What Does Love Look Like? - Pastor Mary Pat

What Does Love Look Like?

It looks like HIM.

It cost Him everything to have connection with us. Love came down from Heaven (giving Himself totally) to reveal the Father to the world so all people could know Him and be part of His family.  Every person was created to deeply and intimately connect with The Father,   receiving His heart of love at the deepest core level.  The enemy tried to kill/hinder/destroy this intended connection to God and His love, so Jesus destroyed satan’s power against man through His own death and resurrection.  He said, “It is finished.” All must receive Jesus (His love, His ways, His sacrifice, His thinking, His heart, His Spirit) to live in safety, protection, and freedom in every area of life. This is what a healthy connection, resulting in a life of joy, looks like with the One who loves perfectly.  The enemy’s job is to stop that from being realized, received, and acted upon any way he can.  He is determined to rise up against Jesus and His love for the believer and others, masquerading as an angel of light. His goal is to keep people away from their intended intimate connection with the Lord and their ultimate Kingdom destiny.  A person who knows Jesus personally has the capacity to refuse this dark strategy and has the full backing of Heaven to live a life of real peace, joy, and righteousness. This Good News is incomprehensible!

Father God is love.  Filled with mercy and compassion, He intentionally created each person for the purpose of enjoying a deep and passionate relationship with Himself.  Every person is a treasure to Him, valued beyond anything imagined. By sending His most important Love to this earth to be slain, Father God demonstrated His goodness to sinful mankind. This was the most loving and selfless act that has ever occurred.  What a privilege to be considered so precious that the God of creation would do this. This is amazing love beyond description and should never be taken for granted.  

Consistently presenting ones’ self to the Lord is the key to surrendering to the greatness and majesty of Love Himself.  He is love; we are to receive HIM. We were created to CONNECT with and worship Him, totally depending on Him for everything.  All things were made for Him, by Him, and through Him, and recognizing that we are lost without Him is the starting place for success in this life. 

“Therefore, I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12: 1-2)

Mankind is invited to share in His death and resurrection.  It’s an honor for the believer to lay down to die and remain dead.

It’s the Lord’s desire that all are to receive the great exchange that took place at the cross, His life for each person, which is not an equal exchange!  Think about this for a moment.  Humans can personally receive the life of the Perfect One in exchange for their own imperfect and sinful life? This is more than unfathomable and incredible.  It is beyond human understanding and comprehension, as this love is offered from a heart that knows no sin. The only reasonable response is constant and eternal gratitude, which leads to the contending for the fullness of all that Jesus released through His death and resurrection. Humans can receive what they don’t deserve from The One who received what He didn’t deserve. Through an intimate connection with the Lord that can result from this great exchange, believers are to live a post-resurrection life.  This is an overcoming life that reflects Jesus’ resurrection in every way.

Inside of every follower of Jesus is an inner roar of love and power that is aching to be released.  Anything else is “old man” living, since a new nature is given to the believer at salvation to accomplish this.  With this new nature, followers of Jesus are known in Heaven as “new creatures in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17), which becomes their new identity. The Lord is looking for those who will fully believe, see themselves this way and then walk in the fullness of this new nature. Simply put, the love of Christ is to control the believer as he no longer lives for himself (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” (2 Corinthians 5: 14-15)

Believers are to lay down their entire lives for the King of Glory, not just what feels good or makes sense to their minds. What other response can there be?  When a person is a slave to love and realizes that he really is a treasured part of a new family, he accesses all that this new Kingdom offers, becoming like the King. Propelled and compelled by love, he will do anything, go anywhere, being willing and available for the Master’s pleasure.

Designed for Love

From the very beginning, man was designed for love on every front.  Since it was interrupted by sin in the garden, man now has the opportunity for the original design to fully happen. The Lord gives people the capacity to love the Lord and others in fullness; this is His blueprint for living. Being part of this new spiritual family brings unlimited benefits beyond the comprehension of man.  It’s a privilege to surrender to this love and present our lives to the Greatest Lover and Giver of all time. Fear loves to rise against this beautiful love.

Consistent surrender to Love Himself produces humility and kills orphan thinking. Romans 8:15 reminds us that we have been freed from fear through salvation and are now considered children and not orphans. We are part of God’s family and we have an inheritance.  It must be guarded.

FEAR WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS!!!!!

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15)

Fear is an interruption to what love is to look like.  If fear rises or comes toward the believer, His perfect love casts it out (removes it). 

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”  (1 John 4:18)

Receiving, understanding, and growing in perfect love is the precious journey that every person is invited to experience.

A LAID DOWN LIFE…learning to love well

We are to pour our life out for love. That’s our mandate, our privilege, our desire.  As we yield to Him in every way, our revelation of Jesus…who He is, what He is like, and how He loves will GROW in our hearts exponentially.  We will learn to love well because of Him. 

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve the things that are excellent in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1: 9-10)

As we love others, the Lord wants to give us the depth of insight (knowledge) and the ability to think about what is really best in every relational and circumstantial situation (discernment).  The revelation of Jesus’ love for us will propel us to desire to be totally possessed by Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. The result will be growth in love released (abounding love) through the yielded life. 

