Straight A's In Love

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Sounds go-o-o-d, don't it? How would you like to make straight A's in Love? How would one go about making straight A's in Love? If you could find out, how to make straight A's in Love, wouldn't you just L-o-v-e it? If one were being graded in Love, wouldn't one have to be taking a class in love? If there was a class in love, wonder who the teacher would be? Where would the school be? Would you have to go off to some university somewhere? Think maybe you could be take these classes at home. I think they now call that, (homebound). Wonder what all would be taught? What kind of test would be given? What about those, final exams? What kind of material, would one need for study? Where would one find that material? First of all, Well, first of all, what is Love?

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.

Well, whata you know? Wasn't so hard to find out what Love is. Was it? Well, if God is Love, and I want to make straight A's in Love,   Maybe I better start finding about about God. I always thought Love, was something you feel. If Love is God,    then I should feel it.    Shouldn't I?    You know there's people I know, that I just dearly Love. Don't I?   Well yeah,   I know I do, because I f-e-e-l it.    Hmm! If God is Love, shouldn't I be feeling it for Him? You know, I want to be loved. Don't you?    Wonder if God wants to be Loved?

Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy[1], and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

[1] 2617. checed, kheh'-sed; from H2616; kindness; by impl. (towards God) piety; rarely (by opp.) reproof, or (subject.) beauty:--favour, good deed (-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.

Goodliness, Loving kindness, Merciful kindness. Well that was easy to find out. God wants Love. Wonder what He wants Love for?  - - What do you want Love for? -  Because it feels good. Does God have feelings? Does He feel L-o-v-e?

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Pleasure? Well, isn't that a feeling? Don't you get that, when, you're in L-o-v-e? Well of course you do. Well how much pleasure do you get,   when you're in L-o-v-e? - - Just how much in L-o-v-e are you? - - How much L-o-v-e,  - do you give? If Loving someone, or something, produces pleasure, Boy one ought to try to get into that.   Don't you think? - - You know, you gotta be careful, what you get yourself into. If you're gonna get yourself into R-e-a-l Love, then you're getting into God. How does one do that? Well, there in Hosea 6:6 it says, that God wants Love and not sacrifice, and for you to get to know Him. You see, God knows if you get to know him, you w-i-l-l, Love Him. Well, how can I get to know Him, -  (God)? You know I'm gonna have to be around Him,   to get to know him.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Well, it's beginning to sound a lot easier. All I gotta do is get in the Word. What W-o-r-d? The B-I-B-L-E. That's the word. About all of us, got one. Laying around somewhere. Maybe I oughta pick it up, knock the dust off, and open it up. You know I really don't want to just pass, I want to make straight A's in Love. I really want to get in G-O-O-D with the teacher. Wonder if I brought the teacher an apple every day, b-r-i-be Him, just a little bit, just t-e-l-l Him I love Him, - - maybe I wouldn't have to study so much? Maybe He would just pass me? Just fly right on through. With a big smile on my face.  And His to!  Oh! but wait.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Hmm! I better not do that. Maybe I better really study for this one. I mean, - - -  I really want this one.

Isa 34:16 Seek ye out of the book, of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

Y-e-a-h, I'd better, r-e-a-l-l-y get into this one. I'd better get to know Him. (This God). I'd better get into that BOOK. The BIBLE.

Some warnings from God's Word.

(1 John 4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Remember. Be careful what you get yourself into.

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

There's  lots of warnings in God's Word about this very thing. False prophets and false teachers. - - Deception, -  that seems to be the big game, - here in the end time. Be s-u-r-e to check them out in God's Word. Every one who claims to be a teacher or preacher of It.

(1 John 4:2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

(1 John 4:3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

(1 John 4:4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

(1 John 4:5) They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

(1 John 4:6) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Every one can hear. But can they hear with understanding? Or do they even want to.

How can we tell when we are Loving God's way?

(1 John 4:7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

(1 John 4:8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Just repeated that verse for emphasis.

(1 John 4:9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

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

Propitiation! What's propitiation?

[1]2434. hilasmos, hil-as-mos'; atonement, i.e. (concr.) an expiator:--propitiation.

When did He first Love us? He created us. We are all His.

Isa 57:16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
Ezek 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

(1 John 4:11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

(1 John 4:12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Can we Love something we can't see? Oh, - When you get to feeling it, you'll see it. - - - With your mind.

(1 John 4:13) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

(1 John 4:14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

(1 John 4:15) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

You know, - if you don't love someone, you don't even want to be around them. If God Dwells in you, He l-o-v-e-s ya.

