THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
The fruit of the Spirit is God's expectation in our lives. In Matthew 13, Jesus told the parable of the seed and the sower . A man went to sow seed. As he scattered the seed in the field , some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some of seed fell on rocky ground , where there was little soil . The seeds soon sprout but the soil wasn't deep . When the sun came up , it burned the young plants ; and because the roots had not grown deep , the plants soon dried up. Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants. Some of the seeds fell on good soil, and the plants bore fruit, abundantly. So we are to bear fruit, as the Word of God begins to work in our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit develops within us a character like Christ. God's purpose is that we would become mature people, reaching to the very height of perfection found in Christ. Blessed are those people who find joy in obeying the law of the Lord. And they study it day and night. They are like trees that grew beside a stream , that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do (Psalm 1:2-3). Jesus said, Abide in me, and I in you, as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine . You are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit ; for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:4-5). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith , self-control against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature of flesh with its lust and evil desires. If we live in the Spirit , let us also walk in the Spirit. We must not be proud. We must not be puffed up in pride. We must not irritate one another. We must not be jealous of one another (Galatians 5:22-26).SELF CONTROL
The fruit of the Spirit is self-control . Self-control is temperance. When a person has self-control , his thoughts and actions are under the control of the Holy Spirit. Self-control in our use of food is moderation. Self-control in matters of dress is modesty. Self-control in relation to sinful pleasure is abstinence. He who is so in anger is better than the mighty , and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city (Proverb 16:32). Those who live according to their sinful nature have their minds set on what nature desires; but those who lives in accordance to the Holy Spirit have their minds set on what the Holy Spirit desires (Romans 8:5). Self-control is very important. Every athlete is training submits to strict discipline, in order to win a prize that will not last. But we , believers, do it for a prize that will last forever. Run in such a way as to win the prize. That is why I run straight for the finish line. I harden my body with exercise and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having call others to the contest. I therefore run , not as uncertainty; so I fight , not as one that beats the air. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection ; lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:26-27) God's divine power has given us everything we need to live a life that is pleasing to God, through our knowledge of Christ who called us to share His own glory and virtue. In this way God has given us the very great and precious gifts He promised, so that by these we might be partakers of God's divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue. And to virtue, add knowledge. And to knowledge add self-control. And to self-control add patience. And to patience add godliness. And to godliness add brotherly kindness. And to brotherly kindness add love. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. These are the qualities you need. And if you have them in abundance, they will make you fruitful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.MEEKNESS
Meekness is the fruit of the Spirit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness , terperance; against such thee is no law. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5)< But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:11) Jesus is the source of our meekness. Jesus said, Come unto me, all you that labour and heavy laden , and I will give you rest ; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy , and my burden is light (Matt 11:28-30) The meek are happy, because they have peace. Until he was tamed by the Holy Spirit, Peter was a wild man. Peter was rough. But the Holy Spirit tamed Peter, and he became meek. Moses was also a wild man who needed forty years in the wilderness before he was brought under God's control. A wild man is of no use to God.. But God can use a meek person. Meekness is heart, soul, mind, and strength under God's control. Our Lord Jesus was a meek person. Christ is the way for us to go. Jesus is the perfect example and pattern for us to follow. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7) Meekness is love under discipline. Meekness comes from Christ. Meekness grows in the heavy atmosphere of hostility. This inward quiet strength is a growing work of the Holy Spirit. A meek person does not take revenge when his feelings are stirred up, as did Peter when he slashed the ear of the soldier at the arrest of Jesus in the garden. Jesus rebuked Peter for his ungodly behavior (Matthew 5:44). Jesus is meek and humble in heart. We must not crave to power over others. We are to serve others. We must desire that in all things Jesus Christ must be Lord. Do not think of yourself of more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment . Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Lifting the Lord Jesus Christ makes it possible for meekness to become one of virtues.JOY
The fruit of the Spirit is JOY. Joy comes from God. The joy of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:6) The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10) Jesus said, These things have I spoken unto you , that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:11) God the Holy Spirit, filled us with joy regardless of circumstances. All the tragedies and troubles of the world can not stop the joy which the Holy Spirit brings into the human heart.PATIENCE
