PASTOR BERNIE SAMPLES
Topic: Many Aspects of the Love of God
July 1) Galatians 5:6 Amplified Translation: For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.
A major key to our faith producing all that the Bible says it should is how we treat people. Pay attention to your interactions with others today. At the end of the day, judge yourself. How did you do?
July 2) Romans 5:5 Amplified Bible “… for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.”
As born again Christians we have the love nature of God our Spiritual Father in our recreated spirit. God’s love is not in our head, it’s in our heart. So we must train ourselves every day to love people from our heart by faith, not from our heads or emotions. Faith works by love but also, love works by faith. How did you do today in loving by faith?
July 3) Matthew 22:36-40 According to these words from Jesus: One way we prove our love for Him is how we treat people in everyday life. This opens the door for (v40) The scriptures we stand on to come to pass in our lives. I learned years ago that if my prayers weren’t working, the first thing I would check was my love walk.
July 4) John 14:21-24 God judges our level of love for Him by the value we place on putting into practice what we learn from His Word. Make the quality decision that if you see it in the Bible and it speaks to your heart, from that moment on you will do it. How well are you going to show Jesus your love for Him today? When you have a choice today to go with the Word or take the easy way out, What will you choose?
July 5) 1 John 5:1-5 This is how we overcome everything that life or the devil throws at us. A lifestyle of making choices in line with the Word is how we activate our faith. (v3) We show love for God by being doers of His Word. You have world overcoming faith by simply obeying the Word of God that you know.
July 6) The next few days I want to slowly go through 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a in the Amplified Bible. Remember Romans 5:5 we have God’s love in our born again spirit not in our heads. Make each verse your personal confession that this how you live.
v4 “I endure long and I’m patient and kind.” “I never am envious nor boil over with jealousy, I am not boastful or vainglorious, I do not display myself haughtily.
July 7) Your confession of God’s Word out loud will change how you think about yourself and others.
1 Corinthians 13:5 AMP Bible: make this your confession today of how you allow God’s love to work in your life.
“I am not rude (unmannerly) and I do not act unbecomingly.”
“God’s love in me does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking “
This is how you judge yourself to know if you are walking in the love of God.
July 8) Continue today from v5: “I am not touchy or fretful or resentful; I take no account of the evil done to me- I pay no attention to a suffered wrong.”
Remember Romans 5:5 You have God’s nature of love in your heart, not in your head. You have the choice to live up to your confession of what God says you can do or allow the old you to rob all that He has planned for your life.
July 9) v6 God’s love in your heart, doesn’t rejoice when someone falls and loses because of their wrong choices. God’s love in you, rejoices when they turn their life around and allow the truth of His Word to prevail! How’s your attitude towards those that may have wronged you today?
July 10) v7 “love bears up under anything and everything that comes, IS EVER READY TO BELIEVE THE BEST OF EVERY PERSON, its hopes are fadeless under ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, and it ENDURES EVERYTHING WITHOUT WEAKENING.”
V8 “LOVE NEVER FAILS…”
This is a good monitor of your love walk with difficult people. Are you believing and talking about their faults and failures? Or are you praying and talking about how they’re going to make it and how they’re getting to win?
If you do what these verses say to do, love will prevail, you will stay strong and not give up on them! And you will be able to rejoice with them when they win! You might as well praise the Lord today for the victory that’s yours and theirs because God’s love working in you and through you NEVER FAILS!
July 11) John 16:27 For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.
This is one of my favorite verses when “the blues” try to attack me. Several years ago Jesus spoke some words to my heart that were a revelation that shook me. He said this,” I not only love the people that you’re ministering to but, I LOVE YOU TOO, I REALLY DO!!!” I then realized that I had obeyed His call and doing my best to help people, but it had become a duty at act o obedience. Since then I look at this verse to remind myself that, “Jesus loves me, He really does!” Meditate on these words every day until they get down strong in your heart and your thought process.
July 12) 1 John 4:18 There is NO FEAR in love; but perfect (mature) love cast out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect (has not matured) in love.
What does the Bible say is “mature love”? Go to 1 John 2:5 for the answer. “But whoso keeps His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected (complete and matured); hereby know we that we are in Him.”
So the more we live in line with His Word will be what He calls maturity in the Love of God! One of the benefits will be, “mature love cast out fear because fear has torment”.
July 13) Ephesians 3:14-21 is great prayer to pray for yourself and fellow believers. But today I want to focus on how to pray for God’s help in maturing in His love.
