Monday, September 24, 2012

caring


The Bible says:

1 Corinthians chapter 13 (TEV)
1 I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell.
2 I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains-but if I have no love, I am nothing.
3 I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned-but if I have no love, this does me no good.
4 Love is patient and kind;
it is not jealous or conceited or proud;
5 love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable;
love does not keep a record of wrongs;
6 love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth.
7 Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.

8 Love is eternal.

The Bible says that Jesus said:

Luke chapter 6 (GWT)
27 "But I tell everyone who is listening:
Love your enemies.
Be kind to those who hate you.
28 Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who insult you.
29 If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well. If someone takes your coat, don't stop him from taking your shirt.
30 Give to everyone who asks you for something. If someone takes what is yours, don't insist on getting it back.
31 "Do for other people everything you'd like them to do for you.
32 "If you love those who love you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you help those who help you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners do that too.
34 If you lend anything to those from whom you expect to get something back, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners also lend to sinners to get back what they lend.
35 Rather, love your enemies, help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward. You will be the children of the Most High God. After all, he is kind to unthankful and evil people. 36 Be merciful as your Father is merciful.
37 "Stop judging, and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket.
The standards you use for others will be applied to you."

Incidentally, the command to turn the other cheek has sometimes been misinterpreted. From the article "Is It 'un-Christian' to Engage in Satire?" from the Tektonics website:
"Resist not evil," which precedes the "cheek" admonition, is a well-known Jewish proverb (Ps. 37:1, 8; Prov. 24:19) and actually means, do not compete with evildoers by trying to outdo them in terms of getting back at them. Three examples for the teaching follow: Turn the other cheek; if someone sues you for your cloak, also give them your tunic; if you are forced to go one mile, go two. All three of these things refer to what amount to inconvenient, but nevertheless perfectly legal, impositions on the person. The "slap on the cheek" is a type of personal insult, so that the command to turn the other cheek is essentially a command not to start trading insults, but take the higher ground and turn away from the exchange. It is not a license to allow yourself to get beat up."
For more useful insights, visit: The Law and Retaliation-Concluded.
And on giving to whoever asks: Do Luke 6:29-30 and Matthew 5:42 oblige us to give away all our stuff to anyone who asks?

Elsewhere in the New Testament, the Bible says to a Christian friend of Paul and to the Christian community:

1 Timothy chapter 6 (NLT)
11 Follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

1 John chapter 3 (NLT)
16 We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. 17 But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help - how can God's love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. 19 It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth.

James wrote:

James chapter 2 (NLT)
14 Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, 16 and you say, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well" - but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all - it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." I say, "I can't see your faith if you don't have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds."
19 Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! 20 Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?

In Mark's Gospel, the Bible says:

Mark chapter 10 (TEV)
42 Jesus called [his disciples] together to him and said,
"You know that those who are considered rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. 43 This, however, is not the way it is among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; 44 and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people."

The apostle Paul wrote to his fellow Christian worker Titus:

Titus chapter 3 (NLT)
12 ... do your best to meet me at Nicopolis as quickly as you can, for I have decided to stay there for the winter.
13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given everything they need. 14 For our people should not have unproductive lives. They must learn to do good by helping others who have urgent needs.

Elsewhere in the New Testament, the Bible says to Christians:

Galatians chapter 6 (NLT)
7 Don't be misled. Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. 10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

In Matthew's Gospel, the Bible says that Jesus Christ said:

Matthew Chapter 25 (TEV)
31 "When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne, 32 and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the righteous people at his right and the others at his left. 34 Then the King will say to the people on his right, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world. 35 I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, 36 naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.' 37 The righteous will then answer him, "When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40 The King will reply, "I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, "Away from me, you that are under God's curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels! 42 I was hungry but you would not feed me, thirsty but you would not give me a drink; 43 I was a stranger but you would not welcome me in your homes, naked but you would not clothe me; I was sick and in prison but you would not take care of me.' 44 Then they will answer him, "When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and we would not help you?' 45 The King will reply, "I tell you, whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me.' 46 These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life."

