“Love” We use this word rather loosely regarding almost anything. We say things like, ” I love tamales.” or “I love my dog, he’s a good dog.” For my husband, it would be, “I love going to the beach, especially the white sandy beaches of Florida.” In the same breath we say, “I love God, He’s my everything.” But when GOD uses the word ‘Love’ it has an entirely different meaning than for food, friends or fun.

Ahavah, (Khessed), Agape

The Hebrew word for God’s love is Ahavah or Khessed. It is faithful, sacrificial, compassionate, gracious, and generous. It is an eternal commitment of loyalty, motivated by deep personal Love. He is Elohim Ahavah, the God who loves.

The Greek word for God’s “love” is Agape: Divine, just, unbreakable love, as in John 3: 16 NKJ, we all know this scripture, “For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

In Psalm 136, the phrase,” His faithful love endures forever” (NLT) is mentioned 26 times in 26 verses.

God’s love is like no other! There is no comparison. It is who He is “Love.”

We know GOD loves us, but how do we love Him back?

**THE LAW OF FIRST MENTION

The Bible’s first mention of the word “love” was not in the Garden with Adam and Eve, nor with Enoch who walked with GOD and was not, or Noah and the Ark, but there with Abraham and Isaac, in Genesis 22: 2, a type and shadow of God the FATHER and His only Beloved, Son, Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Abraham’s test of love

In Genesis 22:2 ESV God said to Abraham “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” About 40 years earlier in Genesis 12: 3. God had made a promise to Abraham that through his seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

Suddenly, he was told to take this son, his only son, and sacrifice him to GOD. By this time GOD had removed both Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham. Isaac was all he had left. God will often strip everything we love from us to test our hearts’ loyalty to Him.

Abraham’s willing and prompt obedience to God’s word, touched GOD’s heart, and He responded in Genesis 22:12 ESV ” Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Holy fear of God equals “Love” for GOD.

That phrase, “…for now I know that you fear GOD seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me,” could be read: ” Now I know that you love GOD more, seeing that you have not withheld you son, your only son from Me.” In other words, you love Me (GOD), more than your own flesh and blood, more than the one thing you really wanted from Me. This is the kind of love the Father has for us. What or who do we love more than GOD? I desire to love God like this. Don’t you?

Abraham, a man like us, displayed full surrender, full trust and full love for God.

Listen to 2 Chronicles 16: 9 NLT “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth, in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (God is looking for hearts fully devoted to Him). I know we would all like to respond, “Here I am Lord, look no further.”

Look at Jesus in Mark 1: 10,11 ESV after Jesus was water baptized in obedience to His Father. “…the Spirit descended on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are My Beloved Son, with You I Am well pleased.”

in John 14:23 NAS: Jesus said,

“If anyone loves Me, he will follow My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our dwelling with him.”(The love of God)

MY Quest

This type of Love has tugged at my heart for years. You see, I was neither loving nor lovable. I knew God loved me. Romans 5: 8 states clearly that while we were sinners Christ died for us. He did not die for righteous or good people, He died for sinners. That alone should generate love from my heart for God and others, but I struggled to love as Jesus loved me.

Jesus said these very words to His disciples in John 15:12,13 NLT “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13There is no greater love than one lay down His life for His friends.”

Jesus told the disciples in John 10: 17, 18 ESV ” for this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that I may take it up again…” (See Philippians 2: 5-11).

Philippians 2 :1-5 NLT Shows us how we should respond to this act of love..

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

So, “Love, ” according to God’s Word, is to lay down one’s life in loving obedience to God and in love for others.

Abraham was called a friend of GOD. He was willing to lay down Isaac.

I had often asked myself. “Am I willing to lay down my life for Jesus or others?”

These were no idle words spoken by Jesus who had said earlier in, John 15: 9, 10 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey My Fathers commandment and remain in His love. This is the model we are to follow.

Notice: Jesus loves us as the Father loves Him. Amazing!! And,

Remaining in God’s love is the key to obeying God. Remaining in God’s love is the key to being a friend of God, and remaining in God’s love is the key to loving others. This is the model we are to follow to Love others as Jesus loves us.

In 1991 God’s love was revealed to me through a dramatic encounter with Him. I had just rented a house in San Antonio while waiting for Air Force Base housing. As I picked up my mail and entered the empty house, I sat down on the carpet to read the letter. It was from my ex-husband in New York state. The contents of that letter were very toxic. He had found out some terrible things I had done in the family, was obviously very angry, and let me know what he thought of me.

