GODLY LOVE IS "PROOF" THAT YOU "KNOW" HIM!

                           

GODLY LOVE IS THE "PROOF!"

“...By this (kind of love) shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV).

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Since the original Genesis separation, the YADA relationship, between God, the Holy Spirit, and mankind, has had multiple issues and problems…until Jesus. Before Jesus, what kept happening to the covenant relationship between God, the Holy Spirit and mankind was the separation of SIN.

Mankind, starting with Adam, has had a human will to choose to respond to life on their own volition and has often chosen to abandon God, forget about him, and commit apostasy against him.

The covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, was destroyed when, the first Adam (Eve) choose to follow after Satan’s lies instead of God’s truth. Adam (Eve), for the first time in their lives, were no longer united with the Holy God of creation.  

Adam didn’t just fall into a life of sin and take the whole human race with him. Most importantly, Adam SEPARTED from the YADA (oneness, intimate), covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit.

It was the WORST “DIVORCE” ever recorded!

From that point on, humanity was divorced or forever separated from God, the Holy Spirit.  Mankind could no longer enjoy or return to the sweet union with God, the Holy Spirit no matter how hard they tried.

Unfortunately, the sin nature DOES NOT have the ability to choose righteousness, because righteousness is a GIFT of the indwelling Holy Spirit only! “…The sinful nature is always hostile to God (therefore, the old mindset, affected by the sinful nature, is also hostile to God). It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature (through the old mindset) can never please God…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). 

“….you [will become] ... slaves of the one you obey (follow)…” (Romans 6:16 NIV). “…The sinful nature is always hostile to God (therefore, the old mindset, affected by the sinful nature, is also hostile to God). It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).

“…I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Who will free me (DELIVER ME) from this life that is dominated by SIN (THE SINFUL NATURE WITHOUT THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT)  …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord (THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT)…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).“…Know ye not your own selves …that Jesus Christ is in you (REUNITED WITH YOUR SOUL)…” (2 Corinthians KJV).

“….Ye shall receive the GIFT of the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 2:38 KJV). “…the GIFT of righteousness…” (Romans 5:17 KJV).   "… God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God … But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness...” (Romans 5:10-16 NLT).

“…These are the gifts Christ gave to the church: …” (Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT).

“…God gives us many kinds of special abilities ... It is the ….Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts and powers, deciding which each one of us should have… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…His [“HOLY” indwelling] POWER hath GIVEN unto [you]… ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV). “…the GIFT of righteousness…” (Romans 5:17 KJV). 

“...even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ...” (Romans 5:10-16 NLT). “… my righteous servant (Jesus) ... [made]... it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins…” (Isaiah 53:11 NLT).  “…the GIFT of righteousness…” (Romans 5:17 KJV).

The GIFT of righteousness makes you right with God, the Holy Spirit, and empowers you to choose to make righteous choices and live righteously. “…the GIFT of righteousness…” (Romans 5:17 KJV). “… apart from [HIM[, you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “… [You] … can do all things through Christ (the indwelling Spirit) which strengtheneth … [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…It is God (the Holy Spirit) who works in [you]… to will (to desire) and to act (to empower) in order to fulfill his good purpose (holy and righteous living)...” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).

“…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…HE (the indwelling Holy Spirit) “WILL” KEEP YOU STRONG to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). “... But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil...”(2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV).

Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, mankind’s relationship with God and each other has been dysfunctional ever since Genesis chapter three.

Not only has the fall or separation from God, the Holy Spirit, created a horrendous chasm from HIM, but also from his “kind” of love.

Mankind has only known a seriously reduced and distorted type of human love. Human love has caused more confusion, heartbreak, damage, and doubt than any other emotion.

Loving relationships were meant to be the highest MARK or SIGN or WITNESS of who God’s true disciples really are, yet they are the most abused among his OWN people. “…A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. …” (John 13:34-35 KJV). "…In everything, therefore, TREAT people the same way you want them to TREAT you, for this is the Law and the Prophets…” (Matthew 7:12 NASB). “…ALL MEN will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another…” (John 13:34-35 KJV).

God’s love should be the primary standard, witness, and focus of all Christian relationships and ministries. “…Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God ….which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go….” (Isaiah 48:17 KJV). “…THE WAY is narrow that LEADS TO LIFE, and there are few who find it…” (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB). Jesus saith…I am THE WAY …” (John 14:6 KJV).

“…Owe no man any thing, BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law…” (Romans 13:8 KJV).

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 ASV).

The greatest commandments focus on the two most important types of relationships. “…..Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind and with all thy strength: this the first commandment.  The second is like, namely this … love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31 KJV).

“…LOVE one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this ALL MEN will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another…” (John 13:34-35 KJV).

The Believer’s relationship with God and each other are some of the worst ever.  “... If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen...” (1 John 4:20 NASB). “... Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins...” (1 Peter 4:8 NIV).  “... But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love...” (1 John 4:8 NLT).

Christian divorces are as high as divorces in the secular community.

In America, Sunday mornings are still the most segregated hours among Christian brothers and sisters. Yet, God says that,   ^“…my disciples [will] have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV).