(Incidentally, an interesting article on the original meaning of the words usually translated in Bibles as hell and eternal indicates that they may actually mean something a little different and thus the punishment is not so severe as generally thought: Is It All GREEK to You? It may or may not be accurate, so further research will be needed for anyone interested.)

In the Letter of James in the New Testament, the Bible says:

James chapter 4 (TEV)
1 Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you. 2 You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it. 3 And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures.
4 Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy. 5 Don't think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, "The spirit that God placed in us is filled with fierce desires." 6 But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
7 So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites! 9 Be sorrowful, cry, and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom! 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Elsewhere in the New Testament, the Bible says:

2 Corinthians chapter 5 (NLT)
14 Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. 17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 18 All this newness of life is from God, 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Colossians chapter 3 (NLT)
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.
The main Bible pages on this site:
BibleBible Part 1: Bible Quotations, The Holy Spirit, People And Their Stories
Bible Part 2: The Lives and Suffering of the Ancient Israelites
Bible Part 3: The Bible, Articles About Alleged Inaccuracies in it, And Stories of People who Became Christians.
Or go directly to the next in the series:
A Psychology Article On Tackling Prejudice, And What The Bible Says About Despising People, Judging By Appearances, And God's Mercy.
The selections of Bible quotations have been put together by Diana Holbourn.
Throughout this series, wherever the initials TEV appear, they stand for Today's English Version (The Good News Bible).
Other initials:
  • GWT =God's Word Translation;
  • CEV =Contemporary English Version;
  • NIV =New International Version;
  • NRSV =New Revised Standard Version;
  • NLT =New Living Translation;
  • NEB =New English Bible;
  • NKJV =New King James Version;
  • NASB =New American Standard Bible.

Warning Against Believing Everything you Hear or Read

Don't be afraid to question the truth of what a religious authority figure tells you, or even the Bible or other holy books themselves, or certain people's interpretation of them. Nothing to do with religion or the supernatural is so well established in fact it shouldn't be questioned. To find out why caution is a good idea, visit:

The Beauty of the New Testament's Moral Teaching and Other Important Pages on this Website

Are you up to trying the challenges of the New Testament's moral guidelines, and would you like to know more of what it says about the love of Jesus? Here are some links to Bible quotes about the beautiful ideals the New Testament encourages Christians to try to live up to:

There are a lot of pages on this website with quotations from the Old Testament on them. Many of these are unfortunately rather gruesome, since the main theme of the Old Testament is warnings and stories about how it says societies were punished for mass lawless and hurtful behaviour, even to the extent of having war brought on them by God, that seem to have been designed to scare societies where crime and violence were rampant into behaving more ethically. In case there is any misunderstanding, it should be understood that this website does not endorse war as anything other than a last resort. The position of the website owner can be gleaned from the articles:

Fancy some light relief or laughter therapy? Then go to the first of our jokes pages:

If you have a problem affecting your mental health or well-being, like depression, a difficulty with life-damaging worry, panic attacks, phobias or OCD, marriage problems, an addiction, an eating disorder, recovering from the trauma of sexual abuse or domestic violence, coping with bullies in the workplace, or bullying and teasing at school, trying to lose weight, raising difficult teenagers, caring for someone with a disease like Alzheimer's, wanting to recover from anorexia or self-harm, or grieving for someone you were close to or feeling lonely, and you'd like some ideas on coping or getting past it, visit our Self-help series.

If this is the first page you have visited on this site, this is part of Broadcaster.org.uk, a website about social and psychological issues, what the Bible says about social problems and other topics, and how they affect people's lives today.

What is Love as Defined by the Bible?


Introduction

The true meaning of love, as defined in the Bible, has been corrupted in the common usage of our English language and society. Most often, love is confused with infatuation - that elated, "high" feeling we get when we "fall in love." This kind of "love" is something that lasts typically less than a year, and unless replaced by true love, results in broken relationships.

