The Lord is speaking to us about His love (agape) and yesterday He showed us how Jesus fulfilled His mission of seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10) by living to reveal the Father's love (John 17:26). Jesus, as the incarnation of agape, lived to reconcile man to the Father (John 14:6-13). Jesus came to seek and save (Greek: sozo, meaning to save, heal or deliver). Christ therefore came to reveal the Father's love to reconcile man to God to be "sozo-ed"! Similarly the Church has been joined to Agape through Christ and is called to reveal the Father's love to reconcile man to God (1 John 4:15,16; 2 Cor. 5:17-20). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Church is called to reveal her union with God by being like Him (Gal. 5:22,23; Eph. 5:1; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 John 2:6; 4:16); by speaking like Him (1 Cor. 14:1-3; Col. 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11); and by doing the Lord's work (John 14:12; 1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 2:10). As the Church seeks to reveal the Father's love, the Father will glorify Himself through her and "sozo" man to save, heal and deliver him as he is reconciled to God. The manifestation of the gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit is the revelation of the Father's love.
Spiritual gifts are the manifestation of Agape for the sake of others and for the glory of God!
After the Father ministered truth to us, He ministered His love to us and many were touched deeply by the Father's love. Hallelujah!
In the evening we had another opportunity to minister the Father's love to the homeless and needy in Frankfurt. Over 100 people came to our monthly soup kitchen and after a time of worship and sharing the Good News of the Father's love, 8 people gave their lives to the Lord! With our team of 14 people we simply shared the Father's love with these precious people as we served them, cared for them, prayed for them, listened to them and clothed them. Glory to God!
Quote of the week:
"I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and I myself may be in them." John 17:26
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