AMAZING LOVE
Monday – November 13, 2017
The featured picture is a portrait of our resident backyard chipmunk. His name is Mr. Chippy and he lives there with his wife Mrs. Chippy. Smile. Now, let’s dive back into our wonderful Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews. I spent all of last week discussing the selflessness aspect of Bible love, God’s love, our love in Christ Jesus. Jesus told us that when we lose our life in the flesh we find, gain, our life in Him. Which, I might point out far exceeds what we can plan or accomplish ourselves. Before we go back into our primary text let’s meditate for a few moments on the following Scripture passage.
Ephesians 3:17-21 (KJV)
17 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.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
What amazing Scripture, all of it the Truth. As we look at this for a moment let us consider why this is not a reality in our lives. The passage starts by telling us that Christ is to dwell in or occupy our thoughts by choice by believing God and believing He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Remember this word “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name, this is a much more complex idea, wonderful idea than that. Christ can mean Messiah, so all that the Messiah brought to us personally, all that is available as a result of the Messiah coming is encompassed by this word, Christ. Christ also means the Anointing as in the Holy Spirit and so now we are looking at all that He does from the moment of salvation (even before) through eternity in our lives. Christ also means Anointed One meaning Jesus. We are Anointed ones following in the image and likeness of our Father, of Jesus. He is our singular perfect example to follow. We learn much from all the characters in the Bible, but He and He alone is our example without qualification. He came not only to redeem us but to show the way.
Our text in Ephesians goes on to talk about us “being rooted and grounded in love”. Who is responsible for us being rooted and grounded in love? We are without exception. This is not an emotional attachment, this is obedience to the Word, selflessness toward God and others, as well as adherence to Blood Covenant. The more we chose to think (meditate) on all that Christ is the roots get thicker and go deeper. The greater and deeper the roots go, the more unshakeable we become and we will be thinking like our Father, like our Savior, and like the Holy Spirit. You will remember that faith is powered (works by) by love, no love, our faith is useless in the Kingdom of God.
Only when we have taken verse seventeen (victory) serious and are working it to our full Anointed capacity can we start and come to a real knowledge of the love of Christ. Now remember that the word Christ encompasses Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The meaning or definition of the word “love” (agape) does not change just because it is referring to Christ. We must start to understand the selflessness of the Word (Jesus), the Holy Spirit, and the Jehovah (the Father) in making and adhering to The Blood Covenant with mankind. All of this was done so that we “might be filled with all the fullness of God”. It pleased the Father that all fulness dwell in Jesus (Colossians 1:19) and it pleases Him that all fulness dwell in us. Nineteen is the number of faith and we will come to this understanding, this knowledge, by faith. We must believe it and then our gracious God will fill in all the wonderful fullness of this knowledge. All of our walk starts and ends with faith bound up in agape love. Without love anything accomplished with our faith is as useless to the Kingdom as a “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). As we look at Ephesians 3:20 we see that abundance in our lives is “according to the power that worketh in us”. Who determines how much power works in us? We do!!! This is the miracle working Power of the Holy Spirit. This is directly proportional to how serious each one of us take verse seventeen, the verse of victory. Our Ephesians passage ends by telling us that the goodness of Christ Jesus is now and will be forever demonstrated through us.
Now let’s take a moment or two and look at our text from the Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:10-12 (KJV)
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
I spent all of last week talking about our labor of love. I don’t think we have to be very far along in our walk with Christ Jesus to realize that to walk in love is work. People in the world know that. However, as we practice the full aspects of love it comes with less and less effort. Like it or not the fallen nature is selfish not selfless. Tomorrow Lord willing I will pick up with a discussion of diligence which the Word tells us leads to the full assurance of hope. Seems worthwhile, don’t you think? However, the word “diligence” puts us on notice that this will be a little more than dancing around singing.
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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