Pentecostal Lights

Introduction: A Personal and Powerful Promise: Isaiah 32:18

The central theme of this teaching is the profound and personal declaration found in the Song of Solomon, which serves as a foundational promise for all believers.

My beloved is mine, and I am his. — Song of Solomon 2:16

This verse is a deeply personal statement about the intimate relationship between God ("My beloved") and His people. This promise is not an exclusive or historical statement, but a "universal application" for the entire body of Christ today. This divine relationship is not monolithic; it is composed of different, profound dimensions of love.

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1. The Four Dimensions of Divine Love: Song of Solomon 5:2

There are four distinct types of love that characterize the relationship between God and His people. Each represents a unique way of experiencing and expressing this divine connection.

1. Constant Love - My sister (The "Cold" Love of Memory) This love is inherent, hereditary, and fraternal. Described as a "waterlike" love, its "coldness" is rooted in memory and constant presence, much like the unbreakable bond between siblings. This quality must not be mistaken for indifference. As the teaching clarifies, "the coldness is memory." It is an understood, foundational love that is always there.

2. Arousal Love - My Beloved (The "Fiery" Love of Companionship) In contrast to the "water" of constant love, this dimension is a passionate, arousing love, likened to a fire. It is the love of a companion that actively engages, endures ups and downs, and unites people with fervor. This is a dynamic and impassioned connection that must be kindled and felt.

3. Gazing Love - My Dove (The Love of Adoration) This is a love that admires, adores, and focuses intently on its subject. The act of "gazing" upon God is so consuming that one can forget their own senses. It is a love born from deep admiration for the truth and splendor of God, causing the believer to be completely captivated.

4. Perfect Love - My Undefiled (The "Senseless" Love of Selflessness) Presented as the ultimate form of love, this is a connection so completely selfless that it becomes senseless. This means forgetting oneself entirely in devotion and service to God. This state of "senselessness"—where the self is no longer the focus—is the very definition of perfection in love.

Understanding these different expressions of love provides the foundation for learning where this love is meant to be lived out: within the safety of the community.

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2. "Dwelling": Finding Security in Community (2 kings 4:13)

This profound love is experienced within a place of divine protection and community, a concept referred to as "dwelling."

The Promise of Peaceful Dwelling: Isaiah 32:18

The core promise for God's people is that they will "dwell in peaceful habitations", "secured dwellings" and “quiet resting places”. This is a place of rest and safety, free from enemies and the turmoil of the outside world.

The Practice of Dwelling

Two ways of living are contrasted: one that leads to this promised security and another that invites trouble.

Dwelling with "My People"

• This is the recommended path, where believers are united in thoughts and patterns with their community.

• This approach provides security and helps avoid unnecessary "trouble" and conflict.

Standing Out as an "Individual"

• This is the path of wanting to "stand out" and seek individual prominence.

• This path inevitably invites "scrutiny and criticism and judgment."

The Key Takeaway on Dwelling

The central advice is clear: true security and peace are found by remaining integrated within the community of believers ("I dwell among my own people") rather than by seeking individual recognition.

Understanding God's multifaceted love and knowing how to dwell in the security of the community are the key blessings available to God's people.

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3. Conclusion: The Blessings of a Favored People

This teaching is a message of profound encouragement, assuring believers of God's deep love, the safety found in unity, and the special favor bestowed upon them. It calls for an active love that is constant, passionate, and ultimately selfless, all experienced securely within the fellowship of God's people.

Key Blessings to Remember:

• A Multifaceted Love: God's love offers the constancy of water, the passion of fire, the focus of adoration, and the perfection of selflessness.

• Security in Unity: True peace and safety are found not by standing out, but by dwelling together in unity with God's people.

• A Year of Divine Favor: These teachings are presented as a special blessing for this time, a "year of God's favor, kindness, benevolence, mercy."