UNWRAPPING LOVE THIS HOLIDAY - Ps. / Rabbi Brian Bileci - 12-17-23

“In this life we have three great lasting qualities—FAITH, HOPE and LOVE. But the greatest of them is LOVE.” - 1 Corinthians 13:13 (Phillips)Now the purpose of the COMMANDMENT is LOVE from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere FAITH. - 1 Timothy 1:5 (NKJV)For in the Messiah, Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power. What matters is FAITH, WORKING through LOVE. - Galatians 5:6 (NTFE)For whether or not a man is circumcised means nothing; what matters is to OBEY God's COMMANDMENTS. - 1 Corinthians 7:19 (GNT)HOW TO UNWRAP LOVE THIS SEASON:1. UNWRAP GOD’S LOVE THROUGH OBEDIENCE OF HIS WORD 47 For I find my delight in your COMMANDMENTS, which I LOVE. 48 I will lift up my hands toward your COMMANDMENTS, which I LOVE, and I will meditate on your statutes…64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast LOVE; TEACH me your statutes! - Psalm 119:47-48, 64 (ESV)97 Oh how I LOVE your law [Torah]! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your COMMANDMENT makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my TEACHERS, for your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. 101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your WORD. 102 I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have TAUGHT me. 103 How sweet are your WORDS to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! - Psalm 119:97-103 (ESV)READ Mark 12:28-33 (AMP)3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep His COMMANDMENTS. 4 Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His COMMANDMENTS is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps His WORD, in him truly the LOVE of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: 6 whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked. - 1 John 2:3-6 (NKJV)“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God LOVES us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His LOVE.” - Romans 5:5 (AMPC)2. UNWRAP GOD’S LOVE THROUGH FERVENT PRAYER In return for my LOVE they are my accusers, but I give myself to PRAYER.” - Psalm 109:4 (EXB)8 Each day, the Lord shows me that He LOVES me with His faithful LOVE. Each night he gives me a song to sing, as I PRAY to the God who lives forever.“ - Psalm 42:8 (EASY)But I keep PRAYING to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing LOVE, O God, answer my PRAYER with your sure salvation. - Psalm 69:13 (NLT)1 I LOVE the Lord because He hears my PRAYERS and answers them. 2 Because he bends down and listens, I will PRAY as long as I breathe! - Psalm 116:1 (TLB)3. UNWRAP GOD’S LOVE THROUGH DIVINE WORSHIP But because of your great LOVE  I can come into your house; I can WORSHIP in your holy Temple and bow down to you in reverence. - Psalm 5:7 (GNT)O God, we meditate on your unfailing LOVE as we WORSHIP in your Temple. - Psalm 48:9 (NLT)READ MATTHEW 2:1-1011 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and WORSHIPED him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of GOLD, FRANKINCENSE and MYRRH. - Matthew 2:11 (NIV)•  GOLD - faith from God’s Word that purified like gold in the fire - Romans 10:15; 1 Peter 1:7•  FRANKINCENSE - prayer going up to God like incense - Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3•  MYRRH - anointing infused with myrrh to anoint vessels of worship & priesthood - Exodus 30:22-31;39:33-43