God Bless you this wonderful week. I trust you have had a good week and things are well.
We have been a study on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
This is an in depth scripture so breaking it down bit by bit is necessary. Today We will look at “Love is Not self seeking” and lets just re cap a little first.
Love, we know it is the most powerful force I showed you last week. We know that not a lot of people are operating in love in their walk on earth and this world is crying out for that. We know God actually is LOVE and Jesus said Love is the KEY and we are to walk in love to others even if they are not with you. We have studied a little on "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude,
We know walking in love is hard to do at times as your initial reaction is to do what other people or circumstances are doing to you. We learnt that people do not know the power of LOVE itself. In fact we have learnt that people are breeding the nature and character of the devil ( the fallen angel) in our world rather than love itself! I would like to show you more about what the bible says regarding love and peoples experiencing.
I can say this very boldly as I have walked in love many times against adversaries (people who oppose you/ the enemy) and I did not find it hard most of the time. It may have been hurtful and confusing instead. However there has been occasion when I have wanted to give back what the person or situation has been giving to me or mine. This is a natural instinct you would think? No. That is a lie!
One of the most important scriptures you will ever read is a bit further down we shall see in a moment.
This scripture shows you Gods intention for us and who we actually are. It shows you where you came from. Forget theories of evolution, not one has been scientifically proven as fact. In fact all they are, are THEORIES. A theory is an idea only! People don’t know this and instead go along with what the scientists idea is. Do some research, I can confidently say that you wont be disappointed in fact you will be illuminated to the truth. Well the bible is a book that is written by people?
These people where inspired by the Holy Ghost ( one of the trinity of God ) as I showed you previously God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Ghost. The bible is ALIVE, It is Powerful, It is sharper than the sharpest two edged sword as I have shared previously in Hebrews 4:12.
Do I agree with this just because the scripture says it? No. I would be a stupid not to test it out. I have tested it out over my life and circumstances for 6 years. And guess what? It is the ultimate truth. The only full truth. But not just me, Billions of people throughout time have found the truth out through the bible. I have shared in previous blogs regards the bible and prophecy ( foretelling of future events). We saw that no other source comes even remotely any where near the bible and what its has foretold. See my other blog. Including prophecy over the earthquakes and disasters that are happening right now in the world! And not to forget to mention the Middle East and all that has been going on for a long time. Its constantly in the news. If people would just read the bible its would shows you why this is happening. It would confirm what has already happened and what is still yet to come. The devil has not wanted to you find this out because he knows the power of truth and the bible. The devil has wanted to keep you blind to the truth for no other reason than “to steal, to kill and destroy” your life in John 10:10. The next part of the scripture says Jesus said “But I have come that you might have life and have it in all its fullness” as I have shared in a previous blog. I have already shared that Jesus said in John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”
The bible which is Gods word, His spoken word through people who have had a relationship with him and worked for him is FACT. It has been proven so over and over again. Do some research for yourself. Don’t just take my word for it. You will not be sorry that you did. You will have gained precious revelation from your maker God who wanted you to know.
If you read Genesis the beginning of the bible in the old testament you will see the God created the heavens and the earth, the moon, stars, sun. I shared this in a previous blog. He God, made everything including us. The great things about Us ( mankind ) is God made us special. We are blessed, we were made in his image and since we all come from God; This is the one of the most important scriptures you will ever read.
Genesis 1:26 “ Then God said ( to the Holy Spirit), Lets us make man in our image, according to our likeness let them have dominion over the fish of the sea over the birds of the air and over the cattle of the field, over ALL the earth and over every creeping things that creeps on the earth., So God created man in his own image: In the image of God he created him; male and female He created them. Then God BLESSED them and said “ Be fruitful and Multiply” fill the earth and subdue it.”
This shows we were made just like him and who is He? He is LOVE. I have shared this is previous blog and given you many scriptures to show you that God is love; He doesn’t just feel love, He actually is LOVE.
