WHAT ABOUT THOSE COMMANDMENTS?
Tuesday – November 19, 2019, Cheshvan 21, 5780
Greeting my precious brothers and sisters in Christ and welcome back to this in depth, illuminating, and empowering 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 encourage Donna and me and more importantly expand the reach of this gospel. The pictures today, Wednesday, and Thursday are of the buffalo (Adam and Eve) that I owned in Texas. Precious ones please understand that there are no more important Words, nor more important knowledge, not even close to the Words of God, our knowledge (intimate) of God, of His Word. Knowing His Word, receiving His Word, having an unwavering faith in His Word, using His Word in Love and being led of the Holy Spirit should be the most fervent cry of our heart. If it is not, we might ask ourselves what knowledge, whose words do we value, what words do we have absolute faith in, where is our love, and who is leading us? Now let us turn to our primary Bible text and read it aloud together.
John 14:15-21 (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
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.
What about those commandments which when done are the proof of our love (agapaō) for Jesus, for the Father, even the Holy Spirit? If we are not doing the commandments, not even checking to see what they are, or going with tradition because it suits our fancy, we are a liar and love is not in us. Let’s take a look at what the Apostle of love had to say in another place on this topic.
1 John 2:3-6 (KJV)
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
The Apostle John, the one who he and others referred to as the one whom Jesus loved, tells us that if we are not keeping His commandments, we not only don’t love Him but don’t even know Him. This is pretty strong and calls into question our very salvation. This might be somewhat analogous to getting married but not paying any attention to our spouse in terms of their needs and wants. It would be like paying no attention to the Blood Covenant between us, not doing any or much of what they ask, and being selfish (not selfless) in every way. How well will that work in making a strong marriage, a successful marriage, or will this be one of the 49% in divorce court? Well, we must ask ourselves, how will this same approach work in the Kingdom with our Master and our Father. Are we just using them as a ticket to avoid Hell like a spouse might use another as a simple meal ticket? The Apostle John tells us that when we do not keep the commandments the Truth is not in us. I will talk more about this tomorrow. Recall, the Truth is Jesus, the Word, the Holy Spirit, and love. You can easily see it all points to Jesus. Let’s take just a moment with the following passage before we leave this teaching for today.
1 John 5:2-4 (KJV)
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Now we see that the evidence that we love the other children of God is when we love God and keep His commandments. Loving God and keeping His commandments are inseparable. We are also told that keeping His commandments is not hard. It is a matter of the will and a burning desire to please our Lord, our Heavenly Father. Furthermore, reflect on the fact that all things of the Kingdom are accomplished by faith and the power of faith is love.
Galatians 5:6 (KJV)
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Just how powerful do we suppose our faith will be when we have weak baby love? Until tomorrow don’t let the Word of God depart from the midst of your heart or your mouth.
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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