As believers, if we want to be one with God, we have to connect with him not only physically, but through the Spirit as well. Continue reading and I will explain.
One With God: The Bliss Of Harmony In Spirit
STM Bible Lesson – Harmony in Spirit
A. The Believer’s Study Bible: “The Feast of Dedication” is not an O.T. feast, but was instituted as a memorial of the dedication of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus in December, 165 B.C., after Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated it in 167 B.C. It is now called the Feast of Lights, or Hanukkah.
B. Bible Exposition Commentary: The Jewish leaders were celebrating a great event in history yet passing by a great opportunity right in their own temple!
The leaders surrounded Jesus in the temple so that He had to stop and listen to them. They had decided that it was time for a “showdown” and they did not want Him to evade the issue any longer.
C. Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible: Jesus described three characteristics of His sheep:
(1) They hear His voice (v. 4). He knows them (see Rom. 8:29).
(2) They follow Him. The following of the sheep is a metaphor for faith. Other metaphors for faith in this Gospel include “drinking” water (4:14), eating bread (6:50, 51), eating flesh and drinking blood (6:54).
(3) They shall never perish; their eternal life can never be taken away. The Father’s hand is more powerful than that of any enemy.
Praising the Lord is a physical action most of us do. Most believers believe acknowledging our Father for his greatness, thanking Him for His miracles, and celebrating His power is worship. When this is giving Him praise. Praise means to lift Him up, to be thankful for the ‘I Am’, what He does, and who He is. As believers, if we want to be in harmony with the Lord, we have to connect with him physically and in Spirit as well.
- John 10:30 [read John 10:22-30 (30)]
- “I and the Father are one.” (ISV)
- KJV: “I and my Father are one.”
Worshiping Him
Worship means to bow down and pay respect. Worship is intimacy. Intimacy is closeness.
- Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828: worship
- To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration (enthusiasm; praise).
Oneness with the Creator
Worship is spirit-to-spirit, it is oneness with our Creator. Which means it does not require you to speak. Our Spirit, intertwined with the Lord’s Spirit, is worshiping Him. Praise is physical, while worship is spiritual. God communicates with us through the Holy Spirit, who serves as the connection between us and our Creator.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12-15 [read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (12-15)]
- We have not received the spirit of the world. God has given us His Holy Spirit that we may know about the things given to us by Him. 13 We speak about these things also. (But,) We do not use words of man’s wisdom. We use words given to us by the Holy Spirit. We use these words to tell what the Holy Spirit wants to say to those who put their trust in Him.
The natural person and the spiritual person
- 14 But the person who is not a Christian does not understand these words from the Holy Spirit. He thinks they are foolish. He cannot understand them because he does not have the Holy Spirit to help him understand. 15 The full-grown Christian understands all things, and yet he is not understood. (NLV)
KJV:
- Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
God created human beings in His image
In the beginning, God wanted to create something like Him that would be able to receive his love. Love expresses itself through giving. Since love is a giver, He needed a receiver.
- Genesis 1:26-27 [read Genesis 1:26-31 (26-27)]
- Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image and likeness. And let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the tame animals, over all the earth, and over all the small crawling animals on the earth.” 27 So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. (NCV)
- KJV: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
God created us in His image, which means we are Spirits. Spirits don’t have genders. Therefore, He created us with two distinct genders, male and female.
Agape
There are different types of love. The most important love is agape. God’s love is agape. Agape is oneness, it is unconditional love; it holds no reasons for love, and it never changes. Those who know agape know God. God has shown us his love since the beginning, even when we did not deserve it. Why does God give us His love? We do not know why, because there is no why. He merely loves us unconditionally, without reason.
- 1 John 4:7-8 [read 1 John 4:7-11 (7-8)]
- My friends, we should all love each other. It is God who makes us able to love other people. Everyone who loves other people has become a child of God. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love other people does not know God. We know this because God’s own nature is love. (EASY)
- KJV: Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
- Agape – love
- G26 ἀγάπη agape (a-ğa’-pee) n. God is wholly (completely; totally) love, his nature is summed up in love.
To have agape love you have to know God. As God’s people, we should be giving everyone agape, just like our Father, who loves us even in our sins. Although He still loves us in sin, this does not justify our sins.
Warnings against Sin
- We don’t appreciate it when someone keeps doing us wrong; likewise, the Lord does not appreciate it when we go against His will (sin). This is why He will not listen to you if you keep sinning against Him (doing Him wrong).
- Isaiah 59:1-2 [read Isaiah 59:1-8 (1-2)]
- Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. 2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. (NLT)
- KJV: Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
- Acts 3:19 [read Acts 3:11-26 (19)]
- So repent [change your inner self, your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to Him seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day] Acts 3:19 (AMP). (AMP)
- KJV: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
God’s Love
God is jealous of those He loves. He does whatever is necessary to get us back to worshiping him. He gave up his one and only son, Jesus, to die for our sins. When we repent for our sins, God forgives us and makes us new through the blood of Jesus. Our Lord is so graceful and humble in his ways. His ways show us unconditional love, even when we were sinners!
- Romans 5:7-9 [read Romans 5:6-11 (7-9)]
- It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person. 8 But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! 9 By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God’s anger! (GNT)
- KJV: For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
The great love of God towards the world
- John 3:16-17 [read John 3:1-20 (16-17)]
- “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him. (ICB)
- KJV: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
One With God
Worship is the act of receiving and returning God’s love. This is unity with God; our spirit interacts with Him, and we become one. Stay close to God through worship, prayer, walking in spirit, and faith. Maintain fellowship with other believers, and spend time reading, meditating, and studying His Word.
- 1 John 4:12, 15 [read 1 John 4:12-16 (12, 15)]
- 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is truly in our hearts. 15 God stays one with everyone who openly says that Jesus is the Son of God. That’s how we stay one with God. (CEV)
- KJV: 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Love in action
- 1 John 3:18, 24 [read 1 John 3:16-24 (18, 24)]
- 18 Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it. 24 If we obey God’s commandments, we will stay one in our hearts with him, and he will stay one with us. The Spirit he has given us is proof that we are one with him. (CEV)
- KJV: 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 25 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
I hope you enjoyed this Bible lesson. Stay blessed and live in agape, God’s Love—♥ Marchelle. ☺
Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:
- References
- Agape definition (Munroe, Dr. Myles) – The Purpose and Power of Love and Marriage, by Dr. Myles Munroe, Destiny Image Publishers, 2002, pp. 113–116.
- Praise and worship meaning (Munroe, Dr. Myles) – The Purpose and Power of Love and Marriage, by Dr. Myles Munroe, Destiny Image Publishers, 2002, pp. 125–137.
- Intimacy definition Hebrew. “How to Say ‘Closeness’ ‘Intimacy’ in Hebrew: Ulpan La-Lnyan.” Ulpan La-Inyan, 5 Nov.
See the latest on the Sound Truth Ministry website.
I look forward to your feedback via comment at the bottom of the page or by emailing tim@stministry.com. Have a fabulous day!
