Agape Love – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

“Dear Friend…I pray that all may go well with you”

In 2017, I was in West Virginia and attended prayer meeting with my cousin. Her pastor told us the story of a young man, who received a substantial prison sentence, and after serving many years, he was given a reprieve, which gave him his freedom. Yet, with fear, he stated, “I don’t want freedom, I want to serve the rest of my sentence.”

Although this story sounds unbelievable, sadly this scenario of the prisoner who refused freedom is also our mindset when we choose to stay in marriages, family relationships, and associate with people who do not have the love of God in their hearts, as evidenced by their continuous disrespect and abusive mistreatment of others.

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment And the second is like it:bYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39).

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

God is Love! Jesus created us from love and gifted us with the ability to love and honor God, and to love and respect others. We were also created to receive Jesus’ spiritual gifts of joy, peace, and happiness.

1 John 3 is the letter the Apostle Paul sent to Gaius, his friend; “‘…as your soul prospers’ indicates that spiritual health (right thinking, choices, and relationship with God) is the foundation for [our] overall well-being.”

To love God is to love ourselves!

For us to enjoy God’s love, and optimal mental, emotional, physical, and most importantly spiritual health and prosperity, we cannot reject God’s Agape Love, replacing it with the abusive behaviors from those who reject God’s love and His commandment to love others.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3). Jesus died to give us freedom, not only from sin, but also to deliver and heal us from mental despair and emotional wounds.

Remaining in abusive situations, prevents us from loving Christ as He deserves, and blocks our spiritual growth and the transformation of our character required to receive Eternal Life.

“When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?'” (John 5:6).

Jesus also asks us, “Do you want to be made well?”

If our answer is yes, then we use our faith, and through His love, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the courage to leave every demonic situation that is a roadblock to embracing Jesus’ Abiding Love and His gift of Spiritual Peace. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love and creating us with the ability to love. We live in a world permeated with sin and compromised values that allow us to tolerate the abusive mistreatment of others, who You created in Your image. Lord, we pray, and ask You to strengthen and empower Your sons and daughters to take a leap of faith and to embrace the freedom of healing that only You can offer us. In faith, we ask this prayer of deliverance and healing in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Reasons Christian Believers Experience Discouragement and Disappointment

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, ESV).

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans [unbelievers] run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matthew 6:31-32, NIV).

The primary reason we are discouraged and disappointed is because we do not believe that God loves and cares for us, especially during tough times.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Yes, the spiritual journey is one of trials and challenges, yet, Jesus promises to never leave us or forsake us. The Bible contains God’s promises, which reveal His desire to take care of us.

We know that God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ to redeem us from sin, but if we do not have Biblical [and experiential] knowledge of God’s Loving Character and His promises then we feel alone and abandoned.

Secondly, we do not understand the impact of sin on the human heart.

God’s Explains: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV).

Because we inherited sinful hearts, it is easier for us to place our faith in human knowledge and abilities than to surrender, and faithfully obey God.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). The lack of spiritual knowledge and wisdom produces a devastating Domino Effect in the life of a believer.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Jesus, God, the Son, created the angels, humanity, and all animal and plant life. Yet, of all the living creatures, only humanity disobeys His Authority, even the oceans, rivers, and seas stay within their appointed boundaries.

Believers who love God do not intentionally disobey Him, but without prayerfully asking God every day to reveal His will for our lives means that we are living according to our desires instead of God’s Perfect Plans.

Without studying the Scriptures, Satan, our enemy deceives us into believing that because of God’s Grace, our disobedience is tolerated by God.

“…but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15, NIV).

Sin is powerful! Because following our own desires drags us away from God, when adversity arises that human effort cannot resolve, we have no other options, but to react with the emotions of discouragement and disappointment.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

“Look, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27, HCS Bible).

Believers who diligently seek God through daily prayer and studying the Bible, learn God’s Loving and Righteous Character, and gain knowledge of His Divine Intervention in the life of the righteous for over 6,000 years.

As a result, when challenges, obstacles, and adversities arise, we place all of our faith in God because we believe that God is Who He says He is, and He is faithful in keeping His promises to help us.

The Struggle Is Real, But Jesus Promises Us Victory!

Because of my self-reliance, for most of my life, I suffered with roller coaster emotions. When all was well, I was happy, when it wasn’t, I was discouraged and disappointed.

My breakthrough came while listening to a sermon on the importance of using our faith to trust and obey God, which is only possible through our commitment to seek God through the daily personal worship of praying and studying the Holy Scriptures.

