Real Love

I was trying to count how many times God COMMANDS us to love each other in the Bible.
Out of 282 mentions of "love" in the Bible, I got tired of trying to sort out the ones where we are commanded to love.
Today, people who want to be loved, and "have someone to love", have the wrong idea what love is.

We look to love like a potion for our woes or wants .. after the lust wares off, all you have left is reality .. this meta-paradigm shift is away from reality .. love is a choice, its something you WORK on, not fall into. DPV

dpversion #2

(This study is begun by first reading 2 CORINTHIANS 3: 1 through 4: 7)

(2 Cor. 3: 3) Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
(4) And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward.
(5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
(6) Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.

First Corinthians Chapter 2 verses 9-16 Paul says,
(9) "But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.
(10) But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
IT CAN NOT BE STRESSED ENOUGH HERE: YOUR ABILITY TO SPEAK FOR GOD DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOU PRAY. NOT YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD.
THE DEVIL KNOWS GOD'S WORD BETTER THAN YOU DO.
WE MUST KNOW GOD'S WORD, BUT WITHOUT AN ABUNDANCE OF PRAYER OUR KNOWLEDGE IS EASILY DEFEATED BY THE DEVIL.

(11) For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. <GIVEN WHEN WE PRAY
(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) For but the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(16) For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." <WHEN WE PRAY (1 Cor. 2: 9-16)

"We have the mind of Christ" means, He makes known to you what He thinks about everything, as long as you bring it to Him in prayer. And since He Himself is Truth, how well you receive what His thoughts are, about anything, will be determined by how truthful you are with Him and yourself. Some people are not even true to themselves, much less anyone else. They are more willing to believe the lies they tell themselves, rather than hear the truth from God. But that's another subject.

Unless a person is born again, and has the Spirit of God living in them, they are not going to be able to make sense of things spoken to them about spiritual things. At least not things pertaining to the Holy Bible. Some religious people see good things in the Bible. But the deeper mysteries of the Word remain hidden to them.
2 Cor. 4: 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; 
1 Cor. 2: 14 "But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
2 Cor. 4: 4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

So trying to reach the "Lost" can not be done by showing them "what the bible says".
We reach them by "how we live our lives daily."

God would have all to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2: 4)
Everyone gets called to receive the salvation of God. Those who answer the call receive power to become the sons of God (John 1: 12). With this power we are given His Righteousness, His Royalty, His Holiness. He equips us (gives us His Grace) to show others His goodness in our lives (1 Peter 2: 9), so they too can have faith in the salvation He has provided through His Son Jesus. And since faith works (or is produced) out of love (Gal. 5: 6), then as we show others God's goodness by how we love them. Then, when we tell them about the power of God to be saved, their faith will come as they hear the good news about Jesus (Romans 10: 17).

Predestination

There is a thought among some believers, that predestination means some souls are predestined to be saved, and some are predestined to be lost, i.e. go to hell.
The very thought, God would predestine people to go to hell is absurd.
I'm glad these folk are not my judge.

Looking at Ephesians chapter one, and Romans chapter 8 we see where the erroneous line of thought on predestination begins.

In Ephesians 1: 4-6, using the King James Version, we read, (4) "According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved."
Also in Romans 8: 30 we read, "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

Here we see a process. Not an end.
First, "whom he did predestinate". All people, before they become born again, are predestinated to be justified, and all glorified. Some just refuse the calling. Notice, the "calling" comes after predestinated, in Romans 8: 30.
Next we see, "them he called, he also justified". It is here where our involvment of the process begins. With our freedom of will, to choose to answer the call. If we refuse the call, then the process stops, until we choose to obey.
By refusing to answer the call, of what God has already determined for us. We then make our own destiny hell. We destine ourselves to hell, by our own choice.

The line of thinking, that "some" souls are predestined to be saved, and "some" souls are predestined to be lost, is not here. And I challenge anyone to find anywhere else in the entire sixty six books, of the known cannon of books, called the Bible, where there is any scripture saying, some people are "predestined" to be lost.
What we do find in Ephesians 1: 5 is the word, "us". Granted, Paul was speaking to the believers at Ephesus. However, the 'Doctrine of Predestination' as some teach, that some are to be saved, and some are to be lost, as if it where God's will, flys in the face of the rest of His Word.

God desires ALL to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2: 4).
God predestinates EVERYONE to be formed in the image of His Son Jesus. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate...". (Romans 8: 29) God knows every single person before they are even born. People forget Him, He does not forget people. Of the Rock that begat you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who formed you. (Deuteronomy 32: 18)

People deny to answer and obey the calling. People by freedom of choice, deny Christ, and bring judgment and condemnation on themsleves.
But ALL are called, to be justified, and glorified through the free grace of his (God's) will. Those who refuse, are not predestined to hell. God never says anything about being predestined to be lost. The only time predestination is used, is in the positive. Where he talks about our predestination to be justified, and glorified.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8: 29)

Ephesians 1: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, (who obtained an inheritance? Those who excepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior) being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will: (Everyone has the same predestination, its just that some don't enter into that predestinated inheritance)
Everyone is predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son. To be in glory with him.
Some just deny to answer the call to except Christ as Lord. They are not predestinated to hell. They just make a bad choice.
Does God know what choice they will make? Sure, but he doesn't predestinate them to hell. The choice to repent remains open to them.

