Upcoming Rekindling Workshop: Spiritul Gifts

Rekindling Ministries' next workshop, in cooperation with Gospel Community Church and Lighthouse Ministries, will deal with the powerful, if controversial, topic of spiritual gifts.

 

The bottom line for this workshop is that the honing and use of our spiritual gifts is not an optional thing for Christians.  God commands us to discover and practice our gifts, and yet probably 90% of Christians cannot name their gifts.  This is a problem.  So much controversy surrounds spiritual gifts (which ones exist, how to use them, etc.) that many Christ-followers have backed away from the matter.  This Rekindling workshop aims to impassion people again for spiritual giftings, hash out the details as the Spirit guides and become greater “cities on a hill” for our Lord via the gifts He has bestowed upon us.

So if you would like to learn exactly what the Bible says about gifts, which ones you have and how that plays in to your regular life, then come on out!

Please RSVP by Sunday 05 February to Shannon at shannon@rekindlingministries.com.

What:  Rekindling Ministries and Gospel Community Church's module on Spiritual Gifts

Where: Lighthouse Ministries, 1310 Church St, Lynchburg, VA 24502

When:  7-8:30pm, Monday 06 February 2012

Who:  open to anyone who wants to discover their spiritual gifts

Why: because God says so

What to bring:  your Bible and an open and excited heart

Rekindling your passion for God, others and self in a world that has grown dark and chill.

Whoa, I've forgotten...

The American church has taught for generations that one must pursue at least the bare minimum, recognizing that Christ is the source of eternal salvation, and that if we fall short on the rest, it's OK, because we serve a God of grace.  This confuses me, because Jesus never talked about doing 'just enough'; He constantly commanded His followers to go 'all out' for Him, to be cities on a hill for those around us.  And by this, He meant that we were to rejoice when persecuted (that can't be right, we say); be useful to and contribute good to those who hate us (are you kidding us?); never complain because we're too busy saying thanks (uh…); living in unity, not factions (oops); forgiving and forgetting instead of keeping record of wrongs (ouch); and to have no anxiety or bitterness because we are too full of joy and peace (ah drat).  The more I think about it, the more I look at my life and the lives of those around me, I conclude that while we may be Christian in the general, cultural sense, we are in no way living as followers of Jesus in righteous attitude and action, at least not how Christ and the early Church describe it.

Think about it; the Bible describes a sincere and mature follower of Christ like this:  be saturated in an attitude of desiring to contribute to the well-being of others; having sincere, leaping joy and complete, solid peace while in the valleys and storms of life; refraining from enforcing what is due you because you're too busy making an effort to be useful to others (even those who mistreat you); being an all-around good and gentle person who consistently acts in temperance and moderation; and being reliable for God by constantly relying on Him (becoming dependable for God, only because you are dependent upon Him).  Let me be honest with myself, and I encourage you the reader to be honest with yourself:  how well does this describe you?  For the degree to which you match this description is the degree of faith and spiritual maturity you have.  If this does not put us on our knees, we need to question our faith.  I don't question our sincere faith in Jesus as King and Master, the source of eternal salvation.  I question our active response of faith, to that truth.

How much of a city on a hill are you for those around you, including those who don't like you?  And looking at all of Christ's teachings, commandments and actions, do you really think He is OK with you doing the bare minimum, of just recognizing that He is the source of eternal salvation?  Or are you beginning to understand that He is asking far more of us than we are currently giving Him?  (Oh, and the excuse 'I don't have enough strength or wisdom to achieve that' falls flat; precisely because that's what the Spirit is here for: to equip us for all that we need.  Dang it.)  I know that I am no where near the person Christ is demanding of me (and equipping me to be), and I need to make greater sacrifices and find much deeper humility and love.  And I can't do it alone.  Will you walk with me, as I take the Lord's hand and trudge through the mud of life?  Iron sharpens iron and embers warm embers. 

