Monthly Newsletters

The first time I had ample time to teach from the Scriptures on God’s love was in Manhattan in 2004. I was looking through some old files and came across this feedback from some students. I am grateful for their encouragement.

David helped us on a song from Lindsey’s children’s CD. Lesley illustrated our coloring book. Kasia helped with translating it and helped us with the Polish and Russian versions. To this day others are reaping the benefits of this course through their contributions. I am grateful.

Amy Joy Banuchi

“The love of God class should be a requirement for FIRE. It is so needed. I’m grateful to Pastor Harwood for taking an interest in my life – he would at times ask me how I was doing – it meant a lot to me.”

Nelson Banuchi

“Again, great class, great insights; should be a FIRE class for all 1^st trimester students on a regular basis. Clears up a lot of nonsense about what God’s love really is. It should be a required FIRE class!!”

Matt Davis

“Very powerful and life changing class!”

Albert Fiol

“Life-changing, revelatory necessary in season. The instructor’s passion for this subject was contagious. I’m forever grateful.”

Nathan Hall

“The best class of the trimester. It was easy, yet it’s the class I learned the most in. I wish he was teaching it again! It was about impartation and experience, not stale book and teaching. WOW”

Lesley Hilton

“Hallelujah. A much-needed course. I am so glad we had this. I feel like we are really going to need this course for our lives in ministry. Knowing the love of God has been elevated in my life to the level of a commandment, or at least it’s a lot more important to me than it was. We got a deep feast of the love of God from this experience. I am so glad someone majored in this in order to give it to the Body.”

Freda King

“This class has had the greatest impact on my personal relationship and interaction with the Lord. The truth of His love (as it was taught and received) is now the foundation of my life and anything the Lord chooses for me in life will flow through this. I was searching for this truth and would have gone anywhere to receive. If for no other, you taught for me. Thank you. The class was taught with authority that experience gives. It was thorough. Handouts especially helpful. Again, something to me that had changed my life forever. Please know that your planting into our hearts has ever and will continue to be fruitful. Thank you. Also Is there a love of God part 2? (smile) Blessings.”

David Leitao

“This course caught me completely off guard! I was challenged to rethink the love of God and to meditate and be captivated by it. This an all in sum message for believers that I feel needs much more effort to grasp and walk in than we typically make effort. Please continue this course at FIRE!”

Michelle Mutanhu

“Class was awesome, messed up my theology. Personally I think it should be a required class for every FIRE student preferably in their 1^st trimester.”

Kasia Mysliwiec

“Revolutionary! It’s something that I needed in order to set my foundation straight. I think this class is crucial for every believer, especially for those called to minister. Again, it’s foundational and transforming. It’s liberating because it focuses on the interior life of a believer. I also appreciated the heart of the teacher and his passion for us to get it. This class should be a requirement for every 1^st year student at the school of ministry.”

Lindsey Quick

“WOW! My eyes are opened – so much about my understanding of Jesus, my life, love of God has been clearly and effectively changed renewed and awakened. It was like spiritual food, this class was the best yet. The love of God revelation and “fresh bread” were presented to us weekly. (Personal ministry time, led by the Spirit, was awesome too.)”

Ann-Marie Vaccaro

“Quite an impartation. God, let it stick and continue to grow in me. I appreciate the times we prayed – I saw a picture of a “wedge” being driven in – and I believe God did this in my heart.”

Called to Pray:

and from Jesus (the Messiah) the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father… (Revelation 1:5-6a)

In Revelation 1:5 the Messiah Jesus is identified according to His authority. He is the faithful, resurrected witness, the ruler of the governments of this world. This glorious king is also a priest, our “great priest.” (Hebrews 10:21) According to His inherent power and authority, He has made us to be a kingdom of priests. (Revelation 1:6)

Apparently, the believing community has forgotten this primary calling. Generally speaking it is not considered a good thing if someone wakes up and cannot remember where they work or what they do. It is important for every believer to recover and live in this aspect of our identities. We really are priests. (1 Peter 2:5,9)

The Spirit of God, through the Scriptures, shows us our identity and reveals the nature of our Creator. As spiritual priests we know, and freshly discover, Who we worship through the Scriptures. Let us know and rediscover our intercessory priestly priorities as well. For direction in prayer, the first place we go to receive our assignments are the Scriptures. Since we are submitted to God through His Scriptures, let us be attentive to enscriptured apostolic guidance.