I wonder how many souls are lost, do to believers, excusing themself from witnessing to them saying, "I don't have to witness to them, because they are predestined to go to hell."
For this reason, "I'm glad these folk aint my judge."

King James Version
2 Timothy 2: (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. KJ V

God's Word Translation (Names of God Version)
2 Timothy 2: (25) He (we) must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the good news. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth. (26) Then they might come back to their senses and God will free them from the devil's snare.

It is not up to us to decide, and God has not decided yet. He will make the judgment at each individual's appointed time of judgment when their appointed time arrives. (Hebrew 9: 27)

1 Peter 2: 8b. God's Word Translation: The people tripped over the Word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.

People are not destined for hell by decree from God. He knows who will choose to answer the call, and who will not. But he doesn't predestinate them to those choices. He predestinates them to be in glory with him. The choice is theirs.

If Christians will observe faithfully, 1st Timothy 2: 1 and 2 and 2cd Timothy 2: 24 through 26, the chance more souls entering into what God has predestined for them, is greater.
"There are two reasons lost souls don't get saved, 1. They never met a Christian. And 2. They've met a Christian." Pastor Jeff Towne (What do lost souls see and hear, when they look at and listen to you?)
"You may be the only Bible someone might read today." That had to be by the Holy Spirit, because I'd never heard it before I first said it, and then read the same words in an article, by someone else, in a magazine almost a year later.
Let us who claim to be Christians, stop complaining, and do more praying, and sharing Jesus.

Loneliness

Lonliness is mis-understood. I enjoy mine. Bordem and Lonliness in the traditional sense, are not part of my personal venacular.
There are four precepts in 2 Chronicles 7: 14 that once understood, can bring us to a place of relationship with the Creator God, that is so loaded with grace, it causes us to never feel alone.

 Instead, I am always at peace with everything, regardless of its tribulation, or test of my faith.
1. Humble ourselves.
2. Pray (talk to HIM)
3. Seek HIS face: to know HIM (HE gives us HIS written Word)
4. When that written Word, which IS ALIVE, and actually reads us, and shows us what we do to fail HIS will for us, we turn away from that form of disobedience. Then we can go boldly before HIM and find mercy and grace in every time of need. (Hebrews 4: 16)
HE even gives us HIS own Spirit to have in us, to teach us, strengthen us, and comfort us at all times. (John 14: 16, 26 ; 15: 26 ; 16: 7)

 That relationship is what causes the Father of Lies to hate us so much. The Father of Lies is the one who brings the tribulations into our lives to test our faith. To try to get us to fall away from God's relationship with us. By tempting us to disobey. (1 Peter 4: 10-17)

Father God always stands ready to forgive with love UN-conditional. And that ticks the Devil off to no end. But that's his problem (1 John 1: 9) ☺

It all comes down to this: Love God with all your mind, body, heart and soul. And love HIS creation (other people) as HE does. UN-conditionally. I put it like this, I can not love, honor, and respect God, without loving, honoring, and respecting other people. Ephesians 4: 32 Be you kind, and tenderhearted one to another, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

 

The Moral High-road. Its easy to travel, because HE walks it with you. You are never alone.

PROPHETIC MESSAGE: A Revelation of a Difference

Thus says the Lord, to you if you will hear HIM:

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! ( Isaiah 5: 20, 21)

Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thes. 5: 22)

Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Cor. 6: 17 from Isa. 52: 11)

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men. (Isaiah 29: 13)

Remember you, not the former things, neither consider the things of old. (Isaiah 43: 18)
Be RENEWED in the spirit of your mind. Or, change your attitude from the attitude of the world, to excepting, the things of God, (Ephesians 4: 23) Stop using "their ways (the devil's ways) of describing or doing things" to describe or do the righteous things of God.

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. (Jonah 2: 8)

I maintain (a higher standard, a seperation from their profane way of doing things) for my name's sake, that it (my name) should not be profaned among the heathen (Ezekiel 20: 9)

Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness (Jeremiah 12: 10)

"Because they call darkness light, and light darkness, not showing my light to the heathen, but rather, letting the heathen think that what they do is righteous, when in fact, I detest what they do. These are the 'End Time Itching Ear Preachers', I warned my believers about. They act like the lost, thinking they do them and Me service. Don't act like them, act like me. Draw your strength from Me. Or they will never see the revelation of a difference if you walk like them instead of like me. Show my light to their darkness."

But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings (Jeremiah 23: 22)

...if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: let them return to you, but return NOT you unto them. (Jeremiah 15: 19b.)

So be it.