#JesusChristTheLoveOfGod

OCCUPY TILL I COME – IN GOD’S LOVE: GOD’S LOVE ENHANCES EARTHLY USEFULNESS AND HEAVENLY MINDEDNESS IN CHRIST JESUS!

“And HOPE maketh not ASHAMED; because THE LOVE of God is SHED (LAVISHED) abroad in our HEARTS (SPIRIT-BEING) by the Holy Ghost which is GIVEN unto us . . . 8 But God COMMENDETH his LOVE toward us, in that, while we were YET SINNERS, Christ DIED for us” Romans 5:5, 8.

Talking about LOVE – I mean the LOVE of God in Christ Jesus, that transcends and surpasses the human sense [see, hear, smell, taste, touch/feel] knowledge of love. Herein, I will be laying out a didactic sense of measure of God’s love in Christ Jesus, such that we don’t just say we HAVE LOVE, but we can boldly say, we DO LIVE and WALK in God’s LOVE unreservedly, knowing that LOVE in essence is purely and firstly of God, for God is love [1 John 4:8, 16]; and God’s LOVE, is the lubricant for our life in Christ Jesus and for all mankind. And when an individual come to KNOW THIS LOVE OF GOD that surpasses and transcends our sense knowledge of love, we can then OCCUPY effectively and efficiently in Christ Jesus until He comes, by “BEING EARTHLY USEFUL while HEAVENLY MINDED” in humanity.

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being ROOTED and GROUNDED IN LOVE, 18 may be able to COMPREHEND with all saints what is the BREADTH, and LENGTH, and DEPTH, and HEIGHT; 19 and to KNOW THE LOVE OF christ, which PASSETH (TRANSCENDED, SURPASSED) KNOWLEDGE (SENSE KNOWLEDGE – SEE, HEAR, TASTE, SMELL, TOUCH/FEEL), that ye might be FILLED with all the FULNESS of God” Ephesians 3:17-19/Emphasis Mine.

Love is an ATTITUDE, a deliberate choice, an exercise of the will, a choice of life and is not just a feeling, it is an expression of the nature of God. It is spiritual, divinely inspired and imbedded in the very hearts of all God’s human creation, and more importantly in the very nature of the redeemed child of God. Hence it’s not a doctrine, creed and dogmas. It outlived generation because it’s timeless and of God’s. For God is love as written:

“Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; FOR GOD IS LOVE. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins . . . 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. GOD IS LOVE; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: BECAUSE AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” 1 John 4:7–10, 16-18.

Love is a FRUIT and not a GIFT. FRUITS are GROWN while GIFTS are IMPARTED. Genuine Bible love – Agape – is born and is a product of the Holy Spirit that indwells in us – (Romans 5:5, 8; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9).

Let’s consider love in diversity for a clearer understanding of the kind of love being implied in this context.

DEFINING THE THREE KINDS OF LOVE:

*1. PHILEO: Grk (of the soul) – Love relationship in family – between parent and child. The Family kind of love. It also embodied love relationship towards friends and colleagues. It means to be fond of; it is based on FEELINGS and not on PRINCIPLE. It’s never used of man’s love to or for God. This is human or natural kind of love. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Genesis 8:19; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). This kind of love is however essential and crucial for a family bonding and wellbeing.

*2. EROS: Grk (of the Physical body) – Sexual love; purely reserved for the married – within the bond of marriage. It’s based on PHYSICAL ATTRACTION. It’s neither for fornication nor adultery. Lust and immoral desires have gotten some into it, hence there’s a great act of PERVERSION in our societies today – and we are paying hugely for the consequences across the board. (Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:1-9; 1 Corinthians 6:15-20).

*3. AGAPE: Grk (of the spirit) – God kind of love; unconditional, limitless, divine, spiritual. It transcends race, gender, generation, culture, family, physical, personal (self) etc. 1 Corinthians 13. It’s built on PRINCIPLE. Agape love even helps to ensure, STRENGTHEN and MAINTAIN the Phileo and Eros kind of love in all life endeavours. Agape love is based on PRINCIPLE – be it towards things or people.

Notably, the PHILEO OR EROS kinds of Love need to be controlled by AGAPE kind of love or else it will hinder our fellowship with God and leads to SIN acts. (E.g. EROS – 1 Corinthians 13:5; PHILEO – 1 Samuel 2:22-36).

Let’s not just say we have love, lets LIVE and WALK IN LOVE, for love is of the Spirit – Romans 5:5.

IT’S BY TIME TO LIVE AND WALK IN LOVE. LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN. FOR THE CHARGE – OCCUPY TILL I COME – IN LOVE ENHANCES EARTHLY USEFULNESS AND HEAVENLY MINDEDNESS.

SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:

“If we LIVE in the Spirit, let us also WALK in the Spirit” Galatians 5:25.

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 and WALK IN LOVE, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” Ephesians 5:1-2.

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE . . . 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but BY LOVE SERVE one another. 14 For all the LAW IS FULFILLED IN ONE WORD, even in this; Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself . . . 22 But the FRUIT of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” Galatians 5:6, 13-14, 22-23.

“For the FRUIT of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” Ephesians 5:9/NKJV.

“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having LOVED his own which were in the world, he LOVED them unto the end . . . 34 A NEW COMMANDMENT I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another. 35 By this shall ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES, if ye have LOVE one to another” John 13:1 34-35.

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the FAITHFUL WITNESS, and the FIRST BEGOTTEN of the dead, and THE PRINCE of the kings of the earth. Unto him that LOVED us, and WASHED us from our sins in his own blood, 6 and hath MADE us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” Revelation 1:5-6.

“As the Father hath LOVED me, so have I LOVED you: CONTINUE YE IN MY LOVE. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall ABIDE IN MY LOVE; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and ABIDE IN HIS LOVE. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you. 13 Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” John 15:9-14.

“For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” John 3:16-18.

REV. CHUKIE MORSI

THE LOVE OF GOD BEYOND KNOWLEDGE – MANIFEST IN HUMANITY: JESUS CHRIST – GOD’S LOVED SON FOR OUR HUMAN GOOD AND GOODNESS!

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:

“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having LOVED his own which were in the world, he LOVED them unto the end . . . 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another. 35 BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES, if ye have LOVE one to another” John 13:1, 34-35.

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; BUT FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE . . . 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, BUT BY LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in ONE WORD, even in this; Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself” Galatians 5:6, 13-14.

“And without CONTROVERSY great is the mystery of godliness: God was MANIFEST in the flesh, JUSTIFIED in the Spirit, SEEN of angels, PREACHED unto the Gentiles, BELIEVED on in the world, RECEIVED up into glory” 1 Timothy 3:16.

“In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with God, and THE WORD was God. 2 The SAME was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were MADE by him; and without him was not any thing MADE that was MADE. 4 In him was LIFE; and THE LIFE was the LIGHT of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not . . .14 And THE WORD was made FLESH (HUMAN), and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” John 1:1-5, 14 Emphasis Mine.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, THE WORD, and the Holy Ghost: AND THESE THREE ARE ONE” 1 John 5:7.

“. . . 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, 18 may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 and TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE, that ye might be FILLED with all the FULNESS of God” Ephesians 3:17-19.

REV. CHUKIE MORSI