Jesus left Heaven and gave Himself away totally.  He is the King of glory and yet he laid His life down, being fully possessed by the Spirit. He is Humility. He is worth our entire life – without compromise. 

The probing question for the heart of the believer: Am I willing to be fully filled with Him?

This is the Great Exchange that takes place in the heart!

If there is not a growing exchange through the increasing of relational depth with The Father, a person will try to follow Jesus through the eyes of the law in their hearts….not through deep affection for Him.  Deep and growing affection for Him produces spiritual and emotional ease on every level. The result will be lasting and growing peace, not frantic living.  Freedom and ease will flow. Christ set us free (from fear) for this freedom.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

When freedom is building in the heart it becomes easier for a person to receive spiritual thoughts/things from others, both in the areas of change and correction.  They will see this as a blessing and help in their walk with the Lord. A dead person cannot be offended. The “law” (or old man) approach produces a case-building mentality, which sees works for Jesus as control.  A person who struggles with that will easily accuse others of controlling them. They may even tell another person that what they are doing is only because they are “controlled” by others.  It’s a tricky trap of the enemy to suck life out of believers so they back off of becoming or growing in radical love.  Radical love produces radical living for an audience of ONE.  Living for an audience of One propels a person to contend for extraordinary living, taking risks that are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

What is the enemy’s plan?

He tries to minimize and destroy the strength, authority, and spiritual identity of the believer as an over comer and worshiper. An overcoming worshiper is feared in hell.  The enemy will try to bring division and suspicion within the body of Christ. He will try to neutralize a person’s fervor and tenacity to walk in all the spiritual giftings, anointings, and call on his life.  The unsuspecting person will find himself backing off instead of advancing and taking risks of faith. He will become content with the comfortable and average but still call it overcoming kingdom living.  This is a trap that is not easily seen. The enemy wants to persuade a person to rethink his/her heart motivations for serving.  If he can convince a person that they only served to please others instead of the Lord, a person can resist serving with fervor. 

A believer is to avoid offense at all cost…it’s a deadly trap. Walking in forgiveness daily avoids receiving offense and the trap of bitterness and judgment that result.

“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a citadel.” (Proverbs 18:19). 

If the enemy succeeds in sucking life out of a person through pain and its results, he will begin to question his previous fervor for the Lord, calling it crazy and ridiculous, wishing that it hadn’t occurred. Relationships with others will become strained. If any part of the enemy’s strategy is embraced, a stealing away will occur.  It may not be seen at first, but eventually it will be noticeable to others who are walking in freedom.  It’s a giant lie to deflate one who deep inside wants to live a wild life for Jesus or has experienced deep connections with the Holy Spirit in the past. It’s part of the enemy’s job description to target a real mover and shaker and flatten him.  It’s a contagious poison because the enemy never stops with one.  He is looking for agreement so he can hook another heart…and another heart….and another heart. The antidote is love and humility which is accelerated as we fight properly against our foe (Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5).

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6; 12)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5)

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Part of the enemy’s subversive plan is to entice people to not only dwell on wrong thoughts but also to participate in the spreading of the thought. A common ploy of the deceiver is to suggest that someone has a “people pleasing spirit”, thereby perverting their true identity in Christ. The enemy will stop at nothing to convince a person of that so that they will not advance.  Also part of this insidious strategy is to persuade a person to rethink what they have done in the past, hoping that they will see their past efforts as wasted and ultimately not pleasing to the Lord – just striving attempts to do what was not really what the Lord was behind (or was in their heart).  This is such a tragedy, for if successful, the strategy can strip the person of what he gained in the Spirit by serving the Lord.  Then, a person retreats, seeing the “doing” for the Lord as manipulative, striving, and non exciting/adventurous.

Also, while Jesus desires to heal past hurts in our hearts, the enemy also wants to strip away healing that has already been received by badgering the mind with continuous thoughts about past pain and difficulties hoping that the person will re embrace the trauma or pain from former life situations.  If not wisely discerned and fought, this leaves a person in an emotional state of feeling as though he has been smashed “again”.  If the enemy can convince a person that the overcoming stand they took (receiving His healing love at the deepest heart level) wasn’t real or lasting, they will fall prey again to the tactics of the enemy of their soul.  If a person partners with this, they can lose what they had gained.  This is a very subtle but real tactic of the devourer.

SOLUTION?

JESUS NEVER PLAYED WITH DARKNESS

HEAVEN WAS OPENED

“Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while he was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”  (Luke 3:21)

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordon and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for 40 days being tempted by the devil.” (Luke 4: 1-2a)

Jesus humbled himself and was baptized by John.  Heaven was opened and the connection between Father and Son was made very clear.  He was filled with the Holy Spirit and went into the desert for 40 days.  There he stood his ground while the devil attempted to thrash him and destroy him.  He came out of the desert, filled with power.

Jesus is our model.

