Anathema Maranatha

Anathema Maranatha

1 Corinthians 16:13-24  Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love. 15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints— 16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us. 17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men. 19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be [a]accursed. O[b] Lord, come! 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Paul’s benediction to the church. Reminding them to watch, stand fast in the faith and be brave, be strong. They were facing great opposition not only outside but inside the church as well. As in Paul’s other letters, he records the name of the faithful men and women serving in the ministry along side him. Honor  these faithful people. Then before he closes, he writes something stern and probably often overlooked- 

If any man loves not the Lord Jesus, let him be accursed. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Paul ends the letter by reminding all professing believers that to claim to be a believer, yet not to love the Lord, is to be accursed, or doomed. Anathema. This word signifies a thing devoted to destruction. So then if anyone who claims to be in Christ, calling himself a servant of the Lord, yet not fully devoted to Him, disobeys His Word and distort His gospel; that man falls under a curse and is doomed to hell. Marantha- O Lord come! So then the phrase put together is “Anathema Marantha” and in the simplest terms, “The Lord is coming to destroy those who do not love Him”

Paul denounces this curse against the man, who, while he professes subjection to Christ, but is secretly alienated from him in his heart. Paul is giving the church a Divine warning- even though a person’s heart cannot always be discovered and punished, the Lord, at His coming, will find it out, and punish him with eternal perdition. 

Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be [a]accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (anathema)

Jude describes more of the same when talking about false prophets:

Jude 14-16 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.

This terrible curse Paul writes in this letter to the Corinthians, because many in the church had shown by their actions that they were far from Christ. And he wrote it with his own hand, to show how serious he was in the denunciation; and he inserted it in his solemn benediction, that it might be the more attentively regarded. 

Professing Christians, who do not sincerely love their Lord and Savior, lie under a heavy curse. Let us take the alarm and be aware. Paul reminds us, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

How do we apply this solemn warning?

#1 Set the Lord first in your heart.

2 Chronicles 12:14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

At the end of each king’s reign their character is summed up and described as either doing evil in the sight of the Lord, or doing right in the sight of the Lord. They gave a summary of their whole life in one of these sentences; and there will be a day when there will be a summary of our lives as well.

Rehoboam was not half as bad as some of the other kings; still scripture says that “He did evil.” He was not as an outrageous sinner as some were. He was not an Ahab; he was not even a Manasseh, he did not live as that king did in his evil time, yet “he did evil” and the reason why he did evil is given. It does not say that he did evil because he had a bad mother, nor because his father

had not walked with God as he ought to have done. The reason was “he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.”

Setting the Lord as your first love is an intentional action. What does the Lord require of us? But loyal and faithful love. A love that prefers Him above all others. A love that exalts His Word above all things. This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:36-38  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.

I told Matt when we decided to get married, that I would love him more than anyone on this earth; but my Savior was first in my heart. He is the only one who died for me so I could live eternally with Him

Many of us have had a hard time loving because we were not raised in loving environments. I don’t think I even knew love or how to love before the Lord. I felt romantic love, that’s easy. But the deep loving commitment that Jesus requires, I did not know or understand. I wasn’t raised in a loving home. I was not hugged, or kissed, I don’t remember my mom even reading books to me. I was not encouraged. I often went without food, having to go hungry, fend for myself. 

When I came to the Lord, it was because I recognized I was as sinner in need of a savior. Then began the process of loving Him.

1 John 4:19  We love [a]Him because He first loved us.

I began to read the Bible, mediate on it and put His Word in my heart. I spent hours and hours in prayer. I sat still in His presence and gave Him all my heart. Just like you do not just fall in love with someone, you do not just fall in love with God. It is so funny to me when people say when they had an affair, “we just fell in love”. No. You chose to spend time with them more than your spouse

When Matt and I were dating, we spent every waking moment we could together, talking and then talking on the phone when we were apart. We asked questions and got to know one another. This is the same with the Lord. You have to spend time with Him, time in His Word, time in prayer, time in church, time worshipping and gathering. Love takes time and consistent effort.  We still spend mass amounts of time together. 

Psalm 116:1-2 “I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.” Psalms‬ 116‬:1‬-2‬ NKJV‬‬

I love Him because He hears and responds to my cries. His ears are tuned to my voice. I go to Him for everything- when I am mad, I run to Him. When I am sad, I run to Him. When I am elated, I run to Him. He hears me. He listens to me. I have conversations with Him. I don’t just talk, I listen for His voice. 

God can handle all of you. He can handle your frustrations. Be honest with Him about where you are and what’s going on with you. He can take it. He wants to daily, even hourly hear from you.

Jeremiah 2:13, 32 NKJV “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water. Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.”

You will never have the love relationship with the Lord if you do not put Him first. AND this is a daily battle. You can come complacent like Israel if you are not careful. I wake up at 6 am and I begin my daily prayers to the Lord. I pray for about an hour. Then I read the bible. Throughout the day, I have times when I will pray in tongues. When I am driving I pray. Often on my walks and runs, I pray. Before I fall asleep at night, I tell the Lord, “I love You Jesus. Thank you for this day.” If you are not intentional about spending time with the Lord, you will forget about Him.

