Today I’m excited to share about our “Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart” course—a deeper dive into living gratefully beyond these 70 days.
This course equips you to make gratitude an integral part of your decisions, emotions, and actions every day.
Your heart is the seat of your decisions, the seat of your emotions and the seat of your actions. So every day for 70 days—-from Friday, September 19, 2025 – Thursday November 27, 2025
Read and get the links to The Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course
Want to take gratitude even further? The “Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart” course helps you integrate thankfulness into every area of life—not just for this challenge but for years to come!
You’ll learn practical skills for making gratitude central to your choices, feelings, and relationships. The course includes lifetime access to resources plus group coaching so you can keep growing long after the challenge ends. Sign up now and discover how living with your whole heart can transform your perspective—and your future.
See what else is included when you get the Course + Community + Clarity…
Transform Your Life: The Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course
Introduction: Why Whole-Hearted Living Matters
Life is full of ups and downs, distractions, and demands on our attention. In this environment, it’s easy to get stuck in survival mode—doing just enough to get by without ever feeling truly fulfilled. But what if there was a way to break free from autopilot and experience life with greater joy, peace, and purpose? That’s the promise of the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course.
This unique course isn’t just about developing habits or going through motions—it’s about making a conscious choice to move from giving your problems a place of too much influence to having no fear of bad news even when it comes.
This teaching is a game-changer if you want to avoid cognitive avoidance, cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviour.
What Is the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course?
The Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course is a comprehensive online program built on the principle that gratitude should involve mind, emotions, and actions.
Are you ready to move from letting problems have too much influence to facing bad news without fear? Join our upcoming course and discover the transformative power of living with your whole heart.
Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course Highlights:
The Bible tells us to do 9 things with our whole heart.
Love God Matthew 22:37
Obey and Serve God Deuteronomy 13:4
Trust God - Proverbs 3:5
Work as unto the Lord - Colossians 3:23
Repent with all your heart - Joel 2:12–13
Seek God - Jeremiah 29:13
Forgive Others - Matthew 18:35
Love and Serve God - Deuteronomy 10:12
Thank God - Psalms 138:1
Praise God - Psalms 103:1
How do you do that in a practical-all encompassing way?
That’s where this course comes in.
But it can’t just be information. Information is only as good as the transformation it helps facilitate.
What Does Living with Your Whole Heart Mean?
In this course, you'll explore the ancient Hebrew understanding of the whole heart. It's more than just emotions; it's about making decisions, taking actions, and embracing the emotions that follow. Discover how to align your heart with your actions and decisions to live fully.
Why Choose This Course?
Learn to avoid cognitive avoidance and toxic behaviours.
Gain insights on transforming your daily life with peace, joy, and hope.
Embrace the journey of becoming a living light in a world longing for authenticity.
The curriculum spans several weeks and includes video lessons, reflection prompts, community interaction, group coaching opportunities, and lifetime access to all course materials.
Living with your Whole-Hearted: What Does It Mean?
Most of us think of “being whole hearted” as doing something with all our emotion. But true living with your whole heart involves three elements. Our heart is the seat of our emotion—yes—but it’s also the seat of our decision and the seat of our action. All three need to align and can’t be in contradiction when we live with our whole heart.
1. Decision
We make the decision to do something.
2. Action
We do something when we make that decision.
3. Emotion
We have a feeling that often comes when we make a decision and do something about it. Often it’s peace, hope
Whole-hearted living means engaging these three elements together, every day.
What’s Included in the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart Course?
1. Video Lessons
Short, focused sessions cover everything from the science of gratitude to practical exercises for daily living.
2. Reflection Prompts
Each module features thought-provoking questions to help you process and apply what you’ve learned.
3. Action Challenges
Weekly challenges encourage you to practice living with your whole heart.
4. Community Support
Discussion threads and forums let you share wins, struggles, and insights with other participants.
5. Lifetime Access
Return whenever you need a refresher—resources are available long after the course ends.
Course Structure
Here’s what the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course looks like:
Key 1 - Your Decisions
Understand your Heart
Love God - Move from Platitude to purpose
Obey and Serve God - Move from reluctance to joy
Trust God - Move from living frantically to peace at all times
Key 2 - Your Actions
Guard your heart
Repent with all your heart - move from ignorance to joy
Seek God - Move from praying louder to truly finding
Work as unto the Lord - move from frustration to shining bright
Key 3 - Your Emotions
Let peace rule in your heart
Forgive Others - Move from torment to freedom
Thank God - Move from unthoughtful appreciation to life changing gratitude
Praise God - Move from show to meaningful encounter
How Does Living with your Whole Heart Show Up in Daily Life?
