THE LOVE OF GOD
Tuesday – December 18, 2018, Tevet 10, 5779
Greetings and welcome back to this powerful and faith building Bible Study of the Book of John. If there is no fire kindled in our soul our wood may be wet, let us ask ourselves and the Lord why the fire is not burning within. Like in a natural marriage sometimes we have to go back and remember what kindled the fire in the first place and do those former things again. Listen to the Words of the Risen Jesus to the Church at Ephesus.
Revelation 2:3-5 (KJV)
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Bold added by Dr. Wood)
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The featured picture today is of the Jerusalem Temple Mount. If you are receiving these teachings on Facebook please hit the “like” and “share” buttons. Now, let’s delve into todays teaching by first reading our primary Bible text aloud.
John 5:39-44 (KJV)
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
As we left off yesterday, I was discussing the 41st verse above and Jesus’ statement; “I receive not honour from men.” I pointed out that Jesus was not rejecting any honor that men (people) might give to Him but instead He was focused on honoring His Heavenly Father and in turn receiving the honor of the Father. It is a matter of focus versus outright rejection. Likewise, we must all adopt that attitude because the passions of people, even or own if we are not careful, can wax and wane and even do a one hundred eighty-degree turn. As we do the will of the Father His passions do not wax and wane nor do they change direction as we do His will.
Now let’s move forward in our text to verse forty-two. Wow, this verse nails those listening to Him, the unbelieving Jews, but it could have been and may have included unbelieving heathen, saying; “ye have not the love of God in you.” It seems that the primary message Jesus is conveying is that they say they love God however they do not believe the Scripture which is the litmus test (a deciding issue) of loving God. They have instead believed a corrupted gospel, the traditions of men, the doctrine of devils. This is what happened in part in the Garden of Eden on the Day of Sin and Death. This is rampant in the modern Church and they wonder why there is not power in their individual lives or that of the corporate Church. Many times, when the Truth is brought it is rejected as the false even when it is directly from Scripture. This is exactly what is playing out in the text that we have been studying for the last several days. Jesus (Messiah) is plainly spelled out in the Old Testament, spoken of by a myriad of prophesies as to how He could be recognized yet those who should have known better threw all of that under the bus so to speak.
Let us think for a few moments on the phrase “love of God in you”. This word translated to English as “love” is the Greek word transliterated as “agape”. This is the God kind of love, there is a potential for this kind of love in all persons saved or not due to the origin of man in the image and likeness of God (spirit man). However, the sinner cannot walk in the supernatural level of Godly love as the born-again Spirit filled child of God. These who are listening on this day in Jerusalem were not capable of expressing or having Godly love, agape, for none were born again and so the spirit man was dead. However, by faith they could walk in a degree of it just as others by faith reached out of their time and walked where other men did not. We can do the same. In Christ Jesus all of God is available to us all the time by faith, motivated or powered by love, led of the Holy Spirit. All the promises of God in Him are yes and amen, not at some future date but right now, speak it (not begging or crying) by faith and see it as the only possible avenue or outcome and it will be yours (ours). One of the fruits of our spirit which we got from God (duplicate in kind) is “love”. This Godly love is dormant in the natural man but at salvation is quickened by Holy Spirit. However, I firmly believe they could have by faith walked with God in the same level of love as we have the capacity for today in Christ Jesus. Remember, all things are possible with God. So, in closing there is the love of God which is a part of our spiritual DNA and it empowers us to love God and to love others. Remember, Godly love is unselfish, is mindful and doggedly adherent to the Blood Covenant, and always seeks to do the will of God spelled out in Scripture (or as led of Holy Spirit). Holy Spirit will never lead us to do something crossways the Scripture. Jesus is telling the peoples listening (especially the unbelieving Jews who are seeking to kill Him) that not only do they not love God, they do not even possess the capacity to love God. That was true for they had rejected the Scripture.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it 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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