Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.33 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.32 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.31 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.30 by Norm Wakefield

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Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.27 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.26 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.25 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.24 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.20-23 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.19 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragment John 9.18 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.17 by Norm Wakefield

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Live to Love Encouragement John 9.15 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.13-14 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.12 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragements John 9.11 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.10 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.9 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.8 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.7 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.6 by Norm Wakefield

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Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.4 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.3 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.2 by Norm Wakefield

Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 9.1 by Norm Wakefield

John 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. The devil had heard Jesus' prophecy earlier, and it seems he tried to short circuit God's plan by rousing the crowd at this point to stone Jesus to death. There are no details as to how Jesus hid Himself, but this we know: it wasn't God's time or way for Him to die. He had more to do before love had completed its course in Him. It had already been determined that He would be crucified, lifted up for all to see. His life wouldn't be taken from Him. He was to lay it down of His own accord in obedience to His Father. So it is with us. God has given us another day to live to love with Jesus. Until that ministry is completed, God hides us in His hands and puts people in our paths that He wants to love. May we stay in the flow of His love today. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:56-58, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." Jesus implied that if they were Abraham's children, they would see that Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise Abe looked forward to. Here's what Abe saw and rejoiced in. Hebrews 11:10, 13 “For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God…All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” The question for us is this: Have we seen Jesus' day and rejoiced in it? If so, we also consider ourselves strangers and aliens on the earth as we wait expectantly for the city God has built for us. The Jew's response was their way of saying, "There is no way you could know that about Abraham!" They had no idea who they were talking with. If they had known Jesus was God, they would have hung on to every word He spoke. So it is with everyone who believes Jesus is God, the light, the life, and the source of living water. May all who read these words hang on to everything He has said. Jesus left no doubt as to who He is. He is the eternal, coexisting, almighty Son of God who took on flesh. If Jesus isn't God in the flesh, this statement makes Him appear deluded or, to the Jews, it makes Him a blasphemous imposter worthy of death. What is our takeaway from His declaration? Jesus' life is eternal life, so the life we have in us is eternal. We who believe in Him will never die. He came in the flesh so that His death would become our death, and His eternal life become ours—a life whose nature is love. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:53-55 Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be? "Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. It is our sinful nature to make ourselves out to be something we're not. That was the sin of Adam and Eve—thinking that if they ate of the forbidden fruit, they might make themselves to be like God. The people thought Jesus was discontent, like they were—and projected their insecurity onto Him. It's tempting to project what we are guilty of on others we don't understand. But Jesus wasn't "making Himself” out to be something He wasn't. He is who and what God is. John 8:54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.'” May we give up making ourselves and receive what God gives us with contentment and security. That is love for God and comes from knowing He loves us. This comment is Jesus' response to the Jews asking who Jesus was making himself out to be. His point is that He isn't making Himself out to be anything. He doesn't need to. Let's not miss this. If any man glorifies himself, that glory is nothing. Remember what Paul said to the Romans. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (3:23). The only glory that can be called glory is that which is bestowed by the Father, God. What is the glory that God, the Father, bestows on His Son? "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world" (Jo. 4:24). It is His love! And Jesus wants us to see it, so we will! The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves us as the Father has loved Him, and we love one another with Him. So when we live to love with Jesus, we are receiving glory from the Father and the Son as we glorify God. According to Jesus, to say we have God, and yet not know Him, is to live a lie. According to John, to know God, who is love, and not live to love with Him is also a lie. "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8). Surely he learned that from Jesus. The Spirit of Christ in us knows God and keeps His word. Let us listen to and live to love with Him for God's glory, not our own. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:52 The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.' They couldn't believe their ears. They had never heard of such a thing as someone never tasting death. I'm so glad we live on this side of the cross. Never tasting death is a thing because Jesus tasted death for us. Listen to Heb. 2:9. “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” Jesus' death was a substitutionary death. If we let the Scripture above inform us as to who the “everyone” is in Heb. 2:9, we know He tasted death for those who would keep His word. Those who believe in Jesus as the resurrection and the life will never die. Jesus said this to Martha when she came to Jesus after Lazarus, her brother, had died. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this' ” (John 11:25-26)? Martha did believe it, but when Jesus spoke of it to the Jews, they couldn't believe it. They didn't believe it because they did not receive His word. How about you? Have you believed in Jesus Christ and kept His word? To keep His word is to believe it to the end of your life. It's to surrender your life to Him so that He lives His life in you for the glory of the Father. We know that if we live with Him now, we will live with Him forever—and never taste of death. We have eternal life, and that life is a life of love. Father, glorify Your name through Your Son. Thank you for giving Him to taste death for us. Thank you for giving Him the grace to suffer for us so that we might never taste death. Give us also the grace to die to ourselves so that He might live through us today. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death." This is the 5th reference in John 7-8 to "my word". What word did Jesus speak that if one keeps it, they won't see death? I think it is both of these. John 7:37-38. Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" AND John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." If you never want to die? Hold fast to both words. Believe in Him for living water and follow Him as the Light of the world. These verses in Hebrews came to mind as I thought about never dying. Hebrews 2:14-15. “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Those who believe and trust in Jesus do not need to be afraid of death. It's not happening to them. Death is separation from God, and Jesus said He is the life. Yes, our bodies (our temporary tents) wear out and can be destroyed because of sin, but we transition into a permanent new body with Jesus. Those who fear death can be enslaved by Satan and evil people who use that fear to control them for personal gain. We are watching it happen on a global scale. Perfect love casts out this fear and sets us free to live and love with Jesus! Hallelujah!! I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:48-50, The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges.” We see that Satan's tactics haven't changed. When truth and reality are not on your side, attack the messenger with false accusations. They did it in Jesus' day and still do it today. Censor the truth by demonizing the ones who speak it in hopes people will ignore what's being said and buy into the lie. Beware those who attack the character of people and refuse to seek the truth. The sure way to walk in the truth is to live to love with Jesus. They say He has a demon because He honors His Father and speaks the truth. They totally misunderstood Jesus because He wasn't what or who they were expecting. What can we learn? May we honor all those who honor the Father. That is the spirit of Christ. We honor the Father by loving with Jesus. Jesus honors the Father by loving with Him. Jesus did not seek His own glory after healing people. The Father glorified His Son by healing when Jesus spoke in His name. That's why He said previously that He honored His Father. We follow this pattern as we love in Jesus' name, trusting Him to glorify His name. We don't love so people will give us glory. We should love for His glory and namesake. The Father seeks those who worship Him in Spirit and truth, and He's the One who judges if Jesus' life is the genesis of everyone's worship. We give Jesus the worship He deserves as we love with Him today. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:46-47 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." Jesus asked, “Which one of you convicts me of sin?” The answer: no one. We trust and place our hope in a sinless man. There has only been one—Jesus. Hear and believe the word of the Lord. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Those who are of God (born of God—created and loved in Christ before the foundation of the world) have ears to hear the words of God. Hearing and believing is evidence of those who belong to Christ and were given to Him by His Father. It is the gospel, the words of God, that are the revealer of truth. The reason someone can't hear isn't because he or she is stubborn, ignorant, mentally disabled, underprivileged, or hard of hearing. The reason the gospel falls on deaf ears is because they are of their father, the devil. Thus says the Son of God who knows and speaks the truth from His Father. To discover those who are of God, speak God's word and the gospel. Then watch their response. Those who are of God will respond in faith and obedience. Jesus is the perfect, sinless, spotless lamb of God, sent into this world to take away the sins of all who believe in Him. With grateful hearts, we praise Your name, O Lord, our redeemer and friend. We love you and humble ourselves in your presence. We have received Your word, and ask that You fill us so we can love out of Your fullness for Your glory. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:43-45, Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. One of the signs of the devil's children is that they hear but don't hear. In Matthew 13:13 Jesus said, “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” One of the most dangerous places to be is in a spiritual and Bible-rich environment. One may think they are one of God's children merely because they have heard and know Scriptures all of their lives. But if the word they heard didn't find a place in them, and they submit themselves to it and obey it, then they didn't really hear or understand it. We cannot hear Jesus' words until God overpowers the effects of sin and gives us hearts/ears to hear them. The devil blinds the mind and dulls the hearing. But hearing comes from the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17). Our salvation is all grace. Where sin abounds, grace much more abounds. If you have heard the word of truth, the gospel, and have believed, then you are, by God's doing, in Christ Jesus. Rejoice! Give thanks! Live to love with Him. It is the nature of the devil to murder and lie. It is the nature of God to love and speak truth. Father, deliver us from the evil one and his influence, and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Love through us today for your glory. Where would we be if we didn't believe Jesus and the words of truth He spoke? We would be in darkness and living a lie. We would base our lives on our own "truth," which would be a lie. What is the truth? We were all born children of the devil with hostility toward God, unable to subject ourselves to God's law. Jesus alone is true, good, and righteous. He is God's son and our only hope for salvation and deliverance from sin's power and curse. When He saves us, we see the truth about our sin and the hope of the gospel revealed in Christ, so we repent of believing the lie that we are good, and we believe in, trust in, and submit to Jesus. To God be the glory! I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:41-42, Jesus said to them, “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.” How could they be so deceived? They were born into religious families. Have and know the Scriptures. Try not to break God's laws. Think of themselves as better than worldly people. Pray daily. Offer sacrifices. Pay tithes. Zealous to expose hypocrites and false teachers. They think God is their father, yet they have no place in their hearts for Jesus' words and want to kill Him. They don't love Him. That's sobering and convicting. How could they be so deceived? Easily. And so can anyone who has such a pedigree, thinks they know better than Jesus and can live without Him. These people were living for God. They weren't living with Him. Our churches are filled with people living for God, but who don't love Him or love with Him. Hopefully that's not true of you. May we be stunned and humbled by God's grace and love that keeps our hearts dependent on Him. The Father loves the Son, so everyone born of the Father loves the Son. In fact, it also makes sense that they also love everyone else born of the Father. It's the way they honor their Father in heaven—love their fellow brothers and sisters. If the Father loves them, we love them with Him. If Jesus loves them, we love them with Him. If someone separates from/rejects one who is born of God, he dishonors the Father and might as well kill Jesus. What Jesus said about Himself is also true of us who believe in Him. We are in this world because God sent us to live to love in His name. We did not choose Him, (did not come on our own initiative) but He chose us. Faith came to us as evidence that we have proceeded forth from God—born of God. As John wrote in his letter, "as He is, so also are we in this world" (1 John 4:17). Jesus came into this world to glorify His Father by loving with Him. We are in this world to glorify the Father by living to love with Jesus. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:39-40, They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.” When Abraham heard the truth from God, he believed and obeyed. He had a place in His heart for God's word, which showed God was at work. When the devil is at work, people reject God's word and the truth, and seek a way to silence the messenger. Hold fast to the word of God and stir afresh your love for Jesus. Beware of anyone who has gone down the path of cancelling parts of the word of God. We are encouraged by these verses to love the truth. If we love the truth, we love the words of Jesus. The Pharisees and rulers of the Jews didn't love the truth. The apostle Paul speaks of those who don't love the truth in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. He spoke of… …the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. The Pharisees were obviously in accord with the activity of Satan. They were entangled in the deception of wickedness because they didn't love the truth. Therefore, God sent a deluding influence so that they would believe the lies of the devil. Loving the truth protects us from going down this road to destruction. I trust that you love the truth, because you probably wouldn't be listening to this podcast if you didn't. My aim is to lift up Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life, who is the only way to the Father. Jesus has promised to be with all who believe forever. His life lived in us for the glory of His Father. What a privilege it is for us today to live for the purpose of loving with Jesus because we love the truth. