LOVE ONE ANOTHER

LOVE ONE ANOTHER 

The Bible tells us "God is love". Of course we know that Jesus is God so we can say "Jesus is love". Jesus came to earth with His main purpose of becoming the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, to shed His pure, innocent blood to pay the penalty for our sins so that the New Testament (new promise or covenant) of mercy would finish the Law (Old Testament). In place of judgement we now have the opportunity to repent and find mercy because of Jesus blood shed at Calvary. That was Jesus' main purpose in coming in flesh to this earth. But He had a second purpose also. That was to live a pure life before mankind in order to set an example for us to pattern our lives by. 

Study the life of Christ in the four Gospels. Everything Jesus did was for the purpose of setting an example for us to follow. His every act was executed, His every word was spoken in pure love. When we really look closely at the individual acts and teachings of Jesus we don't see a God, (tho God He was and is), but we see an humble, selfless Servant to all. Even when He performed great miracles, we find Him saying,  "now, go and tell no man..."  His agenda was not to make a reputation for Himself, but to serve those He loved, mankind.

(Philippians  2:5-7) "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"

I truly believe that is the key to loving, humbling ourselves and doing our very best (as God has gifted us individually) to simply serve Him, by serving others. We should study the entire chapter of Philippians 2. It is a beautiful lesson on true love one to another. Our acts of service, or even obedience are not love in themselves. But our 'intention' to put others before ourselves, to put our own human desires away and instead seek God's will, then live in obedience to it. This is love manifest. I guess the whole thing can be said in one word, MOTIVE. If you do not fully understand the meaning of that word (motive) look it up. It's about WHY we do what we do. Do we "do" this or that in order to have praise of others? Is it to feel holier than others or just to "feel" holy within ourselves (which is a nice way of defining 'self-righteousness')? Is it because we're trying to be good enough to earn God's favor? The only thing these acts will accomplish is to exhaust us mentally and physically, but will not bring us God's favor. 

David writes his prayer in Psalm 26:2

"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart."

The meaning of the word "reins" in this scripture is simply "motive". David was praying for God to purify his motives. He speaks to God in this chapter about how he (David) has served God faithfully, obediently...but then he realizes that real, pure LOVE goes beyond the visible acts of service. Real love is found deep within a hidden corner of our hearts that no one sees but God Himself; that is where "motive" lives. We can become so absorbed in "being good" that we forget to look at WHY we're being good. David knew this and prayed fervently for God to continually search and purify his motives, (those hidden reasons or agendas buried in our human subconsciousness). 

Here's the bottom line: 

What I do for my brother or sister

What I do to win the lost

What I do to appear holy (inwardly or outwardly)

All my self-sacrifice humanly possible

.......though these are certainly all acts of Christianity, and will most assuredly be prevalent in the life of a true Christian, in themselves they will not and cannot save us. 

Paul says it so well in I Corinthians 13:3 (Message)

"If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake and be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love."

Study the entire chapter of I Corinthians 13, often referred to as the "The Chapter of LOVE" and we'll find "love" has very little to do with "self" other than the dying out thereof. 

I don't have all the answers, but I do know this, love is not an act. Love is a state of one's heart in intimate relationship with God. Only when this bond of relationship is formed in the ultimate, unconditional (Agape) love for God, can the real selfless (Phileo) brotherly love be manifested and result in selfless, Christ-driven, effective service to others. 

Jesus taught in Matthew 25:40, "...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me."

John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

May The Lord bless you,

Sheila Ashcraft.

PRAYER - "Trouble with Prayer" 

Prayer will get you into trouble, but prayer will get you out of trouble again. I have often prayed for a thing only to create the exact opposite effect. Jesus rebuked the devil in a deaf and dumb child, but the devil "cried, and rent him sore." The people said, "He is dead!" But Jesus took his hand and raised him up. Don't be immobilized if Satan fights back. Pray on! 

Acts 16:16 - "...it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us"

PRINCIPALS - "Adam's Rib"

God put Adam to sleep and performed surgery. He removed one of Adam's ribs and made a woman from it. From the bone marrow came Adam's DNA, making her the first clone - a female version of Adam. An identical twin. Same eyes, same hair, same size. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them," Genesis 1:27. Two people. One image.

Genesis 2:22 - "And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman."

