all disobedience when

your obedience is fulfilled.  (obedience, compliance, submission)

OUR OBEDIENCE IS THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH IN JESUS' OBEDIENCE & THE EFFECTUAL WORKING OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN US. 

Our obedience should be wrapped up in His obedience.  An elevated thought is to think that "our obedience is the key" when it is His obedience that has captured ours and even produces our obedience as we submit to HIS obedience.  Jesus came to fully obey so that His obedience would be transferred to our account and we would become the righteousness of God.  What a magnificent, great, loving Father we truly have in that His son took our place so that we might live forever with Him!

[Psalm 40:6-9 NKJV] Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.  Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book [it is] written of me.  I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law [is] within my heart." I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know.

[Heb 10:4-10 NASB] For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND [sacrifices] FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE.  "THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'" After saying above, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND [sacrifices] FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE [in them]" (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By THIS WILL we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for ALL.

THE WHOLE COUNSEL

Many believers have heard the phrase "the whole counsel of God" alluded to by preachers from their pulpits.  They use the phrase to justify the mixture of law & grace being fed to the congregation.  After all should not there be a sprinkling of the Old with the New?  There must be balance in the church they surmise!  We must watch over the souls of men by teaching them the "the fear of the Lord" they conclude. 

A good question to ask them is:  Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Roman 2:4) The Greek word for repentance is metanoia meaning "a change of mind".  With this in mind, let us look at what the components of the "whole counsel of God" as presented by Paul, the great apostle.    

From Miletus he (Paul, the apostle) sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks:

                 REPENTANCE toward GOD and FAITH toward our LORD JESUS CHRIST.  

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus:      

                     to testify to the Gospel of the GRACE of God.  

And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone 

                     preaching the KINGDOM of God, will see my face no more.  

Therefore I testify to you this day that I [am] innocent of the blood of all [men].  For I have not shunned to declare to you the "whole counsel of God".  Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  [Act 20:17-28 NKJV]

The Gospel of the Grace of God teaches us that God so loved us in such an excellent way (1 Cor. 13:4-7) that He gave us His Son as the ultimate sacrifice for us, so that whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish but have eternal life.  It is the GOODNESS of this message that once heard (after all gospel means "good news") penetrates our hearts by the action of the Holy Spirit, changes our thinking about God (repentance) and causes us to BELIEVE in Jesus Christ (FAITH comes by hearing & hearing by the word of God).  

Lets be clear once and for all:  the Gospel of Grace is the message of God to the world and the Preaching of the Kingdom of God is the presentation of the same Grace.  Did not Jesus (full of Grace & Truth) preach and say:  Repent for the Kingdom of God is near you or at hand?  He is the personification of Grace and the Kingdom.  
JESUS is the WHOLE COUNSEL!  

ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER

For the LAW having a shadow of GOOD THINGS TO COME; not the very image of the things, can NEVER with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make those coming  there perfect.  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.  But in those [sacrifices there is] a REMEMBRANCE AGAIN [made] of SINS EVERY YEAR.  For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  
[Hebrews 10:1-4 KJV] 

As believers, we live in a season of GOOD THINGS.  The sacrifices previously offered by the Levitical priesthood only served as a SHADOW of the REAL.  Their continual sacrifices could not purge the "conscience" of the worshipers, and could not make them perfect in this regard.  As a result, their ONGOING sacrificial system only served as a REMINDER OF THEIR SINS.  Is this how you are living?  

And every priest (the Levites) stood daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER take away sins:  But this man (Jesus), after He had offered ONE sacrifice for sins FOREVER, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by ONE OFFERING (THE REAL) he has PERFECTED FOREVER them that are sanctified.    [Hebrews 10:11-14 KJV]   

Their priesthood was limited, repetitive, and without life since it never really completely addressed the sins of men.  Jesus, a High Priest after the order of an endless life, by one offering accomplished what the heart of the Father desired.  Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!  Let His blood accomplish what can never be done through any other means:  let the blood of Christ purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God!

How much more shall the BLOOD of CHRIST, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, "purge your conscience" from dead works to serve the living God?  [Hebrews 9:14 KJV] 

TRUST HIM FULLY

In the book of Isaiah the prophet (chapter 26) we find the following 
Song of Salvation:  
                
"We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls & bulwarks.  Open the gates, that the righteous nation which "keeps the truth" may  enter in.  Preserved, guarded, secure in perfect peace (shalom-shalom)   is the  mind  stayed (camak:  sustained, upheld, supported; leaning) in the  refuge of  trust  and confidence.  Trust in Yehovah forever, for in  Yah,  Yehovah is  everlasting strength.  For He brings down those who  dwell  on  high, the lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He  brings it  down to the dust.  The foot shall tread it down--the feet of the poor, the steps  of the needy." 

The strength of the City of God is Yehovah Himself; there is no other Rock like our God.  Unless the Lord God build the City, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord God preserves the City, the watchman is awake in vain.  It is solely Yehovah who appoints salvation as our defense and guard.  

The Lord our God possesses and is EVERLASTING STRENGTH.  Let us focus our mind on His refuge for our soul:  TRUST & CONFIDENCE IN YEHOVAH our Father, His son, Our Lord Jesus the Christ, and His Holy Spirit.  

THE RESULT WILL ALWAYS BE A SHALOM PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING!