"To him whom much has been forgiven."
Brethren,
Knowing that Romans 12:1-5 gives each of us this clear instruction. "Are we each willing to comply? Consider how it reads": I beseech you therefore, Brethren by the MERCIES of GOD, that you present your bodies a living SACRIFICE, HOLY, Acceptable to GOD, which is your reasonable service.
[Did you catch that, Beloved?
We are to serve The LIVING GOD!"] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of GOD.
For I say, through the GRACE given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as GOD has dealt to each a measure of FAITH.
For as we have many members in one BODY, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are One BODY in CHRIST, and individually members of one another.
Brethren,
Knowing that we are members of The BODY of CHRIST, and of one another.
Are we each willing to LOVE as Brothers.
I ask this, because Luke 15:11-19 tells the story of what many of us were like," before we finally came to our senses, and "humbled" ourselves before GOD in repentance.
Yes, before we repented of walking in darkness, by doing the will and desires of the powers of darkness."
In other words, before
we sought to obey "The WORD of The LIVING GOD," as a child, obeys the word and instruction, of his father."
Surely, it's why our FATHER spoke these WORDS from Mathew 18:3-4, saying: "Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter The KINGDOM of HEAVEN.
Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in The KINGDOM of HEAVEN.
[Brethren,
A child does the will of his father, because he believes in the authority of "the word" of his father. Yes, he Believes!"
In like manner, Beloved,
We Believe The WORD of The LIVING GOD. And because we do, 2nd Corrinthians 4:13-14 speaks to us directly, saying: And since we have the same SPIRIT of FAITH, according to what is written, "I Believed, and therefore I spoke," we also Believe and therefore speak, knowing that HE Who raised up The LORD JESUS will also raise us up with JESUS, and will present us with you.
Brethren,
We will soon be present with our Beloved LORD, JESUS!" And at HIS calling us up into the clouds. We will be present, with one another."
And because our REDEMPTION is drawing near," We are admonished in Romans 13:11-14 To walk properly, as in The Day.
Consider how it reads: And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our SALVATION is nearer than when we first Believed. The night is far spent, the Day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of LIGHT.
Let us walk properly, as in The Day, not in revelry [Not Revelry? Yes, Not Revelry!" For GOD doesn't want us walking as "Rebels," who won't obey HIM.
Doing things that are shameful."] and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
But put on The LORD JESUS CHRIST, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill it in its lusts.
Brethren,
We are no longer to walk according to the ways of the world.
For Acts 17:30-31 makes it abundantly clear, and admonishes each of us, by saying: Truly, these times of ignorance GOD overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because HE has appointed a day on which HE will judge the world in RIGHTEOUSNESS by The Man Whom HE has ordained.
HE has given assurance of this to all by raising HIM from the dead."
From the dead? Yes, from the dead! And "that's exactly where The LORD, our GOD, raised each of us up from!"
For before we Believed in the finished work of The Cross of CHRIST, for the remission of sins."
"We were each dead" in our trespasses and sins!"
Ephesians 2:1-7 makes it abundantly clear, by saying: And you HE made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the son's of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath. [Did you catch that, Beloved?" Because we were naturally born sinners, GOD'S wrath was upon us.] just as the others.
But GOD, Who is rich in MERCY, because of HIS GREAT LOVE with which HE LOVED us,
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with CHRIST (by GRACE you have been SAVED), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the HEAVENLY places in CHRIST JESUS, that in the ages to come HE might show the exceeding riches of HIS GRACE in HIS kindness toward us in CHRIST JESUS.
[Yes, "Show HIS kindness to us, who Trust in CHRIST JESUS." The WORD of The LIVING GOD.]
And because we Trust in HIM, and know HIM, as LORD.
We embrace HIS WORD and instruction, that sends us as sheep in the midst of wolves, to do the work of an Evangelist, being harmless as doves.
😢 But there are some, 2nd Peter 2:15 assures us, who have forsaken the right way, and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor.
Some who refuse to take into account, that The LORD makes it abundantly clear, that friendship with the world is enmity with GOD.
Consider how James 4:4 affirms it, by saying: Aldulterers and Adulteresses!
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with GOD?
Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of GOD.
We are no longer of the world, Beloved Brethren.'
For our LORD makes it abundantly clear, by saying in John 17:16
They are not of the world, just as I AM not of the world.
