Agape love is NOT as much a feeling as it is a response. God commands us to AGAPE. He is not commanding us toward a feeling. He is commanding us to surrender to an act of His Spirit which results in obedience. Emotion may accompany agape love but emotion and agape are NOT THE SAME.

Agape is not fueled by the DESIRE of its recipient; it is fueled by the NEED. John 3:16 “For God so [agape] the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If God had done what man desired, we would be lost. Agape means God did what humanity most NEEDED. He pursued in us that which was highest and best.

As we get into the Agape love, it will become clearer about the difference and shows that Philos love is still human love and open to all the emotional garbage that humans bring with us in our relationships.

For now, focus on the agape love as being the good that all humans need… not necessarily what they want. As we get into the 15 characteristics from 1 Corinthians 13, we will see the details we need to understand how agape love allows us to love people we otherwise couldn’t love in ways we can’t possibly understand without the Holy Spirit.

eskielover, Debbie

15 Characteristics of Agape:
1) is PATIENT (Greek: makrothumia “a person who is able to avenge himself yet refrains from doing so”)
Romans 12: 17-21
Mark the following statements correct (C) or incorrect (I):
1: We should make every effort to live peaceably with “everyone”
2: When we have been wronged, we should not take revenge because God is not angered by such behavior.
3: We should treat our enemies as they treat us.
4: Evil is most likely to be overcome with good.
Proverbs 25:21-22
What response of God is added to Paul’s words in Romans?

2) Is KIND (Greek: chresteuomai “to show oneself useful”)
what Martha was searching for from Mary in the kitchen while Mary was seeking the better thing.

3) Does not ENVY (Greek: zeloo “to be zealous, a passionate sense of jealousy’)
Acts 7:9
What act did envy or jealousy spur?

4) Does NOT BOAST (Greek: perpereuomai “braggart”)
1 Corinthians 1: 27-29
Why did God choose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise?
1 Corinthians 1: 31
What is the only grounds for boasting?

5) Is NOT PROUD
What negative consequences resulted from pride in the following Scriptures?
2 Chronicles 26:16
Psalm 10:4
Proverbs 11:2
Daniel 5:20
Obadiah 3
Jeremiah 13:17

2 Chronicles 32:26
What positive consequence came from repenting of pride?
Proverbs 13:10
“pride only breeds quarrels” The last time you quarreled with someone, was any pride involved on your part? (explain)

6) is NOT RUDE (Greek: aschemoneo)
Philippians 4:8

7) is NOT SELF-SEEKING
2 Timothy 3:2

8. is NOT EASILY ANGERED
Would you say you are: slow to anger? quick to anger?
Is much of your anger based on getting your feelings hurt?
Psalm 145:8
What does this tell us about God’s anger?
Proverbs 15:1
What is the key for dealing with anger?
Proverbs 15:18
How does your reaction affect stressful situations?
Proverbs 16:32
Why do you think someone who exercises self-control is greater than a world conqueror?
Proverbs 19:11
How does a person receive glory?
Proverbs 21:19
How can you make life miserable for yourself & others
Proverbs 22:24-25
Why is the company you keep important?

9) Keeps no record of wrongs
Psalm 103:10-14
Give an example of God’s agape toward you
Hebrews 10:16-18
Which best describes God’s ability to forgive & forget?
Superior, excellent, adequate, poor
What would help you be a better “forgetter” of wrongs?
1: letting God be in charge of justice &/or revenge
2: not indulging in self-pity
3: focusing on the future, not the past
4: disciplining my thoughts toward the wholesome & productive
5: other________________________________________

10) does NOT delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
Psalm 119:29-32
How would your life be different if you could wholeheartedly embrace the words & attitude of the psalm?

11) always PROTECTS (Greek: stego “to cover over in silence”)
1 Corinthians 13:7
Never exposing the faults of others to others
1 Peter 4:8
What does agape do?

12) always TRUSTS (Greek: pisteuo “having faith in someone”)

13) always HOPES (Greek: elpizo “to expect with desire”)
2 Corinthians 8:22-24

14) always PERSEVERES (Greek: hupomeno “to remain under” “hang in there”)

15) NEVER FAILS (Greek: ekpipto “to be without effect, to be in vain”)

John 3:16 & Galatians 5:22: Agape is divine love…..Love of God expressed through us to others as we are incapable of exercising that kind of love by ourselves.