At Home
Express appreciation for loved ones and small acts of kindness
Celebrate family wins and support each other through challenges
At Work
Recognize colleagues’ efforts
Shift workplace culture toward encouragement and positivity
In Community
Volunteer or offer help where it’s needed
Create a ripple effect by sharing stories of thankfulness
In Spiritual Practice
Reflect on blessings during prayer or meditation
Anchor faith in daily expressions of gratitude
Who Should Join the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course?
This course is designed for:
Individuals wanting more joy, peace, and purpose in daily life
Those recovering from burnout or stress seeking renewal
People looking to grow spiritually or deepen their faith
Anyone struggling to maintain positive habits alone
Leaders aiming to foster encouragement at home or work
No prior experience required—just a willingness to grow.
How Does Accountability Work in the Course?
Accountability is built into every module:
Weekly check-ins via forums, chalet or group coaching
Progress tracking tools (milestone celebrations)
Opportunities to share wins or ask for support
This structure keeps motivation high—even when life gets busy.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Course
Q: Do I need any special background or experience? No—the course starts with basics and guides you step by step.
Q: What if I miss days? All materials are available for replay; catch up anytime.
Q: Is this faith-based? Inspired by biblical principles, but open to all seeking personal growth.
Q: Can I access content from my phone? Yes—materials are mobile-friendly for easy access anywhere.
Q: Is there ongoing support after the course? Lifetime access means you can revisit lessons, join new events, or connect with others whenever you need a boost.
Tips for Maximizing Your Course Experience
Set aside regular time each week for lessons and reflection
Be honest in your journal—record both wins and struggles
Try every action challenge—even if it feels uncomfortable at first
Engage with the community; share your insights and encourage others
Return often; use lifetime access for refreshers whenever needed
Pairing the Course With Other Live LIGHT Challenge Resources
For best results:
Use daily blog highlights for extra reflection before or after lessons.
Attend live casts for real-time inspiration.
Listen to podcast episodes on-the-go for additional motivation.
Connect within forums for peer support.
Access Cascade Chalet rooms for themed workshops or quiet contemplation.
These resources reinforce each other—creating a holistic approach to personal growth.
Final Thoughts: Transform Your Life With Whole-Hearted Living
Real change takes more than inspiration—it takes intentional practice, honest reflection, and supportive community. The Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course offers all three.
If you’re ready for lasting transformation—not just a temporary boost—this is your invitation. Sign up today for the Course + Community + Clarity option at revtrev.link/thanks and discover how living LIGHT with your whole heart can change your perspective—and your future—for good!
Discover the concept of an orphan spirit and learn how to experience God as your loving Father, transforming your spiritual journey with His grace and love.
In this message, we explore the concept of the orphan spirit and how it impacts our relationship with God. Learn how to experience God as your good, good Father and transform your spiritual journey with His love and grace. Discover practical steps to heal from an orphan spirit and embrace the fatherhood of God in your daily life. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on deepening your faith and understanding God's love.
“Do you have any further study of God as a Father? I have an orphan spirit from my past and a leader has said that to defeat it I need to study the fatherness of God.”
I thought it was a great question, and was surprised to learn I’ve never addressed it head on.
As I got into studying on it, I realized I had more than enough material for at least six messages and understood God was prompting me to change my plans for one of the courses I know He wants to do. It’s coming together amazingly and you’ll reap the benefit of it first.
The problem with the “Orphan Spirit”
The problem is the Bible never talks about the “orphan spirit” it’s a term we’ve coined more recently to describe a situation that many Christians find themselves in.
An "orphan spirit" is a term used in some Christian circles to describe a mindset or attitude where a person feels abandoned, rejected, or without a sense of belonging, particularly in a spiritual sense.
This can manifest in feelings of isolation, insecurity, and self-reliance rather than trusting in God's love and provision.
Fatherlessness
The biblical term that is often associated with the concept of an "orphan spirit" is "fatherless" and that feeling of fatherlessness that can be a better term to reflect the condition of being without a father, which can imply feelings of abandonment, lack of guidance, and emotional pain.
Let me highlight what I see in the Bible around fatherlessness. We are told…
8 things the Bible says God is to the Fatherless
God is…
1. ...a father to the fatherless Psalm 68:5
(NJKV) "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling."
2. …a helper to the fatherless Psalm 10:14
(NKJV) "But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless."
3. …a protector of the fatherless Jeremiah 49:11
(NKJV) "Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me."
4. …the one who shows mercy to the fatherless Hosea 14:3
(NKJV) "Assyria shall not save us, We will not ride on horses; Nor will we say anymore, 'To the work of our hands we will not rise.' For in You the fatherless finds mercy."
5. …the one who vindicates the fatherless Psalm 10:18
(NKJV) "To vindicate the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more."
6. …the one who executes justice for the fatherless Deuteronomy 10:18
(NKJV) "He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing."
7. …the one who relieves the fatherless Psalm 146:9
(NKJV): "The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down."
8. …the one who places the lonely in families Psalm 68:6
(NLT) God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
God is speaking about literal orphans, not just someone with an orphan spirit.
