God's "Unconditional" Love

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. " Proverbs 8:17

I have been thinking a lot about the "unconditional love" of God.  This is commonly asserted by many Christians, and most often in relation to sin, "God loves us unconditionally in spite of our sin."  However, is this sentiment really biblical and what is meant when people say this? I ask you to think honestly about this question.

Increasingly people are being lulled into a false standing with God which seems to hinge on some perversion of God's love.  The purpose of this article is not to attempt to divorce man from God's great love, but to ensure that we are truly abiding in His abounding love.

For a doctrine that has become so central to the contemporary church, Scripture is relatively silent on this issue.  That is why many asserting that "God's love is unconditional" must deduce that it is so.  They seek to appeal to what might be called your sense of reason saying, "God's love must be unconditional because...[fill in the blank]"  Yet, there is not one Scripture which states that all have God's love unconditionally.  Is God's love undeserved by all?  Yes!  Yet, undeserved does not mean unconditional. At the very least this concept should be supported by God's word if it is to be believed.  Otherwise, it is likely false - no matter how warm & fuzzy it makes us feel.

So, what does it mean biblically to say that God's love is unconditional?

unconditional: not limited by conditions; asserting that the existence or occurrence of one thing or event does not depend on the existence or occurrence of another thing or event.

God's love simply exists, for He is love (I John 4:8).  It is not dependent upon anything else for - like His very nature - He (and it) just is.  Yet, the fact that God's love exists unconditionally does not mean it is received by man unconditionally. 

I Love Them That Love Me

Proverbs 8:17 states that God loves them who love Him.  That is a condition...not a condition to the existence of God's love, but a condition upon its receipt.

And if obedience is the evidence of our love for God, then where does that leave sin?

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." John 14:21

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23

"For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." John 16:27

Scriptures state repeatedly that God loves those who love Him.  Why would God say this if all receive His love unconditionally?  If He loves all the same, then what is the point of such statements?  If we truly examine the Scriptures, we will see that being recipients of God's love is only explicitly referenced for those who are considered His people.  It is a promise of our inheritance in Christ Jesus.

The Biblical truth then is not that, "God loves me in spite of my sin." but that "God is love, in spite of my sin."  Our sin does not stop God from being love, but our sin can surely place us outside the bounds of receiving His love (Hebrews 10:26-27). We should not be asking, "Does God love us?" but "Do we love God?"  If we do, then we will obey His commands.

Abiding in God's Love

Does this condition mean that God's love is fickle?  That it comes and goes at His slightest displeasure, at the smallest wrong?  Not at all.  God's love is steadfast and sure (Lamentations 3:22-23; Psalm 86:15).  Neither does it imply that God's love is not offered equally to all (John 3:16; Revelation 22:17).

God "loving those who love Him" is not a barometer by which we measure God's love, rather it is the standard by which we measure our response to His love.  It simply affirms the reality that - although God draws man to Himself via His love - many do in fact reject His love.  Some do this outright, never responding to His invitation for eternal life.  Others might receive His love initially, but not continue to abide in it.

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matthew 24:12

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Revelation 2:4-5

The quality or quantity of God's love does not change when we sin; rather continued sin illustrates our response to that love. God's love must be received by us for it to apply to us.  We do realize that God's love does not abide in everyone, right (I John 2:15)?

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13

The goal is to have God's love (which exists unconditionally) living inside of us (which is conditional).  We must enter into His love by turning in faith to Jesus Christ.  His love must be perfected in us.  If this is so, then our obedience will be the sign that we are abiding in that love (I John 1:6-7).

"And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:26

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." John 15:10

"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." I John 2:5

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." I John 5:3

"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." II John 1:6

Don't be deceived by those telling you that God's love will keep you in spite of your continuing willfully in sin.  The Lord keeps those who love (obey) Him.

"The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy." Psalm 145:20

Remember, the issue is not primarily the presence of sin, but the absence of a passionate love for Him.  Persistent sin is merely the [rotten] fruit resulting from a lack of love relationship with God.

God So Loved the World

When using Scripture to deduce that God's love is unconditional for all, one of the main Scriptures that people point to is John 3:16.  There is much which could be said about this verse and what it tells us about God's love, but that has been previously covered.  My purpose in raising it here is to examine whether it is an example of all men being given God's "unconditional" love.

"We love him, because he first loved us." I John 4:19

Did love lead the Father to offer His only Son for our sins, and likewise lead Jesus to sacrifice Himself?  Absolutely!  It would have been impossible for us to love God without this sacrifice for we would not be able to be born again and become partakers of the divine nature.

Was that act unconditional?  At one time (even at the point of writing this article) I would have said, "Yes! Jesus died once and for all to be a propitiation for the sins of the whole world based upon His own Sovereignty and compassion for mankind.  Therefore, the love God exhibited in offering us redemption through Jesus Christ was unconditional because He required nothing from man in providing it."  However, even as I was typing that, God asked me, "What about Abraham?"

God called upon Abraham to sacrifice His "only son" as a pattern and figure for what God would later do with His only Son, Jesus (Genesis 22:1-2).  Yet, when God saw that Abraham was willing to do this and had faith that God would restore the life of his son (Genesis 22:5; Hebrews 11:17-19), God stopped him and substituted a ram for the sacrifice saying:

"And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Genesis 22:15-18

For more on how this willing sacrifice was a shadowing of Christ's sacrifice, see here: Why did God tell Abraham to kill his son Isaac?

