A Love Deeper Than The Past

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 8:38-39(KJV); For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love does not dwell on the past.

In our theme scripture, the Bible speaks of the love of God and that nothing can separate us from it.

He speaks of death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth or any creature.

The language of the scriptures is deliberate. He speaks of things present and things to come but does not mention the past.

This is because to Him, it is inconsequential.

God does not look at you, the new creature in Christ through the lens of what you did yesterday, last week, last month or ten years ago.

That’s why His mercies are new every morning.

There are people who are stuck in their past and believe that it has withheld the hand of God from their lives. Other people are stuck in other people’s past and treat them based on the standard of what they did years ago.

That is not the way of God. You have a future and it is solid in agapé.

FURTHER STUDY: Lamentations 3:22-23, Ephesians 3:18

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Love does not dwell on the past.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for your never ending love toward me. I thank you because I am a new creature in Christ, old things are passed away and I behold the fact that all things are new. These new things I behold are of God; everything about me is of you; my thoughts, desires, aspirations and inclinations are of you. I rejoice in this reality every day of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Beyond Condemnation

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 4:17(KJV); Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

The Greek Word for judgment in our theme scripture, ‘Krisis’ is translated to mean among other things, ‘condemnation.’

Thus, herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of condemnation because as he is, so are we in this world.

The question is, “Are you bold in the day of condemnation?”

The accuser of the brethren is always ready to point to our faults, to show us how far we have fallen short of God’s standards, but are you bold?

If God forbid, you yield to any weakness of the flesh, do you stop going to church because of a guilty conscience?

If that is so, then you have not been perfected in the love of God.

A man who is perfected in the love of God knows that sin does not define him. He is not proud of his mistake but he also understands that God does not expect him to kill himself because of it.

Boldness is not the absence of godly sorrow but it is the acknowledgement of who you are in Christ for as He is, so are you in this world.

So, what do you do in the day of condemnation?

Become bolder, receive mercy, believe God to help you out of that sin or weakness.

Confess that you are the righteousness of God in Christ.

Remember that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Walk in the confidence that you are dead to sin and it is dead to you.

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:1

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Boldness is not the absence of godly sorrow but it is the acknowledgement of who you are in Christ for as He is, so are you in this world.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for this truth. I stand in the blessed assurance that I have been cleansed by the blood of Christ and all my sins have been washed away. The devil has nothing in me and sin speaks a dead language to me. I face life with this boldness and embrace the imputed righteousness of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

By Love, We Live

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 5:5(KJV); And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

When you walk out of love, you will die.

This is because to live outside the love walk is to live carnally. The Bible says of carnality that to be carnally minded is death (Romans 8:6).

Because some men do not love, they attract the death of their relationships, businesses or ministries.

The great news is that when you received the Holy Spirit, as our theme scripture reveals, you received agapé and became a lover of both God and man.

In Ephesians 3:19(AMP), the Bible says, “and [that you may really come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].”

The understanding of the love of God is what fills you with the fullness of God and allows you to enjoy the richest experience of His presence in your life that you are completely filled and flooded with God Himself.

Agapé will cause everything about you to be saturated by the presence of God; it will infuse life in your career, your ministry, your marriage and your business.

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 8:6

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Agapé will cause everything about you to be saturated by the presence of God; it will infuse life in your career, your ministry, your marriage and your business.

PRAYER: My loving Father, thank you for the revelation of your love. I thank you for your Spirit that causes me to love you and fellow people as I ought. This same love breathes life into everything around me. Whatsoever I touch thrives because love has given it life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Cycle Of Love

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 4:10(KJV); Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Love begins with God.  Itflows from God to man, man to God and then man to man; this is the cycle of love.

God loves us, we respond to His love and it is that very love that flows from us to fellow men.

As such, our theme scripture has revealed that the true beginning of love is not that we loved God but that He loved us.

The life of the spirit is not about how much love you express toward God but how much you respond to His love toward you.

You can never love God like He ought to be loved until you understand the place from which love begins.

More so, you can never love men like they ought to be loved until you understand that it firstly begins with God.

That is why there are those who give their bodies to be burned but are found wanting when weighed against the standard of love because their love did not begin from the place of responding to God’s love( 1 Corinthians 13:3).

That is why there are those who give away all they have to the poor but are also found wanting in love because that love did not start from responding to God’s love (1 Corinthians 13:3).

When you respond to God’s love, you will love the brethren like you ought (Phileo).

When you respond to God’s love, you will love your spouse like you ought (Eros)

When you respond to God’s love, you will love your parents or children like you ought (Storge).

FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Love begins with God. It flows from God to man, man to God and then man to man; this is the cycle of love.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for this Word. Love began from you and saved the world, love began from you and found me when I was lost. Love began from you and showed me mercy when I was condemned. Today I choose to walk in the understanding of the place from which love begins, and as I respond to your love for me, it flows through me to my brethren and the world around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Instruction Of Agape – 3

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 2:5(KJV); But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

In John 21:15-17, our Lord twice asked Peter whether Peter loved him. The word for love that the master used was ‘agapé.’ For each of those times, Peter said he loved him.

However, the word for love used in reference to Peter’s answers was ‘Phileo.’ The third and last time, the Lord asked Peter, ‘Do you
Phileo me?’ and Peter responded, “Yes, I Phileo thee.”

By insisting on whether Peter ‘agapéd’ him, the Lord wanted to issue an instruction based on agape. Unfortunately, Peter did not understand and as such only received an instruction based on Phileo which was ‘feed my sheep.’

What then is the instruction of a man who understands agape?

John the man who understood agape received the instruction.

In our theme scripture, the Bible says, “Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.”

A man who is perfected in the love [agapé] of God keeps His word while a man who only understands Phileo keeps His sheep because Phileo concerns brotherly love.

In this, God is not watering down the responsibility of loving one another or of reaching out for souls in love.

However, He knows that when you understand agapé, Phileo becomes obvious. Loving the brethren and winning souls is easier when you embrace agapé.

You might win souls and not esteem His word; that is not agapé.

You might take care of your fellow brethren and take the Word for granted, that is not agapé

When you understand agapé, the Word of God becomes more necessary than food.

When you understand agapé, your responses to all manner of situations are framed around the Word of God.

When you understand agapé, the Word takes priority in everything you do. You give it the attention it deserves; you study it; think on it and act on it.
Glory to God.

FURTHER STUDY: Job 23:12, John 14:21-23

GOLDEN NUGGET:

When you understand agapé, the Word becomes more necessary than food. When you understand agapé, your responses to all manner of situations are framed around the Word of God. When you understand agapé, the Word takes priority in everything you do. You give it the attention it deserves; you study it; think on it and act on it.

PRAYER: Loving Father, thank you for this knowledge. I receive the instruction of agapé and honour your Word above all else. I know that you have exalted your Word above your very name. I give it the honour and attention that it is due. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Instruction Of Agape – 2

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 13:23 (KJV); Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Throughout the gospel of John, the apostle calls himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

Neither Matthew, Luke nor Mark say it.

The word used therein for love is agapé. This agapé is the highest form of love and is the very love with which God loves man.

Therefore, John had a revelation of the master’s love for him.

What was the result?

At the cross, Jesus hands the responsibility for his mother to John and not to any of the other disciples or even his brothers. This was because he understood agapé (John 19:26-27).

When Christ was raised from the dead and the disciples were told this news, the Bible says that Peter and John ran to the tomb but John outrun him (John 20:3-5).

This is because agapé quickens any man who has understood God in that revelation.

It is no wonder that in his subsequent books, John writes deeply on love; it is he that reveals that God is love (1 John 4:8).

It is also of little wonder that it is he who writes the book of revelation because God is most revealed to us in agapé.

When you understand agapé, hidden manna, deeper revelations and insights into the person of God become your portion.

Grow in the consciousness of God’s unconditional love for you; respond to this very love because in responding to love, you respond to Him.

FURTHER STUDY: John 20:3-5, John 19:26-27

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Grow in the consciousness of God’s unconditional love for you; respond to this very love because in responding to love, you respond to Him.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for your boundless love toward me. I know that nothing can separate me from that love, not things present and not things to come. I stand in the boldness of one who is accepted in the beloved of the Lord and confident that this love is the reason I stand. I receive and respond to it every day and choose to bask in it every moment of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Instruction Of Agape – 1

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 21:15-17(KJV); So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

The Greek language has four different ways in which the word love is used: agapé, éros, phileo and storgé.

