October 08, 2002 (29)
THE CHURCH BUILDING ITSELF IN LOVE. THE WORK OF ABOUNDING LOVE. Love is an element that will increase by the association and relationship of time. Achieving a knowledge and comprehension of the one loved, particularly the Lord, will cause love and appreciation to increase. The more intimately we know the Lord the greater our love and attraction for Him will be. The Word of the Lord enlarges and increases our perception of Him. He is made known and revealed in the Word. Phil. 1:9
KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE. It is evident from the scriptures that the cohesive bonding of the church is His love. Without love there will never be a church that is unified, cemented together. It is here, in this perfect unity that the absolute riches and the complete understanding of the mystery of Christ is made known. The ultimate of the mystery of Christ is the marriage of the Lamb. The perfect union, of love perfected between two individuals, Christ and His Bride. Col. 2:2
GOD IS LOVE. The only true love is to be found in Him. The very essence of His presence is the fullness of love. The Lord pours forth His great love to His church through the person of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit of love is <shed abroad> it is easy to love. His Spirit of love overwhelms the spirit and attitude of the natural man, causing love to prevail. Rom. 5:5 The whole secret of the Christian life is the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of love dwelling and remaining in our hearts. When we live with that kind of an atmosphere surrounding us and dwelling within us, we know that He rules and reigns within. We are His and are filled with His love. 1 John 4:16
THE CONFIRMATION OF THAT LOVE IN THE CHURCH. Love the brotherhood. Likewise a part of that command to love our neighbor. Within the household of faith there are many vessels, not all are honorable. Some are irritant, like a grain of sand within the shell of an oyster, it will produce a pearl. That grinding, source of agitation, that pain in the neck is so necessary to the making of something that is of great value and beauty. In order to overcome personal feelings against that source of agitation love it, pray for it, do something positive for it and see what it does for you. The command is not to love just the lovely, but the whole of the family of God. 1 Pet. 2:17 Love is to be without hypocrisy, without a condescending attitude. Even to going so far as to considering the weaker members of the body of Christ to be of greater importance. Love must be in all sincerity. Rom. 12:9 Love within the church must be marked by kind affection and deep appreciation, one of another. Loving as brothers love. Showing honor and preference to others. Rom. 12:10 love within the body of Christ is a sign of discipleship. John 13:35 The truth, the Word and love are the nutrients of Spiritual growth. Lacking either of these is our spiritual life will result in stunted growth. In order to become a member of the body of Christ they must be a very real and a great part of our life in the Spirit. Eph. 4:15.