However, look again at God's response to Abraham.  God assures Abraham that "because" he was obedient & faithful in this way, God would bring forth a promised seed.  We know from Scripture that this seed is Christ.

"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith...Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Galatians 3:14, 16

Could God still have sent Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins even if Abraham had refused to offer Isaac?  Of course.  God's plans are unchangeable and He is limited by nothing other than His own will.  However, that is the point.  It was God's will to predicate the sin-sacrifice of His Son on the obedience of His servant.  Since Abraham did not withhold his son, God would not withhold His own Son.  Although God had promised to send this seed from the beginning (Genesis 3:15), at the same time we must acknowledge that He was looking for a response from man before bringing that to pass. 

There was a certain type of faith (as witnessed by obedience) which God was waiting to see in man before bringing about Jesus' sacrifice.  Similarly, He is also looking for that same faith in man before applying this sacrifice to our lives (Romans 4:1-25).

Our salvation through Christ - made possible by God's great love - is conditioned upon faith in Him and is the vehicle whereby that love is received by us as His sons & daughters (Hebrews 12:6; Galatians 5:6; I John 3:1, 4:7; Revelation 3:19).

Apart from just that type of faith (the faith of Abraham - faith working by love through obedience):

• We are not saved (Ephesians 2:8; I Peter 1:9)
• We are not justified (Romans 5:1)
• We are not pleasing God (Hebrews 11:6)
• We are not being kept by God (Psalm 31:23; I Peter 41:5)
• We are not being filled with the life and power of God (Ephesians 3:17-19)
• We are not promised to receive the blessings of God (Romans 8:28; I Corinthians 2:9)
• We are not promised eternal life (James 1:12, 2:5; Revelation 2:10)
• We are not called saints of God (Revelation 14:12)
• We are not promised to be recipients of God's love (Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 3:17-19).  

Would God's love still exist unconditionally in such a case?  Absolutely!  Our refusal to receive God's love has no bearing on the existence of His love - which is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3).  We merely disqualify ourselves from receiving it by not meeting the condition (faith) for that love to personally transform us.  God only "knows" those who "love" (obey) Him (Matthew 7:21-23, 25:10-12; Luke 13:24-27).

"But if any man love God, the same is known of him." I Corinthians 8:3

Jesus' death on the cross is an illustration of God showing forth to mankind His great love (Romans 5:8).  However, if that sacrifice/love is not received, then this same loving God will send such persons to Hell for all eternity.  So why are so many going around preaching a Gospel of "unconditional love" when it is not the existence of God's love which saves us, but our submission to it? 

Why Not Unconditional?

Some may wonder why I have taken such time to discuss this topic.  Let me be clear.  It is not to cause anyone to doubt God's love. It is to raise to our awareness that the issue of man's standing with God is not about the existence of His love at all.

God's love exists unconditionally for it is part of His nature; it is who He is.  Yet, that alone is not what brings about the salvation of each lost soul.  God's love provides the sacrifice, but apart from receiving that love within, man will still be lost.  When we reassure others that God's love is "unconditional" for man, we not only put forth a concept that is absent in the Scriptures (and at odds with Scripture), but we deny the truths about the conditions God establishes upon which man may be reconciled with Him.

Some believe it would be unrighteous for God not to love all unconditionally, but that is because they do not perceive the nature and purposes of God.  There is a key principle which is missing from man's understanding about God - even amongst many Christian, - and that is this: God only has communion with Himself.  From the beginning, God's purposes have been to have His image and glory reflected across the Earth.  Man was made to be in God's "image" so that he could fellowship with God (Genesis 1:26; Romans 8:29).

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed? " Amos 3:3

The word "agreed" above also means betrothed.  This implies more than just a mental alignment, but two becoming one (I Corinthians 6:17, 12:13).  Why is there a condition for man to receive God's love?  Because God is looking to regenerate Himself in us, and for that to happen, we must be one (in agreement) with Him.

God is looking for Himself in us and only has communion with us to the extent that He is alive within us (I John 1:1-7; I Corinthians 1:7-9).  God only acknowledges Himself (Hebrews 6:13-18).  He only answers Himself (I John 5:14).  God only receives that which is like Himself (Ephesians 5:25-27).

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." John 17:21-23 

Herein is revealed the beauty and magnitude of Jesus' sacrifice, in that it is the way for us to become like Him.  Through being born again and the power of His word, He is planting seed within us that will produce the nature of Christ (Galatians 4:19).  Apart from the Father looking at us and seeing Jesus within us, God does not receive us.

It is in error to take the Scriptures about God's love for us and state that these apply to man regardless of his obedience to God.  What good does it do for food to exist, but I never eat it and die of starvation?  What good is it for water to exist, yet I never drink and die of thirst?  So it is to know of the existence of God's love, yet never submit to it.  For all who are thirsty, come drink of the waters which are freely given...but you must come and drink (Revelation 21:6, 22:17).

The existence of God's love is not what saves man. Rather, we are called to respond to, partake of, and be transformed by it.  Our hearts must be directed to abide in that love as a willing sacrifice (Romans 12:1; II Thessalonians 3:5). 

