True Love - Part 4 Sacrifice

[Terrance Milem]

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
(Ephesians 5:25-26)

As they hurriedly moved toward the burning building the weary firefighters were silent. Each knowing that this was unlike anything that they had ever seen. Not knowing how they would put out such a massage blaze they ventured forth knowing that this mission might be their last. Still they forged forward.

These words could have been written about the firemen as they moved toward the twin towers that fateful September day. Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice that day. We call them heroes. You could also write similarly about Jesus. The difference is he knew what he was walking into as he stumbled down that rocky road in Israel over 2000 years ago. Yet he still went forward. In Ephesians 5:25, Paul writes that Husbands must love their wives. This love must be equal to the love that Christ had for the church. The passage continues by stating that Christ gave himself for the church. Gave here means surrendered. To give yourself for something or someone means to surrender who you are for the good of someone or something else. When someone surrenders to the authorities he gives up his freedoms to pay the consequences for his actions. Jesus gave up his position in heaven with God to save his church from hell. He gave up his his life to save his church from death. He temporarily gave up divinity to save humanity. The person who surrenders to the authorities pays the consequences for his actions. Jesus had never sinned therefore he had nothing to surrender for. He surrendered to pay the consequences for our sins.

This applies to husbands because the husband gives up his natural instinct for self preservation to meet the needs of his wife & children. We give up our individuality to provide a covering for them. We give up out lives to make lives for them. We become responsible to God for the success or failure of those we cover whether we make the mistake or they do.

Just as Christ gave himself for the church husbands must also give themselves for their wives. By doing this we express true love for them. To see why we must do this check out the next part of this series.

[Hilton]

I would like to speak a blessing upon you today. I hope it is received in the Spirit that I give it in. Now Father I pray in the name of Jesus that your precious anointing rest upon your servant as they go forth delivering the Gospel of Jesus Christ into all the world; may your feet be as hinds feet as you journey to do what God has preordained you to do. Father, I ask that you bless your humble servant and mount them up in KINGDOM POWER, KINGDOM ANOINTING & KINGDOM STRENGHT during this hour of the Church. Father, may your anointing dwell with them from day to day as they abide under the shadow of the Almighty and meet with you daily in the SECRET PLACE. Father, Increase their faith, restore their belief in your miracle working power; Father cause them to seek for you UNTIL, UNTIL, UNTIL, they find you. For you are our Father and we are dependent upon thy precious Holy Spirit, OH' I give you praise and thanks and glory and honor for all the wonderful things you have prepared to do for your people; we TRUST you, we TRUST you, we TRUST you OH' Lord and we know that nothing is impossible with you and all things are ours because of you. Be Bless my friend and walk in all that GOD IS; nothing the enemy has designed can withstand the plan of God. May The Blessings Of Our King and High Priest Be Upon You NOW