All Saints Day

happy All Saint's Day everyone!

Debate and dissension aside (such as over the veneration and intercession of saints), all believers can agree that we admire the saints of the past.  Just as Paul and other writers of the New Testament pointed to historical saints as excellent examples of faith, so too can we today learn from and be inspired by our brothers and sisters of the past who have given their lives to Christ and His Work (and whom we will one day get to celebrate with in Heaven)!  So I thought today was as good as time as any to write up the next Firewatch.

It is vital to remember that there are four key elements to what a commitment to and confession of Christ entails:

  

1.  If you believe in (rely on) Jesus and sincerely acknowledge that He is the Master of your life, you will be saved from God’s Wrath, and delivered into a future and eternal Heaven with the Triune God and all the rest of His children/followers! 

Specifically, the Scriptures explain that:

John 3:16, 35-36   For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life….The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands.  The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

Rom 5:8-11, But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how] much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 

Ephesians 2:1-7,  And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain,  the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also. But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in [His] kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 1:10, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead —Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

We can learn and get excited about several things here:

• Christ bought our tickets into Heaven; He paid our sins for us.  Because of His love and action, our debts have been cleared and we are looked upon as righteous (of good standing) in God's Eyes.  He is our only bridge Home to Papa.
• This is not an exclusive truth in the sense that some people are not allowed to partake of it. It is open to all; anyone (whosoever) believes in Jesus (confessing Him as Lord) can receive this amazing gift.  (It's available to whoever desires to follow Jesus, though sadly many will refuse and reject Him.)
• When we meet a non-believer, we MUST hold hope that they may eventually submit to Christ (especially once they have heard and began to understand all four elements).  There will be Christ-followers in Heaven that will humbly thank those who persisted over years and even decades in praying for and sharing the love of Jesus with them; we must not give up on anyone!

  

2. If you believe in (rely on) Jesus and sincerely acknowledge that He is the Master of your life, you will be saved from your sinful nature, delivered into the Holy Spirit's power to resist sin.

This amazing truth is less discussed (because it's less understood and less frequently seen), but still wonderfully taught in the Scriptures:

In Romans 6:6-14, Paul explains that our sinful nature no longer has any power over us.   For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin's claims. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, no longer dies. Death no longer rules over Him. For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace. 

A few pages later, in Romans 7:21-25, Paul admits that it is frustratingly difficult to understand and live out this reality. So I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me. For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body,  waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.  

But he also realizes and teaches, in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, that there is a way to reach the truth of sinlessness.  Therefore, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.

In Galatians 5:1, 16-17, he explains that this way is by "walking in the Spirit".  If we let the Holy Spirit teach and lead us, we can do the beautiful dance of sinlessness with Him!  Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore stand firm and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery. ... I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don't do what you want.

John adds to this discussion in 1 John 2:1-8, recognizing that while we are learning these dance steps of Spirit-empowered sinlessness, we will trip and stumble and even fall down and wipe out at times.  But that's OK, because Christ has got our backs.  We are forgiven those missteps and stumbles, and we can be encouraged to get back up and continue the dance lesson.  For most, they won't be able to perfectly dance until Heaven, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't start practicing now.  They're fun, if difficult, lessons.  My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous One. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.  This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.

 

And as the author of Psalm 19:13 passionately prays,

Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;

    do not let them rule over me.

    Then I will be innocent,

    and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

Keep in mind that:

• We often believe that if something sounds too good to be true, it most likely is unreal.
• And so oftentimes, believers believe that the possibility to live a sinless life is too good to be true, and so they re-define Biblical passages that teach that awesome reality.
• Do keep in mind that this is not an overnight reality, but one in which we must continually work towards (the technical term is sanctification).
• To begin these dance lessons of sanctification with the Holy Spirit is to begin to truly live life, this side of the Pearl Gates.
• And think what example that will be for those around you.  When Christ calls you to be salt and light, a city on a hill and a star shining in the dark universe, He means that the only way to do so is to do this dance of sanctification with the Holy Spirit.

