First love

I John 4: 19 says: We love Him, because He first loved us.

Let us meditate on these words from the LORD and let the order of things take root in our spirit. Everything that lives, moves and has it's being, begins with GOD. John 1: 1-5 reminds us that ALL things were made through JESUS, the WORD of GOD.  This means that everything begins with GOD and since GOD is love, All love comes from Him.  We love, because He first loved us and showed us the way to love.  Even better than that, He loves through us, making true love perfect.

What is true love?  It is love that begins in GOD, and is manifest in the life and work of the born again believer in JESUS.  The deeper that the relationship with JESUS grows, the more love is shown in the life and work of the believer.  In other words, the more love for Christ, the more Christ love is shown. True love begins in GOD.

We love Him, because He first loved us. The love of GOD sent His Son to live and die as one of us. The love of GOD for us caused Him to raise the resurrection of JESUS from the dead, so that all who believe in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3: 16). JESUS defeated death and the grave by the resurrection of JESUS. All who follow JESUS, follow Him through the resurrection from death and into a life with Him for all eternity.

We love Him, because He first loved us.

RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE

RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE

RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE

The Revelation 2: 1-7 is a Word from the LORD to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus.

Ephesus was a real church in a real place, and is visited, even today, by devoted pilgrims.

Ephesus was the place where the Apostle John took Mary, the mother of JESUS, to protect her and to give her a community of faithful people, who would give her a good life. Mary had been given to John by JESUS from the cross. JESUS fulfilled the law of Kinsman Redeemer, as He hung in great pain on the cruel Cross.

In verse 3, the LORD GOD says that the Church in Ephesus had patience under tribulation for the sake of the Gospel and that they had not fainted or turned back. This Church was very strong in the LORD and very active in spreading the Gospel.

HOWEVER, in their zeal, they had forgotten their FIRST LOVE. They are admonished to return to their first love, remembering the place where they had fallen, and repent immediately.  They had become drawn away by the lure of the theology of the Nicolaitans.  This theology was Greek and professed that a licentious life style was an acceptable way of live.  The Nicolaitans also believed that you could "work your way to GOD". This "works theology" is still alive today in many belief systems.

The FIRST LOVE is JESUS Christ. He first loved all of us so much that He was willing to suffer, bleed and die for the redemption of all mankind. It is through Him that we have life and breath; work and rest. It is only through JESUS that we can be saved; He is the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man can come to the Father except through Him. JESUS is the perfect offering for our sin and in Him there is perfect freedom. Work in the flesh can not win the Crown of Glory; JESUS' work through us is glorified since He wears that Crown of Glory.

The Word to the Church of Ephesus, is a word for us today.  Many voices call us to embrace a lifestyle that is very reckless and self centered. The Word of the LORD to us is to RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE - JESUS. Remember whose you are and who you are in Christ JESUS. Let your life be a song of thanksgiving to GOD for loving us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to play the price for us to be able to live with Him forever.

THE RAPTURE

I Thessalonians 4: 16-18

For the LORD Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of GOD; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air; and so shall we ever be with the LORD. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.

TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR

The LORD has planned things out so that the Children of GOD would not see the wrath of GOD.  We strongly believe that the wrath of GOD will come when the LORD puts His feet on the earth. Notice where the Church, the Body of believers in JESUS, meets the LORD; in the air. The LORD will gather His Church out of the world so that the Church will be saved from the wrath that is to come. The tribulation will not occur until the Church is home with Him; then the Church will be with Him at his return.

There are three signs of the rapture: the shout, the voice of the archangel (possibly Michael), and the sound of the trumpet of GOD.  We need to be awake and ready for the festal shout, the voice of the archangel saying, "come up here",and the blowing of the Shofar (the trumpet of GOD).  

Be alert and stay in tune with the Gospel, be a good steward of the gift of life and breath, given to you by GOD and pray for others to be united with JESUS for ever.  The LORD GOD has provided the way for all to be saved from His wrath, walk in His path.  