AGAPE in Action:
Romans 5:8, John 3:16, 1 John 4:9
What 2 factors do these verses have in common (the remaining characteristic of agape)
(Sacrifices, is demonstrative [always shows])
John 17
How does Christ show His love in each of the following verses?
John 17:6
John 17:8
John 17:9
John 17:12
John 17:19
John 17:22
John 17:23
John 17:24
John 17:26

John 13:34-35
How will we be known as Christ’s disciple?
1John 3:11-24
Note everything you learn about the demonstration of agape
How can we know that we belong to the truth & set our hearts at rest in God’s presence (18-19)
For God is _______ than our ________.

1 John 4:7-21
Where is the only place you can receive agape?
1 John 4:13 & 1 John 3:24
How do we know that we live in God & He lives in us?

What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit & agape?
Romans 5:5
How has God equipped our hearts to possess agape?
1 John 4:21
What is the command?

Matthew 22:36-40
True love is not blind
1 Corinthians 13:13

Write the names of people you “love” the most
Do they know without a doubt that you love them?
God both told us He loved us & showed us He loved us…..How do they know you love them? In other words, in what ways are you demonstrating agape?

Is there someone God is calling upon you to agape that you are resisting?
Is your heart the problem?
1 John 3:20
What does it say?
Are you convinced or scared it will never work?
1 Corinthians 13:8
What does it say?
1 Corinthians 14:1

The DVD focuses on Rejection which I think is very important & is tied with love, but is a tangent off of it coming from Love risks rejection & relationships create an environment for rejection. It goes through Word pictures of rejection, Wounds of rejection, & Divine Healing. We can discuss these in chat.

1 Corinthians 7:3-6
Beside herself, to whom does the woman’s body belong?
In the same way, to whom does the man’s body belong?

2. Philos or brotherly love: Friend Love
Luke 14:10
When a person has “philos” love for another, in what position does he place the friend?

Luke 15:8-9
How do friends respond to each other’s joys/sadness?

Luke 21:16
What sad fact about friends/family do you gather from the reading?

Luke 23:8-12
What caused Herod & Pilate to become friends?
(Commonality of evil)

James 2:23
Have you ever made a friend under the wrong conditions? What were those conditions & how did the friendship prove to be a negative influence on one or both of you?

1 Peter 3:8
Several Greek words are derived from the word philos. Peter exhorts us to demonstrate what kind of love?

In Christ, you & I are “blood relatives”. How should our kinship affect our relationship?
Galatians 6:10

How does this reading suggest we treat fellow believers?
1 Thessalonians 5:26
1 Timothy 6:10
(It’s okay with God if we treat fellow believers better than non-believers.)

What does God say about the love of money?
Which kind of person does verse 2 describe?
2 Timothy 3:1-2

How did Jesus respond to this kind of love?
John 12:25

However, I asked a couple of people whom I trust(ed) what their opinion was. My “religion and spiritual mentor” responded that I shouldn’t worry about it since the people she judges as unbelievers, were in fact, judging us and all the time condemning us for it. Another part of the answer was “they all do it.”

This is what the Bible says about the judgement of others. It can’t be any more clear than this.

Mat 7:1 ¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Romans 14:10,13 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought (reduce to nothing) thy brother? for we shall all stand at the judgement seat of Christ.
13- Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occassion to fall in his brother’s way.

Christians have been given a command to use the Bible is a tool of exhortation and reproof of other Christians, yet the very Christians who need the reproof the most, think it’s for reproof of others, not them. Somehow, they are above any reproof.

This is what the Bible says on that:

2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

When a Christian sees the need to help another, using the Bible, it is rejected as if they are above any need of reproof, rejecting the loving help that is offered. They deny that the help offered is done in love and in the interest of that person and their Christian testimony to the world. They may even claim that the reproover is not Christian at all and not showing any of the signs that a Christian filled with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit would naturally show.

These signs or Fruit if the Spirit is as follows:

Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is is no law

The Christian with a beam in their eye can walk in to an assembly of other Christians and will be so wrapped up in themselves that they will not notice the joy and peace that exists where true Chrisitans are assembled even if they’ve had past experience with some of them and know them to be kind and faithful. This person can be so wrapped up in what they perceive as a problem, that the gentleness with which they are treated goes unnoticed.

A Christian with a beam in their own eye is quick to judge and make wrong assumptions to the point of forgetting their own “self-denying, self-sacrificing, Christ-like love which is the foundation of all other graces” and break the trust of those they have called “friend”. They are quick to judge and in so doing, lose their own patience and self control (”Calls for a self-disciplined life following Christ’s example of being in the world but not of the world. - Restraint or discipline exercised over one’s behavior) forgetting the “benevolent concern for the well being of another”. They want what they want and they want it yesterday. They’ve lost their patience before they even think of asking for what they need in a kind and gentle manner. This, indeed, is the beam in their own eye. They can’t see the saplings because of the tree lodged in their own eye. They have behaved in such a manner as to oclude their own Fruit of the Spirit, if they even had it in the first place.