Now, instead of worrying or responding with emotions, I use my faith to pray and ask God for His Divine help.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3, NIV).

You are loved by God. Every day, use your faith to surrender, seek God’s plans, and obey His will.

Despite our external hardships, knowing God’s Loving Character and His promises allows us to live with courage and confidence, even when facing tough challenges.

By living a life of surrender and faithful obedience, we invite Christ to lead us, and He rewards us with His gift of Divine Peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV).

Bible Study: Romans 5:6-11

Lord God, we confess and repent of our sins of self-reliance, and disobedience. We desire to reconcile with Jesus, and accept Him as our Shepherd. We are willing to follow His plans for our lives. Lord, we ask for the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and today, we commit ourselves to live a life of surrender and faithful obedience. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

“Christ Went Low, So You Could Go Higher – Sermon Pastor Wintley Phipps

The Loving Heart of Christ

“From one man He [Jesus] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” (Acts 17:26).

Sociology was one of my first academic classes required for my nursing degree. I can recall an assignment of openly confronting prejudice by exposing our inner feelings of “I dislike this group of people because…”

Being truthful required a spoken answer of identifying the individuals who we targeted our discrimination against, and giving the reasons for our prejudice.

As we listened to each other’s [mostly absurd] answers, we realized that learned behaviors [usually from parents and family members] produced unsubstantiated discrimination and prejudice against those who had never harmed us.

Shame and embarrassment permeated the atmosphere, yet there was an interesting twist when I verbalized my answer of, “I am not prejudiced,” which was met by a sharp rebuttal from our professor, “It is impossible for you not to be prejudiced!”

With confidence, I disclosed to my professor and classmates that I was raised by parents who taught us to love everyone.

From a young child, my mother taught us the magnitude of God’s love by singing this song, “Jesus loves the little children of the world. Whether red, or yellow, black, or white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

“We love because He first loved us.”(1 John 4:19).

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:19).

Possessing the Loving Heart of Christ

The Love Commandments: “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV).

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11).

The sign of a converted heart is one that is filled with God’s love. God is love. We were Created from Love, and Redeemed by Love.

“The Samaritan woman said to Him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)” (John 4:9, NIV).

Jesus demonstrated love in His ministry by speaking powerful messages of hope. He exhibited patience, compassion, and the healing of countless multitudes of people without regard to their backgrounds.

God’s love will permeate Heaven’s atmosphere. And only believers who love others freely in their earthly lives will receive the glorious reward of living forever in the Lovely New Heaven and New Earth.

Reflection: Are there any biases or prejudices hidden in your heart that would prevent you from receiving your reward of Eternal Life?

“Prejudice can stem from the perception that certain groups or ideas pose a threat to one’s own belief system or way of life.”

In the Scriptures, God reveals that either we love or hate. There is no middle of the road feeling of “dislike” identified in the Bible. Disliking others reveals that we do not have the loving heart of Christ.

Because the manner in which we were raised varies, our different experiences define our perception of love, and define our boundaries of inclusion. But once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we embrace love as defined by God.

God gives us His characteristics of Agape love in 1 Corinthians 13.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, NIV).

Love Your Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…’ ” (Matthew 5:43-45).

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” (Proverbs 10:12).

God will never condone biases for any reason. If we focus on our differences then it is easy to target those who embrace unbelief in God, practice pagan worship, celebrate various cultural customs, and live alternative lifestyles.

Yes, God hates sin, but He loves humanity, including sinners. “Jesus was and is absolutely inclusive. There is no ‘them versus us’ at the foot of the cross; Jesus paid the highest price for each one of us.”

Love Is the Catalyst for the Spiritual Transformation of Our Hearts

Sanctification is the lifelong, daily, and gradual Spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities into the Righteousness of Christ’s Loving Character, performed daily by the Holy Spirit.

The Prerequisite of Sanctification: We must possess the Righteous Characteristics of Christ: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV).

Christians who have hearts filled with Christ’s love shine brightly. They will know we are Christians when our temperament is gentle, our smile is genuine, and our spoken words are positive and uplifting.

“Heaven will be more diverse than we can imagine, with every people, nation, color, tongue, and gender (Revelation 5:9). Father, grant us your grace, that as Christians we may display your inclusive outlook, here and now. In Jesus’ Loving Name, Amen!”

Prayer: King David’s prayer must be our prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, KJV). Yes and Amen.