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Jude 1:21 

Again, the focus is not, "Does God love you?" but "Do you love God?"  God's love exists unconditionally.  It is not limited or nullified by our sin.  Even when we sin, we can still avail ourselves of His love...and we must do so.  When we do, He promises to forgive (I John 1:7-9).  Receiving this love is the only way that our sin can be covered so that we may enjoy His love and communion with Him.

"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." I Corinthians 16:22

Even So, Lord Jesus Come

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17 

It Is Well With My Soul

The following article is an excerpt from a post on the "For His Glory Alone" blog and I wanted to share it here as an encouragement for you.

Have we truly grabbed hold of the peace which the world has not given and the world cannot take away?  Are we truly living in the joy of the Lord, even in the midst of our tribulations?  Do we believe that it is even possible to do so?  The Lord assures us that it is; that we can rejoice even in our sufferings.

This is only a portion of the article, which speaks about how to be encouraged in the Lord.  The article may be read in its entirety by clicking on the link above.

The History of a Man of Faith

In the late 1860s, life was good for Horatio G. Spafford and his wife Anna. They were living in a north side suburb of Chicago with their five children, Annie, Maggie, Bessie, Tanetta and Horatio, Jr.

He had a successful law practice in Chicago. The doors of the Spaffords' home were always open as a place for activists to meet during the reform movements of the time.

Horatio G. Spafford was quite active in the abolitionist movement. Frances E. Willard, president of the National Women's Christian Temperance Union, as well as evangelical leaders like Dwight L. Moody, were often guests in their home. Spafford was a Presbyterian church elder and a dedicated Christian.

Tragedy Strikes

Until now Horatio and Anna Spafford had led a charmed life. They had everything going their way. However, in 1870 their faith was tested by tragedy. Their four year old son, Horatio, Jr., died of scarlet fever.

The Spaffords were devastated.  In October of 1871, when the Great Chicago Fire broke out, Horatio faced another test of his faith.  A few months before the Great Chicago Fire, Spafford being a wealthy man, had invested much of his wealth in real estate by the shore of Lake Michigan. 

Further Tragedy and Loss

Not only did the Great Chicago Fire destroy most of Chicago, but most of Spafford's holdings were destroyed. 250 people died in the Great Chicago Fire and 90,000 were left homeless.

Still Faithful

The Spaffords did not despair. Their home had been spared and they had their family.  God had been good.  Even though their finances were mostly depleted, Anna and Horatio used what resources they had left to feed the hungry, help the homeless, care for the sick and injured and comfort their grief stricken neighbors.

The Great Chicago Fire was a great American tragedy; the Spaffords used it to show the love of the Christ to those in need.  In 1873, Anna Spafford's health was failing and hoping to put behind the tragic loss of their son and the fire and to benefit Anna's health, the Spaffords planned a trip to Europe. 

They would sail on the French steamer, Ville du Havre, to Europe with their four daughters.  Spafford not only wanted to visit Europe, but he wanted to assist Evangelists Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey in a revival they were conducting in England.

Moody and Sankey had met at a convention of the Young Men's Christian Association in Indianapolis, in 1870.  After hearing Sankey sing, Moody at once invited him to come to Chicago and assist him in his evangelist work there.

Ira D. Sankey considered Moody's invitation and after much thought and prayer, decided to accept.  Six months later, he joined Moody in Chicago.  Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey were in the middle of a revival meeting when the Great Chicago Fire broke out in 1871.

Moody and Sankey barely escaped Chicago with their lives.  It is said that Sankey was on a rowboat, a long distance out in Lake Michigan, where he watched as Chicago burned.  With most of Chicago having been destroyed, Moody and Sankey decided to accept an invitation to visit England. 

The Reason the Spaffords Chose England to Journey

In 1873, Moody and Sankey started a work in England.  Moody and Sankey made such a profound impression in England, their names became household words all over Europe.  The Spaffords planned to leave in November on their voyage to Europe.

As sometimes happens, God had other plans for Horatio G. Spafford. The day they were to sail for Europe, Spafford had a business emergency and could not leave. Not wanting to disappoint his wife Anna and their (4) daughters, he sent them on ahead and planned to follow on another ship in a few days.

Accompanying Anna Spafford was her French governess, Emma Lorriaux, several friends and several ministers.  On November 22, 1873, the steamer Ville du Havre was struck by a British iron sailing ship, the Lockhearn. 

The steamer Ville du Havre, with Anna Spafford and her daughters aboard, sank within twelve minutes in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Only 81 of the 307 passengers and crew members survived this tragic shipwreck.

Anna Spared

Even though the Lockhearn was in danger of sinking, the unconscious Anna Spafford was picked up from floating debris by the crew of the Lockhearn.  An American cargo sailing vessel, the Trimountain, arrived in time to save the survivors of the Ville du Havre and the Lockhearn.

Anna Spafford was taken to Cardiff, Wales, where she telegraphed her husband Horatio.  Anna's cable was brief and heartbreaking, "Saved alone. What shall I do...?" 

Horatio and Anna's four daughters had drowned.  As soon as he received Anna's telegram, Horatio left Chicago without delay to bring his wife home.  Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, the captain of the ship called Horatio to the bridge.

He informed Horatio that:"A careful reckoning has been made and I believe we are now passing the place where the Ville du Havre was wrecked.  The water is three miles deep."

