The Law of Love

Yesterday while enjoying the fellowship of my family in the Lord, I came across a proverb that I hadn't noticed before. I know I've read it, but it didn't stick out to me. Proverbs 28:9 (NLT) tells us of God actually despising prayer from someone who ignores the law. In the NASB and KJV it says those prayers are an abomination to God!

During our discussion the conversation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit came up. My spiritual father explained to us that while the Corinthian church was operating in all the gifts of the Spirit, Paul wrote to them that they were yet still babes in Christ! He then instructed them to live a greater way of life, which is love.

Upon this, a dear brother and friend of mine recalled Matthew 7:22-23 where Jesus spoke of the consequences of operating in the gifts without love, and said it was lawlessness. That struck me suddenly and I recalled the proverb I had noticed just earlier that morning and something clicked. God considers it against the law to operate in the gifts without love. Also, if you find yourself doing that, your prayers are even despised as an abomination to Him!

In my walk with Jesus the most important revelation I received was also the first, that I am dead to sin. The second major revelation I received was how defeated the enemy is because of the overwhelming victory of Christ. After that, I received a revelation of love that I am still processing. It is my opinion that every believer should, at the very least, know these three things by revelation before entering into any ministry that would necessitate the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. It is also possible there is even more to be revealed to me before it would be lawful for me to function in these gifts. I now know to check myself with the law of love before doing anything or praying.