The fruit of the Spirit is patience. Patience is long-suffering. Patience speaks of a person enduring ill-treatment without anger or thought of retaliation or revenge. Love is patient, and kind. Patience is compassion, gracious , and perseverance . Patience is the ability to endure weariness , ill-treatment, and persecution when doing the work of the Lord. You can be strengthened with all might , according to His glorious power , unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness (Colossians 1:11) Consider it all joy, my brethren, when encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (James 1:2-3) The trials forces us to call upon the Holy Spirit to help us. We learn to draw more upon the source of God's strength that produce more patience which is the fruit of the Spirit. The regular exercise of patience and long-suffering in the small daily frustrations prepare us to endure when the great trials and persecutions come. We are to be patient in tribulation , continuing instant in prayer (Romans 12:12) God the Holy Spirit is always there, ready to help you win victory in your spiritual battles. Jesus tells us, By your perseverance you will win souls (Luke 21:19) Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers who hated him. Joseph had been wrongly accused by Potiphar who put him in prison. But through his trials , Joseph developed patience. The wisdom of God is pure first of all. It is also peaceful, gentle , and friendly. It is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds. It is free from prejudice and hypocrisy. A goodness is the harvest that is produced fro the seeds of the peacemakers.GOODNESS
Goodness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. God is good. God is perfect in goodness. Now you are the light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light. Jesus is the Light of the world. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth ; proving what is acceptable unto the Lord(Ephesians 5:9-10) Holy Spirit produces the goodness that comes from God . Goodness is love in action. Goodness is righteousness demonstrated in every day living in the Holy Spirit. To be good is to be like Christ Jesus. True goodness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Man's effort to achieve it own his own effort and work can never succeed. Man's work and effort are but filthy rags . Not only our bad habits and deeds are offensive to God. Even what we would consider our best human deeds and thoughts offend God as well. They are but filthy rags because by comparison with God's holy Character they fall so far short. Only the Holy Spirit can produce the goodness that is pleasing to God. Patience, kindness and goodness express our love toward our neighbor. It is love in action. It is loving our neighbor as ourselves.KINDNESS
Kindness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. Kindness is gentleness. Gentleness washes away all that is harsh. Gentleness is love enduring. Jesus is a gentle person. As followers of Christ , we must learn to be gentle and kind like our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible gives us good examples of gentleness of the three Persons of the Trinity. David said of God, You give me your shield of your salvation. And your right hand has held me up, and your gentleness has made me great (Psalm 18:35) In 2 Corinthians 10:1 , the Scriptures tell us of the meekness and gentleness of Christ. In Galatians 5:22, it is written about the gentleness of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was kind and gentle to everyone. Even the small children knew His gentleness and come to His eagerly and without fear. The servant of the Lord must not strive , but be gentle unto all men (2Timothy 2:24). The wisdom that is from above is first pure, the peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated ,full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17). The wisdom from above is pure fruit first of all . It is also gentle , peaceful, and peaceful;. and friendly. It is free from prejudice and hypocrisy. And goodness is the harvest.PEACE
Peace is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. Peace is rest in Christ who gives the believer unity, rest , completeness ,and security. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ...raised him from the dead, and ,made him to sit at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority , and power, and dominion, and every name that is named , not only in this world, but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1:17-21). God raised up with Christ, and made us to sit with Christ in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace , in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus. For by His grace are you saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God - not of works , lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:6-9). What God's basis for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit ? It is the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:23). Our sins are forgiven because Christ died for us on the cross. Because Christ is raised up to the throne, we are powered by the Holy Spirit. We didn't merit forgiveness. And we did merit the gift of the holy Spirit. We received everything not by our own efforts and works , but sitting down, not by doing but by resting in the Lord Jesus Christ. All spiritual experience begins from rest in Christ . The Lord Jesus Christ has done everything for us. And we now need only to rest confidently in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is seated in throne, so we are carried through to victory in His strength. Sitting describes our position with Christ in heaven. Walking is what we do here in the world. Are you walking according to God's will for your life in Christ ? Are you walking in the Spirit ? What a wonderful glorious hope we have because Christ is our hope . Come to Jesus, all you who are tired from carrying heavy loads and burdens . And Jesus will give you rest. Come to Jesus, all you who labour and are heavy laden. And Jesus will give rest Jesus said, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). In our sufferings and sorrows, Christ has come to share our burdens because He loves us. In the midst of the problems and wars of the world, you came have peace in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you (John 14:27). For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. he who has the Son have life. He who has not the Son has not life. Now will you accept Jesus into your life as the Lord and Saviour of your life ? If you accept Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your life, the peace of God, which passes all understanding , shall keep your heart and mind through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts and knocks, saying, Behold , I stand at the door , and knock. If any man hears my voice, and opens the door , I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me (Revelation 3:20)FAITH
