If love is the acid test of our Christian walk.....

[Gideons300]

Here is a question we all need to ponder. If Love is the real acid test of our Christianity, how are we doing?

We are told that love is the true test of the validity of our Christian walk. Not our doctrine. Not our church affiliation. It is simply whether we love God with all of our hearts and whether we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Some say this is a moot point because God sees us as holy, then regardless, all is fine. But is that really the truth?

Let’s be real here. In the book of Acts, men would exclaimed those in the early church "Behold how they love one another!" The love of God was manifested through them so that God would be glorified. Can we honestly say the same, or are we reduced to hiding under our "positional" love when it cannot be seen by any in the world? Is it any wonder they often call us hypocrites? As was foretold, the children of darkness are wiser than the children of light. Ah, but there is good news…. not for long!

Is our situation irreversible? Absolutely not. God longs to make us fruitful, and adorn us with love, joy, peace, and yes, praise God, even self control for those overcome by black addictive sins as I was. BUT..... these fruits cannot grow in the rocky soul of the flesh nature. We must finally bow low before our God and admit what is obvious to everyone except ourselves. We are NOT loving God with all of our hearts. Nor are we loving others as we love ourselves. Self still rules the roost and self must die.

We have heard the call to pick up our cross and deny ourselves. But how?? We cannot kill it, discipline it, ignore it, or tie it up tight enough to allow us to let God love through us. There is a narrow way, and obviously the early church was walking in it. What are we missing? Look, as long as we refuse to admit we need an infusion of God’s love, it will never happen, for it is only when we finally break before Him and cry out for Him to fill us and change us with out WHOLE heart will we find what we so desperately need. Let us remember, He dwells with those who are of a contrite heart, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

When we finally confess to Him that we need new hearts, loving hearts, hearts that He can FULLY possess, we will witness..... no, no..... be a part of... the greatest move of God the world has ever seen, and yes, that includes the book of Acts. Impossible, you say? Look, I get it, in this age of a Christianity that only wants to tickle our ears, how can we ever hope to see the joy of our salvation brought back from lukewarm to a full boil, spilling out on others. Many see only the great falling away, and not the promised end gathering that will precede our Lord’s return.

But praise God, even now the Lord is beginning to awaken us to what He has for us in these last days. We as His church have not been born in unity, power, and great love, only to see us limp across the finish line, with self quite intact, sin still overcoming us, with the world laughing at our multitude of divisions, which we call denominations, all bickering and arguing.

And why has this sad state occurred? It is simple. We have limited the Holy one of Israel by our unbelief. We have become satisfied with having our names written in Heaven, but with precious few truly lamenting their fleshliness or hungering after God to change us from the inside out. Jesus has promised to set us free indeed and longs to according to HIS definition, not ours. He has assured us that He will keep us from falling and He will change us from carnal children to overcoming saints. This is our destiny. But we simply have not believed it possible.

But that is all about to change. No more trading our birthright of walking as true overcomers for a mess of pottage. It is time we take possession of the land He has promised us. No more running laps in the wilderness of worldliness, compromise and lukewarm Sunday-go-to-church Christianity. It makes God sick. Should it not do the same to us? He is awakening us to who we are, and who He is in us. And when we do… and believe me, we will, the world will again say "Look! That which bore only briars and thorns has become again like the garden of Eden!" I cannot wait! How about you?

Let it be so, Lord. We are dry bones, but praise God, life is about to flow through us again. The world will marvel, but praise God, we will marvel more. Amaze us Lord with how potent your grace really is. Open our blinded eyes and break our satisfied hearts. Let us, like Paul, see ourselves as wretched men without real victory. And to all who do, wash away their unbelief and realize that we serve the God who will do abundantly above and beyond all that we ask or even think.

Live, bones, live.

Blessings to all.

Gideon

 

[eleos1954]

Here is a question we all need to ponder. If Love is the real acid test of our Christianity, how are we doing?

We are told that love is the true test of the validity of our Christian walk. Not our doctrine. Not our church affiliation. It is simply whether we love God with all of our hearts and whether we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Some say this is a moot point because God sees us as holy, then regardless, all is fine. But is that really the truth?

Let’s be real here. In the book of Acts, men would exclaimed those in the early church "Behold how they love one another!" The love of God was manifested through them so that God would be glorified. Can we honestly say the same, or are we reduced to hiding under our "positional" love when it cannot be seen by any in the world? Is it any wonder they often call us hypocrites? As was foretold, the children of darkness are wiser than the children of light. Ah, but there is good news…. not for long!

Is our situation irreversible? Absolutely not. God longs to make us fruitful, and adorn us with love, joy, peace, and yes, praise God, even self control for those overcome by black addictive sins as I was. BUT..... these fruits cannot grow in the rocky soul of the flesh nature. We must finally bow low before our God and admit what is obvious to everyone except ourselves. We are NOT loving God with all of our hearts. Nor are we loving others as we love ourselves. Self still rules the roost and self must die.

