23 THEREFORE if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. FIRST BE RECONCILED TO YOUR BROTHER, AND THEN COME AND OFFER YOUR GIFT."
Matthew 5:23–24 (NKJV)
25 “AND whenever you stand praying, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE, FORGIVE HIM, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
26 BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.”
Mark 11:25–26 (NKJV)
• Understanding the importance of the principle of love, in relation to prayer.
- If you walked in love, you can walk into God the Father's presence just as Jesus did, and know that your prayers would be answered:
14 NOW THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM, THAT IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US. 15 AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US, WHATEER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE HAVE ASKED OF HIM" (1 John 5:14,15 NKJV). - If you are not walking in love, your prayer life would be a failure. It makes no difference, how many promises in the Scripture you pleaded.
- If you walked in love, you never pray outside of His Will—contrary to His Will (I John 5:14). When love is let loosed, that is, love is given freedom, then miracles follow.
- There is a relationship of love to answered prayers. We are called to love God with all our hearts, and our fellow human beings (Mark 12:30-33; Luke 10:27).
• Love is expressed through Giving and forgiveness. We live in the world of individualism, where everyone satisfies the self.
- God's love is selfless! The love of God forgives and gives (John 3:16; 15:13); it does not consider his own but think about others:
3 LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT, BUT IN LOWLINESS OF MIND LET EACH ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN HIMSELF. 4 LET EACH OF YOU LOOK OUT NOT ONLY FOR HIS OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS" (Philippians 2:3–4 (NKJV).
READ: Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 10:24,33; 13:5
• Attributes of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
- Love is patient and kind.
- It is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
- It does not demand its own way.
- Love is not irritable.
- Love keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
- It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
- Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
• These attributes might not all be gotten or developed in a day, it takes a constant practice of the Word of God to imbibe all.
- God has deposited His love in us, the believers in Christ Jesus, through the Holy Spirit who was given to us at new birth (Romans 5:5); but we have to let it find expression in our relationship with others (John 15:13).
- We exercise love to make it work. To increase in love, you have to express it daily. Show love to someone Today! (1 John 3:16-18).
• Having said that: the love should not be naive and unthinking type!
- A believer must always Acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit on the inside of him or her; be sensitive and prompt to His leadings as they express love (Romans 8:14). Because there are wolves in sheep clothing that Jesus said we should be wary of (Matthew 7:15).
- You should not be naive. To be naive is to be simple minded, lacking knowledge or good judgement and willing to believe whatever anyone tells you As the truth. Thus, naivety is not love! Jesus Christ said we should be wise as serpents and be gentle or harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16).
- Love should not be expressed ignorantly or foolishly. Thus, as a believer, you should always be conscious of or acknowledge the Holy Spirit on the inside of you, wanting to know His Will on whatever step you wanted to take.
- Do not be sentimental in the expression of love. What some people call love is sentiment. If you were sentimental and did what you supposed not to do, you may have to suffer the consequences of acting foolishly.
• You will not pray amiss in Jesus' name.
- That ailment in your body which you had been battling with, comes to an end today, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- Should there be any demon assigned to monitor the sickness in your life, I rebuke and bind the demon, lose your hold and leave now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!