Agape is the unconditional love of God for man; Eros is used for sexual passion, Phileo is friendship or brotherly love and Storge is love and affection especially between parents and children.

In our theme scripture, Jesus and Peter have an interesting conversation that is very significant in the understanding of love.

Read from the original Greek text, the Lord asked Peter, “Simon Peter, son of Jonas, AGAPÉ thou me more than these? Peter answered, “Yea Lord; thou knowest that I PHILEO you.”
He said to him again the second time, “Simon Son of Jonas, AGAPÉ thou me?” He answered, “Yea Lord, thou knowest that I PHILEO thee.” He asked again the third time, “Simon son of Jonas, PHILEO thou me?” Peter answered, “Thou knowest that I PHILEO thee.”

The first two times, Christ was deliberate in His use of agapé yet Simon Peter was persistent in his use of Phileo.

When the Lord saw that Simon had not understood His intention, He came down to Peter’s level of “Phileo.”
Peter thus missed an instruction based on agape and instead got one based on Phileo.

If he had told the Lord that he ‘agapés’ him, the instruction would have been different.

Phileo can cause a man to fight for you, as Peter did for the Christ. It can cause a man to wait on you and serve you as Peter did.

However, it is limited in revelation and deters a man from the full instruction of the father.

God has called the Church, not to Phileo Him but to agapé Him. Agapé begins with Him because He is agapé; it is not an act, it is His person.

If you have not understood agapé, you cannot fully know Him.

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:5, 1 John 4:8,

GOLDEN NUGGET:

God has called the Church, not to Phileo Him but to agapé Him. Agapé begins with Him because He is agapé; it is not an act, it is His person. If you have not understood agapé, you cannot fully know Him.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for the revelation of your love. This love has been shed abroad in my heart by the Spirit. I yield and respond to it every day and as I do, it flows to the world around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Understanding The Foundation: Revelation

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matt 16:13-18(KJV); When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The world has several ideas about who Jesus Christ is. Some call Him a good man, a saint, a distant father they cannot embrace or a mystery.

As was in His day, some called him Elias, others Jeremiah while others called him one of the prophets.

However, the Christ was interested in who His disciples thought He was. So He asked, “But who say ye that I am?”

The world may call Him what it thinks but it is important that the Church knows Him for who He is.

When Peter got it right, the Lord made a profound statement, “Thou art Peter and upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The foundation of the Church is the revelation by the Father of the person of Jesus Christ.

As the Church grows in the revelation of the Christ, the gates of hell give way.

As the Church of Christ advances in the knowledge of God, the powers of darkness bow to it.

Desire revelation, child of truth. It is not for you to define the Christ in the same manner that the world does.

Jesus to us is more than a mere story in the books of history; He is a Revelation.

FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 1:11-12, Ephesians 1:17

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The foundation of the Church is the revelation by the Father of the person of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this word. I am grateful for the truth of who you are. You have given unto me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you. It is in this knowledge that I grow and increase every day. I see and understand you deeper. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Step Out In Faith

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matthew 14:25-29(KJV); And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit, and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Often time, the focus is placed on the fact that Peter started to sink when he attempted to walk on water.

However, the fact is that there are steps that he took towards our Lord and master; Peter WALKED on water!

He did better than those that remained in the boat!
He demonstrated the sort of attitude that our Lord and Master expects from the church; that is the constant willingness to step out in faith.

God has called us to a crazy life of faith. It is not for us to seek the safety of the boat!

Peter’s failure teaches us not to look at the waves while we are at it but his boldness tells us that it is possible as long as we step out in faith!

And God is encouraging us and compelling us to this life.

He says, “Come.” That is enough. His Word is the solid ground on which we must tread.

He has stamped His approval on any man who will step out of the comfort zone into the realm of faith.

Child of God, learn to practice this life of faith.
If it is healing, look for those that need it and lay your hands on them. If it is prophecy, step out and do it in faith. If it is the ability to decree things that they are established, do so until you see the manifestation.

Live the faith life!

FURTHER STUDY: Mark 9:23, Hebrews 10:38

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Learn to practice this life of faith. If it is healing, look for those that need it and lay your hands on them. If it is prophecy, step out and do it in faith. If it is the ability to decree things that they are established, do so until you see the manifestation. Live the faith life!