But it does show us his heart towards those who feel and act like an orphan, even when they are amazingly loved by Him.
God’s heart is for the fatherless. He is as a protector and provider for those who are fatherless, highlighting His desire to fill the void left by earthly fathers.
We see His heart towards them in how He wants us to show His heart to them:
11 Ways the Bible Says we are to treat the Widows and Fatherless
God wants us to…
1. …worship him by visiting the fatherless James 1:27
(NKJV): "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
2.…care for the fatherless Proverbs 19:17
(NLT): If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!
3. …defend the fatherless Psalm 82:3
(NKJV): "Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy."
4. ..never mistreat the fatherless Exodus 22:22-24
(NKJV) "You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.”
5. …never oppress the fatherless Zechariah 7:10
(NKJV): "Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother."
6. …never steal from the fatherless Isaiah 10:1-2
(NKJV): "Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless."
7. …never pervert justice against the fatherless Deuteronomy 24:17
(NKJV): "You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow's garment as a pledge."
8. …never steal the land of the fatherless Proverbs 23:10-11
(NKJV): "Do not remove the ancient landmark, Nor enter the fields of the fatherless; For their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause against you."
9. …never do violence against the fatherless Jeremiah 22:3
(NKJV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.'"
10. …stand up for the fatherless Isaiah 1:17
(NKJV): "Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow."
11. …speak for those who can’t speak for themselves Proverbs 31:8-9
(NLT) Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
We are to show God’s heart to people who have God’s attention, even if they don’t feel they have His attention.
How do you know if you have an orphan spirit?
An "orphan spirit" is a made up term and with made up terms I feel we can do better. I’ve too often seen someone in a position of power tell someone “You’re operating from an orphan spirit” to put someone in their place who offers a different perspective that they disagree with.
I think the term “feeling of fatherlessness” is better because it’s a feeling, not a position.
It moves it from something I need to be cast out of me and I need to be delivered from to something I can confess and repent of —as I’m convicted and prompted and empowered by Holy Spirit.
It’s like I have responsibility but it’s Holy Spirit’s work in me.
There is a metanoia - a changing of our mind, a repentance that needs to take place. But the difference is how we think and feel and not on who we are.
Does “feeling Fatherless” make better sense?
Feeling Fatherless refers to a mindset or attitude that manifests a sense of abandonment, lack of belonging, and feelings of inadequacy. Individuals with this mindset may exhibit several characteristics. Here are some common traits along with biblical citations that encourage positive change in the emotion:
8 Characteristics of Feeling Fatherless and what to remember
Feelings of abandonment
Fear of Rejection
Insecure Identity
Striving for Approval
Isolation and Withdrawal
Difficulty Trusting Others
Bitterness and Resentment
. Lack of Purpose
1. Feelings of Abandonment
People with an orphan spirit often feel abandoned and alone, leading to deep emotional pain.
Remember: Psalm 27:10 (NKJV): "When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me."p
2. Fear of Rejection
A constant fear of being rejected can stem from feeling unloved or unaccepted.
Remember 1 John 4:18 (NLT): "Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love."
3. Insecure Identity
Feeling Fatherless can lead to uncertainty about one’s identity and worth.
Remember Galatians 4:7 (NLT): "Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir."
4. Striving for Approval
Individuals may strive excessively for approval and validation from others, feeling they must earn love.
Remember Ephesians 1:6 (NLT): "So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son."
5. Isolation and Withdrawal
A tendency to isolate themselves due to fear or past hurts can be prevalent.
Remember Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT): "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."
6. Difficulty Trusting Others
A distrustful attitude towards others can be common, stemming from feelings of betrayal or hurt.
Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."
7. Bitterness and Resentment
An orphan spirit may lead to feelings of bitterness towards others, particularly authority figures.
Remember Hebrews 12:15 (NLT): "Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many."
8. Lack of Purpose
Individuals may struggle with a sense of purpose or direction in life, feeling lost or aimless.
Remember Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT): "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
The characteristics associated with an orphan spirit can create significant barriers to experiencing love, acceptance, and fulfillment in life. Recognizing these traits can be the first step toward healing and embracing one's identity as a beloved child of God.
Those are tips to help you see if you’re feeling fatherless and how you can start not working out of fatherlessness. Sometimes that’s all somebody needs.
You make the decision to stop thinking from lack and what you don’t have and start being thankful for all you have and those verses become anchors for you to think God’s thoughts about your situation. You confess your thinking not God’s thoughts, train your brain to think God’s thoughts.
And you’re good. You realize God is good, and is working all things together for the good of making you more and more like Jesus, so you’re good.
But others may have a bit of a journey to get to the place that you don’t think I’m doing you a disservice to you to make you think slapping a Bible verse on a feeling is all you need to change it.
