YCCM PT 4 DETAILS CH 19 I ❤ YOU: Prove it!

YCCM Part 4 DETAILS 

Chapter 19 

I  ❤ (LOVE) YOU: Prove it!

My Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you for continuing upon this journey with me. Whether you are just an observer or a participant, experiencing enlightenment and revelation and/or awakening from slumber or darkness, your presence and fellowship is welcome and needed.

I pray that by the end of this journey, you will consider this to be a relationship between spiritual beings; for although we are not present in body, connected to God's Holy Spirit we are One. Praise God!

I pray that you will begin to view your relationships and live your relationships in the Light and learn to view your work, effort and giving as acts of love.

Yes, a relationship is an act of love. When God is keeping us, moving things around inside of us, doing things on our behalf, He is doing it out of LOVE. It is not WORK for Him.  So, then, why do we say we're working on our relationship or marriage is a lot of WORK? ! --Because, we are not willing to give in Perfect Love, like our Father does for us.

We must change the way we think, bury that old self-thinking and think with the Mind of Christ! WHATEVER God does for us is not WORK, in the sense that we define work, it is an act of LOVE! So, what does that tell us? We should try to be like our Father.

I use to wonder if God was testing my patience by having me repeat things over and over again and in different ways. He told me that, "Maybe you got the message, but let me make it plain for someone else, who may not understand, or who didn't hear it right the first time."

Now, I've discovered that it is not only a question of patience that was a problem for me, but that old self had raised an ugly head and let pride slip in. My wanting to be a perfectionist and to follow literary guidelines and structures of writing, instead of just being obedient to the Lord and the gift He has provided and chosen to use, caused me to lose sight of Jesus. I cannot fear man's criticism and scrutiny. I must deliver the message as God speaks it through me.

Everyday should be a day of celebration for God delivering us from ourselves! Hallelujah! I thank Him for opening my eyes and ears and putting up road blocks, so that I don't blindly fall off of a cliff.

Sometimes, we can expect everyone else to be like us and rush ahead in life, not giving others a chance to catch up. If people can't keep up, we want to leave them behind. But then, one day, the shoe is on the other foot and if we are attached to the Vine, then, EUREKA! --A revelation from God that enlightens and corrects us to bring us back down to Earth, planting our feet on Solid Ground. Then, we are able to bear good fruit!

I pray that today is such a day for you, my Brothers and Sisters! So, let us dispel lies to free the minds of others!

PART IV DETAILS

Chapter 12

I ❤ YOU

WHAT WE DO FOR LOVE

Worldly (carnal) love is not everlasting. It is not Perfect Love, therefore, it has no power or authority to change anyone. So, what is it good for?

Many people have become hurt by believing they can change someone, just by telling them that they love them. In their minds, they have done, for them, what is the equivalent of proving their love.

But, how can you prove your love to someone who doesn't love you and/or doesn't know what love is or how to love?

Below is a list of things people try to do to get the attention of someone they believe they're in love with. As you read the list below, please remember to keep in mind, it is describing ways people try to PROVE their love for someone. Oh, I'm sure that some of the things will sound ridiculous to you, or down right crazy, but, nonetheless, even if you would NEVER try something like that, someone has.

Yes, it is a long list, but, even longer is the list of man's sins. So, let us bear fruits of patience and love for others and try to help as many as we can who are in bondage to sin.

After reading the list, before reading any further, think of things you have done or might be doing to try and prove your love to someone. Write them down and/or check them off of the list.

To prove their love, there are many, who even go as far as to:

