Recorded February 09, 2025, with Rhonda Harrison.

It's time for the Champions in Christ broadcast

with Rhonda Harrison on 1017 Bay of Thames. Good

morning and welcome to Champions in Christ. We

are so glad you joined us today. This is the

day the Lord has made and we will rejoice and

be glad in it. What a great day it is to be alive

today and serve God today We're gonna look into

some more scripture about How much God loves

you and he loves you with with an? Immeasurable

love you can't measure it. It's limitless He

and it never changes irregardless of what we

do or what we don't do that love never changes

That's the beauty of God's love He is so loving

and so kind and so we're gonna start in first

John 4 and we're gonna go We're gonna start in

verse 7. It says dear friends and I'm reading

from the New Living Translation Let us continue

to love one another for love comes from God Anyone

who loves as a child of God and knows God but

anyone who does not love does not know God for

God is love God showed how much he loved us by

sending his only one and only son into the world

so that we might find life through him, eternal

life. This is real love. Not that we loved God,

but that he loved us and sent his son as a sacrifice

to take away our sin. Wow. When we think about

that, you know, God didn't have to, but he chose

to. Jesus didn't have to. Jesus was in heaven.

He's been with God and the Holy Spirit for all

eternity, but he chose to lay down his deity

to be born of a virgin and come on this earth

and become the sacrifice for our sins and for

our sickness and disease. And so it continues

in verse 11 says dear friends since God loved

us that much we surely ought to love each other.

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each

other God lives in us and his love is brought

to full expression in us. That's right. When

you love someone. And we're going to talk about

what love exactly is according to God's word.

But when you love someone, that is the full expression

of God's, of who God is. He is love. That's a

literal scripture. God is love. And so love is

everything when it comes to the kingdom of God.

And so let's look at what God says love is. And

for that, we'll go to 1 Corinthians 13. And we're

going to go to verse four and it says, Love is

patient. Love is kind. So when you're walking

in patience in a tough situation or kindness

in a tough situation or in any situation, you're

showing God's love. Love is not jealous. Have

you ever been jealous? Well, love's not jealous.

Love is not boastful or proud or rude. I think

we all can say we've been proud or rude or boastful

at a time or two, but when we're like that, we're

not exhibiting his love. It does not demand its

own way. Have you ever demanded things go your

way and only your way? It is not irritable and

it keeps no record of being wrong. Uh -oh, can

we all say ouch on that one? We want to be sure

and not keep a record of wrongs done to us. Forgiveness

is part of love. Letting it go is part of love.

Doesn't mean the person or persons deserve forgiveness,

but it is something we have to do if we truly

love. And that's God's love. We're talking about

God's love. We're not talking about Falejo love,

which is a friendship kind of love. We're not

talking about that. We're talking about agape

love. We're talking about the real deal. It also

says in verse 6, it does not rejoice about injustice,

but rejoices when the truth wins out. That's

what we're rejoicing about. We rejoice when the

truth wins out. It says in verse 7, love never

gives up, never gives up. And love never loses

faith. It's always hopeful and endures through

every circumstance. Wow, bears all things, believes

all things, hopes all things and endures all

things. Did you notice that each one of these

attributes that you and I may or may not have

done that God's God is the is love. So can you

see that God is patient and he's kind. He's not

jealous. He's not boastful. He's not proud. He

is not irritable. He holds no record of being

wronged and we have all wronged him. The Bible

says we've all fallen short of the glory of God,

but God doesn't hold us against us. Why? His

love was so big. He had Jesus come and Jesus

was willing to become that sacrifice because

when the sin happened in the earth because of

Adam and Eve, what happened? There had to be

a sacrifice. There had to be a payment. for that

sin because the wages of sin is death right an

eternal death and God didn't want us to have

that so he sent Jesus and because Jesus never

sinned and he had choice and he was tempted for

40 days in the wilderness and probably even after

that but he never made the choice to sin he was

eligible he was the blameless lamb He was without

spot or wrinkle and he was he was brutally beaten

for our good. He was brutally crucified for our

good. All for us out of the love out of the love

he has for us. So shouldn't we be able to forgive

others that haven't done half as much as what

we've done to God? Absolutely. You know his love

incorporates mercy. Grace, Victory, Peace, Healing,

Health, Wisdom, Understanding, Favor, Loving,

Kindness, Prosperity, and Joy. Do you know laughter

does good like a medicine? That's the scripture.

It's also a song, pretty cool song. I played

it a few weeks ago. I love that song because

it does laughter does so good. Just like a medicine,

just like a medicine, you know, Jesus. He chose

to forgive his enemies and believe me, he had

lots of them. When you go to Luke and you go

to 2334, Jesus is literally on the cross in agonizing

pain from the brutal beating, from the nails

in his hands and feet, from the crown on his

head. He's agonizing in pain. You don't hear

him. But what does he say to his father? He says

father forgive them They know not what they did.