The length of your journey has little to do with how long you’ve been a follower of Christ and more to do with the lies you believe.
(This is where this one message becomes at least five more. )
How do you Break the (Orphan Spirit) Feeling of Fatherlessness?
To break the feeling of fatherlessness you need to know you have a Father who loves you. It can’t be head knowledge alone, it needs to be worked into the day-to-day of your everyday.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that you need to live LOVED
What does it mean to Live LOVED?
That’s a great question. Here’s what the Bible tells us about what living loved looks like.
If you’re not growing more and more like this, you may be hindered by feelings of fatherlessness…
To live loved means that we’re loved…
and the fact we’re loved by God is most important. John 16:27, Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:1; 4:10;19, Revelation 1:5 Because God’s love for us surpasses knowledge Ephesians 3:17-19 and nothing can separate us from His love…Romans 8:35-39 …remembering God is love and love comes from God 1 John 4:7-8;16 …and he disciplines those He loves. Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:19
To live loved means that we love God…
…with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength. Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27 …more than the earliest, dearest and nearest love. Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:25 …more than anything else in this world. Matthew 6:24,Luke 16:13, 1 John 2:15 and show it by obeying Jesus…John 14:15, John 14:21, John 14:23, John 15:10, 1 John 4:18-22, 1 John 2:3-5, 1 John 3:10 , 1 John 3:23, 1 John 5:2-3, 2 John 1:6 …helping his people Hebrews 6:10, 1 John 3:11,17-18 …caring for the least of these Matthew 25:32-40 and seeking His Kingdom in all things… Matthew 6:33 Knowing we’re promised a crown of life…. James 1:12
To live loved means we love in action and truth
Our motivation is love… 1 Corinthians 16:14, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Galatians 5:6, Colossians 3: 17 Our labour is prompted by love… 1 Thessalonians 1:3 We’re generous… 2 Corinthians 8:7-8 We speak the truth in love… Ephesians 4:15 We walk in love… Ephesians 5:1 We grow in love… Philippians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:10 We keep ourselves in God’s love… Jude 1:21 We have peace and are thankful… Colossians 3:14-15 We find comfort in love… Philippians 2:1 Our love springs from hope… Colossians 1:5 We have compassion, kindness, humility and patience Colossians 3:12
To live loved means we love each other
We love each other as we love ourselves… Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8, 1 John 4:10-11; 2 John 1:5 Because He first loved us… 1 John 4:19-20 Our love is sincere, we’re devoted to one another with brotherly love and honour one another above ourselves… Romans 12:9-10 We share with God’s people who are in need and practice hospitality… Romans 12:13 We forgive… Colossians 3:13-14 We are patient, kind. We don’t envy, don’t boast and are not proud… 1 Corinthians 13:4 We are not rude, we’re not self-seeking, we’re not easily angered… 1 Corinthians 13:5 We’re unoffendable and keep no record of being wronged… 1 Corinthians 13:5 We always protect, always trust, always hope and always persevere. 1 Corinthians 13:7 We are united together John 17:23 And can’t be motivated by fear 1 John 4:18 Knowing love covers a multitude of sins 1 Peter 4:8 The only debt that remains outstanding is our debt to love one another…Romans 13:8
To live loved means we love even our enemies
We don’t take revenge… Romans 12:19 If our enemy is hungry we feed them or thirsty we give them something to drink…Romans 12:20 We bless those who curse us… Luke 6:28 We pray for those who persecute us…Matthew 5:44 If someone strikes one cheek, we turn the other to them…Matthew 5:39 We represent our Father who is love and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous…Matthew 5:45
Are you living LOVED?
How can you live that way? How can you live more and more this way?
That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.
You can live knowing you are LOVED. We’ll use the word LOVED to help us remember.
How to Live LOVED Tool
L - Leave pretence behind O - Operate out of who God says you are V - Value revelation E - Embark on having well-healed wounds D - Draw ever-deeper into His love
L - Leave pretence behind
Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Are you honest with God? Do you regularly pour out your heart to him? Learn to do this, it will serve you well for now and all eternity.
Be honest with God. The most powerful tool to be honest with God is to use the phrase: “It’s not that it’s true, but it feels that it’s true that…”
Your emotions tell you what you actually believe. For example—Since the God of all hope fills us with all peace and joy as we trust in him… if I don’t have peace and joy, I know I’m not trusting him. So I can go to him and ask him “What am I not trusting you in or for?” He will show me. I’ve asked for wisdom, he gives it generously without finding fault. Then I agree with him—that’s confession, confession is agreeing with God. Repentance is changing my mind and turning around and going in the opposite direction. Then I have peace and joy again.
Tip:
Use the language of the Psalms. Psalms are emotional truth. They will stretch your theological comfort at times.
To live loved you need to stop pretending with God.
The good news is..
The surprise is for you, not Him. He won’t ever be surprised (Psalm 139:1-4) or disappointed in you (Romans 8:38-39).