Faith is faithfulness produced by the holy Spirit in a believer's life. Faith brings positive results. To walk in faith brings glory to God. The person of faith is standing on the most solid foundation ,the Lord Jesus Christ. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Whatsoever is not faith is sin. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it ( Corinthians 10;13). Trials and difficulties may pile up mountain high, but they only drive us closer to god. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though earth be removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea ; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountain shake with the swelling thereof (Psalm 46:1-3). Faith always acts according to the mind of Christ. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) Jesus said, With man it is impossible, but not with God. For with God all things are possible(Mark 10:27) And whatever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do these things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22) Beloved , think not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happen to you (1 Peter 4:12) But rejoice, in as much as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when His glory is revealed. Our faith is greatly strengthened when we come to see that only God can help us and that only God is the answer to all problems and needs. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19) Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1) To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for. To have faith is to be certain of that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we can not see it up ahead. It is by faith in God that people ancient times won God's approval. Through faith we understand that the worlds were created by the Word of God so that what can be seen was made out of what can not be seen.Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.(Hebrews 11:3) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Through his faith Abel won God's approval as a righteous man , because God approved of his gifts. And by faith he being dead yet speaks. Enoch trusted God. he was taken up to God, because he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please God; for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. BY faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his family ; by faith Noah became heir to the righteousness. Because his faith in God , Noah became one of those whom God has accepted. It is Abraham's faith in God. Abraham obeyed God when God called him to go out to a country which God had promised to give him. Abraham trusted in God. Abraham left his own country without knowing where he was going. By faith Abraham lived as a foreigner in a new land. He lived in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, who received the same promise from God. Abraham did this because he was confidently waiting for God to bring him to that heavenly city which God has designed and built, the city with everlasting foundation. Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with
him of the same promise:
By faith Abraham lived in the land of promise. By faith
he was a wandered in the land of agreement , as an alien.
He lived in tents like a mere visitor. Jacob and Isaac
were to share the same promise with him. God gave
Isaac and Jacob the same promise.
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham looked for a city which has sure foundations. He
was looking for the heavenly city with foundations that
was built by God.
Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received
strength to conceive seed,
and was delivered of a child when she was past age,
because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Through faith Sarah got strength and power to become
a mother . Faith enabled Sarah , barren till then to
conceive offspring. Even she was past the normal age for
child bearing, she trusted God to be faithful in His
promise.
Heb 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one,
and him as good as dead, so many as the stars
of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Abraham was very old and considered as good as dead.
From this very old man sprang so many offsprings as the
stars of the sky in multitude. There sprang from this
man such a multitude of people as the countless grains
of sand by the sea shore.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having
received the promises, but having seen them afar off,
and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the
earth.
These folks all died in faith, without receiving the
tangible fulfilment of the promise. But they saw the fulfilment of the promise from far away. They believed
in God's promise. they were persuaded that God is faithful
in His promise.They embraced the promise and they hailed it
with delight. These folks admitted freely that they were
strangers and pilgrims on earth. They confessed that they
have no permanent home on earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare
plainly that they seek a country.
For these folks who say such things make it clear that
they are seeking a homeland.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful
of that country from whence they came out,
they might have had opportunity to have returned.
If their hearts had been of the old country that
they had gone out of,they had the opportunity to return.
They had the chance to return to their old ways.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country,
that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:
for he hath prepared for them a city.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly
country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their
God. Indeed God had prepared to receive them in a heavenly
city.
Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried,
offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Abraham was put to test. Abraham showed his faith in God
by offering his only begotten son Isaac as a sacrifice.
