Embracing Loving Others

You know , I think we're all in different places in receiving father's love , but I just encourage each one of you that there's more like , there's more for me . And one of the verses that I kind of meditate on late I I've adapted Philippians 3 , 10 . You know I want.10 . You know I want to know Christ .

I'll say I want to know Christ and you Father is my true father , the power of your resurrection , the fellowship of sharing in your suffering , because it's ongoing , like I want to know you more , papa . And so tonight what I felt to share on and it hasn't changed is embracing the love of the Father so that we can embrace loving each other .

And you know I question that because I feel like I'm with this . I like to walk around a little I guess I can't walk too much this group of really spiritually mature giants here who have walked with the Lord for years and you guys have character , you have ministries . I'm like you know , I don't know if they need to hear that message .

They're probably loving well , but you know , it's been so amazing just hearing from everyone , the lingering . You know our true identity , you know embracing , rest and contemplation .

And then when Eric shared about stress , I thought , ding , like you know , there is relational stress and we do need the love of the Father so that we love well and we don't stay stressed . We don't need that , we need his love . And I'm just going to throw this out for extra . It's a new verse that I've just received in a week , in Psalm 107.20, .

It says he sends his word and heals them .

So I just believe , you know , in physical , emotional , spiritual healing , and it's not just in worship , but I like to say that before we go into worship or it's not just one on one when some , and it's in teaching as well , so just ask the Lord , even as I'm sharing tonight , for any healing you need , and it's going to be , it's coming already , it has been

happening this weekend and it can continue to happen . So okay , it's 7.30 . I'm going to start with a verse in John 17 , 26 . Jesus says I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them .

So here's Jesus describing the love of the father and he's saying I have made you known and will continue to make you known . How many of you have experienced the love of the father ? You see , father's love ? How many of us get this verse ? I don't think any of us , right .

I don't think I do completely , because if we did , we wouldn't have a care in the world , we wouldn't have any anxiety , we wouldn't have any stress , because he's saying that the love you have for me , the way Father's loving Jesus , would be in them and that Jesus is in us . And so just ask Father to give you more revelation .

That's one of the things I pray daily . Jesus , make the Father more known to me . We can have the same relationship with Papa God that Jesus did . Do you find that preposterous ? Do you find that a little sacrilegious ?

Like , if I'm being completely honest , father's taking me deeper , that there might have been a little twinge of that in me and just be able to be honest and frank . He loves us as much as he loves Jesus . And if you struggle with that , just take it to him . It's good to struggle for a while .

It's good to just tell him and be honest and say I have problems . Is this true ? Can I ? Do you really love me the same way you love Jesus ? Just struggle with it a bit until he gives you the revelation . You know , just don't kind of put it over there like maybe some people get this but I don't , and everybody's timeline is different .

I was saying to someone sometimes I say to the Father I'm a slow learner . I think I am . Sometimes it takes a while to really get some of this stuff , you know , and yet he's so good when we're hungry he's going to give it to us . There's another verse I'm going to read . John 17 , 13 , in the Passion says I love this verse .

I pray that they will experience and enter into my joyous delight in you , so that it is fulfilled in them and overflows . So just think about that experience . I like to picture it this way Father's loving Jesus , jesus is loving the Father , and then you know , it's like going back and forth and then there's Holy Spirit , beautiful floaty .

You know , if you don't like my word picture , it's okay , you can make your own , but that's how I kind of imagine it . And he's saying you can enter into that , that love . That's happening three ways .

And you know , one of the analogies I heard at an intercession time and I think I meditate on this daily is that you remember , you all remember , the movie Mary Poppins right , the old movie , and where Mary and Bert well , we've been talking about Dick Van Dyke , it was Bert right when they were doing the chalk drawings , and then they entered into that , they

went right into the chalk drawings , they entered into that reality . And I kind of like to think , like there is this reality . We are actually already in it . Right , he's in us . But really it kind of helped me to think we can enter into that , we really can experience that .

And it's until it fills up , fills up , his love fills up , fills up , almost like there's a tipping point , and it flows out of us to others , fulfilled in them , and overflows . And you know , I like to think , you know , in time , all that's going to be coming out of me is love .

And when Leonard Hayes visited last May , he said something that I've kind of taken . He said when I get to be a little old man . If someone pokes me , all that I want to come out of me is love .