That night, alone in his cabin, Horatio G. Spafford penned the words to his famous hymn, "It Is Well with My Soul."  Horatio's faith in God never faltered.   

He later wrote Anna's half-sister, "On Thursday last, we passed over the spot where she went down, in mid-ocean, the waters three miles deep.  But I do not think of our dear ones there. They are safe, folded, the dear lambs."

The following account is taken from the Christian History Institute.

 

Anna’s Battle

"Anna Spafford later spoke of being sucked violently downward.  Baby Tanetta was torn from her arms by a collision with some heavy debris, with a blow so violent that Anna's arm was severely bruised.  

  

She flailed at the water trying to catch her baby.  Anna caught Tanetta's gown for just a moment before another smashing blow tore the little girl out of her arms forever.  

Reaching out again, all she could find was a man's leg in corduroy trousers.  Anna, barely conscious, was then swirled about in a whirlpool before surfacing near the Lochhearn.  

She instinctively clung on to a small plank and the next thing she recalled was the splash of an oar as she lay at the bottom of a small boat.  Bruised and sick, her long hair was matted with salt and her dressing gown shredded.

But the pain in her body was nothing compared to the pain in her heart, as she realized that her four daughters had been lost in the disaster.  A young male passenger, afloat on a piece of wood, came upon Maggie and Annie, the two oldest Spafford children. 

Maggie Spafford

 At his direction, each girl grasped one of his side pockets as he tried to find a board large enough to support all three of them. After about 30 or 40 minutes in the water, he found a piece of wreckage and struggled to help the two young girls climb atop the board.

Annie Spafford

But as he watched, their weary arms weakened, and he saw their eyes close. Their lifeless forms floated away from his own fatigue-paralyzed arms.  No clues ever surfaced about the fate of little Bessie."

Anna’s Stand in Faith

After Anna was rescued, Pastor Nathaniel Weiss, one of the ministers traveling with Anna and Horatio's group remembered hearing Anna say, "God gave me four daughters.  Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand why."

Anna was utterly devastated.  Many of the survivors watched Anna closely, fearing she may try to take her life.  In her grief and despair, Anna heard a soft voice speaking to her, "You were saved for a purpose!"  

It was then Anna remembered something a friend had once said, "It's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God."

Blessings and More Trials

Following their reunion in Europe, Horatio and Anna returned to Chicago to begin their lives again. God blessed Anna and Horatio with three children. They had a son in 1876, again called "Horatio."

Not so much for his father, but for their lost son.  In 1878, their daughter Bertha was born. Tragically, when little Horatio reached the age of 4, just as his brother before him, he died from scarlet fever. 

The Stafford’s Calling

In 1880, Anna and Horatio had another daughter they called Grace. After the loss of little Horatio, the Spaffords decided to leave their home in America and settle in Jerusalem.  In September of 1881, the Spaffords and a few of their friends left America for Israel.

The group settled in the old part of Jerusalem and started a work which later became known as the "American Colony."  There they served the needy, helped the poor, cared for the sick and took in homeless children.

Their only cause was to show those living about them the love of Jesus. Swedish novelist, Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlõf, wrote of this colony of Christians in her two volume Nobel Prize winning work, "Jerusalem."

A Christian historian wrote of Anna and Horatio: "Moved by a series of profound tragic losses, Chicago natives Anna and Horatio Spafford led a small American contingent in 1881 to Jerusalem to form a Christian utopian society known as the 'American Colony."

Bertha Spafford Vester, wrote the following in her book "Our Jerusalem."

"In Chicago, Father searched his life for explanation.  Until now, it had flowed gently as a river.  Spiritual peace and worldly security had sustained his early years, his family life and his home.......

All around him people were asking the unvoiced question; 'What guilt had brought this sweeping tragedy to Anna and Horatio Spafford?'.... Father became convinced that God was kind and that he would see his children again in heaven.

This thought calmed his heart, but it was to bring Father into open conflict with what was then the Christian world.... To Father, this was a passing through the "valley of the shadow of death," but his faith came through triumphant and strong.

On the high seas, near the place where his children perished, he wrote the hymn that was to give comfort to so many:"

Source for history of H. G. Spafford: http://voices.yahoo.com/horatio-g-spafford-story-behind-hymn-is-1620793.html

It Is Well With My Soul 

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul. 

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul, 
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford (1873 a.d.)

Just yesterday, a sister in Christ posted a link on an older article called: I Am With You Always, dated October 21, 2009.  I would 'encourage' you to read it.  It is applicable to today's topic.  Our Lord is so faithful!

From the One Who Dwells in the Midst
The [above] link is to a video called:  From the One who Dwells in the Midst of You posted by "TrumpetCallofGodOnline.com". Although the video itself was recently posted in August 2012, the message contained within the video was originally written September 6, 2010 by the owner of the above site.

In Need of Prayer?

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

We have shared this info before, but the need for corporate prayer with the saints of God is more of a necessity each day as the times grow ever darker.  It is not about religious rituals, church affiliation, or doctrine, but about encouraging one another and grabbing hold unto the promises of God. 

If you have not already, take time to listen to the following sermon from Min. David Pawson on the topic: Prayer with the Saints.