So if God is Love and we are made in the image of Him then we are meant to be LOVE. How can we be love when all this is going on the world. If you would read Genesis 3 as already shared you would find out why the world is the way it is and why people do the most terrible things to others including children. It will give you the answer as to why billions are sick and starving. The world was cursed. Read it and see. It shares God sent Jesus Christ back part of the trinity (God head) to save us from this and anyone who excepts him will be saved. I have shared many scriptures on this in previous blogs too. Please read them, It could really change your life. For the true one you were destined to have by God. The scripture Genesis 1:26 is a message in itself. We are Blessed!
We have seen that Love is actually more than a feeling and that Gods Love is Agape (unconditional love) Steadfast, immovable, never ending. The world does not operate enough in this type of love instead operates in Eros ( man and women attraction) and Phillio (brotherly love). Both these types of love are where you get something back in return. God wants nothing back but for you to experience the very best both here now and while you are living on earth but most importantly; God wants your spirit to go to Him in Heaven. When your spirit leaves your body when you physically die you either go to Heaven or Hell. We saw that the only way to heaven and be with God was through Jesus Christ. See previous blogs where scripture support is please.
You really can walk in love since you are made in Gods image who is love.
It’s a choice. Once you are REBORN Made NEW You have Him, God inside you, He breathed His breath in you see Genesis 2 . But as this was sepetarted through the Fall on ly through JESUS CHRIST was this restored,. being recociled to the FatherThis made you a spirit being which is eternal as we have seen.
We saw that your spirit (Gods Breath) is dormant/separated until you are resurrected/awakened by Christ (see Easter message) and what happened in the garden of Eden with the devil, Adam and Eve in Genesis 3.
Since God is love and we are made in his image and likeness- Likeness is His attributes, His nature, His character.
We too can walk in love but through deception and the way people operate because of the curse this has been subdued tremendously. I am here to tell you that in fact it does not have to be that way. We can walk in love and spread Gods love nature, character, attribute back into the world as we were designed to have done in the first place. There are many good lovely people out there. I am blessed to have many as my friends and true family now.
But we all know too well that there are many bad, nasty, evil people out there too. And unfortunately it’s a choice. A choice only you can make. No matter how much deception has been upon you. God always get the truth out there its up to the person to either accept it or reject it. Its all about choice as my previous blog ended on. That’s the beauty and wonder of God, your father, the maker of the universe, the ancient of days. He would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do including walking in love and experiencing its power. it’s a choice. Yours alone. Make the right one!
So lets look at the next part of 1 Corinthians 13:5 “Love is not self seeking”.
Self Seeking- I automatically think of selfish. Actually it is self love. Don’t get me wrong to love yourself in the right way a healthy way; it is what is needed in order for you to maintain a good life and not be treated badly. But to love yourself in the self seeking way God talks about in 1 Corinthians 13:5 is damaging. You will find that it is blocking God working in your life and could be potentially damaging others too. Don’t do that! I have had many, I am sure, say behind my back she loves herself! They have done this by the way I look or what ever other reason. This could not be further from the truth.
You may have been the recipient of this yourself, or you could well be the one who is doing the talking behind another persons back regarding thinking they think they are better than you. Its not about what you or they look like, what you or they have done, who your or there family is, where you or they work, what you or they do for others even. Its about getting past yourself. Way past yourself to consideration for others. Thoughtfulness beyond yourself.
There are so many people out there who have been less fortunate than others for example. And if you have been reading my blogs you will now know that most of the issues they are facing are not their fault. Its caused by the curse. Even if it was their fault they need help, and a little bit of love goes along long way as we have already seen. Well that’s not my problem? No it is not, but do you think adding to the problem they have by ignoring them and their issue for example will help them? No. It probably make matter worse. Why do that to another when you have the choice.
I can say this boldly, because being a minister is a servant and that requires you getting past yourself and being there for others. I would not be able to represent God unless I was living what I preached. And live it I do, in LOVE.
This does not mean to say I am perfect, It does not mean I think highly of myself in fact the opposite it has never been about me. Its about God, what He wants His people to know and about me living this out in daily life representing him.