3. If you believe in (rely on) Jesus and sincerely acknowledge that He is the Master of your life, you will be called to mature in your walk by joyfully enduring persecution.

Boy do we not like this part of it, even though the Bible repeatedly teaches it.

Genesis 50:20, You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10, But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1 Peter 4:12-13, Dear friends, when the fiery ordeal arises among you to test you, don't be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah rejoice, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. or our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Romans 5:2-5, Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Acts 5:40b-42, They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Points to consider:

• There are times when God calls us to fight or flee a trial, but we need to realize that His default answer is 'persevere, and do so joyfully'.

• We do not like this reality; aggressive people prefer to fight and passive people prefer to flee. 
• But by the grace and power of God, He will give us what we need to endure. 
• And realize that such endurance will bring about good things within us (which may not quickly or clearly become evident to us).
• It's interesting to note that the early church frequently and steadfastly embraced this element.  They did not run from it nor resist it;  they took joy in it.

  

4. If you believe in (rely on) Jesus and sincerely acknowledge that He is the Master of your life, you will be called to sacrifice and deny the self in contributing to the needs of others.

Another unpopular and frequently ignored truth about following Christ, and yet clearly and emphatically taught all over the pages of Scripture:

Mark 8:34-35, Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, "If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. 

Matthew 20:28, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

Philippians 2:7, Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. 

1 Peter 2:21,  To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Romans 12:10, Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Ephesians 5:2, and 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 6:6-7, Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.

Points to consider:

• Ironically, one of the best ways to satisfy our own needs to is to first contribute towards the needs of another.
• And this is what the greatest commandments (loving God and loving others) are all about.  This goes back to what was said at the beginning of this letter.  Following Christ is first and foremost about loving God and others, contributing to their well-being, especially when it's inconvenient for us.  Faith (a reliance upon God that makes you reliable) and Hope (holding onto the positive expectations that God promises concerning power of sin and a future, eternal Home in Heaven) are two of the biggest parts of Christianity.  But there is one thing that supersedes even them (1 Corinthians 13:13):  God's agape love drenching us so that we can pour it upon the world and shower it back upon Him.  It's the crème de la crème of spiritual water-fights.

What is the result of understanding this four-element truth about following Christ?

We cannot focus on just one of these elements; we must embrace all four fully. Most non-believers (in America) may have some concept of the 'salvation into Heaven' concept. Most believers (in America) will understand the 'salvation into Heaven' concept better, but not much else. Yes, there is a difference between the two groups (the latter commit to the truth in desire of getting to Heaven). But we must be salt and light, shining stars in the universe, cities on a hill. And that can only come from embracing all four elements fully.  When we share the Good News of Jesus to those around us, we must first embrace all four elements and then teach all four elements.  To embrace only one or two of them is to not fully appreciate what Christ has done for us, and ashamedly reject the 'sour' parts of His commands in an effort to selfishly take only the 'sweet' parts (forgetting that the combo of sweet and sour is greater than the sweet alone).  And to teach only the first element (being confused about the second or being afraid to admit the third and fourth) is to become an unethical salesman for Christ (terribly so, since our Good Boss utterly despises and rejects unethical behavior).

The objection may be brought up that if we introduce the full truth of what following Christ means (the sweet and the sour), we may lose some people; they may reject choosing Him if they don't like elements three and four.  Well, remember that Christ did not parse His Words when He explained the cost of following Him, and when the crowds turned away, He did not follow after them.  Instead, He marveled at (and was encouraged by) those who chose to remain, willing to pay whatever the cost to receive whatever the joy.  Peter himself said, "Master, where else would we go?"  (They did not always fully walk in and live out the four elements, but they never rejected or ignored any of the elements.  They were all in, even if they did so messily.)

So I challenge each of you to take some time this month and ponder on and chew on all four of these elements.

