AFD August 2009

The Essence of  FAITH Working By LOVE

Achievers’ Acts of Grace To Become In Every Achievement Pursuit

Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but Faith which worketh by Love.”

1 John 5:4-5 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith. “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity (LOVE), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (Love).”

Greetings

Shalom! I bring you awesome and amazing kingdom greetings in the precious name of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. I trust that by the grace of God through this August edition of the AFD, all things will be subdued under your feet according to Philippians 3:21 such that you will be able to live triumphantly over all things in every place as in 2 Corinthians 2:14.

August 2009 Edition

Welcome to the month of August as we examine the vitality and essence of our Faith to work by Love. By faith we take a stand in all areas of our lives, yet the Bible says that it takes love to ensure that our faith is efficient – effectual and effective. Being efficient – effectual – is to do things well; while being effective is to do the right things well and produce results, that is, to bring forth fruit in due season according to the working of God.

I hope and pray that this edition will enhance your achievements. Whether it be in your career development, business as an entrepreneur, family life, personal growth and development which may be spiritual or physical, raising godly children in a turbulent world, overcoming financial setbacks, strengthening and restoring broken relationships or friendships, reaching out to the hurt, wounded and unloved, pursuing a journey to restore and obtain favour with God and many, many others as befit your yearnings and heart aspirations. Knowing full well that in Christ Jesus as an Achiever what is vital and prominent is not just about who you are – circumcised or uncircumcised – but how you become who you are – Faith working through Love

Three Vital Things: Hope, Faith and Love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

The above scripture helps to indicate three vital elements that give worth to life which just as they are spiritual are legal and vital to the achievers’ lifestyle of living triumphantly. They are hope, faith and love.

• HOPE – Sets life goals
• FAITH – Brings life set goals to pass.
• LOVE – Lubricates, sustains and strengthens our hope and faith.

These ingredients that make life worth living are so vital if we must have lively achievers’ wellbeing. However, in this edition we would be considering just two of them – faith and love. Seeing how vital they are and how they work together in making us become what we are born to be and in achieving our set goals and aspirations in life.

The Vitality of Faith

Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but Faith which worketh by Love.”

Hebrews11:6 “But without Faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Romans 14:23 “And he that doubteth is damned if he eats, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

I have come to known in life and in the course of my pastoral career that people everywhere who live with unfulfilled life dreams could end up in frustration and destruction watching their aspirations, hopes and faith being shattered. It’s horrible and painful to see people earnest desire dreams and destiny come to delusion.

For these the Bible has great input to say about the vitality of our FAITH if we must achieve our goals in life and become what we ought to be. Let’s consider these scriptures then:-

• Hebrews 11:6 – says that you cannot Please God without Faith. (Deut 32:20, Luke 18:8)

• Romans 14:23 – Says that anything Done without Faith is sin.

• 2Corinthians 5:7 – Says that we Walk by Faith and not by sight.

• Habakkuk 2:4 – Says that the just shall Live by Faith

• Ephesians 2:8 – Says that by Faith we are Saved by God’s grace.

• Testimonies of countless people healed by our Lord Jesus Christ were as a result of their Faith. Luke 7:9; Matthew 9:29; Matthew 5:28 etc.

FAITH is spiritual, legal and vital to our Christian walk and is a great vitality in becoming that which God intended us to be. Faith is of God. It is a product of the Spirit and comes from the Word of God – John 6:63; Romans 10:17. Meaning that FAITH can come and go when attention is not given to generate and sustain it through the Word of God. There is no single being that has walked on the face of the earth with meaningful and achievable kingdom results that has nothing to show from a life of Faith. The reason is because Faith is the Victory by which life warfare can be overcome in every level of life – 1John 5:4-5. Faith is bringing the unseen to the seen – 2 Cor. 4:13, 18

We can therefore sum up the vitality of faith by the scriptural truth of Hebrews chapter eleven.