And I've been kind of saying to him you know , papa , when I get to be a little old lady , if someone pokes me , all that I want to come out of me is love . It overflows . So the love of the Father , it's so amazing

. Another one is you can just ask him for more revelation Ephesians 3.18, . You all know this one that , being rooted and established in love , you may have the power , together with all the Lord's people , to grasp how long and high is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge , that you might be filled to the measure of the fullness .

This isn't just the love of Christ , this is the love of the Trinity , this is the love of the Father . So you can only get it by revelation . So you can ask him for more His power , his love .

Well , so if we've experienced God loving us , he's asking us to love one another well , and you know you may think that's easy , but we all know no matter whether we're in the marketplace or in ministry , right there is challenges because the enemy doesn't want this . So I'm going to read you a couple scriptures . First , john 4 7 .

In the passion , those who are loved by God , let his love continually pour from you to one another , because God is love . Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences the intimate knowledge of him . That's the passion . And then , in 1 John 3.16 , you know this one . This is how we know what love is .

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters . That's big . So how do we love ? How do we love like he loves ? It has to be him and his love in us . And I'm just going to give you an illustration . I heard recently , and I'm just going to give you an illustration .

I heard recently , so it was a man or a carpenter , and you might have heard this already , and he was asked to cut 100 boards , I think 2x4s to 8 feet . So the first board he took his tape measure , laid it down , marked the 8 feet and sawed it .

And then the second board instead of using his tape measure , laid it down , marked the eight feet and sawed it . And then the second board , instead of using his tape measure , he took the first board , laid it on the second board , drew the pencil line and sawed it .

And then he took the third board or the second board , laid it on the third board , drew the pencil line and sawed it , and so you can see what's happening . When he finished cutting that way , doing that method , the hundred line and saw it , and so you can see what's happening .

When he finished cutting that way , doing that method , the 100 boards , he had some that were 8 feet and some that were 9 feet , and I think this is a good analogy or illustration of how we are to walk this walk with Trinity , with Father God , with Papa Jesus and the Holy Spirit .

We're not to compare ourselves to the early church or the previous generation in the church before us or what we've seen modeled . We're to go back to the original , what was written in the scriptures by the prophets and the apostles . You know what was laid down , and so I think it's a really good analogy for us . I'm going to read you some scriptures .

This is a lot of scripture , okay , so you can even close your eyes . I am a teacher , so you're going to get scripture . I'm also prophetic , but as I read these scriptures then you know them and I'm going to give them a lot of . It is the message I'll give you , the NIV as well .

Just put it through the grid of not comparing to what you've seen done or you've seen done in church , but to what he's saying to us Receiving Father's love and letting the love of the Father flow through us .

So Ephesiansians 4 , 4 to 6 in this , in the message , we received this in a as a prophetic word in september in one of our intercession times for our community , and it's just something that I have been meditating on daily . It's been like a grid or a measure for me . If I have felt myself a little irritated , you know I mean a grid or a measure for me .

If I have found myself a little irritated , you know I mean yes , yes , it does happen to me . Or , you know , feeling a little critical , you know it's just like . This verse

is like rhema . So in the message it says Ephesians 4 , 4 to 6 , you were called to travel on the same road , in the same direction , to stay together both outwardly and inwardly . You have one master , one faith . Does that make you feel unified .

Already , one baptism , one God and Father of all , who rules over all , works through all and is present in all . Everything you are and do and think is permeated with oneness . I know it by heart because it's become very life-giving and I hope you can see it's like a measure Like whoa , wait a minute , I'm not feeling like that , father , I need your love .

And then in 1 Thessalonians 3.12 , I think you know this one in the NIV it says May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and everyone else , just as ours does for you . So it's the Lord , he's doing it .

But in the message I love this one it says and may the Master pour on the love , and may the master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you . Don't you love that picture ?

I have a picture of Papa , papa God , with a big pitcher it's love or a big watering can , and he's just pouring it on each of our lives , like Peggy's life or Eric's life . And he's just pouring it on each of our lives , like Peggy's life or Eric's life . And it's just .

He's just pouring it on the love and it keeps filling our bodies and keep filling our lives until it's so . We're so full of this love that it's flowing out and splashing on to people around us and they get to experience , father , they get to experience this love . Another one I was thinking of , almost like you know , tinkerbell pixie dust .

It's like flicking a little pixie dust on everybody , but it's the love and others around us . Another one that we've been meditating on in our community , or was given to us this fall and into our consecration week in January , was Romans 12 10 . You know that one Be devoted to one another in love . Honor one another above yourselves .

Okay , here it is in the message . Are you ready ? Love from the center of who you are , don't fake it . Run for dear life from evil . Hold on for dear life to good . Practice playing second fiddle .

