Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2020 16:37:23 GMT -5
FIRST LOVE
Observation from a biblical perspective can develop an abundance of spiritual wealth. I’ve found that daily reading of the New Testament starting with the gospels through the epistles develops a knowledge that guarantees when false doctrine is espoused whether by commentary, teaching, or preaching it is easily perceivable. I’ve also observed that when the tempter tempts us he usually first introduces a thought that seems harmless in its presentation; but when conceived it quickly turns into something that if acted upon cannot be accomplished without sinning. This is why we must be educated scripturally to discern between truth and the skin of the truth stuffed with a lie. Our first labor of love is to love the Lord with all our being. This was established in the Old Covenant:
(4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
(5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 KJV
These two verses when spoken aloud together is called the Shema! It was often proclaimed during synagogue worship time by the Jews. The Hebrew word in the passage for one is echad, which speaks most literally of a compound unity, but that is another subject. The subject of our affection toward God and the fruits of righteousness which grow from it is the topic.
The jubilation of my new birth and becoming a new creation with a new heart that first and foremost was conscious of God and this abundant love which proceeded from the core of my being was a fascinating dynamic that overwhelmed my being. It imputed a loyalty that had never been there and a new found hunger for the word of God and a desire to talk with God not just at the beginning of the day but throughout the day through to the night.
Let us recall the parable of the sower. Remember the seed that was sown was the word of God. Let us recall when that word was sown into our hearts which is called honest ground; we were seeking something searching in the darkness. We knew in ourselves that life wasn’t complete; by all means something was missing even though we did not know what it was. Then as God would have life led us to place where the word of God was presented to us and our hearts received the word of God which opened our blinded eyes and the God that we had been sinning against was suddenly real and our guilt was before us. Immediately repentance through godly sorrow filled our hearts which hurt now and our belief that God so loved us that Jesus his Son came to fulfill the law through his sinless life; be crucified for our sins and then resurrect that we might have eternal life was the only truth that mattered at the moment and we turned to God receiving the seeds of salvation.
Brethren; let us recall that time of growth as we were in a period of the incubation of the manifest love of God which was poured abundantly upon us. Our spiritual senses could sense his presence at every waking moment in those early days. Then by virtue of the need of spiritual growth the trying times came and our faith was tested. The book of James pens the words:
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2-3 KJV
My brothers and sisters; if the truth is told we are creatures who love comfort. We have a false premise that if we are serving God faithfully that we shouldn’t have to go through trials. Yet in scripture we are given metaphors, analogies, and instruction for trials, temptations, and spiritual warfare. We must remember that anything we go through as Christians is for our benefit. We shouldn’t think that we will escape the tribulations of life.
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 1 Peter 4:12-14 KJV
Brethren if we’re not worthy of persecution our walk must not exalt Christ and if everyone without loves you that should speak volumes for Christ himself said if the world hated me it shall also hate you. We must contend with the sin, the devil, and the world. We cannot allow ourselves to be conformed to it. We must be prepared for fiery trials and learn the art of maintaining our joy when they come. The epistles give us examples of churches and their members in particular concerning the trying of their faith. What was the outcome of those who loved the Lord with all their being? The answer: increasing faith; the more they were attacked for their faith the greater it increased; then abounding love; the more the world hated them the more their love grew to join the battle with divine love that surpasses the hatred of the world and the more they proclaim the gospel to them; then invincible patience; with each conflict came a patience that could not be comprehended and patience that could endure and overcome; a patience that established that they were in fact in control because God has the full reins of their hearts.
(4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
(5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 KJV
Brethren; where is your love focused? Have you sown that love into the vanities of temporal life or into the riches of eternity? God is eternal and when we sow the whole being of our love into him and seek his kingdom even through the trials of life he provides for us those things needed to go forth in this life. Let us also learn the art of yielding to the Spirit when we seek God in prayer.
(26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28 KJV
Brethren God is good and he is good all the time. I exhort you by faith to never forsake your first love for God by allowing the dynamics of trials to separate you from you intimate relationship with the Lord. Keep the faith and the faith will keep you! Selah
D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Inc.)
