Christian Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Bible Study The Greatest is Love

for_his_glory

Fight the good fight of faith
2024 Supporter
Gal 5:22 but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.


God gave us many commandments, but the greatest one is love, Matthew 22:36-40. Now just how does one love with all their heart, especially in a world that seems to be filled with so much hate towards one another. How many times have you hated your persecutors, but yet call yourself a Christian.

If we are led by the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit. If we truly know God then we would know his love for us even in our own imperfections of the flesh as we allow his righteousness to perfect our spiritual inner man so we can be prepared to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 2Corintians 5:10.

A sign of true faith is manifested in obedience to God’s perfect will of love that as Christ loved us and gave his life for us we should also have this same love in us for our neighbors that says Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Even through the persecutions Jesus was subjected to he never lost focus that he was in the Father’s will and what his purpose was here on earth.

Temperance is another fruit of love that we should know the mind of Christ that we will not conform to the ways of this world even though we have to live in it, but to restrain from the ways of this world as we crucify this flesh daily. If any one loves this world then the love of the Father is not in them, 1John 2:15-17.

I know it is so easy to get into the flesh, especially when someone is lashing out at you and the flesh is quick to retaliate as even I get into the flesh at times when I take my focus off God’s will and I do believe God knows we will get into the flesh at times as we are not perfect, but do strive for that perfection that is in Christ. This is where God’s grace and mercy comes in as even though we mess up at times he is quick to forgive us as we need to be quick to forgive those who come against us and never hold a grudge.

Meekness shows patience and the trying of our faith that we may be perfect and entire wanting nothing, James 1:2-4. Gentleness, goodness and faith will always bring us into submission of the perfect will of God’s love, which is the greatest gift of all. Let us display this gift of love in our own lives so others will see the love of Christ shine through us.
 
Now just how does one love with all their heart, especially in a world that seems to be filled with so much hate towards one another. How many times have you hated your persecutors, but yet call yourself a Christian.
The power of God's love, his presence, is so overwhelming that we can't hate another person when in that presence. This is why it's so important for us to purposely seek regular, edifying time with God in the Holy Spirit in order to get actual contact with Him. We have to daily do what stirs up the manifest presence of God within us to become what that presence melts away in us and causes us to be.

It doesn't happen over night, but that's how one loves God with all their heart by loving others, particularly our enemies. It seems that it takes years to finally get it that you have to purposely long for and seek the presence and power of God in the Holy Spirit to live a life of godly love for others. And so love is actually a mature fruit of the Spirit that we bear after becoming a planting of God. It's the result of an intimate 'knowing' of the Lord, like how a child is the result of the wife's intimate 'knowing' of her husband. No intimacy, no fruit bearing. Belonging to Christ in name alone isn't going to produce anything. You have to know him intimately. You have to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in you.
 
Gal 5:22 but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.


God gave us many commandments, but the greatest one is love, Matthew 22:36-40. Now just how does one love with all their heart, especially in a world that seems to be filled with so much hate towards one another. How many times have you hated your persecutors, but yet call yourself a Christian.

If we are led by the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit. If we truly know God then we would know his love for us even in our own imperfections of the flesh as we allow his righteousness to perfect our spiritual inner man so we can be prepared to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 2Corintians 5:10.

A sign of true faith is manifested in obedience to God’s perfect will of love that as Christ loved us and gave his life for us we should also have this same love in us for our neighbors that says Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Even through the persecutions Jesus was subjected to he never lost focus that he was in the Father’s will and what his purpose was here on earth.

Temperance is another fruit of love that we should know the mind of Christ that we will not conform to the ways of this world even though we have to live in it, but to restrain from the ways of this world as we crucify this flesh daily. If any one loves this world then the love of the Father is not in them, 1John 2:15-17.

I know it is so easy to get into the flesh, especially when someone is lashing out at you and the flesh is quick to retaliate as even I get into the flesh at times when I take my focus off God’s will and I do believe God knows we will get into the flesh at times as we are not perfect, but do strive for that perfection that is in Christ. This is where God’s grace and mercy comes in as even though we mess up at times he is quick to forgive us as we need to be quick to forgive those who come against us and never hold a grudge.

Meekness shows patience and the trying of our faith that we may be perfect and entire wanting nothing, James 1:2-4. Gentleness, goodness and faith will always bring us into submission of the perfect will of God’s love, which is the greatest gift of all. Let us display this gift of love in our own lives so others will see the love of Christ shine through us.

Very well done Sister. Your teaching is very important for this age as we draw closer to the time of our Savior's return. You ask this question, "Now just how does one love with all their heart" I remember a sermon on that very question from a "Holiness Pentecostal" preacher who basically said, "Do you think you love the Lord with all your heart?"

When he (Brother James Reynolds) got thru preaching, I think I was first at the altar to confess and change. That was a time when I was actively seeking for changes in my life, especially a baptism of love. A friend of mine got me a tee shirt that said Pastor under construction. I have noted in the past, here in our Forum, about a four day anointing of the Holy Spirit when I was in Florida. Result? A great love for God's people that I had never experienced before.

I think we have to be careful in saying "I love Jesus with all my heart". I see your wonderful thread as good instruction in that command of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus....Thank you for this thread. :hug
 
I remember a sermon on that very question from a "Holiness Pentecostal" preacher who basically said, "Do you think you love the Lord with all your heart?"
I'm learning more and more that one's love for God is inversely proportional to our love for anything and everything else. The less you love other things, the more you will love the Lord. It seems to take a lifetime to drive out the old loves in our life and fill up the hole that is left with a love for God and his people.
 
I'm learning more and more that one's love for God is inversely proportional to our love for anything and everything else. The less you love other things, the more you will love the Lord. It seems to take a lifetime to drive out the old loves in our life and fill up the hole that is left with a love for God and his people.

O so true my Brother. That question, "do you love the Lord with ALL your heart" has been a haunting message to my heart/mind ever since I heard that message back in the early 90s. To be honest, just what you said, the world's influence has a sneaky way of capturing my attention and robs me (my choice thru desire) of my complete love for my Heavenly Father.
 
I was 43 before I knew what real love was and it came from no one other than God when I submitted all my heart to Him and allowed Him to take the reigns of my life. That was over 18 years ago as I am 61 now and I still can not fathom how God loves us so much and gave His son Christ Jesus that we can reconcile ourselves back to Him. So pure is your love Lord that you accept us for who we are and allow you to make all the changes in us that need made.
 
Back
Top