Love Fulfilled Ministry

blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:10-12) The word persecuted here is interesting in Greek, it has the meaning persecuted but the meaning to press forward, pursue, run after. Jesus said, "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness..." (Matthew 6:33). When we seek his righteousness and are persecuted but continue forward, seeking it above all we are blessed.  ... yet having no root in himself but exists continuing for a limited time, now, suffering or persecution comes the word falls away (Matthew 13:21) To grow one needs to have deep roots, which Paul writes are faith and love (Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 2:7). And there is a greater love in Christ that can not separate us from him, thus a stronger bond. There is a growth process that matures a child, to a young person, to an adult, this is why Jesus gives gifts to the church (Ephesians 4:10-16).  That we grow into the fullness of Christ ...

But Yahweh was with Joseph extending his lovingkindness, giving him favor in the eyes of the ruler of the prison (Genesis 39:19-21) The story of Joseph includes much wrong in the beginning, he was thrown into a pit by his own brothers to die but instead a band a slave traders just happened to be passing by so they sold him into slavery, where he ended up at Potiphar's house, Pharoah's captain of the guard. Joseph was a handsome man and Potiphar's wife desired and tried to get him to sleep with her but he would not wrong Potiphar nor sin against God. So in spite she falsely accused him of rape and he was thrown into prison. Just imagine this happening to you. Joseph clearly had faith but did that alone sustain him through these times? ... rather faith is energized through love (Galatians 5:6) When Joseph was thrown into prison we read God extended his lovingkindness to Joseph. It was faith energized through love that sustained him through this tribulation. The word energize...

exists no fear in love, rather maturing love drives out the fear because fear has punishment. Now, the one fearing is not matured in agape love (1 John 4:18) God chose us and blessed with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:1-14). God put it on my heart to read this chapter over and over again, I can paraphrase it pretty well. It is about what Christ has done for us and how we are blessed in him. From the riches of his grace and glory, and to the praise of his grace, God has blessed us. He sealed us with his Holy Spirit as a guarantor of our inheritance, which he explains in the In the next chapter, making us alive in Christ when we were dead in our trespasses and sin. He did this because he was rich in mercy through his great love, to demonstrated to the ages coming the surpassing riches of his grace in lovingkindness to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:4-9). We are blessed because God loved us. Faith working through love we are matured to be like him. for the L...

because the one who sows to his own flesh from the flesh reaps corruption, now, the one sowing to the extent of the Spirit, from the Spirit reaps eternal life (Galatians 6:8 ) "Paul writes we have the "first fruit" of the Spirit within us that groans inwardly awaiting our full adoption, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). So we are a new spiritual being, made alive in Christ, but we reside in a body that is not redeemed, where sin lies, and where the flesh is opposed to the Spirit (Romans 7:14-25; Galatians 5:16-18). We live in a corrupt body and are enticed by fleshly desires and worldly lusts. Though we are forgiven and born of the Spirit, what we sow determines the well-being of our soul, or what James calls wholeness (James 1:5). Or what Paul calls having a good conscience before God." *  What we sow determines the fruit we bear. therefore if together raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ exists seated at the right hand of God, mindful ...

 what can separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:35) There is a agape love so deep, one without bounds, that surpasses human understanding that we can laid hold of. "In order that you have strength to accordingly together receive with all the saints what the breadth and length and height and depth, both to now the love of Christ and be filled to the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18-19). When we have strength because we have been founded, Ephesians 3:14-17, we can receive a love that is inseparable and leads us to maturity. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never comes to an end... (1 Corinthians 13:7-8) This kind of love can be described as a deep, enduring love that remains strong even through tribulations, distress, persecution... essentially signifying a committed and unwavering bond that doesn't break apart, no matter the circumstances. It is a love that endures and is inseparable or never fails or ends. It ...

... love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven,... (Matthew 5:43-45) Faith without works is dead, but love in action is a work of faith. Faith energizes us unto good works and these mature us to be more like Jesus. *  This for me has been one of the most difficult challenges to my faith and maturity; loving my enemies, those who persecute me, do me wrong and unjustly. As we mature though the surpassing love of Jesus compels us into obedience. what good my brethren if someone claims to have faith but has no works, powerful to save him? If a brother or sister is in need... but you do not give them what their body needs what good is that? In the same way faith works without is dead... (James 2:13-17)   Obviously, works by themselves without faith is dead. Serving one another in love begins within the church. This is why Jesus said we would be known as his disciples by our love for one another. If the broth...