The Lord always gives us a way of escape. Drawing in close to the fire of His heart, at all cost, will help a person take the way of escape (from darkness) offered. The Lord always makes a way because He is faithful and promises to do so. An inner determination that intimacy and closeness with the Lord is the only option for one’s life will ignite the weaponry to defeat emotional, physical, or spiritual onslaughts. Cultivating a heart of deep thanksgiving and gratitude (in every situation) for who the Lord is and what He has done in ones’ life is essential.  Without that, entertaining negativity will become a more plausible choice when considering one’s responses to life situations.  A Christian can’t afford to entertain or dwell on negative thoughts as the enemy will be sure to set continued traps to bring them into a snare without the person even realizing it at first.  This is dangerous and can cause great problems for the believer and those around him.

Never entertain the flesh (which was also crucified at the cross), for it can lead to entrapment/oppression from the enemy.  Strongholds in a believer’s life can lead to walls and destruction very quickly.  As Jesus so beautifully modeled, don’t play with the fire of the enemy.

Also, a pre-determined stance within the soul to remain a dependent worshiper and live a life of unspeakable joy (even in the midst of challenges) will enable one’s spirit to rise in the midst of conflict and intensity. Determining to stay connected to one’s spiritual family is also extremely important.  The enemy will move to convince believers that isolation is better.  This empowers the enemy and gives fuel to continue his assault against the believer.  

Choosing to believe in advance that there is no such thing as a burned out Spirit-filled believer will also help deter the lies that can flood the mind.  Lies are intended to stop the Holy Spirit from His amazing influence in a yielded life, so one must guard his heart and mind in Christ Jesus.  If the fire of the Holy Spirit is raging inside of a believer, it only dies if a person allows it to happen.  These are foundational beliefs that the enemy will try to minimize or steal.

Fresh oil from the Holy Spirit fuels the hungry and thirsty soul.  The key to avoid burn out and be able to release pain is to contend for a place of always flowing in His presence, even when the “inner press” increases.  Walking in the resulting joy and peace is the key to stability and inner strength that is vital for powerful Kingdom living.  As this spiritual fortification increases, a believer will be able to more aptly discern the real enemy of his soul (mind, will, and emotions), rather than blaming people or situations for heartache and pain.  What a huge blessing from Heaven.

The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10b)

This verse needs to be the life line for the believer.  Learning to live a Holy Spirit intoxicated life will release the joy that will strengthen and protect the believer. Spiritual joy is powerful and essential for abundant living.  Complete surrender (no sin disconnection) and daily encounters will increase the level of joy and  intimate connection with the Lord.

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Determine to live for an audience of One and set your high water mark for uncompromising allegiance to the Lamb, even in the midst of hurt and pain.  This surrender of heart will sensitize the believer as he hears the voice of the Holy Spirit.

“One thing I have asked, that I shall seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent he will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.  And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.” (Psalm 27:4-6)

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  The second is this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30-31)

HOW?

“I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.” (Ephesians 3:14-16).

This is a foundational principle in the Kingdom – that the Lord will give more strength to the inner man (mind, will, emotions) if the believer asks Him to do so.  Christians need to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen them internally (in their hearts).  This is the place that he really connects with Jesus (by the Spirit).  The Holy Spirit will release His might (His powerful help) bit by bit as He is asked.  A wise believer will contend for this.

True followers need to ask the Lord to impart to their hearts the revelation of His majestic and royal goodness so they can life a life of tremendous awe – tremendous reverence for and of Him.  As they ask Him to release the Holy Fear of the Lord in their lives, He will do it. This pleases the Lord as He is looking for those who tremble at His word. 

“But to this one I look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2b)

If a person is willing to go really low before the Lord, he will give everything to God and let lies be exposed, challenged, and eliminated.  A person does this by presenting himself as a living sacrifice to the Lord (on all fronts) and asking for forgiveness for the steps of unbelief embraced on any level, especially when emotions are screaming to the contrary. This will begin the unhooking of the heart from this entanglement.  When a person does this, even if there would be any potential "people pleasing" issue, it will quickly become a non issue in the heart.  The love of the Father will rise and capture the thoughts that had penetrated. Those who refuse to receive the truth of what can stop the flow of the Spirit (see 2 Cor. 10: 3-5 above), will more easily embrace the thought/idea that "I just don't want to be a people pleaser", so I'm not going to..... and ..... and ...... The non-intended result is arrogance instead of humility, which is the enemy’s delight. If a person deeply embraces this thought, they will find themselves stopping in their tracks where they had once emotionally and spiritually advanced.  Their original zeal becomes slowed or even halted.  Worse case scenario is that the once innocent zeal reverses and a negative crusade against serving ensues. History gets rewritten.  Real humility will bring freedom, and the true identity of the person will rise! And, what actions were thought to be a mistake and regret will be seen differently.  A new perspective will be embraced. Receiving the reality that something that the Lord had previously loved and enjoyed through a person’s life had been actually stolen and smashed will quickly become the tipping point for change.  When a person receives this revelation through humbling himself, the enemy is really on notice and begins to fear the overcomer.  The part of a person’s identity and persona that was stolen by the enemy will be replaced/reinstated.  Result?  True inner peace, satisfaction, and increase in personal spiritual intimacy with the Lord, good/healthy relationships with others, and serving the Lord with fiery zeal.