One really , really gets me , because that one you know , like if you have any natural leadership in you or you're an organized person , like that doesn't always come naturally . Like , and so practice playing second fiddle .

It's so easy for us to get our lives centered around ourselves , our schedule , what we need to get done , and I have found , you know , recently maybe trying to do something for somebody else , and then it becomes all about them and what works for them and what works for their schedule . And I've just a couple instances and I hope there will be more .

I've gone . You know what , it doesn't matter . Practice playing second fiddle . It's a good word , right ? Because what Jesus is the Father ? Jesus said what the Father said , he practiced playing second fiddle . And then , okay , I'm giving you lots of scripture . Is that okay ? Philippians 2 , 2-4, .

You know this one In the NIV if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ , any comfort from his love , any fellowship in the spirit , that make my joy complete by being like-minded . Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit .

Rather , in humility , consider others above yourselves so his joy is brought to completeness or fullness when we're loving each other . And I don't know about you , but I'm sure this is true of a lot of you . I'm starting to want to know him more and to understand his moods . What gives him pleasure ? Jane's relating and like . It's .

Not that he's moody , don't get me wrong , god is not moody but what gives him joy , what gives him delight ? And so it gives him great delight when we're loving each other well and operating in unity . Okay , this one's really good In the message . Of course it is a paraphrase , but it gives us understanding right .

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ , if his love has made any difference in your life , if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you , I'm sure it means a lot to a lot of us . If you have a heart , if you care , then do me a favor , agree with each other , love each other . I like this one be deep-spirited friends .

Deep-spirited friends Don't push your way to the front . Don't sweet-talk your way to the top . Put yourself aside enough to help others along . Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage . Oh , here it is . Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand . That is Philippians 4 , 2 to 4 in the message message , and I love that . Deep-spirited friends .

That's really speaks , doesn't it ? And then I hear here's a quote from Bill Johnson about , like don't push your way to the top . I remember he said once if you get into a position in kingdom by self-promotion , you're going to have to work really hard to keep yourself there by self-promotion , and none of us really want that right .

Why would we want to strive like that ? We want it to be him and him flowing through us . So I love that one . Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand . How many of you have been helped by somebody ? Practical , loving ways , like I mean , what a blessing I know I have In 2019, . When I had this foot surgery , I was housebound for three months .

I couldn't wait there . I was on a scooter . I was on a scooter . I thought I'd get so much done ? I really didn't . I did a lot of soaking . It took me a lot of work just to get around my island and push myself up my second floor to get to bed .

But you know there was people who blessed me , like one of the ladies in our community organized a food train for the first month . My sister , who's a nurse a province away , took a week off work . She has so much mercy . Came down , made me new meals out of a recipe book , which I never do . Took me on outings because I couldn't get out in the car .

Like it was , you know . And then some young man in our community took an offering and bought me a chaise lounge couch so I could sit and read in my bedroom . What a blessing I have received in that way . Practical , like forget yourself enough to lend a helping hand , and I'm sure , just knowing you guys , you have all done that .

But that's what he's asking of us . It's not just the spiritual I mean , we do need to help with praying for each other and those things too and giving a word but it's like the practical as well . So I love this one too .

First , Peter 4 , 8 above all , love each other deeply , because love covers a multitude of sins , and in the message , most of all love as if your life depended on it . Because it does , and you know , you think about it . Why did he say it that way ? Because it is so important , right ?

And I was thinking about that , like , well , if you didn't love and you let yourself get bitter , your life is going to be miserable and really your life depends on continuing in love , depends on continuing in love . So , yeah , so those are the scriptures on love . Why does he ask us to love like this ?

You know , John 13 , 13 , 35 says by this will everyone know you are my disciples if you love one another . So you know . Obviously he wants us to be so loving that those outside of the family of god or of faith find it attractive and and want to come to know him . And this , I'm sort of starting to land this verse .

I just read it really in my daily readings and included it about a week ago and it really has been impacting me and I don't know if I have the complete revelation , but I'm going to take a stab at it . Know if I have the complete revelation , but I'm going to take a stab at it . In 1 John 4 , 12 , it says this is the one that has .

Oh sorry , I'm reading my notes . No one has ever seen God . But if we love one another , God lives in us and his love is made complete in us . So I've been asking like , well , what does that mean ? His love is made complete in us , and I'm not sure I have all the theological understanding , but I'm just going to take a stab at it .

