April 19, 2020 The Cups of God’s Love

God created man in HIS Image, but we have so distorted that image by our sinful ways.  But we don’t need to be stuck there.  God desires to bring us back to who He created us to be.  We are so thankful that He redeemed us from the grip of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Now He is dealing with our minds to bring us back to the garden, back in intimate communion with him.

There is a wilderness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea.
There is a kindness in His justice which is more than liberty.
There is a welcome for the sinner, and more graces for the good
There is mercy with the Savior, there is healing in the blood.
For the Love of God is broader than the measure of man’s mind
And the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful, we should take Him at His Word;
And our life would be thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord.
 
The Lord is asking us to come and dine with Him to sit and drink from four cups He has set before us, to bring us closer to Himself and to defeat the influences of the enemy.   
The first cup is the sacrificial Love to Father God, when He made us in His image in the garden. (Genesis 1:26-27) He covered us with His glory, and gave us an identity as His children.  The enemy came into the garden to blind Adam and Eve to the truth of God’s love, and to take away the glory we were given.
 
The Second Cup is the Covenant made with the sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross. His blood sanctifies us from the sins of our past, present, and future. (Mathew 26:28 & Jeremiah 31:31-34) The enemy comes to take away the authority of God’s Word, deceive us with darkness, and steal God’s vision and direction for our lives.
 
The Third cup is a lifestyle of Holiness, when through the leading of the Holy Spirit we are able to put our flesh to death. This occurs through times of consecration and fasting, as well as times of suffering.  (Matthew 26:38) God is bringing about purification in our bodies and souls. The enemy comes to steal strength from our bodies and minds, as well as our fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
 
The Fourth cup is truly understanding the complete union with the love of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. This love is revealed by the Spirit and the Word. (Isaiah 61:1- 3, 1 Corinthians 10:16) This cup of abiding communion results in great blessings of joy, steadfastness, and glorification; as we chose to have nothing in common with the enemy.   Our enemy comes to steal, kill & destroy our pure worship of God; hoping to destroy our intimate relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.