• change how they look or dress
• change how they talk, (e.g., curse, use slang or colloquialism, try to sound more like another race, ethnicity or nationality)
• disobey and/or lie to a parent/guardian 
• go to the wrong type of place/places
• run away from home
• betray someone
• lie to friends or authorities 
• steal from or cheat others
• start smoking
• have sex out of wedlock
• fight a rival because of jealousy and claim on someone
• be in a gang or around the wrong people
• join an exclusive or secret society, secret club, or organization, cult, community, or colony
• join a radical, violent, or terrorist group
• blow themselves and others up with a bomb
• commit suicide (take an overdose of drugs, etc.)
• self-mutilation
• self-starvation to lose weight (anorexia, bulimia )
• abandon or allow themselves to be isolated from, family and friends
• compromise their beliefs and morals
• leave the church or turn their back on God
• change religions 
• worship idols
• worship Satan and demons, join a witch and warlock covenant
• give up their education and/or quit college
• quit or turn down a job, promotion or other opportunities
• go into a profession or job not suited for them
• try to buy someone's love with gifts and money
• loan money, car, equipment, electronics
• give someone access to their personal and financial information
• become someone's slave
• participate in a sport, hobby or event
• Cook and/or clean 
• dedicate their whole life to someone else's happiness
• allow themselves to be mentally abused, verbally abused, physically abused, sexually abused, neglected, disrespected or exploited
• engage in perverted and/or illegal sexual activity 
• sell or transport drugs
• take drugs and alcohol
• become a drug addict 
• sell their body
• choose to have a baby/babies for someone out-of-wedlock
• have an abortion
• adopt a child
• allow someone to move in with them, without getting married
• continue to live together, have children and never get married
• get married
• allow someone to live off of you and take advantage of you
• give away money and food intended for their child/children
• abandon, neglect or abuse their child/children
• allow their child/children to be abused mentally, verbally, physically and/or sexually, neglected, disrespected or exploited
• commit adultery
• wait indefinitely for someone to leave their spouse
• share their spouse sexually with others and/or allowing their spouse to share them
• buy drugs or alcohol to support an addiction
• commit violence, crime or murder
• go to jail for someone who is responsible for committing a crime
• tell someone how beautiful, or handsome, wonderful, sexy, smart, cool, bad, etc. they are; trying to satisfy their ego or build what the world chooses to call their self-esteem, which in reality is pride and vanity. 

WHY DID SAPPHIRA HAVE TO DIE?

When we start inquiring and delving into details, in the personal life of others, they may begin to wiggle and squirm. Some people may even start to perspire and experience dry mouth, due to nervousness. While others may take on a different personality or attitude.

Most people don't share the details of their life willingly.  Just as, many people love to hear the preacher preach about the sins and sinners of this world, but are reluctant to divulge the sin that continues within their own household, because pride gets in the way. So, they continue to live in sin or surrounded by sin, because they believe that the God of Details, will overlook the sinful details of their life, keep the blessings coming, and give them eternal life.

Everyone has something--some detail, that they have escaped from, or continue to live with, that they are not particularly proud of in their life. So, when they come into contact with others, they usually try to avoid the subject. When it is unavoidable, some people will lie or omit details. However, lying in any form is also a sin that leads to death.

I'd like for you to read Acts 5, an account of Ananias and Sapphira, a married couple, who lied to the disciples and believed they could deceive God. Ananias lied first, then Sapphira lied to protect her husband and perhaps herself, also. No doubt, she believed her loyalty to her husband, even in his dishonesty and disobedience, proved her love and faithfulness.

I pray that your heart has been changed and you have come to acknowledge God's presence in everything you think, say and do. I pray that reading scripture is not a difficult or tedious task for you and that you use it as your time alone with God. It is a time to be fed by God and His Word; to gain wisdom and understanding through the revelation of God. It is a time to ask God questions and reflect on how the scripture impacts your life and how it can enrich your life.

Sometimes, it's best not to try to read and understand everything all at once. God reveals things to you when you are ready.

Carefully select and obtain a Bible version that you are comfortable with, which doesn't distort and attempt to change the meaning of the scripture. Try using an audio Bible, if you are impaired in any way. Now, let us read...

Acts 5 (KJV)

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Ananias and Sapphira, like many people who claim to be Believers, thought they were entitled to their privacy, when it came to their finances and private lives. Clearly they had something to hide, but, why do people cherish and protect their privacy so, even when they have nothing to hide? Usually, they are afraid of what others might think about them and how they will be judged. Some people automatically compare themselves to others and judge themselves. And what drives these compulsions, making us think highly of ourselves or underrate ourselves?  Pride.

Ananias allowed pride to breed a sense of entitlement and greed within him. He thought more highly of himself than he did of God and His Kingdom. Clearly, he underrated and underestimated God's Power and saw Peter as just another man he could lie to, cheat and deceive. Ananias was already dead in sin.