If they would accept the reproof of other Christians, the following would be true:

1 Cor 8:12 But when ye sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ!

Lastly, I would leave this in the hearts and minds of readers:

James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not your tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is but one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: Who art thou that judgest another?

As for those Christians that refuse reproof, that hold themselves above others, this is what the Bible says to you:

[i]James 4:16,17 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Pro 13:1 & 3 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.3- He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction

The service is nearing an end
The choir is singing “Just As I Am”
And now as that old song is played
People at the altar are kneeling down to pray
Some are finding mercy
Forgiveness for their sin
Some are fighting battles
They’ve been struggling to win
The time has come to give them to the Lord
That’s what this altar is for

That’s what this altar is for
You don’t have to carry those burdens anymore
There’s a light in the darkness
And there’s a love that’s true
And Jesus is waiting
Waiting here for you
Go quickly now before they close the door
That’s what this altar is for
I see a father is praying with his son

Momma kneels beside them
Thanking God they’ve come
There’s an old man standing there in tears
Giving up a part of him
He’s held back for years
Hearts are being broken
Lives are being changed
And those who call upon Him
They will never be the same
The time has come to give in to the Lord
That’s what this altar is for

That’s what this altar is for
You don’t have to carry those burdens anymore
There’s a light in the darkness
And there’s a love that’s true
And Jesus is waiting
He is waiting here for you
Go quickly now before they close the door

You can give your burdens to the Lord
That’s what this altar is for

i apologize to those i have harmed, i am trying to learn and grow, i hope we all can stay connected, i dont enjoy losing anyone for anyone reason…

…………….

forgiveness is a matter which i have at times believed in and other times i felt it was completely unnecessary as it involves the concept of fault… when fault is brought into a matter of concern, often there is a great amount of finger pointing, blaming, guilt, and denial.. the flames of passion to those involved in sorting out disagreements sometimes does little more than feed the fire…

So which is it? He admits guilt by asking for foregiveness then he doesn’t believe in forgiveness because it would mean finding fault… in whom? Himself?

My response would have been to show up that indeed this person is pushing a religion, that of Secular Humanism.

Secular Humanism (a religion)–> Secular Ethics –> Moral nihilism (Pronunciation: ‘nī-(h)&-”li-z&m, ‘ne-
Etymology: German Nihilismus, from Latin nihil nothing — more at NIL
1 a : a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless b : a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths
2 a (1) : a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility (2) capitalized : the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination b : TERRORISM)

Moral nihilism, also known as ethical nihilism, is the meta-ethical view that objective morality does not exist; therefore no action is preferable to any other. For example, a moral nihilist would say that killing someone, even purposely or with premeditation, is not inherently right or wrong, although it often breaks legal codes and thus becomes ‘murder’.

As Christians, we know that:
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

BUT

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his (Jesus’) blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1Peter 2:24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Even the world as a whole, by majority, agrees that Right and Wrong do exist!

Words and Music by Lawrence Chewning and Ray Boltz

I have journeyed through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea,
By faith alone, sight unknown,
And yet His eyes were watching me.

The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
Well I have fallen on my knees,
as I faced the raging sea,
But the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.
I’ve had visions and I’ve had dreams;
Well I’ve even held them in my hands,
But I never knew those dreams could slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand.

O, the Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
Well I have fallen on my knees,
as I faced the raging seas.
O, the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.
Now I have been young, but I am older now.
O and there has been beauty these eyes have seen;
But it was in the night, when I faced the storms of my life.
Oh, that’s where God proved His love to me.

The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
I have fallen, fallen down on my knees
as I faced the raging seas.
But the Anchor holds; O, in spite of the storm.
I said I’ve fallen, fallen down on my knees
as I faced the raging seas;
But the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.

Quote:
i think i have chosen unhappiness by choosing to care about the suffering on our planet

The suffering is great and unfathomable to some, I care about the suffering of our planet, as well as what you add to it by being unhappy, and hope you and others can find something at some point to make you truly happy thus lowering the amount of suffering our planet has on it, at some point in time.

Kind Regards

I SO agree with the person who responded to the quote!

I believe that you can care for the world’s pain and all that is wrong in this world and you can do something about it, too, but not let it drag you down into dispondency.

If you know God personally, have accepted his reedeming power through Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit leading you, there is very little suffering on your part. You can be Empathetic to the world’s condition but you don’t have to fall into the pit of dispair. As the Bible says “I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me.” Amen and amen!! I’m here to tell you!