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:37-38, “I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." Look around you and marvel at all the people in the media, entertainment, educational, and political world who have no place for God's word to abide. They would kill Jesus if He were here and rid the world of everyone who has an open, hungry heart for Jesus. The lines were drawn in Jesus' day, and they are clearly drawn today. Jesus and His words have and will always be the focus of our faith and love and the reason for the world's hatred, cancellation, and murder. We speak and do according to our spiritual root or source—our father. We are identified by our spiritual father. He defines us. In the big scheme of things, there are only two fathers—God and the devil. When we are born of a human father the devil's seed of sin is in us (Psalms 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me”). When we are born again by God, the Father, His seed of the Holy Spirit is planted in us, creating a place for Jesus and His word. Their father, the devil, is a murderer (that's why they wanted to kill Him). God is love. Is there a place in you for the word of the Lord? Is God's word advancing in your life? That's what the word translated place infers. If not, you may be deluded into thinking you aren't of the devil because you have heard it and know it. If God's word is taking up more space in your life and transforming the way you live, do you realize that is a merciful, gracious, miraculous work of the Father? The evidence of having a new Father is that we believe in Jesus and have His love in our lives. Jesus' word to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34) has a place in us. That's why we live to love with Jesus today. We will do the things we hear from our Lord Jesus because we are from His Father. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:33-36 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." Jesus' statement about being a slave of sin is sobering, isn't it? Every human being, but Jesus, has been a slave of sin. We were born enslaved to sin, and thus live for ourselves without Jesus. We practice sinning (that's the idea behind the two words, “commits sin”). Sin reigns in all who are not united with Christ through faith. If someone thinks they are free without Jesus, they are enslaved to sin. To continue to reject Jesus as God's only acceptable sacrifice and savior is to continue in sin. That's what slaves of sin do—they live in their own strength and foolishness. One of the dangers of growing up with a spiritual legacy is to think one is right with God because they grew up in church and have heard the gospel and know the Scriptures. One of the signs of a self-deceived person is that they place their hope in the faith of their descendants, their heritage, their pedigree. Jesus told them that everyone who believes in Him may be free from sin's dominion. What good news! Everyone who knows they are slaves of sin wants to be free. These Jews thought they were free when in reality they were slaves, so Jesus' invitation was viewed as a condemnation. They were blinded by their self-deception. Paul wrote to the Galatians, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery" (Gal. 5:1). May we stand firm in the freedom of Christ. The old selfish, angry, bitter, ambitious, proud man died at the cross. The new man, the life of Jesus, frees us to love. Jesus lives to love and do God's will in those who believe in Him. He makes us slaves of righteousness, which is the essence of freedom from sin. The apostle Paul stated this clearly in Romans 6:16-18. Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. To be a slave of righteousness is to be a slave of love. May glorifying God by loving with Jesus be our passion. Thank you, Jesus, for this amazing grace!!! We are free to love with You. Hallelujah! Jesus is the Son of God and heir of all things. So He has authority over all things, and if He declares you are free from sin's slavery, then you are free indeed—forever!!!!!!! Free from sins dominion. Free from sin's curse (death). Free to obey Him. Free to live and love with Jesus. To God be the glory. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:30-32 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." The first step of true faith is to become Jesus' disciple, which means we have an insatiable appetite for His word. We continue in it. It's our true meat and drink that satisfies our souls like nothing else. The word from the world loses its appeal, and we repent of following the voices of the culture, religious and secular. That was an impossible choice for those who heard Him then. Only the Spirit of God can make a disciple of Christ. May we continue in His word today and forever. Living to love with Jesus (abiding in Him and His word) is walking in the truth that makes us free. It frees us from sin and selfishness, shame, condemnation, and fear. As we continue in His word, we learn this truth: apart from Him, we can do nothing. He is the light and love of our lives. Thank you, Jesus, for teaching us that you are the way, the truth, and the life. Love through us today. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:29 And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." Thank you, Jesus, for always pleasing our Father and giving us the gift of your righteousness. We are so loved! Knowing that in You, we are pleasing to God, fills our hearts with hope and joy. To know with confidence that You are with us as we live to love with You gives us assurance as we face this day. You have sent us so we know You are with us. Make Your name glorious and stir our love afresh today. Amen. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. Jesus couldn't do anything apart from His Father. He didn't start things and then ask His Father to bless them. If Jesus didn't do anything on His own initiative, then that means His entire life was a life of receiving, like a child receives from his parents. Jesus punctuated this point when some parents brought their children for Jesus to bless them, and His disciples tried to prevent them from interrupting their conversation on marriage. It's in Mark 10:14-15. “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Apparently, the attitude necessary for entering the kingdom of God is a humble, do-nothing-on-my-own-initiative attitude, knowing our Father in heaven loves us and gives us everything we need to glorify Him in and through Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus spoke what the Father taught Him, we speak what the Father teaches us through His Son. In this instance, Jesus prophesied that the Pharisees and rulers would crucify Him. That's what is meant by “lift up the Son of Man.” What will they know? They will see Jesus receive being crucified as