Observation from a biblical perspective can develop an abundance of spiritual wealth. I’ve found that daily reading of the New Testament starting with the gospels through the epistles develops a knowledge that guarantees when false doctrine is espoused whether by commentary, teaching, or preaching it is easily perceivable. I’ve also observed that when the tempter tempts us he usually first introduces a thought that seems harmless in its presentation; but when conceived it quickly turns into something that if acted upon cannot be accomplished without sinning. This is why we must be educated scripturally to discern between truth and the skin of the truth stuffed with a lie. Our first labor of love is to love the Lord with all our being. This was established in the Old Covenant:
(4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
(5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 KJV
These two verses when spoken aloud together is called the Shema! It was often proclaimed during synagogue worship time by the Jews. The Hebrew word in the passage for one is echad, which speaks most literally of a compound unity, but that is another subject. The subject of our affection toward God and the fruits of righteousness which grow from it is the topic.
The jubilation of my new birth and becoming a new creation with a new heart that first and foremost was conscious of God and this abundant love which proceeded from the core of my being was a fascinating dynamic that overwhelmed my being. It imputed a loyalty that had never been there and a new found hunger for the word of God and a desire to talk with God not just at the beginning of the day but throughout the day through to the night.
Let us recall the parable of the sower. Remember the seed that was sown was the word of God. Let us recall when that word was sown into our hearts which is called honest ground; we were seeking something searching in the darkness. We knew in ourselves that life wasn’t complete; by all means something was missing even though we did not know what it was. Then as God would have life led us to place where the word of God was presented to us and our hearts received the word of God which opened our blinded eyes and the God that we had been sinning against was suddenly real and our guilt was before us. Immediately repentance through godly sorrow filled our hearts which hurt now and our belief that God so loved us that Jesus his Son came to fulfill the law through his sinless life; be crucified for our sins and then resurrect that we might have eternal life was the only truth that mattered at the moment and we turned to God receiving the seeds of salvation.
Brethren; let us recall that time of growth as we were in a period of the incubation of the manifest love of God which was poured abundantly upon us. Our spiritual senses could sense his presence at every waking moment in those early days. Then by virtue of the need of spiritual growth the trying times came and our faith was tested. The book of James pens the words:
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2-3 KJV
My brothers and sisters; if the truth is told we are creatures who love comfort. We have a false premise that if we are serving God faithfully that we shouldn’t have to go through trials. Yet in scripture we are given metaphors, analogies, and instruction for trials, temptations, and spiritual warfare. We must remember that anything we go through as Christians is for our benefit. We shouldn’t think that we will escape the tribulations of life.
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 1 Peter 4:12-14 KJV
Brethren if we’re not worthy of persecution our walk must not exalt Christ and if everyone without loves you that should speak volumes for Christ himself said if the world hated me it shall also hate you. We must contend with the sin, the devil, and the world. We cannot allow ourselves to be conformed to it. We must be prepared for fiery trials and learn the art of maintaining our joy when they come. The epistles give us examples of churches and their members in particular concerning the trying of their faith. What was the outcome of those who loved the Lord with all their being? The answer: increasing faith; the more they were attacked for their faith the greater it increased; then abounding love; the more the world hated them the more their love grew to join the battle with divine love that surpasses the hatred of the world and the more they proclaim the gospel to them; then invincible patience; with each conflict came a patience that could not be comprehended and patience that could endure and overcome; a patience that established that they were in fact in control because God has the full reins of their hearts.
(4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
(5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 KJV
Brethren; where is your love focused? Have you sown that love into the vanities of temporal life or into the riches of eternity? God is eternal and when we sow the whole being of our love into him and seek his kingdom even through the trials of life he provides for us those things needed to go forth in this life. Let us also learn the art of yielding to the Spirit when we seek God in prayer.
(26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28 KJV
Brethren God is good and he is good all the time. I exhort you by faith to never forsake your first love for God by allowing the dynamics of trials to separate you from you intimate relationship with the Lord. Keep the faith and the faith will keep you! Selah
D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Inc.)