WHY is this true?  Because Jesus is everything and what other response can we give to Him other than “I give you everything!” 

Eyes and heart pointed upward will produce an inner resolve that wins (Colossians 3: 2-5)

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.  Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amount to idolatry.” (Colossians 3: 2-5)

This is not an option if a believer wants to live in the freedom that Christ purchased.

Read Colossians 3: 6-11 for more detail.

PUT ON THE VICTORY SONG OF LOVE (Colossians 3: 12-17):

^“ So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and ^[a]patience; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is ^[b]the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ ^[c]rule in your hearts, to which ^[d]indeed you were called in one body; and ^[e]be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of ^[f]Christ richly dwell within you, ^[g]with all wisdom teaching and admonishing ^[h]one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing ^[i]with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

People who won't desire to apply ALL the Word to their own personal lives will easily gravitate towards the "people pleasing" excuse, instead of totally surrendering and asking the Lord to reveal anything that may be getting in the way of their crazy love for Jesus and others, spilling into carrying His glory every day.  On top of that, they may try to convince others that they are just "people pleasers” instead of those who should be encouraged to go lower and surrender all so the Lord can be easily seen.   It can be a big trap.  (See 2 Peter 1 for more).

If using the phrase "I just want to honor God" isn't being caught at the deepest heart level the result is more religious thinking instead of deeper hunger and passion for God increasing. Daily personal encounter and connection with God will also produce new levels of hunger.  This grows our response of love towards HIM!

I want to go lower Lord!!!!!

If living in and FOR His presence isn't THE PRIORITY of daily life (even with busy schedules/lifestyles) then a person's assessment of what it means and looks like to "honor God and others" can easily be skewed.

This can heighten self motivation. It just sounds good when a person says “I just want to honor God and others”, but the truth is, it may not be the truth at the heart level. Saying "oh I'm just not going to be a people pleaser.......so I just say no to this, no to that, no no no can become a “no” in our heart instead of a “yes” in our heart to the Lord at all levels. Listening to the right voice (Holy Spirit) increases a submissive spirit in our hearts.  The opposite of a submissive spirit is a rebellious heart.

Am I to be a powerful person?  YES

God promises to put the Fear of the Lord into believers’ hearts to lead them into becoming powerful people in life.  A believer must seek this.

It is through HIS power working in us that a believer is truly powerful.  If not, being a “powerful person” is rooted in arrogance and pride and is a deceptive trap.  Humility is the key.

“And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and the good of their children after them.  I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.”  (Jeremiah 32: 39-40)

Christians are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a powerful life, becoming powerful people. His power in them is to be directed toward Him and then spills into all relationships.  When that is interrupted or distorted ground is given to the enemy.   A person who has the heart revelation (not just a mental grasping) of his true identity in Christ will easily say yes to the Lord and follow His clear directives in Scripture for living a Godly life.  If a person says, “I am a powerful person in the kingdom and nobody needs to tell me anything", the kingdom-sounding phrase “powerful person” can be used/twisted to puff up a person, instead of leading a person to live a lifestyle of repentance and right thinking (Philippians 4: 4-8).

Since the Lord calls us to rejoice in Him always (and more), it is a good thing to ask the Lord…DO I SEE THIS? AM I PUFFED UP?

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.  The Lord is near.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4: 4-8)

KEYS FOR LIVING A LIFE OF ROYALTY:  Surrender and Humility

Here are a few references of a believer’s identity in Christ:

A believer is a citizen of heaven (Ephesians 2:19), and chosen of God, holy and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12). 

A believer is a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9)

A believer is a child of God who always triumphs in Christ and releases His fragrance wherever he goes (2 Corinthians 2:14)

A believer is seated in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2:6)

A believer is part of the Bride of Christ and is making himself ready for Jesus (Revelation 19:7)

A believer is called to be a true worshiper who worships the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)

A believer is an alien and stranger to this world (1 Peter 2:11)

A believer is a partaker of a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1)

A believer is one of God’s living stones, being built up in Jesus as a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5)

A believer is the Lord’s workmanship, created in Christ for good works (Ephesians 2:10)

A believer is chosen and intended by God to bear fruit that remains (John 15:16)

A believer is righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24)

A believer is an expression of Jesus (Colossians 3:4)

A believer is a child of light (1 Thessalonians 5; 5)

A believer is the enemy of the devil (1 Peter 5:8)

A believer is more than a conqueror through Christ (Romans 8:37)

A believer is a recipient of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)

SO WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE HERE?

The Lord has given the believer precious faith by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1:2) KJV

The Lord releases faith in the heart of the Christian to believe that his identity in Jesus is a treasure and it’s his responsibility to guard this faith as it is so precious.

He has given the believer everything at salvation; there is no lack:

“Seeing that his divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3)

FEAR is the arch enemy of the believer, and is designed to rob a believer of this precious faith and blessings from the Lord.  Fear is an assault against love.