So lets look at what self seeking means in the English dictionary.
1. Pursuing only one's own ends or interests.
2. Exhibiting concern only with promoting one's own ends or interests
Lets go a little deeper with self seeking:
Selfish - To be concerned with your own self and not interested or bothered about another. Do we have so many people like that around today? I wonder how many you have come into contact with this week? Have a think. Have you been like that this week? Selfishness is not a nice quality to have.
It is not interested in the thought of another persons life or situation and only interested in itself and what it can gain.
Self interested- Me me me me me me me me me! How many people know such a person? I have come across many people who are only interested in their life, their world, so what if others are going through stuff I don’t care. Its not my problem. Its all about me! If its isn’t I don’t want to know. Or im quite happy with my little world and family anyone else can forget it.
Mercenary- Someone who’s desire is for monetary gain. Don’t we know the world runs like this! Why cant people give without anything in return? I mean give your time, effort etc. Well why do preachers get paid? They have sole faith in God for their ministry including me. God does provide and as the bible shows its through People!
Calculating- shrewd, crafty! This list goes on when we try to explore self seeking. The lord does not want me to go in depth about this as people know full well what self seeking means. And I have no doubt that either you have been the recipient of someone else’s selfishness or you have been selfish yourself. Either way Jesus is the answer. He helps you sort that right out. I can also boldly say that God does not want you to experience that at all. He never intended you to experience that or be like that. We have seen this in Genesis 1:26
There were many men and women of the bible who got past selfishness to aid or help another. I am not saying this is what The Lord wants you to do either. But I am saying what God has said and that is “Love is not self seeking”
Take a look at 1 Kings 17 onwards also 2 Chronicles and Malachi for the story and mention of ELIJAH the prophet. He was a man set apart. He was God's man. God is looking to and fro on this earth for men and women who are totally sold out to Him. No personal agendas, no self-seeking plans, no alternate routes of escape.
But the Ultimate non self seeking person is JESUS CHRIST. He served mankind, He became a servant, comforter, healer, teacher, provider, friend and ultimate sacrifice.
He took the whole earths weight of sin upon himself. He did this while he was sinless although He was tempted like us all;but under a lot more severe circumstances. He experienced more physical, emotional, and spiritual pain than any other person ever has and He did it for you and for me. See my Easter message. He was completely selfless and lived and died to serve mankind not just in this life but for eternal life. That’s a person who isn’t just thinking of now or next week or next year for you and everyone else, this is eternity we are talking about. Forever and ever and ever.
This man beautiful Jesus Christ did all this; yet people can’t be bothered to give a smile to the guy sitting without any money on the street. It costs nothing to be kind, thoughtful, good, sincere, caring, loving. Those acts of love go along way for a person who has been through such terrible things. Its not there fault! Or for example: because of you own issues with yourself you cant bring yourself to smile to the person who sits on their own at church or at work or where ever. That person may well need that smile more than you could ever know, they may well have been through things you could never endure. Hardship beyond your wildest dreams but because you are so wrapt up with yourself, and you feel you are too important to smile and give a bit of love; love is not being spread as it should. This grieves me, and I can boldly say this grieves The Father too.
Those types of acts of love go a long way I mean a really long way. That’s the power of love and that’s why the devil is keeping people from doing something so easy and free as a smile. These types of things matter a lot to God, yet people just brush past it and make excuses. There is no excuse period. It costs nothing to smile, all you are doing is moving your mouth to a position? Yet many people are too special and self absorbed to even do that. This is self seeking. Self absorbed. Selfish.
The Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth that God has appointed certain people certain gifts some more than others; but even if you have gifts from God in the church, be it through healings, speaking in tongues or many of the others gifts Non is higher than guess what? LOVE. They will be of no use! LOVE is the most powerful Gift and Force. It’s a gift God gave you! His LOVE. Use it, Get to know how to use it, He will help you.
In the Amplified Bible 1 Corinthians 12:31 says “ But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces.