PRINCIPLES - "God is a Blesser"

Look at God's track record! He blessed Adam with a garden paradise. He blessed Noah with an escape route from the flood. He blessed Lot, sending angels to deliver him from Sodom. He blessed Joseph with dominion over Egypt. He blessed fleeing Israel with sensational miracles. He sent miraculous food, miraculous water, even miraculous shoes! There is no need God cannot provide. Stop thinking God cannot or will not bless you, too!

Psalms 84:11 - "...the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

PROPHECIES - "As the Days of Lot"

Everyone who is born again will escape the wrath of God when it comes to earth. But the same day, the judgment begins on those who remain. Justice will conclude at Armageddon.

Luke 17:28-30 - "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

You Can Open That Door

Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

– Matthew 7:7

How long has it been since you were backed into a corner, hemmed in by a seemingly insurmountable problem? If you're anything like most folks, it hasn't been very long. Some of us spend years trying to work our way out of financial binds only to end up more bound by debt than ever. Others work fanatically on marriages that, despite their best efforts, deteriorate from year to year. Still others fight battles against fear or depression, drug addiction or disease.

Deep within our hearts, each of us knows there must be an answer to the problem we face. But often it seems to be out of reach, hidden behind a door that's locked tightly against us.

What I want you to know today, however, is this: we can open that door! Jesus Himself has given us the keys.

Right now you may be facing a situation that looks utterly hopeless, but God has a key ring full of keys that will unlock any situation. He has the keys that open the doors for you spiritually and physically, financially and emotionally. No matter how hard the devil tries to trap you, if you'll get hold of the right key, you can find your way out.

God's Word is full of keys of kingdom principles—keys to bind the devil's operations and keys to loose yourself from his snares. God has a key that will unravel any knot that the devil can tie. He also has a key that will lock up the devil's operation so tightly that he won't be able to move.

Remember this: There's no situation so dark and so cleverly designed by the forces of darkness that there is not a kingdom key that will unlock it with kingdom power.

There is an answer to your situation. So keep digging for it. If you've been digging in the Word of God in one spot and haven't found your answer, then look at another chapter, a different verse. Keep digging until you find the key. Keep knocking at every door until you find the one that opens.

GO WHEN YOUR READY

ARE YOU LISTENING?

We’ve all heard the phrase, "God is always speaking", and it’s true. He speaks to us in prayer, when reading His Word, through preaching... But we’re not always praying, we’re not always reading our Bible, not always listening to scriptural teaching or preaching... So what about the in-between times? How do we hear His voice when we’re going about our day meeting our obligations and living life? The easy answer is, we walk in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is simply living with an ear continually tuned to God’s voice. Living in spiritual sensitivity makes us aware of things around us that we might normally not even notice. The bird’s song, the breathtaking sunset, children laughing. These are the manifestation of God’s voice speaking peace, comfort and love. We stand at the checkout and literally feel the sadness or anger of the person in front of us and instead of judging them harshly, we hear the Lord’s voice saying, "Let Me love them through you". It may only be a smile you offer, maybe just a kind word of understanding. Many times I’ve reached out and offered just a light touch on their arm or shoulder, and eye contact that said "It’s gonna be ok. I understand" can make all the difference in the world to that lonely, hurting soul. That may not seem like much, but God’s love is extravagant in itself. Our part is to listen and let Him flow through us, listen and let Him reveal His love to us and to this world around us. Turn and tune your ear toward Him and you’ll be amazed at how talkative He is! You’ll be amazed at the doors of opportunity He opens for you to share Him and the words He wants to speak to those that don’t know Him. Do it through me, Lord! I’m listening!