Origin of Love

The Bible indicates that love is from God. In fact, the Bible says "God is love."1 Love is one of the primary characteristics of God. Likewise, God has endowed us with the capacity for love, since we are created in His image. This capacity for love is one of the ways in which we are "created in the image of God."2

Different Kinds of Love

The Greek language (the language of the New Testament) uses two different words to describe and define love. The most commonly used Greek word translated "love" in the New Testament is "agape." This love is represented by God's love for us. It is a non-partial, sacrificial love probably best exemplified by God's provision for our rebellion:
"For God so loved (agape) the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
The gift3 of God's son as a provision for sin4 was given to all humans,5 regardless of who we are.6 God's love is unconditional.7
In contrast, our love is usually conditional and based upon how other people behave toward us. This kind of love is based upon familiarity and direct interaction. The Greek word "phileo" defines this kind of love, often translated "brotherly love." Phileo is a soulish (connected through our emotions) kind of love - something that can be experienced by both believers and non-believers. This is in contrast to agape, which is love extended through the spirit. Agape love requires a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, since the non-regenerated soul is unable to love unconditionally. Agape love gives and sacrifices expecting nothing back in return.8
The Indestructible Book DVD SetThose who have studied the Bible and know about Peter's character know that Peter was ruled by his emotions and often responded to situations emotionally, rather than thinking before acting. Sometimes this kind of response led to good things (e.g., Peter walking on the water to meet Jesus - Matthew 14:25-33), whereas at other times, Peter's response was inappropriate (he was interrupted by God while suggesting that he build three tabernacles, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration - Matthew 17:4). Peter was quite proficient at expressing phileo love, and was probably very popular because of his dynamic character. However, God wants us to express both phileo love and agape love. Peter expressed this idea in his first epistle:
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love [phileo] of the brethren, fervently love [agape] one another from the heart, (1 Peter 1:22)
Believers in the churches of Asia Minor had already expressed phileo love, but Peter was encouraging them to fervently express agape love as well. If you are a Christian, you are encouraged to express both soulish, familiar love and spirit-led unconditional love. The goal of the Christian is to become "partakers of the divine nature."9 In Peter's second epistle, he says that we are to behave with moral excellence. However, this is not enough. Christians tend to be characterized by non-believers as telling other people how they ought to behave. However, the Christian life should not be restricted to just moral excellence, but, above all else, should include both phileo and agape love:
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness [phileo], and in your brotherly kindness, love [agape]. (2 Peter 1:5-7)
The most famous biblical chapter on love is from 1 Corinthians:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
Fireproof DVDThis is a description of agape love. It is described as being patient, kind, truthful, unselfish, trusting, believing, hopeful, and enduring. It is not jealous, boastful, arrogant, rude, selfish, or angry. True love never fails. The description perfectly fits God's love toward us, and should be the way we love each other and God. However, I have never met any person who perfectly fulfills this biblical definition of love. The Bible says that this unconditional love is more important than everything else (a partial list includes oratory ability, prophecy, knowledge, faith, philanthropy and hope). All of these things, which are "good" things, will pass away. Only love is eternal, since love will be the basis of eternal life. In fact, when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He said, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND." (Matthew 22:37)10 He then added that the second most important law was "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Jesus said that the entire law was dependent upon these two commandments.10 

Conclusion Top of page

If you are not a Christian, I hope you desire to express love as defined in the Bible. However, wanting to do so and attempting to do so in the power of your own will is guaranteed to fail. This kind of love is only possible through relying on the power of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. Even if you are a Christian, you will not succeed if you do not abide in Christ. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.11

love


“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” —I Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)
This verse describes the characteristics of true love. These qualities can certainly be found in the person of Jesus Christ, and they can be found in all truly loving relationships. The problem with trying to “find” love in our dating lives, is that too often we don't look for these characteristics. Rather we look at physical appearance, popularity, or wealth. These are not the qualities that God looks at and neither should we.
But the LORD said to Samuel, “…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7b (NIV)
Love is best seen as devotion and action, not an emotion. Love is not exclusively based on how we feel. Certainly our emotions are involved, but they cannot be our only criteria for love. True devotion will always lead to action—true love.
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and in truth.
      I John 3:18 (NIV)
Christ was devoted to us enough to give his own life for us (Romans 5:8), even when he didn't feel like it (Matthew 26:39).
Sex is not love! Our culture has taught us that sex and love are one in the same. This is a lie. Sex is a beautiful God-given activity that is wonderful when practiced within the boundaries of a Biblical marriageSex is the completion of the binding of two people within Biblical marriage; it is a God-given gift.

