KEY SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment”.

Our love for God is strengthened as we get to know more about God’s love.  The scriptures say in 1st  John 4:19 that “We love Him because He first loved us”: Our love for God is always as a response to an encounter with His love.

Sir Isaac Watts after being gripped by the great love of our Lord Jesus, demonstrated on the cross, wrote in the last stanza of the hymn titled “When I surveyed the wondrous cross”. He wrote:

 Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That’s an offering far too small

 Love so amazing, so demands my soul, my life, my all”.

After coming to terms with such a love, he said, if the whole of creation was his, it would be an offering far too small. This love demands his soul, his life, his all. What are you giving to the Lord?

On the cross God revealed the consummation of His love for mankind. The scripture said He became sin for us, Him who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2nd Corinthians 5:21). The righteous one who had no business with sin. He never desired to sin and would never sin. Because of us he became sin. This is not just an act, but the very nature of sin, so that sin would be slain on our behalf. Romans 8:3 added that “what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit”. A knowledge of this must send waves of joy and appreciation, for the power of sin is destroyed even in our flesh.(this can be realised by faith)

On the cross the menacing effect of disease was also dealt with. 1st Peter 2:24 “…. By who stripes ye were healed”. There are so many things that our Lord Jesus death has made available for us. Knowing all these, we say with Sir Isaac Watts. “Were the whole realm of nature mine. That’s an offering far too small, Love so amazing, so demands my soul, my life, my all”.

Take time to consider the depth of God’s love and reciprocate with a corresponding love.

CONFESSION

We love Him because he first loved us. God has shown an amazing love’ where the immortal died’, I offer my whole life in response to such a love for Him.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Philippians 3:8 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”,

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”;

KEY SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

From our key scripture our Lord Jesus says God demands total love. He wants your complete love and not part of it.

In the story of the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, king Pharaoh requested in Exodus 10:24 that “… go ye serve the Lord, only let your flocks and your herds be stayed. Let your little ones also go with you”. Dear brother or sister, Satan who is a symbol of Pharaoh does the same. He tells you serve the Lord, go to church but don’t commit your whole being unto Him`. Give your time but don’t give your money. The devil is always requesting that something be left for him. Please listen well, give no place to the devil. A little leaven, leavens the whole lump. (1st Corinthians 5:6, Galatians 5:9). Many Christians do not pay their whole tithe. (Malachi 3:10)God our father, always asks for the whole of everything. If you give a only a part, in God’s sight, you have given nothing.

When Pharaoh made that request for them to leave their flocks behind, the following was what Moses said to Him ” Our cattle shall go with us, there shall not an hoof be left behind……” Moses was not going to enter into any bargaining pact with the devil. The Lord said, you shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind and with thy strength .He always wants everything.

God is perfect good. He can be trusted with your everything. His word has sustained the universe and has kept it intact in all these years. The scripture says that, He spared not His own son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with Him also freely give us all things.(Romans 8:32)

It is not save to leave any portion of your love for other things. God sanctifies and multiplies whatever he receives, let Him have your everything. (Matthew 14:19).This is the only way to true liberty.

 CONFESSION

I love the Lord with my whole being. Every aspect of my life is to please Him. My way is made perfect as I live to honour Him with my whole being.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Ephesians 4:26-27. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 “Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:30” And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Lovers of God are high flyers in this life. King David was one man who excelled so much in his life.He was the only king who handed over to his successor in his lifetime. The Lord described him as a man after His own heart. In Acts 13:22, the Lord added that, David would fulfill all his will. Love for God is doing the will of God in earnest. It places the Lord above self, family and ambitions.

 Lovers of God are men and women of great faith. Love is a commitment. It is a commitment of your life to the one you love. The scripture said greater love has no man than this that a man should lay his life down for his friends. (John 15:13). Great faith is expressed by one’s readiness to count on God and trust in God even if it would mean losing his life. It was David’s love for God which had developed into absolute trust that made him to engage Goliath in that open battle. He knew his lover will not let him down. 1st John 4:18 reads “There is no fear in love, perfect love casteth out fear because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love”. Indeed there is no fear in love. True love would always trust.