Tomorrow, I will look at Biblical examples of the rapture found in the Old and New Testament.  

THE RAPTURE

I Thessalonians 4: 13-15

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that JESUS died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in JESUS will GOD bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep.

GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM

In the verses of I Thessalonians 14: 13 - 18, there are two distinct steps revealed that point to the rapture. One step is the resurrection of the dead and the second is the meeting of JESUS in the air - the rapture.

Verse 15 is very clear that the dead in Christ will arise first and those which are alive will meet JESUS.

Tomorrow, I will expound more on the "meeting in the air" and "coming to earth". They are very different and the Church will be with the LORD when He comes to the earth to judge the earth and the people with His truth.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 hold a great hope for all those who have experienced the death of a loved one.  Notice that Paul uses the word "asleep" to characterize those who have died.  JESUS used that word when He looked upon a person He was going to raise from the dead.  Jarius' daughter is a great example.  

Those who "sleep" in JESUS are raised in the same manner as JESUS.  The path that JESUS took, is the path that the Church will take: first the resurrection, then the gathering of the Church with JESUS. and then the return to earth to judge it.

Those who are asleep in JESUS will be gathered up with Him and will rule and reign with Him forever.

THE RAPTURE

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great GOD and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Looking for that blessed hope...

There have been a great number if books written and theories purposed on when the rapture will  be a reality.  Some say that it will be before the tribulation, others say that it will occur in the middle of the great tribulation, and others say that it will be after the tribulation.  They call these theorists pre-trib., mid-trib., and post-trib teachers and preachers.  Each of the followers of these theories have good Scriptures to substantiate their position, so, to call them wrong would be wrong. When will the rapture come? It is held in the mind of GOD and will come when He says, "Now is the time for the Bride to arise and meet the Bridegroom in the air."

What are we to do in the meantime? "Look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great GOD and our Savior Jesus Christ ". We are to be awake and vigilant, expecting, at any time, the call of GOD to "come up".

There is a difference between the rapture and the second coming of JESUS.  Scripture is very clear about this point and throughout the week, I will expound on this difference.  The Rapture will be the call for the Church to meet JESUS in the air; the second coming of JESUS, will be with the saints and JESUS will come to the earth. The Church is coming to JESUS in the rapture; the Church is with JESUS at the second coming.

LOOK UP, YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NEAR

THE BLESSINGS OF TRUST IN GOD

1 Chronicles 5: 20b

For they cried to GOD in the battle, and He was entreated by them, because they put their trust in Him.

Jeremiah 33: 3

Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

We close this week of Word from the Word with this word: the blessing of trust in the LORD is answered prayer.

We all want our prayers answered by GOD in a way that is good and full of grace, mercy and loving-kindness. Well, we can have that by putting out whole trust in the LORD; He will deliver, save, remove fear,give us safety, prosperity and peace. GOD is with us in battle; the victory is ours through Christ JESUS. 

THOSE WHO TRUST IN GOD ARE THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL; VICTORS AND NOT VICTIMS; ABOVE AND NOT BENEATH; SAITH THE LORD. 

BLESSINGS OF TRUST IN GOD

Isaiah 26: 3,4

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever; for in the LORD GOD is everlasting strength.

A blessing of trust in GOD is perfect peace; peace in the midst of storms, struggles, chaos, trouble. Yes, GOD is in trouble; He is in the middle of all of our troubles, just like He was in the fire with Shradrach, Meshach, and Abednego and Daniel in the Lion's den.  The Holy presence of GOD brings peace which passes all understanding.

Notice the words, "whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee." This is the key to the way of the blessing of perfect peace; our mind must be stayed on JESUS and our trust must be in Him, the gift of peace follows. When you are afraid, trust JESUS and keep your mind on Him; do not look at the storm or you will sink into the darkness of despair. JESUS is the Light and in Him there is no darkness at all, keep your eye on JESUS and don't look away even for a moment. 

TRUST YE IN THE LORD FOREVER; FOR IN THE LORD GOD IS EVERLASTING STRENGTH.