THE AGAPE OF GOD

 

We often say that Divine Love is a love that flows from God. We say that it is a Godly Love in that God gave His only begotten Son as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
The Greek word used by Christians to describe such love is agape.  Agape is a noun.  Its verb form is agapao.  Agape is generally defined by Christian writers as "an intentional response to promote well−being when responding to that which has generated ill−being". The word is believed to represent divine, unconditional, self−sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love.

However, the word agapao, by itself, is also used in the Bible in a negative sense.  In its negative sense, its meaning is noticeably depraved of Godliness and is mutually exclusive of an agape of Yahweh.

Jhn.3:19: "…but men loved [agapao] darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."

Jhn.12:43: "…for they loved [agapao] the praise of men more than the praise from God."

2Tim.4:10: "…for Demas has forsaken me, having loved [agapao] this present world…."

1Jhn.2:15: "Do not love [agapao] the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves [agapao] the world, the love [agape] of the Father is not in him."

Hence, in these verses, "agapao love" could not be taken to mean "Godly Love" or "Divine Love" but a general affection of things.  In actuality, AGAPE is simply a word denoting a deep seated affection for someone or something.  When speaking of God's LOVE, AGAPE thus refers to God's inherent LOVE that is revealed to mankind in His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Yahweh's LOVE is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 John 4:9,10.  Yahweh packaged His LOVE in flesh and gave IT to us.  That package of AGAPE is the Lord Jesus Christ (cf.2Cor.5:14; Eph.2:4−6; 3:19; 5:2).


Eros, Philia, Agape

There are three ancient Greek words for "love" − eros, philia, agape.  Eros is passionate, sensual and longing.  Eros is a selfish love.  It seeks to satisfy only the individual senses and is limited in scope, as that between two persons or a person and material things.  Philia has a wider scope − though natural, the love expressed maybe conditional as that among family, friends and neighbours.  Phileo love is commonly known as "brotherly love" [philadelphia].  Agape is generally used to denote a love that's self-sacrificing, unconditional and voluntary, even so much as to agapao one's enemies (cf.Matt.5:44).

Agape can be learned − as this light flows from God, one will react graciously to all creatures (man and beasts) and the surroundings.  Take for example the two different events that happened to William Branham.  In one of them Bro. Branham saw a mistreated dirty little collie by the side of the road.  It had fleas all over it.  Fleas or no fleas, he just picked it up and took it home.  Now, he did that because it was agape.  In the second event, an old sickly mother opossum with some babies came one morning to the steps of Bro. Branham's house and just laid there.  To Bro. Branham, the opossum was old and dying and the little ones would surely starve to death without their mother.  A sister suggested that it would be humane to just end their lives.  Bro. Branham could not bring himself to do that.  He simply let them lay there at the steps.  The next morning was when the Lord spoke to Branham and told him that He brought the opossum to him and yet he did not even pray for her.  The Word struck him and he repented and immediately prayed for the animal.  The opossum got up and walked into the woods.  Here agape was demonstrated when Bro. Branham received the Word and followed through.

Agapao and Phileo

But what actually is "agapao love"?  How does God express His agape?  How do we know that we have agape?

Notice this discourse Jesus had with Peter after Christ's resurrection.

Jhn.21:15: So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [agapao] thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16: He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [agapao] thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17: He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [phileo] thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest [phileo] thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

When asked if he did agapao the Lord, Peter answered that he did phileo Him.  Twice Peter answered the Lord with this word phileo.  It is obvious that Peter knew what the Lord meant when He used the word agapao.  Instead of saying, "Yea, Lord, I agapao thee", he chose to use the word phileo.  In using that word, Peter was saying that he, indeed, did have great affection for the Lord.  Moreover, he insisted to the Lord Jesus that He ought to know that he loved Him when he said, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I phileo thee."  That was his confession.  Apparently, Peter had some reservation in using the word agapao.  Sensing that, Jesus put the same question to him the third time using the same word phileo that Peter used.

