Sustained in Love

But Yahweh was with Joseph extending his lovingkindness, giving him favor in the eyes of the ruler of the prison (Genesis 39:19-21)

The story of Joseph includes much wrong in the beginning, he was thrown into a pit by his own brothers to die but instead a band a slave traders just happened to be passing by so they sold him into slavery, where he ended up at Potiphar's house, Pharoah's captain of the guard. Joseph was a handsome man and Potiphar's wife desired and tried to get him to sleep with her but he would not wrong Potiphar nor sin against God. So in spite she falsely accused him of rape and he was thrown into prison. Just imagine this happening to you. Joseph clearly had faith but did that alone sustain him through these times?

... rather faith is energized through love (Galatians 5:6)

When Joseph was thrown into prison we read God extended his lovingkindness to Joseph. It was faith energized through love that sustained him through this tribulation. The word energized ἐνεργέω (energeō) means to effect, to come into activity, to be actively developed; to be active in operation. Its root word is ἐνεργής (energés) meaning active, effective ("en" in and "ergon" word, deed, action).

Faith doesn't come from us, Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). It is substance and evidence, of hope, assurance, and persuasion of things not seen. The scriptures tell us that faith without love is nothing, and that faith without works are dead. Therefore, faith and love work together to mature us.

do you see, that his faith energized his works and from his works his faith matured (James 2:22)*

We see that active faith energizes us unto good works and faith is energized through love. We can view this in two ways; first genuine faith produces works of love (James 2:15-17; 1 John 2:9-11). Secondly, God pours out his love into our hearts (Romans 5:5). We love God because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). This implies he revealed himself, as he exists love, to us. This love has a profound effect on our faith sustaining and giving energy to us to endure which has the intended work to mature us (James 1:3-4).

so that their hearts are encouraged and held together in love so that all the riches of persuasion of insight to the extent of knowing God's mystery, that Christ (Colossians 2:2)

We see that love sustains (which means to strengthen or support mentally) so that we can know Jesus on a deeper level. This is supported in other passages, like love creates a bond that holds us together so we are brought into maturity (Colossians 3:14). We build on a foundation, rooted in faith and love, and through a deeper love of Christ we are filled or matured to the fullness of God (Ephesians 18-19).

and this I pray that your love abounds more and more in knowledge and all perception so that you are proven to be brought through so that existing pure and without blame... (Philippians 1:9-10)

There is something that brings us through the trial so that our faith is proven, like in the parable of sowing we endure the thorns meant to choke us out. So the tribulations and trials come but there needs to be something helps us endure, which as James writes endurance has the intended purpose to mature us (James:3-4). What sustains us is faith energized through love.

and this very reason bring into faith... brotherly love, agape love for if you possess these qualities and increase in measure making so you are not ineffective nor unproductive to the extent of knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8)

God has given us all things for godliness and life through knowledge of Jesus... (2 Peter 1:3). We add to our faith love so we are effective in being like him in this world. He has given us honorable and effective promises so we escape the corruption of this world in sinful desires and become partakers of God's nature (2 Peter 1:4). We bring into our faith love so we become effective, which means to be successful in producing an intended result, that of life and godliness, of being like Jesus and thereby confirm our calling and election.

we know we have passed over from death to life because we love the brethren... (1 John 3:14)

The bond of love leads us into maturity, filled to the fullness of God, being conformed to the image of Christ. A sign we have matured is that we love the brethren. This is how we distinguish the children of God from the devil (1 John 3:9-10). "For this is the message we have heard from the beginning so that we love one another, not like Cain who was evil and murdered his brother... (1 John 3:11-12). This message to love goes way back to the beginning. When we love not just in word nor speech but in action and truth, our conscience is at rest in the presence of God (1 John 3:18-19).

... if we love one another, God abides in us and his love exists matured in us (1 John 3:12).

Love is a sign of maturity.* There is the child who has testimony of Spirit and blood, and there is the young person who is strong, as the word of God abides in him and he has overcome the evil one (1 John 2:12-14). Matured in love is a sign God abides in us as he exists love, and his love has been perfected or matured in us bearing fruit.

Now, whoever keeps his words, truly in that one the love of God is fulfilled (1 John 3:5-6).

We see how we are sustained in love to be obedient, it is a circular truth, "in this we know because we love the children of God; whenever we love God and obey his commands. For this is the love of God that we keep his commands and his commands are not burdensome, because everyone born of God conquers the world" (1 John 5:3). Jesus commands us to love one another and by this we are to be known as his disciples (John 13:34-35). This is obedience, loving one another.

no, in all these we conquer through the one loving us (Romans 8:37)

Knowing the deep Love of God and being convinced of it, sustains us, as it did Joseph when he was falsely accused and thrown in prison. As Paul, who experienced many tribulations writes, was sustained by God's love, "For I am convinced... (nothing)... can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, for we are winning a most glorious victory through him who loves us "(Romans 8:35-39).

The Crucible

" The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies ." 1 He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. The definition of zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. It is this time, to arouse zeal, shout, raise a war cry! As Paul writes, " In diligence not lagging in spirit being fervent serving the Lord ." 2 Our energy comes in the bond of brotherhood, formed in the crucible of combat. A crucible is place of severe test or trial, it is derived from Latin crucibulum ("night-lamp, metallurgic melting-pot"), and is a derivative of crux ("cross"). 3 The Bible speaks of the crucible of the cross for Jesus and for those who follow Him. The purpose of a soldier is two-fold; to accomplish the mission and to care for one another, as commanded. Each soldier has a role to play on a team. Without knowin...