The foundation of love is not to please oneself but to please the object of love. Love always goes out of its way to bring satisfaction to the one he loves. The Lord remarked about this in John 14:20. The one who loves Him would keep His commandments, and He and the Father will manifest themselves to him. When the Lord talks about manifesting Himself to us, He is talking about showing His power in our life engagements. His manifested presence would always be seen. Miracles become the order of the day for the man who loves the Lord.

It is a great life to lead by loving the Lord in sincerity.

CONFESSION

I have set the Lord before me always. I live only to please Him. I honour Him in all I do, my greatest desire is to please Him. O what a life of encountering God daily in my affairs.

FURTHER STUDIES.

John 14:21” He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

During a public discourse with the multitudes, one of the scribes asked the Lord Jesus, what is the first commandments of all? The Lord responded with our key scripture. He said, you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. The Bible is called the perfect law of liberty. Every commandment of the scripture liberates men from all bondage if they obey it.

Love is always an act of commitment. A man is controlled by what he truly loves. You always adore what you love. You will seek to please what you love. You are either a free man or a slave depending on what you love.

Considering all that is said above, loving God with all your being is indeed the greatest thing a man can do. If this is not done, any other thing you love becomes a snare to you. Unfortunately most men don’t truly love God. Most come to Him for what they would get from Him. They love the gifts but do not regard the giver. Romans 1:25 puts it this way, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen”.

The Bible teaches that men would face difficult moments in the last days, because they would love themselves rather than loving God.

2 Timothy 3:1-2 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

 What you love determines what controls you.

Men would produce all those negative natures, because they are controlled by what they love, themselves.

In the scriptures the Lord instructs all his followers to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him (Matt 16:24). For he that will love himself will lose it. To love God with all your being is the only way to preserve yourself. In Joshua 23:11–13, Joshua tells the Israelites to take heed to love the Lord, yet if they choose to love these nations and marry their women, it would become snares and thorns in their flesh and their eyes till they die.

The sure test that you truly love God is the presence of peace in your heart even in the face of adversity. Dear child of God if there is no peace in your heart then you have other things there, repent and cast those things out, for your true comfort and peace of mind.

CONFESSION

I love the Lord with all my being. My life is an expression of Himself in me. I live a very fulfilled life because I live for God.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 16:24-25  ” Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it”.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Anyone who is born again receives eternal life. John 3:16. Eternal life is the life of God which he imparts to us through accepting Jesus as our saviour and Lord. 1st John 5:11-13.

No one obtains eternal life by what he does but by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 19:16-26. A rich young man approached Jesus and asked about what good thing a man could do to earn eternal life. Since he wanted to know about what good thing, to do the Lord answered him in that light. He told him that he must obey the commandments. This man claimed he had obeyed the commandments from his youth. The Lord asked him to go sell his belongings and give to the poor and he would be perfect. This man became sad and went away. Jesus then remarked how difficult it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. The disciples added, that if it was so then who could be saved? Jesus said the following in verse 26: “But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible”. The Lord implied by this answer that salvation is not by human efforts. It is impossible for any man to be saved by his works. Ephesians 2:8&9 ” For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast”.

In Acts 10:1-9a. A devout Roman centurion called Cornelius who gave alms, fasted and a very prayerful man received an angelic visitation. The angel asked him to send men to call Peter who would tell him how to be saved. Please note, despite his good works he was still not saved. He sent men to invite Apostle Peter to his house. Peter came and preached Jesus who died and was raised again. Cornelius and his household believed, were saved and the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 10:34-44).

The scripture says there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we may be saved (except the name Jesus) Acts 4:12. Your efforts can’t save you, believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shall be saved and your household

 PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you came into this life to give your life for my sins. I believe in you and accept you as my Lord and saviour.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Acts 16:31, And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

John 14:6 ” Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The Lord answered Nicodemus in our key scripture that, verily, verily, I say unto you, Expect a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

From the statement of our Lord Jesus Christ it is implied that if you are not born again then your place is hell fire.

