Love Was Born in a Stable

L ove was born in a stable for our example, so that we may learn to walk in humility toward one another and to give us a new commandment to love one another as He first loved us.  Peace and Joy comes from the source of love that is Christ  alone.

We are living in dark and evil times; very much of the same as 2,000 years ago. I look around and see so much anger, unforgiveness, violence and destruction that occur in relationships that are motivated by pride, arrogance and hatred.

God sent us a way of escape by sending His son Jesus to teach us a new way how to live peacefully with one another. God’s love was born in a stable to demonstrate humility and lead us through his example and teachings how to walk in grace and mercy toward all mankind, especially to our brothers and sisters in the Lord.


Not long ago, God revealed to me how unhealthy and dysfunctional the Body of Christ is. I started to see how much damage we are doing within the Church by how we are treating each other. It brought me to a place of weeping for the Church.


It’s ironic how I was weeping for my country 3 years ago and now God has me weeping for the Church. As a Body of Christ, what are we doing to each other?


Galatians 5:14-16
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.


My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, pride and arrogance have been the root cause of our destructive behaviors that leads us to be so self-righteous and judgmental in our ways.


Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


Yet the Body of Christ does not follow the fruit of the Holy Spirit. There is so much anger, jealousies, and lack of mercy and grace toward one another causing many offenses and sadly, a great deal of injury taking place in the Body of Christ. 


James 1:22  
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.


When injuries occur in the Body of Christ, it grieves the Holy Spirit. We are killing each other! 


Exodus 20:13
Thou shalt not kill.


Through our tongues and actions, we have become so destructive toward one another.


Do not think that God is pleased with how the Body of Christ is treating one another and causing so much injury. God is grieved over the unhealthy and destructive behaviors taking place in the Church. So many are lukewarm, carnal and have turned away from the true doctrine. 


Mathew 7:20-23
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 


Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 


The strife, debates, sowing of discord among brethren is very displeasing to God and grieves the Holy Spirit. Yet, so many commit these acts of iniquity and think they have no reason to repent because they take no responsibility for their actions.


I would like to ask you to join me to begin the new year with a new heart and a new way of living by letting go of your pride and arrogant ways and seek humility and learn how to walk in the fruit of the Holy Spirit.


As the Body of Christ begin to walk in the fruit of the Spirit: 


Galatians 5:22, 23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 


And continue to grow and mature, then we will be that healthy and whole Church that God desired us to become.


The 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit represent the maturity in the Body of Christ. 

Truth + Grace = Balance

An unhealthy and dysfunctional Body of Christ is when there is too much truth and no grace or too much grace and no truth. We need to walk in both truth and grace to be a healthy and balanced Body.


God is looking for a mature Bride: a Bride that will demonstrate all 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit.


I challenge you, when you find fault with your brethren, apply the principles in Galatians 6:1


Galatians 6:1, 2
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 


Restore = means restoring back into right fellowship with God. This is the will of God. Pray for your brethren, encourage & edify them, and point them to Christ.


Spirit of meekness = I find that in meekness, there is more grace in a conflict that points to Christ rather than harsh rebuke that only turns one away from Christ.


Let us walk in love toward one another, with the agape love. 


Agape = this is a sacrificial type of love


There are two commandments we are to fulfill: 


I.   Love (agape) God (Matthew 22:37, 38)
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. 


II.  Love (agape) your brethren (Matthew 22:39, 40)
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 


We are commanded to demonstrate an agape love toward God and our neighbors (including our brethren), which is a sacrificial type of love, which also means being inconvenienced at times to care for our brethren in need. Not just during Christmas season but to be a lifestyle throughout the year!


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


Philippians 2:1-4
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 


Please pray regularly that the Body of Christ will grow up and mature in the ways of the Lord and receive healing & deliverance to find wholeness. May you experience the many blessings that God has in store for you throughout the year!