AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Wednesday – April 21, 2021, Iyar 9, 5781
LOVE IS OBEDIENCE
Greetings dear and precious saints of God and welcome back to The Three Minute Word blog. God is good and nothing but good dear brother and sister. No matter our circumstances at the moment we must always remember that God is always, without exception good. There can be many ways that the curse comes or is given entrance (by us) into our lives, although permitted by God is not caused or initiated by God. God does not beat up on His children to get our attention or teach us something and He is not subcontracting with the demons. Look at how Jesus put it.
John 10:10 (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
I really like this verse for it very succinctly differentiates between the work of our enemy and the work of our Lord. Life can get pretty rough at times, deal with the rough as you must, but always run to God, the Word. As of this week I am starting with the last chapter of the Book of John. I am not sure where I will go from here. I had previously given thought to the Book of Isaiah. The featured picture today is an artist’s illustration of the disciples seeing Jesus on the shore and coming to Him with Peter in the lead. Please take a moment to share this Bible teaching as widely as possible. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text for today and read it aloud, yes, out loud.
John 21:4-7 (KJV)
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
Yesterday when we finished, we were thinking about and looking for revelation as to why those disciples and perhaps us today do not always recognize Jesus. They had been with Jesus up close and personal for three years. Some of us have been saved and going to Church for many decades. Do we always recognize the Lord? Is the key to recognizing the Lord all the time, love, agape love? I suspect that every believer would say they love the Lord. Are they talking agape (love) or another “love”? Many times, it is an emotional love which is of the soul and not agape which is also of the soul but an immutable commitment to the Word and others devoid of emotion. Remember, agape love, the God kind of love is obedience to the Word of God, a selfless lifestyle, and observance of Blood Covenant. Be reminded of the following, hopefully familiar Scripture.
John 14:21 (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.
Our obedience to Scripture is what brings the manifestation of God into our lives. Okay, now back to verse seven of our text. We assume “that the disciple whom Jesus loved” was John, the same John of first, second, and third John as well as the Book of Revelation. John had been practicing love (agape), he was with Peter when Peter denied the Lord three times and as far as I can tell is the only disciple to be at the Cross. Remember, Jesus told him (John) to take care of His mother (Mary) from that day forward. This constant walk of love (agape) enabled John to recognize Jesus when the others did not. Let us be quick to follow John’s example. For just a moment look at the text of John 14:21 above. Having and keeping (doing) what is in the Book (Bible) is the definition of a person who loves God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). That constant expression of love towards God will cause the Father to express His love towards us. We do our obligations in Scripture and He sees to it we reap the benefits. Our obedience brings the manifestation of God into our lives. This is what the world is hungry to see, it is the goodness of God, and that goodness is what draws people to salvation.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life 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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