Logical understanding , but I'm just going to take a stab at it Because it kind of emphasizes the importance of why he's asking us to love . You know , god doesn't really need our help , right ? But okay , he doesn't . But he chooses to walk with us as sons and daughters and to work , like to work , co-labor with us . He chooses to include us .

It's like a dad , like Eric , was talking about building the wall with his sons and , like you know , maybe Eric could have done it all himself or maybe he couldn't have .

Maybe this is a bad analogy , but maybe just take a dad who wanted to build a stool and you know he could have just got it done a lot faster with his saw and hammer and all those things and nails by himself , but he wanted to include his son because he wanted a relationship with his little boy and to start maybe mentoring him in a skill that maybe he'd

have for a lifetime , but just the time together . And I think that's like Papa God with us , like there's so many things he could do on his own , but he wants to walk with us as sons and daughters and include us . Like you know , he doesn't really need us to evangelize and share our faith . He could just zap everybody and they get saved , right .

But he chooses to use us to pray for people and to look for open doors and to love people and share . When he shows us to . He doesn't really need us to heal anybody , he could just heal everybody . He's been loving everybody on this entire planet and he is loving them and he's loved everybody so well who's ever lived on this planet .

Like he doesn't really need us but he chooses to want to walk with us as sons and daughters and I'm kind of wondering if that's the way with love . His love is made complete in us . It's like he's already loving everybody . Everybody is totally loved by him . We are totally loved by him . We can't be loved more .

He gives it all to each one of us , but I'm wondering if it's brought to complete expression or fullness , as his love is poured from us to others . It's the fullness of the expression of his love here on earth which couldn't be manifested in ways if he couldn't do it without us . Like the example of a snowflake .

A snowflake has , like every snowflake is unique right . And then Peggy gave the example of the cheetah . Thank you , I know I was going to say leopard , but I knew it was cheetah . I went back and the cheetah has . Oh , that was so fascinating . Every cheetah has a unique right display of I was going to say dots but spots .

It's just only God could do that , right . And each one of us is a unique expression of him . There's not one of us , his kids , that are the same , and each one of us , I believe , manifests a part of the Father that only we can manifest . And I think it's the way with the love , as his love is poured through us .

Each of us brings an aspect or a facet of his love that only we can bring , and so I guess I would like to think that this is how his love is brought to completeness , a complete expression , a fullness of completion as each one of us lets the love of the Father flow through us .

I believe it gives him great joy , right , because it's a part of him , the way we express love , that only we can bring it kind of hits you doesn't it . I know it hits me . It's like , wow , he could do it without us .

But he chooses to co-partner , he chooses to include us and we're his kids , and it gives papa great pleasure when we let this love flow through us . So how can we love others ? Well , so it's his love being poured through us .

And then there's just one little thing , and I'm not going to like harbor on this or belabor this , but sometimes , to enable his love to flow through us , we have to do the heart forgiveness . If there's someone or some area we haven't completely forgiven , that's going to be a block to his love flowing through us . So we need to do that .

Do the heart take the time ? Do the heart take the time ? So in 1 Corinthians 13 , 7 , it says Love always protects , always trusts , always hopes , always perseveres . And then in 1 Corinthians 14 , when it says go after a life of love , as if your heart depended on it , or your life depended on it . Because it does , and that's in the message .

So I'm going to end us with a , a song , if that's all right , and it's Jen Johnson for the one .

And I'm just gonna ask you , as you just sit and meditate and reflect and listen , which is that father love you and and ask them for more of his love to be poured in your heart so that you can love others , but also take time . You know , we just want to keep short accounts . If there's anybody that you know you need to .

You've been feeling this little bit of irritation . Does that mean , you know , just take that time and do the forgiveness , the heart forgiveness , and maybe you're going to need more time for that , but let him show you that .

Smile , they would feel the father's love . Oh , how you love us , from the homeless to the famous , and in between , you formed us , you made us carefully , cause in the end , we're all your children . So help me to love with open arms , like you do , a love that erases all the lies and sees the truth .

Oh , then , when they look in my eyes , they would see you , even in just a smile , they would feel the Father's love , would feel the Father's love . Let all my life tell of who you are and the wonder of your never-ending love . Let all my life tell of who you are . You're wonderful and such a good father .

Let all my life tell of who you are and the wonder of your never-ending love . Let all my life tell us who you are . You're wonderful and such a good Father . You are wonderful and such a good Father . So help me to love with open arms , like you do , a love that erases all the lies and sees the truth . Oh , they would never look in my eyes .

They would see you Even in just a smile . They would feel the Father's love .