(1 John 4:16) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Just like the Bible says of marriage. The two are as one.

(1 John 4:17) 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.

Just like on graduation day, You're bold and anxious to meet the world. We can be just as anxious, and without any apprehension, facing judgment day.

(1 John 4:18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

(1 John 4:19) We love him, because he first loved us.

(1 John 4:20) If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Now that's a good one to think about.

(1 John 4:21) And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

(1 John 5:1) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

(1 John 5:2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

(1 John 5:3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

We'll certainly have no grief on graduation, - - uh (judgment), day.

(1 John 5:4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the, victory, that overcometh the world, even our faith.

On graduation day, didn't you feel some sort of victory?  Imagine what it gonna feel like on the b-i-g, -  graduation day.

(1 John 5:5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Hey, you want to be an over-comer? Just believe.

(1 John 5:6) 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.

(1 John 5:7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost and these three are one.

Hey, God's keeping records.

(1 John 5:8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

(1 John 5:9) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

(1 John 5:10) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

(1 John 5:11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Quite a graduation gift. - - Life forever.

(1 John 5:12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

You either got it, - - or you don't.

(1 John 5:13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

You can know you're going to graduate, before graduation day.

(1 John 5:14) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

(1 John 5:15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

God, demonstrating His Love.

(Jer 31:3) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

(Hosea 11:1) When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

(Mal 1:2) I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

Mal 1:3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

Do a little study on Esau. Find out why God didn't have good feelings toward him.

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Oh, what Love.

Jesus demonstrated Love toward Lazarus.

(John 11:32) Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

(John 11:33) When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned[1] in the spirit, and was troubled[1],

[1] 1690. embrimaomai, em-brim-ah'-om-ahee; from G1722 and brimaomai (to snort with anger); to have indignation on, i.e. (trans.) to blame, (intrans.) to sigh with chagrin, (spec.) to sternly enjoin:--straitly charge, groan, murmur against.
[2] 5015. tarasso, tar-as'-so; of uncert. affin.; to stir or agitate (roil water):--trouble.

Jesus showed a little, or maybe a lot of disgust. He was certainly agitated.

(John 11:34) And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

(John 11:35) Jesus wept.

(John 11:36) Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

They all could plainly see the Love Jesus had for Lazarus.

(John 11:37) And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

(John 11:38) Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Groaning. - Same meaning as before.

(John 11:39) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

(John 11:40) Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

(John 11:41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

(John 11:42) And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus must have had a lot of Love for us, to make such a demonstration. To bring Lazarus back from the peace and bliss he must have been in, to the flesh life once again. I believe that is why Jesus cried. What credentials, He was putting forth, to prove, He was, who He said He was.

(John 11:43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

(John 11:44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

I heard a person say one time that if Jesus had not called Lazarus's name, that everyone in the graveyard, would have came forth. Something to think about.

The soul of Lazarus must have been standing close by. Another dimension? - - I think so, waiting for Jesus to command him. See verse 4 where I think this was preplanned.

John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

(John 11:45) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

If everyone thought this was a great thing, raising someone from the dead. Just wait till Jesus raises Himself, from the dead.

The remaining few verses is Jesus talking of Love. The Teacher of all Teachers.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

John 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Now it didn't say, you had to turn around three times, go dip seven times in the bathtub, or walk down the sawdust trail. Just believe. You know, we graduate from High School or College, We go out into the world to try to make it. We graduate from God's Word, We go out into Eternity, and boy, have we made it. Straight A's In L-O-V-E.

John 15:13 Greater love, hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Be sure to bring this verse in mind, when you're thinking about our men out there somewhere, in the world, fighting for freedom.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Now, after they hung Jesus on the cross, and He hung there dying. for you and for me. He forgave them. Now that, is LOVE.

How would you like to make straight A's in Love? - -  You know, God has given us all the answers to the test.  - - How would one go about making straight A's in Love?  - - It should be pretty obvious by now.  - -  If you could find out how to make straight A's in Love, wouldn't you just L-o-v-e it?     Have ya, found out, anything about it? If one were being graded in Love, wouldn't one have to be taking a class in love? You've been in class. Will you, or I, pass the test? Do we have to go off to some university somewhere?  -  No, - - just get in God's word. Think maybe you could take these classes at home. Yeah, they do call that homebound. Get into God's Word, and you'll be Home Bound.    (Heaven Bound).

Thanks, for allowing me, to share this with you. Remember, to always, study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

In His Word,
Art Porter

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