In part, Min. Pawson shares that:

• There is a Biblical basis for praying together.  In the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation, there is more about praying with the saints than praying by yourself.  The promises in the Gospels are nearly all to people praying together.  The practice in Acts is nearly always praying to together.  The precepts in the Epistles are nearly always about praying together.  The predictions in Revelation are about people praying together.
• The added advantages of praying together.
• Being able to obtain the promises Jesus made about corporate prayer
• It empowers the presence & work of the Holy Spirit for infilling believers and converting the lost.
• It makes God's will more easily accessible & plain.
• It provides security & support for members of the Body of Christ.
• It turns prayer into a school for learning prayer.
• It turns prayer into a fireplace.
• It turns prayer into a powerhouse.

Understanding then the benefits and exhortations regarding corporate prayer, take time to join when you can the Omega Church & Ministries prayer line nightly at 9:00 pm EST, Mondays - Saturdays.

Dial-in: 1-805-399-1000
Access code: 409367

Wake Up Church!

A video compilation from Holy Desperation.

The Most UNPREACHED Message in the Church

The Severity of God

"To not major on the same truths that Jesus and His Apostles emphasized, is to preach a completely different Gospel altogether..." 

Today, many Christians are majoring in the minors.  What I mean by that is they are taking selective aspects of Jesus' life and expounding upon that, but ignore what they do not like.  They are forsaking the weightier matters of what Jesus taught in order to depict an idol called Jesus who will tickle their ears with smooth things.  Today's contemporary Christians rejoice that God loves us unconditionally in spite of our sin (which I have never found supported anywhere in Scripture), yet they never stop to think whether such "love" is enough to keep them from eternal damnation.

In the following video, Dr. Michal Brown touches on what could be the most unpreached topic in the Church.  A subject many professing Christians don't want to hear.  Yet, if we do not have faith in the full Gospel message, then we cannot say we truly have faith in Christ.  Do we really believe what Jesus taught?  May He give us ears to hear.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Lord, one thing I know is, "All I have needed, Your hand has provided."  What more can I say?

In various situations...in times when things seemed hopeless...and even when no one else seemed to understand, You have never let me down.

Whether it was a mess I created or the result of suffering for well doing, You were there offering me a way out and the reassurance to keep moving on. 

Even when I couldn't find the words to pray, You answered.  It may not always have been the answer I wanted, but it was always the answer I needed.

And when I was going astray, Your rod was there to chasten me and nudge me back on the narrow path, so that I would not wind up lost in Hell.

Thank you Jesus!  I just want to praise you today.  You have blessed me with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  Never let there be a moment when I forget that.  I will forever sing your praises.

"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." II Timothy 2:11-13

A Heavenly Vision

Oftentimes, it is not our circumstances which limit us, but our perspectives.  It has really been on my heart lately how much God's people need a Heavenly vision.  In these days, it is critical for us to see things from God's perspective and not man's.

In a recent conversation, someone said, "I question how such a beautiful God could have created so many enemies that will end up in Hell."

I responded, "God doesn't create enemies. He creates individuals whom He takes time to uniquely design & bestow with talents. Perhaps a better question is how such a beautiful God can continue to selflessly give & sustain life - and even have given His own life - for the benefit of those who continually and will ultimately reject His love in ingratitude."

Do you see how the wrong perspective can pervert the image of God...even for those who seek to serve Him?  From an earthly view (man's vision), it seems unloving and cruel for God to send people to Hell.  Yet from a Heavenly view (God's vision), He is the author and sustainer of of life, even for those who despise Him and curse His name.  He gives air to breathe and allows the sun to shine even on His enemies, for whom He suffered a tortuous death just to offer them the hope of eternal life.  Who would make such sacrifices??  Only our God.

It just makes sense that man's view looking up at God from the earth would be different than what God sees as He looks down at the earth from the Heavenlies.  God's view is expansive; He sees the broad picture as He looks across the ages in one glance.  He knows the end from the beginning.  How could the one snapshot in time we perceive in our glance at Him ever convey the totality of who He is or what He is doing?  If we try to judge His eternal works from such a view we will never understand Him.  We need a Heavenly vision.

The view from man's perspective might say, "My sin is too big.  It is too late for me."  The view from God's perspective says, "My grace is sufficient for you so repent and trust me to deliver you."

Man says, "This situation is impossible."  God says, "There is nothing impossible for Me."

Man fears, "God has forgotten me.  He has turned His face from me."  God says, "I will never leave you or forsake you.  Sanctify yourself and submit to my purging.  From the fiery trial I am bringing forth pure gold."

Man claims, "It is okay if I appease my flesh just a little bit, as long as I keep my "secular" life separate from my "spiritual" life. It is natural to still like some things in the world. God understands; after all, nobody is perfect." God says, "I want all of you and will prove you to see if all of your heart and soul is dedicated to me. Do not be found wanting when you are weighed in the balances. Be perfect. Be ye holy, for I am holy."

A Heavenly vision will give you peace in the midst of a storm, because you can rest trusting that God not only knows the end of the matter, but He has already provided for it.

A Heavenly vision will prevent you from questioning God's righteousness or doubting His character because you can perceive His longsuffering with man and the selfless sacrifices He has made from the beginning.

A Heavenly vision will keep you humble as you consider that we are but a small speck in the scope of His great plan.

A Heavenly vision will not allow you to get caught up or ensnared by the cares of this life for you know that the things of this world are temporal and will pass away.