PRE-MARITAL SEX

Because premarital sex is not love, it only leads to pain and disappointment for those who are seeking that love. The Bible says that when two people are married, they become one flesh (Ephesians 5:31). Sex is consummation of that union. When two people break off their relationship after having sex, it is like ripping apart flesh. This is why twoteenagers will struggle so much and become so dependent on those they give their bodies to. In light of I Corinthians 13:4-8 (above), it is easy to see that premarital sex is not patient, it is not kind, it does not protect, it is self-seeking. It is not love!

IDENTIFYING TRUE LOVE

We can only identify true love and know when we have found it, based on the Word of God. When we match our relationships up to what the Bible says that love is—and we are honestly prepared to make a life-longcommitment to that person—then we can say that we are truly “in love.” The three keys to that statement are:
We have to…
  1. …look at the Word of God
  2. …be completely honest with ourselves
  3. …understand the level of commitment that comes with true love

about love


God chose the Israelites as His special people because He loved them (Deuteronomy 4:3710:15Isaiah 43:1-4). The people were commanded to love God in return:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (NIV, Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
That love was to be shown by serving God and obeying His commands (Deuteronomy 10:12-13Joshua 22:5).
The Israelites were also commanded to have sincere good will for each other:
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (NIV, Leviticus 19:18)
Related Verses: Genesis 24:6729:18-20Deuteronomy 7:91 Samuel 18:202 Samuel 13:1Psalms 31:23Daniel 9:4

New Testament
Two different Greek words are translated as "love" in the New Testament, and they have more specific meanings than our English word "love."
Agapao (verb) and agape (noun). This is the "Christian love" of the Bible. It means affection, benevolence, good-will, high esteem and concern for the welfare of the one loved. It is deliberate, purposeful love rather than emotional or impulsive love. Almost all of the New Testament references to love are agapao or agape in the original Greek. The King James Version of the Bible sometimes translates agape as "charity," but charity has now taken on the meaning of assistance to the poor rather than benevolent love.
Phileo (verb). This means to love in an impulsive and emotional way. It is seldom used in the Bible, but there is a play on words (lost in English) in John 21:15-17. Jesus says to Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love (agapao) me?" Peter answers, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you." Philadelphia is a related word meaning the love of brothers or sisters (e.g., Romans 12:10). It is often translated "brotherly love."
All the references below are translations of agapao or agape except as noted.
God's love for mankind
Love is one of the attributes of God and an essential part of His nature:
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. (NLT, 1 John 4:16)
Our relationship to God is like the loving relationship between a child and parent. Like a loving parent, God knows and cares deeply for each of us:
Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows. (NAS, Luke 12:6-7)
Like children, some of us return God's love, and some do not. Nevertheless, He loves all of us. God's gifts of love and salvation are freely offered to all, even to those who choose the path of wickedness instead:
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (NIV, Matthew 5:45)
Related verses : Matthew 6:25-307:8-11Luke 15:4-7John 3:16-1716:27 (phileo), Romans 8:38-39
Love the Lord your God
Jesus said our most important responsibility in life is to love God:
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (NIV, Mark 12:28-30)
We demonstrate our love for God by obeying His commandments and Jesus' commandments (Luke 11:28John 14:21-242 John 1:6), putting our trust in Him (John 14:1), maintaining a humble attitude (Matthew 18:1-4Luke 18:9-14), and by prayer (Matthew 6:9-13Luke 18:1-8).
Related verses: Matthew 6:24Matthew 7:210:37 (phileo), Luke 6:46-49Luke 11:27-28Luke 18:15-17John 6:28-29John 6:66-69John 12:44John 14:15
Love your neighbor
Our second most important responsibility in life is to love other people. Jesus went on to say,
The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. (NRSV, Mark 12:31)
In His Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus explained that we should consider all the people of the world to be our "neighbors." Just as God loves all His people, so should we. Jesus calls us to extend our love even to our enemies!
You have heard that the law of Moses says, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (NLT, Matthew 5:43-48)
The apostle Paul said that Christian love is the greatest and most essential of all the spiritual gifts. Even faith is worthless without love!
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (NRSV, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
Paul went on to describe the nature of true Christian love in this beautiful passage:
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end... And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.(NRSV, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13)
In another of his letters, Paul said loving our fellowman is the way to live by all the commandments:
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (NIV, Romans 13:8-10)
God is the source of all our love. Loving God and loving other people are so interrelated that we cannot have one without the other:
We love because he first loved us. Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.(NRSV, 1 John 4:19-21)
Related verses: Leviticus 19:18Matthew 5:21-245:38-396:14-1518:21-3522:34-4025:31-46Luke 6:27-316:3810:25-37John 13:34-3515:9-13Romans 12:10 (philadelphia), Galatians 5:13-155:22-23James 2:8-9,1 Peter 4:8-101 John 4:7-21
Jesus greatly expanded the scope and importance of love, saying love of God and love of fellowman are the most important of all the commandments. The apostle Paul said Christian love was the greatest and most essential of all the spiritual gifts. Throughout the New Testament, we are encouraged and commanded to live in peace with all God's people (e.g., Romans 12:17-18) and commit ourselves to genuine love and caring for others (e.g., 1 John 3:17-18). Those are the ways we can put our faith into practice in everyday life.