Again, the greatest MARK or SIGN, or WITNESS of a true disciple is demonstrated through the relationships between God’s OWN people. ^“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV).

You can’t truly be in a relationship with God without being in loving, Godly relationships with your brothers and sisters-in-Christ. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen. And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21 KJV).

In fact, if you don’t love as God commands and you aren’t demonstrating it in your relationships with others, most likely you don’t even KNOW God. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:8 KJV).

In other words, Godly, loving relationships are a tell-tale sign that God’s Spirit is dwelling in us “… if we love one another, God dwelleth in us” (1 John 4:12 KJV). 

Adam didn’t just choose to  respond against God’s command, but he exercised his own human will; along with Eve.

Just like Lucifer who said, “I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14 KJV). The key words are “…I will …”

Human WILL and voluntarily CHOOSING your “OWN” way is the driving force behind all sin in our lives. “…We will continue to live as WE WANT TO, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). “…They (God’s OWN people) KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).  

Adam and Eve, like Lucifer, wanted to be like the Most High in equality, not just created in his image or subject/servant to him as King of kings or Lord of lords. “…The woman [became] ... convinced [to eat from the tree, anyway]... She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it...” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).  

Instead, they followed after their own will and desires. Can this attitude be seen today? “….She [choose to take] ... some of the fruit and [eat] ... IT. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).

God’s people, today, want to choose to respond to life based on their own human will instead of God’s will and have willfully fallen away or SEPARTED from God, the Holy Spirit. “.... At that moment their eyes were opened…” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).  At that moment, “…[their] ...INIQUITIES … separated … [them from] ... God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

When God’s people pick and choose which of God’s commands they want to obey and which ones they don’t want to obey; they are responding to life in “their own way.” “...I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!  But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!  You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked...” (Revelation 3:15-16 NLT). “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).

“... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ...  the one who practices sin is of the devil ...   anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB).

You ARE sealed, but the WORD can CUT asunder the SEAL between the SOUL AND SPIRIT. The WORD says your practice of “SIN” will put a separation between YOU and God. God says, I “…am WATCHING over my word to PERFORM it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB “…So shall MY WORD be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it SHALL NOT return unto me void, but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH that which I please, and it SHALL PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV).).

God NEVER changes. “…I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ...  ..” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB). “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). . “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

“... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB). “…I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ...  ..” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB). “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). . “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “...dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).

We are NOT talking about MISTAKES, STRUGGLES, OR WEAKNESSES IN AN EFFORT TO "OVERCOME" SIN. We are talking about people who have willfully and voluntarily DECIDED TO DEPART from God and LIVE AN ongoing LIFESTYLE of PRACTICING SIN.

A lifestyle of practicing sin WILL ALWAYS CREATE a separation or BARRIER between YOU and HOLINESS. “... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ...  the one who practices sin is of the devil ...   anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB).  “... the word of God...piercing ....to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).

HOLINESS can NOT and will NOT “EVER” MIX with SIN. SIN and HOLINESS SEPARATES; just like oil and water. “…It’s YOUR SINS that have cut you off from God (who is HOLY)…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).

“…[ONLY the ONE who remains] ... joined unto the Lord (Jesus) is ONE Spirit… [united with the HOLY God]” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).  “... in Him (not outside of him or apart from him) there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins ... knows Him... [IN HIM he] ...is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy ... [Therefore,] ... little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;  the one who practices sin is of the devil;...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB & Jude 1:24 KJV).

The PRACTICE of SIN will CUT you OFF from God, the Holy Spirit and cut asunder the SEAL. “…You have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away  (departed) from God’s GRACE (his unmerited FAVORS)…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT). “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

 “…what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ (the Word of TRUTH) with Belial (the DEVIL or Father of LIES)? Or what part hath he that believeth (depends upon God) with an infidel (one who doesn’t depend upon God)?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV).

It is impossible for HOLINESS and SIN to MIX or UNITE together. If you CHOOSE, willfully and voluntarily, to PRACTICE a lifestyle of SIN; YOU have CHOSEN to fall away or depart from God, the Holy Spirit on your OWN volition.

We see in the Old Testament days that, “… Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). People in the twenty-first century are BIG on doing what is “right in [their]…own eyes.”

The 21^st century saying “you do you and I’ll do me” is about doing what is right in your OWN eyes,

If you are truly in a relationship with God, you will keep his commandments regardless of your own will or desires. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." (1 John 5:3 KJV).

God knows one of the biggest problems we face is letting go of our own will, but nonetheless the human will is yours to choose to respond to life as you please. Even Jesus had to CHOOSE to do God’s will “…not My will, but Yours be done…" (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).  “… [Jesus]…humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…” (Philippians 2:8 KJV). “… I lay down my life... No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. …” (John 10:17-18 KJV).  “….Christ pleased not himself…” (Romans 15:3 KJV). 

