Love Fulfilled Ministry

“ Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace .”Romans 6:12-14 All unrighteousness is sin, and these things the Lord hates; "haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to do harm, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”Proverbs 6:16 Sin is missing the mark of God's righteousness and righteousness is a gift we receive freely by faith in Christ thus we see the importance of the command to believe. When our nature was that of sin, its wage was death, we were walking dead people, the end of things is death. However when we belie...

"But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?" 1 Such is a trustworthy saying to live by, especially when we look at what is called the church, today. It asks for much sacrifice, especially money, but what happens when you need help, are you now found to be expendable for the kingdom of God? The lack of empathy, and benevolence toward a brother is a good sign that the love of God is not in an organization. " For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows . " 2 A godly sign of love is empathy, and benevolence toward a brother. There was a man who lost his job, he was struggling to pay his utility bill, and a charity organization offered to help. He had pleaded with the utilities company for a few days extra but they shut his power off anyways. He owed $...

“ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world ,”Philippians 2:15 Can one say he is wise and shrewd, being good stewards with God's money, and at the same time mistreat others? There is this organization that has been involved in a building project, I know some in the business world they are interacting with. One has even come to me to speak with me about this, he found their actions very questionable. They say they are being good stewards but it doesn't seem to be about saving money, they are not considerate of those in their church that could do a quality job for much less. There is one thing in common I hear about this organization, they think highly of themselves. How can you build a physical building while at the same time not be a Light? It saddens me that they are not blameless without blemish in the world, not being a light, and one can't say...

“When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so d that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”1 Corinthians 5:4 This man had taken his fathers' wife, presumably this was his step-mother and his father had died, but even so according to the Mosaic law he dishonored his father's name and was considered incestuous, which punishment was to be cast out from the people. We see this was brought before the Church, and before Paul, and later in the next letter we see the mention of reconciliation to be given to such a man for his repentance. We see the Mathew 18 process of discipline is for such purpose to save the soul of a man who walks in error, the law of Christ is to the lift the burden of such a person. It would be terrible injustice to do this to someone without this process, I know I have experienced such, this is my story.  As...

“ You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave ..." 1 Worldly leadership is a top-down leadership, notice the picture at the left. A business for example is for profit, with those at the top benefiting the most. Often it is called "climbing to the top" of business, a survival of the fittest. This type of leadership Jesus says, "their superiors exercise authority over them" or "lord" over them. This word for "lord over" is from  kata  and  kurieuo ; to lord against, i.e. Control, subjugate -- exercise dominion over (lordship), be lord over, overcome. In the Church today we see doctrines and teachings that reinforce this type of lordship. There is but One Lord, so  beware of men who would sit in the seat of Chri...

" Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last .” 1 The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. A t different times of the day, he calls them and puts them to work. The last he hires just before the day ends. When he asks the foreman to call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first, those who were hired first complained about the wage being the same as those who were hired last. The master replies, " Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last .” " For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. " 10 Jesus said that a slave has no inheritance in the house, but a son does. So even the son who squandered his inheritance, but who repented, the father shows compassion on. "I am no lon...

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”1 Corinthians 1:18 The message of the cross is the power of God, it is foolishness to those looking for signs and worldly wisdom. It is why the gospel was revealed in a mystery, hidden in God from the beginning, so that it destroys the wisdom and prudence of the world, that our boasting would be in God alone. The sign of the cross is unto salvation, like the serpent in the wilderness Jesus was lifted up so all those who look upon Him will be saved. Such is not dependent upon whether I go to seminary school or not, it is not concerned with any test of my intelligence, no, the power of the cross is unto salvatin to all who believe. “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of ...

" My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One." 1 This word for  sin , is different than transgression, it means  missing the mark, hence missing the mark of His  righteousness.  The idea is thta of an arrow missing the mark of its target, falling short. Jesus is the Holy and Righteous One, the author of faith, thus by faith in Him we receive the gift of righteousness, that it be according to grace, not by works of the Law. He is the Righteous One so the righteous are those who believe in Him, thus the importance of the command to believe in Jesus. When we believe we receive redemption the forgiveness of sin, forgiveness of missing the mark of God's righteousness, and we receive the gift of righteousness, thus through Him we make the mark.  " I am writing these things to you so that you may not miss the mark." So who are t...

“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him .”1 John 3:22 To prevail means to be in force; to have effect, power, or influence; to be predominant. Prevailing prayer has superior force or influence and it is the prayer of the righteous that prevails. We must keep His commandment and what commandment do we keep? John writes, “this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.1 John 3:23 So we see as James speaks faith without deeds of love is not real faith, and as Paul agrees, nothing else counts but faith working by love. Living to rules and regulations, law and principles is not pleasing in His sight, in fact such external obedience is appealing to the flesh, unlike faith which contradicts earthly senses. One must believe and abide in the Son of God, who is the author and perfect...

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him .1 John 2:15 It is an amazing thing, being perfected in the love of the Father. John writes, “there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”1 John 4:18 Now, what is love? “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”1 John 3:16 This is how we know we have been perfected in love, that we abide in Him, in which I will love my brother, “whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.”1 John 2:10 It is the essence of godly leadership, that the first become last, they are servants of all, laying down their lives for little children. “whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:” 1 John 2:5 The love o...

“ For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him .”John 6:56 Jesus said believing is the work of God, it is eating of the bread of God, bread of life, living bread, And He is this bread from heaven which gives Life to the world. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. John 6:48 Believing is eating His flesh and drinking His blood, it is abiding in the words of Christ and the Spirit of God. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”John 6:53 Believing is eating His flesh and drinking His blood. “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” Jesus told them not to labor for food that fills...

" If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause ." 1 This word for hated means p roperly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce ; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another. Jesus hung out with tax collectors and sinners, and they despised Him for this. He broke the traditions of the elders, they denounced and sought to destroy Him for this. Undeserving he was hated, undeserving we are loved. " If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world ." 4 It is an amazing thing, that the children would hate the Fa...

"toward the goal, I press on for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 1 This word for upward , "up, above, things above, heaven." This word for call "a calling, summons," it speaks of an invitation by God. "For many are called, but few are chosen.” 2 The chosen are those who receive abundant grace and the gift of righteousness by faith, these will reign in grace through righteousness. Our high calling is into things that are unseen, the heavenly. Sown in peace is the fruit of righteousness leading into sanctification, and its end is Life. So we press on “toward the goal” of the upward call, which is sanctification, our reasonable service, and “the prize” is the crown of Life. Press on, unto Life. “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” 3 Now, along...

“ Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. ” 1 Remember the story of Lazarus? The name Lazarus means "God has helped." “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day." At his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table, the dogs came and licked his sores. The rich man died and opened his eyes, being in anguish he cried out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me...” Do you find it interesting he calls Abraham father? And so is the response from Abraham, “ Child , remember...” Also the poor man died and "was carried to Abraham's side." Truly, God heard his cry, he lives richly in the Kingdom of God.  “ And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, no...