Friday, September 14, 2012

BLOWING OF TRUMPETS


And Jesus said to them "Wait in the upper room until you receive the Holy Spirit"
Act 1:4 And while staying with them He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me;
Act 1:5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
And the Holy Spirit slipped quietly into the room and some received a teaspoonful, some a desertspoonful and others a cupful.
NO!
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
There came a sound from Heaven like a mighty rushing wind!
Their spirits would have been totally stirred, the Holy Spirit filled them, overflowed them. I can imagine their hearts pounding within them as the Holy Spirit empowered them. What an awesome, exciting event!
Wow! Imagine being so filled with the Spirit, so anointed that Jesus totally reeks from your every pore! Are you filled with the Spirit like that? Let it be the desire of, no, the longing of your heart!
EARS OF THE SPIRIT
When you are filled with the Spirit you have the ears of the Spirit. You can hear more clearly what the Spirit is saying to you. The alternative is to listen with the ears of theology, tradition and human understanding. If everyone had done that there would have been no Salvation and no Pentecost. Why? Because they were different than what had happened previously. In fact, in the early days when people started getting baptised in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues etc, the church accused them of being full of demons.
I don't know about overseas, but I know that here in New Zealand God has been saying for some time now that He is going to do a new thing. It hasn't happened yet, and neither will it happen until people start listening with their spiritual ears! 
CONSIDER THIS
God has said He will do something new. It is not like the old, it is new. It is not the old revamped, it is new. Because it is new it is different. Here lies the problem! Because it is different those that listen with the ears of tradition, theology, or human understanding will not receive it. Those who listen with the ears of the Spirit will hear and receive even if they don't understand. Understanding will come later as the seed that has been planted is watered by the Spirit and grows into reality.
BLOWING OF TRUMPETS
The Blowing of Trumpets is like setting the stage. It's a way of saying hey, listen up! Something is going to happen. It's a time of seriously seeking God and saying "Lord, what is it you are doing? I want to be part of it!"
God says in Scripture that Amo 3:7 For the Lord Jehovah will do nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
The role of the prophet in today's church is to make known to the church (individually or corporately) the things that God reveals for their and His benefit. 
BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
I say to you, befilled with the Holy Spirit! Stand up and roll up your sleeves in readiness for what is ahead. Be prepared because God will open the doors to the New Thing as we prepare ourselves.
Let Christ in you be as a beacon on the hill that all can see. It is more important that your neighbour gets saved than it is for you to retain your dignity!
Having said that, be aware of the leading of the Holy Spirit because He may want you to build bridges with your neighbour rather than beat them up with the Bible. :) 
BE READY
Above all else I would encourage you to be ready. God is doing something different and those who prepare themselves to hear will hear.
This is what the Blowing of Trumpets is all about. It is a signal, drawing attention to the fact that an event is about to happen. It is a gathering of the people in readiness.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED
Do not be deceived by those who say God is moving this way in that country, let us do the same. It just doesn't work that way. It is by His Spirit that we will be moved.
Get excited, get ready for an event that is about to happen!

