IS OBEDIENCE OPTIONAL?
Friday – December 6, 2019, Kislev 8, 5780
Greetings my precious brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus. Welcome back to this amazing Bible Study of the Book of John. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment and hit the “love” and “share” buttons to extend the reach of these teachings. Those saved rejoice and those not saved need to know that there is no other name under Heaven whereby one may be saved but the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12). Saved from what one might ask? Saved from all of the curse (poverty, disease) here in the earth and perishing (continuous destruction) not only here in this time but in the eternity to come. Each of us will always exist and be amazingly conscious. I want my consciousness to be of Heaven and the amazing life, the adventure, of eternity bought for all at the Cross. I for one have rejected the devils offer of the agony of Hell forever. Dear one if you are reading this and don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior do so right now! Just tell the Lord, Jesus, that He is your Lord and that you believe He is the risen Messiah (Savior). The pictures this week were of various scenes. The picture today is of Donna and me is a selfie taken on our return trip from Texas in November. We were on a shuttle bus between gates at Dulles International Airport, Washington D.C. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text from the Book of John reading it aloud.
John 14:21-23 (KJV)
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Last week I discussed the question of “doesn’t God love us all already?” Yes, God does love all people already. That question arises from examining our text. The text tells us that God loves us in response to our loving Him first. The Truth is that the only reason we can love (agape) Him is because He loved us first (1 John 4:19). Here is where thinking in terms of the whole counsel of Scripture is essential. It is really essential when considering any Scripture. We will need to take a brief journey back to the beginning. I can see some of you smiling at that statement. In the beginning God (the co-equal triune God) created all including man. Keep in mind that the spirit of man breathed in this created of the earth physical body is a part of God and eternal. What I am saying is that our spirit man was not created but as a part of God has always existed. Man was created in the image and likeness of God (three part). Man sinned when he partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. By the way this is how many conduct their lives today (mixing and matching good and evil) which perpetuates the curse in our lives. Mankind (Adam and Eve) choose Satan as a new god (perhaps some of you have as well), a new father. God promised a Savior, a Messiah to restore mankind back to the family of God.
Genesis 3:15 (KJV)
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
In the fullness of time Jesus came under the Law born of a woman, a sinless man and paid the price of sin (Galatians 4:3-5). Restoration however only occurs with choosing Jesus as Lord, changing fathers and kingdoms. God always makes the first move and then we choose to accept or reject (have and keep).
John 3:16-18 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God made salvation available to all but we must obey His command to believe and act (confess with our mouth) upon it in order to be saved. When we do then God acts again by quickening our dead spirit man and bringing us back into the family. That action by God is love (agape) in response to our having and keeping His command. Our action of receiving, believing, and acting is love (agape) towards God. Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior was the very best decision of my life.
Ephesians 2:5-6 (KJV)
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Our having and acting upon His commands brings the love of God, the provisions of God into our lives. As you all know, financial abundance, health, nor wholeness of any kind does not just drop on us but is appropriated only when we do our part. We must have and keep His commandments. We must believe, have faith, and act in love (right motivations), as led of the Spirit (just like Jesus) and then wonderful things will manifest, the love of God will manifest in our lives. Oh, what a deal!
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!
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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