The Love of Many

I believe that for those who are in faith, who trust in Jesus for salvation, that this is the acceptable year of the Lord. We must not look back but instead we need to press toward the blessings of God.

Illustration: Land navigation. Destination. Location. Azimuth. Travel.

Another year has ended and a new year has begun. Ending well should be the goal for all of us. WIth that goal in mind, let us consider how we might live this year.

Matthew 24:3–14 NKJV

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

As the disciples sat with Jesus they asked Him about the end of the age. They knew that Jesus’ coming meant that things were going to change. They were waiting for that to happen.

Jesus reminded them that there will be an end of this world, but there would be things that we would face before that time comes.

There would be people saying they are “the Christ.” These seek to offer salvation apart from Christ.

There would be wars and rumors of wars.

There would be famines, pestilences (pandemics), earthquakes.

There would be persecution against believers.

People will become offended, betray one another, and hate one another.

False prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Abounding lawlessness—the proliferation of sin and its dominance in society—will cause the love of many to grow cold.

Many of us take the time to reflect at a new year. And I would say that if we spent any time reflecting on the world we would see that these things are happening today.

All of these things point to brokenness and the fallenness of our world. And these things are things we often see within ourselves. Areas of brokenness and fallenness. We’ve been affected by the world we live in.

Let me ask a question: is this the world that God created, or is it the one that is the consequence of man’s fall into sin and away from God?

God did not create the evil that is in the world. God did not create the evil in our own lives.

In the beginning, the testimony of creation is that it was good. God is good. The world God created is good. The creatures God made were good. And when God made man and women, together, He declared them good.

The Internet, the news, the world, even our experience often lead us to a different place. The world we live in is not good. People are not good. Life, in some ways, is not good.

Colossians 1:13–14 NKJV

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

God wants to bring you out of the world and into the kingdom of the Son of His love. The devil does not want you to walk in freedom or favor or blessing or life. But this is the year of God’s favor. The good news today is that God wants you to walk in His goodness, restored and redeemed. He crowns the year with His goodness and His paths drip with abundance and that is what He desires for you (cf. Psalm 65:11)!

All of these things that Jesus listed were considered warnings against deception.

And the goal of this deception was to cause the love of many to grow cold.

Growing Cold

Some theologians consider the seven churches that Jesus spoke to in Revelation to represent different dispensations of church ages leading to the return of the Lord. Laodicea is often thought of as a letter to the modern church who has become apostate.

We are familiar with Jesus’ words to the church of Laodicea.

Revelation 3:15–16 NKJV

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

The Lord called Satan the father of lies and the Scripture calls him the dragon who deceives (John 8:44, Revelation 12:9). His deceptions are focused on turning your love for God cold.

Laodicea was situated south of Hierapolis which was noted for its hot springs and north of Colossae which had a cold clear stream with good drinking water. It depended on an aqueduct to provide water when the River Lycus dried up in the summer. The water grew lukewarm and it became impure and sometimes even foul, making people sick.

I think that it is notable that going up from Laodicea was where there was hot springs and that going south (down) from from where they were was cold. Going up towards God leads to a fire for Him and going down away from Him leads to coldness and separation. But a terrible place to be is in the middle. A place where it is neither hot nor cold. A place where spiritual sickness can set in.

On Fire for God

God wants us to be on fire for Him. When we are on fire for God our prayers change the world (cf. James 5:16). When we are on fire for God people come to find out what is going on. When we are on fire for God things happen in our lives.

Being on fire for God really means being deeply in love with Him. It’s about being passionate. It’s about being devoted to Him.

Being on fire for God protects you from deception and brings you into the kingdom of God.

And being in the kingdom of God means abiding in His goodness, favor, and abundance. It means righteousness, wholeness, peace, and joy.

God gives us His Holy Spirit so that we might walk in intimacy with Him. When God began the church, He poured out the Holy Spirit and fire.

Acts 2:1–4 NKJV

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

As we begin the new year, we need the Holy Spirit and fire.

Four Practices to Stir Up Love

The early church practiced four things that positioned them to receive the fire of God. When they received the Holy Spirit they were dauntless. They were bold. They lived in holiness and power and they changed their city.

Families were saved, people were healed, and the church grew…all because of their love set on fire.

Waiting

Acts 1:4–5 NKJV

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Jesus told the disciples that they need to wait for the Promise of the Father....the gift of the Holy Spirit.

But this type of waiting isn’t just about time and patience, it was about expectation. If you want to enter into God’s promises for you take time to stir up your expectation. Lean in to the presence and promises of God.

We do this by declaring His promises, praying and declaring the prophetic words He has given us.

Worship

Psalm 34:5 NKJV

5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.

Not only were they waiting in the upper room, but they were worshipping. Worshipping God not only draws His attention (Psalm 22:3). It focuses ours.

The more we look upon the Lord the more we see Him high and lifted up. And like Moses who came out of the Lord’s tent radiant with glory, we too will come out of His presence with the glory of God.

Prayer

When the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples in the upper room, they were praying. Prayer is a practice in which we come before God’s throne of grace. It brings us before Him.

When we add fasting to our prayer, God supernaturally begins to work in our lives in a powerful way. In Isaiah 58, the prophet declares that fasting looses the bonds of wickedness, undoes burdens, set free those who are oppressed, breaks every yoke, releases healing goodness and glory.

Preaching

The fourth thing that the early church did was engage in the preaching and doctrine of the apostles (Acts 2:42). They were devoted to God’s word (cf. Acts 6:4).

Conclusion

Daniel Pink in his book titled, When, wrote about the power of timings. He noted that one of the best times to make changes in your life is to take advantage of natural changes in the calendar.

I believe that this is the year of God’s favor. It is the time to not look back and to press forward to the High Calling of God in our lives. To do that, we need to walk in the love of God. We need the fire of God. And as God touches us, we must follow the Law of the altar:

Leviticus 6:13 NKJV

A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.

As you reflect on your spiritual life, decide today that you are going to be on fire for God by the end of the year. Practice God’s presence, stir up your love for Him in waiting, worshipping, praying, and preaching.