Our Lord Jesus spoke extensively about a place called hell fire. What is hell fire? Hell fire is a spiritual place and state of torment by fire prepared for all those who are spiritually lost. Any man who dies without being born again is spiritually lost and so is kept in hell awaiting the final judgement where hell, death and all devils would be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:14). When men die they are no more human but are spirit beings. Because they never accepted the life of God or eternal life, they are spiritual criminals which must be kept in prison. Hell is a prison for all spiritual criminals.. No human being goes to hell, but humans who become eternally lost spirits by refusing to accept our Lord Jesus as their Lord and saviour whiles on earth are sent to hell.

The bible spoke about a certain rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:22-23 “And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom”.

The beggar or Lazarus when he died was carried to Abraham’s bosom. Everyone who dies is buried. It therefore implies that the beggar was buried but his spirit was carried to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man was likewise buried but his spirit went to hell.

Hell is not a figment of somebody’s imagination. Isaiah 5:14  reads ” Therefore hell  has enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory and their multitude and their pomp and he that rejoiceth shall descend into it”. You may check on the following scripture as well (Mark 5:22, , Mark 9:45, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 18:9….) There are many more references about hell.

Some facts about hell.

Hell is located down in the spirit realm for people, always ‘descend ‘into hell.

Hell is full of torment and the fire is never quenched. It is better to lose anything in this world than to go to hell. Hell and the devil will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).The lost spirits in hell does not die.

Dear brother or sister many in our life time have visited hell and back, don’t be deceived. Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus. Be wise, you have nothing to lose if it is not true, but you have everything to lose if it is real, well, the evidences are too compelling and undeniable.

 PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins as I accept Jesus as my Lord and personal saviour, come into my life today and save my soul from eternal damnation.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Mark 9:45  “And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched::”

Matthew 18:9 “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

In our key scripture the Lord answered Nicodemus that unless a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The scripture has concluded that all men are sinners (Rom 3:23): Psalm 51:5 says “In sin did my mother conceive me” please I want you to be sincere with yourself. There are so many things people do that they cannot stop. Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her in his heart”. This is just one of the many areas that most people fall short. Men sin because they have a sinful nature. Romans 7:15 ” For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I”. Men are slaves to sin. The answer is a new nature free from the power of sin.

 To be born again is to receive a new life or new nature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation old things have passed away, behold all things have become new”.

When a man is born again he becomes a son of God. A son of man means, born by man, and a son of God means born by God. John 1:12, 13 “But as many as received Him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believed on His name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but were born of God”.

As a son of God with the life and nature of God you now live a life of the sons of God. If you used to tell lies you are no more a liar, and must say the truth always. You cease to become the man or woman who was morally weak. You can now say no to the dictates of the flesh.

To be born again means you have received ability or grace to do what is right. Titus 2:11, 12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all man. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

Receive Jesus today as your saviour and Lord so you would be saved from the power of sin.

  CONFESSION

Lord Jesus, by receiving you into my life, I receive your nature to live above sin. I believe you died for my sins and I confess you as the saviour and Lord of my soul. Come into my life. Thank you for saving my soul.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 7:19-20 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me”.

Romans 6:14 ” For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

Nicodemus a religious leader visited the Lord Jesus and started acknowledging by saying that the miraculous powers demonstrated by the Lord reveals that God was with Him. The Lord quickly answered him in a way that could be judged as an answer out of contest. The Lord knows what the heart and mind of every person seek: God always relate with us on the bases of what we need irrespective of what we may be saying.

The Lord answered him “verily I say unto you, except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

This statement was emphatic and straight forward. If you would want to see the kingdom of God, you must be born again. The word “must” gives no ambiguity or alternatives. There is no other way that a man can be saved unless he or she is born again.

 What is born again? To be born again is a supernatural experience in which a man through faith acknowledges Jesus as his Lord and saviour. This act of faith results in a supernatural transformation right within you. (John 1:12&13) Romans 10:9,10 reads “That if thou shall confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, thou shall be saved, for with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.

Jesus explained further to Nicodemus that one is born again through the agency of the Spirit and water. Well the water in this context is the word of God. 1st Peter 1:23 ” Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abides forever”. The word of God is Spirit and life (John 6:63). One must hear the word and believe that Jesus died for his sins and rose again after the third day. Anyone who believes this and confesses with his mouth that Jesus is his Lord shall be born again.