I took the letter, agreed with every word repented and said to the Lord, “I am sorry Lord, yes, I did all those terrible things forgive me, Lord, forgive me.” Unexpectedly, and immediately after the words “forgive me, Lord.” I felt a warm love blanket come down from above and wrapped itself around me. God’s love came down and wrapped around me. It was indescribable, tangible, and real. I began to weep uncontrollably in gratitude, fear and awe. So many emotions flooded my soul at the same time. In that moment, time stood still as God hugged me. He was saying: “You are forgiven, you are loved. I have erased all sin, shame and guilt. You are mine.” I was shaken. I had encountered the God of all creation. The One who died for me. For months that love filled my life. Unbelieving co- workers were visibly touched when I prayed for them. His love was real, tangible and transferred to them also.

Paul the apostle explains in Ephesians 3: 18-19 NLT “…Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

1 Thessalonians 3: 12 NLT reads, “And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

*Unfortunately, that experience alone did not sustain God’s love in me to others. It lifted, some months later, but I could not forget the tangible substance of the love of God.

After this experience, to know, walk and live in the Love of GOD became my primary pursuit. I desired GOD’s love to overflow every part of my life. I bought books like “the five love languages” by Gary Chapman and “God’s True love” by David Harwood.

You may not have had any difficulty with this virtue, but I did. I wanted the sustainable love of GOD. I did not give up.

“living holy fire of GOD’s love.”

Reading, memorizing scriptures on love and crying out to GOD in prayer, became paramount in my pursuit. I would say, “God change my heart, make Your love real, tangible, evident and easy in my every day.” “You said, Lord, your yoke is easy and burden is light help me, Lord. I believe You, can, and will do this.”

When I read scriptures like 1 Peter 4: 8 NIV that says, “Above all love one another deeply because love covers a multitude of sins.” Or 1 Corinthians 13, “love keeps no record of wrongs.” I would be convicted in my heart because I kept a mental list of wrongs that my new husband did and knew I was not loving him deeply, sincerely, or fervently and would cry out to GOD again and again.

“I need a change of heart Lord. Help me.” This continued for years.

Breakthrough

I remember during my struggle to live a life of love, serving my husband was particularly frustrating for me. I would think to myself. “I did this when I was growing up, then for my children and former husband, and now again.” So, I would take it to Jesus in prayer. He became my first “go to Person.”

One night I had a dream. In the dream I was given the sweetest of white delicate wafer that melted in my mouth. I asked the man in the dream, “What is this?” He answered, it is called “dianthus.” The next day I automatically had more love. I began to serve my husband with great joy and pleasure. It was an instant change. I continue to enjoy serving and blessing my husband every day since. I believe I literally received the sweetness of God’s love that night. I had tasted and seen: The Lord is good. I became sweeter but wanted more. There is always more! So, I kept searching through the scriptures.

Another Breakthrough

Sometime later the Lord led me to 1John 4:12, ESV “No one has ever seen GOD. If we love one another, GOD abides in us, and the love of GOD is perfected in us.” The NIV says, “If we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is made complete in us.” NLT puts it this way, “If we love one another the love of God is brought to its full expression in us.”

I was overjoyed and very hopeful. Here was another key. Suddenly, I saw it, God’s love can, and will reach full maturity in me. God ‘s love will be perfected, as I yield to Him and love others. Joy flooded my heart.

It’s possible for His love to reach full maturity in us. His love will manifest as I learn to love others through His love flowing in and through me. I recalled,

Romans 5:5 “… the love of God is poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” That means, God’s love is in me. If Jesus is in you, you too have God’s love in you.

James 4:7 instructs us to, submit to GOD, resist the devil and he will flee from us.

1Peter 5:7 encourages us to cast all our cares on Him, because He cares for us.

I obeyed the Word. I yielded, submitted and cast all my cares on the Lord. I trusted Him as I prayed in the Spirit throughout the day abiding in His love for me, rejoicing that He will do what’s needed. Years later, I am still yielded, submitted and casting all my cares. This is all God asks of us. I discovered,

THE LOVE WALK IS THE easy WALK. It’s righteousness, peace and joy in Jesus.

God is working His love in me as I love others. He will do it for you.

It’s automatic now. Everything by love: abiding, counseling, discipling, enduring fasting, forgiving, praying, giving, going, praising, praying, teaching, trusting, waiting, working, worshiping, it makes no difference, “Love,” is the Master Key to living a complete and fulfilled Life in Christ. You will not lose your focus. It’s easy now, I realize God is working, as I yield to the Holy Spirit.

