IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE

Welcome everyone to your week long, online church service. Our emphasis is always on 'everyone.' No one is to be excluded from our message of Jesus Christ and him crucified. Folks, Jesus died to redeem all of us. It's time for the Christianity of exclusion to be dissolved.

I understand churches cannot allow persons who refuse to learn and cause disruption in the flow of the Spirit. But, everyone should be welcome into the house of God and be given the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

We cannot righteously sing “Come Just as You Are” and then turn them away when they come. Am I being very clear here? We were and we are sinners saved by grace, aren't we? Well, aren't we? Turn with me to Romans 5:8, the apostle Paul speaking:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Oh, thank you Lord for the mercy and grace you have shown us. You notice in that scripture that God did not give his love to us only after we cleaned our act up. But while we were yet still in sin. The truth is, if God had to wait for mankind to stop sinning before he showed his love to us, he would still be withholding it. Church, we have to begin to show others the same love God has shown us. We can't tell others we love you with the love of God, but we don't want anything to do with you. No, my friends, we must show love to all and be willing and able to share Jesus Christ with them.

So, what I am talking about here? I am talking about love. The love of God for us and all of his creation. Somehow over time Christians have lost their way. Instead of showing the unconditional love of God to everyone, we have made false decisions on who should be loved or shunned. Sad to say, many Christians truly believe we should disdain the very ones God loves and wants to redeem so much.

It has somehow become acceptable in church circles and Christian organizations to publicly and loudly proclaim attitudes of hatred toward everything from homosexuality to alcoholics, to drug users and to people of others faiths, such as Muslims. It has become okay to show hatred toward races and cultures that do not do things the way we consider to be “the Christian way.”

Am I saying we should not hate sin? No, I am not saying that at all. But be careful that you do not confuse sin with the sinner. The last I recall God is the judge, not his ambassadors. I want to share some scriptures with you my friends. Turn with me to 1 John 4:7-8:

“Beloved, let us love one another: For love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

It should be noted that God is not the God of hatred, but the God of love. It is because of God's love for us that Jesus came to this earth to die. John 3:16-17 tells the whole story:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

God set no conditions on who could come to him for redemption. He said whosoever will. That includes everyone you may consider as sinful and beyond the ability to be helped. I remember a Catholic priest once saying “We are all going to be surprised when we get to heaven and see who is there and who isn't.” You know what? I think he was right. The way many believers look down on those who don't think or act just as they do – well, it is just amazing anyone would make it to heaven.

Each day I see the affects of sin all around me – sickness, poverty, broken homes, depression. Oftentimes, I just want to shout out to people “Jesus is the way out of this trouble you are in!” God's love for them is so strong. I just don't have the time or inclination to hate people. God will not allow me to do that. John puts it this way in 1 John 4:10-11, let's read it together:

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation (substitute) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

There it is, my friends. Love is God's way. God first loved us so much that Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for us. He laid down his life and became the substitute for our sins. The scripture is very clear. Because God loved us so much, we should also love one another. Loving one another does not mean just loving those in our church or group of believers. We should and must love all of God's creation just as he does.

It is time my fellow believers, to become the ambassadors we are meant to be. Get back to showing God's love to all. You want to draw the lost to Christ? You can only do it with love. Once again, that is God's way. This message explains why we always say everyone is welcome in this place. The message of Jesus Christ is for everyone regardless of their spiritual condition. We welcome you here with open arms. What you do with what we freely give to you is up to you. Our prayer is that you learn more about God and his son Jesus.

The Spirit of God is calling out to you, my friends. Urging you who are lost in sin to come to Jesus Christ. Receive his love and saving grace and mercy. Become a child of God. Be set free in the Name of Jesus!. God loves you. He wants the best for you. We want the best for you and we love you in the Lord. Because of that love, we are here for you. Contact us at BrotherBob@TheSpiritofWisdom.org. I promise we will get back to you. To those who have received Jesus into your life, but for whatever reason, have drifted away or even on purpose walked away, we are here for you also. We love you, my friends, but God loves you even more. Come on back home. Today is a day of new beginnings. Contact us. We will stand with you.

Church, this is a special message calling you to return to love. After all, God is love, and we are in God because we love him. If we love him, we will love his creation.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

Prayer Requests:

Cynthia Taylor - Cynthia is currently undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. She is believing for a complete and total healing of her body and we are asking you to agree with her in prayer. She needs your help so please do not let her down.

Arlene - Arlene has liver problems and swollen ankles. She is a believer and is requesting prayer from our online church. Please pray that Arlene receives a touch from God and that she will be made totally healed in Jesus' name.