Sunday, September 30, 2018

BY HIS GRACE AND BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN.....

   

THE REALITY OF GOD'S LOVE

BY HIS GRACE AND BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE, I AM WHAT I AM!

"Herein is love...[God] sent His Son…" (1 John 4:10).
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Before you start this blog, I want to ask you to keep the reality of God’s love as the main focus as you read this. Because, it is the reality of God’s love that is transforming. God desires, ALL ELSE, for you to KNOW he LOVES YOU!  “… I have loved you with an everlasting love…” (Jeremiah 31:3 NASB). “… Indeed, He loves the people…” (Deuteronomy 33:3 NASB). “… [He has CONFIRMED his WORD or] done [certain miracles] … so you will know that [He is] the Lord (WHO LOVES YOU)…” (Exodus 10:1-2 NLT). “…Your rock and Your fortress, your deliverer, Your GOD, Your rock, in whom [you can] … take refuge; Your shield and the horn of Your salvation, YOUR stronghold …[YOUR LOVING SAVIOR].…" (Psalms 18:3 NASB). “…There is NO GREATER LOVE than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).

So the food for thought is “The reality of God’s love” It is important to allow revelation knowledge to reveal God’s love for you, expressed in his WORD, and reveal his love for you through his ACTIONS, expressed in the confirming works of his HOLY SPIRIT in order to FULLY experience true transformation. 
Unfortunately, God’s OWN people FAIL to remember there was ONCE an impenetrable CHASM or BARRIER between themselves (because of the sinful  nature) and GOD (because of the HOLY nature). Yet God’s LOVE made a WAY to REMOVE the BARRIER. “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). . “…Your INIQUITIES (SIN) have separated  (put a BARRIER) between you and your God (HOLY) …” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “…It’s YOUR SINS that have cut you off (through a BARRIER of SIN) from God (who is HOLY)…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). “…between us and you a great chasm (barrier) has been set in place…” (Luke 16:22-25 NASB).

“…what fellowship  (RELATIONSHIP OR CONNECTION) hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion (RELATIONSHIP OR CONNECTION) hath light with darkness? And what concord (RELATIONSHIP OR CONNECTION) hath Christ with Belial? Or what part (RELATIONSHIP OR CONNECTION) hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV).

“…God is not human …” (Numbers 23:19 NIV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…. [Yet], YOU THOUGHt i, (God, the HOLY SPIRIT) was EXACTLY like you (PHYSICAL WITH A SINFUL NATURE)….” (Psalms 50:21 NIV). “…between us (the spiritual world and you (the natural world) a great chasm (barrier) has been set in place…” (Luke 16:22-25 NASB).

Out of LOVE, God DID NOT allow the BARRIER to continue on and on. he SENT his Son!! “…[God]…sent His Son...” (1 John 4:10 KJV).  God …sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “…He gave his only begotten (specially created) Son,…” (John 3:16 KJV). THUS, “…Christ … died for sins ONCE for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us [home again] to God…” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB).

GOD PREFERED TO REUNITE WITH SINFUL MANKIND SIMPLY “BECAUSE” HE “CHOSE” TO LOVE THEM. For God SO LOVED the world, that he GAVE…” (John 3:16). “…Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US... (1 John 4:10 KJV).  “…the Lord loves His people …” (2 Chronicles 2:11 NASB). In “… His love and in His mercy He redeemed them…” (Isaiah 63:9 NASB). “… I have loved you with an everlasting love…” (Jeremiah 31:3 NASB). “… Indeed, He loves the people…” (Deuteronomy 33:3 NASB).  Therefore, God “SPARED NOT his own Son, but delivered him up FOR US ALL” (Romans 8:32 KJV). 
LOVE WILL ALWAYS MAKE A SACRIFICE FOR THE ONES WHO ARE "TRULY" LOVED. 