• Vs 1– Faith gives substance(flesh) to our hopes and aspirations

• Vs 1 – Faith is evidence – legal tender, assurance and confidence.

• Vs 3 – Faith gives understanding

• Vs 4 – Faith offers an excellent and better sacrifice.

• Vs 5 – Faith translates and transfigures.

• Vs 6 – Faith pleases God.

• Vs 7 – Faith gives warning of coming danger

• Vs 8 – Faith receives an inheritance.

• Vs 9 – Faith gives or creates patience

• Vs 11 – Faith gives strength.

• Vs 12 – 40 – Faith produces  and makes the heroes of faith.

Yet as vital and as this essence of Faith is, it’s not workable says the Word of God except it allows LOVE to be the main stream or river course in which it flows and operate to achieve life goals.

The Vitality of Love

1 John 5:1–5 “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that Loveth him that begat Loveth him also that is begotten of him.  By this we know that we Love the children of God, when we Love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the Love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.   For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Romans 5:5, 8 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. . . But God commendeth his Love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Rev 2:4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first Love.”

1 John 4:7–10 “Beloved, let us Love one another: for Love is of God; and every one that Loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that Loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love. 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.  Herein is Love, not that we Loved God, but that he Loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Just like Faith, Love is a product of the Spirit. God is love. God is a Spirit and those who worship Him do it in love. Genuine Bible love is spiritual not natural. Neither is it devilish nor creation of man. God is love and anyone whose intention is to know, understand and manifest a genuine kind of love needs to connect to God’s DNA of love.

Love is an attitude, a deliberate choice of life, an exercise of the will, a choice of life and not a feeling, an expression of the nature of God. God is love – 1 John 4:7–10. Let’s consider love in diversity for a clearer understanding of the kind of love being implied in this edition

There are three kinds of love:

• Phileo Grk (of the soul) – Love relationship in family – between parent and child. The Family kind of love. 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 wellbeing.
• Eros Grk (of the body) – Sexual love; purely reserved for the married – within the bond of marriage. It’s neither for fornication nor adultery. Lust and immoral desires have gotten some into it. Heb 13:4
• 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. 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 0r people.

Note: 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. E.g.    Eros – 1 Cor. 7:5; Phileo – 1 Samuel 2:22-36.

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 Spirit. Considering our subject of discussion, let us come to the light in examining some characteristics of Agape kind of love as vital to enhance the working of Faith.

• John 3:16 – Love gives power of initiative, is a giver, sacrificial.

• James 2:8 – Love is the royal law for the redeemed who are a  royal priesthood – kings & priests unto God

• Romans 13:8, 10 – Love works no ill to self or others and it’s the fulfilment of all God’s commands.

• Romans 12:9 –11; Philippians 2:3-4 – There is no hypocrisy or dissemination in love. It sees people through in life and not through people

• John 4:17–18 – No fear in love.

• 1 Corinthians 13:13 – Love is the greatest gift in ranking.

• 1 Peter 4:7–9 – Love is the end of all commandments and above all things.

• Col 3:12–14 – Love is above all things.

• 1 Corinthians 2:31 – 13:1-13 – Love is the excellent way to enhance spiritual gifts

• Galatians 6:1; John 8:1-11; John 4 – Love restores the weak ones back to Faith not an accuser

• 1 Corinthians 12:31 – The most excellent way to excel and have overflowing life.

• John 15:13 – Love is considerate.

• 1 Corinthians 13 – Love is patient, kind, not boastful or arrogant, not selfish and keeps record of no wrong.

• Psalm 119:165 – Love forgives and does not offend.

• 1 Corinthians 8:1–3 – Love edifies and builds.

• Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8, John 3:16 – Love overlooks a multitude of sins

• . . . And many more in searching the scriptures.

Your regard, respect and value for Love determine how you flow in it and the virtues that get back to your life. When one walks in love one is then prepared to live through life as God’s instrument of grace on the pathway to achieve and become.