Paul gives a doxology in 1 Timothy 1:17 – To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. In the light of the reality that the Messiah Jesus is king, (five verses later) Paul prioritized prayer for governments.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

We are called to pray for the social and economic climate in which we find ourselves. We are called to pray for the structure of civil society to be amenable to the manifestation of the Kingdom of God through the church. To pray for the Kingdom’s purposes to advance in our nation we must identify with the King’s heart for those who govern. First, we must renounce wrath, rebellion and resentment.

Renounce Wrath, Rebellion and Resentment:

Here’s a principle offered by an apostle: Peter wrote that husbands must live “in an understanding way” with their wives “so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7b) There is an analogy to be made concerning prayer for our government. We must make sure that our hearts are right with God before we can expect to be heard.

To wisely pray we must have hearts that are free from wrath and rebellion.

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. (1 Timothy 2:8)

“Wrath” in this context has to do with being angry at the repressive Roman regime. The “dissension” spoken of in this verse is not referring to rebellion within the church. It is speaking directly to the priestly call to pray for those who ruled a godless, amoral, idolatrous, tyrannical empire. This follows the instruction of the Messiah Jesus. He told us that if we are to effectively pray we must have hearts that are free from resentment.

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

Anger, rebellion and rancor pollute the streams of our relationship with God and revelation from God. Let us rid ourselves of the deception that we will be enabled to maintain holy intercessory interaction while ignoring this important injunction.

Honoring God’s Heart:

We must diligently watch over our hearts.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Many who read this may view President Obama and this administration as adversaries of important godly priorities. I am not contending with that perspective. However, let me ask us a question – what is it about loving our adversaries that we don’t understand? Jesus shed His blood for those who were adverse to God’s righteousness. He loved His enemies. He died for sinners. He expects us to reflect this love, even in the light of serious political oppression.

The degree of despotism experienced by Israel under Roman occupation and what we are enduring in our nation is not worthy of comparison. Yet, Jesus said this, “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:41) What a test this verse provides for many of us in this current political climate. Look at this section of Scripture that follows:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

How serious is the oppression we are enduring? In comparison to what believers suffer throughout the world, we are not suffering. If we cannot walk in love during this season, how can we hope to do so in a time of serious tribulation?

Here’s something else to consider for those seeking to fulfill their role as priests: Can we come before God, through the blood of Jesus with an attitude which is antithetical to the motive which caused this blood to be offered? Dare we come with a different spirit? His blood speaks love and cries out for forgiveness. If we are to effectively pray for our nation’s leaders we must have a similar spirit.

To pray effectively there must be a thorough, heartfelt, renunciation of anger and rebellion. To be heard in heaven, we must honor the heart of God by embracing His love for His enemies.

During this time before the elections, let us consider our ways, return to the Lord and pray that righteousness would be exalted.

Keep yourselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21a)

David Harwood

8/3/10

I grew up in a believing home with two loving parents.  I accepted the Lord when I was 3 and a half.  Growing up I knew that God loved me,  and I was very secure in who I was. My parents were a terrific help with that.

My basic definition of God’s love went like this “Since God loves me, that means He will protect me and provide for me.”  In my early twenties I had a bad knee injury that started a sub-conscious downward spiral.  If God loved me, then why did He let me get hurt?

Somewhere around this time, internally, I started “doing.” By “doing” I mean that I started hoarding spiritual acts, as my means of payment for my relationship with God.  Fasting, praying, helping others,  many of these things became the means by which I secured God’s love for me. So my internal view of God became split between a God who loved me, and a harsh God who demanded things of me.

All of this came to a head after a year of intense ministry training. I collapsed emotionally. For a year I was very depressed, and was fighting to hold on to the truth that God still cared about me.  My thoughts and feelings said otherwise. I viewed myself as unlovable, and worthless.  My identity was wrapped up in what I could do FOR God. Deep inside I knew that was a lie, but I did not have the strength of heart to fight.

In January of 2009, I got a hold of David Harwood’s material. My dad had the Love of God Manual in his office.  I took a chance, started listening to the CD’s and s.l.o.w.l.y  going through the workbook.  I would have small breakthroughs as I read/listened to the truth. It was like a starving man slowly eating again. It hurt a lot.

