I Must Be About My Father's Business

Every living thing is involved in and sustained by three functions: input, process and output. Even a computer program is defined by these three basic processes. Likewise, the spiritual growth and maturity of a Christian revolves around these three processes redefined as: relationship, transformation, and dominion. Relationship involves God and man sharing a mutual interaction of love, communication, and trust. Transformation involves continuous change: less of my will and more of God’s will, less of my mind and more of God’s mind, less of my limited human love and more of God’s perfect agape love. It involves dominion over self (the soul: will, mind and emotions) -- “He must increase and I must decrease.” Dominion involves God sharing His authority and power with man to fulfill His will and work on earth as we are directed and driven by His perfect love. This involves dominion over Satan and sickness in the harvest field and battlefield. Every concept in the Bible that pertains to Christian living and service relates to one or more of these three key subjects or themes. These three biblical concepts should be repeated in a continuous cycle in our lives as we mature and become more like our heavenly Father. Also a balanced prayer life will include these three concepts . These three inter-related concepts work together in the ecosystem of God’s Kingdom to bring spiritual maturity and fulfillment of God’s purpose and will for our lives. But there is one key overarching theme woven into these three processes that is superior to every theme or subject in the Bible. And that is the perfect L-O-V-E of God -- the highest law and strongest force in the Kingdom of God. The perfect love of God is the life flow in the body of Christ. Just as oxygen is the key element in our natural ecosystem for us to live, perfect love is the key element in God’s ecosystem for the spiritual man to survive and thrive. It is the only motive accepted by God for working in His Kingdom. It must be the foundation for every Christian concept and action for there to be anything accomplished that is effective and lasting. If we had only one word to describe God’s holy Word, it would be “l-o-v-e” -- a love story of God’s love for mankind, a love letter to mankind. The scarlet cord of love is woven through every book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. God’s love is so beautiful and strong that it encompasses every person and every circumstance regarding man and God relationships: - God’s love for everyone on earth (especially the body of Christ) - Our love for God - Our love for the brotherhood (household of faith) - Our love for our neighbor and enemy Man’s love is natural and finite. God’s love is infinite and supernatural. God’s love is perfect: unconditional, unfathomable, unexplainable, unspeakable, unending, unselfish, unmerited, redeeming, compassionate, and so much more. God’s love (agape) is a love that is freely given by the Lover, expecting nothing in return. He loved us while we were still in sin and did not love Him: “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The primary purpose of this book is directed and driven by two of the greatest foundational principles andchallenges for spiritual growth of the Christian: First is to love God and your neighbor, the second is to grow and increase in the love of God. To address these two foundational principles and challenges this study will review some of the attributes and effects of God's divine love and affirm that: - Love is the only motive accepted by God for working in His Kingdom: “Though I have all spiritual gifts . . . give all my goods to the poor . . . give my body to be burned, and have not love, it is nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). - It is the foundation and driving force for everything that is meaningful and lasting in the Kingdom of God. - Love is the key element required to produce the humility and unity essential for evangelism and miracles, like the first century church in the book of Acts, that shook their known world. In this study we will review and examine some of the: - Hindrances that obstruct the growth and flow of God’s love. - Principles that promote and increase the growth of God’s love. - Amazing benefits and results of the perfect love of God flowing and working in our lives. Some of these include: humility, unity, forgiveness, reconciliation of relationships, intensified revival and evangelism love for our neighbor and enemy and especially the brotherhood. A significant emphasis is placed on love for the brotherhood since: - Loving God and loving our brother in Christ are completely and indivisibly linked, because we are members of one body. - Our love for God is manifested and measured by our love for our brother. - Our heavenly Father elevates His church, His bride above all others: “Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God's very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian” (Eph. 2:19). TLB - The Word of God demands a special love and treatment for those in the household of faith: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Gal 6:10) "Show respect for all men [treat them honorably]. Love the brotherhood (the Christian fraternity of which Christ is the Head). Reverence God. Honor the emperor." (1 Peter 2:17) AMP This book highlights three key elements evident at the birth of the church and which are necessary to produce another Pentecost -- unity, humility and love. For there to be unity in the body of Christ, there must be humility among the brotherhood. And for there to be genuine humility, there must be the perfect love of God flowing in the brotherhood.