What’s in a Name?
If you want to see an example of what faith in Jesus’ Name can do, look at the crippled beggar in Acts 3. He had been born lame. He’d never walked a day in his life. He had to be carried to the Temple gate so he could beg for money. Naturally speaking, his situation was impossible, incurable and totally hopeless.
 
But when the Apostle Peter said to him, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk,” the power of God shot through that man’s bones and instantly made him whole.
 
Of course, the people who saw it happen tried to give Peter the credit just like people do today. They thought he had some special healing powers because he was an apostle. But Peter set them straight. He said, “Why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus…. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong” (verses 12-13, 16).
 
 “Well, I just don’t understand how somebody’s name could do that,” you might say.
 
That’s because in our Western culture a name doesn’t mean much. It’s just some cute-sounding word our mother picked out so she could call us to dinner without having to say, “Hey, you!”
 
In other cultures, however, particularly in biblical cultures, names are crucial. A person’s name can direct the course of his life. That’s why God changed Abram’s name to Abraham when He promised him a child. Abraham means “father of many nations.” So, after his name change, every time someone called Abraham, he heard himself identified as the father of many nations. Every time he introduced himself, he declared he was the father of many nations.
 
Before long, Abraham had developed faith in the name God had given him and, sure enough, that once-childless, very old man became not only the father of Isaac but the father of many nations

​GOD BELIEVES AND SPEAKS HIS FAITH  Part 1
 (Romans 4:16-25)
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be [a]sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
 
New covenant salvation is by faith so that it might be by grace.  Unlike the old covenant, doing righteousness by the works of the law was the schoolmaster to bring God’s people to the freedom of faith through Christ, The Anointed One and His Anointing (Galatians 3:24).
Faith is our part.  Grace is God’s part.  Grace imputes righteousness by faith, not by works, or by earning it (Romans 4:3).  Abraham, the father of our faith, believed God 430 years before the law was given, and his faith was counted to him for righteousness.  So righteousness is not achieved by doing good works or by earning it-doing everything just right to please God.  Galatians 3:7 says, “Therefore know that those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham.”  We are his seed by faith in Jesus Christ (verse 26).  Because of the power of the indwelling of His Holy Spirit in us, we are to be “imitators of God as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1)
 
GOD BELIEVES AND SPEAKS HIS FAITH  Part 2
How does God create and bring things to pass?
He calls those things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17)  He believes and speaks, and expects us, as His co-laborers in the earth, to do the same as imitators of  Him,  Jesus said, “He who believes in Me will do the works that I do also.  And he will do greater works than these, because I am going to My Father” (John 14:12).  We are to use the measure of the God kind of faith He gave us when we were born again (Mark 11:22; Romans 12:3) to do the works He did, and greater works (John 14:12).
The Spirit of God who came to live inside you when you were born again brought His faith with Him.  You have God’s own faith living inside you.  Second Corinthians 4:13 says “We have the same spirit of faith.  As it is written, ‘I believed, and therefore I have spoken.  So we also believe and therefore speak.”
God used this same principle when He changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah.  Not only were they now in eternal blood covenant with Almighty God, but speaking each other’s new name, they too began calling those things that were not as though they were.  Every day they called each other Father of Many Nations” and “Mother of Many Nations,” their vision grew. Since faith comes by hearing The WORD, Isaac, the son of promise, was eventually born to a ninety year old barren woman and a one–hundred year old man because of their faith in God’s promise and daily calling things that were not as though they were. 
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues [forces] of life.”  God’s promise that had grown deep down in their hearts began to germinate and produce the desire of their hearts.  Abraham became “fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able to perform”  (Romans 4:21).  The faith connection was made, and the manifestation of the promise came into the earth  (Genesis 21:2).
It works the same way in our lives.  Righteousness is imputed to us also when we believe in Jesus and the One who raised Him from the dead.  He has made us His righteousness because of our faith in Him (1 Corinthians 1:30).  “And whatever we ask, we will receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).  What is pleasing in His sight?  Earning our righteousness by doing good works?  No.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” 
 

