THE DYNAMICS OF THE LOVE OF GOD

Before God gave us the COMMANDMENT of love; He first gave us the EQUIPMENT or ABILITY to love. In the Old Testament I believe that equipment was more of His revelation of His to the Israelites. 


In this dispensation of the New Testament the equipment to love is the actual indwelling of the person of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.


"And hope makes not ashamed; because THE LOVE OF GOD is shed abroad IN OUR HEARTS by the HOLY GHOST which is given unto us." (Romans 5:5).


MANIFESTATION OF THE LOVE OF GOD (1 John 4:9-19).


I used to think that there are THREE manifestations of THE LOVE OF GOD. I now know that they are FIVE. Though we sometimes lump them together, the scripture doesn't. 


"Master, which is the great COMMANDMENT in the law?


Jesus said unto 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 first and great commandment.


And the second is like unto it, You shall LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF.


On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 

(Matthew 22:36-40).


The following are the five manifestations of the love of God. 


1. The love of God (FOR man).

2. The love of God (IN man).

3. The love (of man) FOR God.

4. The love (of man) FOR self.

5. The love (of man) FOR your neighbor.


The foundation, of course, is the love of God FOR man manifested in the death of Christ on the Cross. 


"But GOD COMMENDS HIS LOVE TOWARD US, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ DIED FOR US." (Romans 5:8).


When you become a child of God, His Spirit comes to dwell in you, then THE LOVE OF GOD can now be expressed through you. This is actually how God measures our love for Him. Our love for God is measured by how much we allow Him to love others through us.


YOU CAN'T GIVE WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE. 


You can't HAVE what you don't RECEIVE from God.


You can't RECEIVE what you don't KNOW God has for you.


You can't RECEIVE what you don't BELIEVE God has for you.


Before you can love your neighbor you must first know, believe and receive the love of God from the Holy Spirit that dwells in your heart. You have to believe that the ability to love is in you. 


LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF


You see, you are only required by God to give to others the love you have received. It didn't just say "you shall love your neighbor"; but "you shall love your neighbour as yourself." To the extent you know and believe that the Lord loves you to that extent you can love your neighbor. 


This is so important. It must be emphasized that our love for God is measured by our love for our neighbor. 


"We love him, because he first loved us.


If a man says, "I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" (1 John 4:19, 20).


THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE


Our ability to receive the love of God determines how much we can love God. And how much we love God is measured by how much we love others. That is why it is crucial to first be grounded in the understanding of the love of God for us. Having in us the revelation of the love of God for us is the emphasis of Paul's message on love.


Don't expect someone who is struggling with condemnation, for example, to love anyone. He will also condemn everyone else because he or she is not free. How can he love another when he doesn't even love himself?


The main assignment of the Holy Spirit in us is to reveal to us how much God loves us. We can then choose to protect and tap into the revelation by loving our neighbors. By doing so we are loving God and abiding in His love.


LOVE IS NOT A MATTER OF POSSESSION.


Our ability to love is not necessarily determined by how much possession we have. It is determined by how much we know that we are loved by God. A man can have abundance and not care that people are perishing because he doesn't understand the love dynamics. If you want to know how much you love yourself, find out how much you love your neighbor. Then you will know how much you love God. 


THE BEST WAY


You cannot have Christ in you without sharing Him with others and claim that you love God. Sharing Jesus Christ is the best way to show your love for God.


Your love for others is influenced by how secure you are in the love of God for you. Insecure people cannot love others. You can go to church 365 days a year, pray every day, study the bible every day, give offerings in church everyday; it does not prove that you love God; unless it is impacting on the life of others. 


That's just religion. But the love of God is not about religion, but life.


Lord Help Us!

_____________________________________

See 1 John 4:9-19, Ephesians 3:17-19.

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