THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRINCIPLES OF LOVE AND PRAYER 2

23 THEREFORE if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. FIRST BE RECONCILED TO YOUR BROTHER, AND THEN COME AND OFFER YOUR GIFT."
Matthew 5:23–24 (NKJV)

25 “AND WHENEVER YOU STAND PRAYING, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE, FORGIVE HIM, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
26 BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.”
Mark 11:25–26 (NKJV)

• Love is mainly expressed through Giving and Forgiveness:
I. Giving. Giving is a major way of expressing love. God did it (John 3:16). Jesus Christ also did it (John 10:15-18;15:13). Believers are admonished to do the same:
16 WE KNOW WHAT REAL LOVE IS BECAUSE JESUS GAVE UP HIS LIFE FOR US. SO WE ALSO OUGHT TO GIVE UP OUR LIVES FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 17 IF SOMEONE HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE WELL AND SEES A BROTHER OR SISTER IN NEED BUT SHOWS NO COMPASSION—HOW CAN GOD'S LOVE BE IN THAT PERSON? 18 DEAR CHILDREN, LET'S NOT MERELY SAY THAT WE LOVE EACH OTHER; LET US SHOW THE TRUTH BY OUR ACTIONS" (1 John 3:16-18 NLT).

• The early Apostles and other Disciples, brethren, expressed love by giving their properties; sold their lands, houses and other possessions, for the work of the Kingdom and to help other Believers who were in need:
  44 NOW ALL WHO BELIEVED WERE TOGETHER, AND HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON, 45 AND SOLD THEIR POSSESSIONS AND GOODS, AND DIVIDED THEM AMONG ALL, AS ANYONE HAD NEED. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart" (Acts 2:44-46 (NKJV).

32 NOW THE MULTITUDE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVED WERE OF ONE HEART AND ONE SOUL; NEITHER DID ANYONE SAY THAT ANY OF THE THINGS HE POSSESSED WAS HIS OWN, BUT THEY HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 NOR WAS THERE ANYONE AMONG THEM WHO LACKED; FOR ALL WHO WERE POSSESSORS OF LANDS OR HOUSES SOLD THEM, AND BROUGHT THE PROCEEDS OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SOLD,
35 AND LAID THEM AT THE APOSTLES' FEET; AND THEY DISTRIBUTED TO EACH AS ANYONE HAD NEED."
Acts 4:32-35 (NKJV)

• If you give sentimentally to someone under God's wrath or dealings, you may partake in the problem of the person.
• Thus, you have to be circumspect in Giving. Give in response to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. If you are sensitive, and you have a restraint in your heart about what you wanted to give, you would do well to heed the signs being given by God.
• Note: what we have shared here is for a believer who is mature, who has been walking with God, and knows what it means to be led by God. Do not hide under the pretense that you are not led to give, when you did not actually know how to hear from God.
  b. If you are not mature as a Believer, that is, you do not know how to hear from God yet, you go ahead and give as it comes to your mind—as the occasion demands.

II. Forgiveness.

• If someone who stand as an enemy comes for reconciliation, do forgive, but be watchful.
• We live in a wicked world, that is why Jesus said we should be wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16).
• Believers must be careful in every relationship they cultivated and should allow God to lead and guide them in it; both with the believers and unbelievers.
• Let God be involved, be part of whatever relationship or friendship you find yourself in. Listen to God, through the Holy Spirit on the inside of you, that is the essence of His being in you (John 16:13). And you should always hearken to His instructions (Romans 8:14).
• If God wanted you to withdraw from someone, in friendship or partnership in business or whatever; do not allow sentiment and continue with or stick to the person. Being sentimental could be calamitous!
• God always has a reason why He would warn you, as a believer, about your relationship with an individual.
• When you begin to have a check in your heart about your relationship with someone or a group of people; you would do well to heed whatever your attention is being called to by the Holy Spirit.
• If you stick to someone whom God is separating from you, He would allow you to see the reason why He is moving you away from the person; but that would not be without a regret. Love is best expressed through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

• Love is wise and not stupid!

• Love everyone, but do not trust every person. The reason being that the best of any human being, is still a human being.
• Let the Holy Spirit lead you in your dealings with everyone. Even in business matters, ask the Holy Spirit what steps to take on every matter.
• Waiting on the Holy Spirit, to be led and received instructions on every matter or issue, might seem difficult or unnecessary or time wasting; but it worth it anyway.
• This would save you from the deceitfullness of man's heart: "THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED; WHO CAN KNOW IT" (Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV).
• The God Who searches the heart knows the heart of whoever you are dealing with, and He would not hesitate to reveal to you the heart of the person; If you did ask Him: "I, THE LORD, SEARCH THE HEART, I TEST THE MIND, EVEN TO GIVE EVERY MAN [woman] ACCORDING TO HIS [her] WAYS, ACCORDING TO THE FRUIT OF HIS [her] DOINGS" (Jeremiah 17:10 NKJV).
• You might have shown love to some people in the past, but they rewarded you with evil. Do not stop expressing love (Galatians 6:9), but you just have to be more sensitive and discerning in relating with whoever comes your way.
• Maintain and keep whatever relationship the Holy Spirit approved in your life.

• You will not pray amiss in Jesus' name.

• If there is any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• Living in health is your covenant right, thus, whatever is contrary to your health is cursed in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!