ANOINTED LOVE
Tuesday – September 19, 2017
Fifty-three years ago, today Patti and I said, “I do” to one another. The path has not always been smooth or pretty but the path, the bond, the love, and the covenant endures. God is so good.
Now let’s dive right back into our wonderful Bible Study of the Book of Hebrews. This morning as I printed out the fourth chapter of Hebrews I was struck that this chapter is sixteen verses long. I then looked back at the other chapters we have already covered and the numerology associated with them because out of the numbers of the Bible the nature, the character, and the love of God shines brightly. The first chapter was fourteen verses long. One is the number of unity and fourteen is the number of deliverance or salvation. Just think about that chapter and how the Son brought deliverance from darkness, the curse and entry into an unparalleled salvation in union with God. The second chapter was eighteen verses long. Two is the number of union or division with eighteen being the number of bondage. This chapter is all about the Son, Jesus, being more than enough for our release from bondage. When we chose union with the Savior, with God, we are certainly brought out of the bondage of Satan into the wonderful freedoms and abundance of God. The third chapter has nineteen verses. Three is a Divine completeness number (like seven and nine) with nineteen being the number of faith. This chapter strongly encourages us to believe God, to develop and exercise faith and not be like those in the wilderness who never entered into the fulness of God’s provision (rest), His deliverance due to unbelief.
Chapter four has sixteen verses. Sixteen is the number of love. Recall that Bible love is not an emotional, carnal, fleshy thing primarily. Bible love (Greek – agape/agapeo) is first and foremost, at its core, obedience to the Word of God. God’s love for us is primarily evidence by His faithful performance of His Word, our receipt of that love is triggered by our faith powered or motivated by love (obedience to the Word of God) of God. This chapter as we will see is all about entering the provision of God, the rest of God, which is manifest in these last days because of the love of God (obedience to His own Word). The number four is all about authority (dominion) and power (dynamis). As one studies, the fourth day of creation you will find there is a lot of discussion of authority and rulership and a bringing of light upon the earth. We also see the creation or unveiling of the energy sources that turn the darkness (unenergized photons) to light (energized photons), the anointing (Holy Spirit) that makes the Word alive and sharper than any two-edged sword. Thus, the title of today’s study: “Anointed Love”. As we chose to be obedient to the leadership of our Shepherd by faith the Holy Ghost and Power makes us the light of the world, let it shine, let it erase all darkness in our paths. Isn’t the Word of God so wonderful and full of wonderful Truths awaiting our discovery. Now let us look at our primary text for today.
Hebrews 4:1-3 (KJV)
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
The Divine Author of Hebrews through an obedient servant, likely a Prophet, is telling us to be very careful that we don’t leave the promises, the rest of God, untouched through our own choice not to believe. Yes, it is a choice, to believe or not to believe is a conscious choice that each of us make moment to moment in our individual lives. Peter walked on the water so long as he focused on the Master, the Word of the Master; however, when he focused on the waves he consciously chose another god. The children of Israel like Peter got off to a good start but then they both took their eyes off the Word of God and focused on physical things. The physical things of this world are subject to change when we change the spiritual things (thoughts and words).
2 Corinthians 4:18 (KJV)
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
The things we can see with the physical eye or appreciate with our senses or other physical measuring devices of this world are very temporary but the spiritual (unseen by physical means) is eternal. The things of this temporal realm are subject to change and are subject to the non-temporal or spirit realm which is independent of space and time. We, the Church of God, the body of Christ have many great and wonderful promises. Unfortunately, we have chosen to leave the vast number of them on the table so to speak. This displeases the Father, brings anger, and eventually judgment. Hebrews 4:2 tells us that they heard the good news (gospel) yet it did not profit them, they left it all untouched. They chose unbelief over belief (faith in God). Will we turn our attention to the goodness of our God, find those promises (the provision, the rest), and chose to implement them into our lives and ministry? Will we choose to take the good news and mix it with faith and be the sons of God according to His will? When we take His Word, and mix it with our faith in obedience (love) to Him the Holy Spirit will energize that obedience and bring the Godly result. Hence, the title of this study, ‘Anointed Love”.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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