Then one day I was sitting during service. It was a normal day, northing out of the ordinary, and God changed my life.  He reached down, and started emotionally pouring into my heart.  At first I was like “no, no, it’s ok.” because I felt unlovely, I didn’t want God to minister to me like that. It’s humiliating to have someone see you cry. Yet God did not give up, and so I said “OK, fine you can have me.”  And so for 20 minutes, I experienced God’s emotional, intentional, wonderful love. And I was healed!  Before this time, my emotional tank was shattered, but this event restored my ability to hold onto God’s love! And it taught me that God’s love is not only protective, but it is EXPERIENTIAL!  I experienced God loving me!  Not just talking about it, not just saying that God loves everyone.  But I knew from that experience what God meant when He said “I love you.”

My prayer for everyone reading this, especially those who grew up in believing households, that God would pour his heart into yours, and give you an ability to hold on to what His love is like.  In Yeshua’s name.

…

Still, something was missing. Underneath everything else, when I was alone and honest with God, that heart’s cry of a 6 year old girl still existed deep in my heart. I wanted someone to love me, someone to whom I was special. I wanted to be uniquely important to a father; I wanted to be a DAUGHTER—treasured, significant, beloved. Despite glorious glimpses, the ongoing reality of experiencing God’s heart, His intense and personal love and affection for me, evaded me.

I sat through teachings and sermons about God’s love. I read books. I continued to unburden this unfulfilled desire to God. I sought entrée into the type of companionable, favored relationship I observed between certain friends and God. Nothing pointed me towards a Biblical reality which I could embrace and throw myself into. Nothing seemed to offer me that sort of loving intimate, experiential relationship with Father. I looked at others and said “I want that! Yet, I assumed that it was for some but not for me.

Enter a class at the Bible college where I was the office administrator. A local pastor was coming in to teach a course about the love of God. To say the least I was skeptical. In fact, I initially sat in to make sure our students were not being influenced by some “greasy grace” message which could lead them to reject holiness and consecration as religious bondage. Little did I know that that class was a God ordained “moment” for my life. As that pastor began to teach, he drew us into the Scriptures, pointing out what has always been there—the clear, personal, deep, and intense love which God has for you and for me.  From beginning to end, the Scriptures contain this cohesive testimony—God loves you! And He wants you to know it!

I was undone. I was shocked and amazed. What I had been searching for my entire life, I now saw to be clearly within my grasp. I began to intensely RUN towards the truth of God’s love for my life. And, both immediately and over the course of months, my life was transformed.

I can not begin to put into words the depths and breadth of this transformation. That which my heart of hearts had always desired I found—offered freely and easily accessible to me. I began to encounter the favor that others professed to regularly sense. I began to hear from God more easily and more regularly. I began to love Him more and desire more deeply to pour out my life in thankful return. The Scriptures have been “transformed” to me. I ask myself frequently—why couldn’t I see this before?! As I see over and over again the Biblical record of Abba’s heart for us. The prophetic books used to awe me and scare me. Now, they too testify to the incredible passionate loving commitment of God to His people. His judgment has become to me an extension of His love. I no longer fear falling under His wrath, but have been enabled to give grateful thanks for His devoted chastisement. I can recognize more frequently His activity in my life. I have more to be thankful for as I recognize His hand more consistently. He can share more with me, as, for the first time in my life, I have ears to hear what He is saying. And more than anything else, He has become the center to me—the passion of my life, my focus, my desire. … I can think of no one else I would rather be loved by and precious to—God Himself is my Father, my source of love and self-worth. And …  I am content in His arms. His love has become to me all that I have desired from earthly relationships. He has wrought in me by His love that which I never thought possible. I am loved! I am treasured! I am valuable and significant to God! And—this incredible reality, this glorious truth, is presently available to you. If Abba can do this in me, I have confidence that He can do it in anyone. Turn to Jesus and ask according to Ephesians 3, that He would grant you the strength—the anointing—to grasp, apprehend, and get a hold of this love. Knowing His love will transform your life. May He grant you, according to His glorious power, to be strengthened to receive what He is eager to pour out—His personal, intense, deep, longing love for you, now!