If we don’t see as the Lord sees we can connect with fear unknowingly.

When undetected fear is operating in a person, the enemy “fears” that it will be exposed through surrender and humility.  He tries to interrupt the process of gaining more internal freedom, and will do so through “kingdom-sounding” appeals that may make sense to the mind but have no authentic basis. Excuses for becoming deeply tethered to Him/His presence will rise when fear is operating.

The goal is to lean into His heart and hear His voice and desire the Fear of the Lord.  The enemy’s job is to hinder that.

The Lord promises to put the Fear of the Lord into our hearts (Jeremiah 32: 39-40).  When we walk in the Fear of the Lord (holy reverence and awe that invites Him to possess us totally), it is easier to resist sin and compromise. 

“My heart will fear Your name.” (Psalm 86:11)

This is for our protection and safety so we can flow in the Spirit, enjoying peace, joy, and righteousness. 

Love is moving and growing….Can it be stopped?

Who is the believer to please?

The enemy is tricky. When fear is present/operating, rebellion and selfishness (refusal to seriously apply the Word to our lives) can attach, remain, and also rise. In an attempt to not "people please", a person's response can be "no! I'm just not going to do that" or "no, it doesn't fit into my schedule" or "no, I don't feel like it",  "no, I don't see the value in that", “no, that’s just not me…I don’t like that.”  Unfortunately, many times, that deep attitude can be stuck at the core of our being and it comes out when a person is squeezed in a tough situation, pain rises, or when a person is influenced by others who carry the same tendency.  This can be hazardous, leading people into agreement with what is not in the heart and mind of our King. Humility being produced inside because of Jesus expanding inside is the key to fiery living for the King and the true way to becoming an empowered one.

The term "people pleasing” can be twisted by the very ones that don’t want to hear from others who desire to surrender their hearts to Jesus.  This is another tricky tool of the enemy intended to sabotage the believer’s stability and growth.  It can be subtle and poisonous. People struggling with that usually have a tough time seeing others who carry the heart of love, anointing and experience as being helps in their lives.  They may have a difficult time listening to others and also willingly submitting to authorities.  It’s a big trap for those who are destined to lead in the authentic kingdom manner that Christ intended. A person can’t become a spiritual leader/father-mother as God intends unless and until they are able to become an authentic spiritual son-daughter first.  The enemy will also do whatever he can to destroy relationships in this area.   He is a destroyer of intended inheritance. Look at Elijah and Elisha.  Look at Paul and Timothy. The list goes on. Personally receiving aspects of the submissive lives and hearts of these Biblical people can agitate those with fear issues.  Seeing Godly submission control and manipulation rather than a benefit and blessing from the Lord is an indicator that fear is working against the person...Resistance in this area can halt generational blessing intended by God. Humility and repentance are essential to maintain a soft heart for all spiritual directions and ways of life for the believer...

So what really IS humility?

Receiving Him as He is, seeing and responding through His eyes and with His heart, and becoming just like Him in all areas of life is what a heart of humility looks like.

Paul shares in Philippians 2: 2-17 a picture of Jesus, the humble servant of all, who reflects the Father in every way. 

“Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  So  then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.  But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.” (Philippians 2: 2-17) 

OPEN MY EYES LORD!

He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding, The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.”  (Proverbs 15: 32-33)

This is how a believer can truly honor God and others.

“The wise will inherit honor, but fools display dishonor.” (Proverbs 3:35)

True honor and trust for the Lord will produce honor and trust for others, especially towards spiritual leaders and those in authority.  Loving unity, the Lord desires this for all relationships, including the believer’s family and friends.  Understanding the spirit of true honor is a privilege the Lord offers to each believer and impresses him to contend for that.

Those who seek wisdom will find her…and the fear of the Lord.  Wise council is needed for the believer to stay strong. 

“…To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior; righteousness, justice and equity; to give prudence to the naïve, to the youth knowledge and discretion, a wise  man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.” (Proverbs 1: 2-6)

The Pursuit of (Heavenly) Wisdom Brings Security

2 My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
² Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
³ For if you cry for discernment,
^[a]Lift your voice for understanding;
⁴ If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
⁵ Then you will discern the fear of the Lord
And discover the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
⁸ Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
⁹ Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
¹¹ Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,
¹² To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things;
¹³ From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
¹⁴ Who delight in doing evil
And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
¹⁵ Whose paths are crooked,
And who are devious in their ways; (Proverbs 2: 1-15)

 “Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.”  (Proverbs 17:24)

Wisdom from above versus human wisdom…what do YOU say about this, Lord?

The Lord defines the difference between thinking and responding naturally and supernaturally:

James 3:13-18 is a solid guide for establishing the difference between heavenly and earthly wisdom:

^“ Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom.

 But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.

This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).

