This week I have a week off and in my usual style I had loads of exciting ideas of things I would do... like go to the motorbike museum in B'ham, shopping at the Bullring mall for Christmas presents and as usual I find myself doing a lot less than planned!
I want to share with you a Bible study I did from my bed this morning as I rested in His presence. This is what His love is like:
God's love....
- endures forever (Jer 33:11, 1 Ch 16:34, and many more in the Psalms!)
- it is totally unfailing (Ps 6:4, 13:5, 32:10, 36:7, 51:1....and many more)
- it is absolutely enormous (Ps 57:10, 86:13, 117:2)
- it is better than life itself (Ps 63:3)
- it is utterley comforting (Ps 119:76)
- it cannot be quenched, not even death cannot quench it (Ps 55 8:7, Romans 8)
- it is better to taste than wine (SS 1:2)
- it is like a massive banner that covers us (SS 55 2:4)
- it is a love that keeps being poured out to use despite our unfaithfulness (Hosea.. marrying an unfaithful woman)
- it is a love that quiets our fears (Zeph 3:17 - picture of God singing over us!)
- it is a love that gives joy that nothing else can give (Philemon v7)
- it is a love that gives us understanding of what God has really done for us (Rom 5v8)
- it is a love that causes us to love others Matt 5v7 (quite irrationally from a human perpective! Only God's love in us can love people that hate us)
Who can recieve it?
- His love is for those who really seek and call on Him (Ps 86v5 - this is not a half-hearted calling on Him)
- His love is for those who really desire Him (1 Cor 14v1)
- His love is for those who hunger to obey Him and understand Him (Ps 119)
What should we do with his love?
- Remain in it or "rooted and established" in it like a tree (Eph 3v7)
- Sing about it! (Ps 59v11)
- Ask for more and more and more of it! (1 Thess 3v12)
- Chase after it like a man pursing a women in earnest (2 Tim 2v22)
- Walk in it (2 John 6)
What are the barriers to receiving it?
- anger (1 Corin 13v5) - I think anger is a big barrier to receiving God's love but I think it also has the capability to melt anger away like nothing else. Ask the spirit to receive God's love to melt away the anger that claws away at the heart.
-fear (1 John 4v18) - fear causes us to focus away from God and on us and our problems. However as with anger, God's love has the amazing ability to cast out fear.
- being an enemy to our brothers (especially those who know Christ) (John 15v12, 1 John 4v19- 20) - I remember being bitter, very bitter with a particularly group of people for ages and it quite literally stalled my ability to receive God's love.
-Other loves (1 h Tim 6v10, 1 John 12v15) - like money, things, people that are bigger than our love for God
- Disobedience (2 John 6) - deliberately choosing to turn away from God and so not be open to receiving His love.
The answer to overcoming those barriers to love?
- THE HOLY SPIRIT giving us an awareness of His love ( 1 John 4v13, Eph 3v16-21). The Holy Spirit overwhelming us with His love and giving us a deep, unchanging, unquenchable understanding of who God is.
-I must keep receiving His love, when it comes it astounds and satisfies more than words can say. Maybe like me, it has astounded you in the past, you just need a revelation of His love again today. Chase after Him and ask to receive His love again!
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