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GWEA Monthly Messages
Understanding God's Kind of Love - Agape Love
FEBRUARY 2024
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February is well-known for being a month dedicated to love. It is the month of valentines and sweethearts who exchange cards or letters, gifts such as chocolate or flowers, and dine out. Today in our culture, our love for one another is represented by emotional passion, sexual attraction, ethics, morality, duty and respect. The word "love" is used loosely everyday in our conversations to describe how we feel about all types of things. We often express our love for food, clothing, television shows, and even colours. All of those things actually don't mean much to most of us. We may be very fond of these things, but to say we love them would be an overstatement.
So really then what is love, and do we truly understand the meaning of it? The best place to look is in the most read book in world history, which is the Holy Bible. In its scriptures we discover that God is the creator of the universe and mankind (Gen. 1:1,27; 2:7; Jn 1:3; Heb. 11:3), and God himself is love (1 Jn. 4:16), and is omnipresent (Ps. 113:4-6; Ps. 139:7-10; Prov. 15:3; Isa. 57:15; Jer. 23:23-24; Heb. 4:13). This means that God and His love is ever-present here, now and always; in the heavens and on this earth, in every day, in every hour, in every moment, and in every second of our lives. God’s love is available to us 24 hours a day and 7 days a week through Jesus Christ our Lord, and nothing, not anything on this earth will ever separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39). How do we find the word, “love” in the Bible? According to the “Blue Letter Bible”, a free popular online reference library of Bible translations, the word “love” is mentioned 310 times in the King James Version (KJV), but 645 times in the New Living Translation (NLT). But regardless of its occurrence in the different translations, the word “love” in Greek has 4 different meanings in th scriptures which are: storge (affection), philos (friendship), eros (sexual) and charity (agape). The greatest love the world has ever known is God's agape (ah-gah-pay) love (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8). It is not rude, self-serving, self-seeking, or unforgiving. It is patient, kind, never fails and covers a multitude of sin (1 Cor. 13; 1 Pet. 4:8). God is the very definition of love and He both generates and demonstrates love. His love is the only love that “endures forever” (1 Jn. 4:8, 16; Ps. 100:5). God's agape love is His perfect, undeserved and unconditional love for us. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ into the world that we might live through Him and have everlasting life” (1 Jn. 4:9). When we are “born again of water and Spirit”, we receive God’s agape love through His Holy Spirit. “God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5). When we are Baptized in the Holy Spirit, every time we pray in our spiritual tongues language - other tongues - it allows for the Power of God and His agape love to flow through us to others. The Holy Spirit has given us the supernatural ability to agape love even when we don't feel like it. In this way, we can always conduct ourselves in a godly manner, and show God’s love towards ourselves and others, no matter what we may be going through in our lives. Agape love allows us to put other people’s needs first despite our own personal circumstances. Agape love is displayed by our actions and not by our words: "I was hungry, and you fed Me, you gave me something to drink when I was thirsty. I was naked and bare, and you clothed me. I was ill, and you took care of me" (Matt. 25:35-36). Then in Matt. 25, verse 40, He says, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matthew is saying that when we act in love and compassion for others, we are truly showing our love towards Jesus. If you or a family member, a friend, a co-worker, etc. have not yet received God's unconditional love, mercy, grace and kindness through receiving Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, please contact us, or send us a message. If you would like to learn more about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or would like prayer to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in "other tongues" (as on the Day of Pentecost -Acts 2:1-4) , please contact us or send us a message.
Also if you would like us to pray with you for any of your needs, we invite you to contact us or come to one of our House Church Worship Meetings either in-person or online. See the GWEA Ministry Calendar for details. HELP US FILL JESUS’ GREAT BANQUET (LUKE 14:15-24) In "The Parable of the Great Banquet," Jesus tells us that many people have been invited to eat with Him in the Kingdom of God, but they have all made excuses, and so they will be replaced by others: the poor, maimed, blind, and lame. Jesus tells us to "go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled." And that is exactly what we are called to do. This is referred to as "evangelism" (Eph. 4: 11), and “witnessing" (Acts 1:8). Jesus wants us to help fill the seats at His table for those who have been invited to be His guests at the Great Banquet He has planned for us all. However, people have made excuses for themselves by engaging in other activities that would be acceptable in normal circumstances. When Jesus invites us to come, no excuses are acceptable. Help us to replace those who have excused themselves from the Kingdom of Heaven and Jesus’ great Victory Celebration. Please pray and ask Jesus what you can do to help us bring in all who are spiritually "poor" (Matt. 5:3), maimed (Matt. 18:8-9), blind (Lk. 6:39) and lame (Mk. 9:45). People who are not only physically but also spiritually impaired. Our ministry would not be possible without your help. Your financial support makes all the difference. This year we eagerly await the exciting ministry of the “Signs, Wonders & Miracles” that God has prepared for us. Join us in 2024 as we expand God's kingdom! In supporting our ministry with your financial gifts, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8). This means that every Salvation, every Baptism of the Holy Spirit, every healing, every miracle, every deliverance is credited to you because of your partnership. Please continue to be a “cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) and prayerfully ask Jesus how you can contribute.
Copyright © 2024. The Gordon Williams Evangelistic Association. All rights reserved
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"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you..." (Romans 1:8-17).
The church in Rome had a good reputation, and so Paul wanted to go and visit those believers and have fellowship with them. He prayed for them, "without ceasing," that God might let him visit them. It was his desire to impart some spiritual gifts to them. This is a ministry that many of us have. We pray with people not only for salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but for the "spiritual gifts" (charismatic gifts) that Paul mentions later in (Romans 12:6-8; and 1st Corinthians 12:8-10).
This "ministry of gifting" equips the saints for ministry with each other and with unbelievers. The gifts of the Holy Spirit strengthen and encourage faith among the believers.
The gifts also have an evangelistic function - to draw people to believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour, Lord, Healer and Deliverer.
As Paul told the Corinthians, "My speech and message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:4,5).
The Holy Spirit`s gifts are necessary as a sign to believers that the Gospel is true, and that they can "live by faith."
"Do not neglect the gift you have..." (1 Timothy 4: 11-13). Like many of us, he did not use his gift. Problems arose which, Paul correctly concluded, were a result of Timothy neglecting to use, every day, "the gift which he received by prophetic utterance." For any Christian, especially a pastor, the results can be devastating. When we stop using the gifts, we miss out on doing the ministry for which the gifts are given. It's true that the other aspects of the Christian walk (like being an example to others), are very important; the public reading of Scripture is important, as are preaching and teaching - but it's critical to use the gifts in order to meet other people's needs. We must use them every day. Those who have not yet received spiritual gifts will, as they receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
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