They don't know what they're doing He's talking

about his enemies You know his word declares

tells us to love our enemies to pray for those

that despitefully use us Why? Because he did

it and if he can do it He gives us the strength

to do it and when we do it we will be blessed

We will be blessed. You know the whole word of

God the prophets all the law it all hangs on

these two commandments according to Matthew 22

38 through 40 It says That we're to love God

with all our heart mind soul and strength and

love our neighbor as ourself And on these hang

all the law and the prophets Wow. So all the

measure of it hangs on love. That's how important

love is. That's how much God loves you and me.

You know, he's a mighty, mighty God. He never

fails. He tells us, if we go to 1 John, and let's

see over here, 4 -7, it says, Dear friends, Let

us continue to love one another. And if we drop

on over to 16, it says, we know how much God

loves us and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love and all who live and love. live in

God and God lives in them. And as we live in

God, our love grows more and more perfect. So

we will not be afraid of the day of judgment.

We can face him with confidence because we live

like Jesus here in this world. That's God's desire

for us. That's where we will be the strongest.

That's where we'll see the most fruit in our

life is when we love the way God loves. He says

in verse 18, such love has no fear because perfect

love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is

for fear of punishment. And this shows that we

have not fully experienced his perfect love.

We love each other because he first loves us.

You know, with fear comes torment. We have no

reason to fear. We have no reason to fear. You

know, it's through our obedience to God that

we love people. And you know, the Bible talks

about loving the unlovely. We have to love the

unlovely, right? When you give a cup of water

in His name, that's love. When you go and you

help the needy, the poor, the desolate, those

that maybe aren't the usual crowd that you hang

out with. When you go love people who are hurting,

who are lashing out at you because they're hurting,

that's love. When you go and give blankets to

those that are homeless, that's love. When you

visit people in prison, Jesus said, when you've

done these things, you've done them unto me.

You know, we've got to reach out. We've got to

reach out past ourselves, past our little comfort

zone of friends and family. And God's going to

bless your socks off for it. There is not a thing

you can do in God that he's not going to bless

you for. He's such a loving father. He's such

a loving father. You know, Ephesians five one

says, imitate God. Therefore, in everything you

do, because you are his dear children, live a

life of love, filled with love, following the

example of Christ. You know love loves got the

way, you know For the love of God That's why

he died. That's why he came. That's why he lives

again. He didn't end it on the cross. He rose

again You know Muhammad Buddha their dust is

still in the grave, but you go to Jesus's grave

and there's nothing there Why because he has

risen he is alive. He is alive and he loves you

He is alive and he desires to spend time with

you that relationship you have with him Talk

to him when you're driving talk to him when you're

at home when you're when you're rising and when

you're going to bed Think on his word learn about

him oh what good news it is the good news of

the gospel why because he came with blessings

he came with life he came with divine health

he came with mercy do you need mercy today do

you know are you going through something that

you need grace and mercy it's available it's

available it's amazing what God has available

for us through his love. It's beautiful. It's

amazing. You know, Psalms 23, which we are all

familiar with. If you have any time gone to church

or maybe, you know, grabbed your Bible a time

or two, Psalms 23 is one of the most famous Psalms

known to man. in there in verse 5 he says you

prepare a table before me in the presence of

my enemies and you anoint my head with oil my

cup runneth over Wow you know that table he presents

in front of us in the midst of our enemies it's

got everything you need to be victorious in this

life to meet those goals and dreams And if your

dream is something you can accomplish on your

own, it's not big enough. God's bigger than that.

He wants to partner with you in that dream. Start

thinking bigger. Start looking bigger. And it's

going to take work and it's going to take diligence.

When we do our part, God does his part. But he

says that table is prepared before you. And on

that table is salvation. Salvation includes freedom

from sin and sickness. and depression and anything

that's hindering your mind fear doubt unbelief

all of that's on the table and the same way you

receive jesus as your savior you can receive

healing you can receive blessing you can receive

um peace oh the peace of god oh there's nothing

like it and he said great peace have those whose

minds are stayed on me that's right you can't

help but have the peace of God come on you when

you think about Jesus. You know, he says he's

made you more than a conqueror. He's made you

an overcomer. What do you mean, overcomer? He's

made you an overcomer. You will overcome every

trial and circumstance and situation, every test

you can pass with Jesus. With the Holy Ghost

as your best friend. And what about the Holy

Ghost? Well, he comes and lives in you, also

known as the Holy Spirit, when you were born

again. Oh my, oh, what fellowship you can have

with the Holy Spirit. He will lead you and guide

you as a lamp into your feet and a light into

your path. He knows all about you. Remember we

talked about last week, God is in you, on you,

around you. He's everywhere. He's omniscient

and he's omnipresent. He's all knowing and he's

all everywhere. If you just say the name Jesus,

he's right there. He hears you. He hears you.