He who had received God's promises , was offering up his only
begotten son as a sacrifice.
Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
It was the son concerning whom it had been promised.
Through Isaac , the descendants of Abraham will be
traced.
Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to
raise him up, even from the dead;
from whence also he received him in a figure.
For Abraham believed that God had the power even to
raise the dead. Hence , Abraham did received him back.
Abraham did get him back as if from death.
Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and
Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Isaac gave Jacob and Essau his blessing
concerning things to come.
Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying,
blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped,
leaning upon the top of his staff.
Jacob had faith in the Lord. even when he was dying, Jacob
worshipped the Lord, leaning upon the top of his staffJacob blessed both the sons of Joseph. They inherited
the promise from Jacob.
Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made
mention of the departing of the children of Israel;
and gave commandment concerning his bones.
By faith Joseph spoke confidently of God bringing the
people of Israel out of Egypt . He gave instructions
to bring his bones to the promised land.
Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born,
was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child;
and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
The king ordered that all new-born Hebrew babies should
be killed. But the parents of Moses were not afraid of
the king's commandment because they had faith in God.
By faith , they hid Moses for three months.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come
to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
By faith Moses , when he grew up , refused to be known as
a son of the daughter of Pharoah.
Choosing rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures in Egypt:
for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
(Heb11:25-26) Moses choose rather to suffer the hardships with the people of God, than to enjoy the short-lived pleasures of sin.
Moses considered that it is better to suffer for the
Lord as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.
Moses had fixed his gazed on the coming reward.
Moses wanted the heavenly reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing
the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him
who is invisible.
By Faith , Moses foreshake Egypt . He did not fear
the king's anger. Moses was able to endure all the
dangers, obstacles, and hardships, because he see
God who is invisible.
Through faith Moses established the Passover as the
Lord had instructed him. He followed God's instructions
to sprinkle blood on doorposts so that the destroying angel
should not touch the firstborns of Israel.
Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the Passover,
and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed
the firstborn should touch them.
By faith the believers crossed the Red Sea as though
they were passing over dry land. But when the Egyptians
were chasing them to kill them, the Egyptians were drown.
Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the
Red sea as by dry land:
which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down,
after they were compassed about seven days.
By faith the strong walls of Jericho collapsed, after the
children of Israel marched around it for seven days.
It is faith that brought the strong walls of Jericho
tumbling down.
Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not
with them that believed not, when she had received
the spies with peace.
By faith the harlot Rehab was not put to death
with those unbelievers. She had faith in God and
received God's people with peace.
Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time
would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of
Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: There are many examples of faithful believers. Gideon,
Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David , Samuel, and the prophets...
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions,
Men through faith conquered kingdoms, and ruled righteously.
The faithful folks received new promises from God .
They are kept from the harm in a den of lions. Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the
edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies
of the aliens.
The faithful folks extinguished the raging fire.
They escaped the edge of the sword. These folks were
made powerful when they had been weak. They became
mighty in war. They proved to be mighty warriors and
chased away alien armies.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life
again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
Women had their dead folks restored by resurrection.
Other were tortured. But they did not give up their faith.
They did not accept deliverance to hell. They wanted
God to resurrect them after they had died.
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: Other folks stood the test of taunts and scourgings. They were exposed to public mockery and floggings. They were chained and imprisoned. They were stoned to death. They were cut in pieces. They were tempted to sin. They were killed with the sword. Because of faith, they wandered about clothed in skins of sheep and goats. Many folks became refugees with nothing but cheap animal skins to cover themselves. They lost everything. They were oppressed, persecuted, and cruelly treated. Because of their faith, they suffered in poverty , and in distress.
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder,
were tempted, were slain with the sword:
they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;
being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
They were too good for the world. The world was not worthy of
these good folks. They wandered in waste lands and mountains.
They lived as vagrants in dens and caves of the earth. They hid
themselves in caverns and holes in the ground.
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Though all these folks by their faith won God's approval, they did not receive the promise . None of these folks received the fulfilment of His promise. This is because the best part of the promise is yet to come. Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. God had something better planned for all of us.
