IF YOU LOVED ME
Wednesday – February 5, 2020, Sh’vat 10, 5780
Greetings my dear friends and partners and welcome back to The Three Minute Word blog and this intense Bible Study of the Book of John. We pray and ask that you join in prayer with us asking the Lord that each and every one of these teaching be an Anointed utterance that strengthens and heals each reader who has ears to hear and a heart to receive. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment to hit the “love” and “share” buttons to encourage us and expand the reach of this ministry. The featured picture today is courtesy of Little Moments Photography (our granddaughter). Now let’s turn our attention intently to our primary Bible reference and read it aloud. If we read this aloud while distracted and give it anything less than our full attention and intention to make it ours, we are wasting our time.
John 14:28-31 (KJV)
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
I left off yesterday in the midst of verse twenty-eight rejoicing in the reality that Jesus did come, did pay the price of sin, was Resurrected from the dead, returned to Heaven, and is coming again at any moment. At His coming we will receive the fullness of the salvation Jesus purchased at Calvary and in Hell. His resurrection assured our resurrection. We will receive a glorified, uncorrupted body like unto Christs’. Right now, we have the earnest of our salvation with the Anointing and quickening Holy Spirit Who has sealed us in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (KJV)
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (KJV)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
It is my hope that reviewing these Scriptures concerning the Rapture and Resurrection have greatly encouraged us all.
Next from our text Jesus tells the assembled disciples that day “If ye loved me, ye would rejoice”. The word “loved” here is agape, the God kind of love, the highest order love and the most necessary. This Godly love (agape) regulates the others. I will now define this “love” once again. Agape is a selfless lifestyle (dead to self), an obedience to Scripture, and adherence to Blood Covenant. They are not rejoicing that Jesus is returning to the Father for they are not focused on Him and His good but are focused on themselves. Instead of being selfless (dead to self) they are selfish.
Do we rejoice when our loved ones go on to Heaven to be with the Father, with Jesus, and those who have gone on before, or do we grieve feeling sorry for ourselves. Sometimes we even feel sorry for them saying things like “poor so and so died”. If they were lost (unsaved) it is a tragedy that cannot be measured but if they are born again it is a joy that also cannot be measured. Which place is best for anyone, here or Heaven? Things are extraordinarily well with those who have gone on to Heaven and we must be careful to rejoice in that whether we feel like it or not. That is not to say we don’t miss a person but it is wrong to want them back in the earth. Instead we are to look forward to the remainder of our journey in the earth. We must focus on the departed or transitioned persons current status and how wonderful and perfect it is and rejoice for (and with) them. This is very hard (I understand) that, but it is hard because of all the terrible traditions and teachings even people in the Church have received. We the Church are too much like the world. Back to Jesus and the disciples, the long and short of it was they were focused on self and not on Him demonstrating that they did not love (agape) Him in spite of their confession. Now, dear ones this does not just apply to Jesus at that time and place, it applies to us and the departure of our saved loved ones and even ourselves. When we have finished our course (assignments finished, satisfied, family blessed) let’s not cling to this world but make the transition home with joy.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name! Quit asking God to bless you, you are already blessed, you have the Blessing, give Him something to do by the words of your mouth. Once you know the will of God, decree the thing (Job 22:28, Isaiah 45:11, Mark 11:23). (The Blessing is the Holy Spirit) We have left God way to long with nothing to do in our lives.
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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