Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Matchless Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through whom we have been adopted into the family of God.
Beloved, this is a time of divine intimacy. God the Father is wooing His people into a deep and intimate relationship and fellowship with Him. He is taking the Body of Christ into another level.
Christianity is NOT a religion. Religion is the worship of God without intimacy. Christianity is being awakened to the Fatherhood of God. It is a spiritual rebirth. It is being reborn by the Spirit of God. See John 3:1-7; 1:12-13.
God wants your heart more than your acts because when He wins your heart, your acts will flow out of love and not out of duty. God wants us to worship because we want to not just because we have to. In religion all acts are performed out of duty and not from a heart of love.
Jesus Christ our Lord told the Ephesian Church in Revelation 2:4-5, to repent and go back to their first love and do the first works. He was more concerned about them getting back their first love than continuing meaningless activity. Religion is activity without intimacy.
Revelation 2:1-5 NKJV
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place—unless you repent.
God wants your heart. He says, “My son give Me your heart.” See Proverbs 23:26. The Father wants heartfelt worship. He desires a people who serve Him out of love. Any activity that does not spring out of a heart of love is meaningless and vain. See 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Matthew 15:7-9 NKJV
Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
In this season many people in the Body of Christ will encounter the Love of God in a personal and intimate way that will transform their lives. The more we encounter God in the place of prayer or study, the more loving we should be. To experience this I’d like to ask you to pray according to Ephesians 3:14-19; Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 and 2 Thessalonians 3:5 consistently and you will find the love of God increasing and abounding in your heart. Selah
In His Majesty’s Service,
DWF