Am I done with pretending with God?
O - Operate out of who God says you are
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
You do good works because of who God says you are, not to get his approval or others approval. You don’t do it for the show, or do it for the dough. You don’t do it for the worry or do it for the hurry. This is what Jesus told us in the sermon on the mount, you know the message where he revealed more and more and more about our good Father.
Tip:
Go to https://revtrev.com/realme and print off your personalized identity in Christ. Print it off and start memorizing or reminding yourself of it.
The good news is…
He empowers you to accomplish every good work prompted by faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
Am I living out who God says I am?
V - Value revelation
Romans 8:15-17 "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."
Since you’ve received him and believed in his name, you have the right to be a child of God (John 1:12). Since you are led by the Spirit you show you are a child of God (Romans 8:14-16) Since you are in Christ through faith, you are a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27). You have been chosen before creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4-5) as all his children have. See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are (1 John 3:1).
That’s our theological understanding. How do we move it from thought to practice?
Tip: Be grateful for what’s been revealed to you, ask Holy Spirit to teach you how to make that make a difference in your life.
The good news is…
Holy Spirit does the work of transformation. Our role is to be in the Book.
Do I value the revelation of His love I have right now?
E - Embark on having well-healed wounds
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
The first time I heard this phrase it came out of my mouth as a word of knowledge. I was teaching at a church in Calgary on how to fast from negativity. I said something like “Some of you take pride in your wounds and you need to know God takes pleasure in your well-healed wounds.” Afterwords…
When Jesus showed his disciples his nail-scarred hands and offered to show them his wounded side, he was showing them well healed wounds.
Well healed wounds are what he wants for us.
Many have had cruel, abusive or absent fathers, so how can they relate to the God of the universes using the same name as someone who has hurt them?
It’s only when you have well-healed wounds that you can.
Tip:
It could take: - counselling, - community, - forgiveness, - living unoffended at God.
Miracles can happen, but often God uses process. If you’ve been wounded in community, you need to be healed in community.
The good news is…
He works all things together to make us more and more like Jesus. He will finish the good work He’s started in you.
Are my wounds healing well?
D - Draw ever-deeper into His love
Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIVUK) For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Tip:
We want to learn to value God’s opinion more than our own.
Since he rejoices to see the work begin in us to recognize His love for us and alignment of our lives to live loved, it’s ok if we’re not a finished product.
There may be days we don’t live like Jesus told us to live. He reminds us on the sermon on the mount that we have a good Father in heaven in…
The good news is…
Your Father... ...sees what is done in secret and will reward you ...knows what you need ...sees what is done in secret and will reward you ... forgives you ...sees what is done in secret and will reward you ... feeds and takes care of the needs... ... knows that you need them. Your Father is perfect.
Do I have a growing revelation of God’s incomprehensible love?
How can you better understand God as Father?
Learn to Live LOVED
L - Leave pretence behind Psalm 62:8 Am I done with pretending with God? O - Operate out of who God says you are Ephesians 2:10 Am I living out who God says I am? V - Value ongoing revelation Romans 8:15-17 Do I value the revelation of His love I have right now? E - Embark on having well-healed wounds Psalm 147:3 Are my wounds healing well? D - Draw ever-deeper into His love Ephesians 3:14-19 Do I have a growing revelation of God’s incomprehensible love?
Conclusion
There is no biblical term called the Orphan Spirit. There is a position that lead to disadvantage called fatherlessness that God shows his heart for and instructs us to care for.
Feeling Fatherless -what some people call the orphan spirit- is broken through the ever-revealing, never fully understanding revelation of the love of God and responding to His love by living LOVED.
My prayer for you today is Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus.
Ephesians 1:17-21, 3:16-19 (NIVUK)
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
I speak against any feelings of fatherlessness and call out for wounds to be well-healed. I speak peace to storms and faith where doubts assail. I speak life. I speak hope. I speak joy…
Discover the joy of a deeper relationship with God in "Live LOVED." This course explores the profound love of the Good Father through engaging discussions and reflective exercises. Learn to embrace your identity as His cherished child and experience God's love in your daily life. Join us on this journey to cultivate peace, purpose, and belonging, whether you're new to faith or seeking deeper understanding. Embrace the transformative love that awaits you!
Are you ready to add agapeo love to your faith? In a world of uncertainty, how do you focus on doing everything with love? How do you embrace Paul's insistence that the only thing that matters is of faith expressing itself through love? Let's discover how love and faith can be combined to bring positive change to our lives, using insights from the Bible. Learn more in "How to Add Agapeo Love to Faith"
Read the notes for How to add Agapeo Love to Faith
We live in a world that’s confused about love. The love of many have grown cold.
