Mark 12:28-34
28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
30 And you shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.”
32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.
33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.
I recall when the Lord brought my family and I from New York City to the woods in Canada. We were very discouraged because life in the country was different than what we were accustomed to in New York. That being said, the Lord comforted and boosted us by His presence. Because we spent time with the Lord, He regenerated. Notice that Jesus said in Mark the 12th chapter that the man was not far from the Kingdom. The man understood the commandments and principals, but the revelation wasn’t there. Jesus said in verse thirty “about loving the Lord.” We must ask ourselves what the love of God is. It is about relationship. God’s love is experienced in its fullness when you have a relationship with Him. Love is not merely expressed with words, love is backed with relationship. Relationship motivated the Lord to come and give His life for us. The love of God demands relationship not needs. If you don’t have a relationship with God, everything else is senseless. Like the rich young ruler, many Christians are not far from the Kingdom. Let’s look in to our next passage.
Romans 5:5
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
The love of God has been poured out in our hearts, but we need to activate it. Many of us have become dependent on God like a child so we only have demands. Love is greater than a one-way relationship; it is communication. The greatest act of His love is in relationship, when we can come boldly before His throne. In the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians, it is all about which is the love chapter, Paul emphasizes relationship the whole time.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.
Love is the first fruit because love is a relationship. Our human love is weak compared to God’s love. This is why when we try to do things in our own efforts we see very little results. When you have a relationship with God, truth will be brought forth. When God begins to fellowship with you, everything leaves you. All you want to do is to serve and follow Him! On the flip side, when He lifts His presence everything becomes darkened; we are totally dependent on Him. Without Him, we become mere flesh. But we are to walk by the Spirit and that comes through the channel of relationship because we can’t walk by the Spirit if we don’t have a relationship with God. When you walk by the Spirit, He will usher you before the Lord and He will cover you with His wings and gives you victory. God wants you to be free and He gave us keys to be free. The key to your freedom is the power of the Holy Spirit through Christ our Lord and Saviour!
Jesus said in Revelation to the church of Ephesus that they lost their first love. That can happen easily, we need to guard our relationship. You cannot function without a relationship with God. God has called us to a life of freedom. When I moved from the country back to the city of Edmonton, I thought that I would lose what I caught, but God made sure I didn’t. The same presence of God in the forest followed us to Edmonton. Every day I got filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to be filled every day. If you want God in your life you must be filled with the Holy Spirit and it is for everyone not just preachers. Everyone in the early church was filled with the Holy Spirit. When you purpose in your heart to be filled with the Spirit, all other things will be added to you. Most believers are not seeking the Lord and His presence because if they were, it would show. Miss Kuhlman was emerged in God’s presence and whenever she would walk somewhere the glory of God would go with her and people would get touched; even the heathen. When the presence of God is on you, there is a shift in the atmosphere.
The world wants to take this from us. The enemy wants us to be filled with the world and not the Holy Spirit. Many people easily fall into sin and have no power over themselves because they don’t have enough of the presence of God. Psalm 91 is a snapshot of someone who abides under God’s presence. The scripture also tells us that after Jesus abode in the wilderness forty days and nights and laboured in fasting and prayer He returned filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and demons began to fear and tremble. That being said, no matter how much power we have, it is pointless without love. Paul spoke of this saying:
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
All gifting must be lead and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Gifts and callings are irrevocable; it is about being lead by the Holy Spirit in relationship. You cannot buy a spouse with gifts and perks. It is all about relationship; when relationship is active, then the gifts and perks are much better because they are given out of the motivation of love. God is calling us back to Himself. God won’t impose and push His love on you, but He will invite you to His presence. If you are hungry for God, He will lead you deeper and further towards Himself. God’s love is the relationship He offers you; it is up to you to respond to His love offer and invitation. If everyone would receive the message and purpose in their heart to seek the Lord, their life will be changed and transformed. The power of God will rest on their life and will increase and others will take note. God is not only about His written Word and doctrine. He longs to show His power, but He only gives it to those who have a relationship with Him. No matter what denomination or banner you are under, if you seek after the Lord, He will work through you. Therefore, purpose in your heart is to seek God and lay aside every vain thing. As the man in the 12th chapter of Mark, you are not far from the Kingdom. All you need to do is seek after God!