Love is the hallmark of the New Testament Christian Faith for any great achiever or one intending to become such in God. Hence its vitality was strongly Commanded – not an advice – by our Lord Jesus Christ as in

John 13:34–35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

The Essence of Faith Working by Love

Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but Faith which worketh by Love.”

Ephesians 3:17, 19 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, vs 19 –  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 4:1 – 3 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”

Faith and Love are an expression of obedience to God. Obeying God is as a result of the revelation knowledge of God and His Word. It is not dogmatic or an act of religious know-how, tradition and conscience of any source. Faith and Love are both fruit of the Spirit.

Verses 17 and 19 of Ephesians 3 indicate that our faith should be rooted and grounded (established) in love. Matt 5:23–26 (for illustration)

Ephesians 4:1–3 indicates that if we must love, we need to make an effort. Make everything possible to love to enable our faith in God to be effective and effectual – efficient. To love is to be gentle and humble – complete humility and patience in bearing with each other as a way to love.

Galatians 5:6 indicates that in Christ Jesus nothing has value except Faith expressing itself in Love. Faith works by love when we take God’s Word as it is without argument. This we can see in the following biblical expressions and hallmark of Love:

• In serving (service) – Serve others in or through love: Gal 5:13(1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:1–13;1 Thess 1:2–3)

• In giving (sharing) – Sharing or giving could be of time, money, talent, skill, gift, ideas, encouragement, prayer, etc. Luke 10:25–37; James 2:15–16; 1 John 3:16–18.

• Forgiveness – 1 Peter 4:8 (Romans 8:1; Hebrews 8:12) Ephesians 4:31–32; Job 42:10 17, 29; Mark 11:25-26; 1 Peter 3:7.

• Sacrifice – Matthew 5:23–24; Psalm 50:5-6; Hebrews 3:5; 1 Peter 2;5, 9.

• . . . And many more as in the Holy writ – The BIBLE.

Faith is the hand –legal tender – that takes the things we need from God and delivers them into our hand. Everything that Jesus purchased (Redeemed) for us on Calvary can be obtained by (Eph.1:3; 2 Pet. 1:3-5; Col. 1:13-14; John 10:0; 3John 2 etc.). Faith is acting corresponding to the Word of God – FAITH is belief in Action

One of the reasons why FAITH is not working for some of the Believing Achievers as they lay claim to be people of Faith is simply because they do not have understanding of what the Word of God says – Faith that works by Love. This is what will measure up to all of the principle and stands set down in the Word of God. When we are Love-conscious and not Sin-conscious, our Faith will bring us to our place of joy.

Finally

Rev 2:1 – 7 “. . .Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love”.

Mark 11:20-24 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them”.

Beloved Achiever, you are destined not only to succeed, have good success but to BECOME in life as an achiever. We can deduce from the foregone illustrations that in our exercising of Faith through our natural instinct or as a fruit or spiritual gift – we need the element of love to authenticate its viability to make life worth living. This will bring forth the desire you long for and anticipated for either to your spouse, children, parents, family members, in-laws, relationship, your neighbour, career, business, friendship, church etc.

I therefore urge you to create a desire that enables love to enhance your faith. This becomes the pathway to all the open doors that you desire. Love is the mother of unity and unity receives and enhances blessings from the Lord – Psalm 133; Matthew 5:23-25. I therefore present you the biblical question as to:

• Where is your faith? Luke 18:8; Deut 32:20; 2 Thess 3:12

• Where is your love? Rev 2:4, Galatians 6:5

Faith and Love produce an effectual and effective achievers’ life. There is a promise of grace for all who operate under God or in God’s name through the urgency of LOVE in their Faith endeavours.

I pray that God will give you understanding and revelation knowledge. And I therefore make bold to say that the excellent way to be effective and effectual in life, ministry, family, relationship, career etc is by our FAITH working through the pin-hole of LOVE

Dare for Faith . . . Dare also for Love . . . Therein Is The Essence For Living

In His World for His Gory

Pst Chukie MORSI

All scripture in King James Version except otherwise indicated