As of July 2022, in Canada - 40% to 50% of the first marriage is estimated to end up in divorce. 60% of second marriages are most likely to get divorced. 73% of the third marriages end up getting separated. Couples aging 50 and more have a divorce rate of 26%.
The top 5 causes of divorce (again in July 2022) Financial distress (50%+), Infidelity, Constant fighting, Lack of affection , Domestic violence.
That’s the whole of Canada and I’m told almost everyone in Quebec has been divorced four or five times and that women can’t legally take their husband’s last name because it’s too much paperwork - so the data might be skewed.
What about Christian marriages in Canada. A study in 2023 suggests that approximately 20 to 25 percent of Christian marriages end in divorce, with higher percentages reported among millennials and younger generations of believers.
So if you’re over 50 and have been a Christian for a long time, you may be the least likely to get divorced. I know, some things just aren’t worth it. But don’t become self satisfied.
Husbands, you need to learn to love your wife and lay down your life for her. Christ did it for you, you do it for her. Wives, you need to learn to love your husband. He needs your encouragement and support, your words and actions are what give him life or death. This is not mental ascent while you’re in public. You need to work reciprocal self-sacrificial love for each other into the day to day of everyday. You make and allow each other to bloom.
We’re going to talk about faith and love today. And that’s a fairly heavy introduction. So let’s pray.
Let’s pray. I want to pray Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians over us today.
Read Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV84 …I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Paul started his letter to Ephesus that way, so I figured it was a good way for us to start talking about Agapeo love and Faith.
The problem is we don’t understand love
English is terrible when it comes to love. You can love your mom and love your hairstyle. You can love your wife and love your car. You can love your children and love your sports team. What does love mean to us?
Does this really matter?
It is so critically important for us to not have the same definition of love as our world has. God is love and we can’t define God by our own experiences. If God is love and love never fails why do so many relationships fall apart and so many others barely whimper along?
The short answer to a complicated question is this world doesn’t have the same understanding of love that God reveals to us. And it is a revelation, and it continually unveils more and more over time.
I personally try to only use “love” for God and people and maybe pets. It’s tough. “I would love to” becomes “I would enjoy that”. “I love that…” becomes “I really appreciate that”. “I’d love to be able to…” becomes “I’d really like to…”
It’s a more honest use of language to not always rely in the superlative. Just watch how many times you use the word love for anything that’s not God, people or pets. We’re sloppy.
The story
If you’ve been around for any time and you’ve heard me speak a few times, you know I can get excited about the original languages and what scriptures meant for the original audiences.
When I went to my last church, I felt God tell me that he was going to teach me more about how to love and about love. And he did, in more ways than one. I don’t need to share all those stories. But I will share this one with you. Maybe a bit of backstory.
While there are other words for love used once in a while in the Bible, Agapeo is used the most by far and Phileo is used about a third as often as Agapeo. Phileo and Agapeo are the two main words used for love in the new testament.
When I was growing up, I understood that Agape love was God’s love towards us… “for God so Agapeo the world that he gave his only Son.” It’s self-sacrificial love. It’s love that is patient and kind and does not envy or boast and is not proud and is not rude and is not self seeking or easily angered. It keeps no record of being wronged. It doesn’t delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes always perseveres and never fails.
The word used for love in 1 Corinthians 13 - that passage above - is agapeo and it has to be God’s love for us because how can any of us ever expect to love love others like that? It let me off the hook to think only God could love like that.
A bigger problem came for me when I went to university and took Attic Greek. It’s Greek from about 500 years before the Koine greek that the New Testament was written in. But I could still read Koine greek - just some of the rules changed, so I started reading the greek new testament and I came across things like…
John 3:19 (NLT) And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.
Luke 11:43 (NLT) “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces.
2 Timothy 4:10 (NLT) Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.
And John tells us…
1 John 2:15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
So I was confused for a number of years.
I decided the greeks were probably like us and used agapeo to describe everything from your nearest and dearest love to ice cream.
The greeks generally aren’t sloppy when it comes to words. So, when I felt God say he was going to teach me about love when I went to my last church, I really sought him to try to understand Agapeo and Phileo.
And one day, when I prayed and studied, and studied it and prayed about, I had a thought that was smarter than me drop into my head.
Phileo is definitely emotional love. I wondered if Agapeo love could be love that is a decision, not necessarily an emotion.
I have never thought that way before. I had to check it out. So I went to a bunch of verses I knew used agapeo and it made sense. Yes, if agapeo is a decision, I could chose to love the world, or I could chose to love God. I could choose to love compliments or I could choose to love people. I could choose to love and be chose to be patient and kind and not boast and not envy or be proud or rude or self-seeking or easily angered. I could choose to keep to records of wrongs and not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth…With his help I could always protect and always trust and always hope and always persevere.
It was incredible.
As soon as I search for that, “Is Agapeo love a decision”. I found it all over the place. People I trusted and theologians I read were teaching it the same way it dropped into my head.