Knowing what her husband had done, like Abigail, who brought supplies to David and his men to save her household (1 Samuel 25), Sapphira could have redeemed her household by telling Peter the truth. Would she have been seen as betraying her husband or being faithful to God? Where should her loyalty lie first? Should she allow her husband to lead her into sin and death? Should she put her love for him above God, Truth, Holiness and Righteousness?

Because Sapphira followed after her husband in sin, she followed him in death. Was this punishment or death coming to claim it's own? Since, it happened immediately and was so fearfully shocking and abrupt, we might see it as God striking them down in wrath. However, the couple had already claimed their wages and the wages of sin is DEATH! THEY chose death over eternal and abundant life in God's Kingdom. God simply removed His HANDS of SALVATION, MERCY AND GRACE and ALLOWED Death to claim them.

It is only by God's HANDS that we are spared and live to see another day. Ananias withheld from God's HANDS what rightfully belonged to Him. Therefore, God withdrew His HANDS OF MERCY. We cannot esteem ourselves more worthy than God.

Ananias and Sapphira didn't KNOW God. Had they known Him, they would have known better than to think that they could deceive His Holy Spirit within Peter. Had they known God, they would have shown it by OBEYING Him.

They had no intention of knowing God; for they loved the things of this world and esteemed themselves better than God and everyone else. They idolized SELF and put self first at any cost, so, God withdrew His hands, because they were already dead.

Jesus asked many to follow Him. One man said, let me go bury my father first. Luke 9:60 gives Jesus' response.

"Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God."

"Let the dead bury the dead." In other words, children of perdition, lost to the world and dead in sin and because of sin.

SELF-ESTEEM

Ananias and Sapphira esteemed themselves more important and worthy, believing they should come first. We must ask ourselves where self-esteem comes from and what purpose does it serve.

Self-esteem is a term used by the world to teach us to identify in self and self-ability, when we should identify with who we are in Christ, knowing that we can do NOTHING without God.

We cannot have it both ways. Either we learn to put ALL of our faith and trust in God or depend on self. However, if we depend on self and self-esteem: What do we do when our looks fade, the body becomes weak and aged and the mind no longer serves to be of use to the world? --When we can no longer play, work, be active and financially productive? --When we're not the brightest one or the prettiest one? --When there is no one around to encourage us? --When we have failed and money is gone and friends and family turn their back on us?

Self-esteem does not provide us with love or prove we are loved, or fulfill the need to know who we are and our value, which is why so many famous people struggle with it. The world is telling them they are supposed to have something they are not capable of having. Self-esteem, self-worth, self-help, self-confidence, self-interest and selfish-ness can only take you so far. Only God can make you WHOLE, build you up, give you identity and purpose and fulfill your need for love.

Self-esteem has its place in the world and within behavioral science, but we, who are no longer of the world, must not give into the lie that it is needed to better oneself, or, feel good about oneself.

I feel good about myself, not because of what I can do or what I look like; not because of where I came from or how much money and things I have; not because of how many friends I have or how people or the world treat me or see me.

I feel good about myself, because, I am a Child of God! Without Him, I am nothing! The world cannot make me feel bad about myself because I know who and what I am in Christ Jesus.

EFFECTING CHANGE 

If we want to see change in people and the world, we must look at what we are teaching them and what the world is teaching them.

Do you know what children are learning in school? Are you dispelling the lies that are contrary to the Will and Way of God, while still teaching them to respect education and educators?

Some people think the answer is to take their child out of public school. The real solution is to get involved with your child's education like you're supposed to be, instead of expecting the school system to take full responsibility for educating your child. Make them smarter AND wiser as you instill Godly principles and Perfect Love. What the public, private, or parochial school doesn't teach them--you teach them; which means, you need to know what they're learning. As they say, YOU are your child's FIRST educator. You should also be your child's BEST educator in preparing them for the world, with God as the Head of their lives.