Set your heart! YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL. You know the difference. Fried Green tomatoes- accidently back into a car in the parking lot- unintentional. But Kathy Bates, looking at the  situation, thinking about the situation, weighing the cost associated with your actions- “we’re younger and faster”; “I’m older and have more car insurance” 

Here is a promise from Scripture of intentionally setting Him as our first love

Psalm 91:14-16 ““Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.””

You have to be very careful that your service for Him, and to others doesn’t replace your love for Him. He knows your heart.

Rev 2:2-5 ““I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

This is a tricky one, because we are called to love and care for others, feed and take care of His sheep; it is how we show His love to others. We are called to hold fast to the Word and good doctrine. BUT this does not take the place of your relationship with Him. Christianity is first a personal relationship with Jesus, and then a communal relationship with the Body. You cannot separate one from the other. You cannot be in the Body of Christ loving and serving others IF you do not first love Him. All other love for others flows from our first love for Him. Otherwise, it is you doing it in your own strength and humanly love and at the same time you cannot say you love Him and do nothing. 

Matthew 10:37-38 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Your own family does not come before Jesus! Too many parents honor their children above the Lord. Set Him first in your heart.

#2 Love His Word 

To love the Lord with all that you are, is to give yourself fully to Him and His ways. This means to love His Word- it is a part of Him. We cannot separate His Word from Him. King David had a firm understanding of the love for God’s Word

Psalm 12:6  The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:105  Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

If we do not love the Lord and His Word, we will find that is hard to obey Him. This is where manyin today’s church are- they say they love the Lord, but do not love His Word. 

In fact, many are separating from Scripture all together and making up their own Build-A Bear Jesus. If it is not the Jesus of the Bible, it is not Jesus. It is your made-up Jesus. You took the mangled and broken bloody body of our Lord that was pierced for our sins and iniquities and stripped Him of the cross because the cross is too gory and it represents my sin upon the innocent Son of God and remake Him into a fluffy, fun loving bear. Then add into Him your own evil heart, and dress Him in the manner and way in which you want Him to appear to you And then go around showing all your friends, “Look at my fun loving Jesus! Isn’t He cute.”

No my friend. Separate from His Word, and you will quickly make up your own god and think he requires nothing of you but to make you happy and for you to have fun.

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And [a]nothing causes them to stumble.

Love the Word of God and you will not find an occasion to stumble.

#3 Obey Him.

1 John 2:3-5  Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God [a]is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

IN order to love and obey God, you have to be in the Word of God. You have to know what God says, what He means, and His character. The OT Scriptures reveal the nature and character of God more than the NT.  He is faithful and merciful. Man is HE merciful! He forgives over and over those who repent. HE promises good things to those who love and obey Him.

Psalm 84:11  For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

When you know and understand the nature and character of God, it makes it easy to obey Him. His Word, His commands, His boundaries, His “yeses” and His “no’s” are for my benefit. It is because He loves me, not because He is a tyrant, dictating my life. When you understand His character, you have a better understanding of why God does things a certain way.

Proverbs 28:5 Evil men do not understand justice (judgment), But those who seek the Lord understand all.

Let me share a struggle with you from years ago- my battle with wine.

I obey Him because I love Him. You can ask Him questions, but understand He doesn’t have to answer you. When you know His nature and character, you know that He knows and does what is best for me. His commands are not burdensome, they are protection for me, my children and my children’s children. The sooner you teach these things to your children, the better.

#4 Love others

Once we love Him, then we are free to fully love others with the love of God. 

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Much of the problems today is a lot of Christians are not loving others with the love of God; they are preferring humanity above God. This is humanism and it is ungodly. You will be led astray if you put others before the Lord. I have watched many walk down the path of humanism and into apostasy

John 21:15-17 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to SimonPeter, “Simon, son of [a]Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [b]love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of [c]Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [d]love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of [e]Jonah, do you [f]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 

Personal relationship first. Then your relationship with the Body. Love is an action word. I cannot tell my husband I love him and then proceed to talk bad about him to others. I cannot tell him I love him and not serve him and take care of him, meet his needs to the best of my ability. I don’t do things he doesn’t like me to do. I help him in his walk with Christ. EX: girls dress at the gym, “does this bother you?”

The same with the brethren. Do not say you love the Lord and talk bad about the brethren. Do not say you love Him and you refuse to give, serve, or care for the needs of the church body. How do we love others? Help meet their needs. Do not cause strife and division. Seek reconciliation and forgiveness. Do not cause your brethren to sin. It is all these things.

1 John 3:14-16 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [a]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. 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.

In short, we prefer others better than ourself. Because I love Him, I will do nothing that causes my brother to stumble. “Let all that you do be done with love”