It’s been 32 years since that initial experience. Gradually, over the years I began to see the change I desired. It was during those times the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, these precious words:

“When you walk in love, humility and gratitude all things are possible to you’.

Walking in love is a place of complete rest, no anxiety, no fear, no worry. The Bible says, 1John 4:18, “ Perfect Love cast out all fear,” For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2Timothy 1:7NKJ).

Living a life of Love.

I observed, when I walked in love and humility, I walked in faith and trust. When I walked in faith and trust, I walked in thanksgiving and praise (gratitude). When I walked in thanksgiving and praise, I walked in love, joy and peace, and nothing was impossible to me. It’s knowing I am loved. This is for us, for you, and for me.

You may already be there flourishing in your love walk with Jesus, if not, you can start today. You will flow in the fruit of the Spirit and in the gifts of the Spirit because your aim is not to please yourself but to please GOD.

Righteousness and holiness will be an automatic outcome of a life filled with love.

Ephesians 5:2 NLT sums it up.

Live a life filled with love following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

1 Corinthians 13:2, 8, 13 says, “Without love I am nothing.” “Love never fails.” Of the three virtues: faith, hope and love, love is the greatest, (most important).

Love is GOD and GOD is love (1 John 4: 16). Love makes everything easy.

Abraham had many encounters with the Lord before he came to the point of full surrender giving up Isaac to the Lord. And we will need frequent visitations and encounters to continuously overflow with God’s love and give Him everything.

The apostle Peter had his own encounter with the “love” question in John 21 Jesus asked him three times, “Peter do you love me?” Peter was grieved the third time Jesus asked him the same question, but he finally understood what Jesus was saying. “Will you fully commit to Me even if it means your life?

I firmly believe for the work God has for Jubilee we must all be all filled with God’s love. Everything must be by Love otherwise we will fail.

As we first receive His love and allow it to overflow in us, we will be able to Love Him and fulfill His word: love God, love others as in Deut. 6:5 and Matt. 22:37

Love God with all our hearts, souls, minds and love others as Christ loves us.

There is no other way to walk in this supernatural love. You will never lose your focus.

Abraham had a deep parental love for Isaac, but a deeper sacrificial all giving holy fear, and love, for The Almighty GOD.

Abraham is called the father of many nations because of his faith and love in Yeshua. We can all live in this Agape love of God who makes all things possible because He is love and loves us.

My husband has come into this agape love of God. It all started when he developed a severe abdominal skin rash last year 2022 that led to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. He saw no relief from various interventions and became extremely aggravated with constant pain, itching and burning sensations.

Finally, I suggested he seek God by praying in tongues, taking holy communion, reading the word, and giving thanks rather than complaining. He began a daily routine of doing that, diligently applying faith as well as ointment to his wound. Within a few days, things began to change.

Sometimes it takes an unpleasant situation to motivate us towards God’s love.

He discovered not only how much GOD loved him, but has fallen in love with His heavenly Father, the person of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

He now looks forward to time with the Lord first and foremost every day. He did not forget his wound, but it became less and less important. His focus changed.

GOD used this stubborn rash to get to his starving heart that was crying out for the river of living water that quenched his thirst.

The rash cleared up and so did all the clutter of empty spiritual junk food. He even lost his appetite for natural junk foods like ice cream and chips. His spirit was awakened. He continues to seek the Lord daily, taking communion and getting into God’s word while praying in tongues. He tells me he loves me. Something he has not initiated for over 30 years. He helps in the kitchen washing dishes. All because of God’s love. God will turn things around for you also as you call out to Him and live a life of love: to love God and others, that’s the goal.

Finally, I wanted to be sure this sermon was of God and not of me. I had asked the Holy Spirit to make it clear. On Saturday June 3rd He did. (As happens often, I had forgotten about my prayer to Him). As I sat quietly during morning devotion, I asked the Holy Spirit what He wanted to say to me. He sent me to Psalms 36: 5-10 NLT

I was unaware that this Psalm carried such a weight of God’s love.

As you listen, I invite you to come to the altar draw near to God, He will fill you with His love today, so you can love Him and others as Jesus loves you. Come receive more of God’s love. Remember, We

can serve without loving, but we cannot love without serving.

Psalm 36: 5-10 NLT

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

6Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

your justice like the ocean depths.

You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.

7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!

All humanity finds shelter

in the shadow (*substance added) of your wings.

8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,

letting them drink from your river of delights.

9 For you are the fountain of life,

the light by which we see.

10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;

give justice to those with honest hearts. *(In Jesus Name).emphasis added.