 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

 And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].” (James 3:13-18 AMP)

If heavenly wisdom is flowing, it becomes easy to receive love from the Lord and all others, walk in forgiveness, and refuse offense.  Also, discouragement and disappointment can’t become footholds because the wise person will recognize the tools of the enemy and stand against them for their own life and the lives of people they influence. If a person responds to situations naturally rather than supernaturally, the end result can legally permit the enemy to assault or increase his assault against the believer or another person they connect with. When Heavenly wisdom is received and implemented, true unity, peace, and going lower before the Lord are the results, releasing a person into greater hunger for Jesus.

Pain is real. The enemy is tricky and enjoys stealing from those who refuse to allow the Lord to expose and release these thoughts/painful areas of the heart that need His attention. Jesus came to remove pain and heal all wounds. The enemy loves these to remain so he has a landing strip that empowers him to take from the believer.  He will stop only if he is stopped. Much Heavenly wisdom is needed so the believer knows what is happening from God’s perspective.

 Entertaining unhealthy thoughts will exaggerate and accelerate the growth of human wisdom in a believer’s life which can lead the believer into great confusion and error for his life.  Difficult situations, suffering, and trials come.  The Lord desires to remove, cleanse and heal the pain that exists in a believer’s heart.  When he partners with unhealthy thoughts (which are tied to pain), the Lord promises the believer that as he seeks and allows Him to work, all will be taken care of by Him. Hurtful ways are also seen as “wicked” in the Scripture below.

“Search me, oh God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful (wicked) way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139: 23-24)

A heart after Jesus will take this verse very seriously because it will lead to God’s solution, not man’s solution.

Isaiah 61:1-4 AMP brings the believer into the proper understanding of Jesus’ heart for ministry and wholeness; what He has given the believer the authority to release in his own life and lives of others. Luke 4: 18-19 is the New Testament fulfillment of this prophecy.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,

 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] ^[a]and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

 To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.  ” And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”  (Isaiah 61: 1-4 AMP)

We need the WISDOM of the Lord as we desire to grow into oaks of righteousness and walk in all that Jesus purchased.  We need Heavenly Wisdom!

 

The Scriptures Are Very Clear About The Rewards of Walking In Heavenly Wisdom:

3 My son, do not forget my ^[a]teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
² For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will find favor and good ^[b]repute
In the sight of God and man.
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your ^[c]body
And refreshment to your bones.
⁹ Honor the Lord from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
¹¹ My son, do not reject the ^[d]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
¹² For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

¹³ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
¹⁴ For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than ^[e]jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
^{16 [f]}Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
²⁰ By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
²¹ My son, let them not ^[g]vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
²² So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
²³ Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the ^[h]onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
²⁶ For the Lord will be ^[i]your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from ^[j]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
²⁹ Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
³⁰ Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
³¹ Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
³² For the devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But ^[k]He is intimate with the upright.
³³ The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
³⁴ Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
³⁵ The wise will inherit honor,
But fools ^[l]display dishonor. (Proverbs 3)

Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom (opposite of pride and arrogance)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.” (Proverbs 8: 13)

^“ These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:  A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,  A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.” (Proverbs 6: 16-19 AMP)   

Cross references:

1. Proverbs 6:17 : Ps. 120:2, 3.

MORE LOVE!!!!!!   THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS FOR ALL BELIEVERS

Desiring and contending for (the Spirit of) the Fear of the Lord releases humility and helps us walk in Heavenly wisdom, which enables the Holy Spirit to ignite the fire and glory that we say that we want. We want to be like Jesus and carry His glory to the ends of the earth!!

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)

Jesus is described in Isaiah 11:1 (and the 7-fold Spirit of God). The believer is to contend for the fullness of the Holy Spirit in every area, delighting in the fear of the Lord. This is vital for the believer to stand against the enemy and advance the Kingdom of God.

“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from His roots will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength (might), the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; but with righteousness he will judge the poor; and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked, also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist.” (Isaiah 11: 1-5)

When a person walks in fear (the opposite of the Fear of the Lord), he partners with control and the inability to genuinely respect, trust, and love those around him. Independence and avoidance are very obvious evidences of fear and control. The opposite, interdependence and the desire for unity in the Spirit reflect the true freedom that results from seeing oneself as a son or daughter experientially.  If a believer’s identity in Christ is not fully embraced deep at the heart level, a mental agreement only will result.  This is dangerous because a person can be fooled by the knowledge they have received in their minds but really are unable to walk out freedom that Jesus provides.  The enemy will throw thoughts that will sound spiritual enough to embrace if fear is lurking, resulting in choices that aren’t moving toward true peace, joy, and righteousness in the Holy Spirit.  This is a dangerous place for the believer for in his quest for relief from pain and stress, the blinders increase on every front.  Mental assenting soon replaces the empowering aroma of the Holy Spirit’s presence.  A once desired intensity for deep communion and holy worship takes a back seat for other things.

Those who really do connect with fear (especially unknowingly) will not easily see control in their lives, but have a tendency to accuse and be critical of others easily (especially leaders and people in authority), blaming them for the condition in their heart. The heart disconnect is between Father and son/daughter, but the enemy will delight in trying to persuade/convince people that others are their enemies or not worthy of respect.  Division and broken relationships are the result. Also, the inability to respond to leaders and others’ attempts of love and connection are signs of pride (fear), which directly oppose humility. Also, refusing to walk in repentance (in the area of negativity and avoidance) are signs of pride (fear), which directly oppose humility.