from the Father in heaven. He will not resist. He will not act on His own initiative to get out of what the Father wills. When they see Him abiding in His Father's work, they will know that He is the Son of God and the Messiah. God has not called us to die for the sins of the world, so when difficult and dangerous situations arise, we don't naively ignore opportunities God provides to escape from them. However, when there is no avenue of escape, then we can expect God to give grace to suffer and love for those who cause it. Living to love with Jesus occurs as we abide in Him, doing nothing of our own initiative. Like Jesus, we are to receive all of life from the Father, with its circumstances and relationships, whether comforting and encouraging, or painful and grievous. We trust that He will give us the ideas, inclinations, motivations, and wisdom that each situation requires as we look to Him for grace. We glorify the Father through being most satisfied in His will and love as we receive what comes from our Father. Jesus said that apart from Him, we can do nothing (Jo. 15:5). The heart of Jesus is in us, so may we humble ourselves and wait on Him to initiate our words and actions. As we live abiding in Christ, others will know that we are children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:26-27 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world. They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. When we read the words of Jesus, we are reading the words of God, His Father! His words are true. We can believe them and rely on them. They are life-giving and fruit-producing. To receive and heed His words is to love the Father and the Son. Receiving the words of Christ is also vital to living to love with Him. Jesus left His disciples with these words, recorded in John 15:7-11. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit [the fruit is faith and love], and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. God has called all of the followers of His Son to life in and with Christ. Jesus came to love with His Father as He abided in Him and His words. We love with Jesus as we abide in Him and His words. These words, spoken in the world, are the words of the Father and they are true. This begs a question. Are we more interested in reading and digesting the words of the world than we are the words of our God and creator? If so, may we repent and renew our minds with the words of God. May we stir our love for Jesus afresh by meditating on His words and not be afraid to speak them to the world. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:25 So they were saying to Him, "Who are You?" Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning? In John's first epistle, he wrote what they heard from the beginning. 1 John 1:1, 5-7. What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life —This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Jesus is the Word of Life and revealed that God is Light by walking in the light of His Father's word. We have the light of Life in us, and that light is the love of God. We are sent into this world just as Jesus was sent. As we live to love with Jesus we bring His light into the world. This is an issue of identity. They asked Jesus, “Who are You?” He had told them that He was the Light of the world. We live to love because of who Jesus is and who we are. We are His children within whom the Light of Life, the Light of the world, dwells. His light shines through us as we love with Him. Every small act of love from the life of Jesus in you is a flash of light in the darkness. Don't think that only the big things matter or that love can only be shown on a large stage in front of many people. A glass of water given in love to your child is evidence of the Light of the world. A kind word of encouragement to the grocery clerk can bring glory to God if it's through Christ. May we live your lives in such a way that others will ask the question, “Who are you?” Let's be ready to share with others who we are and the hope we have in Jesus. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:21-24 Then He said again to them, "I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come." So the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." Nothing could be more tragic than to die in your sin—to breathe your last breath united to sin. Jesus was raised to heaven, and no one can go there if they are still united with sin—the weight of which sinks one into hell forever. In stark contrast, how beautiful and humbling it is to breathe one's last breath united to Jesus Christ! His death removed the curse and weight of sin, and His resurrection raised us up to be seated with Christ in heaven. Rejoice, if you are united with Christ! How do sinners get free from their sin? Only by believing and trusting in the testimony of God—that Jesus is His son, sent to be united with our sins and give His life to break the power of sin and death by His righteousness. To repent and believe, we break off from our love for self and trust in our own righteousness, and surrender our lives completely to Him, trusting in His sacrifice, righteousness, and love. The Pharisees would not do that because they did not believe the Father's testimony about His son—Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. We live to love with Jesus because we have been united with Him by God's doing. It is important to note that the topic is death and note who is in on the discussion: Jesus, the Pharisees, and the Jews. Jesus addressed both groups, and their thinking is recorded. The setting is the temple, and it's a week of feasting and rejoicing in God's deliverance and provision in the wilderness. The Jews were looking for Jesus (7:11). Jesus taught and identified Himself with the water God provided in the wilderness. He is the actual satisfying water of life (7:37-38). Many of the Jews believed Jesus (7:31). Others wanted to seize Him but didn't (7:30). Feel the conflict among the crowd and between Jesus and the unbelieving Jews. There stood Jesus, the Light, and those in darkness could not see the glory of God in the face of Christ. Today we can celebrate again God giving us the Light. We are from below and are of this world. He is not of this world, which is why He can save us. No man from this world would say, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” I hope to encourage all who hear my voice to believe that Jesus is the Light of the world and the Light of Life (8:12) come from above to save us from our sins and from this world of darkness. Believe that Jesus is the Light of the world so that you won't die in your sins. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:19-20, So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also. These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come. What is meant by “His hour”? I think “hour” could be synonymous to “time”. “His”—a possessive pronoun. Whatever “hour” is, it belongs to Him. Is it His hour of testing? Hour of temptation? Hour of suffering? Hour of power? Hour of prayer? Hour of glory? All are true. But notice that His hour is the same as the Father's hour. The Father determined it and orchestrated it, and the Son authorized it. The hour began when Judas left the upper room at Jesus' command. John 13:31-32 “Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, 'Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.'” God's love controls every “hour” of our lives. He gives them to us so we might glorify Him. May we glorify our Father in heaven in every hour as we live to love with Jesus. To know Jesus is to know His Father—God Himself. If you know what Jesus loves, you know what God loves. Of Jesus, the Father says, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.” (Hebrews 1:9). Do we love righteousness and hate lawlessness? Let's give Him freshly stirred love for righteousness today. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:17-18 Even in your law, it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." The testimony of the Father about Jesus is the same as Jesus' testimony about Himself. The Father's miraculous work through Jesus testified that Jesus was His Son. The unity of their testimony gives us confidence to recognize Jesus' lordship, entrust our lives to Him, and trust Him for our salvation. The Father's testimony through His Son is that God is love, and He is still testifying through us that He is love as we live to love with Jesus. Our testimonies are not what we do for God, but what He does for and through us. The Father testified about Jesus by working through and with Him. Be in awe at the corollary: Jesus testifies that He is with us, and we are His by loving through and with us. So we can testify about ourselves that we are His if we say the same things Jesus does and love like He loves. If Jesus sent us into this world to be the revelation of His love, He will testify about us by filling us with love for Him and love for others. What glory to God, and what a privilege and joy for Jesus and us. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:15-16, You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Amazing! In this case, Jesus was not judging anyone because the Father wasn't judging. That's what love looked like in that instance. How often do we judge according to the flesh when we should not be judging at all—as an act of love with Jesus? It seems, if anyone deserved judgment in this case, it was the Pharisees. If He isn't judging them because He's entrusting them to the Father, shouldn't we do the same with those who seem like our adversaries? Otherwise, we are "judging according to the flesh." The next time we feel compelled to judge someone, it might be wise to check to see if we are reacting in the flesh as the Pharisees were. It will free us to love with Jesus. What is truth? It is what God does, sees, judges, and testifies to with His Son. Individuality is the flesh and is what the world praises and worships. Union with God reveals the truth. Living to love with Jesus reveals not individual goodness or righteousness, but the truth that a person is no longer an individual, but is a life united with God. May we be filled with thanksgiving and praise for the miracle of new life in Christ, revealed as we love with Him. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:13-14, So the Pharisees said to Him, "You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true." Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going." The Pharisees didn't know, but now it is known. Jesus came from the Father in Heaven, and He went back to the Father in Heaven. He came to take away all our sins—everything that separates us from Him. He went back to the Father to intercede for us, so the Father would send us His Spirit to be with us forever and empower us with His presence to live and love with Him. His love in us is His testimony, and it is true. The Pharisees demanded more than one's own testimony about himself. They were looking for more proof of where Jesus was from before they would believe Him. Jesus' proof of where He was from was the work of the Father. Earlier in John 5:36-37, Jesus had told them, “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish — the very works that I do — testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me.” In the same way, Jesus testifies about us that we are His disciples by the works He does in us. In John 13:34-35, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 15:7-8 repeats this truth. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” Did you notice Jesus said, “It will be done for you?” Jesus loving in us is His testimony that we are from Him, just as the Father loving in Jesus is His testimony about where Jesus was from. That's why I have concluded that God saved us to glorify Himself through His Son loving in, through, and with us. In short, we glorify God by living to love with Jesus. Where are we from? We are from God. Where are we going? We are going to God in heaven. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.