All of us together will be made perfect at the same time. These faithful folks are waiting for us to be made perfect by God. All these people of faith , though they trusted God and won His approval, none of them received all that God has promised them, because God's purpose was that only in the company with us would they would be made perfect. God wanted them to wait and share the even better rewards that were prepared for us. Desperate situations is the very atmosphere of miracles. In great miracles, the condition is not only difficult but impossible for man. When we depend on human , world education, or organizations, will fail because we will get only what they can do. But if we depend o God, we will get what God can do. With man it is impossible, but not with God. For with God all things are possible. Faith may be cultivated by meditating upon the ways and works of God. You must believe in the Word of God , meditating the Word, and practicing it. If you want God to answer your prayers, you must do the will of God. First you must examine carefully whether what you are trusting for was something in accordance with His promise in his written Word. Faith does not come by waiting for it. Faith comes by using what you have. Often people wait for obstacles to be removed, when they ought to move forward as if there were no obstacles. Faith begins where sight and senses fail. Often to look is to fail. Jesus was walking on top of the water. And Peter was walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter look at the waves of the sea and when he took his eyes off Jesus, Peter began to sink into the sea of problems and troubles. If you have doubts and take your eyes off Jesus, you too will sink into seas of problems and seas of worldly chaos that are controlled by the devil. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Jesus said, All things are possible to him that believes Whoever believes that Jesus is Christ is born of God. All who love the heavenly Father also love His children. By this we know that we love and keep His commands. We keep His commandments because we love God. And His commandments are not too hard for us. For whoever is born of God is able to defeat the evil of the world. And we win the victory over the evil of the world by our faith in God. For by grace you are saved through in the Lord Jesus Christ; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God ; not of works , lest any man should boast. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on the eternal life. For it was to this life God called you when you firmly tell others of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We look not at the things which are seen for the things which are seen are temporal ; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). We do not look at things we can see right now, the evil around us. But we look forward toward to the happiness and joy in heaven which we have not yet seen. The evil and chaos of the world will soon be over but the happiness and joy will last forever. Faith looks beyond the human and behold the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is taking hold of the Lord Jesus Christ and not letting go . We can trust Christ who died for us because He loves us so much that He gave His life for us. Prayer brings victory. Prayer means that in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , we take what our Lord Jesus bought with His precious blood . There is only fellowship with God through His Son Christ Jesus. God answers prayers only through His Son Christ Jesus. Jesus said, I am the way , the truth , and the life. No man comes unto the Father , but by me . For through Christ we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:18). If problems and troubles drive you to prayer , prayer will drive problems and troubles away. Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach. Jesus only taught them how to pray. Elijah prayed earnestly (1 King 18:42). Six times Elijah received a discouraging report. Most people would have stopped at the third of fourth time. And nearly all would have stopped praying by the fifth time. Not so with Elijah. Elijah had faith in his God. Elijah refused to give up. Elijah kept on praying. Elijah refused to be discouraged, even with seeming failures. Not until Elijah had prayed the seventh time was he rewarded. God does not answer cold or half-hearted prayers. Pray to the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. Jesus said, Whatsoever you shall the Father in my name, He will give it to you. Jesus said, You were faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things (Matthew 25:31). The Holy Spirit helps the believer to be faithful to his testimony , to be faithful to his commitments and calling, to be faithful to the commands of Christ. Jesus said, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life(Revelation 2:10) You are God's building. Each person must be careful how he builds. For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation , and no other foundation can be laid. No one can confess Jesus is Lord unless he is guided by the Holy Spirit. If we allow the Holy Spirit to control all areas of our lives we will grow in our faithfulness to Christ and will produce good fruits.LOVE
