God's Love
Good evening, friends. What an awesome day to be alive. Amen, saints? To see God's perfect plan come to pass. Halleluiah! To see lives changed. How great is the Lord God and how worthy to be praised. I just feel like praising Him tonight. How about you, our dear friends? So much is happening here at J and L Ministries. For those who have been following this ministry, we’ve seen people's lives changed. I’ve been in touch with those who’ve been following Leanna and me, and some of the notes that have come in about how God is blessing them in their time of need blesses my socks off. To see the love from brothers and sister towards others often brings tears to my eyes. Yes, a 6 foot 1, 220 pound man can have tears and admit it and not be ashamed. Glory to God. I just feel like praising God tonight. I’m so thankful for all you who have come to be part of the Zero Hour Ministry room tonight. I used to say brother Rich's room, as he was the one who started this room, but as we all concurred last week, this is all our room. Actually, when God gets the glory, isn't it His room? Praise be to God. For those who may not be aware, the sermons that I deliver here in the Zero Hour Ministry room and the J and L Ministries room here on Paltalk are recorded, including the chat box, and I share them on the J and L Ministries u-tube channel and also many other Christian websites. Please, please, please don't let that make you shy in posting scriptures that line up with what we’re learning about. Please don't let that discourage you to type in words that encourage and edify other men and women of God. There are those who can't go to church, and this is a source for them to learn what God has planned for their lives and for them to get an understanding of God's ways. I praise God for the internet tool to reach out to the shut-ins. I thank Him that we can reach people even in other countries who are hungry for more of Him and have a hard time finding the truth. Holy, holy, holy we want to see You Lord and we welcome You into this room tonight. We welcome Your presence in each person's dwelling place who’s in this room and for those watching this video. Great are You, Lord and greatly to be praised. Father God, you’re bigger than any problem that anyone of us can ever go through. Lord, we say You’re greater than any problem we can ever go through. Greater than any sickness or disease. Lord, we don't glorify sin or our mistakes or any of our problems. Church, raise Your hands and give thanks to the Lord and lay all the junk in your life at the cross of Jesus right now before we get into this message. Prepare your hearts before Him. Give Him your doubts right now. God is great and worthy to be praised. Glory to God! Church, open your mouths and read with me one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. A couple of the scriptures within this were the first scriptures that I memorized and hold dear to my heart. Read with me saints. Psalms 34:1-22 I will always thank the LORD; I will never stop praising him. 2 I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad! 3 Proclaim with me the LORD's greatness; let us praise his name together! 4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears. 5 The oppressed look to him and are glad; they will never be disappointed. 6 The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles. 7 His angel guards those who honor the LORD and rescues them from danger. 8 Find out for yourself how good the LORD is. Happy are those who find safety with him. 9 Honor the LORD, all his people; those who obey him have all they need. 10 Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the LORD lack nothing good. 11 Come, my young friends, and listen to me, and I will teach you to honor the LORD. 12 Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? 13 Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart. 15 The LORD watches over the righteous and listens to their cries; 16 but he opposes those who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten. 17 The righteous call to the LORD, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. 19 Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all; 20 the LORD preserves them completely; not one of their bones is broken. 21 Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be punished. 22 The LORD will save his people; those who go to him for protection will be spared. Brothers and sister in Christ, I do hope you have the joy of the Lord in your hearts. I do hope each of you realizes just how much God loves you and really does care for your lives and has a plan that far outweighs any plans you could ever imagine. It took me so long to get a revelation of this. Lord, we give You glory. Lord, You’re greater than any trial or test we’ll ever go through, in Jesus’ name. Church, the more we give God glory, the more He works in our lives. The more we trust Him, the more we see Him move in situations we go through. Will you trust Him today with every situation that comes up? When those who might come into this room to bring strife, to stir up distractions and hate, will we get our dander up, or will we praise God and leave the situation in His hands? Glory to God. When God comes in the front door, the enemy goes out the back door. When God comes into your hearts, the problems leave. Do you believe that, church? This is going to be a good evening. Praise Yeshua. If God be for us, who can be against us. Proclaim that, friends. There is none that comes before You, Lord. Lord, we’re Your people and this is Your room here tonight. We love Your presence and we invite You here tonight. What God has done for others, He’ll do for me and He’ll do for you and greater things He’ll do for me and you. His Word says it, and I proclaim it. Teach us Lord, from Your scriptures tonight and let them be written on our hearts. We give You all the glory. In Jesus’ name we pray, and all the saints said, “Amen.” I’m excited tonight, are you, friends? We’re going to start a new series. I'm not sure