Go When You're Ready

With long life will I satisfy [you], and show [you] my salvation. – Psalm 91:16

Did you know that it's not God's will for you or anyone to die young? His will for you is to live the full number of your days. You ought to live 70 or 80 years, and if you are not satisfied, live awhile longer! The Bible says that when Abraham died, he died at a good old age, full of years. That's the way it ought to be with all of us. Some believers don't realize that and they've gotten themselves in a mess. When they get sick, instead of just believing for healing, they start wondering if it's God's will for them to die. Maybe He's ready to call me home, they think. Don't ever entertain thoughts like that. If God has His way, He won't call you home until you're good and ready to come. The Apostle Paul understood that. In 2 Timothy 4:6-7, he said, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Paul didn't die until he and Jesus were ready for him to go. Regardless of your age, if the devil is telling you God isn't going to heal you because it's time for you to go home, he is lying to you. God promises in Psalm 91:16 that if you are living under the shadow of the Most High, He will satisfy you with long life. (That means that you are abiding in Him as Jesus taught in John 15.) If you're not satisfied that you have finished your course yet on this earth, it's not time for you to die. So ignore the devil and keep right on living. Resist sickness and disease in the Name of Jesus. Stand on God's promise! Then, when you're ready to go on to heaven, go! But go satisfied, healed and ready! Go in victory shouting the words of that old joy-filled song--"Heaven is near and I can't stay here. Goodbye world, goodbye." PRAYER - "Pretentious Prayers"  God has the highest regard for you when you approach Him in honest prayer. Conversations between a true seeker and the Lord are holy to Him. God is especially unhappy when someone feigns prayer. Insincere prayers border on sacrilege. Jesus scorned hypocrites who sought to impress and made public shows of their prayers in synagogues or in the streets. This should encourage us to know that He genuinely respects our earnest, expectant prayers. And He will answer! Matthew 23:14 - "Woe unto you..., for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." PRINCIPALS - "The Garden of Eden" Adam was created before the garden of Eden was planted. God put Adam in it afterward. Ezekiel 28:13 depicts Lucifer in the garden, too - before he sinned! Satan did not arrive from a failed pre-Adamite society of evil angels. He came sinless. All the sins of men and angels began in the garden. Utopias do not prevent sin. Your health, success and prosperity could be your greatest temptation. Beware!  Genesis 2:8 - "...the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed." PRINCIPLES - "The Risks of Wrath" Anyone might have congratulated Cain for the beautiful offering of the fruit of his harvest that he presented to the Lord that day. But who could predict that God would ignore it and select instead the sacrificial lamb presented by Cain's brother, Abel. God arrested Cain for getting angry, and admonished him to try again. But anger got the best of Cain, and he killed his brother. God cursed him. Can you control your anger? If not, sin lies at the door. Genesis 4:6 - "And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth?" PROPHECIES - "Enoch's Prophecy" Enoch was the fellow who walked with God, and God suddenly took him without ever having to taste of death. Enoch was only seven generations from Adam, but he foresaw the final battle of Armageddon coming. What a fantastic revelation to have been received over 5,000 years ago! In the spirit, Enoch saw Jesus conquering the world!  Jude 1:14-15 - "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed."

Go When You're Ready 

With long life will I satisfy [you], and show [you] my salvation.

– Psalm 91:16

Did you know that it's not God's will for you or anyone to die young? His will for you is to live the full number of your days. You ought to live 70 or 80 years, and if you are not satisfied, live awhile longer! The Bible says that when Abraham died, he died at a good old age, full of years. That's the way it ought to be with all of us.
Some believers don't realize that and they've gotten themselves in a mess. When they get sick, instead of just believing for healing, they start wondering if it's God's will for them to die. Maybe He's ready to call me home, they think.
Don't ever entertain thoughts like that. If God has His way, He won't call you home until you're good and ready to come. The Apostle Paul understood that. In 2 Timothy 4:6-7, he said, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Paul didn't die until he and Jesus were ready for him to go.
Regardless of your age, if the devil is telling you God isn't going to heal you because it's time for you to go home, he is lying to you. God promises in Psalm 91:16 that if you are living under the shadow of the Most High, He will satisfy you with long life. (That means that you are abiding in Him as Jesus taught in John 15.)
If you're not satisfied that you have finished your course yet on this earth, it's not time for you to die. So ignore the devil and keep right on living. Resist sickness and disease in the Name of Jesus. Stand on God's promise!
Then, when you're ready to go on to heaven, go! But go satisfied, healed and ready! Go in victory shouting the words of that old joy-filled song--"Heaven is near and I can't stay here. Goodbye world, goodbye."

PRAYER - "Pretentious Prayers" 

God has the highest regard for you when you approach Him in honest prayer. Conversations between a true seeker and the Lord are holy to Him. God is especially unhappy when someone feigns prayer. Insincere prayers border on sacrilege. Jesus scorned hypocrites who sought to impress and made public shows of their prayers in synagogues or in the streets. This should encourage us to know that He genuinely respects our earnest, expectant prayers. And He will answer!

Matthew 23:14 - "Woe unto you..., for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."

PRINCIPALS - "The Garden of Eden"

Adam was created before the garden of Eden was planted. God put Adam in it afterward. Ezekiel 28:13 depicts Lucifer in the garden, too - before he sinned! Satan did not arrive from a failed pre-Adamite society of evil angels. He came sinless. All the sins of men and angels began in the garden. Utopias do not prevent sin. Your health, success and prosperity could be your greatest temptation. Beware! 

