Proverbs 4: 23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. (Amplified Classic)
To have and continue to develop an established heart the person must set His love upon our Loving Father God. This is not a one-time decision. It is an on-going moment by moment decision that we make continuously in all circumstances. The Father will always respond to a person who sets his love upon Him.
Psalm 91: 14 – 16 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness–trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. (15) He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (16) With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.(Amplified Classic)
A person being led by the Spirit having an established heart or being Spiritually minded is a person who is at rest no matter what the circumstances of life may bring.
The Love Walk does not just happen. We must choose to walk the Love Walk on an ongoing daily moment by moment basis through a series of choices. The Love Walk must be developed. It is progressive. We must exercise choice and our Faith to develop our Love Walk. We must be diligent. It does not just happen. It is a process.
2nd Peter 1: 3 – 11 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). (4) By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.(5) For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), (6) And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), (7) And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. (8) For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).(9) For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [spiritually] shortsighted, seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was cleansed from his old sins. (10) Because of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous and eager to make sure (to ratify, to strengthen, to make steadfast) your calling and election; for if you do this, you will never stumble or fall. (11) Thus there will be richly and abundantly provided for you entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Amplified Classic)
Jesus described Agape Love in His High Priestly prayer in John 17.
John 17: 20 – 23 Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching, (21) That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. (22) I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: (23) I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. (Amplified Classic)
God’s agape love has been poured into the heart of every Believer. Therefore, we can love supernaturally. Every Christian has the capacity to love as God does because God has poured out His Love into our hearts.
Romans 5: 5 Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. (Amplified Classic)
Agape love is supernatural love that will enable us to love beyond our natural ability. Agape Love has no limits. Human love is emotional love and has a limit.
As Believers we can love beyond our natural ability because Love Himself, by the presence of the Precious Holy Spirit, abides in the Heart or Spirit of the Believer.
As we position ourselves by making a quality decision to love and yield to the Holy Spirit, He empowers and guides us enabling us to love beyond our natural ability.
John 14: 26 – 27 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. (27) Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] (Amplified Classic)
1st John 4: 7 …God IS Love, 1st John 4: 8 …God IS Love, 1st John 4: 16 …God IS Love,
1st John 4: 17 …As He IS so are we in this world.
Four characteristics of God’s love at work in our lives are:
It is unconditional. It is not limited, but absolute and unqualified. You don’t have to be qualified to receive the Godkind of love.
It is one-sided. It does not need to be returned. It means initiating love no matter what.
It frees you to be you. You don’t need to wear the mask that attempts to shield who you really are. Once you understand that God loves you, it no longer matters what other people think about you.
It is others-centered love, not self-centered. The center of agape love is someone else.
When Jesus gave the Love Commandment in John 13: 34; John 15: 12; and in John 15: 17 this is the kind of Love He commanded us to walk in.
You cannot walk in the Spirit (or be Spiritually Minded) without walking in Love. The root or source of every commandment is Love.
Walking in the Spirit is dwelling in the Secret Place.
Psalm 91: 1 – 2 (Amplified Classic) HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. (2) I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
You cannot walk in the Spirit or dwell in the Secret Place without setting your love upon Him
Col. 2: 6 – 7 (Amplified Classic) As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. (7) Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.
If I have set my love upon Him, I will be walking in the Spirit. If I am walking in the Spirit the Fruit of the Spirit will be flowing in and through my life.
Having an established heart means that you are Spiritually or Love Minded. Walking in the Spirit is walking in love. You cannot walk in the Spirit without walking in Love
Romans 8: 5 – 6 (NKJV) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
All sin (no matter what it is) is self-centered *** All Love is others centered.
Being Spiritually Minded(Love Minded) puts us in a place to know His Ways and what our ways are supposed to be.
Being Spiritually Minded (Love Minded) puts us in a place where we can hear the voice of The Holy Spirit. God Himself Who lives in each of us.
Being Spiritually Minded(Love Minded) puts us in a place where we can be guided by The Holy Spirit. Yes, in every area of life.
Being Spiritually Minded(Love Minded) puts us in place to know what and how to choose
Being Spiritually Minded(Love Minded) puts us in a place where God Himself has an eye on our path of life and He Himself will teach us how to choose
Being Spiritually Minded(Love Minded) puts us in a place where the Angels can protect and work for us.
Being Spiritually Minded(Love Minded) puts us in a place where we are victorious over the world
Matthew 7: 16 – 20(Amplified Bible) You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? (17) Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. (18) A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. (19) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. (20) Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.
James 3: 14 – 18 (Amplified Bible) But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth. (15) This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal). (16) For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. (17) But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity). (18) And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].
Just in case you have not noticed there is trouble in this world. In this season we are living in we all, in one way or another, are concerned by what is taking place in the world around us. Whether it be in our own personal lives or the world around us.
Trouble is not something new to this world it has been around since the fall of Adam. If you are alive there are times of difficulty that come your way. The troubles and storms of life very seldom just affect us. What we do during these times of trouble and storms will also affect others around us.
John 16: 33 (Amplified Classic) I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
What we do in the midst of the troubles and storms of life will determine the amount of effect they have on us. It will also determine how long they last, when, and if we come out of them.
We choose whether we walk in peace in our lives or fear and worry.
God is not keeping us from walking in peace!
The Word of God brings peace and confidence. Peace will cause us to stand firm on the solid rock. Fear stands on sand. When the pressure is on, fear runs and cannot stand. When the pressure is on, Peace will remain firm, and we will be able to stand therefore.
Galatians 6: 7 – 9(Amplified Bible) Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.(8) For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.(9) And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
Doing the Do’s in the Bible or walking the Love Walk (1st Corinthians 13: 4 – 8 Amplified Bible) obeying God’s Word submitting our life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every area of life produces Kingdom fruit by the Law of the Spirit of Life.
By doing this as a way of life the troubles and problems in our life will position us to bear Kingdom fruit right in the midst of the biggest and most intense storms of life.
Romans 8:1 – 2 (Amplified Bible) THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.
Doing the Do not’s in the Bible produces the Law of Sin and Death
Romans 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.
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