PRAYER: Lord I thank you because you have called me to a life of faith. You have not called me to be ordinary but exceptional, peculiar and different. Those that are born of the spirit are like wind and blow where they will. I am unpredictable; I am a fountain of possibilities. I do things that shock the world and every known law on the earth because you are in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In The Place Of Travail

Apostle Grace Lubega

Isaiah 37:3(KJV); And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

There are people in this life who come to the place of birth but do not have the strength to bring forth.

They are experiencing the pangs, they know something must come out of them but they are unable to have the manifestation of what is inside them.

It is a crisis for some Christians and leads to frustration.

God has shown you that it is your time to fly, to minister to multitudes, to be an influence in your generation, to build that business, to launch that idea, all the signs point to manifestation but you don’t have the strength.

What should you do?

In Hebrews 11:11, the Bible speaks of our mother Sarah and says, “Through faith also, Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

Divine strength for manifestation is received through faith.

That dream seems too big but choose to believe.

That vision seems unreachable but choose to believe.

Those goals you have set seem unattainable but choose to believe.

Strength is available. Power is available.

Don’t ask for strength, simply receive it by faith.

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 11:11, Mark 9:23

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Divine strength for manifestation is received through faith.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this knowledge. Today, I receive strength to launch into what you have destined for my life. You are the great one in me and so I believe I can accomplish anything. Thank you for the strength to grow my vision, to stand for it, to endure all things for it. To the glory of your name. Amen.

The Voice Of The Word

Apostle Grace Lubega

Gen 21:16-17(KJV); And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

The Word of God has a voice. Need also has a voice.

It is possible to worship God but what is heard in the realm of the spirit is the voice of need and not the voice of the Word.

It is possible to pray to God but what He hears in the spirit is the voice of need and not the voice of the Word of God.

Some people pray and do not receive because they ask amiss (James 4:3). Their asking amiss is in the fact that their voices carry need and not the Word.

The nature of need is that it seeks to set you apart from the God of all abundance, He that is in you and in whom you are, making the need your sole focus and not the God who supplies all things and has given you everything that pertains to life and godliness.

In our theme scripture, the voice of Hagar was the voice of need.

Ishmael as the seed of Abraham represents the voice of the Word because Luke 8:11 says the seed is the Word.

That is why even though it was Hagar that cried unto God, the language of the scriptures is very clear.

God did not hear her cries. The Bible says Hagar wept but the angel said, “God has heard THE VOICE OF THE LAD.” He heard the voice of the seed.

In Psalms 126:6, He says, “He that goes forth and weepeth, bearing precious SEED, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

The Psalmist speaks of one who is weeping but he weeps with seed [the word] and not with need.

No matter the circumstance, never let your prayer to God be colored by the voice of need; raise your voice but do so with the Word of God.

His name be praised.

FURTHER STUDY: Luke 8:11, Psalms 126:6

GOLDEN NUGGET:

No matter the circumstance, never let your prayer to God be colored by the voice of need; raise your voice but do so with the Word of God.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this day. I am grateful Lord for your Word. In it, I have the answer for all circumstances. It is the Word that I look to and in the Word that I pray. It is in the Word that I worship and in the Word that I fast. It is in the Word that I serve and in the Word that I give. Your Word is my pattern in all things. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Jesus We Believed

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 5:6(KJV); This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness because the Spirit is truth.

The Jesus we believed came by water and blood. He did not come by water only but by WATER AND BLOOD.

The similar characteristic of water and blood is that they are both cleansers.

In Revelation 1:5, the Bible speaks of how He washed us from our sins in His own blood.

In Ephesians 5:26, when speaking of the water, He says that the Church has been sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the Word.

How did Christ cleanse the Church?

He did so by loving it; where there is no love, there is no sanctification.

This is why we preach the grace and not the law; the law does not speak love but wrath.

When Grace is preached, there is sanctification because we are imputing the righteousness of God upon men.

Embrace the revelation of His grace because it is what cleanses.

FURTHER STUDY: Revelation 1:5, Ephesians 5:26(MSG)

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Christ cleansed the Church by loving it; where there is no love, there is no sanctification.

PRAYER: My loving Father, I thank you for your love. Thank you for the gift of grace, mercy and kindness that draws me closer to you and deeper into communion with you. I am grateful because my fellowship with you is free of condemnation and wrath. In this very light, I see you in greater depths and dimension. In Jesus’ name. Amen.