We love Him because He first loved us. -- 1 John 4:6-11

• Apart from Christ man is not capable of unconditional love
• We can not "fall in love", we can only "fall" into lust
• Love is a choice we step into and stand in (by our continual choice)
• The flesh "feels" - the spirit discerns (perceives, experiences, knows)

In the beginning...

Genesis 2:7,8 -- And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.

Perfect man made for perfect Earth - Adam was not made for Heaven (See "Jews, Gentiles and the Church of God" on this site.)

Genesis 2:15 -- Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

Genesis 2:20 -- So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

Man was put in Eden to dress and keep it. (He had complete provision and knowledge.)

Genesis 2:21-25 -- And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

• Adam immediately knew what God had done
• They were one flesh
• Total exposure
• Total acceptance
• Total peace

Genesis 3:6,7 -- So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

• They had everything needed for a perfect life in a perfect environment
• Yet they were tempted to think God was withholding some good thing from them
• This temptation was appealing to the eyes, mind (self), flesh
• Adam who was "with her" chose
• Sin causes one to understand evil
• Man's effort only tries to cover up or hide sinfulness
• Sin made them ashamed of the parts associated with oneness
• They began to hide or disguise the instruments of oneness
• Sin attacks the elements of intimacy (to steal or keep these from God)

We love Him because He first loved us. -- 1 John 4:6-11

Before we enter into any relationship we must ask ourselves "How long will it last?' The reason for this is to determine our commitment to the process. If we are not in for the long haul, we are not ready for a true relationship.

Hebrews 12:2 -- looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

God's Agape (unconditional love) or man's emotion (desire, lust)?

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 -- For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

We are to walk in the flesh, not of the flesh. Our King has taken captivity captive freeing us from the bondage of the enemy. He has taken the keys (authority and power) of the enemy and left us to "occupy till I come".

The greatest guerrilla war in history is being fought for our minds (selves, souls). The more we try to walk after the flesh the more vulnerable we are to such attacks.

The mind is the battle ground for the soul (self). Any fantasy, imagination of what could happen, and every religious thought that God is somehow still dealing with us under the law is not of faith. What ever is not of faith is sin [Romans 14:23].

Anything that "exalts itself against the knowledge of God" is disobedience, not faith, and is not pleasing to the Father. Such thoughts do not honor the Savior, they doubt the efficacy of His finished work at Calvary and His justification of all who believe in Him.

Romans 14:23 -- But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

2 Corinthians 11:3 -- But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The oldest trick in the enemy's arsenal is deception of the believer. If the believer can be influenced to "interpret" or "add to" God's word, it is easy to lead that one to destruction. Eve quoted God in saying they could not eat of that particular tree but she then added "neither shall you touch it", something God did not say.

Adam and Eve had every perfect thing in a perfect environment yet they were tempted to think there was something good that God was withholding from them. Having everything good, they wanted more! How like us today. We have everything God has to give us, but instead of walking in His provision by faith, we constantly assume He is withholding His blessing because we are not somehow pleasing Him enough.

Isn't this the deception which led to the origination of Sin in humanity?

How we think determines how we live.

Luke 6:45 -- A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

God looks on the heart (where spirit and self combine to take action) Our souls must be fed the Word of God to speak, act and live the Word.

Mark 9:22-25 -- Jesus said unto him, If you can believe all things are possible to him that believes.

Jesus is the finisher of our faith, His faith never fails to believe the Father Speak to your mountain and know in your heart God hears and answers His children. It is always because of Jesus who He is and what He has done.

1 John 2:15-17 -- Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides for ever.

• Impatience and dissatisfaction are the signs that lust is taking hold of the heart.
• Where there is no sense of lack, there is no lust!

Matthew 15:9 -- But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Is it church-ianity or Christ-ianity?

Hebrews 4:12-16 -- For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

• The Word shows the difference between self and spirit
• It reveals the thoughts and intentions of the heart - spirit or self? (See "Spirit, Soul and Body" on this site.)
• 0ur Lord sees and knows intimately everything we do and think, do not grieve the Holy Spirit
• We must learn to run to God when we miss it, not from Him. In His presence is refreshing

Proverbs 18:21 -- Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

• What you say in faith is what you get
• 0ut of the abundance of the heart the mouth produces your circumstances
• Do you bless your loved ones, or bring them down to the grave with your faith-filled words?

Before we can relate properly to others we must first learn to properly relate to God. Only then will we know how to relate to someone else !

1 John 4:17-19 -- Herein is our love made perfect, 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 casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.

• No fear means love is triumphant in your life
• Where there is fear, faith is bound and freedom is lost

Read I Corinthians 13 (The whole chapter).

God's kind of Love.

Galatians 5:22,23 -- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

• Want to know if you are walking in the Spirit? Use the check list above.
• To the degree these are not seen in your actions and words you are in the flesh
• Fruit is the natural result of Christ in you, you only need to choose to let them out

Romans 14:17 --For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

• These are the characteristics of the Christian life
• Seeing these fully developed in the Believer indicates maturity
• Work toward peace and edifying, or building up, one another

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles and some, prophets and some, evangelists and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

• We are all servants to the body of Christ
• We must all come to maturity as grown, adult children of the Lord
• We are all equal in Christ, but we all have distinct and unique functions
• We are all responsible for supplying what we are created to be and do
• We are to become settled on the Word, rightly dividing the Word of Truth
• We can not achieve the stature of Christ until we all get there together
• We are His bride, He is in the process of preparing us to reign with Him as Priests and Kings

Remember these things:

Psalms 103:2-4 -- Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

Jeremiah 29:11 -- For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope.

Revelation 2:4,5 -- Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent.

Acts 20:32 -- And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.