Why must we be born again? We must be born again because man is born a sinner and therefore spiritually dead. Romans 3:23, Romans 5:1-2. Any man born into this life or by physical birth is dead unto God, he must receive life which is only possible by accepting Jesus as his Lord and saviour.

   CONFESSION

Lord Jesus, you came into this life to save my soul, I accept you as my saviour and confess you as the Lord over my life. Thank you Lord for saving my soul.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”;

Titus 2:11-12  ” For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”;

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:15 “And Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him”.

Our key scripture tells us our Lord Jesus’ answer to John who resisted him from he (John) baptizing Him because Jesus was greater. The issue at stake is not what honourable, dignifying or so is called acceptable. It is what is right in God’s eyes. Jesus said suffer it to be so. That word suffer, means to allow or permit. It is also means to endure. Although it may not be pleasant, that is what God has ordained for that particular time. To successfully relate with God, we have to endure, allow or suffer certain things (2nd Timothy 2:3) The Lord .said allow it for “now”.  What is God asking you to do “now”?

In God’s dealings timing is very important. In the Greek language there are different words for time. I would look at two of them.

1. Chronos
2. Kairos.

Chronos is the normal flow of time as it come to pass. Kairos is God’s designated time for a particular event. It is called the opportune time or the appointed time. Such a time must not be missed.

Many people out of insensitivity miss their Kairos moments. Our Lord was an extremely sensitive man. He said he came to do the will of God (Hebrews 10:7). Doing God’s will in the allotted moments is your Kairos or opportune moments.

The proceeding verse says “And Jesus when he was baptized went up straight way out of the water and Lo the heavens were opened, and He saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. And lo a voice from heaven saying, this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased”. Oh what an encounter. What would have happened if he had yielded to the fleshly pleas of John the Baptist?

What divine blessing you have missed by deciding to yield to what the flesh is saying, and not to what the Spirit wants. What would Joseph had become if he had yielded to the pleas of Potiphar’s wife and had not been quick to yield to the Spirit (Genesis 39:7–15). From today decide to be in step with the Spirit. Know that humility always precedes honour. Obedience turns God to your favor.

Humility is placing God’s word or interest first. Every instruction of God that appears humanly degrading is in fact a door to a glorious state. Go through that door.

CONFESSION

The instructions of God are not grievous. Since it always comes with glory hidden within. I always readily yield to what the Lord says with joy for I know it has a blessed end.

FURTHER STUDIES.

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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”.

John 12:26 ” If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the living word of God. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God”. He took on flesh and dwelt in the midst of men. (John 1:14). He is God who became man. His words are weightier, richer, enlightening, blessing and what have you? It is therefore a great blessing to look and reflect over some of the amazing words that poured forth out of His gracious mouth to us. In our next series of studies we would be considering some of the statements Jesus made, either in private to individuals or public to a mass of people.

We would consider a statement Jesus made to John the Baptist at the river Jordan during a baptismal service. When the Lord approached John to be baptized by him, John hesitated and said “………I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? The Lord also answered back saying “Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness”. This is a very remarkable statement from the master. John had earlier said, to the crowd that he only baptised with water, but the one who was coming after him will baptise with the Holy Ghost and with fire. And even he is not worthy to lose the latchet of his shoes”. John knowing who Jesus was could not think of baptising Him, but God had designed and purposed it to be so. Our Lord described it as fulfilling all righteousness. Dear reader, it is not what people say, or what they want from you that must be done. It is always what God has instituted to be done. The Lord’s statement reveals what true humility is all about. Humility is how much a man is ready to honour the word of God irrespective of what men think or say.

Many people live by the titles they have and would not be prepared to do something simple or so called condescending. To some of us ministers, how many of us would be ready to accept an invitation to a small congregation who would not be able to give you a fat honorarium when you know very well it is God’s will to go. Africa is poor because people who control power have been intoxicated with power. How can the under development stop when people want to build mansions out of one governmental project?

  CONFESSION

Living is all about honouring God in all we do. I will seek always to do what God says irrespective of how simple, humiliating it may appear. All that matters is pleasing the Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Revelation 4:11 ” Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”.

Hebrews 10:7, 9 ” Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second”.