GOD BELIEVES AND SPEAKS HIS FAITH  Part 3
Abraham’s covenant was based on God’s spoken word to him.  Our written new covenant is based on better promises because of the power of the new birth (Hebrews 8:6).  With the strength of God’s eternal WORD in our hearts and in our mouths we, like Him, are to call those things that are not as though they were.  We are to be like Abraham, the father of our faith, who on the strength of his covenant with God “did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able to perform” (Romans 4:20-21).
Believers have been given the Name of Jesus and the authority to use it to change natural circumstances (Mark 16:17-18).  Faith looks into the unseen based on the covenant promise and despite natural circumstances, speaks the desired end result.  Abraham’s and Sarah’s names were changed by God to reflect what He had spoken to them.  In agreement with God’s word to them they called those things that were not as though they were, every day, just as we are to do if we, like them desire to see our circumstances change.  As a result they became strong in faith, giving glory to God for what He had promised them.  They received the impossible.
The strength of our covenant with God, ratified in the blood of His own Son and the power of His written WORD, gives us the ability to stand strong, knowing that heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s words will never pass away (Mark 13:31).  Victory is assured for us if we, like Abraham and Sarah will stay strong in faith, giving glory to God, and be fully persuaded that what God has promised us in His WORD, He is able to perform.  His own faith, already resident in us will heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils (Mark 16:17-18).  It will cause mountains to move and accomplish the impossible. It’s time to step out and use it!

SOWING AND REAPING
We have all heard about:
            Sowing and Reaping
            Giving and Receiving
Seedtime and Harvest:  
They all pertain to the same principles.
-Sowing and Reaping:
Galatians 6:7-8MSG  Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
-Giving and Receiving: 
Luke 6:38MSG  …Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
-Seedtime and Harvest 
The Law of Genesis says in Genesis 8:22,  “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”  
Let’s begin with a PROFOUND TRUTH:
EVERYTHING IN LIFE STARTS WITH A SEED! EVERYTHING IN THE EARTH WORKS ON THE PRINCIPLE OF SEEDTIME AND HARVEST!
Say that out loud!
EVERYTHING IN LIFE STARTS WITH A SEED! EVERYTHING IN THE EARTH WORKS ON THE PRINCIPLE OF SEEDTIME AND HARVEST!
Say it again!
EVERYTHING IN LIFE STARTS WITH A SEED! EVERYTHING IN THE EARTH WORKS ON THE PRINCIPLE OF SEEDTIME AND HARVEST!
We will be learning about the principle of SOWING AND REAPING
So many of us fail to operate in this law.  
God has set this law into motion – and if we are going to receive the results promised then we must operate according to the Law set forth by God.
Galatians 6:7 says, Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.
Every choice has a consequence.  If we make a wise, godly decision, we can expect God to reward us for our faithfulness.  If we make rash or sinful choices, we can anticipate negative consequences.  In other words, you reap what you sow, and later than you sow.  Although the Law uses agricultural (natural) terms, it applies to spiritual things and all of life.
Warning:  Again, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked”.
One of the most common mistakes that we make is living as though rebellion against God has no consequences – in this life or the next.
Mocking the Lord includes laughing or sneering at His laws and being arrogant toward Him.  Some people think that if they don’t believe in God, it doesn’t matter what the Bible says.  But whether spiritual principles are accepted or denied, they apply to everyone.
Those who sow and continue sowing to the Spirit can expect God to reward them.  Galatians 6:9 says, And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  
Our focus in this teaching  is primarily sowing and reaping monetary seed, but we also have these other opportunities:
1.         Sowing to the Spirit is an act of faith, as such, it is possible only during our time on earth.  We must take advantage of the opportunity we have to serve God  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith Galatians 6:10.
2.         Sowing to the Spirit includes things such as talking to people about Jesus, giving books, or encouraging others to listen to radio or television broadcasts.
3.         All of us have the chance to sow into the lives of other people.  Seed can be small acts, like telling someone God loves them, offering to pray for a sick person, or showing kindness to a stranger.
Make a decision today to sow seeds of love, patience, and truth.  You will reap what you sow.  There is no escaping this eternal Law.   People need you to make an eternal difference in their lives.  Take the time to plant seeds of righteousness, and you will reap a harvest of eternal rewards.
When we sow seed, we MUST sow in faith.
Jesus Himself constantly compared faith with a seed being planted or sown to get a desired result.  He said in this familiar Scripture: 
Matthew 17:20…If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
From time to time all of us have faced mountains of need: spiritual problems, sickness, family needs, fear, financial needs and many more.  The Good News is the LORD tells us what to do to get these mountains removed.
What do we do to get the mountains removed?
WE SOW OR PLANT A SEED OF FAITH
The Bible says in Romans 12:3 part b, …God has dealt to each one the measure of faith. Not “A” measure of faith, but “THE” measure of faith.  We all get the same measure.
We all have faith and each of us has the same potential to develop our faith.  It is up to us to develop it.  
The Bible talks about No faith (Mark 4:40); Little faith (Matthew 8:26); and Great faith (Matthew 8:10)  It is up to us to feed our faith, to exercise or use our faith, and to develop our faith!
 