Which of these elements do you like best?

Which do you like least?

How can you begin to like more the one(s) that you currently are hesitant towards?

Lastly, remember this:  if you want to be a hero and saint in God's Eyes, if you want to be salt and light for others (all for Christ's glory), if you want to be a city on a hill (a place of refuge for others to come experience God's mercy and protection) and if you want to be like a star shining in this dark world (pointing others to the beauty and majesty of Christ), you must embrace and rejoice in and live out all four elements (via the guidance, encouragement and enablement of the Holy Spirit).

Agape Love

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to watch two of my favorite friends get married (congrats Dave and Jamee!). It was a beautiful wedding and a fun time. I was honored to be asked to do one of the readings, which was from 1 Corinthians 13, the chapter on love.

The word "love" is so over-used in our society today, that I really wanted to fully understand what I was reading. So not only did I pay attention to and meditate on the chapter, I also broke down the original Greek wording, and was impacted by what I found. So here is the entire chapter, broke down by phrase. I've included the Greek wording and the literal translation of it (according to Strong's Concordance). And then I added some notes and thoughts of my own as to what that means.

I really do pray that someone, or many, read this posting and are able to be impacted by it, as I was. And that they are able to apply it to their current circumstances. May Christ be glorified and may individuals be blessed. Father, I put this break-down of the word 'love' into Your Hands. May we better understand (and obey!) the greatest command You've given us- to love You and to love everyone else!

********************

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a NAB

A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters:

Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues

but do not have love,

I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of prophecy

and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;

if I have all faith so as to move mountains,

but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away everything I own,

and if I hand my body over so that I may boast

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It is not jealous, is not pompous,

It is not inflated, it is not rude,

it does not seek its own interests,

it is nor quick tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over

wrong doing.

But rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

The word of the Lord.

"love" = agape = charity, affection, benevolence, specifically a love feast.

Agape love is the highest, most superior moral love. It knows no bounds. It is undefeatable and unconditional. It is a sincere, deep, true affection that is overwhelming in the best of ways. It provides so much and is so useful and impactful to whomever receives (and gives) such love.

"a more excellent way" = kata huperbole hodos = Agape Love is intensely beyond anything else.

It is the superb and pre-eminent path in life. Nothing, nothing at all, can come close to what Agape Love will do for those who live it.

Without it, "I am nothing" and "I gain nothing" = eimi oudis and opheleo oudis = I am not even one. I am useful to not even one person.

I exist with none, nobody, nothing. You can't count anything valuable in me. And I benefit no one. I have zero advantages to give. (This is powerful; this is not just fluff language.) It shows us that Agape Love is the most important thing on this planet that we can offer. Without it, we have zero real value to those around us. So take it. Embrace it. Run with it. Let it rain over you as you shower it upon others.

"patient" = makrothumeo = to be long spirited, forbearing, patiently enduring.

One of the Merriam Webster definitions for 'forbearing' is "refraining from enforcing what is due to you". Agape Love is being patient when someone tries you, tests you, insults you or hurts you. You endure it because you love them so much. You recognize there must be something that is painful to them that is causing them to behave this way. You seek out what is bothering them and help them through it, so that they are less mean-spirited towards you. And you take as long as is needed to help them. Your love for them is stronger than your anger at being hurt by them. Agape Love chooses to wait out and persevere through bad times rather than automatically fighting back and defending yourself.

"kind" = chresteuomai = show oneself useful; act benevolently

This is an active description; it shows that Agape Love is proactive; it is action. Agape Love is more than a feeling; it provides an advantage of some sort for the other. With Agape Love, you impact those around you in very real, beneficial ways. You look for ways to do something nice.

"not jealous" = zeloo ou = not have warmth against; to not covet or envy; not be jealous of

Agape Love does not allow you to compare what you have to others. You are truly, sincerely happy for people where they are at and hold no bitterness towards them if they possess or achieve more than you.

