The Armor of Love

COCOON OR BUTTERFLY
Posted by A. on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 6:58am

Are you an individual who prefers resting in a safe cocoon rather than become a beautiful butterfly? Is there a sign on you that says, “Please don’t disturb me” I am comfortable in my way of life; but even if I wasn’t, I don’t wish to change? Is naivety, stubbornness, a comfortable existence, no bumps in the road type of attitude, really the way to close your eyes to “life” or look deeply at the sins that dishonor God? Unfortunately, for many people, this type of attitude is way too common today, even for those of us who claim Christianity. Yet, underneath, if we were honest with each other there IS a yearning to be a butterfly. Is this a doom and gloom post? No. God is calling all people, especially Christians, to nudge them out of neglect and laziness and into a passion for the wisdom of Jesus Christ! Too many Christian’s are nonchalant about their Christ-like “life” and allow a “that’s good enough” effort in their growth of grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Butterflies will always become butterflies; they exist because of God’s graciousness! We are created in the image of God, and have minds to accept or refuse our dependence on God.! “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” God promises an “inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for us.” (1 Peter 1:4) We are perfect in Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:28) “complete in Him” (2:10) “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph. 1:6). “Is it not delightful to look forward to the time when every stain of sin will be removed from the believer, and he will be presented faultless before the throne. … Not until then will we fully comprehend the heights and depths of the salvation of Jesus. … Christ takes a black and deformed thing and makes it clean and matchless in His glory, peerless in His beauty. … O my soul, stand and admire this blessed truth of perfection in Christ.” (Morning and Evening, Charles Spurgeon, p.68, 1997) The Armor of Love will help you become a beautiful butterfly (John 8:21-32)! Elaine Email: elaine@armoroflove.com Love delights in the truth
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PART #2 GENUINE GODLY LOVE
Posted by A. on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 8:46pm

The attitudes and characteristics of Godly ‘Agape’ love are stated in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a. These principles are developed in our hearts and carried out in our lives when we are born of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8). Our measurement of love is found here as well, not according to other people, other Christians, or the world around us. One added ingredient is needed, forgiveness, love and forgiveness cannot be separated! As we build our character of love, we must begin by developing the foundational principles of patience, kindness, and goodness. These will prevent rudeness, envy, pride, boasting, self-seeking, becoming easily angered, keeping a record of wrongs, and delighting in evil. In other words, the more we rejoice with the truth, we put off the old nature and begin to put on our new nature in Christ enabling a love that always forgives, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. We find the love that never fails; the example of Christ (1 Peter 2:20-25)! “If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you (Romans 8:11).” So, “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).” Let’s look at Isaiah 52:14: Visualize what Christ, because of his love, was willing to suffer for you! His appearance was disfigured and His form was marred beyond human likeness by scourging and beatings. He willingly came down to earth. He humbled himself. He went to the cross. He was separated from God—he went to hell—for you and me! What grace! What mercy! What love! This act of mercy and grace, to grant forgiveness for our sins and to reconcile us back to God, should throw us prostrate, or bend our knees before Christ in deep gratitude, worship, praise, humbleness and a committed promise to obey His command to love others as he loved us! Without Holy Spirit filled love, we are NOTHING! Elaine Email: elaine@armoroflove.com Love never fails
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PART 1, VALENTINE LOVE
Posted by A. on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 6:56am

In February, the calendar moves us to love. There are three types of love: Eros—sexual love or desire, Agape—“The attitude of God toward His Son, the human race, generally, and to such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” and Phileo—tender affection (Vine’s Greek Dictionary, Volume 3, p. 20,). All three types might be involved on Valentine’s Day. However, the root and true genuine love ONLY comes when we are equipped with Agape love, a heart surrendered to Jesus Christ. Tender affection and Godly sexual desire is included in Agape love. Choosing our attitude or type of love is a very important choice. Unfortunately, Eros love is exemplified mostly in our worldly culture today. Matthew 24:12 speaks to this sin: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” The decision to live contrary to the Word of God has consequences. This is what Jesus told the church of Laodicea: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth (Revelations 3:15-16).” We have another warning in 2 Timothy 3:1-5: “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.” We must stay nourished in God’s love, expressed in Jesus Christ and empowered in us by the Holy Spirit: “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:7-12). How would you describe your type of love? Elaine Email: elaine@armoroflove.com The Holy Spirit
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GRACE--LOVE
Posted by A. on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 7:00am

We are considering attitudes that give us a Christ-like character. One of great importance is a steadfast belief in the awesomeness of God’s love, the Old Testament term, and His grace, the New Testament term. Love and grace are co-equal and an attribute of the nature of God, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, which will enable us to walk in faith, prayer, contentment, and confidence. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he had freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:4-8). We MUST imitate, trust, build and rest in this love/grace foundation in order to live a life of love, just as Christ loved us “and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2). When we practice Christ’s grace and love, God is working in us to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13) so that we become completely humble, gentle, patient, and love one another (Ephesians 4:1-2). The forgiveness bestowed on us, by Christ on the cross, while we were still sinners empowers us to express this same forgiveness to others. Even though we are saints in Christ, a forgiving nature helps us battle our fleshly sin nature (Romans 7:15-20). Forgiveness is an essential part of grace and love and cannot be separated. To discover more of this profound and gracious outworking of the Holy Spirit in our lives, read the pages of The Armor of Love. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our LORD Jesus Christ. Elaine Email: elaine@armoroflove.com Love never fails
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THE ARMOR OF PRAYER
Posted by A. on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 6:49am

“I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay” (Psalm 70:5). A sure and certain faith is a dedicated life of prayer. Let’s re-read the above verse; it’s one of David’s prayers from the Psalms. May we long to imitate David and his dedicated heart of prayer! David’s prayer is submitted from a soul of confession! He recognizes his dependence on God, and knows that all un-repented sins interfere with his prayers (Psalm 66:18). David also knows that he (and all of us) fight a battle against “the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12),” ‘a battle against sin.’ When we believe this with a sincere heart, we are willing to confess each one of our sins and lay our heart open and exposed before God. “Acknowledge the evil of sin; ask God to make you feel it. Do not treat it as a trifle, for it is not. To redeem the sinner from the effects of sin, Christ Himself had to die; … God sees it, as an offense against all that is good, a rebellion against all that is kind … treason … ingratitude … a low and base thing. … Would you have Him ignore your faults and wink at your transgressions?” (Prayer and Spiritual Warfare, Charles Spurgeon, p. 58). This text shows: a soul pleading, an urgent soul, and a soul grasping God. “I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay:” We have the potential for powerful prayers, because the Holy Spirit, Who lives within us, knows God’s will, and prays and groans for us in our weakness, (Romans 8:26-27). Are you a person of faith, who wrestles and pleads before God, so that your life reflects obedience and humility? “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). “You are my help and my deliverer, O LORD, do not delay.” Elaine Email: elaine@armoroflove.com Love always trusts
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