TITHING


FOR AND AGAINST
For a long time now there have been two schools of thought about tithing. There are those who say that it is Scriptural, and therefore a command from God, and others who say that it is of the law and we are no longer of the law. I hope to look at these arguments and look at a sensible solution.

THE LAW
It is true that tithing was initiated under the law.
Heb 7:5 And truly they who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priest, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the Law, that is, from their brothers, though they come out of the loins of Abraham.
Also, Malachi had this to say:
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, In what have we robbed You? In the tithe and the offering!
Mal 3:9 You are cursed with a curse; for you are robbing Me, the nation, all of it.
Mal 3:10 Bring all the tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. And test Me now with this, says Jehovah of Hosts, to see if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you, and pour out a blessing for you, until there is not enough room.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke your devourer, and he shall not decay the fruit of your ground against you; nor shall your vine miscarry against you in the field, says Jehovah of Hosts.
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed; for you shall be a delightful land, says Jehovah of Hosts.

The tithe consisted of a tenth of the crop, not silver or gold, nor of the currency of the time.
Malachi was, of course, under the law.

TITHING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
So what is the tithe? The New Testament gives this account of the Pharisees tithing:
Mat 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and you have left undone the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy, and faith. You ought to have done these and not to leave the other undone.
The Pharisees were still under the law. Jesus said that they should have done the “weightier matters” but should not leave the other undone. Note that the Pharisees tithed mint and dill and cumin, all herbs. There was no money tithed!

FREEDOM
It is true that under Grace the law has been done away with. We have been set free from the law and this includes the law of tithing.
Rom 7:6 But now we having been set free from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so that we serve in newness of spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
Now, instead of a tenth belonging to the Lord, all that we are and all that we have belongs to Him. Because all belongs to Him we should spend money wisely and ask Him what He would like us to give

GOD TOLD ME TO TITHE
When I was a new Christian the Lord told me to tithe my income. I remember a young lady in the church came up to me with apprehension all over her face just after this and said to me "Les, the Lord has told me to tell you something that are probably not going to like." When I asked her what it was she told me that the Lord wanted me to tithe. I was able to tell her that He had told me the same thing and that I had already started. She was greatly relieved! I tithed faithfully over the years that followed.

AND RELEASED ME FROM THE TITHE
That was His choice for me at that time. Later on when I got married He released me from that tithe. Ever since then I have given as He directed me, both to the church and to others. It is His money, not mine. Having said that, He knows my needs and my needs are met. The only time I have found myself in real financial trouble is when I have tithed as under the law, out of a sense of obligation because the church told me to. My giving was still joyful, but God did not bless it because it was under the law and not what He was asking me for. I constantly found myself short of money during those times.
In the relationship I have with God now I am free to give as He directs and sometimes more if I so desire. This gives me a real sense of freedom, which is what you would expect when following the Lord. He died to set us free!
I remember a pastor telling the congregation that he had always tithed faithfully, even when he couldn't afford to feed his family. He also said that if you tithe faithfully God will pour out a blessing from Heaven. This just didn't add up to me. You could say he was being tested, or did he just get it wrong? As I said earlier, the times I found myself most short of money is when I tithed as under the law.

DO NOT JUDGE
The bottom line is, if God tells you to tithe, then tithe, but don’t judge those whom He hasn’t told to tithe for not doing so. And likewise, those who don't tithe should not judge those who do. Regardless of whether God has told you to tithe or not, surrender all of your money (along with all of your possessions) to Him and give as He leads. There is freedom and blessing in this.