And yet I will show you a still more excellent way ( the one that is better by far and the highest of them all - Love)”
A more excellent way… More than gift like the working of miracles? Oh yes. LOVE.
Better by far and the highest of them all (gifts). Yes LOVE.
So even though we are to desire ( which is a strong attaining) and zealously ( diligently) cultivate ( prepare and use) the greatest and best gift and graces ( given by God) There is a more excellent (outstanding quality or superior merit) way. Love is THE WAY. Jesus is THE WAY. And was called this before the name Christianity came in.
Thankfully we have many preachers and teachers who do operate in love, but sadly there are many that are false teachers infiltrating the church also. This is another subject for another time. That’s why in a previous blog I shared its important to find a good church that preaches and teaches only the word of God and not their own idea. The bible is very clear on this and we will look at this when the time is right.
The opposite of self seeking is- self giving, self sacrificing.
Self seeking is taking you away from God where as the other two are bringing you closer to him and in doing so helping to world also.
Lets have a look at what God and his word says about self seeking, self giving and self sacrifice:
Proverbs 28:27 “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.”
Psalm 119:36 “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain“.
James 3:13-18 “ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that His works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts. Do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above (heaven) but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self seeking exist, confusion and every evil are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace”.
1 John 3:18-23 “ My little children, let us not love in word and tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are in truth and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our hearts condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us we have confidence towards God.”
Lets see what Jesus said a few days before He was crucified to His disciples, He was preparing them for when he would no longer be with them in the earthly body. He was showing them of His return, which is close. The bible has proven over and over by prophecy given regards the signs before his coming. They have been happening for many years now and there is not long to go.
Luke 21:7-18
“So they asked Him saying “teacher, but when will theses things be? And what signs will there be when theses things are about to take place?” And He said “ Take heed that you are not deceived. For Many will come in my name saying I am He, and, The time has drawn near. Therefore do not go after them. BUT when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for theses things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately Then He said to them. “ Nation will rise against nation. Kingdom against Kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences ( disease) and there will be fearful sight and great signs from heaven.”
What has been happening in the world lately? Exactly that! Earthquakes, disease, war.
“But before all these things, they will lay hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for my names sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate before hand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict and resist. You will be betrayed even by your parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated for all my names sake. But not a hair of you head shall be lost, by your patience possess your souls” Amen!
This is what the disciples and people who devote their lives to serve mankind have had to go through. Jesus said it would happen and it does happen. These types of people are not self seeking, but instead are like Jesus Selfless. Not wanting anything in return other than for you to know the truth and live a good life in truth here now. But also their concern and love for you see’s well past this life looking towards the next. Your eternal life.
This is going to happen as scripture says
Anyone who does not believe it doesn’t alter the FACT its going to a happen.
Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed of my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not cloth me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."
They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?"
He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. “
If you have more questions about prophecy and the bible this is a useful site to help you. Copy and paste this into your web browsers.
http//:www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t003.html
You are not saved by how Good you are, and we shall look at this soon.
But God clearly shows us that he requires us to love one another and walk in love. His LOVE.
There is a big reason for this and you have seen this over the last six weeks
Look out for next weeks message when we continue with 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Anyone who does not believe it doesn’t alter the FACT its going to a happen.
Strong words. They are the truth!
You have been blessed to share this, Keep searching, it is no co incidence you are here. You have been shown the answers. Jesus is the Answer. The real answer. Jesus said in Mathew 7:7 “Ask and it shall be given unto you; seek and you will find; Knock and it will be opened to you”.
God has never hidden anything away from you it has always been there, His adversary The devil/satan is the one who has tried to hide the truth from all people. He just cant do it, LOVE is to powerful. Be part of love, experience His love in your life, share it with others and the world. Share with wit people beyond your family and immediate friends.
People you don’t take time to get to know, people you have had the time to talk to yet known for years, people you don’t know in general. See the reward and power it brings.
God loves you, Jesus Loves you, I love you,
Are you ready for the truth?
Love Lisa Uk
www.youtube.com/user/TheShekinahlove
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