MODULE 20 :THE NEW TESTAMENT WAY TO DEAL WITH YOUR HUMAN ENEMIES BY EVANGELIST OGHOGHOR IKPONMWOSA (PHD)

In this module we shall continue to look at what Apostle John said in re-echoing what Jesus said about love.

1 John 3:16-18

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but indeed and in truth.KJV
 
1 John 3:23-24

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.KJV

In this scripture Apostle John tells us that we perceive (observe, see, notice, recognize, distinguish, identify) the love of God as the love that moved Him (Jesus) to give His life for us.
In other words, the love of God is that kind of love that is willing to lay down His life for the world including those who hated God and did not want to have anything to do with Him (John 3:16).

The love of God which the Holy Spirit has shed in our hearts (Romans 5:5) is a sacrificial type of love which is willing to die for those it loves if it becomes necessary.

Apostle John specifically said that we must actually be willing to lay down our lives for one another in the body of Christ. He was showing us the need to take each other’s problems as our personal problems.

He clearly stated that anyone who has this world's good, and sees his brother have needs, but shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how can he say the love of God dwells in him?

This means that the love of God is not in anyone who is unwilling to share his earthly possessions with brethren who are in need. What we have is not really ours but what God has entrusted to us. God gave us these good blessings not just for us and our family members but for us to share with brethren around us who are in need.

To share our earthly goods with the needy is our way of showing that the love of God dwells in us. It is not enough to have this love in us, we must express it. Apostle John tells us clearly that we are not to love people in word or by just saying it but in deeds or actions and in truth.

Sometimes we may not be able to personally meet someone’s need because we don’t sincerely have what it takes but compassion must be expressed in such circumstances.

Many times we ignore this instruction and refuse to identify with the sufferings and challenges of brethren around us. For many of us, once our family needs have been met we can afford to live extravagantly on the abundant blessings God has graciously entrusted to us.

Many times we can afford to buy expensive cars, expensive clothes, live in luxurious houses, eat the best of meals, etc. but we will never make the sacrifice to pay just five thousand naira school fees for a little child whose parents worship in the same church with us and cannot afford to pay such fees.
If the love of God is in us we must be willing to share with the brethren around us.

Apostle John tells us that this is God’s commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
This means that we are to first believe in Jesus and then walk in love. It is not enough to shout that we have believed in Him but we must continue to abide in Him by bearing the fruit of love.

According to Apostle John as we keep this commandment to believe in Jesus and love one another we dwell in Him and He dwells in us. He was simply re-echoing what Jesus taught in John15:1-12 about abiding in the vine.

As we walk in love the Holy Spirit in us who helps us live the love life gives us the assurance that we are dwelling or abiding in Christ.

To be continued…

EVANGELIST OGHOGHO IKPONMWOSA (PHD)
PRESIDENT: SAVE THE LOST GOSPEL EVANGEVANGELISTIC MINISTRY
EMAIL: oghoghoik@gmail.com

TEL: +2348060676748