CONSIDERATION
Jesus commended the woman who gave the mite. She gave all that she had as it is written below.
Mar 12:41 And sitting down opposite the treasury, Jesus watched how the people threw copper coins into the treasury. And many rich ones threw in much.
Mar 12:42 And a certain poor widow came, and she threw in two lepta, which is a kodrantes.
Mar 12:43 And He called His disciples and said to them, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has cast in more than all those who have cast into the treasury.
Mar 12:44 For all cast in from their abundance. But she, out of her poverty, has cast in all that she had, all her livelihood.
It costs money to run a church, pay the pastor/s, support missions etc, and it is a good thing to have some money on hand to support the needy. All this takes money and it is all part of supporting God's kingdom. Therefore be generous in your giving, but let it be just that, giving. Do not expect a reward for your giving because it is not your place to make demands on God. Do not give so that you might receive, but give out of the goodness of your heart and as led by the Spirit because you can and because you want to bless God.
Should God choose to reward you He will do so, but that should not be an expectation. To expect a reward or blessing for giving is not giving at all in the true sense of the word.
Be cheerful in your giving. If you can't be cheerful, then don't give, but ask God to give you a right attitude.

ARE THEY REAL


This is, of course, a really good question. How can we be sure they even exist? For a start, the Bible speaks of them. There are accounts of Jesus dealing with the demons that afflicted people in the Bible. The Bible warns us:
Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The thief in this case is one who would rob us of quality of life, salvation etc. Demons, given the chance, will destroy us. Praise God that He sent Jesus to overcome this wickedness and give us abundant life!
And then there's personal experience. I don't know if you have seen a dead body or not, but if you have, the thing that strikes most people is that there's "no-one home". The body is an empty shell and the person has left. They have entered the spiritual realm. The realm where God is. Unfortunately satan and his demons are in the spiritual realm also.
I have had some dealings with demons, and while I do not consider myself an expert on the matter, there are things that I have learned that I hope will be of help to others.

WHAT DO THEY DO?
Demons can influence our lives in a number of different ways. I should point out here that they can't be blamed for every wrong thing that we do. A lot of the wrong that we do comes from the flesh, ie. our own desires, temptations, lusts, greed etc.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you, as I also said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The way demons work is a bit different. The works of the flesh comes from our own wrong desires, whereas a demon will bring oppression (A feeling of being heavily weighed down in mind or bodyhttp://www.dictionary.com/), or cause your body to act or react in a physical or psycological way that is beyond your control.

HOW THEY CAN AFFECT US
TEMPTATIONThe most common influence they have is seed planting. Demons can plant seeds of temptation in our minds. This is not to be confused with our own fleshly desires and temptations. In both cases there is usually a moment that allows us to choose whether to go along with the temptation, or choose a better path.
1Co 10:12 So let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 No temptation has taken you but what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.
OPPRESSIONThis is common, but is easily overcome. Oppression usually consists of an overly negative self image or the like. It often brings with it a feeling unworthiness in the way of guilt from the past or being unacceptable to others, low self image, or just feeling like you have no purpose in life.
This is a terrible thing and mostly unable to be treated by conventional methods. It can include things like how you perceive yourself or what you perceive others to think of you, or past mistakes that you have made that just won’t go away and make you feel worse than you should. It can lead to severe mental illness, suicide, drug dependency or the like. In the case of Christians who have taken their sins before God and found forgiveness, the enemy will attempt to remind you of the sin and bring condemnation on you. This is a very important key. The Bible tells us:Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 
God does not condemn us, but satan and demons will. God, who is a God of grace will convict of sin, thereby giving the opportunity for repentance

The reason psychologists are unable to properly treat oppression is because they don’t recognise the spiritual realm, which is where these kind of attacks are most likely to stem from.
A Christian can sometimes deal with this kind of oppression by telling the enemy to go in Jesus name, although getting someone else to stand with you in this is a far better option.
This must be followed by regular fellowship with other Christians, prayer, reinforcement by reading Scripture and other activities that are considered normal in the Christian realm. The most important of these is to keep your relationship alive with Jesus, thereby covering yourself with the armour of God.
POSSESSION Possession is more likely to have a physical manifestation. This can include things like paralysis, unusual strength, epilepsy, fits, bipolar disorder, astral travel, ADD, chronic mood swings and a whole raft of other symptoms. I'm sure you could add to the list. I believe it can also cause uncontrollable activity such as serial murder, rape, shoplifting etc, although these are less likely.
Deliverance can sound like a scary word, but it's not really. It's a bit like putting the rubbish out on rubbish day. Churches who know and embrace the full teaching of the Bible will know how to pray effectively for deliverance and set a person on the right path.