A Heavenly vision will give you patience with others instead of getting offended or angry for it keeps you mindful how much we have offended our God, and yet been forgiven.

A Heavenly vision will get your eyes off of yourself so that God can give you a heart for the lost.

In the days to come, it will be important more than ever to see as God sees.  Jesus told us that deception would be exceptionally strong and many will fall away as they forget their first love.  May God give us a Heavenly vision to equip, empower, and encourage us in these days. Consume us Oh Lord as we make you our heart's desire.



Be Thou My Vision, by Catherine Lovett from Daniel & Catherine Lovett on Vimeo.

Ishmael Shall Be Cast Out

While in high school (many years ago, LOL), I was assigned to do a paper on the Middle East crisis.  As an ardent researcher, I enjoyed examining the history of the region and was intrigued.  Why was the whole world in an uproar about this little piece of land?  I even visited a few embassies in order to interview Middle East officials and get their perspective.

As a result of my studies, I concluded that Israel had no legitimate claim to that land.  The Palestinians had every much a right as the Jewish people to reside there.  After all, the Jewish justification that God gave them that land was absurd.  Did God favor one people over another?  Of course not!  Further, Arabs also pointed to their own religious beliefs as a justification for the land and claimed an inheritance from the same patriarch as the Jewish people (Abraham).  Should we favor the beliefs of one religious system over another?  Even if accepted as fact, that promise of land to the Jewish people was made thousands of years ago.  Surely such was no longer relevant.

To that extent, I found the very existence of the nation of Israel to be nothing short of amazing. Although Israel had been an ancient homeland for the Jewish people as early as 1300 BC, it had ceased to be around 636 AD when Arabs took over the land.  Then in 1948, the United Nations determined to once again set aside that land as a Jewish state.  My question was, "Why?"

Surely the world - which had just sat quietly by as millions of Jews were killed in the Holocaust - wasn't motivated by a new found compassion for the Jewish people?  Was it that the nations of the world recognized the supremacy of this God above all others?  Indeed, at the time of my school report, the U.S. was giving more monies annually in support of Israel than it gave to all other nations combined.  What was so special about this one section of land and this one people which would warrant such extraordinary support?  It just didn't make any sense...to the natural man.

What I did not understand was that what God decrees is not up for human debate or input.  This was not simply some world event, but the fulfillment of biblical prophecy (Exodus 32:13; Matthew 24:32-34).  God is not concerned with humanistic perspectives of "fairness".  He does exactly what He wants to do, for He is sovereign.  Further, even His enemies can only do what He allows and likewise serve to fulfill His purposes.

I did not understand the historical reality of what had created this "crisis"; a rivalry between two brothers: Ishmael (the son of disbelief) and Isaac (the son of promise).

"And he [Ishmael] will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." Genesis 16:12

Ishmael - along with Abraham's subsequent children by concubine - became a father of the Arab peoples (Genesis 25:1-18) while Isaac - through Jacob - became a father of the Jewish people (Isaiah 51:2).  God promised to make of both great nations, but Isaac (not Ishmael) was the son God had promised and was the one with whom He would make His covenant (Genesis 17:15-21).  And here we have the crux of the issue.

It is an affront to many that God has a "chosen people".  How dare one assert that there are some God chooses and others He does not?  Such flies in the face of the all-inclusive image of God presented by society, yet it is true nonetheless.

The problem at the heart of the Israeli-Arab conflict is that one son was accepted and the other rejected. This is also the problem people have with the Church.

"And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian [Ishmael], which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.  Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac." Genesis 21:9-10

"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." Galatians 4:28-31

We are told that the same animosity natural Israel suffers from the children of bondage, believers in Christ (spiritual Israel) should expect.  As we see persecution increase against natural Israel by those encamped around her, be sure that this is an indication of what is happening to the Church spiritually.  Notice also that Ishmael & Isaac were brothers.  So, this is not primarily an indictment against the world, but against those who falsely claim to be sons of God.  This persecution will come from those who call you, "Brother."; those "bastards" (pardon me, but it is the word of the Lord, Hebrews 12:8) who refuse to crucify the lusts of the flesh so that they may live after the Spirit (Romans 8:1-17).

Yet and still, Ishmael shall be cast out.  Even though Israel's brothers surround her today seeking her destruction, the Lord stands with her and the plans of the enemy will be thwarted.  So shall it be as well with the Church, who has been engrafted into the same tree (Romans 11:13-21).

This is not to say that the Jewish people are righteous and the Arab peoples are not.  Both need to come to faith in Jesus Christ in order to experience the salvation of the Lord.  This is not about the righteousness of man, but the righteousness of God.  God stands with Israel not because she is worthy, but because He abides faithful.  Even in their blindness (given for our benefit) He works among them to bring them to repentance.

"Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." I Corinthians 15:46

There is also another type of "Ishmael" which we need to be aware and that is the "old man".   Although he was first, it is the "new man" who is the son of promise and the only one God whom will receive (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).  Just like the natural Ishmael, this "wild man" must be "put off".  If we are not born again of the Spirit to crucify the lusts of this old man, then we will live after the flesh and too experience the rejection of God.

As we consider what is currently underway in the Middle East, I would urge you to redeem the times.  Prepare for the coming of our Lord.  Make sure that any trace of "Ishmael" in your own soul has been cast out so that you may walk in the promise of being sons of God.

