Love Fulfilled Ministry

knowledge puffs up but love builds up, if any presumes to know something he doesn't know as he ought to know (1 Corinthians 8:1-2) Have you ever seen a blowfish or pufferfish? I few years back I caught a small blowfish and it "puffed" up in my hands. It was amazing but also a little alarming, which is why they puff up to defend themselves. The Greek word puffs up literally means to inflate by blowing, to puff up. The idea is that knowledge without love puffs up. It is such an important concept to understand if we want to serve Jesus, to build up others. love is long suffering, loving, kind, not envying. Love doesn't brag nor puff up (1 Corinthians 13:4) If we look at the word puffed up as used in the scriptures we see it is a kind of arrogance and pride (1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 5:2). It is an earthly way of thinking even if that knowledge comes from scripture (Colossians 2:18). Being puffed up is also a prideful unwillingness to acknowled...

For this is how God loved the world... (John 3:16) This is how God loved the world, he sent his son. God exists agape love (1 John 4:16). And "the Son is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature..." (Hebrews 1:3). God is love and Jesus is the exact radiance of his glory, thus existing love. Because God so loved, love came down. Friends, let us love one another because loves exists from God and all the ones loving are born of God and know God (1 John 4:7).  Loving one another is how we are known as children of God. If we know God and claim to be mature in his character then the representation of God's character would be reflected in us. "The one not loving doesn't know God because God is love" (1 John 4:8). In this the love of God is revealed in us because love came down and we live and love through him (1 John 4:9) In this is love, not because we loved God rather he loved us... (1 John 4:10) He came down to give himself a sacrific...

Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel, for if I do this willing I have a reward, but if not, I am entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? so that preaching I present the gospel free of charge to the extent not making use of my authority in the gospel (1 Corinthians :17-18) In early times stewardship functioned as a job description, denoting the office of a steward, or manager. Such a position came with earthly rewards like a wage. Even the stewardship of the house of God in the old testament came with privileges and earthly wages or provisions. Paul uses this word opposite of that of the old, not making use of its authority like as the old stewardship but as a dispensation in the new which comes with a heavenly reward and new responsibilities. Himself being made a steward to proclaim the mystery of the gospel free of charge. not that we have authority but rather to make ourselves an example to you to imitate. For even when we were with you we gave you this charge, i...

so dear our affection for you we are pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but ourselves also because you became so dear to us (1 Thessalonians 2:8) Paul calls the church the bride of Christ and his goal is to present her in splendor and honor and purity ( Ephesians 5:27 ). Ministers are to be as Christ "just as also Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her that he sanctifies her and cleanses her..." ( Ephesians 5:25 ). This is how Paul gave himself up and shared himself to the church. for you recall brother our labor and toil, working night and day for the benefit of not becoming a burden to any of you, proclaiming to the extent the gospel of God (1 Thessalonians 2:9)  The dear affection given was as a father would give a child, "to exhort and encourage you to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of God, the one who calls you into his own kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:9). It was not Paul's words, it was God's and those who...

for the Lord disciplines who he loves. Now, [he] chastises all who he receives as sons (Hebrews 12:6) Our heavenly Father father disciplines the one he loves, as a father does the son in whom he delights (Proverbs 3:11-12). If you are a child of God you have testimony of adoption as his own, he chose you in love, he pours out his love into your hearts through the Holy Spirit. God chose you in love to be his own, children, and he desires that we share in his divine nature so he disciplines us for this purpose.   ... the one blessing us in all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-8).  We sit in the heavenly places with Christ, we are blessed beyond measure. * God delights in you because he blessed you with favor "to the praise of his glorious grace which he highly favored you in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:3-6). The word Favored (χάρισμα, is from the root word χάρις "charis" (grace) and adds -μα (which denotes effect or result of an ac...

therefore if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ exists, seated at the right hand of God. Take to thought that above, not that of the earth, for you have died and your life is laid up together of Christ in God. When Christ, your life, appears then you also will appear together with him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4) This verse is often translated as we are "hidden" in Christ. Meaning the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all sin, like the Passover we would assume, we are covered and concealed from wrath. The word is also translated as  laid up  so lets look at it this way. I have "been raised" with Christ: and seated with Christ therefore I have been "laid up" with him, this is my identity, so therefore think on things above, who and where spiritually I am. ...and we existing dead of trespasses, [he] made us alive together with Christ, grace being saved, and raised us together with him and seated us in the heavenlies in Chr...

perceive what kind of love the Father has given to us so that called children of God and so existing! (1 John3:1) To be called and exist a child of God, do you perceive? It is an astonishing thing. The Greek word for perceive  is used to express astonishment or inquiry about the nature or kind of something. Perceive is is to attain awareness or understanding. * John is using this to provoke thought or reflection of our Father's love as beloved children of God. There is a love that roots and founds us, and there is a deeper love that creates a bond that brings us into maturity. Now, know because all things work together for good, the ones loved of God, for those who are called according to his purpose, (Romans 8:28) There is much to this verse in regard to purpose, and calling, but I want to bring to your thoughts on how we did not love God but he loved us and revealed himself to us and because he loves us :all things work together for good." Before he created the world, he pr...