We have heard the call to pick up our cross and deny ourselves. But how?? We cannot kill it, discipline it, ignore it, or tie it up tight enough to allow us to let God love through us. There is a narrow way, and obviously the early church was walking in it. What are we missing? Look, as long as we refuse to admit we need an infusion of God’s love, it will never happen, for it is only when we finally break before Him and cry out for Him to fill us and change us with out WHOLE heart will we find what we so desperately need. Let us remember, He dwells with those who are of a contrite heart, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

When we finally confess to Him that we need new hearts, loving hearts, hearts that He can FULLY possess, we will witness..... no, no..... be a part of... the greatest move of God the world has ever seen, and yes, that includes the book of Acts. Impossible, you say? Look, I get it, in this age of a Christianity that only wants to tickle our ears, how can we ever hope to see the joy of our salvation brought back from lukewarm to a full boil, spilling out on others. Many see only the great falling away, and not the promised end gathering that will precede our Lord’s return.

But praise God, even now the Lord is beginning to awaken us to what He has for us in these last days. We as His church have not been born in unity, power, and great love, only to see us limp across the finish line, with self quite intact, sin still overcoming us, with the world laughing at our multitude of divisions, which we call denominations, all bickering and arguing.

And why has this sad state occurred? It is simple. We have limited the Holy one of Israel by our unbelief. We have become satisfied with having our names written in Heaven, but with precious few truly lamenting their fleshliness or hungering after God to change us from the inside out. Jesus has promised to set us free indeed and longs to according to HIS definition, not ours. He has assured us that He will keep us from falling and He will change us from carnal children to overcoming saints. This is our destiny. But we simply have not believed it possible.

But that is all about to change. No more trading our birthright of walking as true overcomers for a mess of pottage. It is time we take possession of the land He has promised us. No more running laps in the wilderness of worldliness, compromise and lukewarm Sunday-go-to-church Christianity. It makes God sick. Should it not do the same to us? He is awakening us to who we are, and who He is in us. And when we do… and believe me, we will, the world will again say "Look! That which bore only briars and thorns has become again like the garden of Eden!" I cannot wait! How about you?

Let it be so, Lord. We are dry bones, but praise God, life is about to flow through us again. The world will marvel, but praise God, we will marvel more. Amaze us Lord with how potent your grace really is. Open our blinded eyes and break our satisfied hearts. Let us, like Paul, see ourselves as wretched men without real victory. And to all who do, wash away their unbelief and realize that we serve the God who will do abundantly above and beyond all that we ask or even think.

Live, bones, live.

Blessings to all.

Gideon

Revelation 21:3

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, ... and for eternity ... AMEN AMEN

Waiting on the Lord. Come Lord Jesus!

May the Lord Bless all.

 

[mindlight]

Good post Gideons300. Today an atheist friend of mine lent my wife one of his cars for the Christmas period. My wife refuses to drive my car cause it does not have power steering and is a bit old. It really challenged and humbled me as to how we as Christians are often outperformed by those who do not know him. Yet isn't our witness to Gods love meant to be the love we show to others. If love is the acid test then the church is often not much of a witness but by the grace of God it can do better. I plan to replace my car in the new year with one that wife could drive.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Here is a question we all need to ponder. If Love is the real acid test of our Christianity, how are we doing?

In Scripture, isn't obedience specifically required ?
As Jesus Says, if you 'love' God, you will obey Him.
Love being a choice of the will in Scripture, NOT an emotion nor a feeling.

 

[Not me]

Here is a question we all need to ponder. If Love is the real acid test of our Christianity, how are we doing?

We are told that love is the true test of the validity of our Christian walk. Not our doctrine. Not our church affiliation. It is simply whether we love God with all of our hearts and whether we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Some say this is a moot point because God sees us as holy, then regardless, all is fine. But is that really the truth?

Let’s be real here. In the book of Acts, men would exclaimed those in the early church "Behold how they love one another!" The love of God was manifested through them so that God would be glorified. Can we honestly say the same, or are we reduced to hiding under our "positional" love when it cannot be seen by any in the world? Is it any wonder they often call us hypocrites? As was foretold, the children of darkness are wiser than the children of light. Ah, but there is good news…. not for long!

Is our situation irreversible? Absolutely not. God longs to make us fruitful, and adorn us with love, joy, peace, and yes, praise God, even self control for those overcome by black addictive sins as I was. BUT..... these fruits cannot grow in the rocky soul of the flesh nature. We must finally bow low before our God and admit what is obvious to everyone except ourselves. We are NOT loving God with all of our hearts. Nor are we loving others as we love ourselves. Self still rules the roost and self must die.