GOD’S LOVE MOTIVATED HIM TO REUNITE WITH SINFUL MANKIND AND RECONCILE THEM BACK TO HIMSELF, THE HOLY SPIRIT.“… I will bring them (SINFUL MANKIND) home again,” says the Lord.” (HOSEA 11 NLT). “… [He sent the] …one … who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus (THE WORD OF GOD)…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT). Jesus had another name.… His name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB).. “… Jesus (the WORD of GOD) …came and SPAKE, unto them saying, “All POWER is given unto me IN heaven and earth…” (Matthew 28:18 KJV).“… [The] Good News about Christ (THE WORD). ”It” is the power (THE WORD OF GOD IS THE POWER) of God at work (WHICH IS CONFIRMED THROUH HIS HOLY SPIRIT BY MIRACULOUSLY), saving everyone who believes (DEPENDS UPON “THAT” WORD)” (Romans 1:16 NLT).

Great is his love and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD” (Psalms 117:2 KJV). “…[GOD] remembered his covenant with them (THROUGH ABRAHAM)” (Psalms 106:42-48 NLT). To Abraham he said: “…I will BLESS thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a BLESSING: And I will BLESS them that BLESS theein thee shall all families of the earth be BLESSED (Genesis 12:2-3 KJV). “…Showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments…” (Exodus 20:6 NIV).  

God SUSTAINS his WORD throughout generations and generations! This is NOT impossible for God to do nor is it TOO HARD! “… he remains faithful[in holiness], for he cannot deny who he is(2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “…The things which are impossible with men (SOMETIMES BEING AND REMAINING FAITHFUL TO THE ONES THEY LOVE) … [are] …POSSIBLE… [with God] …” (Luke 18:27 KJV).   “…I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). IT IS NOT "TOO HARD" FOR GOD TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE PROMISES HE HAS MADE TO YOU NO MATTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED OR HOW LONG ITS BEEN!  

 “…In him (Jesus, the Word) ALL THINGS  (THROUGH THE POWER OF HIS WORD)…hold together…” (Colossians 1:7 NIV). “… [God is]…sustaining ALL THINGS … by his powerful word…” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV). “….Apart from Me (Jesus, God’s  POWERFUL WORD), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).

“…Love [therefore,] … is the perfect BOND of unity...” (Colossians 3:14 NASB). “…He that is JOINED unto the Lord is ONE Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “…There is no greater…love than to lay down one’s life (IN ORDER TO REUNITE YOU TO GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT AGAIN!!)…” (John 15:13 NLT).

Let me try to give you a visual. A homeless person usually has a multitude of needs. A homeless person has no home in which to go. A heavenless (my new word J) person has a multitude of needs also. A heavenless person has no heavenly home in which to go.

If someone intervenes and helps the homeless or heavenless person they may have a chance to transform their entire life.

If a homeless person is GIVEN money, a home, clothes, education, training, transportation, a job, and other basic needs they WILL be able to settle into a new kind of life or destiny.

If a heavenless person is GIVEN Christ, the WORD OF GOD, salvation, a measure of faith, everlasting love, revelation knowledge, eternity, a new identity, holiness and is “…[accepted into]... the beloved…” they WILL also be able to settled into a new kind of life or destiny.

The key is they’ve been GIVEN something. “…For God SO LOVED the world, that he GAVE” (John 3:16 KJV).…God ….GAVE his only begotten Son” (John 3:16 KJV).   “…His [“HOLY” indwelling] POWER hath GIVEN unto [you]… ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV).

Salvation through Jesus, the WORD, is a FREE GIFT from God. Whenever God gives you a gift and you receive it; it’s yours. God has GIVEN you “many” GIFTS: “…The GIFT by grace……” (Romans 5:15 KJV). ”…  ye [are]…saved by grace through faith…it is the GIFT of God…” (Ephesians 2:8 KJV). “…The GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV).  “….ye shall receive the GIFT of the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 2:38 KJV). “…the GIFT of righteousness…” (Romans 5:17 KJV). “…I am leaving you with a GIFT—peace of mind and heart...” (John 14:27 KJV). “…God has given us different GIFTS for doing certain things well…” (Romans 12:6 NLT). “…every man hath his proper GIFT of God...” (2 Corinthians 7:7 KJV). “…Thanks be unto God for his UNSPEAKABLE GIFT[S]…” (2 Corinthians  9:16 KJV). “…His [INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT and] POWER hath GIVEN unto [you]… ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV). “by the GRACE of God ...[AND THE LOVE OF GOD]... I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).  BY HIS GRACE AND BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE, I HAVE BEEN “GIVEN” WHAT I’VE BEEN “GIVEN.”

If both the homeless person and the heavenless person receive what they’ve been GIVEN it will radically change their lives. “…If any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature ” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “… [They]… are HIS workmanship (new creation), created in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV).…it is God which worketh in you (in them)” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…NOT that [you or they]… are ADEQUATE IN [YOURSELVES or THEMSELVES]… to consider anything as coming from [you or them]… but [YOUR or THEIR]… ADEQUACY IS FROM GOD” (2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB). “…Now GOD GIVES us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service to God …but it is the same GOD WHO “DOES” THE WORK IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his. The Holy Spirit “displays God’s power THROUGH each of us It is the same and only Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts and powers, deciding which each one of us should have… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).

“…Human effort accomplishes nothing….” (John 6:63 NLT). ). “…I (they) can do all things (ONLY) through Christ (the word of god) which strengtheneth me (them)…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “….Apart from Me (Jesus, the Word of God), you (or they) can do NOTHING…” (John 15:5 NIV).

Another key is the benevolent GIVER. The GIVER doesn’t require that the heavenless person earn the gifts, or deserves them, or even be worthy of them, but simple RECEIVE them. God says, “…the world is MINE, and the fulness thereof…” (Psalm 50:12 KJV). “…[God, through Christ]… freely give [you]… ALL things?...” (Romans 8:32 KJV). “…ALL THINGS are your's [in Christ, the WORD]…” (1 Corinthians 3 KJV).

“…What we have RECEIVED is not the spirit of the world, but the [holy] ... Spirit  ... from God, so that we may understand  (acquire revelation knowledge about) what God has freely given us. ” (2 Corinthians 2:12-15 KJV). “… [So you will have revelation knowledge that]... it is through God’s kindness (generous LOVE and that)… it is not by [your]… good works [that we have RECEIVED all these spiritual GIFTS]. God’s grace …[makes all his actions toward us]…—free and undeserved…” (Romans 11:6 NLT). “by the GRACE of God [and because of his generous LOVE]... I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).

“…I will put a (or GIVE YOU A]... NEW SPIRIT [within] you…” (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT). “…God has given [you] HIS Spirit as PROOF that  ... he [dwells]…in [you]…” (1 John 4:13 NLT). “…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (The WORD) “INTO” OUR HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6 NASB).  A man can RECEIVE nothing (especially the indwelling Holy Spirit), except it be GIVEN HIM FROM HEAVEN…” (John 3:27 KJV).  “… [Those that]…HEAR the word, and RECEIVE it ...[will]... bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred…” (Mark 4:20 KJV). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).“...the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives…” (Galatians 5 NLT). "…My Father is glorified by this (the goodness of his presence is made known by this) ... [WHEN] ...you bear much fruit, and so PROVE to be My  (god’s) disciples...” (John 15:8 NIV). “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).

You are the heavenless person and God is the benevolent GIVER who has GIVEN you his indwelling Holy Spirit. “…Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?...” (1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…THE WORDS ... ARE [Holy] SPIRIT…” (John 6:63 KJV).  God is Spirit and Jesus, the Word is Spirit. “… I and my Father are ONE…” (John 10:30 KJV). The Words of God is “NOT” human. . “…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT …” (John 6:63 KJV). “…God is not human “…God is Spirit Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill…” (Numbers 23:19 NIV & John 4:24 KJV). “…In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.… (John 1:1-4 NASB). “…Jesus Christ (the Word of God) is in you” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell[s] in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).

