Do you know what love is? Well, that’s a good question. But first, we need to find out Who is love!

God is Love

If you are not making an intentional time investment every day to know God, how are you going to love people?

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8

He that loves not knows not God. Why? Because he has not invested his precious time into knowing God and His Son Jesus (John 17:3). We tend to take verses like 1 John 4:8 to say that we can prove we know God by trying to love people more. That’s just not going to work.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. – 1Jo 4:8, 16 KJV

Who is John talking to? Who are these people included in the group of “we” that have known and believed the love that God has to us?

Those Who Know They Be Loved!

Do you count yourself worthy to be in the group known to God as “Beloved?” You should!

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. – 1Jo 4:1 KJV

Those who know they be loved, know Jesus, and believe Him when He says that we can hear His voice (John 10:16).

As for those “false prophets.” Wesley and I were accused of being false prophets publicly on Facebook! Wahaha! That does not bother me because I have read the Revelation of Christ Jesus! And John wrote the revelation of who the “accuser of the brethren” is. I know Who and what love is. And I know His voice.

Our Present!

The book of Revelation was written to the churches to reveal Christ Jesus (Revelation 1:1-3). We are living in what John wrote was the time at hand. The time to read it, to hear the words, and to keep what is written is our present time. Now is the time to receive the blessing promised in Revelation 1:3!

Today is the Day of Salvation!

Thank God, we have preachers who are still preaching salvation!

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. – Rev 12:10 KJV

This verse along with the whole Bible teaches that salvation is a package deal that also includes strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ!

Revealing What?

In Revelation 1:8, John records the Lord, Jesus, revealing that He is the Almighty one more time! Just in case we are duh-ciples. Then He gives another purpose for this revelation.

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; – Rev 1:19 KJV

Jesus is also revealing the following:

• The Past–What you have seen
• The Present–The things which are
• The Future–And the things which shall be hereafter aka Revelation 21-22 aka HEAVEN!

The Accuser

We have already been told that the accuser of the brethren has been kicked out when Jesus came down and stripped him of what Adam had handed over to the devil in the beginning. Now John gets to reveal to us, the church, and to all of humanity (God so loved the world John 3:16), our general purpose! Overcome the devil!

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. – Rev 12:11 KJV
Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. – Rev 12:12 KJV
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child]. – Rev 12:13 KJV

Revelation 12:11

1. Overcome the devil (Rev 12:10) by the blood of the Lamb! See “How to Have Life Eternal“
2. Overcome the devil by the word of [the Beloved’s] testimony (3 John 1:2, John 10:10)!!!
3. [The Beloved] loved NOT their lives unto death.

When we know Love and how He defines His love to us, we have NO FEAR (1 Corinthians 15:55-56).

Revelation 12:12

• The heavens are rejoicing, but we are still in “woe”! We have a purpose in our “woe!!!”
• The devil has been kicked out of heaven! Thank You, Jesus!!!
• He has great wrath (Oh, that’s the god of this world who has great wrath!!! 2 Corinthians 4:4)!
• The devil has great wrath because he knows his days are numbered, NOT OURS! WE have eternity!!!

That’s why the devil is hell-bent on persecuting the woman aka the church which brought forth Jesus (Revelation 12:13)! And when we find out what love is by getting to know God who is Love, the devil doesn’t stand a chance against us (Matthew 16:18). The “rock” is the foundational truth that God revealed to Peter in that moment (Matthew 16:17). His name is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).

What is Love?

The Beloved knows “the perfect love that casts out fear (1 John 4:17-18).” We can only love as He has loved us by receiving a revelation of what 1 John 4:19 really means. We are trying to love others in our own strength without a revelation of what love is (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV).

Go through 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT from the perspective of “This is what love is to me.” Or, “This is how God loves me.” Why? Because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)!

Then, and only then, will we fully understand why it is difficult to “feel” love for others (1 John 4:20-21). We are not actually called to “feel” love toward other people. Or to even like all of them! Hallelujah!

We are called to choose the action of love toward other people!

Be Practical

If you want to love God, spend intimate time focused on NOTHING else.

How Do I Choose Love?

Below is how:

First, God loves you! Second, this is how God wants you to love yourself! Then, you can freely give this kind of love to others as you have freely received from God and yourself (Matthew 10:8).

Love is patient and kind.

God is patient and kind with you. Be patient and kind to yourself. Then you can freely be patient and kind with others.

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud. – 1Co 13:4 NLT.

God has created every human being in His own image. He doesn’t want us to compare ourselves among ourselves.

Love is not rude.

God is not rude. He doesn’t want us to be rude either. If you wouldn’t say something to intentionally hurt someone else, don’t allow the enemy to continue to play those old hurtful lies in your head anymore!

Love does not demand its own way.

God teaches us to care for ourselves and others. He does not force Himself on us or anyone else. And He certainly doesn’t want us to force ourselves or Him on others either. He has given all of us free will and provided self-control for the taking.

It is not irritable.

God is not irritable!!! Jesus chooses mercy, grace, goodness, gifts, and promises (Matthew 5:7, John 1:17, Romans 15:4, Matthew 7:11, Hebrews 6:12).

Love does not keep a record of being wronged. – 1Co 13:5 NLT.

God knows us! He knew us before He sent Jesus. God is not sulking or regretting the cross!

It does not rejoice about injustice.

God tells us to think on specific things because that is what He chooses to focus on too. Paul places Philippians 4:8 between two verses about the peace of God and the God of peace (Philippians 4:7, 9). I love this.

But Love rejoices whenever the truth wins out. – 1Co 13:6 NLT.

Jesus rejoices when we only believe Him (Luke 8:50, Mark 5:36).

Love never gives up.

God will never give up on you and me. He will honor our God-given free will to reject Him and walk away (Romans 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:8).

Love never loses faith.

We have been given the faith of Jesus (Romans 3:22, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 3:22, Revelation 14:12).

Love is always hopeful.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. – Rom 15:13 KJV

Hallelujah!

And Love endures through every circumstance. – 1Co 13:7 NLT.

Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. – 2Ti 2:10 KJV

Jesus Endured the Cross.

He endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. -or consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. – Heb 12:2-3 KJV

Love Yourself

Finding out what love is by investing in an intimate relationship with Love, Jesus, our Lord and Savior, involves reading the Bible for yourself. And believe Jesus (Genesis 15:6, John 6:29)!

Jesus Speaking

The problem is not that God is being silent! He is NEVER silent! Are you listening? Do you believe Him?

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: – Jhn 10:27 KJV

Or do you believe what people say about Him instead of spending one-on-one time with Him?

You SHOULD Know His Will!

Paul admits to being the chief sinner (1 Timothy 1:15). And Paul also admits that he has struggled with his own flesh and soul (Romans 7:18-23).

When Ananias spoke this to Paul, why would we think this does not also pertain to us (Romans 2:11, 2 Corinthians 10:12)?

We should

• know God’s will!
• See that Just One!
• And we should hear the voice of His mouth!

And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. – Act 22:14 KJV

Paul did not count himself inferior to any of the superdupers (2 Corinthians 11:5, 12:11). Yet he counted himself as nothing.