V17 “… that you (make this first person or put someone’s name in here that you’re praying for) being rooted and grounded in love, v18 May be able to comprehend (understand) with all saints (believers) what is the breadth (how wide), and length, and depth (how deep), and height; v19 AND TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, which passes since knowledge, THAT YOU MIGHT BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.”
Now notice what follows when you begin to understand how great Gods love is for mankind. V20 “Now“ (because you see, understand and are rooted and grounded in His love) “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, (this next part is our part) ACCORDING TO THE POWER (the power is His love) THAT IS WORKING IN AND THROUGH US.”
This is exactly what Galatians 5:6 says, “… faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.” Do you want more of God’s power in your life? Then ask yourself, “How’s your love life”?
July 14) Today we are going to look at The Old Covenant Ten Commandants of Love compared to New Testament born again Christian love.
Leviticus 19:18 “…thou shalt love thy neighbor AS THYSELF…”
John 14:34 “A NEW COMMANDMENT I give unto you. That you LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU…”
Do you see the difference? Under the old before people had the love of God in their heart, they could only love with natural human love.
If a person doesn’t love themselves very much then to love their neighbor as they love themselves probably wouldn’t be very nice.
The new commandment for new creations in Christ believers with the love of God in their heart is to love people like Jesus does. This means we go the extra mile in forgiveness, in doing nice things, etc. Test yourself today. Are you practicing the old fleshly love or the born again believer in Christ love?
July 15) 2 Corinthians 5:14 For THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONSTRAINETH US; because we thus judge; that if one died for all, then were all dead: v15 And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.
The word “constrains” comes from two Greek words that means, “urges us on” and “holds us back”. When dealing with difficult people, if we act and react in the natural realm only, we will get mad, give them a piece of our mind and give up on them. But if we yield to the love of God, it will “urge” us to not give up, to believe for the best not the worst. At the same time “hold us back” from getting mean and saying harsh things that stops everything that Jesus wants to do to help them. How’s your love life?
July 16) James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
1 John 2:8 “Again, A NEW COMMANDMENT I WRITE UNTO YOU …” v10 He that loves his brother lives in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. v11 But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and lives in darkness, and knows not where he goes, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.
It’s impossible to think straight, to make good decisions or bear Christian fruit if you hold unforgiveness, ill will or bitterness against others. Make the decision to love and forgive like Jesus does and walk in His light every minute of every day!
July 17) 1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God…”
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.
Ephesians 5:1 Be you therefore imitators of God, as dear children; v2 And WALK IN LOVE, as Christ also hath loved us…
The greatest witness we have to our family, our friends, to the unsaved people in our daily life is to live out of our spirit and not our heads. LET JESUS TAKE OVER AND DEMONSTRATE HIS LOVE THROUGH US!
July 18) Ephesians 5:25 Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; v26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by THE WORD.
Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Men if you want God’s best in your home then love your wife like Jesus loves us. Instead of yielding to your carnal emotions and saying mean things, “wash her with the water by the Word”! Speak the blessings of what God’s Word says about her as a virtuous woman of God. Proverbs 31:10-31 is a great place to start!
July 19) 1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that if any obey not The Word, they also may without the word be won by the conduct of the wives. …v4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart (your born again spirit full of God’s love), in that which is not corruptible, a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price (precious).
Ladies Jesus has made you to be sweet and loving and gentle. The greatest thing you can do for your family is live out of you spirit and release the love of God into the spiritual atmosphere of you home every day!
July 20) Psalm 91 should be a part of every believer’s spiritual knowledge of the love, safety and protection of God. Read it with this understanding: v1-13 is you the believer making your personal confession of faith about what you believe Jesus is doing in your life!
v14-16 is God talking about you because of what you’ve said about Him in v1-13. I like to read this out loud in first person over my life. I say this: v14 “BECAUSE BERNIE HAS SET HIS LOVE UPON ME, therefore will I… “then God goes on to tell me great things because I choose to speak what His Word says about me! Make this choice, speak the blessings of God over yourself and loved ones every day!
July 21) Jude 1:17-19 These verses warn of double agent counterfeit Christians in the last days.
Then v 20-21 tells us how to stay strong.
v20 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on you most holy faith, PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST (this means praying in your prayer language of other tongues), (and praying in tongues frequently will help) v20 “Keep you (under the protection) of THE LOVE OF GOD…” Pray in tongues at least 15 minutes every day.