UNDERSTANDING DEMONS
I think the easiest way to think about demons is to paint a picture like this. Imagine every bad thing, such as rape, murder, lies, deception, paralysis, epilepsy, confusion etc. The list goes on and on. Imagine that each of these things is the name of a demon, and that demon performs deeds according to its name.
Therefore, if you find that you are always telling lies ie a compulsive liar, it may well be that the demon ‘lies’ is at work. The demon will make your problem seem as though it’s the worst problem anyone could ever have, causing you to be too ashamed to admit it. While the demon has you in this mindset it will hold you within its grip. This is a typical ploy of the enemy and should not be given any credence.
Sometimes it takes a real act of bravery to confess the torment that torments you most, but sometimes that's what it takes to get set free.

SHOULD WE BE AFRAID?
I was diagnosed as having grand mal epilepsy before I became a Christian. When I asked God to help me if He was real, He told me “The name of Jesus is used to cast out demons.” I cried Jesus Jesus Jesus like my life depended on it and I felt all those demons leave me. I actually felt them go! The peace I felt afterwards was nothing short of amazing!
I felt the need to get prayer afterwards, not sure why, it was just a feeling that it had to happen. I felt that the prayer I received sort of closed the door on them ever coming back, although they did try several times. Each time they tried I told them to go because Jesus had set me free and they left. Sometimes they put up a bit of a struggle, but they left. They HAD to. They cannot stand against the name of Jesus! They are liars and deceivers and will do their best to convince you that you are not free, but as the Scripture says..
Joh 8:36 Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

1Jo 4:4 You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
I love that sound mind bit! Fear comes from the enemy, but can only remain if we don't stand against it.
Demons will lie and deceive to gain their way with people, but if we choose to put our trust in God they don't have a chance! I hasten to add that if you having problems in this area it is good to have Christian support and prayer.
Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

GETTING FREE
If you're not a Christian, then that's the first step. Only God can set you free because only God has total authority over demons. There is evidence in Scripture that if a non-Christian is set free from demons and 'the house is found empty' ie. Christ does not dwell within, then the demon can come back with his mates and you end up much worse off.
Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places seeking rest, and finds none.
Mat 12:44 Then he said, I will return into my house from where I came out. And when he has come, he finds it empty, swept, and decorated.
Mat 12:45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and live there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so it also shall be to this evil generation.
If you suspect that your life is being influenced by demons, then the first thing you need to do is contact a Pastor or Elder of a church that recognises and knows how to deal with such matters. If you are unsure about which church can help, ask God to show you. You don't have to be a Christian to ask God. It's amazing how He answers prayer. Demons can be cast out in Jesus name. It's not a hard thing!

STAYING FREE
Staying free is really important. Recognise the fact that:
Joh 8:36 Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
Jesus can set you free. But it doesn't stop there! 
2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
To keep your freedom there are some things that need to be attended to. Such things as:
  1. Keep a really close relationship with God. Give Him time in your day. Build a relationship with Him.
  2. Meet with other Christians regularly. They are a wonderful support group
  3. Attend church meetings regularly. There’s something really special about being in a body of believers worshipping God
  4. Stay away from anything that can be associated with your past area of trouble. Satan (or demons) will tempt you and perhaps even give you symptoms of your past affliction, but you have to believe God and recognise that the enemy is a liar and deceiver.
THINGS TO AVOID
Any spiritual activity that is not condoned by God is likely to attract demonic activity, making the offender susceptible to their influence. That's why God tells us to stay away from things like oiuja boards, seances, clairvoyants, astral travel, mediums, tarot cards, astrology, divination and a whole host of other things.
Demonic influence can also be hereditary, but this can also be dealt with effectively.
Each one of us has been given a conscience. This is "God equipment" to keep us safe from the things we should not get involved with. The conscience was given to us because God loves us and wants to keep us safe. Demons will always make out that they are either bigger than life and therefore can't be dealt with, or they will play down their influence to make it seem as though they are of no account. Either way they are intent on disrupting and ultimately destroying your life and should be given no quarter.