Are you hurting today? He'll heal your broken

heart. He'll bind up those wounds. He is the

Lord God Almighty. He loves you. He loves you

and he wants the best for you. He wants the best

for you. It says also in Psalms 23, 6, surely

goodness and mercy will follow me all the days

of my life. That's right. When you're born again

and you're his child, goodness and mercy follows

you all the days of your life here on earth and

then will eternally be with him. Did you know

the earth is the Lord's and everything in it?

the world and all its people belong to him. Do

you know he created man and he loves humanity

so much and he laid the earth's foundations on

the sea and built it on the ocean's depth? That's

Psalms 24 verses one and two. It's amazing when

you get in the word and you just read about the

depth of God and the beauty. He threw out the

heavens like a curtain. Wow. every star in heaven.

Think about it. And the galaxies keep multiplying.

That's our God. That's the God we serve. That's

the God that loves you today and wants to help

you in every single way. Do you have an addiction

today? Guess what? He's the deliverer. He'll

set you free in a moment's time. If you just

believe, believe that he came, believe that he

died, believe that he has all of this set at

the table for you. It's a free gift. You just

have to take it by faith. The only thing God

asked is that we believe and that our actions

match what we say. If you believe and you doubt

not in your heart, the word says you can ask

anything and it will be done for you by my father,

which is in heaven. So we can't have doubt and

unbelief. How do we build our faith? The word

says faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word

of God. So you wanna get in that word and you

wanna listen to anointed men and women preachers

that preach the whole council of God. And you

go, what do you mean by anointed? That means

the Holy Spirit of God is upon that word. When

that word goes forth into your ears, it goes

deep and it takes root. If your heart is good

ground, if you're hungry, if you're ready to

receive the word, it will go deep and begin to

birth up in you. That's right. The word of God

is powerful. It's like a two -edged sword. It

says divides between the soul and the spirit,

between the bone and the mirror, and is a discerner

of the thoughts and the intents of the heart.

We're going to break away in just a moment and

we're going to listen to a couple of songs about

his great love. And then I'm going to come back

and speak to you once again before we close.

See you on the other side. I let love in my soul

Started listening to the choir sing When I let

down all my pride Was a death that saved my life

And that's how I know The darkest night's still

in with the sunrise But love's got a way, oh,

oh, oh, oh Yeah, yeah, yeah, love's got a way,

oh, oh, oh, oh The truth of its nature is always

giving them a take It flows with that freedom,

surrendering itself away Cross canyons through

the storm, tells the rivers to run home Where

the judge should be was guilty Guilty and getting

out of jail free How could it be I didn't get

the love I deserved And the only thing he wanted

was my heart in return And every time I think

about it Every time I thought was the end I'm

caught up started breathing when heaven's favor

took a hold of me i couldn't be of living with

an infinite worth and the one i thought i chose

had really chosen me first and every time i Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. His love is so great.

His love is so great towards you and towards

me and today if you are longing for that relationship

with him, whether it's your first time and you've

never heard of Jesus and you happened along the

station at this time, he wants to have relationship

with you. We can pray a simple prayer. The word

says if you believe in your heart that Jesus

died on the cross, rose again, and you confess

with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will

be born again. And he also says that you can

ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God

and he'll begin to teach you and help you and

he is your counselor, your friend, your guide.

It's amazing. And so today, or maybe you've known

him, but you walked away. Maybe you've become

indifferent with God because you blamed him for

something. He gets blamed for a lot of things

he doesn't do, and he gets blamed for things

that the enemy does. And so we have a real enemy

out there. But if that's you, you can come back

to him today. Or maybe it's, maybe you're just

not sure. Maybe you prayed a prayer many years

ago and you keep thinking, I don't think I'm

going to heaven. Well, let's make sure right

now. Let's make sure. Father, we come before

you. Just pray this with me. Say this after me.

Father, I come before you. I ask you to forgive

me of my sin. Wash me clean. I receive you today

as my Lord and my Savior. I believe in you that

you died and rose again. And I thank you for

it in Jesus name. Amen. Hallelujah, if you prayed

that prayer today, you've been born again. Or

if you've renewed your dedication to the Lord,

congratulations. I want you to find a good church

that preaches the whole council of God, where

when you walk out of there, you're changed. And

I also encourage you to get in the Word every

day. Start in the New Testament, because that's

where we are today. The Old Testament's wonderful,

and you'll get to that. But start in the New

Testament. the book of john's always a great

place to start but anywhere is a great place

to start the psalms are wonderful and so i just

want to talk to you a little bit and let you

know also that you can talk to the lord every

day pray every day talk to him like you talk

talk to your best friend. That's who he is and

he's listening. You don't have to use the these

and those or say it talk any certain way. He

loves you today. He loves you today. And so I

want you to know we are here for you every week.

You can reach out to us at champions in Christ

three at gmail .com. We are going to be taking

a venture. We've been invited to go to India.

in April and we will be ministering to children

in an orphanage, at a school, at three churches,

so it will be a fully packed time. There's a

team of five of us going. If God puts it on your

heart and you'd like to sow into that, to bless

them, that will be fruit to your account. Every

person that gets saved, healed or delivered,

that will be fruit to your account. You can get

in contact with us on that email and we'll let

you know how. But we love you today. God loves

you. We want you to have a great day and remember

you are a champion in Christ