Genesis 2:8 - "...the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed."

PRINCIPLES - "The Risks of Wrath"

Anyone might have congratulated Cain for the beautiful offering of the fruit of his harvest that he presented to the Lord that day. But who could predict that God would ignore it and select instead the sacrificial lamb presented by Cain's brother, Abel. God arrested Cain for getting angry, and admonished him to try again. But anger got the best of Cain, and he killed his brother. God cursed him. Can you control your anger? If not, sin lies at the door.

Genesis 4:6 - "And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth?"

PROPHECIES - "Enoch's Prophecy"

Enoch was the fellow who walked with God, and God suddenly took him without ever having to taste of death. Enoch was only seven generations from Adam, but he foresaw the final battle of Armageddon coming. What a fantastic revelation to have been received over 5,000 years ago! In the spirit, Enoch saw Jesus conquering the world! 

Jude 1:14-15 - "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed."

☄️ MANY ARE THE ACCUSERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS

Wisdom Shall Die With You

PRAYER - "Zophar Prods Job To Repent"

Finally, Zophar, Job’s friend, articulated his opinion. He accused Job of

lying and mocking God. "Oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee." He said that Job deserved more punishment than he was getting. He called Job to stretch out his hands to God and put iniquity far away from him. Like so many people, Zophar could easily see sin in his friend's life, but could not see his own disgusting self-

Pastor Mark Riley has blessed us
again read Introductory 

righteousness. Who are you judging?

Job 11:15,16 - "For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; ...thou shalt forget thy misery."

PRINCIPALS - "The Hand Of The LORD Hath Wrought This"

Although Job was sick and tormented, he sparred with his "friends." They relentlessly accused him of wrongdoing. Job sarcastically retorted, "No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you." He declared that God rules all creatures - men and beasts, and is supremely wise, making great and powerful men look like fools. Job argued that God does many things that are contradictory to human understanding. 

Job 12:9 - "Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?"

PRINCIPLES - "Though He Slay Me, Yet Will I Trust In Him"

Job fired back at Zophar. Let me paraphrase it in common words. "What you know, I know. I would speak to God. I would reason with Him. But not you. You are liars - incompetent doctors. I wish you would just hush up. You grossly misrepresent God. He will reprove you. Why aren't you afraid of Him? Just be quiet and leave me alone." At last, he declared his unflinching intention to trust God, no matter how difficult his trial.

Job 13:15,16 - "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: ...He also shall be my salvation."

PROPHECIES - "He Increaseth The Nations, And Destroyeth Them"

If you remember that the book of Job is the most ancient of all scriptures, then Job, who lived in primitive times, was quite prophetic in these statements. His insights were exceedingly far reaching - all the way to our generation. As great nations fall, and evil men rule, remember that God is in control.

Job 12:18,19, 21,23 - "He looseth the bond of kings, ...He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. ...He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. ...He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again."

💫WALK and TALK wGOD will have special favor.

PRAYER - "With Thee Will I Establish My Covenant"

A man who walks and talks with God will have special favor. When God looked upon the earth, "all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." He told Noah, "I will destroy them with the earth. ...every thing that is in the earth shall die." But God had a different plan for Noah. "With thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives." All this, for doing His will.

Genesis 6:22 - "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he."

PRINCIPAL - "Ships, Shipmasters, Sailors And Sea Traders"

"The merchants ...and every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off." Those who enrich themselves by the merchandises of Catholicism will "bewail her, ...lament for her, ...weep and mourn over her, ...cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing." The world should never have seen the abominations perpetrated by Roman Catholicism for 1700 years. Rome will fall. Earth will mourn. Heaven will rejoice.

Revelation 18:19 - "Alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness!"

PRINCIPLE - "God Will Violently Overthrow His Enemies"

The Greek word used in this verse is "hormema," meaning "with violence, an assault, with precipitancy [great cause and force]." The world has never seen God's anger so provoked. In all the ages, His violent fury has never been unleashed as it will be the day that God judges and destroys Rome and the Roman Catholic Church. Get away from it.

Revelation 18:21 - "A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."

PROPHECY - "Merchants Will Stand Afar Off For Fear Of Her Torment"

"The merchants ...which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing." Will they be terrified because they know that their own judgment may be next? Countless multitudes have put their explicit trust in the Roman Catholic Church, even earning their living from Catholicism, although their hearts knew something was wrong.

Revelation 18:17 - "Every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, ...And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city!"