Re: POWER of PRAYER- No Matter Which Faith You Follow=GOD is With You
What the World Needs Now
is God’s Agape Love
Greek, the language in which the
NewTestamentwasoriginally
written,ismoreprecisethan
modern day English. For instance, where English has
only one word for love, Greek has four:
agape—spiritual, self-giving love
storge—love between family members
philia—love between friends
eros—sexual love
In our culture, especially around St. Valentine’s Day, it is
eros that gets the most emphasis. Yet it is agape that is
most needed in our world. And it is agape
thatismostemphasizedintheNew
Testament. Note these familiar words from
the Gospel of John:
For God so loved(agape)the world, that
HegaveHisonlybegottenSon,that
whoeverbelievesinHimshouldnot
perish but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16, NJKV)
Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God’sagape.
He is God’s only Son, yet in humility He came from the
throneofHisFathertothewombofawoman.He
became the Son of Man that we might become sons and
daughters of God.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary. He lived in poverty and for most
of his life was unknown outside the town of Nazareth. He
had neither wealth or political influence.
He laid aside His heavenly raimentin exchange for a
peasant’sgown.Hewasrich,yetforoursakeHe
became poor. He was born in a borrowed manger; He
rodeonaborroweddonkey;Hewasburiedina
borrowed tomb.
History has never known one such as Jesus. In infancy
He troubled a king; as a boy He stunned theologians with
His knowledge and wisdom, for He possessed the mind
of God. In manhood He ruled over the elements and
quieted the raging sea. He healed without medicine and
fed thousands with a boy’s lunch. He gave back life to
those who were dead and even the demons obeyed Him.
Yet He suffered and sustained in body and soul the
righteous anger and wrath of God against the sin of the
whole human race. He was despised and rejected of
men. Though He was innocent of any crime or sin, He
was condemned by a civil judge and sentenced to death
on a cross.
By His suffering and death, He paid the penalty for the
sins of all who believe in Him and set us free from the
judgment and eternal condemnation of God that would
was to fall on us.
Some have given their lives for others and great men
have come and gone, yet He lives on. Herod
could not kill Him. Satan could not stop Him.
Death could not destroy Him. Thegrave could
notholdHim.HavingfullysatisfiedGod’s
perfect justice, He conquered death and rose
on the third day as He said He would.
After showing Himself alive to His disciples
and many other witnesses for a period of forty
days, He ascended into heaven. He now sits
at the right hand of the throne of God where
He pleadsour causetoHis Father,defendsus and
keeps us safe from all enemies, and pours out His gifts
upon us.
One day He will return, not as a suffering servant, but
with glory and power to judge the world. Then every knee
will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
His true followers will confess His name with joy and
confidence. All others will seek to hide from His face in
terror and shame.
He is the Perfect One—the only One who can satisfy the
soul. When we believe in Jesus, God graciously grants to
us the holiness and righteousness of Christ.
This is the true story of God’s great agape-love for you
and me and all the world. It’s a love story to celebrate.
It’s a love story to share.
Blessings,
Pastor Jim
Friedberg Moravian Church
Celebrating our 250th anniversary in 2023 here in North Carolina, U.S.
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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
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