Living Water Ministries

Divisions in the Church

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT

God wants us to live in peace, peace in life,peace with each other and peace in him.

Jesus was a simple peaceful man who wants us to live like him in his image. He wants no separation, no separation amongst the church or between each other. He wants us on common level which one another brought together as one in the mind and journey. He wants us to get along with each other, thoughtful and respecting of each other preparing for and living a life in common.

For in his word these are written

Jesus says in John 13:34-35 this

John 13:34-35

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:34-35 MSG

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

Then in Romans Jesus again speaks telling us to love one another in Romans 13 verse 8

Romans 13:8

[ Love Fulfills God’s Requirements ] Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.

Galatians says in chapter 5 verse 13 this

Galatians 5:13

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

He wants our love for each other to be overflowing and abundant as the greatest of all his commandments is love

1 Thessalonians 3:12

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.

Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 10 verse 24

Hebrews 10:24

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

1 John reminds us that we have always been taught to love one another since the beginning and that it is what we’ve heard and been taught that we should know and be in harmony in life with for this lesson has always been the same in 1 John it states this

1 John 3:23

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

1 John 3:11

[ Love One Another ] This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John continues on to say this message reminding us that love is a passion from God and anyone who shares the love is a believer and child of God and has a personal relationship with God

1 John 4:7

[ Loving One Another ] Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.

2 John can’t speak it any better in chapter 1 verse 6 explaining love

2 John 1:6

Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Leviticus speaks of loving each other rather than having bitter emotions get in the way

Leviticus 19:18

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

James commends us by saying

James 2:8

Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

In all these scriptures it speaks about love for one another and not putting yourself first but loving each other in all you do and this being the greatest of all commandments as it tells us in Mark and 1 Corinthians

Mark 12:31

The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

So as God has taught us and shown us since the beginning love one another or love is not boastful as it says in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud

God is love he’s hows the greatest love for his people and always has he has always taught us how to love from the beginning he showed us love by dieing for each of us on the cross

It teaches us in 1John verse 8 just where love comes from by saying this

1 John 4:8

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

No one knows love best but God for he not only loved and showed it but God IS love.

In all these scriptures it speaks of loving each other and if you know love you know God.

Lessons from God’s word

Zechariah 7:7-10

“There’s nothing new to say on the subject. Don’t you still have the message of the earlier prophets from the time when Jerusalem was still a thriving, bustling city and the outlying countryside, the Negev and Shephelah, was populated? [This is the message that God gave Zechariah.] Well, the message hasn’t changed. God-of-the-Angel-Armies said then and says now: “‘Treat one another justly. Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other. Don’t take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. Don’t plot and scheme against one another—that’s evil.’

John 15:11-15

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

John 15:17

“But remember the root command: Love one another.

Galatians 5:13-15

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don’t need me to tell you what to do. You’re God-taught in these matters. Just love one another! You’re already good at it; your friends all over the province of Macedonia are the evidence. Keep it up; get better and better at it.

1 Peter 1:22-25

Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said, The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God’s Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.

1 John 4:11-12

My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!

Ed Elliott writes this article about greatest of all being love here’s his message

Ed Elliott

author, conference speaker itinerate/missionary who travels the world sharing truths about God’s love. Helping people experience God’s love personally.

by Ed Elliott Feb 25,2018

One of the most amazing truths I have ever learned and experienced in my life comes from a very well known but often misunderstood verse of scripture. And now abideth faith, hope, love these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Over 35 years ago, as a new believer, I was taught to focus on getting more faith and trying to stay hopeful when situations appeared hopeless. I often felt condemned when things went from bad to worse in my life. At the time, I believed it was because I didn’t have enough faith so I would do everything I knew to do to try and get even more faith.

One day, I heard the Holy Spirit say to my heart, “It isn’t more faith that you need but a greater understanding of how much God loves you.”

Suddenly, I knew why Paul taught that love is greater than faith and hope. Faith and hope alone cannot produce love but love alone has the ability to give birth to faith and hope in your heart. It is God’s love for us that is the source and foundation of why we can have faith and hope.

When your heart is persuaded to the fact that God loves you just as you are and not as you think you should be, you are able to trust or have faith in someone who loves you that way. Faith is simply a response to God’s love for you.

