Often times we think of love as something with conditions and/or boundaries. Our flesh tends to see love in a very carnal and perverse way. People are always saying that they love you, but do they really? We as humans on this earth tend to seek after worldly things to fulfill this love that our hearts desire. Because we have been taught such perverse meanings of the word love through media and American pop culture in general, we as a result have a hard time understanding the way God loves us and how we should love others.
Merriam- Webster’s Dictionary
1. Love – Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.
2. Unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another (as the fatherly love of God for humankind).
We cannot love our lives to death or be caught up in the things of this world and also love Christ.
1 John 1:15-17 says do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boastings of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
We often see the world through such a selfish lens. In America we are used to always having it our way, and getting what we want, when we want. Our lives can easily become more about self than about God. We have to let God’s word teach us what it means to love as well as teach us what love is.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Romans 12:9-21
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[d]says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[e] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Considering these things we know that it is impossible for us to love and love fully without the power of God and his holy spirit. Our flesh wants to hate our enemys and hold grudges, but God already said that he will avenge his elect; it’s up to us to act in obedience to his word just because of his sovereignty. We were born in sin and hating God. It’s in our fleshly nature is to hate, but because of God’s love; but when we come to the understanding of him and we have surrendered our hearts to the holy spirit only then can we be taught how to truly love. Love is not something we can have on our own accord or by our own power, but only by and through God. I encourage you to live as it says in Ephesians:
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Let the lord show you his Love and teach you how to love. As the Lord conforms us to his image, the more we will understand his love for us ad the more his love will reflect through us in our everyday lives
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
AND THAT’S LOVE!!! J
Hey Folks,
With all of this crazy weather lately God has definitely placed something on my heart that I would like to share...
I was looking for a definition of storm and I thought the following was the most comprehensive...
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather. It may be marked by strong wind, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation, such as ice (ice storm), or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere (as in a dust storm, snowstorm, hailstorm, etc).
This particular definition struck me because there is a lot going on that is relevant to our walk as Christ-like beings and the struggles that sometimes arise. So let's break it down...
First, A Storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere ... Here we have to realize while we may not be astronomical in size by science standards the impact we have here on earth and our work for the kingdom definitely is. While doing that work from time to time a disturbance or trouble will come along. The Bible speaks specifically about 3 types of trouble that believers face... 1) Discipline, judgment, or rebuke from the Lord; 2) tests, trials, persecutions, suffering; and 3) temptations or attacks from the adversary. I want to just focus on the 2nd and 3rd. When temptation, spiritual dissolution, division, and disbelief enter your atmosphere a disturbance has taken place. Moving on...
Especially affecting its surface and strongly applying severe weather... We go deeper, when dealing with a storm if you realize from the start that it may especially affect your surface, and it will be rough weather then half of it is already over. Who cares how it looks on the outside? Who cares if the surface is tossed a bit? Just remember all the water in the world cannot sink a ship until it lets it on the inside. Let your faith be solid. Any tangible, earthly problems should be regarded as that, the rest we give to God and let him handle it. Our belief in him and our faith should not believe that he can but knowing it is already done. (Hint: The fight is fixed!)
It may be marked by strong wind, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation, such as ice (ice storm), or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere (as in a dust storm, snowstorm, hailstorm, etc). This is the part I like. KNOW WHAT A STORM CAN LOOK LIKE! Too many times we allow a storm to creep up on us and we are caught with no umbrella or rain boots in sight. There is always fair warning before a storm comes. It gets dark out, the wind starts to blow, the temperature drops, pay attention to the signs, and if you find yourself about to be caught in the rain run for shelter! And stay there until it passes. If you want you can take it a step further and look ahead and find out if a storm is coming and bring an umbrella with you just in case. This all applies to our daily lives. Prepare yourself spiritually for problems, know who you hang around and how they affect you, know what your struggles are and pray for preparedness and deliverance. Furthermore we have to realize not every storm looks the same and each different type needs preparation. You wouldn’t wear a raincoat in a snowstorm you would freeze! And you would wear a triple fat goose in a thunderstorm it would be soggy and wet. Know what tools you have to combat a storm (prayer, fasting, operating under the Holy Spirit, the bible) and use them accordingly. The unadulterated word of God CANNOT STEER YOU WRONG! It is your best tool.
Storms come often but we are built to withstand them. Palm trees see so many hurricanes in their lifetime because they bend, move and shake to survive the storm. Other trees break and die because they don’t know how to adjust or what to do. Don’t be caught in the storm without an umbrella, don’t be caught in a situation and have no clue how to get out, or eyes to see the obvious way out.
Are you prepared for Stormy Weather?
It is my prayer that this blesses someone if you have any questions concerns or need clarification just let me know!
-TJ
These are just a few of the scriptures I feel are relevant to the message:
Mat 6:13, Mat 26:41, Eph 6:10-14, James 4:8, Hebrews 13:5-6, 2 Corinthians 4 7:11
Wuts Up People Of God, I wanted to share some scriptures that relate to the songs we have learned thus far in AAV. This will serve as a sort of music and word challenge as we are ministers of the Gospel (Good News)empowered by bring the scripture to life. I hope these encourage us as we sing his praises, and grow in an understanding of his word...The scriptures listed below are not the only scriptures that pertain to the selections...however I hope the ones listed demonstrate why what we sing about has power. 1. Blessed Assurance- Hebrews 10:222. Never Alone- John 14:18, Psalm 121:13. Angels Cry- Isaiah 6:1, Revelation 4:84. Matt 28- Matt 28 (pol)- praise out loud5. Not About us Psalm 115:1, Matt 6:336. Tell Somebody- Revelation 12:10 and 11, 2nd Samuel 22:50, John 10:107. I will Bless The Lord-Psalm 34:1, psalm 1038. Battle Of Jericho- Joshua 6
David Powell
