“As Many As I Love”
Penned by Brother Jimmy Molands
Inspired by The HOLY SPIRIT
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev 3:19)
To this church, THE LORD says to repent. Let’s lay some groundwork here. Repentance is not only being saved but also being sanctified. It is one thing to be in CHRIST (saved), quite another for CHRIST to be in you (sanctified). Which is what JESUS says to this church:
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear MY Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with ME.” (Revelation 3:20)
Remember, this is the Church JESUS is speaking to “I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with ME.”
“As many as I love I rebuke and chasten.” Should we not be rebuked for our love for the world? We are told to love HIM and no other. Isn’t this what HE is describing in verse seventeen:
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17).
How we are so infatuated with things in this life, satisfied with the temporary things.
JESUS offers us life, and life more abundantly, but we cower and hesitate when HE calls us to love HIM with our whole heart.
It is as simple as opening a door. We say, “I want all of YOU for all of me.” “Come, LORD JESUS, and make your abode within my heart.” “I yield my everything to YOU, and YOU can have full reign of it. I am holding nothing back from you – for you are worthy of it all.”
We must be zealous…
Do you love JESUS? Do you want to love HIM with all of your heart? Then let HIM in. A simple prayer will suffice. “FATHER GOD, I give YOU my whole heart, I withhold nothing, not one part of it. I yield it all up to YOU, I want to be filled with YOU, O LORD!
Repentance demands that HE take over your whole life. If that is easier to understand, you can use the terms “Surrender all” or “Giving HIM your life. ” The Laodicean Church, or the lukewarm Christian, needs to love JESUS by simply opening the door. Will you open the door?
Amen
Charles Spurgeon's Corner
“Shall your brethren go to war and shall ye sit here?” (Numbers 32:6)
Penned by Minister Charles Spurgeon
Inspired by The HOLY SPIRIT
Family relationships have their obligations. The Reubenites and Gadites would have been unbrotherly if they had claimed the land that had been conquered, but had left the rest of the people to fight for their own land (Joshua 1:12-16). We in the church have received much by means of the efforts and sufferings of the saints in years past. If we do not make some repayment to the church of CHRIST by giving her our best energies, we are unworthy to be enrolled in her ranks.
Others are combating the errors of the age manfully or excavating perishing ones from amid the ruins of the Fall. If we fold our hands in idleness, we must be warned, lest the curse of Meroz falls upon us. (See Judges 5:23.)
THE MASTER of the vineyard says, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” (Matthew 20:6). What is the idler’s excuse? Personal service for JESUS becomes all the more the duty of everyone because it is cheerfully and abundantly offered by some. The efforts of devoted missionaries and fervent ministers shame us if we sit in laziness. Shrinking from trial is the temptation of those who are “at ease in Zion” (Amos 6:1).
They would be happy to escape the cross, yet wear the crown. To them, the question of this evening’s meditation is very applicable. If the most precious of GOD’s servants are tried in the fire, can we expect to escape the crucible? If a diamond must be distressed while it is being cleaved, cut, and polished, are we to be made perfect without suffering? Do we expect the wind to cease from blowing simply because our ship is at sea? Why should we be treated better than our LORD? If THE FIRSTBORN felt the rod, why shouldn’t HIS younger brothers and sisters? It is cowardly pride that would choose a soft pillow and bed for a soldier of the Cross. Far wiser is the person who first submits to the divine WILL and then grows to be pleased with it through the operations of Grace. He will learn to gather lilies at the foot of the cross and, like Samson, to find honey in the lion. (See Judges 14:1-9)
How Else Would We Know?
Penned by Pastor Bobbi Cloyd
Inspired by The HOLY SPIRIT
If Peter had never been sifted like wheat, how else would he have known how much JESUS loved him, even when he messed up? (Luke 22:31 & John 21:15-17)
If Paul had not been shipwrecked and bitten by a poisonous snake, how else would he have known the power of GOD to deliver him no matter the circumstances? (Acts 27:29-44 & Acts 28:2-6)
If Elijah had not been depressed and afraid and fled to the desert – how else would he have known that GOD is ALMIGHTY?
If Elijah’s servant had not seen Elijah face an impossible situation, how else would he have known that Elijah’s GOD was greater than any man? (2 Kings 6:15-17)
If JESUS had not died – how else would we know the Resurrecting power of ALMIGHTY GOD? (1 Corinthians 15:3-7)
If THE LORD GOD had not allowed us to go through some of the things that we have been through, how else would we have known HIM as:
- JEHOVAH RAPHA – GOD my Healer
- JEHOVAH JIREH – GOD my Provider
- JEHOVAH RAAH – GOD my SHEPHERD
- JEHOVAH SHALOM – GOD my Peace
- JEHOVAH NISSI – GOD my Banner or THE LORD my Victory (Hallelujah)!
How else would we have known?
This is just not a verse to remember, but a verse to live by: “And we know (do you know?), that all things work together for good to them that love GOD (do you love GOD? – then this verse is for you), to them who are the called, according to HIS purpose (according to GOD’s purpose for our lives). (Romans 8:28)
There is a reason why we must go through some things in this life – so we can know that GOD is GOD and there is no other. How else would we know?
Keep the faith, my brothers and sisters, all those who are heavy laden in spirit, and cast all your cares upon THE LORD, because HE truly does care for you.
You might not see it or even understand, but Trust in THE LORD with all your heart and do not try to understand things for yourself. Acknowledge that GOD is ALMIGHTY and give HIM Praise, Honor, and Glory, and let this instance in your life work for your good and the Glory of GOD – Knowing this one thing for sure – GOD is not a man that HE should lie, neither the son of man that HE should repent, hath HE said, and shall HE not do? Or hath HE spoken, and shall HE not make it good? Trust in THE LORD – there is a reason THE LORD is letting you suffer in this season of your life – so that you will know that GOD is EL SHADDAI – GOD ALMIGHTY!