God Our Father Part 5

We are building and strengthening our image of God as our Father week over week by looking at the love nature of God as expressed through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

To continue to give insight into why we are on this subject, I believe that this revelation of God’s love and the church walking in this love is key to taking down the independent spirit in this area.  We as the church are in a spiritual battle not a natural one.  As the church knows and believes in the love that God has for us, God then is able to impact our region the way that He desires.  The impact of the Kingdom of God in this area is directly connected to our understanding of God's love for us.        

I have discovered as I fellowship with the Lord that taking down a giant (independent spirit) in the New Testament looks different than taking one down in the Old Testament.  Rather than slinging stones in the natural we heaping coals of fire on peoples heads in the spirit.  

Rom 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NKJV

Vengeance may break the enemies spirit, but love or kindness will break their hard heart.

This is God’s preferred method of dealing with people.  The love of God is what is going to bring down the walls of independence and pride.  This is how God is winning people into His Kingdom, His family.

Rom 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? NKJV

Last week we saw that God is long suffering (patient) and kind, we saw this illustrated when Jesus ministered salvation to the woman at the well of Samaria.  Jesus patiently and kindly ministered the living waters of salvation to a woman who was in deep sin, an outcast with racial and religious prejudices ruling her life and yet the Lord was able to lead her to repentance and salvation.  God is SOOOOOO patient and kind.  This whole account reminds me of a Scripture in 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. NKJV.  

Let's look now to the next key phrases in 1 Cor. 13:4 - "Love (God) does not envy."  What does this phrase show us about the nature of God?

• God’s love nature is pure in motive; it is not envious or jealous love.  It is a love that is looking to totally redeem humanity whether they receive it or not. 
• This tells us that this love is 100% pure!  God has no ulterior motives in His love for us, there is no hidden agenda.  
• This tells me that God is not loving me based on a motive of insecurity.  Envy or jealousy is motivated by selfishness or personal gain at the expense of someone else.  God’s love is given with no strings attached; He just desires us to be with Him but will never manipulate us to get what He desires.  
• God can give to people and be happy that they are blessed by His gifts, and He is never concerned about whether they give back to him or not. 

One place in the ministry of Jesus where I can see that God is not motivated by envy or jealousy (the desire to have what someone else has) is Jesus interaction with the rich young ruler.

Scripture:  Matt 19:16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 17 So He said to him,  "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 19 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" 20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. NKJV

Remember, enviousness is a desire with incorrect motives to have something that is possessed by another.

• If the love of God was motivated by envy, Jesus would have tried to earn the favor of this rich man for his money rather than looking out for his highest good, which was entry into the Kingdom of God.  Notice, Jesus did not say, “sell all you have and give it to me and then come and follow me.”  He said, “sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will  have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  This is God demonstrating through Jesus that His love is pure.
• God’s love is focused on humanity first, the condition of the individuals heart over all other natural things.  This is a pure, wonderful love. 

Let’s look at the next part of verse 4: "love (God) does not parade itself."  (God is not boastful or vainglorious) AMP.  What does this phrase show us about the nature of God?

• This means that God is not boastful He is not a braggart. 
• This statement again reveals the purity of God’s love.  It is a love that is purely motivated for others good. 
• When someone knows who they are they don’t need someone else to speak about them all the time. 

Let’s look to the ministry of Jesus for an expression of this kind of pure love:  

Scripture:  Matt 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." NKJV

• First I want to point out the statement that Jesus made in verse 27, “no one know the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son.”  Jesus is the exact image of the Father.
• So, what are the next words from Jesus mouth concerning His knowledge of the Father.  He says, “I am gentle and lowly of heart.”  God is gentle and lowly of heart.  Gentle means meek, it describes someone who is mild and humble.  Lowly means humble in circumstances and disposition, one definition says not rising far from the ground.  This tells me that God does not parade Himself.  His disposition is gentle and lowly. 
• God does not blast His way into things; He does not demand attention.  This is amazing because He deserves all the glory and attention, but He operates from a gentle and lowly disposition.   
• Jesus never demanded that people follow Him.  He never demanded people’s respect.  He never paraded Himself.  

God is love and love is not envious and it does not parade itself, it is not boastful or vainglorious as the Amplified translation states.  God is gentle and lowly in heart.  God (love) is attempting to win the world to Him through His goodness.  This goodness is experienced first to His church and then through His church.  Let's continue to believe in the love that God has for us.  Let's continue grow in the knowledge and experience of that love in order that we may be a body wholly filled and flooded with the love of God.

In Christ, Pastor Sean (the beloved of the Lord).

Pray Ephesians 3:14-21 daily.
Look for the love of God as you are reading the Scriptures.