Do not let them grow up ignorant of the world, in which they live, not knowing what other people think and believe and what they should believe, or they will buy into a lie. They won't be able to distinguish right from wrong. One day, you may have to wonder why Johnny or Jill joined a terrorist group or tried to recreate themselves and live a worldly lifestyle, when they were sheltered from all of that worldly, bad stuff.

People need the experience of applying the knowledge they've learned in the Bible to the world God has given them to live in. Again, it is the world God has chosen for them to be born into and God doesn't give us more than we can bear. We must all learn to bear. How are we to disciple others if we do not teach them to bear the cross of Jesus and conquer the world? This is why our children are easy pickings, lambs fed to the wolves, sheep for the slaughter.

What does this have to do with trying to prove you love someone? Everything! This is where it begins, with parents and those who nurture us trying to prove they love us in the wrong ways. This is reinforced by television and media, trying to convince us that the way to make people happy and show love is by giving them things, money, sex, fame and power.

Parents may try to buy our affection by spoiling us with gifts and money, sheltering us, doting on us, setting the wrong example. Children watch their parents and how they show their affection to others. They mimic their parents and want to prove their love to them and others. Have you ever asked your child or someone to prove their love to you? What was their response? Perhaps, a kiss?

One of the most painful feelings to experience is finding out someone doesn't love you the same way you love them. We all want to love and to know that we are truly loved back, but we set ourselves up for failure by following after worldly love and lies.

The world tells us that we can fall in and out of love with someone, but, that is because it is not true, everlasting, Godly, Perfect Love. The world tells us that a man can marry a man and a woman can marry a woman, but that is because it is not Perfect Love or Holy Matrimony according to God.

People in worldly relationships become surface dwellers, that is, their relationships never go too deep within them for fear of having to face reality. The reality that God created us for greater love. They must convince themselves that worldly love is satisfying and remain on the surface, in the flesh, so as not to shatter their illusion of happiness. Some want something better, but aren't willing to love God's way because they're too attached to self and the world. In their mind, they have found the right way to love and it's better than nothing at all or something they must give up the flesh and the world to obtain.

We are living in confusing, unholy and dangerous times. Those living in darkness are willing to fight for their rights and the master they serve, because the world has given them rights without righteousness. The blind have been given eyes through technology and power through money. They are more than ready and willing to take the freedom and rights of those who walk in the Light.

We must march boldly with Truth or be trampled underfoot, beneath lies that try to suppress and silence us with biased laws and political and religious constraints. It is but a shadow of what is to come and what is to go. Let us prepare the way and strengthen ourselves! God readies those who are willing! HE makes us able!

Therefore, let us dispel the lies Satan feeds us to keep us divided and living in fear; putting blame on someone else, as Adam did to Eve. Dispel the lies that set us up for failure in life and our relationships. There will be a REMNANT and we shall be STRONG! Strong in the LORD! --But, even more, we shall be filled with HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS able to STAND and give GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE to the KING OF KINGS and the LORD OF LORDS!!!

My Brothers and Sisters, this is no easy thing that I speak of, neither is it to be taken lightly, for it involves matters of the heart! Yet, to experience love, we must experience God; for God IS Love! When we prove our love for Him by OBEYING Him first, then, we can love others as HE would have us to love, in Perfect Love, not worldly love.

I'm sure there are other things on the list of ways people try and prove their love, that need to be explained to some, but, I will explain them all, by summing them up to this:

NOTHING on that list can prove love. Therefore, YOU can't do any of the things on that list, expecting it to prove that you love someone. None of the things listed will prove that you love GOD!

Your list of do's and don'ts to please someone is just as ineffective and cannot prove your love. What it does prove is that you are controllable; able to be coerced and manipulated. You have bought into a lie.

If someone ask you to do any of those things listed or anything else to prove you love them, God, or anyone else, they don't know what love is.

Keep in mind that people don't always make request verbally. Their behavior can be very manipulative to lead you into giving into their desires. Their words and actions can be insinuating.

For example:

You want your boyfriend or girlfriend to spend more time with you, unaware that they are a manipulative person. They see your vulnerability, but don't want to be forthright and come right out and ask to move in with you, in order to make it look like it's what you wanted them to do. Having it be your idea gives them a way out, in case they need it, because they don't want to commit to a permanent relationship.