In addition, Peter avoided a part of the question put to him the first time − "Do you agapao me more than these?" − he ignored the last three words "more than these".  He simply said, "You know I phileo thee."  The second time, Jesus asked the same question using the word agapao again but removing the phrase "more than these".  Again, Peter responded with the same words − "You know I phileo thee."  Finally, Jesus removed every important word he originally used and asked Peter the last time, "Lovest [phileo] thou me?"

The response of Peter to the Lord's question showed that he had an evasion to the question that was put to him.  Many of us Christians have, at times, done the same to certain words from the Lord when he deals with us.  Peter was facing a challenge.  Christ was probing his heart.  He had not very long ago boasted that he would stand by Christ though all men forsook him, that he would not deny his Lord, but then he did (cf.Mark 14:29-30,72). Christ's questioning was very upsetting to him.  It was a soul searching question indeed.  Peter had love for Jesus.  It was easy to phileo Jesus but to agapao Him was something else for agape is a sacrificial love that puts Christ and His Word above all things − "more than these" referring to family, friends, career, possession, etc.  Would Peter be willing to detach himself from all things dear to him and do Christ's will with great sacrifice − to feed Christ's sheep?  To do any otherwise with just philia would have only a imperfect worth.

Christians are often heard saying that they agapao the Lord when in reality they only phileo Him.  Like Peter, Christians have to learn to "love [agapao] the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment" (Matt.22:37-38).  Notice that if this great commandment is accomplished, the second of two great commandments will naturally follow right alongside. "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matt.22:39-40).

Kenneth Wuest gives a simple definition between the two "love" words (Wuest's Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, Vol.3, #28, pg.62 [Eerdmans Publishing Co, Grand Rapids, Mich, 1992]):

"'Phileo' is a love which consists of the glow of the heart kindled by the perception of that in the object which affords us pleasure.  It is the response of the human [soul] to what appeals to it as pleasurable... The word was used to speak of a friendly affection.  It is a love called out of one in response to a feeling of pleasure or delight which one experiences from an apprehension of qualities in another that furnish such pleasure or delight. 'Agapao' on the other hand, speaks of a love which is awakened by a sense of value in the object loved, an apprehension of its preciousness. 'Phileo' is found in Rev.22:15; Mat.6:5; 10:37; 23:6; Luk.20:46; Jhn.11:3,36; 16:27; 1Cor.16:22."

With that we understand that philia is intellectual and emotional and that agape comes from the heart.  The first reasons and questions; the second does not, it is a conscious and deliberate choice made on the basis of applied principles from the Word of God; it is perfect in God, just what He says.  As true worshippers, our love has God as its primary object; He is the foundation, the theme.  Our love should be expressed through implicit obedience to His commandments.  Agape demands that.

A Conscious and Deliberate Choice

Rom.12:9: Let love (agape) be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10: Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love (philadelphia); in honour preferring one another;

Again the Scripture points out that agapao love results from a deliberate effort to love without hypocrisy, to abhor evil and to cling to the good.  On the other hand phileo love is not so, for at time without a diligent observation, it can negate what God intended in one's affection and loyalty to another person.  When it does, it opposes the agape of God.  A believer who phileo another more than the Truth of God has not the agape of God.  Like Balaam, he has backslid; he has left the "first love".  When wisdom is lost, agape is lost too.  Self-will, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God.

1Pet.3:10: For he that will love [agapao] life (WITH GODLY FEAR AND SACRIFICIAL LOVE OF OTHERS), and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Jhn.12:25: He that loveth [phileo] his life (an undue desire to preserve it, forgetful of the real object of living) shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Like the Pharisees of old, many preachers today are walking contrary to the Word of God when they bypass the justice and agape love of God which they should perform toward the welfare of others.  They do not honor nor respect other ministers of the Gospel.  Instead, they are full of self-will, they agapao recognition and high places.  As a result, they radiate spiritual darkness to those who look up to them.  They are unseen sepulchers that even those who associate with them do not have an inkling as to who they really are.

Luk.11:42: But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love [agape] of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
43: Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love [agapao] the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
44: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

The apostle Paul said that AGAPE LOVE is patient, is kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (cf.1Cor.13:1-7).  All these attributes of agape come by a selfless mental discipline of a believer as guided by the Holy Spirit.


Agape and Perfection

Gal.5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love [agape], joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,..

