Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

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Jesus is the Son of God
John 1:34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” Luke 3:22 records what John saw. “And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” John the Baptist saw firsthand the Spirit of God descend and remain on Jesus so he could testify that He is the Son of God. He heard God speak to Jesus and call Him His Son. Surely, John couldn’t unsee or unhear such an event. It would be etched in his memories like nothing else. So we have eyewitness testimony regarding Jesus. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. He was anointed with the Holy Spirit so that He could anoint all who believe in Him with the Holy Spirit. Listen to the apostle Paul describe the anointing of the Holy Spirit in Romans 5. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. When we are anointed by the Holy Spirit, God’s love is poured out in our hearts—like anointing oil is poured out. We are baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit, and immersed into His love. Paul later in His letter to the Romans wrote of the confidence He had that nothing could separate us from God’s love in Christ. This baptism by the Holy Spirit is the foundation and fountain of living to love with Jesus. Has the Jesus anointed you in the Holy Spirit? Do you experience His love and presence so that you can exult in your tribulations because His love satisfies your soul? The more you live to love with Him, the more you will be filled with His grace and fullness. May you be filled to overflowing with His love for God’s glory and joy. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
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3:02
Anointed by the Holy Spirit to love
John 1:32-33 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’” John the Baptist had an encounter with God that prepared him to know Jesus. It wouldn’t have been enough for him to say, “Because of an experience my mom had with His mom, my cousin, Jesus, from Nazareth, is the Messiah. The message God wanted Him to proclaim was that Jesus was the anointed One. The one anointed by the Holy Spirit is the one who baptizes or anoints in the Holy Spirit. The term Messiah in Hebrew means the anointed of God, and it is synonymous with the Christ. We learn from this verse the significance of Jesus’ ministry. He is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. That’s why John came baptizing. If you remember all of this, verse 24 is John’s answer to the question posed to him by those sent from the Pharisees. “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? John the Baptist was preparing the way for The Baptizer. John baptized in water, and the water signified the Holy Spirit, which is to be poured out when Jesus is glorified by the Father. In John 7:38-39, John recorded Jesus saying, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ This He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John could only recognize the Messiah or Christ publicly once he saw the Holy Spirit descend and remain on someone. That was the sign God gave to John so that he would know, without a shadow of a doubt, that whoever he saw anointed with the Holy Spirit was the anointed One, sent from God to Israel as the Lamb of God to take away sin and to baptize them in the Holy Spirit. The baptism John proclaimed was not what is commonly associated with speaking in tongues. It was a baptism associated with the removal of sins. When someone is baptized by the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit immerses or places them into Jesus’ death and resurrection life. See if this makes sense to you. One can tell those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit, not by the gift of speaking in tongues, for there are counterfeit tongues. Those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit are baptized into the life of Christ. The signs of that baptism are the signs of regeneration: faith and love. Faith and love remain upon the initiates like the Holy Spirit remained upon Jesus. Just as Jesus began His public ministry when the Holy Spirit came upon Him, so all who are baptized into the Holy Spirit by Jesus begin their ministry in this world. Their ministry is the same as Jesus’ ministry. He was anointed by the Father. He lived to love with His Father. We who are anointed by the Lord Jesus live to love with Him. Does that make sense to you? We live to love with Jesus because we are anointed by His Spirit, the fruit of which is love. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
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4:23
We live to manifest Jesus
John 1:31 I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” John the Baptist did what he did so that Jesus might be manifested. That describes everyone who is a believer and forerunner for Jesus. We live to love with Him so that He might be manifested in this world. The Scriptures teach us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb, and it was by the Spirit that he baptized and preached, preparing the way of the Lord. We also must be filled with the Holy Spirit if Jesus is to be revealed through our lives. Let me remind you of three foundational worldview principles for living to love with Jesus. These express Jesus’ worldview, and as we abide in Him, we live out His worldview. Here they are: There is only one God from whom are all things, and He is love. Jesus’ love is enough. He satisfies the deepest needs of my soul. God’s purpose in all things is to reveal Christ in me and prepare me for eternity. John’s purpose was to prepare the way so Jesus could be manifested to Israel. Our purpose is to live to love with Jesus so that He can be revealed in this world. We reveal Him as we glorify Him by being most satisfied in Him—filled with His Spirit. If we practice applying these three foundational truths, Jesus’ worldview, in every situation, we will manifest the presence of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will do the work of unveiling Jesus to those He puts in our paths. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
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2:14
Worship the eternal Lamb of God
John 1:30 This is He on behalf of whom I said, “After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.” John testified to the honor due Jesus Christ. He recognized Jesus’ higher rank, not in an earthly organizational or social way, but rank before God. One can’t be of higher rank than Jesus. He’s worthy of the highest honor, the greatest glory, complete submission, and enduring worship. I think we should keep this verse connected to the previous one. He’s worthy of these things because He is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. The apostle Paul declared the same truth for the same reason when he wrote to the Philippians in 2:9-11. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The writer of Hebrews wrote of Jesus’ lofty rank when he introduced Jesus in this way in 1:3-4. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. Notice that the reason for the honor and glory is the same reason given by John and Paul—He laid down His life for us to take away our sin. John also testified to Jesus’ eternality. As we know, John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin, and was 6 months older than Jesus. So we know John saying that Jesus existed before him, wasn’t a reference to an earthly age comparison. It must be John’s way of saying Jesus is eternal life. He has always existed. Remember, He was in the beginning with God (v. 2). The source of our love is the eternal, living Word, the glorious Son of God, Jesus Christ. We are living today with Him! Isn’t that beyond full comprehension? We can read this and understand it in part, but to grasp the full glory of it is beyond us now. But some day, it will not be outside our ability to comprehend and understand. We will see Him as He is, wrote John in 1 John 3:2. With all that we have, let us worship Jesus for His rank and glory. Let’s be amazed that we have been united with Him in love and have the privilege of loving with Him. Watch who He puts in your path today to love and care for. Then receive what He gives you and share it with them. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
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3:43
Jesus, the Lamb of God
John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” What a wonderful truth we have here from which to take great comfort. If we look at it from our own perspective, we have our own personal sin-bearer. He removes our sins from us so we can be made right with God. He’s the Lamb of God, pointing to His sacrificial ministry on our behalf. Behold Him! Look at Him! Be amazed at Him! Thank Him. If we look at it collectively, the statement is even more stunning. He has taken away all of the sins of everyone in His body with whom He’s related. Therefore, we have a basis for total forgiveness for those who sin against us. Indeed, we can pray, “Forgive us our sins, debts, and trespasses as we forgive those who sin, trespass, and are indebted to us.” We may share the blessing of the Lamb of God with others. If we look at this statement for insight into Jesus and His character, we can be encouraged that His sin-bearing wasn’t thrust upon Him; He actively took up our sins. He went after it with the full intention of removing it and setting us free from sin’s penalty. His life wasn’t taken from Him, He gave it up willingly. The apostle John rightly defined God’s love in this statement and echoed it in his first epistle. 3:26. “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” And, 4:10. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” So what should our response be to this verse and the ones in 1 John? John tells us. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 Jo. 4:11). Living to love with Jesus means we willingly take up the sins of others who sin against us and lay down our lives that they might live before us. We don’t call them toxic and cast them into the outer darkness of our lives. Whoever does that does not know God. No, for the glory of God through Jesus Christ, we intentionally, willingly, knowingly, repeatedly take up their sins and recognize Jesus has already taken away their sins to bring that person to God, just like He has with us. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
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3:14