They may be use to getting their way and have become very good at manipulation for getting ahead in life; getting what they want; and using other people to survive. So, they say, "My hours at work, plus living on the other side of town make it hard for me to see you." This is just enough to get the wheels in your mind turning in their direction and come to the conclusion that you could be together more, if you would move in together. They say, "If you do this, you must really love me." There it is, if you go through with the idea, you've proved you love them! It may sound very facetious and contrived, but most of the time, that's all it takes is to plant a suggestion in someone's mind.

Although, you may think that only the gullible fall for such things, when we are enamored or in fear of losing someone, we can become more vulnerable and compliant.

Of course, this is not always the case, but the point is, if we are not living in God's Will and Way, abiding in and following The Mind of Christ, we can be swayed by other's ways and thinking to try and prove we love and care about them. This is especially true if we are inexperienced, lonely or in our youth.

If you have a prayer list, please keep this list along with it and pray about these things and the people going through them who have believed a lie and have been hurt.

As long as we keep doing only what we want to do, or what someone else wants us to do, and not the Will and Way of God, we can't expect to see change in our lives or the lives of others. We become a one trick pony, an old cliche, a chip off the old block, a puppet or a participant in a never-ending game of Simon Says.

PROVE IT !

God proved His love for us when He sacrificed His Son upon a cross to restore our relationship with Him and give us abundant and eternal life. Do you love Him in Perfect Love as He loves us? Prove it! Obey Him!

Trying to prove you love someone can become an addictive and self-defeating behavior. In doing so, we compromise our beliefs, morals, value and relationship with our Heavenly Father.

The person you are trying to prove your love to may also have behavior addictions that prevent them from trusting and believing you. Therefore, your efforts will always be in vain, leaving you both unsatisfied, frustrated and in a chaotic relationship.

You must recognize the behavior addiction and relationship as being unhealthy. Decide who you will serve and who you will obey. Accept Christ and God's Holy Spirit to dwell within you. Trust them to be your guide, leading you on a course to recovery and Transformation through Rebirth.

In the chapters to come, we will look closer at Perfect Love, which is not only transforming for you, but, for those around you. Trust God, with the heart of a child, to lead you to higher heights, following and keeping your eyes upon Jesus.


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SELF REFLECTION: A Look in the Mirror

Once again, when we look at Jesus' parables, He is challenging us to examine where our heart lies. Closely examining your heart, answer the following questions.

DISCUSS your answers with a mature Believer who can guide you in your spiritual relationship with Jesus and our Father, and/or have group discussions to learn from those who have different experiences and perspectives.

QUESTIONS: Write down your questions and discuss them with a mature Believer or submit them to:

https://fssw-followers.weebly.com
https://fsasw.blogspot.com

1. Do you have a relationship that is filled with distrust or uncertainty? 
2. Have you tried to improve it? 
3. What have you done to try and keep the peace? 
4. Do you find yourself being the one to try to make things better? 
5. Does the other person expect you to be the one to fix things and prove you still want them or love them? 
6. Do you rationalize to find reasons to continue trying to please the other person and/or stay in the relationship? 
7. Does God have an active part in your relationship? 
8. Are you also guided by mentors? 
9. Have you been made perfect in love? 
10. Read 1 Corinthians 13 below. Does the love in your relationship fit the description in the scripture? 
11. Do you want to have the love described in 1 Corinthians 13? 
12. Do you believe Jesus can make you perfect in love? 
13. Are you willing to surrender to God and obey, even in the face of adversity? 
14. Do you know how and in whom you can find peace? 
15. Are you ready to follow Christ, dying to self and pride to live in abundance and eternal life?
16. Are you ready to be an example to children and others to lead them to discipleship and healthy relationships? 
17. How do you think your behavior change will affect your relationship? 
18. Are your expectations realistic or based on faith? 
19. Do your expectations line up with God's Word? 
20. Can you put aside your expectations and accept God's Will, continuing to trust and obey?
21. Are you willing to bear your cross to help save someone else?
22. Share 1 Corinthians 13 with someone you love. 

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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Luke 9:57-62 (KJV)
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 13 New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 

9 For we know in partand we prophesy in part, 

10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 

12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.