Agape is the first of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the believer, without it no Christian is spiritually complete: "And above all these things put on charity [agape], which is the bond of perfectness" (Col.3:14).

If agape is the bond of perfection in a Christian, to a place where he is complete in Christ, then Christians ought to take serious heed to Apostle Paul's admonition:

Phil.1:9: And this I pray, that your love [agape] may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
10: That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
11: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

These exhorting words tell us that agape is based on the knowledge of God and His Word.  In other places, the apostle Paul said that to gain spiritual knowledge, you must "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…" (2Cor.13:5a); "prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1Thess.5:21); "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom.12:2).

Therefore agape is not an unresponsive and careless feeling.  It is but intelligent and morally discerning − the intellectual logical perception received from the Word of God as revealed by Yahweh.  The more that spiritual knowledge is gained from searching the inbreathed Word of God, the more agape enables the believer to love and obey what God commands.  The Apostle Paul said:

2Tim.3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Therefore, it is very foolish for those followers of William Branham, especially preachers of his message, to accuse the faithful followers of Christ as being "intellectual" in a negative sense.  Simply quoting the words of Branham does not make a person a true believer.  But thousands upon thousands are doing just that without even one iota of Godly intelligence.  They would simply "amen" every word that came out of the mouth of Branham without having an understanding of what he meant.  And they would claim that that is faith in God's prophet because every word he uttered is "Thus saith the Lord", whether or not they understand it.  How could one have intellectual knowledge of the Truth if one does not hearken to the Word?  When Satan came to Jesus Christ after His 40 days of fasting to tempt Him, our Lord was steadfast in the Word and in His reply to Satan, "It is written". Amen.  Our Lord kept Satan in check as Satan had quoted the prophetic words out of context to suit his own purpose.  Do not the Branhamites in the various camps do the same with the prophetic words of Branham?  How could one have eternal Life if one is not willing to listen to the Word and be obedient?

Isa.1:18: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19: If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Friend, God wants you to reason with Him, with His Word.  You are not to reason with yourself, with your carnal intellectual conceptions.  When you do that you have nothing but presumptions and unless you come to the Lord and have Him reason with you, you would only be deceived into presumptuous sins.  That's nothing but the truth.  We cannot take some statements of Bro. Branham and presume that he meant this or that without taking them to the Scriptures.  We are told to "check it with the Word" just like the wise Bereans did with Paul's teaching.  God's INBREATHED WRITTEN SCRIPTURE is the source of our Faith.  When one is born again, one has the Holy Spirit.  And if a believer has the Holy Spirit, the anointing of the Spirit gives the believer a Godly intellect.  The Spirit of Christ is God's intellect, His Wisdom.  The Spirit and the Word are ONE.  Whosoever claims that he has the Spirit of Christ must be obedient and willing to be led into God's Holy Word.  And he who has the Word has Life. (Read Proverb 3.)

Philia versus Agape

The unification process of all churches that started back in 1948 is now in full swing. It is also to unite all the other religions of the world under the pope.  There is a plan for them to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation right in the city of Rome itself in the year 2017.  However, the truth of God is not the foundation of this union.

Oh, how quickly has Protestants forgotten the words of Martin Luther when he exclaimed at the Reichstag in Worms in the year 1521: "Cursed be the unity that is achieved at the expense of the truth!"   Yes, truth is not in the mind of the various religious leaders of the churches.  These leaders are reprobates.  They are under a religious anointing that brings falsehood into the midst of their people.  Even among the many Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, tens of thousands can proclaim that they have spoken in tongues, but can they truly claim that they are born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of their redemption?

Religious people are quite emotional and easily moved by the "love" spirit to do what appears right to the eyes.  However, whatever the "godly" work, as long as it is not Word based, it is not of God.  And if it is not of God it is not agape.  Only phileo is at play.  The oneness or unity among the churches is mostly motivated by philadelphia.  Certainly, let "brotherly love" continue among the believers.  But for the unity of the saints to be a reality, the individuals must agapao the Lord and His Word, be willing and obedient.