We have heard the call to pick up our cross and deny ourselves. But how?? We cannot kill it, discipline it, ignore it, or tie it up tight enough to allow us to let God love through us. There is a narrow way, and obviously the early church was walking in it. What are we missing? Look, as long as we refuse to admit we need an infusion of God’s love, it will never happen, for it is only when we finally break before Him and cry out for Him to fill us and change us with out WHOLE heart will we find what we so desperately need. Let us remember, He dwells with those who are of a contrite heart, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

When we finally confess to Him that we need new hearts, loving hearts, hearts that He can FULLY possess, we will witness..... no, no..... be a part of... the greatest move of God the world has ever seen, and yes, that includes the book of Acts. Impossible, you say? Look, I get it, in this age of a Christianity that only wants to tickle our ears, how can we ever hope to see the joy of our salvation brought back from lukewarm to a full boil, spilling out on others. Many see only the great falling away, and not the promised end gathering that will precede our Lord’s return.

But praise God, even now the Lord is beginning to awaken us to what He has for us in these last days. We as His church have not been born in unity, power, and great love, only to see us limp across the finish line, with self quite intact, sin still overcoming us, with the world laughing at our multitude of divisions, which we call denominations, all bickering and arguing.

And why has this sad state occurred? It is simple. We have limited the Holy one of Israel by our unbelief. We have become satisfied with having our names written in Heaven, but with precious few truly lamenting their fleshliness or hungering after God to change us from the inside out. Jesus has promised to set us free indeed and longs to according to HIS definition, not ours. He has assured us that He will keep us from falling and He will change us from carnal children to overcoming saints. This is our destiny. But we simply have not believed it possible.

But that is all about to change. No more trading our birthright of walking as true overcomers for a mess of pottage. It is time we take possession of the land He has promised us. No more running laps in the wilderness of worldliness, compromise and lukewarm Sunday-go-to-church Christianity. It makes God sick. Should it not do the same to us? He is awakening us to who we are, and who He is in us. And when we do… and believe me, we will, the world will again say "Look! That which bore only briars and thorns has become again like the garden of Eden!" I cannot wait! How about you?

Let it be so, Lord. We are dry bones, but praise God, life is about to flow through us again. The world will marvel, but praise God, we will marvel more. Amaze us Lord with how potent your grace really is. Open our blinded eyes and break our satisfied hearts. Let us, like Paul, see ourselves as wretched men without real victory. And to all who do, wash away their unbelief and realize that we serve the God who will do abundantly above and beyond all that we ask or even think.

Live, bones, live.

Blessings to all.

Gideon

I have thought that if we are truly in the end days, the Bride would have to be making itself ready. I can’t speak on the timeline. But I for one want, absolutely want, to be part of the Bride. So I will press in even harder to the One who died for me.... to make my calling and election sure.

Blessings, thanks for the admonitions and encouragement.

Much love in Christ, Not me

ps, (I see increase in your writings)

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I have thought that if we are truly in the end days

If possible,
see in Scripture quote "end days" and "last hour" and similar(if any) Scripture.

The apostles and disciples in the first century looked eagerly for Jesus to return, and were trained by Yahweh and by Jesus in line with all Scripture.

Seeing what Scripture says about being in the last hour is better than
presuming something different, I think.

 

[Gideons300]

I have thought that if we are truly in the end days, the Bride would have to be making itself ready. I can’t speak on the timeline. But I for one want, absolutely want, to be part of the Bride. So I will press in even harder to the One who died for me.... to make my calling and election sure.

Blessings, thanks for the admonitions and encouragement.

Much love in Christ, Not me

ps, (I see increase in your writings)

As to your P.s., I hope you meant quality, not quantity. I have never been accused of being short winded, lol. It is good to be back among friends, my dear brother.

Gids

 

[Not me]

As to your P.s., I hope you meant quality, not quantity. I have never been accused of being short winded, lol. It is good to be back among friends, my dear brother.

Gids

Haaa, I did try to keep it as cryptic as possible. A increase in Christ is always a good thing.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Gideons300]

In Scripture, isn't obedience specifically required ?
As Jesus Says, if you 'love' God, you will obey Him.
Love being a choice of the will in Scripture, NOT an emotion nor a feeling.

There is no question about that. Love is the main fruit of the Spirit in us, but it is obedience that allows the fruits to be produced. So, if we think we are obeying as God would desire of us, and yet overflowing love, patience, kindness, goodness and self control are not abounding in us, could it be that we have missed something concerning obedience?

I struggled for 38 years to overcome my fleshly appetites and to truly walk in the Spirit, but like Saul, aka Paul, in Romans 7, I found that the things I wanted to do, I did not do, and visa versa.

What was I doing wrong? I had not come to the end of confidence in my fleshly efforts. I had missed that the obedience our God wanted from us was what Paul referred to in Romans 15..... the obedience of faith.