Adam following after his own will caused the whole world to be born doing the same thing generation after generation. “…all have ... come short of the glory of God (all are born WITHOUT the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV). “….I was born a sinner (I was born without the indwelling holy spirit) ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).  “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin (a slave to the sin nature) …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…the wages of sin (the payment of having a sin nature) is death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “…For all have sinned (all have been born with a sin nature)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV).

“Wherefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death passed to all men, for that all sinned—“(Romans 5:12 KJV).

Christ, however, followed after the will of God “….nevertheless not my will, but thine be done…” in order to restore the whole world through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.“...[Jesus]... said, It is finished…” (John 19:28-30 KJV). “… I lay down my life... [FOR YOU] …” (John 10:17-18 KJV).  Jesus did “…not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many...” (Matthew 20:28 KJV).  

We are not individualistic, but collectivist and one person, following after their own will, can destroy his or her life; taking others with them. “Wherefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death passed to all men, for that all sinned—“(Romans 5:12 KJV).

Your “sphere of influence” is impacted by everything you do whether they see you do it or not.  “Wherefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death passed to all men, for that all sinned—“(Romans 5:12 KJV).

Nothing demonstrates the detriment of man’s responses to life more than close relationships. Hardly anything else impacts our lives - in either a positive or negative – other way than close relationships. “...through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death passed to all men, for that all sinned—“(Romans 5:12 KJV).

In Joshua chapter 7, Achan’s whole family was killed because he responded “...against the Lord...” and broke the covenant between himself and God. Achan admitted he … “…coveted...” some material things, stole them, and hide them in his house. “... Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest. So Joshua sent some men to make a search. They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, just as Achan had said, with the silver buried beneath the rest. They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. Then they laid them on the ground in the presence of the Lord. Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the Lord was no longer angry...” (Joshua 7:21-26 NLT).

“... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ...  ..” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB). “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). . “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “...dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).

All that we know, feel, find interesting, believe, do, think, discover, respond to, react to, learn about, or inherit, usually come through close relationships. These close relationships impact our lives every day as we grow and develop through the life span.

Man’s ability to choose to respond to the life, around them, willfully, as he or she pleases; continues to keep humanity falling away and separated into a deep abyss of darkness FAR from God, the Holy Spirit. “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). . “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

The driving and motivating attitude of Adam/Eve’s choice to response to life screams “my will be done and not God’s.” “But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).

No relationship can survive when one person forces their way all the time. Relationships are a loving, mutual cooperation and interactive between two committed people. “…But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).  “...The Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man…” (Genesis 6:3 KJV). “…They DID NOT like to retain God in their knowledge, GOD GAVE THEM OVER to a reprobate mind…” (Romans 1:28 KJV).

God loved Adam/Eve and wanted to protect their safety, their innocent, their holiness, and their spiritual connection. It was up to Adam/Eve to choose to respond to God’s loving instructions of truth. “…Choose (make a CHOICE) you this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).  “…abide in me, and I in you. (John 15:4 KJV). “…If a man abide NOT in me, ‘he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered…” (John 15:6 KJV).

However, Adam/Eve choose to respond to Satan’s lies. When you exercise your own will against God’s, you are voluntarily choosing to fall away or depart from God, the Holy Spirit. YOU are doing the CHOOSING. “…Choose (make a CHOICE) you this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). 

Jesus’ CHOICES demonstrated two things: his love for God and God’s love for Him. “…not My will, but Yours be done…" (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).  “… [Jesus]…humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…” (Philippians 2:8 KJV). “… I lay down my life... No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. …” (John 10:17-18 KJV).  “….Christ pleased not himself…” (Romans 15:3 KJV). 

 ““…Jesus Christ maketh thee whole (SAVES, RESTORES , AND MAKES YOU WHOLE YOU AGAIN)…” (Acts 9:34 KJV). “… [He sent the ] …one … who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).
…, my righteous servant (Jesus) ... [made]... it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins…” (Isaiah 53:11 NLT). “… that the world may learn that I love the Father….” (John 14:31 KJV).  "…As the Father hath loved me…..” (John 15:9)

The relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, “is” the Christian journey. Relationships are important to God and provide opportunities to love ourselves, others, and God. “...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (Luke 10:27 KJV). “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV).

Loving relationships are the best way to demonstrate you are God’s disciples. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV).

God’s kind of love “IS” the mark and evidence that says you are an authentic child of God. Without the love of God, everything else you do or possess – even faith, prophecy, knowledge etc. - is meaningless.

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ASV).

In Genesis we first see God’s relationship with Adam, and then Adam’s relationship with Eve, which highlights, demonstrates, and reveals the application of the two most important commandments “...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (Luke 10:27 KJV).

 I can’t say this enough; love for God and love for others are your two greatest Christian endeavors!!!! “...By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV).

Without true, Godly LOVE, you have NOTHING and you DON”T know God!!

“...[When “I” DO deeds for others] ....but have not love, I am nothing. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ASV). “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 ASV).

God’s “…love is patient, [God’s]…love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [God’s]…love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, [God’s]…love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV).

“...By this (kind of love) shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV).

GODLY LOVE IS PROOF THAT YOU "KNOW" GOD AND YOU ARE TRULY ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES.