Abundant Grace Fellowship
A Revelation Of Love Parts 1-3
A Revelation of Love, Part 1
By Pastor J.D. Link
abundantgracefellowship-blanco.com
In the area of God’s love, there seems to be three types of Christians: 1. Those that totally relate to God based on performance. 2. Those that know the scriptures on unconditional love and grace, but don’t relate to God based on that knowledge. 3. Those that know the Scriptures on love and grace, understand the finished work of Christ, and relate to God based on that knowledge. The third type is very rare, but it should be the standard. Let’s get into God’s Word, and let’s get a revelation of God’s love.
1Co 8:1-3 says “ ...... Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” Often people think that if they have knowledge of The Word of God, then they have what they need. That is wrong. Knowledge alone just makes you heady, high-minded, & arrogant. Many heady Christians have no fruit. However, Agape love (charity) builds up. Knowledge alone puffs up; Agape love builds up. Loving God, and being known by God; this is what is important (Gal 6:3, Prv 26:12).
In Revelation chapter two, Jesus gives the church at
I’ll tell you what: They had fallen, because they had left their first love. They had become like Pharisees. They were doing everything right, but for the wrong reason. It wasn’t motivated out of their love relationship with Jesus. If you do A, B, C, & D, and have not love; it profits you nothing (1Cor 13). This is so fundamental, that Jesus was going to shut them down if they didn’t get their priorities straight. Did you know that Jesus said the number one way the world would know that we are His disciples, is our love for one another (Jn 13:35). The Apostle John said, that if you don’t love, you don’t know God; for God is love (1Jn 4:8). These are pretty strong statements, don’t you think? Maybe we should do some restructuring in our own lives, and make sure our love relationship with Jesus is number one.
The question may arise, “How can we love like this?”. The answer is simple: you have to know how much God loves you. And you find that out by reading The Word. God’s thoughts towards us are of peace; to give us a destiny, a future, and an expected end (Jer 29:11). His thoughts towards us are precious, and more numerous than the sands (Ps 139:17-18). God rejoices over us, rests in His love for us, and dances, spins, and sings over us (Zep 3:17)! Can you believe that! I’m sure I just messed up someone’s theology by saying that, but look at that verse in Hebrew. You know what else is awesome? These are Old Testament scriptures! We have an even better covenant, based on better promises (Heb 8:6)!
We love God, because He first loved us (1Jn 4:19). Christ died for us when we didn’t care about God (Rom 5:8). He was good to us, when we didn’t even know Him (Eph 2:4-5)! I pray you would know how much God loves you. That you are a equal heir with Jesus to God Himself (Rom 8:15-17)! What a privilege to be called a child of God (1Jn 3:1)! What an honor to be a chosen generation! A royal priesthood! A holy nation! A peculiar people (1Pt 2:9)! Believe it! Believe it! Believe it! As the apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians to comprehend God’s love (Eph 3:14-21), so I pray that you will as well. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!
A Revelation Of Love, Part 2
By Pastor J.D. Link
abundantgracefellowship-blanco.com
Last week we began a series on the subject of love. We saw from Scripture that God’s kind of love is the primary thing in the world. Without love, you are nothing (1Cor 13); you know nothing (1Cor 8:1-3); and you don’t know God (1Jn 4:8). Your love relationship with Jesus is so important, that Jesus told the church at
1Jn 4:10 says, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Most Christians think that God’s love is reactive, instead of proactive. We often think that God’s love for us is based on some kind of merit system. When we have a good week; perhaps go to church, pay our tithes, read the bible chapters we’re supposed to, and don’t cuss or yell: we think God loves us. Yet, when we have a bad week, we think God doesn’t love us. God’s love for us has nothing to do with what we do. He loves us because He is love. He loved us while we were yet sinners. He loved us when we didn’t even care about Him. Why? Because He is Love. His love is not reactive to us; it’s proactive towards us. God wants relationship with us.
I heard Andrew Wommack say he heard a preacher one time that said the only reason we’re on this earth is to win a soul to Christ. He then thought to himself, if that’s true, what was the purpose for Adam and Eve? There were no sinners to witness to. There was no crusade to hold. Why then were they here? Why are you here? For God’s good pleasure; for relationship (Rev 4:11). God wants an intimate relationship with His creation. He doesn’t just want us to do things for Him. He wants our hearts; He wants our love. In fact, if you’re doing the right things, but don’t really love God; your works aren’t even pleasing to Him (Isa 1:11-14, Amos 5:21). There is nothing wrong with good works and holy living; but they must be motivated out of a love for Jesus. Most religions have systems of good works and holy living; but does that make them acceptable to God? No.