God taught me more about love.
Interestingly enough, this week I was attempting to learn more about a Bible program I have that I really need to learn how to use. I came on a study done on Agapeo and phileo. It turns out that
Agape is commanded in the New Testament while , phileo, is never an imperative in the New Testament.
Why is that important to know about Agapeo love?
You can’t command an emotion (parents have you ever told your kids to “be happy!” It doesn’t work). You can’t command someone’s emotions. If you’re God, you can command someone make a decision that’s aligned with your will. Agapeo is love that is a decision.
What if?
What if you could redefine your understanding of love that you’ve experienced in the world and see the possibilities of what it means to have a God who loves you and empowers you to accomplish every good work prompted by your faith, including loving God and loving others like God loves you?
What would this supernatural flow - of God’s love naturally flowing to you and through you to others and back to God - feel like?
How would this change your life?
How would this change your driving?
Today we’re going to talk about How to Add Agapeo Love to Faith.
2 Peter 1:5-9 NLT In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection (Philadephia - emotional love), and brotherly affection with love (Agapeo) for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
This is one of the locations in Scripture where the author juxtaposes Phileo (emotional love) and Agapeo (love that comes from a decision) there is a difference between the two and the difference is important.
Today we’re going to look at how Agapeo love builds our faith. Remember that all of these things we should be adding to faith are fruit of the spirit that Holy Spirit grows in us. We have a role, but Holy Spirit does the supernatural work.
When we look at Scripture we see that:
Faith and love come FROM Jesus (1 Timothy 1:14)
Faith and love IN Jesus will be preserved by Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:13-14)
Faith and love are both fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Faith without love makes us nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2)
Faith and love is armour for us to be clearheaded (1 Thessalonians 5:8)
Faith expressing itself in love is one of the only things that matter (Galatians 5:6)
How do you add the decision to love to faith?
That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.
Here’s the DELIGHT yourself in the Lord Tool.
Psalm 37:4 When you delight yourself in the Lord he will give you the desires of your heart… I’ve found when I delight myself in him, I want his desires for me more than my desires…or my desires become what he’s already desiring for me…to be made more and more into the image of Christ. That’s how God describes what it is good. When we say “God is working all things together for good” it means he is using everything to make us more and more like Jesus, who is good, so it is good. (Romans 8:28-30).
DELIGHT yourself in the Lord Tool
D - Do all that you do in love - 1 Corinthians 16:14
E - Examine your walk -John 13:34-35
L - Let His love build your faith- Romans 8:35-39
I - Initiate forgiveness - 1 Peter 4:8
G - Grasp a greater revelation of love - 1 John 4:7-8
H - Have your faith express in love - Galatians 5:6
T - Thrive with love - 1 Corinthians 13:2
Let’s unpack that...
D - Do all that you do in love
1 Corinthians 16:14 (NLT) And do everything with love.
Love needs to be the motivation of all our actions.
You can only do this with Holy Spirit’s help. He empowers you to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. Let your good works prompted by faith also be done in love.
What does love look like?
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice 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 are all agapeo love. These are all decisions we make. These are all things we step out in faith to do, knowing he empowers us to accomplish every good work prompted by faith.
Are my good works prompted by faith, done in love?
E - Examine your walk
John 13:34-35 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
Love is a significant mark of faith. It’s not just that we say we love God, people need to see our love for God in practical ways AND our love for people God puts on our path AND of course, our love for one another.
We can say we love God, and not make it make a difference in our life. We can placate our need to love other humans by donating to whatever charity our grocery store is promoting this week. It’s the love we show to each other - those nearest and dearest to us - that we can’t really fake or ignore… John writes..
1 John 4:7-21 NLT Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer,[b] that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
We need to be “God-with-flesh-on” to each other.
It occurred to me this week that all the One Another Commands connection to showing love.
