NO OBEDIENCE = NO LOVE
Tuesday – January 14, 2020, Tevet 17, 5780
Greetings to our wonderful and precious friends and partners of this Ministry and blog. Welcome back to this powerful and course correcting Bible Study of the Book of John. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment to hit the “love” and “share” buttons to encourage us and spread the good news. The picture today was taken after a fresh snow and much of the snow remained on the trees giving us a beautiful winter scene. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text and read it aloud. Yes, read it aloud! How does faith come? Do we need faith? Are we to live by faith? In case you are struggling, faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), and, yes, we need faith (Hebrews 11:6), we cannot please God without it, and yes, faith is to be a lifestyle (Romans 1:17). Now, let’s read this text aloud.
John 14:23-25 (KJV)
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.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
As we pick up in verse twenty-three of our primary Bible text, we hear Jesus again repeating the Truth that love (agape – God kind of love) is manifested by the keeping of His Words. It is essential that we have a willing heart (mind) and then do the whole command. Yesterday I presented the following Scripture and I will revisit that now.
Isaiah 1:19-20 (KJV)
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
This is very serious dear saints, mediate and take this to heart very seriously. I want us to focus on the word “willing” for just a moment for I made the point that this was to come from an eager not a reluctant heart. We have all had times we did what we were told but it was not with a willing heart. Perhaps you have seen this in your children. According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament this word “willing” is a verb meaning to be willing, to consent, to be acquiescent, to yield, to desire. Its primary meaning is to be positively inclined to respond to some authority or petition. I want us, me included, to notice the “to desire” and “to be positively inclined” portions of this definition. Does this describe me, does this describe you?
Now back to verse twenty-three of our primary text. Notice that Jesus, the Word, says that when we love Him, we keep (have and do) His Words. When we do this the Father will love us. One might say, “well doesn’t the Father already love me?” Yes, He does that is the whole thing with Jesus (the Word) coming into the earth, the world (John 3:16). That being true what is being talked about here? As an act of His love for mankind God not only promised a Savior but sent a Savior. God (the Triune) was faithful or obedient to His own Word with a good attitude. We are told that Jesus went to the Cross for the joy set before Him.
Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
In the Garden of Eden on the Day of Sin and Death God promised a Savior (Genesis 3:15) and as I hope we all know He followed through and those of us who have chosen Jesus as Lord and Savior are in the Kingdom of God.
Galatians 4:3-5 (KJV)
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
There was a day when you and I (if you are saved) chose right, a day when we believed and moved from being condemned to not being condemned.
John 3:18 (KJV)
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.
On that wonderful day that we believed we were delivered from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of God.
Colossians 1:13-14 (KJV)
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
God loves us by keeping His Word, and we trigger that love by being obedient to that Word like when we were born again. The way that we obtained salvation is the same way that we increase in our wealth, our health, and in every other area of life. The table is set but we cannot enjoy anything on the table until we take it by faith, in love, and led of the Holy Spirit (same as salvation)
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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