Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: Matt. 7:24 NKJV

What is more important, God’s love or His lordship?

Some years ago I was invited to Port Isaac in Cornwall, to be the speaker at a week-long Easter retreat at a B&B. In the UK at that time, the revival emphasis was on the love of God. I spoke about the kingdom of God which is the lordship of Christ. One of the participants asked me what was more important - the love of God or the lordship of God. It’s like asking what’s more important: food or water? You need them both. My response was that the answer could be found by the way God treated Adam when he was first created.

God took the man, put him in the Garden and told him to tend the Garden. He put Adam to sleep and extracted a rib. There was no mention of God asking him if it was okay. Then he gave Adam his wife. Arranged marriage. No choice really. Is it sounding a bit like God was the boss? Then God took Adam and Eve and pointed out two trees. He commanded them not to eat from one tree. What did Adam think? Hint: the clue is in the word “commanded”. And then, God said if you eat of this tree you will surely die. Not you will surely be forgiven. There was no doubt in Adam’s mind as to the fact that God was Lord.

After God freed the Hebrews from Egypt he led them to Mt Sinai. Moses went up the mountain and got two tablets from God on which were written the Ten Commandments. They weren’t the Ten Affirmations of Love. Then God told Moses to tell the people that if they didn’t obey they would be cursed. What are you sensing at this point? Are you feeling the love? Jesus did affirm his disciples. After the three years of internship were over he promoted them from apprentices to journeymen. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:12–13)

This passage from John 15 not only affirms God’s great love for us but also puts it in a context. All Scripture should be learned in context. If you take a text out of context you are left with a “con”. Jesus affirmed his lordship by giving a command. Then he explained that in order to be his friend one must obey his commands. How would you like it, if I said “You can be my friend if you obey my commands?” Chances are you’d reject that idea instantly and consider me to be a narcissist. Jesus also affirmed his great love for them which they better understood after the crucifixion and resurrection. Putting His love into context in no way diminishes it. Reader you must understand that the foundation on which you build your life must be the Rock.

The weight of scripture, love or lordship

The Scripture says that God is love twice. Twice is nice. And there are more than twenty clear references telling us God loves us. Did you know that the name Lord occurs more than 6,700 times in Scripture? God is love - 2x. God is Lord - 6,700x. God’s love for us is framed by his lordship. His lordship is the central theme of the Bible. He came to set up his Kingdom.

If we take the love of God out of context and make it our central philosophy then strange ideas come to mind. First of all, how can a God who is pure love send people to Hell? Well he wouldn’t. So we develop ideas like universalism where everyone including the devil is eventually saved. While we have a problem with Love sending people to Hell, we don’t have a problem with a Lord sending them to Hell. He is the Lord. He can do whatever he wants. If God is all love then we see him doing mercy only. As a Lord he can also act justly. Justice and mercy.

Are God fearing and God loving people able to get off track? Unfortunately, yes. At the turn of the year a number of prophets have come out with some stuff that is completely wrong. Wait! What am I saying? It’s not just lately! There is always some prophet somewhere spouting off what is essentially garbage. I’m not saying they are not believers. I’m saying that if they are believers then they have built on a bad foundation. What we have been taught and believe acts as a filter to the rhema (prophetic voice) of God.

We MUST drink from the Fountain of Living Waters (Jer. 2:13)

If you have been taught Dispensationalism, then when the Lord says he will be with you this year, you may interpret it as his ‘soon return’. “The rapture will take place this week!” Which is complete nonsense! Forget about the rapture. It’s really bad teaching. Abiding in the vine for a couple of years may dislodge some bad teaching. It is to be hoped. Hearing from God will eventually clean the wellspring. Journaling is needed. Connecting with the Spirit. Allowing him to teach is wonderful - if you have a clean filter. Bad foundational teaching gives one a bad filter.

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples, teaching them to observe all that I have instructed you.” Jesus invested three years in laying a foundation. Then he told them to listen to Holy Spirit. Good, good foundations (good teaching) will equip you and prepare you. You need a good teacher or mentor. Then you must be taught to hear God for yourself - hear the rhema - or as we practice - journaling. Then of course you must put what you learn into practice and minister to others. Good teachers will teach you to obey the Lord using his grace not human effort.

Good teachers are hard to find. We all fail in some way. Even the “greats” - the Charismatic All Stars - get some things wrong. I can recommend Mark Virkler. I have read twenty of his books and can testify that he has built his house on the Rock. There are very few I would recommend wholeheartedly but Mark is one. Take his courses at CLU. It will do you good.

Without question the Holy Spirit is the best teacher. However the Lord tasked his disciples with the job of making more disciples. Babies need parents. Newborns need good milk. They aren’t capable of hearing the Lord accurately for themselves. They aren’t trained to interpret the parables in the Gospels, let alone the rhema coming from Holy Spirit. In this Great Awakening that is taking place many will come to faith. They say around a billion. Who will parent them? Who will mentor them? Isaiah 6:8. Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Journaling questions:

Q1. Lord, what do You say regarding the love and lordship discussion?
Q2. Lord, do I have a good filter? Show me where it needs correction.
Q3. Lord, what do You want me to do to be Your friend?

Hearing God’s voice is as simple as: 1) quieting down (Ps. 62:1-5), 2) beholding Jesus at my right hand (Ps. 16:8; Acts 2:25), 3) asking for His revelation and tuning to flowing thoughts and flowing pictures (Jn. 7:37-39; Jer. 2:13; 10 pictures), and 4) recording this flow (Hab. 2:1,2; Rev. 1:9-11). I then test it, ensuring it lines up with Scripture (Ps. 1:2; Jn. 10:35; 1 Thess. 5:2) and is affirmed in the hearts of my three spiritual advisors (2 Cor. 13:1; Prov. 11:14). See this link.

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How to Hear God’s Voice! How to Master Your Bible! How to Recognize Counterfeit Movements

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