how long it’ll be, but God has a word for us and I pray that each of us will be blessed as we go through it. The title of tonight's message is: Love. I know, the girls here are getting all tingly inside. The men are thinking, “Oh brother Jim, don't do this to me. Not the love thing.” We’re going to look at many things that love is and how we find it. We’re going to look at how we express it, and the list goes on. Please turn, if you will, to the book of Acts chapter 20 and we’ll start with verse 32. I highly encourage each of you to look at these scriptures for yourselves. Mark them down as we go and study them as you have time. Leanna will be posting them as we go for those who don't have a Bible near them and for those who may not be quick at finding scriptures, but again, please write down the verses and don't just trust what I say. Acts 20:32-33 KJV And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Notice what Apostle Paul, being led by the Holy Spirit, is saying here. Paul’s saying, “All the time I was with you, I wasn't money hungry. In fact, I provided my own means and for those who were with me. They covered all their own expenses.” Hmm... I don't need to say anything here. Church, notice what he says in verse 35. Quoting Jesus’ words. "It is more blessed to give than to receive." There are two types of people. Givers and takers. There are so many who’ll try to buddy up to you if you receive a lump sum of money and see what they can get from you. You know the type, they try to tug on your heart strings. That’s an ungodly selfish person, but what about the giver? And that kind of person can be wrong too, depending on if there’s an agenda behind the giving. Church, what about you? Are you happier to receive, or to give? Leanna and I love to give. but the people who are unchurched, the ones who haven’t had a renewing of the minds, think they’re happier to receive. They don't believe what we just read from Jesus. What about you, brethren? Would you be happier to receive, or to give? In fact, let's all say this. “It is more blessed to give than to receive. I am happier to give than to receive.” Is this true, friends? When you give with the right heart, it brings joy to your heart. I know when Leanna and I give, we have so much joy. It's exciting. It brings joy. I know a few in here who’ve given. I know some who’ve given and it was a sacrifice. But those who get what I’m saying, it brought joy to your heart, didn't it? Now don't get me wrong and think that we’re not supposed to receive. No friends, that’s not what I’m saying. Turn please to Ephesians 4: 28. Ephesians 4:28 KJV Let him that stole steal no more. Let me stop there. Many people would look at this verse and think it’s speaking to those who rob banks or hold up a convenience store. I don't think so. I think this includes sneaking things out of places at work that don't belong to them. Many think that oh, it really isn't much, but what did we just read? If you've been stealing, steal no more. Quit it. Don't just cut back on what you take. No more stealing. None! Amen, someone? So many think a few office supplies from the company they work for doesn't matter. Or, like when Leanna and I helped out at a food cupboard, there were volunteers who would sneak food into their cars while we were setting up. This is stealing. If your heart knows it isn't right, then you know it isn't right, whether you admit it or not. No matter whether you admit it, your heart is going to condemn it. 1 John 3:20-22 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. I'm not sure about you, but in a time of need, I want God on my side, how about you? So if you’re stealing, what do you do? Steal no more. Church, do Christians steal? Come on, someone. Man, it got quiet in here. Friends, I think they do, because we see Paul’s writing to the church in Ephesus. Ephesians 4:28 KJV Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Now there are going to be ones who won't like the tail end of this verse. What did it say? Let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good. That means we work. Working is good, but so you can what? (that he may have to give to him that needeth.) “But brother Jim, if I work and then I give it away, I’ll have nothing.” Ye of little faith. Friends, these aren't my words. In fact, I struggled big time on giving. That was my mentality for many years. I worked hard for my money and I am supposed to give it to someone else? No way. Church, what did we read? What did Jesus say? It is more blessed to give than to receive. Friends, when you give, you’re overriding the selfishness of your flesh. You’re going against the natural mans way and abiding in the ways of God. When you give, you’re sharing the love of God because you’re giving from your heart. Glory to God. And friends, many times it won't be a huge gift the Lord asks you to give. Especially when you first yield to Him. I say that and yet, oh wow. The first time we knew that the Lord wanted us to give, other than tithes, or small giving that we did in a church that we attended, was a $1500 dollar gift. Remember that, Leanna? We bought a church a new soundboard and a drum shield. Church, what I’m trying to say here is this. Handing someone a $5.00 bill could really help someone for the day. A $20.00 bill might really help someone get by for the week. And church, please get this. If God can trust you with a five dollar bill or a twenty dollar bill, it won't be long that He can trust you with hundreds. It's not yours to begin with. It is all God's. “Brother Jim, I just can't understand what you’ve said has anything to do with love.” Keep listening and I think everything will fall into place for you. Glory to God. Let's turn to 1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. How do we know if someone’s born again? The love of God. 1 John 4:8 KJV He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Church, hear me out on this. I don't care who you are, if you don't love, you don't know God. I don't care what ministry you have, or