Well, what about the believers of the Endtime Message?  It is easy for many preachers to think and believe that the thousands who gathered in their meetings and who raised their hands and confessed affirmatively with loud "Amen! Amen!" to their questions − "Do you believe in the divine message of the hour?  Are you baptized Biblically in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ?" − are true believers of the Word.  Yes, they may be united as one in "the message", whether one calls it "the Endtime Message", "the Divine Message" or "the Message of the Hour", but are they truly united as one in "the TRUTH" of God?  Are they motivated by the Holy Spirit and by the agape of God?  Or are they, having itchy ears, merely agreeing with the "words of men" who are able to provide the scratching hands?  Are the inbreathed words of the Scripture taken as the Absolute Foundation of their Faith and taught to the people, or are the oral words of the messenger, William Branham, used verbatim to formulate doctrines so much so that they surpass the Sacred Scriptures for authority?

In the city of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) alone, there are tens of thousands of "message believers".  Ministers from the USA, Canada and Europe often go there to minister the Word of God but are they there to set in order the things that are lacking and the TRUTH of God that needs further straightening?  Or, are they there to make a name by just gathering large crowds? A single gathering to hear these preachers can see some 50,000 or more "message believers" gathered together in a stadium.  A single gathering of "message ministers" in a ministers' meeting can see some 3,000 ministers from all over DRC.  But what do we actually see?  A similar unification, a coming together, nonetheless like that of all organized (denominational) churches in the Ecumenical Movement.  Though the inbreathed Scriptures is not their foundation of TRUTH, yet there is a unity of divided opinions concerning the words of Bro. Branham.  Among them are the "Polygamist" group, the "Thunders" group, the "New Name" group, and several others, coming together to "amen" that God had sent a vindicated prophet to the age.  Each group claims that the prophet's "message" is the (same as the) Bible and the Bible is the "message".  All will "amen" every statement of the prophet but all are equally divided and confused over the many statements of the prophet.  "Cursed be the unity that is achieved at the expense of the truth!"

It is so easy for believers to hit out at the errors of organized churches and their major traditional church doctrines that are either scripturally false or scripturally unsound.  This is so because Bro. Branham had laid them out to the knowledge of all who know his sermons by books or by magnetic tapes.  However, are they able to discern the errors, the false doctrines, the false revelations, brought about by the many preachers among them?  Are they able to see the subtlety of Satan as he manipulates the words of Bro. Branham through false ministers?

One of Bro. Branham's most important messages is that which he taught, that God's Word calls for a total separation from unbelief.  In this message, many believers take it that the prophet meant the believers are to separate from those in the organized churches.  How foolish.  Don't they know that Satan walks even in the midst of a camp of believers?  Satan's one main weapon is to make people religious.  One approach is to create fear and have believers pay homage to a "holy man".  Another approach is to get the believers to revere a set of religious books or taped sermons, just as he has the organized churches to observe statements of beliefs or creeds.  Such deceptions do not happen in one day.  The believers are brainwashed over a period of time.

Praise God!  Those who know the true foundation of their faith cannot be deceived.  Of course, many of the followers of Branham can quote what he said concerning the elect of God, that the true elect cannot be deceived and they claimed that they themselves are the true elect and therefore they cannot be deceived.  Among the hundreds of thousands of followers of Branham and with the many different opinions and interpretations of "the divine message" in the different camps, all will claim that the saints of their own particular camps are the elected ones.
 

Meddle Not With Them

Let me draw you a type from the Bible.  The children of Israel were under Egyptian bondage, slaves to a system for many years.  After they made their exodus out of Egypt towards the Promised Land, many of the men did not believe that they could take the land after the report of the twelve spies were given.  God then passed His judgment:

Num.32:10: And the LORD'S anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying,
11: Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:
12: Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.
13: And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.

Now all those who were consumed in the wandering in the wilderness were able-bodied men, mature men, able to fight, able to reason and able to understand.  Though they had suffered under the wicked Pharaoh of Egypt they had also seen the mighty hand of God.  They had witnessed how Yahweh judged Egypt.  They had seen miracles while they were on the move, even water and food were miraculously provided for them.  Yet, they grumbled and they murmured, "Is the LORD among us, or not?" (Exo.17:7).