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Revelation 19:7-8

The following article is from Min. Henry Law entitled, "Ishmael Cast Out."


ISHMAEL CAST OUT
by Henry Law

But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." Genesis 21:9-10

Sinners may revel, but their day is very brief. Thorns crackle with high blaze, and quickly subside in ashes. The godless laughter is the prelude of long wailing. The morn soon fades--the evening shadows fall--the night comes on apace--the night which knows no dawn. The Spirit sounds the knell of short-lived evil--"Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be--yes, you shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be." Ps. 37:10.

Thus Ishmael's malicious sport soon ends. Sarah's watchful eye detects. The persecutor may not tarry. The sneer--the taunt--the petty tyranny must cease. Isaac shall no more dread the banter or the blow. The teasings, which were pain to the meek child, shall no more trouble. The mother demands immediate expulsion, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son." The patriarch hears God's confirming voice. He instantly complies. The young oppressor is driven far away.

Thus speaks the narrative. It is an outer bark--when it peels off, the rings of inner meaning are discerned. These rings are many. Each is a wealth of thought. But the intermediate fulfillments of the type are but as lesser lights before a final blaze. Through, then, the long perspective, let us at once approach the close. Let the eye rest alone on the ultimate conclusion. The consummation is an eternal gulf between the children of the covenant of works and heirs of grace. This consummation comes--it surely comes--it quickly comes. Angels are ready to sound the final blast. Listening ears are waiting for the trumpet's clang. At any moment it may shake the universe. Then all, who have breathed life's breath, must take their place. Each must hear, "Come," or "Depart." Each must have a blessed welcome or be cast out.

Reader! Be wise. Anticipate the dread result. Live, as did Jerome, with this trumpet's echo always in your ears. In envisioning thought, then, let the white throne be set--let the all-righteous Judge be seated--let the recording books be opened--let all, who ever lived, stand at the bar--let him who writes--let all who lead, face the account, and meet the last day's scene.

Now sovereign Justice reins. Truth spreads revealing light. All masks now fall. Deception vanishes. Hypocrisy can no more deceive. The worse can no more seem the better cause.

The sons of the Sinaitic code expect eternal life. On what plea? They have no plea but their own merits--their fulfillment of the law's demands. But the record of their days is continuous sin. Are these doings a portion of obedience? What are these passions--lusts--rebellious acts? What is the evil, which has soiled each hour, and stained each thought, and stamped transgression on the whole life's course! Guilt cannot be denied. Excuse there can be none. The law's reward has not been earned--what is the inevitable outcome? The curse must fall. Justice condemns. There is vast debt. No payment can be made. Then what can stop the sentence, "Bind him hand and foot and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness." Matt. 22:12-13.

The executioners are ready. The cell is prepared. The chains are forged. The jailer receives his convicted prisoners. Transgressors are cast out. This is faint outline of the end. Scripture portrays it in these dreadful colors, that men may ponder and take heed. Reader! You can never say that clearest warning is not given.

CAST OUT FROM WHAT? There is now a long farewell to earth, and all that earth contains. Through life's short day unnumbered mercies strewed each path. The sun shone sweetly. The fanning breezes wafted delight. The groves re-echoed with the warbler's melody. The verdant meadows spread their soft carpet. Flowers charmed with fragrance. Fruits regaled with varied lusciousness. The outcasts no more taste these pleasures. The cup has fallen from their hand. Earth is forever gone.

There was much happiness in communion with fellow-man. The lively talk--the mirth of social hours--the friendly interchange of thought enchanted the vacant time. No friend will now be seen. The last smile has been smiled. The last enlivening word has died away.

Ordinances of religion brought some tranquil hours, although no saving profit. These privileges come no more. No chimes invite to worship. No sacred Scriptures tell of God's gracious will. No preacher proclaims Christ. No pulpit declares His dying love--His precious blood--His rising power--His willingness to save--His promise to receive all seekers of His grace. The Gospel's last note has sunk in silence. No returning Sabbaths bring repose. No sacred song gives solace. "Come to me" will never more be heard.

O my soul, see to it, that you are not cast out.

Hope, also, at last is fled. It often came and whispered soothing things. It showed a glimmering prospect of penitence--amendment--pardon. It flattered, 'all may yet be well.' Where is hope now? It vanished with the yell, "Too late--too late!" It is transformed into despair.

Need I say, there is the absence of those lovely sights which cheer the mansions of the saved. No angels spread their sparkling wings around. No white-robed multitudes glitter with their crowns. No Christ is seen. No God reveals His glory. There is "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power." 2 Thess. 1:9.

O my soul, see to it, that you are not cast out.

All this is doleful gloom. But this is only negative. Absence of joy may not be agonizing pain. But a dreadful veil must be drawn back. Scripture sounds a more frightful note. It speaks in tender compassion--to warn, that we may flee--to urge, that we may escape the wrath to come. Reader! Look yet again, and may the look be your salvation.

Is darkness dismal--cheerless--disconsolate--a fit emblem of ignorance, misery, and filth? Over these realms an impenetrable pall of blackness, of darkness forever hangs. The darkness is so black, that blackness cannot be blacker.