Love fulfills the One Another Commands…
Love One Another
John 13:34-35; 15:12,17; Romans 12:10a; 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 4:9-10; 1 Peter 1:22, 4:8 ;1 John 3:11,22,4:7,11-12; 2 John1:5
Agapeo Love
...is patient
Be at Peace With One Another Mark 9:50
Wait for One Another 1 Corinthians 11:33
... is kind
Be Kind to One Another Ephesians 4:32a
Show Hospitality to One Another 1 Peter 4:9
Have Fellowship With One Another 1 John 1:7
Wash One Another’s Feet John 13:14
... does not boast
Agree With One Another 2 Corinthians 13:11b
Live in Harmony With One Another Romans 12:16, Romans 15:5
...is not jealous
Do Not Envy One Another Galatians 5:26b
Submit to One Another Ephesians 5:21
...is not proud
Honour One Another Romans 12:10b
Be Humble Toward One Another 1 Peter 5:5
Live in Harmony With One Another Romans 12:16
...is not rude
Greet One Another Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20;2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14
Welcome One Another Romans 15:7
...is not self-seeking
Bear With One Another Ephesians 4:2-3; Colossians 3:13a
Do Not Speak Against One Another James 4:11, 5:9
...is not easily angered
Do Not Provoke One Another Galatians 5:26a
Do Not Judge One Another Romans 14:13
...keeps no record of wrongs
Forgive One Another Ephesians 4:32b, Colossians 3:13b
…does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
Speak the Truth to One Another Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9
Confess Sins to One Another James 5:16a
…always protects
Care for One Another 1 Corinthians 12:25
Do Good to One Another 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Bear One Another’s Burdens Galatians 6:2
Comfort One Another 2 Corinthians 13:11a
…always trusts
Serve One Another Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10
Instruct One Another Romans 15:14
Teach and Admonish One Another Colossians 3:16
…always hopes
Encourage One Another 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11; Hebrews 10:25
Build One Another Up 1 Thessalonians 5:11b
Exhort One Another Hebrews 3:13
…always perseveres
Pray for One Another James 5:16b
Sing With One Another Ephesians 5:19
… never fails
Stir Up One Another to Love and Good Works Hebrews 10:24
How does my love show my faith?
L - Let His love build your faith
Jude 1:20-21 NLT But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
As you build each other up in your most holy faith, you’ll keep yourself safe in God’s love.
How to you build yourself up?
1.Pray in the Holy Spirit
2. Await his coming mercy
Building up your faith, keeps you in God’s love. God’s love also builds your faith. The more you know and experience his love, the more you trust him, the more you trust him, the more faith you have. This image illustrates what I’m trying to say…
Building up your faith, keeps you in God’s love. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 8:35-39 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
Does not talking about God’s love seem to build your faith in God’s love? It sure does to me
Do I let His love build my faith?
I - Initiate Forgiveness
1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
The only way for love to cover over a multitude of sins is for there to be confession and repentance and forgiveness.
Confession and repentance is for the one who preformed a sin of commission or a sin of omission. When we come before God and remember someone has something against us, we go and reconcile with that person as soon as possible. Jesus said, leave your sacrifice on the altar and go and be reconciled. This horizontal relationship is so important for the vertical relationship with the Father. We know when we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness… but will the one we’ve offended choose to reconcile with us? You won’t know until you initiate forgiveness with them.
However, if we’re the one who has been hurt by someone’s sin of commission or sin of omission, forgiveness is not something you need wait for confession and repentance to do. We forgive as Christ forgave us. How is that? While we were still sinners Christ died for us. He laid down is life and completed the task the Father gave him to do, before anyone knew they needed to confess Jesus as Lord and repent of their sins.
Matthew 6:14-15 NLT “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Forgiveness is a choice - we make the decision to forgive.
Forgiveness is an action - we choose to bless in tangible, safe ways.
Forgiveness is an emotion - you can feel like you’ve forgiven when you learn to forgive with your whole heart.
Does my love cover over a multitude of sins?
G - Grasp a greater revelation of love
Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT And 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. May 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.
Your faith grows as you become more and more like the Son, who He loves. Let me clarify what I’m trying to say. As you trust God more and more, your faith grows more and more and you experience more and more of God’s love for you and you have more and more of God’s love in you that you love God more and better and love others more and better because you are becoming more and more like Jesus as you grow in confidence of God’s love for you. Don’t forget what Jesus said…
John 15:9-12 NLT “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
To get a greater revelation of love, you need to abide in His love.
Do I abide in Jesus’ love?
H - Have your faith express in love
Galatians 5:6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
Faith is made complete through love. The church in Galatia was a mess. Jewish Christians had convinced non-jewish christians to become jewish to be a good Christian and Paul lost it on them. One verse he writes that he wishes the ones causing the problems wouldn’t stop at circumcision, but go farther and emasculate themselves (the greek word was much more graphic and direct).
He comes out of that tirade and says the thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love. Jesus said we can tell a lot about people by their fruit,
Matthew 7:15-20 NLT “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Do people see my good works and glorify my father in heaven?
T - Thrive in love
1 Corinthians 13:2 "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."
We can have faith without love…and have nothing. We can have love without faith…and it will be fleeting. Our promise from God for this life is that he is with us. GOD is with us. His Spirit is with us. Jesus is with us. Look at what Paul wrote to the church in Rome.
Romans 5:1-11 NLT Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Do you rejoice in your wonderful relationship with God? Jesus made us friends again with God.
Do you thrive in his love?
Conclusion
DELIGHT yourself in God’s love and you will be filled to the measure of the fullness of God.
DELIGHT yourself in the Lord Tool
D - Do all that you do in love E - Examine your walk L - Let His love build your faith I - Initiate forgiveness G - Grasp a greater revelation of love H - Have your faith express in love T - Thrive with love
Stand to pray
Read Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV84 …I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