Oh, I believed that Jesus was the son of God, that He died for my sins and had forgiven me. So where was my failure hidden? It was in not believing what God had told us all plainly, that the old us is dead and our life is now hidden in Him.

When we finally, often in desperation, come to Him bowed low, wanting desperately to be obedient in ALL things, but admitting that all our efforts have resulted in failure and that we need a miracle inside us to truly obey as He desires, it is only then that we have been prepared to do the one thing He asks of us..... to only believe.

Blessings Jeff,

Gideon

 

[Not me]

If possible,
see in Scripture quote "end days" and "last hour" and similar(if any) Scripture.

The apostles and disciples in the first century looked eagerly for Jesus to return, and were trained by Yahweh and by Jesus in line with all Scripture.

Seeing what Scripture says about being in the last hour is better than
presuming something different, I think.

I’m sorry, the point your trying to bring forth escapes me, please clarify.

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Kenny'sID]

Some say this is a moot point because God sees us as holy, then regardless, all is fine. But is that really the truth?

Absolutely not.

Let’s be real here.

Good luck.

 

[W2L]

Lord have mercy on us.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I have thought that if we are truly in the end days, the Bride would have to be making itself ready. I can’t speak on the timeline. But I for one want, absolutely want, to be part of the Bride. So I will press in even harder to the One who died for me.... to make my calling and election sure.

Blessings, thanks for the admonitions and encouragement.

Much love in Christ, Not me

ps, (I see increase in your writings)

I’m sorry, the point your trying to bring forth escapes me, please clarify.

Much love in Christ, Not me

See the references in Scripture, to see that we are and have been in the end days, even as written in the last hour, since the first century, Scripturally.

On a totally different note just noticed,
when I read the references about the bride of Christ and the body of Christ in Scripture,
as noted by others repeatedly and steadily for at least hundreds of years if not 2000 ears,
the bride of Christ and the body of Christ are different,
and those who think they can be in the bride of Christ, but are not,
may totally miss being in the body of Christ.

That's found elsewhere, online if not in this forum, though. Like I said, a totally different note......

 

[Not me]

See the references in Scripture, to see that we are and have been in the end days, even as written in the last hour, since the first century, Scripturally.

On a totally different note just noticed,
when I read the references about the bride of Christ and the body of Christ in Scripture,
as noted by others repeatedly and steadily for at least hundreds of years if not 2000 ears,
the bride of Christ and the body of Christ are different,
and those who think they can be in the bride of Christ, but are not,
may totally miss being in the body of Christ.

That's found elsewhere, online if not in this forum, though. Like I said, a totally different note......

Gotta, according to your understanding of my statement, I’m using the phrase “the end days” incorrectly.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Southernscotty]

Love is what a christian does, Not what one feels.
Love is doing what is better for others and placing our wants last.
As the apostle Paul says.
[I became all things to all men so that I might win some]

 

[Not me]

Love is what a christian does, Not what one feels.
Love is doing what is better for others and placing our wants last.
As the apostle Paul says.
[I became all things to all men so that I might win some]

To define what love is is a interesting task. We all know there three types of love. God’s love, man/woman love, and brotherly love. Scripture defines love as gentleness, kindness, meekness, preferring one another, etc. Basically all good things. So I was wondering if we could sum up the definition of love by saying;

Love is simply doing that which is right. ????

(Scratching my head)

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Southernscotty]

To define what love is is a interesting task. We all know there three types of love. God’s love, man/woman love, and brotherly love. Scripture defines love as gentleness, kindness, meekness, preferring one another, etc. Basically all good things. So I was wondering if we could sum up the definition of love by saying;

Love is simply doing that which is right. ????

(Scratching my head)

Much love in Christ, Not me

Love is NOT based on a feeling but is an action word and the bible says to love in word and deed :]

 

[Not me]

Love is NOT based on a feeling but is an action word and the bible says to love in word and deed :]

You misunderstand my meaning if that’s what you think I meant.

But no worries, blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Love is simply doing that which is right. ????

Yes.
Love is OBEDIENCE to YAHWEH. (according to Jesus and all Scripture).
It is the once for all CHOICE OF WILL, to obey Him, to always do what He Says.

There are not any references on this forum that I know of to help understand this from all Scripture.

There were some on the internet/ old sermons/ last year that might still be found.

 

[Southernscotty]

To define what love is is a interesting task. We all know there three types of love. God’s love, man/woman love, and brotherly love. Scripture defines love as gentleness, kindness, meekness, preferring one another, etc. Basically all good things. So I was wondering if we could sum up the definition of love by saying;

Love is simply doing that which is right. ????

(Scratching my head)

Much love in Christ, Not me

Agape/Phileo/Eros
Love is simply doing that which is right. ????
I don't know for sure if we could say it that way? I have to think on that lol