Brethren,
We are not to associate with those who have no interest in JESUS!" And the only reason that The LORD, our GOD, wants us to be found among the dead." Is to tell them of The Good News of CHRIST, Who is our HEAD."
Yes, for CHRIST is The HEAD of The BODY, and of The Church.
CHRIST JESUS, is our HEAD, Beloved Brethren.
And HE would have us consider ourselves, as we consider the prodigal son story. So let's consider it:🤔
"A certain man had two son's. And the younger of them said to his Father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.'
So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in the land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my Fathers hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my Father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against HEAVEN and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."
Brethren,
From what I've gathered, the story of the prodigal son is the story of two rebellious brothers and their LOVING father. The father always wanted look after them." HE always wanted to be involved in their lives.
It’s a universal story, Beloved Brethren, that represents every member of The BODY of CHRIST.
Yes, "The BODY of CHRIST!"
For we each need to learn, Beloved, not to despise the instruction of our FATHER. Right!"
Not to ignore HIS WORD, and teachings, in walking contrary to HIS ways.
And because Romans 3:23 assures us that all have sinned and fall short of The GLORY of GOD."
The LORD, our GOD, would have us take into consideration, that as The FATHER has sent HIM."
HE also, sends me and you."
Consider John 20:21-22, and how GOD'S WORD assures us of it, by saying: So JESUS said to them again, "Peace to you, as The FATHER has sent ME, so I send you.
And when HE had said this, HE breathed on them, and said to them,
"Recieve The HOLY SPIRIT."
Brethren,
When we recieved GOD'S WORD, as TRUTH. We recieved The WORD of The LIVING GOD, in TRUTH."
And GOD'S WORD, is SPIRIT and LIFE."
Yes, The WORD of The LIVING GOD, is The SPIRIT of TRUTH!" Yes, The SPIRIT of TRUTH," that in TRUTH, gave us all LIFE."
Consider how John 6:63-64 assures us of this, by saying: It is The SPIRIT Who gives LIFE; the flesh profits nothing.
The WORDS that I speak to you are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE.
But there are some of you who do not Believe." For JESUS knew from the beginning who they were who did not Believe, and who would betray HIM.
With that said,
Consider Luke 15:25-32, and consider how both sons betrayed their father, and not just the younger": Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, "Your brother has come, and because he has recieved him safe and sound, your father has killed the fated calf.'
"But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.
So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time
With that said,
Can we each see the self righteous attitude of the elder son? Can we see, that all he could see, was his own goodness? Surely it's why Proverbs 20:6 affirms, saying: Each man will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a FAITHFUL man?
Because of the eldest son's self righteous attitude. Not for a second, could he see the GOODNESS of his father!"
And in his anger, he stubbornly despised the feelings of his father, and the Goodness of his father. By simply refusing to celebrate the younger brothers return.
For when he got wind of his brother's return, his sin was easy to recognize."
It surfaced with these characteristics. "Anger, "resentment," and hate!" All of these traits, that the "BORN AGAIN," do not appreciate.
Instead of showing HIS "LOVE" for his Brother." He separated himself, and “would not go in to celebrate his brothers return."
And so his father had to come out and plead with him to enter the celebration.
But in his anger and frustration, he said to his father, “this son of yours,” instead of recognizing him as his “Brother.”
He embraced the feelings of hate that the devil wanted him to have towards his Brother, rather than feelings of LOVE, that a LOVING FATHER, demands that HIS children have for one another.
The father "LOVED" both of his sons!" But both son's, needed to repent of not LOVING their father.
And to repent, of not LOVING one another." And so with the prodigal, the father ran out to welcome him home." With the older son, he “came out and pleaded with him to come in to the celebration.”
And so The LORD, wanting for each of us to "come to the "Great Supper" that HE has prepared for HIS Son.
Being "The WEDDING SUPPER of The LAMB."
Asks each of us this question, from Amos 3:3,:
Can two walk together unless they are agreed?"
And do we agree, Beloved Brethren, that we are to LOVE GOD above all else? Yes with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength?"
Yes? Then consider what Luke 7:47 says: Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she LOVED much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same LOVES little.
How much have you been forgiven, Beloved Brethren?"
Little? Or Much?"
Please know that I've been forgiven "Very Much!"
JESUS
OK