One Grace

" moreover, One, to each of us has been given Grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ ." 1 Grace is a founding principle of Christianity. It is by Grace we grow into the fullness of Christ through faith; " to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. " 2 Without Grace we will never reach this fullness. The weakness in the Law was it attempted to do it in the flesh, and people failed over and over, so God in His infinite wisdom, unveiled this mystery, through faith in Christ we have grace to boldly approach His throne of Grace, to receive grace and mercy as needed! This gift of Grace is properly understood by examining this verse in three parts; moreover, One Grace, to each of us has been given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ . First, we understand, One grace, it is easy to miss the One, and this verse is translated in different ways, I believe it says One Grace and i...

Truth All Around You

Stand then girding your loins in truth and putting on the breastplate of righteousness. * How can a soldier stand in battle if he has not been prepared, trained? How can a house stand if it has been built on sand? How can we stand against spiritual forces if we have not been prepared? Our battle is not against flesh and blood so in regards to such, what good is armor to a child or how can one stained with dirty clothes stand with a defiled conscious? To stand one must be prepared, be his workmanship, someone prepared beforehand to do battle. For this purpose you begin girding your loins in truth, putting on truth, wrapping truth all around you. ... girding your loins in truth... * The word girding is perizōnnymi (from peri "about, around" and zōnnymi "put on") meaning around about put on. Often gird your loins with truth is translated as putting on a belt. Surely we can say truth holds on the garments and confidence in truth is important in standing. I like th...

Word Of Life

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. " 1 Jesus is the Word, He was in the beginning with God. 2 All things were made through Him. He is the Word and Light of men, the way, the path, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." 4 Thus we can say as the Psalmist, Jesus, the Word, is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path. 5 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." 6 Concerning the Word of Life, " the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life ," Proclaimed, that our joy may be complete, a glory like that in the beginning, fellowship with the Father, with one another, and with his Son Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot...

Those He Calls He Equips

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen . Hebrews 13:20-21 When God calls us he equips us, the God of Peace, the one who brought us from the dead by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, will equip you so to do his will. So in this concept of being equipped, we see the calling being irrevocable. "For it is God who works in you to Will and to act on behalf of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 God called you, he's working in you equipping you to work on behalf of his good pleasure. "So that the man of God may be complete fully equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17 . In Hebrews 12 we read God disciplines those he loves, so that we share in his holy character, as the scriptures...

Hypocrisy and Self-righteousness

“ Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you ” Matthew 7:1–2 In Mathew 7 Jesus is speaking out against hypocrisy, he coins the term, it is exposed as a very serious sin. Because of their hypocrisy these religious leaders were leading his people astray. Today it is the same, it is a top reason why people do not attend a church. Of course we blame the sinner and hear cute little sayings like, come join us you will fit right in... which makes light of the situation. On a more serious note, Jesus gives seven woes to the Pharisees, he even warns them of hell fire and damnation, for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Hypocrisy is basically pretending to be something you are not, it is not to be confused with our imperfection. Our righteousness is found in Christ alone, not in self. Hypocrisy and self righteousness is usually seen by others when we in our own righteousn...

Formed Into The Same Image

because those he foreknew also he predestined, to form to the image of His Son, to the extent He exists the firstborn of many brethren . * The word for form in this verse is σύμμορφος ( symmorphos ) from sym "same, with, or together" and morphos "form or shape." We are being formed, shaped into the same image as Christ. This word has the same root word morphos as in transformed, μεταμορφόω ( metamorphos ) from meta "among, with, after" and morphos "form or shape." Into the same form as Christ we are predestined. Adam was a living soul, but Christ was a life giving Spirit. Adam was formed in the image of God but that image was corrupted. In Christ we are formed a new, so that image is being restored. To be a Christian is more than just doing good works, more than just going to heaven, we are called to be formed into an image after Christ, Christ like. who will transfigure our lowly bodies into the same form as his glorious body, according t...

Feed On Me

"Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me." 1 This "living" Jesus speaks of is eternal or everlasting Life but what does this mean? Is this life an after life in heaven as traditionally taught or something we begin to experience here on earth? We read that Life is in knowing, a personal experience, " this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent ." 2 We receive the Spirit of life when we first believed, but the true disciple of Christ is known by abiding, these have learned that Life is in eating the bread of Life and drinking living water. Life is in Christ, all else has become as rubbish but to know Christ, and the Life he gives, "so also the one who feeds on Me will live." "So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. and you will know the truth, ...

Kiss the Son

Why do the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel, together against Yahweh and against his anointed. Break apart their bands and cast away their cords. He who sits in the heavens laughs, Yahweh scoffs. Then shall he speak unto them with anger, fury, and dismay. I established my King upon Zion, My Holy Hill. I will declare the decree of Yahweh who said, you are my son, you I have this day begotten. Ask concerning, I will establish nations your inheritance Your possession the uttermost parts of the earth. You shall afflict them with a staff of iron on a potter's vessel dashed to pieces. Now, O, kings be wise, be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, because brutish is his wrath. Blessed are all who put their trust in Him. 1

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