Love is the superior motivation for serving God. Many people serve God out of fear, but that is an inferior motive for serving Him. It’s better to be saved by fear than not at all; but it’s much better to understand God’s goodness and love, and serve Him because of that (Rom 2:4). You can refrain from evil actions, but your heart still be wicked. Let’s take adultery, for instance. Do you stay faithful to your spouse because your afraid of going to hell, getting a disease, or having an unwanted pregnancy; or because you love them so much, you could never think to hurt them in that way. Either way you’re being faithful, but don’t tell me the motive doesn’t matter. The second motive is a truly pure motive. That’s what God wants from His children. Pure love from the heart is what God deserves.
God wants us to know how much He loves us. He doesn’t want us always trying to perform for him. He’s not checking His chalk board in heaven every time you darken the doors of a church. Going to church doesn’t earn you points with God; going to church is for you. It gives you the opportunity to fellowship with other believers, receive corporate communion, partake in corporate worship, honor God with your gift, and hear the Word preached. It’s not so you can score some points with God. Quit trying to earn acceptance with God! You can’t earn it! Commit to spending time with Jesus in a love relationship, and your works will change- I guarantee you. Rest in God’s love for you, and you will live holier on accident than you ever could by your own efforts. Put loving God and loving people first in your life. This is the great commandment. Until next time, rejoice in the Lord! (Phi 4:4)
A Revelation Of Love, Part 3
By Pastor J.D. Link
abundantgracefellowship-blanco.com
This week I will wrap up my series on God’s love. Although the subject of God’s love is inexhaustible, I must move on to different aspects of it. I pray this series has blessed you, and that you will have a much deeper revelation of God’s love for you by the end of this page. As God’s children, we so desperately need to comprehend God’s abounding love towards us. We are so very precious in His sight. For too long, we have had a beggarly, unworthy servant attitude about ourselves. This is not the proper attitude born-again children of The Most High God should have.
As unbelievers, we were beggarly & unworthy. However, as Christians, we are the very righteousness of God in Christ (2Cor 5:17-21). We are a royal priesthood; a holy nation; a peculiar people; a chosen generation (1Pt 2:9). We are members of the church of the firstborn (Heb 12:23). We are kings and priests of God (Rev 1:6, 5:10). We are the temple of God (1Cor 6:19). We are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37). We are free from condemnation (Rom 8:1). We have the Spirit of God (Rom 8:9). Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Rom 8:35-39). God loves us greatly (Eph 2:4)! His kindness and love has been shed on us abundantly (Titus 3:4-7)! God is for us, and freely gives us all things (Rom 8:31-32)! God is so good to us!
God works all things together for our good (Rom 8:28)! Don’t be caught up in the fear, strife, and turmoil that the world is in. We are in this world, but we are not of it. Perfect love cast out all fear. We are to have boldness in the day of judgment (1Jn 4:17-18). This is our chance as Christians to be salt and light. The church should be a beacon of hope. Gas prices, elections, and rumors of wars should not be shaking Christians. We stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ! We are eternally secure in Christ! We can have peace in the midst of the storm. Some of the world’s problems are big; but our God is much bigger! With God, all things are possible! You want out of depression? Get into adoration! Adore God! Worship Him! Praise Him! Do it now! He is worthy!
Did you know you are a pearl of great price? It’s true. God gave all He had (Jesus) to purchase you out of the kingdom of darkness (Mt 13:45-46). Did you know you are a treasure to God? God purchased this whole world with the blood of Jesus, just to get you, the treasure (Mt 13:44). Isn’t that incredible? Jesus even took upon Himself the sins of people who would reject Him forever, just to get the handful of treasure that would receive Him and love Him. That is amazing love! Jacob loved Rachel so much, that he worked for her father seven years to get to marry her (then, another seven); yet, it only seemed like a few days (Gen 29:30)! How much more does Christ love us, His bride! He endured the cross for the joy that was before Him (Heb 12:2)! It actually pleased God to do to Jesus what He did - not because He enjoyed seeing His Son suffer; but because He knew it would bring reconciliation to His creation that would believe (Isa 53:10-11).
Perhaps this is the first time you’ve ever realized how much God loves you. Or, maybe you already know these things, but you know someone who doesn’t. I encourage you to give this article to somebody who may not know how special they are to God. Meditate on these truths, until they become real to you. Don’t just put this down and go on with life. Be ever conscious of the fact that God loves you so much. That you are precious. That you are a pearl of great price, a hidden treasure. God wants a close, intimate relationship with you - but it can only begin when you put faith in the Name and sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Rom 10:9-10, Acts 4:12, Jn 14:6). I pray you would receive salvation in Jesus if you have not already, and that you come to a true revelation of God’s love for you. It will change your life forever! Until next time, rejoice in Lord!