"not pompous" = perpereuomai ou = to not brag or boast

Agape Love means you do not go out of your way to talk about yourself or repeat your achievements or successes. As with 'no jealousy', you do not compare yourself to those you love. You would rather seek the promotion and focus of others than yourself. You spend more time standing right beside your partner rather than in front of or behind him/her.

"not inflated" = ou phusioo = no blowing up or self-inflation; no haughtiness

God is really hitting home the point here; Agape Love means the opposite of self-seeking. Recognize that to have Agape Love for your partner (or anyone for that matter) means that you are no longer your #1 priority. Mark 12:29-31 says the greatest two commands are 1) love God and 2) love others. So Agape Love means that God is always your #1 priority (serving Him, paying attention to Him, showing Him how much He means to you). A very close second needs to be your family (your spouse and children) and then other believers and the rest of the world. Your love for yourself doesn't need to go away, but it should equal the amount of love you have for others. This is easy to give lip service to, but not actually follow through on. So make sure each decision you make does not serve the self without serving others as well.

"not rude" = ou aschemoneo = to not behave unseemly or unbecoming; but rather to behave appropriately at all times

This is another difficult one, as we like to assume teasing is always OK or we can stretch the boundaries of propriety. Agape Love makes us always conscious of our behavior and the effect it may have with others. Agape Love always seeks to do what is right and proper, not cut corners. This is a consciousness of the feelings of those around you.

"not seek its own interests" = zeteo ou heautou = to not seek, go about or desire (things for) yourself

Once again, Agape Love shows that the husband looks to the needs of the wife as the wife looks to the needs of the husband. There is no more independent self-care. The roles are swapped. The husband isn't worried about not taking care of himself because he knows his wife will take care of his needs. And the wife isn't worried about taking care of herself because she knows the husband is taking care of her needs. It is a powerful type of relationship. It is a higher love. It is Agape Love and it is amazing to watch in action. This holds true for all relationships and friendships based on Agape Love.

"not quick tempered" = ou paroxuno = not exasperated, provoked or stirred

Agape Love is calm and understanding and in control and forgiving. When things go bad, Agape Love stands above it. Agape Love knows that it is stronger than anything. When it is provoked, pushed or tested, it remains in control of the heart's emotions. It responds to the situation with calm maturity, not in rage or volatile emotions. It is flexible, goes with the flow and bends a little to the opposition; not attack back. As with patience, the priority is the other person, not the self. So if one spouse sometimes pushes the button of the other, tempers do not flare, because the Agape Love accepts each person and would rather hug them than lash at them (no matter what). It is a powerful, beautiful thing. This is not easy to do at all, for we are human and naturally protective and defensive of ourselves. But if we God ask to give us Agape Love, He will. And He will show us how to use it.

"does not brood over injury" = logizomai ou kakos = does not take inventory of worthless things; does not keep track of bad behavior

This can be another tough one for us. We are to not remember nor keep it in mind when our partner wrongs us. When we forgive, we must also forget. The two cannot be separated. God tells us that He "remembers our sins no more" and "as far as the east is from the west, so shall He remove our sins from us" and "He blots out our sins, erases them completely". So if God truly erases our mistakes against Him and honestly cannot recall them, then so should we do the same for those we love. If our loved one wrongs us (intentionally or unintentionally) and sincerely asks forgiveness, then we are to 100% completely erase the event. Agape Love does not keep track of wrongdoings and mistakes. Agape Love pushes injuries away and focuses instead on the good. It is optimistic, always. This is tough, unless we ask God for help. And He will give us the power to forgive and forget.

