Saturday, May 30, 2015

Book of John






Many look at the Book of John as with most if not all books collectively in the written Word of God to be intellectualized and approached through textual meaning. Although there is a place for this, it ought to remain a small place. Yet for those who really want to know why John’s account of the life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ is different they only need to seek the Lord out Himself through such words from John that captivate us and grab our attention, ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.’ With that being said, I now invite you Into My HEART...


The apostle Paul knew the vastness of God’s love to be incomparable to anything else. Both men received great revelation from the Almighty not because they were learned men or men who were intellectual giants as it would not be indicated through some of their actions prior to the indwelling of the Spirit. 

No! These men received glorious revelation setting themselves apart by 1. By the grace of God, 2. Their humility in light of His greatness, and 3. They truly believed that their Lord Jesus loved them.

The apostle Paul spoke of such things like men would approach things, in that, we look to the “fruits” we bear as we ought to but many times that gets lost in translation as the only sign, where Paul knew as John knew, “Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!” (1 Corinthians 13:8 NLT

Therefore, whether we possess by the manifold grace and Spirit of God all sorts of gifts and talents to the glory and praise of God, what lasts, what endures, what remains forever is love, and this is what John possessed above all—he possessed love; God’s love in Christ. That was the greatest revelation he had received. He was unconditionally and sacrificially loved by the Son. And John knew it all too well:


“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
(1 John 4:7-21 NKJV)


Paul many will argue concerning his ministry, his methods, his speech to not be of Christ, however, they would be absolutely wrong. Both men, John and Paul, were men given great revelation by the grace of God to know God personally, intimately and powerfully above their companions. Why? They believed they were loved. Not at some point, but from the beginning. They were both won over by Christ, not overtime, but from the beginning.

Now if we were able to get a glimpse into the hearts of these men (click here for an amazing passage and voyage into the very “Chamber of Love”), what we would see would confound us all. We would see, the very character, nature, personality, thought and intent of God. We would see what God loves, what God hates, what He rejoiced in. We would see what He has done, what He is doing, what He will do. We would see His joy, His peace, His gladness. We would see Eternity Himself and all His glorious purposes constantly at work within the hearts of these men. Yes! To see into the hearts of these two men of God is to look into the very heart of God. Amen.

That is what it will take to know God above your companions, to know Him with absolute certainty and no doubt; without any reservations. To know Him unmistakably and unreservedly. To know Him as the sure thing; the only thing, that matters above all things and all people. To walk with faith, to endure with patience, to live with joy. 

To have this, to know this, to possess this and be a constant example and hope of this, is to know that you are loved by the Son. Amen. 

As always...YOU ARE LOVED.

— F. Lugo
4/6/15
9:05am

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