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​THE WORD
Parable of the Farmer Scattering SeedMARK 4 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: 
 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.  11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
    they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
    they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
    and be forgiven.’”
13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Parable of the Growing Seed   MARK 4   26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”Parable of the Mustard Seed30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”  33 Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. 34 In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

Parable of the Farmer Scattering SeedMARK 4 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: 
 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.  11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
    they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
    they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
    and be forgiven.’”
13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Parable of the Growing Seed   MARK 4   26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”Parable of the Mustard Seed30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”  33 Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. 34 In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.  Philippians 2:9-10
Once you make up your mind to keep the commands of Jesus and begin to allow the Word to dwell in you richly, the Name of Jesus will become far more powerful to you. It will become more than just a word. It will become a force that will cause every circumstance and every demon that tries to stand in your way to bow its knee to your command.
I tell you, the Name of Jesus works. There is far greater power in it than any of us have yet realized.
My faith is so set on the authority of the Name of Jesus that there are times I just say, “In the Name” and the power of God comes on the scene.
In fact, I’ve discovered that the Name of Jesus—just the Name alone—is effective when spoken by a Word-abiding believer. Revelation 19:13 says the Name of Jesus is the Word of God! So, when an evil spirit is trying to bring sickness, poverty, depression or any other garbage into my household, I don’t have to quote every scripture I know to stop him. I can just point my finger at him and say, “Jesus!” That’s like throwing the whole Word of God in his face at one time!
Discover for yourself what the exalted Name can do. Begin to speak it with confidence and authority. There is power in the Name of Jesus.
Scripture Reading:
Acts 3:1-16NLT
Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar
3 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.  4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”  7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.  9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.
Peter Preaches in the Temple
12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? 13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. 14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!  
16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

SEEDTIME AND HARVEST  (Part 1)
The law of seedtime and harvest is God’s way.   Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 
And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.  (Genesis 1:11-12NKJV)
God made a promise to Noah in Genesis 8:22  “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”
This is God’s commitment concerning our planet, and it will be that way as long as Earth is in existence.
Law of the Seed
The Law of Genesis is one of God’s laws, which governs the seed.  Everything produces after its kind, and the ability of the seed is in itself even in the natural.  
For instance, the seed of strife is in strife itself.  If you get into strife with someone, it will create more strife.  Yet if you speak kindness and love, it will produce the same.  The harvest is inside the seed itself even before you choose to plant it.  No matter who chooses the seed.  
Faith-filled words produce more faith.  Fear-filled words produce more fear.  The heart, or the human spirit responds to the words (seeds) planted in the heart.  Jesus in His Own Words reveals how the Kingdom of God works: 
Mark 4:14  The sower sows the word.  
The Parable of the Growing Seed
Mark 4:26-29  And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.  
For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.  But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
God furnishes the seeds, but we must choose to plant them and be patient for the harvest.
In Luke 17:6(AMP), Jesus tells us who will plant and how to plant. 
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.  
That implies that if you don’t have faith as a seed, you won’t plant it by saying.  But if you have faith as a seed, you will plant (speak) the Word of God in your heart, and it will produce after its kind.
The heart of man is the soil where the seed is planted.  When you speak the Word of God, that seed becomes planted in your heart.  There it begins to grow and produce after its kind.
Mark 4:15-20  “And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
Mark 4:28  For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
Many give up before harvest time. They give up during the growth process.  Then some try to reap the blade (too soon) and, therefore, destroy the harvest.
Jesus tells us the principle of the law of faith in: 
Mark 11:23,  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  
That is the way the God-kind of faith works.

WEEK 4
FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 4 
LOVE FOR GOD AND ONE ANOTHER
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.  4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
KNOWING GOD THROUGH LOVE
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
SEEING GOD THROUGH LOVE
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
THE CONSUMMATION OF LOVE
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
OBEDIENCE BY FAITH
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
 
FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 5
OBEDIENCE BY FAITH
5 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
THE CERTAINTY OF GOD’S WITNESS
6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.  9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
CONFIDENCE AND COMPASSION IN PRAYER
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.  16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
KNOWING THE TRUE – REJECTING THE FALSE
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.  20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

WEEK 3
FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 3
THE COMMAND OF LOVE
3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
SIN AND THE CHILD OF GOD
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.  7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
THE IMPERATIVE OF LOVE
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.  13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
THE OUTWORKING OF LOVE
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR
24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.