(1 Corinthian 13:1-13) Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the way to love. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. God has shown His love for us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. It is love lavished upon us without a thought whether we are worthy to receive it or not. Love is a gift from God. We are saved by the grace of God through our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. You are saved by God's loving kindness through your faith in Christ. It is not the result of your own efforts. It is a gift from God, so that no one can boast about their own efforts. Faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). If you have faith in Jesus, you will love Him. Jesus loves you. God wants you to know and benefit from His love now and in the eternity. Only in Christ can you find and experience God's love. Only in Jesus can you find the purpose for your life. Only in Christ can you find God's wisdom that will give you the ability to love. Jesus is the way to love. Everything Jesus said and did , we can use as a pattern for our lives. And we must try to live as near as our Lord's way of life as humanly possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus said. The Lord your God is one Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength. This is the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is this. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment more important than these. Most people know very little about love. But they have not responded to the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. Do you have the love of the Lord ? Do you have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ that gives you an inner peace that surpasses all understanding ? In order to love Jesus, you must accept Jesus as the Lord of your life. You must let the Lord Jesus Christ take complete control of your life. Only then will you experience the Lord's love. Jesus will guide you. Jesus is the way , the truth, and the life. Jesus is gentle and meek. Jesus is humble. Jesus is very patient and kind. Jesus is not jealous. Jesus is envious. Jesus is pure in heart. Jesus is never proud. Jesus is never boastful. Jesus is unselfish. Jesus is not touchy. Jesus is not irritable. Jesus is very merciful. Jesus is very compassionate. Jesus seeks after peace. Jesus hungers and thirst after the righteousness of God. Jesus is not puffed up with pride. Jesus thinks no evil. Jesus rejoices not in evilness, but in righteousness and truth rejoices Jesus. Jesus said, A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (John 13:34-35) Love is not fornication. Love is not lust. Love is not perverted sex. Flee fornication. He who commit fornication sins against his own body. What ? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own. For you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Lust destroys. Lust burns and consumes with corruption and destructions. Lust is selfishness. Lust is a thief that comes to take away life. Love is not lust. Lust comes from the devil. Lust brings death and destruction with fornication, selfishness, pride, greed, and wickedness. Love is not lust. God is love. A person will reap exactly what he has sown. Whatever a person sows, that he also reap. If a person plants evil seeds, he will receive evil seeds. If he plants seeds of evil desires from it will he receive a harvest of evil. And he will reap a harvest of spiritual decay and spiritual cancer and death. Now the work of the flesh are these: unfaithfulness, stealing, adultery, fornication, unclean thoughts, witchcraft , drunkenness, anger, fear , pride , idol-worship, murders, jealousy, lust, hatred, envy, lying and unforgiveness. They which do these things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. God has given you freedom, not freedom to do evil, but freedom to love one another. If a person plants seeds of love he will receive love during harvest time. The Lord wants you to live in the Spirit of love and peace. Therefore let be your greatest aim when you serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Love is very patient . Love is kind. Love is not selfish. Love is not irritable. Love is unselfish. Love is not happy with evil. Love is happy with the truth of God. Love never gives up .And its faith, hope, and patience never fails. Love does not hold grudges and hardly even notice when others do it wrong. Love hungers and thirsts after the righteousness of God. Love is pure in heart. Love is not glad about injustice. Love vaults not itself. Love envies not .Love is charity. Love is not easily provoked. Love thinks no evil. Love is humble. Love rejoices not in evil. Love is meek and gentle. Love is extremely kind. Love believes all things. love hopes all things. Love endures all things. love bears all thing. love never fails. Love comes from the Lord. Love is everlasting. God is love. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have no love, I am become as sounding brass, or tinkling cymbal. If I have not love, my speech will be no more than useless noise. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge ; and though I have faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And if I give all my goods to feed the poor and have not love , it profits me nothing. And if I give my body to be burned and have not love, it will be vain and useless. Without God's love, you are nothing. Without God, you have no purpose in your life. God is love. love never fails. But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail. Whether there be abilities to speak in tongues, they shall cease. Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then the that which is incomplete shall be done away. For our gifts of knowledge and inspired messages are partial. But when the perfect comes, the partial will disappear. When I was a child, my speech, feelings,and thinking were childish. Now I am a man, I have no more use for the childish ways. What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror. Then we shall see face to face. What I know now is only partial, then it will be complete - as perfect as God's knowledge of me. We can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at His reflection in a poor mirror ; Someday we are going see God in His completeness , face to face. Now I know is hasty and blurred, but someday I will see everything clearly , just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now. And we shall see God in our pure heart. And now these three lives in us ; faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love. Jesus said, A new commandment I give you, Love one another . As I have loved you, so must you love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples (John13:34-35) The new commandment that Jesus gave to His disciples is that they must love one another. It is an old commandment in a new light. You shall love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 9:20). This commandment is an Old Testament commandment. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He who loves not his brother abides in death (1 John 3:14). Owe no man any thing, but to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For this , You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet ; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Love works no ill to his neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:8-10). And above all things have fervent love among yourselves, because love shall cover the multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Jesus said, Love your enemies , bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:44). Love is doing. For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them (John 15:13). God is love (1 John 4:8). Little children , let us not love with word or tongue ,but in deed and truth (1 John 3:18). We are to love as the Good Samaritan loved.(Luke 10:25-38). Love with deed and truth. Only the Holy Spirit working in our lives can produce such fruit of love. In the Old Testament, the man and women of God were examples and models of the type of persons that God would approve. Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Samuel, David, Moses and the prophets of God were showing people how to love God and how to love their neighbours. But they were the perfect models and examples. They come short of the glory of God. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 2:23) In the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ the divine and human natures are united so that Jesus Christ is truly and properly God and truly and properly man. Jesus came into the world as a man. Jesus was the perfect man who has never sinned. Jesus is the true way to love. We follow Christ. We must love one another as our Lord Jesus Christ has loved us. Our strong love for each other will prove to the world that we are disciples of Christ. Jesus is the pattern for us to love. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Only Jesus can show the true way to love that will be pleasing to God. Jesus clearly commands us, As I have loved you, so must you love one another. As Jesus ha loved us, so must we love one another. Jesus is the true way to love. Such love is a testimony to the world. Love will glorify God because God is love. Such love points and shows people to Christ, because this quality of love can only be seen in Christ. Such love frees you from fear, anger, lust, greed, selfishness, and sorrow. Such love frees you from pride. Unsaved people will recognize the blessings of such love even though they can not produce it. Such love comes from Christ because Christ shines brightly in the darkness of the world. Such light brightens people's dark lives. Christ is the light of the world. Such love can only comes from Christ because Christ gives light to the broken hearted and the oppressed. Such love can only come from Christ because Christ brings hope to the captives. Such love can only come from Christ because Christ frees the those folks who are held prisoners by sin. Such love can only come fro Christ because Christ frees the destitute by giving them hope and love. Such love wins people to the Lord Jesus Christ because they shall know that such love comes from Christ. Jesus is saying to us, Even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Jesus is not destroying the law but fulfilling it. Jesus is the true way to love and live. Jesus is our pattern to love. Jesus said, Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John15:13). The mark of the followers of Christ is LOVE. We must love one another according to Christ's examples and way. As Jesus has loved us, we must love one another. All people will know that we are followers of Christ if we love one another. We are to love one another for our Lord's sake, and according to His examples, by seeking what might benefit others and by promoting the cause of our Lord's Good News of love and peace. Apostle Paul wrote,
For as much as ye are manifestly declared to
be the epistle of Christ ministered by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the
living God; not in tables of stone,
but in fleshy tables of the heart.
( 2Corinthians 3:3)
You show that you are a letter of the living
Lord God ,
written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets
of stone but on tablets of human heart.
Clearly you are a letter from Christ .
The letter is written not with pen and ink ,
but with the Holy Spirit.
It is carved not in tablets of stone,
but in human heart.
You show that you are a letter from
the Lord Jesus Christ,
written not with computers but with the Holy Spirit
of the living God , not in computer tablets
but in tablets of human heart.
You are demonstrating that you are the Messiah’s epistle ,
written not with ink but with
the Spirit of the living
God , not in tablets of stone , but in tablets
of human heart.
It is clear that you are Christ’s epistle.
You are a letter
written not with ink but with the Holy Spirit .
You are a letter written not in tablets of stones
but in human heart.
You are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ,
written not with ink , but with the Spirit of the living of God, not in tablets of stones
but in fleshly tablets of the heart.
You are the living letter of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Your hearts are the substance which
God’s writing is made.
The Holy Spirit produces the love in your heart and the mark of love becomes the evident
to the world.
------------------------------- Title: The Fruit of the Spirit Author: Anthony Ing Publisher: Good News Publishing paperback 1988 ISBN-10 0-921947-15-1 Digitized(HTML) 2014 ISBN-13 978-0-921947-87-5