All those men lived and witnessed what God did through Moses.  But all who murmured against the Lord were not allowed to enter the Promised Land; they all died in the wilderness.  Because Moses did not revere the Lord in bringing forth water from the rock, he was forbidden to enter the land.  It was on account of the provocation of the children of Israel that he smote the rock twice instead of speaking to it.  Moses died along with all the unbelieving men of Israel at the close of the forty years of their wandering.

Under the leadership of Joshua, a new generation of men was to cross over Jordan and take all the land that was promised them.  They were told to leave the Edomites, the Moabites and the Ammonites alone and not to meddle with them (cf.Deut.2).  The Edomites were descendants of Esau, and the Moabites and the Ammonites were Lot's sons by his own two daughters.  One way or another, all these peoples were related to Abraham.  They could identify themselves with Abraham but not with his faith.  They could not easily embrace Israel.  They had their lands but God would not allow His Chosen People, Israel, to have those lands, not even one footstep.  Though their places were right next to the Promised Land, the Israelites were told to bypass those places and those "camps" of peoples and go right straight to possess THE LAND that was promised to them.  The lands of those other people related to Abraham were not for the chosen people of God.  God had set the bound for Israel.  She was the chosen people of God.  Those other peoples must come to her, even if it would take God many years to weed out the rebellious mongrels among them (cf.Deut.23:3-8).

Did not the messenger to this last church age cry out to all who had ears to hear to hear what the Spirit said − to get into the Absolute Word of God?  Is not every PROMISE in the HOLY BOOK for all saints of God to claim?  Are we not told to get into the PROMISED Word and to eat the fruit of It?  Otherwise, where do they worship and feast, who come out of Babylon?  Getting out of "Egyptian" bondage (or Mystery Babylon) is one thing but to stay out of the Promised Word is another.  To identify with Branham, without the true revelation and faith of the message he brought us, is useless.  So, what have the true worshippers of God in this hour, under the ministry of Joshua (Yahshua) our Saviour (which is the Ascension Gift Ministry of Ephesians 4) to do with those "camps" of people who could identify themselves with Branham but who have founded their own separate "places" outside of the WORD?  Surely, those "camps" of people in their separate "places" have their own kinds of "foods", produce sowed and reaped by men who are not anointed with the Joshuaic spirit to understand the revelation of the Word.  Among the preachers (there are even men like Balaam) who know to do the right things but do it not because of their greed for wealth and popularity.  Others are filled with pride and insincerity.

Beloved, the "old corn of the land" (cf.Jos.5:11-12) is found only in the Promised Word, and the Spirit of God in the Joshuaic Ministry is leading the Church into It.  The Lord is grounding her faith deep in the foundation of the WORD.  The Holy Spirit is giving the revelation of the Word that she be fearless even with all the other "camps" round about her.

As Moses instructed Israel, so we do likewise.  Let us not meddle with those other "camps".  Let's just leave them alone.  The "places" where they dwell are not for us.  Certainly, they have their own food.  The true saints of God have their place in the Promised Word.  It is the only one place where God has put His Name and the only place we could ever gather to worship God in spirit and in truth (cf.Deut.14:23; 16:2).  It is the only place where we can eat seven perfect produce (cf.Deut.8:8).  The Word of God is perfect, converting and transforming the souls of all who feed upon It.

Saints of God, do not stay where the "manna" you are eating is stale.  But be at the place where the Word of God is made alive, where His Spirit is moving within the Word, for where the Spirit of God is, His "manna" is freshly prepared. "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live" (Isa.55:2-3).  It is the AGAPE of God towards His chosen few (Deut.7:7-8).  God wants His people to obey, to follow His commandments.  Every one of us is responsible towards the choice we make − to serve God or mammon, to love God first above family members and friends or otherwise.  Remember, it is easier to phileo God than to agapao Him.  For it to be agape we have to put Christ and His Word above all things − "more than these" − our family and friends, career and possession, etc.  Beloved, would you be willing to detach yourself from all things dear and precious to you and do the Lord's will, to follow the leading of the Spirit into His Word and obey His commandments?  Surely to do otherwise with just philia would have only a limited worth.
 