That “SAME” SPIRIT that dwells in YOU “STILL” DOES the WORK, which CONFIRMS God’s WORD. “…God who does the [CONFIRMING] work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT [still] DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us It is the …Holy Spirit who gives all these …. POWERS… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).

“…It is God who works in you” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…The God of peace … that great Shepherd of the sheep work[s] in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ (his word)” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…The God of peace … that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip[s] you with everything good for doing his will” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). BECAUSE, “…the Spirit of God dwell[s] in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).  

God has freely GIVEN you “many” GIFTS, “…His [indwelling Holy Spirit and] POWER hath GIVEN unto [you]… ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV). “by the GRACE of God ...[AND THE LOVE OF GOD]... I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).  Because of your benevolent and LOVING God and CAREGIVER you possess MANY gifts. “…The GIFT by grace……” (Romans 5:15 KJV). ”…  ye [are]…saved by grace through faith…it is the GIFT of God…” (Ephesians 2:8 KJV). “…The GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV).  “….ye shall receive the GIFT of the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 2:38 KJV). “…the GIFT of righteousness…” (Romans 5:17 KJV). “…I am leaving you with a GIFT—peace of mind and heart...” (John 14:27 KJV). “…God has given us different GIFTS for doing certain things well…” (Romans 12:6 NLT). “…every man hath his proper GIFT of God...” (2 Corinthians 7:7 KJV). “…Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable GIFT[S]…” (2 Corinthians  9:16 KJV). “…His [indwelling Holy Spirit and] POWER hath GIVEN unto [you]… ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV). “by the GRACE of God ...[AND THE LOVE OF GOD]... I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).  BY HIS GRACE AND BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE, I HAVE BEEN “GIVEN” WHAT I’VE BEEN “GIVEN.”



God says, “….I have loved thee with an everlasting love…” (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV).…[God has]…made us (you) accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6 KJV). "... I am the LORD, who makes you holy(Exodus 31:13 NIV).  “…What do you HAVE (spiritually) that God hasn’t GIVEN you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?...” (1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT).

“….Do not forget that [God]… led you through ... He gave you water …He fed you…. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this (spiritual)…wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who GIVES you power to be successful… [ESPECIALLY IN YOUR CHRISTIAN JOURNEY] ...”

"You did not choose me but I chose you...” (John 15:16 ASV).  Jehovah did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number (or had better human qualities) than any people; for ye were the fewest of all peoples (your are HEAVENLESS and DEAD in SIN too)” (Deuteronomy 7:7 ASV).

“…There is NEITHER Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female…” (Galatians 3:26-28 KJV). “…God SHOWS NO FAVORITISM.  In every nation HE ACCEPTS those who fear him and do what is right—…there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all…” (Acts 10:34-36 NLT). “…God is no RESPECTER OF PERSONS: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent … preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)…” (Acts 10:34-36 KJV).

“…So now you (whoever you are and from whatever nation) … are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself…” (Ephesians 2:19-20 NLT).

... [Therefore,] ... as many as received him, to them GAVE he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on (or depend upon his name, Jesus, the Word) his name:”( John 1:12). Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV).

Therefore, God, the benevolent GIVER, “spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all….?” (Romans 8:32 KJV). “God so loved the world that he GAVE his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but HAVE everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV).

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV). This is the reality of God’s love. Keep this focus as you study about God’s TRANSFORMING LOVE for you.

Jesus suffered and died, “…so that He might bring [you] to [God’s LOVE], …” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB). “…There is no greater love than [THIS]…” (John 15:13 NLT).Believest thou this?” (John 8:51 KJV).

Godspeed,

Dr. Pensacola H. Jefferson