Perfect Love

"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love."

1John 4:18 NLT

Many times as Believers we come to God with a performance based mentality. Which says, that if I do good God will love me, if I say the right things, act the right way and never "mess up" God will love me and be able to use me. It is true that as Believers we are to keep ours selves from idols (any thing that takes the place of God, 1John 5:21) and obey His Commandments. In 1John 2:15-16 the Apostle John exhorts Believers not to love the world nor anything it offers, and we are to walk in the light as God is in the light (1John 1:7).

There are times though, when we can become unbalanced and feel that if I'm not doing the right things or if I have failed God, he doesn't love me anymore. That is called imperfect love, which is performance based and it produces fear in our lives. In verse 15-16 of 1John 4 it says, "All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love."

Imperfect love does not rely on the work of the cross, but on ones own performance. When we understand that God's love is not based on our performance, but His mercy through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, there should not be any "unbalanced" fear of judgment.

Our heavenly Father loves us with out conditions, His Son paid the price for our sins and He accepts into His family with no conditions attached, pimples and smelly feet and and all!

Rest in His wonderful love.

prayer:

Father, I thank You for Your divine love, which is so much greater than any love here on earth. It is greater than any earthly mother or fathers love and it is not dependent on my performance but on Your grace and abounding mercy. Thank You for giving Your Son, Jesus, for me and redeeming me from my sin and shame. I bless Your wonderful and matchless Name, the Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Fire of God

"...after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Matthew 3:11-12

- John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. What is the purpose of fire? Fire consumes anything in its path, it purges and cleanses uncleanness. Precious metals are melted down by fire so that the impurities can be skimmed away. Fields are purposely burned to cleanse the old and make way for the new.

As Christians we also need the fire of God to cleanse us and purge us of our old life. That is why Jesus came baptizing with fire to purge His followers of the old ways and to bring new life. It says that He will burn up the chaff, that is all the unwanted and useless material from the wheat. We need the fire of God to burn up the chaff in our lives.

If we want the manifest Presence of God to dwell in our lives we first need the purging and cleansing of the fire of God.

When Solomon dedicated the Temple in the Old Testament it says that fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple (2Chronicles 7:1). The glory of God did not fill the temple until the burnt offerings and sacrifices were consumed by the fire from heaven first. The fire purged then the glory filled the temple.

We need a fresh baptism, immersion in the fire of the Lord to cleanse us and purge the dross and sin away, then His Presence can abide with us. In Romans 12: 1 it says present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God. As we present ourselves and our lives to God He will consume us and it will allow His Presence to be manifested in our lives.

prayer:

Jesus consume me with your fire, baptize me and purge me from all sin and uncleanness even hidden sins that I am not aware of, cleanse me and fill me with your Presence. I praise Your Name, I glorify Your holy Name. Amen

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I was going through some papers on my desk today and found a hand out that was given to me at a church service. It is quite encouraging and I hope it blesses you and inspires you to say, "yes Lord, I want to be in the Fellowship of the Unashamed"

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I'm a disciple of His.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.

I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.

Written by a young pastor in Zimbabwe, Africa, later martyred for his faith in Christ.

prayer:

Lord Jesus may I not be ashamed of You nor Your Word, I pray for strength and courage to stand and be counted as one who has overcome this world and its temptations. I thank You for Your love and grace. Amen.