Demonstration

Agape love is demonstrated by you when you obey God − His Word.  Agape is all about HIM, the WORD of God made manifest to us in flesh.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (Jhn.1:1,4).  God loves us, He gave His Son to us, He gave His Life to us, He gave His Word to us.

Jhn.14:15: If ye love [agapao] me, keep my commandments.
21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth [agapao] me: and he that loveth [agapao] me shall be loved [agapao] of my Father, and I will love [agapao] him, and will manifest myself to him.
23: …If a man love [agapao] me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love [agapao] him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Jhn.5:20: For the Father loves [phileo] the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

O gracious!  Yes, God agapao as well as phileo us, just as much as He agapao and phileo His Son, for we are His children and also His Son's Bride.  And as much as the Father showed His Son what He was doing, He would, likewise, through His Son, guide us into all Truth and show us things that are to come.  Did not Jesus Christ promise us that?

Jhn.16:13: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14: He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15: All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

See?  Agape is all about the Word of God.  God wants to reveal His Word, His Plan and Purpose and His Life to us.  That is His Blessing to us.  That is His Divine Love to us.  He is doing a work in us "for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph.2:10). "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent" (Jhn.6:29).  That is why He sent His servants − His messengers, His apostles and His prophets − to us, His chosen ones.  They are His agape to us.

It is an exercise of Yahweh in deliberate purposeful choice.  It is an essence of God.  He chooses to do it because it is in His nature.  Whatever God says, we must be willing to take His Word and agree with Him − "That's true, Lord, I believe. I do not question for You have reasoned It with me according to Your wisdom, and I believe" − and move right on.  That's what takes real love − agape − a deliberate choice made on our part in response to God's agape.  Other confessions would be as in Peter's reply to the Lord's question, "Yea Lord, You know I phileo Thee", or worse, a confession uttered with a carnal intellectual mind.
 

God's Chosen Place of Worship

Notice, even though when the children of Israel are come into the Promised Land, God is particular about where and how He wants His people to feast on the blessings He provided them:

Deut.12:17: Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
18: But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

Deut.14:23: And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

See?  Where and how we partake of God's Blessings − God's Blessed Truth − is important to Him.  We cannot eat what God provides in the "camps" of our choices.  We are commanded to eat in the place where He has placed His Name.  That place is not the Roman Catholic Church.  That place is not any of the Protestant Churches.  That place is not the Pentecostal Church or the Charismatic Church.  That place is not any of the Branhamite Churches.  That's the truth.  So, where then is that place?  Where do they worship and feast, who come out of Babylon?

It is in God's Own Word!  Yahweh has placed His Name in His Own Word.  Praise the Lord!  The Word that was made flesh has the Name of Yahweh placed in Him.  He sacrificed Himself and said, "Take, eat: this is my body" (cf.Matt.26:26-29).  He is the Word of Life, the Book of Life, that we, if we be Bride, are commanded, "Take it, and eat it up" (cf.Rev.10:8-11).  Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Jer.15:16: Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Truly, beloved, if we are called by the Name of Yahweh and do agapao Him, and He have let us found where the Name of Yahweh is placed and where His Word is, then let's eat the Word of Life with joy.  Let us not be swayed by contrary winds of opinions or even our self-will and pride that will but oppose the flow of God's agape.


The Revelation

The apostle John had a clear revelation of what God is, that He is Agape (cf.1Jhn.4:8).  It is obviously clear that agape love is in God's Word.  God agapao us and that's why He gave us His Word that we would be a part of His Life.  It is clear from John's revelation that "whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love (agape) of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him" (1Jhn.2:5).  Nothing could be clearer that these words − "whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love (agape) of God perfected".  That's the capstone that will cap the Church for the Rapture.

Therefore, let us keep the Word "for this is the love [agape] of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1Jhn.5:3).  This is the reason why God sent a message in this age to direct us back to THE ABSOLUTE − "It is written".  All that is written were the thoughts of God spoken forth in the beginning.  God inbreathed every word as He wrote them on parchment and the Written Word is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that we might be complete and thoroughly equipped for all good works (cf.2Tim.3:16-17).

2Jhn.1:6: "And this is love [agape], that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, that, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it" .

Amen.