Is weeping a sign of wretchedness and woe? Here is weeping never ceasing to shed tears. Is wailing the bitter utterance of irrepressible distress? Here wailing is an ever-echoing wail.

Does gnashing of teeth betray the upbraidings of remorse? Is it the sign of self-hating reproach? Here gnashing of teeth is unremitting. Is there keen torture in the worm, that ever gnaws and never leaves its prey? Here the worm dies not. Does fire indicate extremest agony? is it pain in most excruciating form? This fire is never quenched. The lost writhe terribly on beds of flame. They float in lakes of fire. Do they crave one drop of water to cool tongues parched in agony? It may not be. A portion is presented to them--who can read and tremble not! "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation, and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb." Rev. 14:10.

What must that misery be, which the omnipotence of God puts forth all its might to intensify! No thought can imagine. No tongue can utter. But such the misery which groans in these dreadful dwellings. It is an dreadful word, "He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Rev. 19:15. If this were solitary anguish, it still would be anguish in the extreme. But the misery is multiplied by the wide fellowship of partners. On all sides there is companionship of woe. The eye can only rest on others in like torments. The ear can only hear the wails of fellow-sufferers.

Shall it be said that these descriptions are shadowed out in figurative terms? Let it be granted. But what is gained by such concession? The Spirit cannot exaggerate or overpaint. The reality will not be fainter than the picture scene. No, rather language fails to show the total truth. No painting can depict the fire's touch, or show the serpent's deadly sting, or indicate the lion's rage. So no word-painting can fully show the misery of the lost.

O my soul, see to it, that you are not cast out!

But pains may patiently be born if reprieve gilds the horizon, or ease be seen in the distance. But there the tide ever flows at fullest height, and cessation never comes. Millions of years bring no end nearer, and millions succeeding millions is but commencement of interminable woe. There is one constant present, and that present is overflowing cup of torment.

O my soul, see to it, that you are not cast out!

But when Ishmael is cast, out, the true heir remains. To this woe there is bright contrast. Look to the right hand of the Judge. The sheep of His pasture are there folded. The children of the covenant of grace await the outcome. Their cruel adversary exhibits all their sins. He establishes their guilt. He demands their full punishment. They deny no charge. But they present a plea for acceptance. It is simple, but unanswerable. Their plea is Christ. Their lives show that by the Spirit's power faith became the inhabitant of their hearts. This faith united them to Christ. It made them very members of Him their glorious Head. Thus, all His sufferings were their sufferings. All His work was their work. In Him they died. In Him they paid the law's extremest penalty. In Him they wrought out complete obedience. None can lay anything to their charge. Christ's death is full acquittal. Christ's life is a spotless robe concealing every sin. They ask no mitigation of the law's just claims. But they ask life and heaven on the sure grounds that Jesus is the law-fulfiller. They prevail. "God is just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus." Rom. 3:26. They have full right to all which Jesus earned and purchased. They receive it. The accuser is silenced. They hear the welcome, "Come you blessed children of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25:34. Theirs are the "new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwells righteousness." 2 Pet. 3:13.

Reader! In thought behold them in their blest abode. Holy Spirit! In tender love illumine the picture which Your Word presents! The realms are bright in one expanse of light. Are the sun's rays lovely? But these rays are darkness to this light. "The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." Rev. 21:23. On earth their eyes were ofttimes charmed with scenes of beauty. But what is the best beauty of a sin-soiled world compared to the charms which now invest their homes! How glorious are the abodes which infinite love and power have prepared! "I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2.

To believers earth is the home of many griefs. The body often droops in languor. Racking pains harass the frame. Hunger and thirst afflict. Tears furrow the cheek. Sighs cause the breast to heave. But the whole mass of sorrow is now abolished. They hunger no more. They thirst no more. "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick." Is. 33:24. "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain--for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:4.

O my soul, see to it, that you inherit the kingdom.

On earth, temptation makes days bitter. There are constant groans from "the body of this death." "The law of the members wars against the law of the mind." "The flesh lusts against the spirit." Inbred corruptions soil every act, and banish peace and awaken self-abhorrence. Now there is freedom from all the presence--all the touch--and all the sense of evil. The Spirit can never be more vexed. Ingratitude and unbelief are totally extinct. The redeemed are as holy as God is holy. They are as pure as Jesus is pure. They are as far from sin as heaven is from hell.

The travelers along the narrow way are often desolate. Their friends are few. They rarely enjoy holy fellowship. Their dwellings are in loneliness. But now what multitudes surround them! All rejoicing in the same joy--all clothed in the same robes--all singing the same song--all breathing the same love--all washed in the same blood--all ascribing their full salvation to God and to the Lamb. Blessed company! They sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, apostles, evangelists, and the noble army of martyrs, and the valiant body of reformers, and all who ever loved, and served, and gloried in the blessed Jesus!

O my soul, see to it, that you inherit the kingdom!

The greatest solace in life is the felt presence of Jesus. It is the joy of joys to hear His voice in the Word, and to catch a glimpse of His smile. But mists intervene. The bride seeks Him, but she finds Him not. In heaven there never can be separation. Eternity is uninterrupted access to Him. There is no eclipse to the sight of the King in His beauty. The redeemed follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They walk with Him in white. They eat and drink at His table in His kingdom. They are forever with the Lord. The thought is too much for earth. What must the consummation be!