The Lord desires unity of heart and spirit in our relationships.  We are to contend for that.  God’s order in families and spiritual families is so vital.  When principles in Scripture are violated, human wisdom can reign, which leads to decay and destruction. Releasing the Kingdom of God in our families, ministries, and other relationships is of paramount importance to the Lord.

LORD, I WANT YOUR BEST

Scriptures are very clear as to how children are to relate to parents (and vice versa), married couples are to relate to each other, and how all interpersonal connections are to reflect Christ.  (next writing will express that).  All relationships are to be undergirded with Biblical honor which will release a beautiful unity that pleases Jesus.

Many believers struggle with order within spiritual families (and even natural families).  The Lord speaks to this for the sake of protection and blessing to be released, as believers are to submit one to another in love and desire to maintain connection of the heart in the midst of God’s order.  True freedom is always in the heart of the Lord, which is to touch the heart of the believer at the deepest level. 

“Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them (continually recognizing their authority over you), for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account (of their trust).  (Do your part to) let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you (either).” (Hebrews 13: 16-18 AMP)

“Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church) – (Giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel).  Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility (as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance) toward one another.  For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful) – (and He opposes, frustrates and defeats them), but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.”  (1 Peter 5: 4-6 AMP)

The enemy entices believers to rise up and refuse humility, especially in the area mentioned above.  Hebrews 13: 16-18 AMP and 1 Peter 5: 4-6 AMP are for protection from the enemy’s tactics that is intended to lead to great increases in the Kingdom.  The wise and humble believer will see this and be grateful that the Lord has set up safeguards here and for the health of all relationships so personal and corporate growth in the Kingdom can accelerate.

The Lord Opposes Fear

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (fear), but of power, and love, and discipline (sound mind).”  (2 Timothy 1: 7).

Fear is the culprit that incites a heart to distain or rebel against the Word of God.

Power and love sound nice, but what about discipline?  Genuine discipline determines that the Word will reign supreme at the personal level of one’s life, propelling one to become more and more Presence focused. The Lord wants His children to know His Word and follow His Word, for in doing so the believer grows in connection with Him (and stands more easily against the enemy’s schemes and tactics).  Application of the Word and spiritually encountering the Lord daily produces a sound mind.  Having a sound mind will help the believer choose well when it comes to living the kingdom life intended by God (which is a life of full surrender to the Lord and His ways). A wise believer will contend for the mind of Christ.

If a believer’s heart is right…he is safe and able to avoid and destroy fear.

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.  Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart for they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.  Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.  Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you.  Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.” (Proverbs 4: 20-25)

“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” (Matthew 12:34b)

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  (Proverbs 18:21)

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4: 29)...  This is a command of the Lord, so if a believer violates that, he empowers the enemy (gives him a legal right) to fight against him, his family, ministry, and friends...

Do I Really Want the Heart Of Jesus To Manifest In Me?

“With my whole heart I have sought you; Oh, let me not wander from your commandments!  Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119: 19-11) NKJV

Love wants more connection and opposes disconnection

A true lover of Jesus will also desire to understand repentance and move in it quickly (seeking deliverance and healing from all things that oppose Jesus).

Repentance involves changing of the mind/thinking.  The Lord calls us to quickly turn to Him in all things and seek His cleansing and refreshing from areas where we are connecting with the “2^nd heaven”. The enemy wants to infiltrate the thoughts and emotions, influencing our wills.

“But I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife,  jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5: 16-21).

These areas also are places where confusion, negativity, torment, control, manipulation, bitterness, judgment, offense, rejection, abandonment and fear hide.  The enemy is tricky and wants to weaken the believer.  Don’t fall for his tactics and make excuses, entertaining any of these areas.  The enemy loves this and will strike more severely than ever when we partner with these areas in our lives. 

The Lord wants inner freedom from rejection and abandonment feelings; they work in tandem with judgment, offense, negativity, control, manipulation, bitterness, and confusion. All are related to the believer’s arch enemy FEAR.  If these areas are not touched by the Lord and removed, “false peace” can start leading the believer.  This is really dangerous.  The key is to honestly run into the arms of Jesus believing that His way will bring ultimate and lasting freedom.  He will never leave the believer and will always point him in the proper direction.  Being willing to admit that these areas are operating and then doing whatever it takes for them to be destroyed is essential.  The enemy will settle for a “band aid approach” to pain in a believer’s life so he can hit them and trip them up over and over and over again. The Lord wants to fully eradicate them.  

Staying away from / out of the presence of God and worship can be deadly and empowers the enemy against the believer.  In His presence the believer can receive and find strength. It’s not wise to hide behind hurts or perceived hurts when looking at one’s life.  The enemy is waiting for a believer to do so.  Jesus had compassion on the hurting and wounded but offered Himself as the solution.  Refusal to move toward Him for His solution is sin as one is connected with the lies surrounding fear and unbelief. Fear and unbelief were nailed to the cross and the enemy tremendously enjoys offering them to the believer.  When we become the focus, the enemy wins.   