I want people to not just know about God’s love for them but to experience the reality of this truth in their own heart. This profound truth alone will impact their ability to be able to trust God which is what faith is all about and help them see that in Him their dreams and hopes will become a reality.

In the same way your physical body needs water, food, and oxygen to survive, believers need the spiritual atmosphere of faith, hope, and love to thrive. When your heart is fully persuaded to the fact God loves you, the fruit of that persuaded heart is faith and hope. Don’t make the mistake I made and major on the minors which was faith and hope but focus and major on love and faith and hope will flow naturally.

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. 1 John 4:16

Romans 12:12 English Standard Version (ESV)

12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Triumph in hope, be patient in the hard trials life throws at you, pray fervently. God is hope, he will lead us through the storms of troubles and stay always in prayer asking for the things you need and situations going on. God will bring you through the storms.

Ephesians 4:11-13 The Message (MSG)

7-13 But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is,

He climbed the high mountain,

He captured the enemy and seized the booty,

He handed it all out in gifts to the people.

Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

These things God gifted to the church as the responsibility to bring up the growth of the church and equip God’s people to do the work of Christ.

Revelation 20:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Thousand Years

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.

Satans punishment- The Thousand years

An Angel was sent down from heaven to the punishment of Satan, he locked Satan up in chains and put him in the bottomless pit. There he would be held for 1,000 years unable to trick the nations anymore. However when 1,000 is up he must be released again for a little while.

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT

God doesn’t want us to fear for he is living and present in our midst. He is a strong warrior a mighty savior, he will take great joy and pride in you with righteousness and gladness. He is here to save. He will take any fears from you giving you peace he will rejoice in heart felt joyous song. He will ease you from your fear and suffering bringing you to him. You are saved in the father, he’s happy to have you.

Mark 5:36 English Standard Version (ESV)

36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”

Jesus tells us on several occasions Do not fear he wants us to be at peace and not fear him and his words. He wants us to live a simple life and smooth walk in our journey. He does not want us to be afraid in fear but to believe in our faith. Standing strong in our knowledge and faith to succeed and proceed in life.

Psalm 130:5 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 

I am counting on the Lord;

    yes, I am counting on him.

    I have put my hope in his word.

I pray to God—my life a prayer—

    and wait for what he’ll say and do.

My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,

    waiting and watching till morning,

    waiting and watching till morning.

I give my trust and all over to God and I lean on him, waiting on what he commands of me I have put all my trust,faith and everything of every waking hour of all I have to hope he is true

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Proverbs 31:30 NLT

[ Hymn to a Good Wife ] A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!” Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!
Proverbs 31:30 MSG

Charm is deceptive
… If someone tells you that “appearances can be deceptive,” they mean you should look closely at your surroundings because the truth might not be obvious. You might see a connection between the verb to deceive and the adjective deceptive, so you are on to something.
Beauty does not last and shortly fades; though the women who is to be honored and praised is the women who lives within fear of God she deserves everything and is most faithful in life.

Something that’s deceptive is not what it seems. A deceptive person will lead you to believe something other than the truth. Of course, I would never be deceptive when explaining the word deceptive. If someone tells you that “appearances can be deceptive,” they mean you should look closely at your surroundings because the truth might not be obvious. You might see a connection between the verb to deceive and the adjective deceptive, so you are on to something. If you deceive someone, you are being deceptive. Is it ok to be deceptive when you’re planning a surprise party?

1 Peter 5:7 The Message (MSG)
6-7 So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

For God wants nothing but good for us. He wants to see us excel not be hindered. In 1 Peter 5:7 peter says Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. God doesn’t want you to have stress and worry about things it is not of God or godly actions. He wants you to live a godly life not ungodly and of Satan living in fear and worries. He wants us to surrender it all to him for him to take care of and release you of the stress.

Isaiah 41:13 The Message (MSG)
11-13 
“Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you
    will end up out in the cold—
    real losers.
Those who worked against you
    will end up empty-handed—
    nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
    you won’t find them—
Not a trace of your old enemies,
    not even a memory.
That’s right.

Because I, your God,
have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go.
I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic.
I’m right here to help you.’