if you’re a pastor, if you don't have love, you don't know God. You can't know God if you don't know love. 1 John 4:9 KJV In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. God has proved His love in so many ways, yet we hear those who question God's love. To me it’s very disrespectful toward God. God loved you and me before any of us were born. Even though we did things totally against His will. 1 John 4:10-11 KJV Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. Do we owe it to other people to love them? Most don't think so. I think some of you may be surprised to read this. I know when I first saw it, I was. Romans 13:8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Now this is referring to other believers. John 13: 34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 1 John 4:12 KJV No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Friends, this is very exciting to me and I hope to you also. Though we haven’t seen God face to face, we can experience God's love through the love of others. Do we see that? Praise God. 1 John 4:13 KJV Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 1 John 4:14-16 KJV And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Church, everyone say this after me. “We've known and believe.” These are two different things, get this. You can know about the love of God without believing. You can hear that God loves you, but not believe. I know many people like this and as I’ve grown in my faith walk, I witness it more and more. Friends, I’m sure each of you have heard this statement from even those professing to be Christians. “With the things I’ve done, how can God love me?” Then you have those who say, “I wish I could believe He loves me.” Church, that’s the wrong statement. You can believe it if you want to. Faith is a choice. These statements tell me you haven't decided to believe it. God loves you. Have you all heard that and read that from your Bible? I want each of you to think about what I’m about to say. God is love. Because God is love and is the biggest part of what He’s all about, the devil has worked long and hard to confuse people as to what God is and what he is. The enemy twists the whole meaning of love. Think about it. You hear, “I love football and I love shopping. I love, love, love.” Are all those feelings really about love? What is love? God is love. Most think love is all about feelings. Mushy, mushy. Friends, I hope throughout what’s going to have to be a series, that we have a renewing of our minds. Glory to God! 1 John 4:16 KJV And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. I have known and believed. Say this, church. “I have known and believed. The Creator of the universe, loves me.” Glory to God. Friends, not only have we heard about God's love, but we believe it. Friends I’m about to close and this will have to be part 1 of what I think will be a longer series than I usually do, because of so many scriptures that are coming up in my spirit putting this together, but I think there are many things that we need to get in us to strengthen our faith. Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God. Church, how many times have we heard that God is love and that He loves us and the enemy whispers in your ear, "God loves you, but what about what you did? God might love you but what about this?" He is the accuser of the brethren and he’ll accuse you, too. Hear me. “God loves you, but He knows what you did. How can He love you after you did that?” Come on church, you've been there. What is love? Who is love? 1 John 4:16 (AMP) We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. Church, I hope our minds are being renewed. We need to get out of our mindsets that love is a feeling. Who is love? What is love? 1 John 4:17 KJV Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. We as true believers are supposed to be God's witness to the world. We’re His representatives. So when the world sees us, who should they see? They’re not just seeing Joanne, Chuck, Leanna and ..... They’re supposed to be seeing Christ living in us. Think about so many Christians today that get so involved in the world. They’re at the bars, not witnessing but tipping up with the rest of the world. They’re toking on their joints, just like the rest of the world. Their gossiping with the best of them. Stealing office supplies, merchandise from places they work, watching porn, so-called pastors coming into paltalk rooms sowing hate and distractions and confusion among the saints. But we in this room won't belong to that group. Friends, I said, “We won't belong to that group no more.” Can I get an amen? We’re different, because we know and we believe. Glory to God! For those who may be watching this video and you profess to be an atheist or whatever kind of theist, and yes saints in this room, I have them following me, too. For those who claim that there is no God, I know that you know, whether you admit it or not, you know that there is a God and your soul is longing, no, aching for the love that God is. Glory to God. But He gives us a choice. God wishes no man perish, but He gives us a choice. Our dear friends, I know that I’ve had you read a lot of scripture. I know we’ve looked at some things that some of you may not have ever noticed before and I think it’s time to wrap this up. Sometimes too much information all at once is not a good thing. Leanna and I thank you Rich, Bernie, Chuck, Joanne and Tim, as the originals in this room for inviting us to teach. We thank each of you who took the time away from time you could have been doing other things to visit here, and we hope that each of you were blessed and come away with a stronger knowledge of scripture and the love of God. Friends, we love you and we do hope that you’ll join Leanna and me in the J and L Ministries room here in Paltalk Sunday morning at 11:00AM EST. Rich, if you could post your times for the week for any new people who’ve joined. Thanks again. Have a blessed week in the Lord.
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