“When the power of love overpowers the love of power, the world will know peace.” Jim Hendrix
Forward Thinkers this week the cousin of NBA Superstar Dwayne Wade was shot and killed in Chicago while pushing her baby down the street in a stroller and Donald Trump used the senseless act of violence as a reason Black people should vote for him in November. Forward Thinkers of course the murder of Dwayne Wade’s cousin made national headlines but unfortunately the reality is this week in 5th Ward someone’s cousin was also murdered along with cousins across every inner-city community in America.
Forward Thinkers we must understand no matter who we vote for in November (Yes, we must vote) to live in the White House for the next four years if we don’t solve the love crisis in our communities nothing is going to get better. Matter of fact things may get worst regardless if it’s President Trump or President Clinton in the White House if we don’t elect to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Forward Thinkers I believe love is a force strong enough to change the world and save the world at the same time. Love can fix the dysfunction in our families, schools, churches, and communities. Forward Thinkers it’s hard to rob and kill when you’re being lead by love. Love weakens the grip of racism, sexism, classism, and any other negative force aiming to keeping us apart.
Forward Thinkers love forces us to recognize we are better together than we are divided. Love trumps hate.
Fear of the unknown is one of the most powerful negative emotions a man can possess. The devil desires to have us living in constant fear because fear will cancel our faith and rob us of our confidence.
1 John 4:18-20 New International Version (NIV)
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
Forward Thinkers fear and worry are the dark rooms in which ‘negatives’ are developed. Hate is a negative feeling and is birthed out of fear. We often fear what we don’t understand and if that fear goes unchecked it grows into hate.
Paul says in Romans 8:38-39New International Version (NIV)
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Forward Thinkers Paul is reminding us that we should be convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love and we should keep the faith to press on through it all because love never fails.
The devil wants us to focus on being punished by God so he highlights when the bible says you shall not do x, y, and z and tries to put us in a mind-set of fear which will have us believing God does not love a person like us. But, the opposite of hate and fear is love and love will direct us to God’s love and God’s reward system.
Forward Thinkers God loves us and God takes pleasure in the prospering of his people. God is not trying to keep anything from us but God is actually trying to get something great to us.
Forward Thinkers we’re able to stand because God loves us. Forward Thinkers we’re over comers because God loves us. Forward Thinkers we’re able to forgive others because God loves us and forgave us.
Again we are facing with the reality that we can’t love God without loving our brothers and sisters. The bible calls anyone who claims to love God and not love their neighbor a lair and we known a lair will not make it to glory.
Forward Thinkers since we can’t pay God back for all he has done for us we can tell God thank you by loving on each other especially others who are not like us or who don’t like us. Remember, love trumps hate.
1 John 4:17New International Version (NIV)
17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
Forward Thinkers we can’t skip over this verse because it says when we live in love we are living like Jesus. Forward Thinkers walking in love empowers us to walk like Jesus. Forward Thinkers Jesus was a walking example of love and Jesus was not weak but strong and powerful. Forward Thinkers walking in love empowers us to walk in strength.
Corinthians 9:19-23New International Version (NIV)
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Forward Thinkers Paul is telling us that love will make us sacrifice our personal desires so others can get to know Jesus and reach their full potential in life. Forward Thinkers a church filled with loving people will always be a filled church. Love attracts people to Jesus not buildings, choirs, or preachers.
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Forward Thinkers Paul is decreeing that love allows him to become all things to all people. Don’t get confused Paul is not saying he will do all things to get people to Christ but rather he is saying love will cause us to come out of our ego, our traditions, and our cultural ways to win over a lost soul.
Forward Thinkers Paul knew firsthand the power of God’s love. Paul knew love had saved him, changed him, and gave his life meaning and purpose. Forward Thinkers Paul was so grateful to God that he wanted to share the gospel, the good news about Jesus to everyone and today I challenge all Forward Thinkers to do like Paul and share the message of love to everyone you meet.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. Pastor Deckard is also the Co-Founder of the No More Bloodshed Movement. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com, follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Periscope @ Pastor E A Deckard or the church website www.ghic.net