July 22) 1 John 4:8 “GOD IS LOVE!” v16 “…GOD IS LOVE…” God doesn’t just love, His very nature, His character, everything He says or does resonates from love because that’s Who He Is, not just something He does! Develop the habit of interchanging the word, “love” with “God” when you read passages like 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 in The Amplified Bible. Example: v4 “Love ( GOD) endures long and is patient and kind…”
V5 “…Love (GOD) is not rude, unmannerly and does not act unbecomingly…” go through v4-8 like this and it will increase your faith and understanding of your Heavenly Fathers!
July 23) 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATION: old things (your unsaved human spiritual nature) are passed away; behold all things are become new (you now have a brand new nature, you have been born again). V18 “And all things are of God …” Your inner man, the real you that lives in your physical body now has God’s DNA.
Divine
Nature and
Ability
Tomorrow we will see what this means!
July 24) The Character of God! Galatians 5:22 “Now the fruit of the spirit is…” (the fruit of the spirit is talking about the nature and character of God)… (the fruit of the spirit is the Holy Spirit in you and working with your new born again spirit to cause you to grow, develop, and mature to where the characteristics of God show up in your lifestyle on a consistent basis)! Notice the first fruit or characteristic of God in you is “LOVE”! Then “JOY” then “PEACE” etc. Start speaking v22-23 over your life and actions every day and you will see a major difference in your life!
July 25) John 13:35 By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have LOVE (the first fruit of the spirit) one to another.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. This is what Jesus was talking about in John 3:8 in talking about the new birth. Paraphrased: “you can’t see the wind but you can see what it does (tree branches and flags moving because the wind is blowing).”
When a person is born again nobody can see the change inside them. But everyone (saved and unsaved people) will see THE LOVE OF GOD they have for everyone. The first fruit (characteristic) of a Christian is “LOVE” because “GOD INSIDE YOU IS LOVE)!
July 26) Romans 13:8 “…he that loves another has fulfilled the law. v9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not commit murder, Thou shalt not steal… and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly summed up in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. v10 LOVE WORKETH NO ILL TO HIS NEIGHBOR: THEREFORE LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW.
Wow! How powerful! What a New Testament revelation! When a believer truly walks in the Love of God (God is Love) he as a believer will have fulfilled all the Ten Commandments! Because if you love your neighbor, you will never harm them by committing adultery with their mate or murdering them or stealing from them or coveting their possessions!
The New Testament Law of Love: Love works no ILL to its neighbor.
July 27) Read The Story About The Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37. Jesus gave this real life example and The Holy Spirit through John in l John 3 beginning at v16 expounds for born again believers that have the love of God in their hearts. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” V17 “But whoso hath this world’s goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his heart of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” V18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Don’t let yourself get so busy or hardened in heart because of all the cons in the times we live that you become blind to the genuine.
July 28) Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus teaches us the will of God for how to love people that aren’t necessarily friendly towards us. Notice v47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the sinners so? Jesus says we are to greet and be nice to everyone not just those we like. Question: How are you going to influence the lost if you never smile or show them the love of Jesus that’s in your heart?
July 29) 1 John 2:6 He that saith he abides in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked. How did Jesus walk (means how did He live in everyday life with people)?
John 3:16 For God so LOVED THE WORLD (the lost unsaved people without a Savior like you and I were), that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. v17 FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD (remember we are to walk, conduct ourselves like Jesus did. (So this means our job is not to condemn sinners and point out all their faults) But that the world through Jesus might be saved.
We can only have a convicting influence on those around us by showing them the love of Christ not ugly mean words of condemnation.
July 30) Psalm 133:1 Behold, How great and how pleasant it is for brethren to life together in unity! v2 It is like the precious anointing upon the head… v3… for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life from evermore. When you and I as representatives of Jesus get along and quit having strife and discord about stupid things that have nothing of eternal significance then we will have more anointing and blessing on us and have much greater influence with the people we’re called to win!
July 31) John 17 Is the great prayer that Jesus prayed for all of us right before He was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Sanhedrin. I want to close out this month’s devotional of The Many Aspects Of God’s Love by studying some of the most powerful words that Jesus ever prayed for His body (you and me, the Body of Christ today)!
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone ( the disciples that were with Him), but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word (all future Christians); v21 THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE (unity); as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us (we in unity with The Father, Jesus and fellow believers): (the goal is) THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAS SENT ME
v22…that they may be one, even as We are one; v23 I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect (complete) in one; and THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT THOU HAS SENT ME, AND HAS LOVED THEM, AS THOU HAS LOVED ME.
This is the love of God! Let’s remember this every day or our lives! How we behave among ourselves will be proof to the world that Jesus is alive and wants them to receive Him as their Lord and Savior!