Today we continue our series entitled, “God Loves You”, under the overall theme for the year of, “Supernatural Manifestation.” I’m going to continue teaching on God’s love until God tells me to stop. I believe it is absolutely critical for us to fully embrace the love of God, if we are going to become the men/women He has called us to be. With that in mind, let’s learn more about God’s love from Grandpa John, the Apostle Jesus loved.
This is what John said:
“Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God’s child. And so everyone who loves knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him. True love is God’s love for us, not our love for God. He sent his Son as the way to take away our sins… We love because God first loved us.”
(1 John 7-10 & 19 ERV)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Love is WHO God is – He is TRUE LOVE!
a) The Bible says, “True love is God’s love for us, not our love for God.”
b) Humans have perverted the word love. In a world where people say, “I love my purse”, “I love my car”, “I love this food”, and “I love God”, it is clear that our concept of love and God’s concept of love are not always in alignment.
c) If you do not know God, you do not know LOVE, because God IS love. He is love personified. Therefore, you cannot ever truly love until you receive love Himself, God. Once you receive God, you receive love, and you are then in position to give what you have received.
2. You do not belong to God if you don’t love.
a) The Bible says, “Everyone who loves has become God’s child. And so everyone who loves knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
b) Love is not something God has or something God does, love is WHO God is. So if you belong to God, He expects you to love. When He looks down at His children, children He has filled with His Spirit, He expects them (meaning us) to look like Him. For us to look like Him, we must RECEIVE and RELEASE the love of God.
3. Love gives.
a) The Bible says, “This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him.”
b) God gave us His Son and His Spirit because He loves us. Love gives. Love is always focused on others.
c) The opposite of love is not hate. When you truly know God and you get the revelation of His love, you realize the opposite of love is selfishness. Love is always focused on others, not self.
d) Once the love of God fills you heart, you spend your entire life looking for ways TO BE a blessing to others.
4. You are able to love God and others, only because God loved you first.
a) The Bible says, “We love because God first loved us.” You could not even love, if God did not love you first.
b) When you open your heart to God’s love, and you fully embrace the fact that He loves you unconditionally, you are able to believe God and release your faith for the supernatural. Because at that point you know that God’s power is not reserved for those who are perfect, it is reserved for those you receive His love. Love is the key to the supernatural!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I can say this without reservation, because I know You love me. I have received Your love in my heart. I am filled with Your Spirit. You are LOVE. LOVE Himself lives INSIDE of me. I am a carrier of God. Therefore, I am a carrier of TRUE LOVE. I receive Your love in my heart, and I am quick to release what I receive. With Your love in my heart, I cannot be selfish. I live my life focused on BEING a blessing to others. You bless me, and the purpose of the blessing is so that I can BE a blessing. So I enter this day ready to be a conduit of Your love in this world. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
