The Impartation of Love

We always release what we're most full of.

I've been so blessed these days as I observe people being touched by the presence of God. Over the last few years, I have personally witnessed hundreds of miracles. It has led to an even greater hunger for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In almost every meeting that I lead, I usually close our time together with an impartation. In Romans 1:11, Paul wrote, "For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established." The verb impart (metadidimi) means to give something over to someone else; to place upon another person something that you possess. Paul was referring to a supernatural gift in this verse believing that it would be established in these Christians in Rome.

I believe in the ministry of impartation because it is biblical (see 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). Additionally, I've seen the fruit of this ministry through the impartations that I've received and from those that I've given. There is always an increase of power and a greater release of the gifts when impartations are given and received. But there is something even greater than power, gifts, and anointing that we can impart and that is the impartation of God’s love.

Without love, our messages are nothing more than noisy gongs and clanging cymbals (1 Cor. 13:1). If we're not imparting love, our ministry gifts and supernatural manifestations profit absolutely nothing (1 Cor. 13:2-3). Recently, I was looking over the infamous "love chapter" in First Corinthians chapter 13. Paul described what love is, what it's not, and what it does. Then he concluded with this phrase: "love never fails" (1 Cor. 13:8). Think about that for a moment. Messages may fail, ministry events may fail, outreach attempts may fail, and even churches may fail. But if our activity is being prompted and inspired by divine love, we leave a heavenly residue of eternal substance.

Love, biblical love (agape), cannot be generated by human effort. In fact, if God's love is going to manifest in our lives it requires that we "get out of the way." In other words, we must die to ourselves so that Jesus can live through us (see Gal. 2:20). Stated differently, if we are full of ourselves then we cannot be full of God. Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Jesus Christ, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” Jesus emptied Himself! He descended from the form of God to the form of a slave. His equality with God was exchanged for the equality of a human being. Therefore, He was subject to all temptations just like we experience yet, He was without sin (Heb. 4:15).

The challenge of this passage in Philippians is the admonition to have the same attitude as Jesus did. Out of love, Jesus descended even to the point of dying for people who were still sinners (see Rom. 5:8). Jesus’ love for the Father and for mankind compelled Him to the cross. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus not only laid down His life for friends but for His enemies, too. Does this describe your attitude? After Jesus stripped off His robe and washed the disciples' feet, He spoke to them about a new commandment. That commandment was to love others to the same degree that Jesus loved others. This kind of love, Jesus said, would become the distinguishing characteristic of being His follower (John 13:34-35). But it requires a willingness to lay down our lives for Jesus (John 13:38), and that's a tall order for many people.

Love is tangible and practical—let me explain. I boarded a plane one time with headphones over my ears. When I landed the Lord finally pierced through the music that I was listening to, and He explained how “unloving” I was to the person beside me. My unspoken message to the person sitting beside me on that particular flight was that they were of no concern to me. Please, listen to music if you want, but listen first to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps He wants to say something through you to people around you. When you walk in love people are not interruptions; rather, they are opportunities to give Jesus away. You will never look into the eyes of someone who doesn’t matter to Jesus.

Love looks upward and outward; it remains focused on Jesus which then enables us to truly see other people. Love empowers us to look into people’s heart, to pay attention when they’re speaking, and to be moved with compassion for them. Love affects the way we speak to people around us including our spouse, children, and grandchildren. Love is approachable and non-threatening, too. People will be drawn to us because they sense divine love. This kind of love will pour into others without being noticed for its deeds. There is a gentleness to love that welcomes everyone regardless of who they are. Love will embrace truth without being abrasive, and it will draw the best out in others without flattery and deceit.

The Bible says to be imitators of God (Eph. 5:1). How can we mimic Him? We do so by “walking in love” just like Jesus did (Eph. 5:2). God is love, so to be like God is to be love. One of my greatest desires is to deposit love wherever I walk. I want to be known as a lover of God and people. My challenge to you is to become love.

Give love away to everyone that you meet.

Let’s Pray

I choose to die to self so that you can live through me, Jesus. May my life become love to everyone that I am around, amen.