Sunday, February 28, 2016

TRANSFORMING LOVE (GOD LOVES YOU, PART 6)


CHAPTER 4
PART 6
GOD LOVES YOU
“[No]….greater love…than this…”(John 15:13 KJV)
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God’s love is patiently self-sacrificing and he knows when you have made a permanent lifestyle choice that doesn’t include Him.
 Out of loving respect for your wants he gives you over to a reprobate (depraved) mind. A reprobate mind is the only kind of mind you can have without God.
A reprobate mind indicates that you are following after your sinful thoughts and ways to the fullest extent and stubbornly will not heed to God’s corrective directions. A reprobate mind, therefore, is godless, filled with sin, and excludes God by suppressing his truth through disobedience.
Self-sacrificing love doesn’t give “up” on you, but you can give up on it and out of respect, self-sacrificing love will give you “over” to a reprobate mind.
Without responding by God-given faith to his promises, God can’t clear you of guilt - without true repentance - and therefore, you will reap what you sow. “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, …[but the Lord] will not at all acquit the wicked…” (Nahum 1:3, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18 KJV).
God laid down his life so you can live a holy life and he is long-suffering toward you. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 ASV).
And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation…” (2 Peter 3:15 KJV). God patiently waits (long-suffering) for your repentance.
For without repentance the guilty will not be acquitted of sin or its affects or its consequences. If you have not repented, you will not receive the blessings of the righteous in this life or the life to come.
 It isn’t because God has condemned you or has stop loving you, but because you have condemned yourself through unbelief (John 3:17).
Also, laying down your life for another is witnessed, not through physical death, but through your willingness to invest your resources and your most precious treasures (money, time, etc,) for the one you say you love (John 15:13).
Self-sacrificing love is an immutable and ongoing service to another and is willing to bear the fruit of long-suffering (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Self-sacrificing love calls you to give up what you love, because you love someone else more (Hebrews 11:17).
God’s love is always self-sacrificing to those who “abide” in His love. If [you]… keep My commandments, [you]… shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:9-10 ASV).
Again, to “abide in God’s love” is to stay engulfed, surrounded, covered, or soaked IN His love, which is through Christ by faith.  “…abide in his love (John 15:10 KJV). God’s love is not self-seeking.
God’s love is not easily provoked or easily angered, but peaceful. God remains calm and peaceful at all times.
God’s peaceful attitude demonstrates his ability to handle our mistakes and short-comings without exhibiting an instant angry response; which is usually common in humanity.
God’s love instantly and peacefully “... [covers]……a multitude of sins…” instead of reacting with an outburst of anger (1 Peter 4:8 ASV).
Anger is not sinful, but it can turn into sin if it is not properly handled in a timely manner. (Ephesians 4:26).
Mankind often makes instant judgments and readily jumps to conclusions when they are angry, which can lead to unforgiveness, revenge, or a harden heart. God is extremely “…slow to anger [because He is] abundant in lovingkindness and truth….” (Psalm 86:15 ASV).
God is not easily provoked or angered since He overflows with a love that slows and calms anger almost to a complete stop…with peace. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 ASV). Love does not anger easilyl
God’s love does not keep a record of wrongs. God used Jesus to demonstrate his willingness to erase the record of wrongs committed by sinners.
  Jesus distinctly asked God to erase the record of wrongs when he said, “…Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34 KJV).
God encourages humanity to do the same thing when He says, “…as the Lord forgave you...” and in order to forgive in this way, “….put on love…” (Colossians 3:13-14 ASV).
Humanity seeks God to erase their record of wrongs, but they are quick to demand payment from others for past wrongs just like in the parable of the ungrateful servant (Matthew 18:21-35).
This is not Godly love, which focuses on forgiveness and chooses to  “…blotteth out …[my] transgression and remember not… [my] sins… (Isaiah 43:25, Hebrews 8:12, 10:17 ASV).
God’s love looks beyond your faults  preferring to service your needs instead.  God is not talking about allowing people to walk over you or abuse you.
 God is saying don’t keep a record of wrongs particularly against those who are NOT actively seeking forgiveness.
God keeps no record of wrongs in order to provide an ongoing opportunity for everyone who decides to seek his forgiveness (2 Peter 3:9).
God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but for them to come to “…the knowledge of the truth... [or] come to repentance…” (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9 ASV).  God keeps no record of wrongs, but out of a loving desire he prefers to make amends.
God’s love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in truth. God finds happiness in what is right and holy and not the opposite.
If you happen to be reaping the wrong you sowed or are feeling guilty over a sinful act, or feeling anxious over a mistake, God’s love will never rejoice in those moments.
Moments of unrighteousness is a time for struggle, disappointment, or sorrow and not rejoicing. In those moments God’s love continues for you, but does not rejoice in any unrighteous behavior (Proverbs 12:22).
 In other words, God loves you, but not your behavior. God only delights in truth and rejoices when the truth is “…in …[your] inward parts…” (Psalm 51:6 KJV).
God is holy and “…..hath no pleasure in wickedness [or unrighteousness]…. (Psalm 5:4 KJV).
Sin separates you from God and is another reason God does not rejoice in unrighteousness. God knows unrighteousness or sin traps you into a world of deceitfulness, darkness, and lies.
God’s love helps you in your struggle with sin or unrighteousness. God is happy to show his delight when he rejoices with you in truth.




 EXCERPT FROM THE CHAPTER 
"GOD LOVES YOU" FROM THE
BOOK TRANSFORMING LOVE
BY PENSACOLA H JEFFERSON
BUY IT HERE!!

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