"not rejoice over wrongdoing" = chairo ou epi adikia = takes no cheer in injustice or wrong things

We should never smirk or congratulate ourselves or be thankful when we see somebody wronged. We never wish ill of anyone. If we are mad at our spouse, we cannot be happy when something bad happens to them. As mentioned before, we must always be focused on the positive and on serving our spouse, even when (ESPECIALLY WHEN) we are mad at them. Anyone can love those who are nice to them. It takes a special person, a strong person, a noble person- a person with Agape Love- to be kind and wish well to those who have wronged them. This is what Agape Love is all about. We are going to get mad at our partners; that's a given. A 'regular' marriage would see the couple stay away from each other when they are fighting. An Agape couple, even while still mad and fighting, will be looking for ways to serve and help the other. They will hug in their anger, not yell. They will communicate while angry, not ignore. They will serve and do nice things for each other while fighting, not get even. This goes against logic; this is not common. But that is because most marriages are not founded on Agape Love. You set your relationship on God and Agape Love, and you will see these kind of things happen. Your passion in the bedroom, your fun on the streets, your strength in the challenges, etc. will know no bounds. Your friends and family will be awe of what the two of you accomplish; of how you live life. They will seek your company and your advice. Agape Love is a powerfully magnetic and freeing thing. Embrace it! (Again, applicable for all relationships.)

"rejoices with the truth" = sugchairo ho alethia = sympathize in gladness with the Truth; rejoice in the Truth

The Truth of what? What truth is this talking about? *The* Truth. i.e., Christ Himself. Christ is the truth of all things. He is the source of all things. He is the end of all things. Christ is the center of the universe. It is He who brings us eternal life. It is He who loves us more than we realize, more than we can even truly comprehend. It is He who will give us the strength, peace and joy to push through the trials of life. It is He who will teach us forgiveness and Agape Love. It is He who will always comfort us, protect us, guide us, walk with us, cry with us, laugh with us, move us, encourage us and cheer us on. Christ is the Ultimate Source of all and everything that is good. We must not forget that. We must always think on that. We must rejoice and be glad because of that. We must cling to Christ, seek Christ, pursue Christ, enjoy our relationship with Christ. If we rejoice in the Truth, if we are glad that we have a powerful friendship with Christ, then everything else will take care of itself.

Notice that most of this list so far had been what Agape Love is NOT. This list is showing us the parameters, the boundaries of Agape Love. It is showing us where Agape Love will not go and what it will not do. Agape Love is so big and vast, it is easier to show the small limits, the few areas, that Agape Love does not participate in. The rest of things fall within Agape Love. It is freedom, it is huge, it is truly wonderful. And at the middle of it all is Jesus Christ Himself, the King of Kings and Creator of the Universe. So how do we know where Agape Love is? How do we know that we are on the right track? If we are pursuing Jesus, looking for Him, drawing closer to Him, spending time with Him, serving and loving and obeying Him, really being glad about our relationship with Him and what He has done for us, then we can be sure that we are also in the middle of Agape Love. So do you truly want to taste this Agape Love and shower it on your spouse and others? The number one best way you can do this is to be truly happy and excited about your King Jesus.

Never forget that He came to this earth, debased Himself by taking human form, lived out a regular human life for 30-some years, and then let Himself be despised, rejected, turned away, physically beat and then killed, so that you and I can be forgiven and seen as perfect in the Father's Eyes, and thus be able to enter Heaven. Never forget that you are so important to Jesus, that He spent all that He had to die for you, so that He could walk with you through this life and in the eternity of the next life. That should move you, inspire you, humble you, enthrall you, convict you. And if it does, you will draw close to Him and one of the many benefits you will get is the ability to live Agape Love. If you are not convicted, if you don't care, if Jesus is something on the periphery of your life, you cannot have Agape Love.

"bears all things" = stego pas = to roof over, cover with silence, bear patiently anything that happens

This phrase has two basic meanings. One, we are to reach out and put a roof over those in need, i.e. we try to help others in their tribulations. Anything that your spouse or friend may go through- you are to work to bring them into your protection. The second meaning is to cover over faults, i.e. do not make public the faults and mistakes of your loved ones. As you yourself keep no record, neither is there any reason to let others know of them. You forgive and forget all wrongs done to you by the one you love. No matter what.