So What Is The Believer To Do?

We are called by God to be desiring Him and His ways above all else, refusing to be entangled in the deceit of sin.  Unconfessed/unrepented sin hurts the heart of God and hurts the believer and those around him. The sting and pain of sin (masked in hurt/woundedness) is intended to steal from, kill, and destroy the believer and others.  It’s a serious matter to the Lord.  Jesus paid a big price for all that doesn’t match up with the reality of Heaven.  If a believer ignores any of these areas in his life or tries to come up with his own solution, he is ignoring Jesus Christ and fighting against him.  There is no neutral territory.  We are not to hide behind hurts/fears/pains. The Lord calls all His children to easily and quickly forgive all people that have partnered with the opposite of the Lord’s will/ways.

It’s important to bring all feelings to the Lord so He can sort out what is really sin of others against the believer and what is offense that a person takes (that perhaps might not be sin from another person).  The perception of hurt from another person can be very strong, but needs to be identified by the Lord.  Forgiveness is still key in all situations, but taking responsibility for our actions and responses to hurt/offense is a non negotiable.  Love for Jesus demands this.   The Lord knows what is true and not true.  Don’t be deceived.

Refusing to bring the Lord’s solution into ones’s difficult thoughts, emotions and feelings is arrogance because Jesus is always near and gives us the freedom we need.  The enemy loves pride and arrogance, even as a person is in pain. Continuing to partner with arrogance empowers fear and entraps a person for a greater assault against him.  Refusing God’s remedy for true freedom sabotages our spiritual walk with the Lord because a believer allows his thoughts to rise above the knowledge of God and His ways/desires.  It’s an assault against the Lord because He is ready and willing to meet our needs in every situation.  The enemy wants a believer to run away from the way the Lord provides for freedom.  The enemy wants to remain hidden and will stop at nothing in trying to influence a person to ignore and refuse complete repentance, which will bring deliverance, healing, and restoration.  A common mistake that believers make in attempting to repent is refusing to complete what is necessary for repentance to do its work and have its effect. This is a tool of the enemy that is very strong, intending on prolonging a problem so the believer is fooled, discouraged, and stuck in a vicious cycle of hopelessness.

“You were called to freedom, brethren, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5: 13-14)

“Now those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)

“Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men.”  (2 Corinthians 5: 11a)

When we are wholly yielded, we can persuade men from the vantage point of Holy Fear to consider the Lord’s opinions, thoughts, and desires.  The source of our compelling love comes from the Fear of the Lord and changes people and things around us.  Atmospheric changes take place that invite the miraculous as the believer lives a naturally supernatural life. 

The Ultimate Mandate – Spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom

Jesus Was Moved With Compassion

“Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.  Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9: 35-36)

“Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast the out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.” (Matthew 10:1)

“And as you go, preach saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10: 7-8)

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.  These signs will accompany those who have believed in My name, they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and it they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

“Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father.” (John 14:6)

The privilege and honor of every believer is to demonstrate the love of the Father, through Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth.  May every Christian realize more and more just how great a love Jesus has released through His selflessness.  Christians are transformed into the likeness of Christ, infiltrating all spheres of influence around the world, to carry the glory of God globally.  This is the heart of the Father.  Believers were bought with a price of One Man’s life and this love is priceless.  May every follower of Jesus receive a greater revelation of the Father’s love and be catapulted into a life of concentrated and intentional passion for the Ultimate Lover of all time, who transcends time.

A LIFE OF PASSION

I Want YOU More and More

 “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Phil. 3:10)

Jesus, I want to know You more. What does real freedom look like? What moved You to leave Heaven? What caused you to hang on the cross and die for me?  Jesus, what were you thinking and feeling?  What caused you to press on and never ever quit or give up?  Jesus, what really happened at the cross?  What happened when you rose from the dead?  What are You really like…really? I want more of YOU and my hungering heart will not relent.  I am overwhelmed and wrecked by the fire of Your love. 

As a result of YOUR amazing love gripping my heart beyond anything that my mind can grasp, OH GOD let my passion for You grow and heavenly wisdom reign in my life. I was created for love, to worship you forever and ever.  Increase me in every way so that I continue to yearn for your closeness. I am so thankful for You and give You my heart on every level.  Your forgiveness astounds me, Jesus.  Your love overwhelms me, Father.  Your grace and mercy break me….I want You more, Holy Spirit.  I need You desperately and will run after You all the days of my life.  Fill me with You and Your new wine, possess me fully. I want to be a totally yielded, laid down, love-sick bride every day of my life.  I want to be a persuader of men from the vantage point of Holy Fear.  I want to truly honor You, my King, as I determine to humbly seek You and fall deeper in love with You. I lay me down and seek Your beautiful face.  I desire to pour my life out for love and reflect Your beauty and grace to everyone I know, and those You will send me to without question.  I will never stop, never quit, never give up on love.  That’s who You are…make me like You.

YOU ARE WORTHY OF MY ENTIRE LIFE!