"believes all things" = pisteuo pas = have faith in, give credit to, entrust oneself (with Christ) in all things

Again, two meanings. One is to give others the benefit of the doubt. You are not distrustful or suspicious. You assume the best with your loved one. You trust them and give them credit for good things. If it turns out they are behaving badly, then you help correct them and then forgive them. Always assume the positive. The second meaning is to trust in Christ to protect and bless your marriage. He must always be the center of your relationship. Go to Him for all things, and He will guide you.

"hopes all things" = elpizo pas = expect, hope (in Christ) in all things

Hope can be said to stand for Holding Onto Positive Expectations. Agape love is a positive emotion, not a despairing one. Agape drives and pushes forward to good things. It looks up, with energy and a smile. It creates an air of joy and excitement, confidence and good expectation. It is a magnetic environment that people are drawn to. Even when things are bad, hope remains, for if you stay attached to Christ, He will guide you out (in His Time) from the bad. Never give up.

"endures all things" = hupomeno pas = stay under, remain, undergo, bear trials with fortitude and perseverance

And during those bad times that will certainly happen (that is life, isn't it?), you persevere through them. You do not flee. Agape Love is strong and resilient. No matter how bad things get, a man or woman drenched in Agape Love will stand through it all. Fleeing is not an option. Divorce is not an option. No matter how bad something gets, Agape Love is always stronger. Always. If something is more than you can endure, all it means is you are not draped in Agape Love. Seek it, cling to it, embrace it, breathe it in and use it, and you will find yourself miraculously stronger and able to survive, even push through, the bad situation. I promise you this.

"Love never fails" = agape oudepote ekpipto = agape will not ever drop away, be driven out or fail, not even one time

This is a consistent and on-going thing. Agape Love achieves all these things at all times. That is why it is the superior love, the higher love, and nothing can compare. Nothing can challenge it, nothing can beat it, nothing can tempt it. It is the purest and strongest of all things, and if a marriage is covered in and enveloped by Agape Love, it is the strongest type of relationship on the planet. It lets you go to sleep at night comforted and at peace. It gets you up in the morning, excited and ready. It takes you through the day with wisdom, forgiveness, patience, goodness and strength. It is as the center of every emotion, every action, and when Christ says that He came to give us 'life to the full' or 'life abundant', it is because He is introducing us to agape love. He is its source. He is its giver.

Always, always have Christ at the center of your heart, the center of your life, the center of you relationships. If both partners strive to follow Christ and receive and embrace the Agape Love that He offers, the marriage will be solid gold, steel refined through fire. Bad times will still come; up and downs will still occur; temptations and pain will still arise. But through it all, you will survive the fire. You will heal. You will stand fast, arm in arm. You will be smiling, even if tears are falling. There is nothing that tastes like this. Drink it up and soar! And never forget that it can only be truly and fully drunk from the cup that Jesus offers. Other types of love try to imitate, and may come close for short periods of time, but they are not enough. Make the sacrifices that Christ asks of you, pay the price of serving of Him gladly, and receive the most powerful force in the universe. It will take time to truly understand it and learn how to use it, but we've got time.

Let these descriptions be very real, very applicable to you. When you find yourself in a bad situation, go back over this list and apply it to the details of the circumstances you are facing. Lean on Christ, let Him lend you a huge portion of His Agape Love. Do this and you will be a city on the hill, a light that cannot be hidden; one that shines in the darkness for all to see. It will give hope to others, guidance to others, strength to others. And never cease to always give Christ the credit for it. It is He who gives it to you, He who shows you how to use it. Take the free gift and shower it on others. First to your spouse and children and family, then to friends and family and also to strangers and to enemies. Let us get a taste of what Heaven is going to be like as we persevere, laughing, through this life, cloaked in love.

Put on the cloak of Agape Love and walk your path.