Fruit of the Spirit

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Treat others with fruit!

I love my wife. She teaches me things.

The other day we were discussing how we discuss things with other people. You have to be careful what you say and to whom you say it.

Someone you believe to be your friend will turn on you when you say something unflattering about another person – even if they agree with what you say.

Her conclusion is to speak things about others that cannot place blame back on yourself.

In Galatians 5:19-21 it speaks of the works of the flesh. Each of these attributes, characteristics, and sins work against you. Get involved with one and you will end up in trouble.

Use them against another person and you are to blame.

Then the next few verses say something totally different.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

When you treat others with any of these characteristics you will never be blamed for doing wrong. There are no laws against these things.

So take the advice of the Bible and my wife – treat others with the fruit of the Spirit and others will never speak ill of you again.

Abba, the fruit of the Spirit is where I want to live each and every day. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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His Anger

Do you ever feel like God is angry with you? Like you can’t do anything right?

Though God can be a God of anger, it is aimed specifically.

When God told Abraham of His intentions toward Sodom and Gommorah, Abraham began to plead for the cities.

Would God destroy everyone if fifty righteous people could be found? Then forty?

It was here that Abraham said something that seems strange to me.

Gen 18:30 “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

Why would the Lord be angry at someone for interceding for them – even the exceedingly wicked (Gen 13:13) people of Sodom.

God’s anger is not directed toward good. It is directed at sin.

His anger is not against…

love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

His anger is not because of prayer and intercession. His anger is not at preaching the Gospel. He is not angry at praise and worship.

He is not angry with those that seek Him with their whole heart.

Abba, though I deserve Your fullest wrath, I am so thankful that You are not angry with me in Jesus name. YES&AMEN

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Fruit of the Spirit

Gal 5:22-23 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Over the weekend we had the Fruit of the Spirit VBS. During the first song I remember someone saying, “That’s what I need; self-control!”
My response was you start with love!

The fruit of the Spirit is a staircase.

What you will need first is love! You cannot have kindness or gentleness without it. You can’t have joy or peace if you have hate.

Love is the key – the first step to the fruit of the Spirit.

Self-control is last on the list. Before you will attain it completely you will have to have things like patience, faithfulness, and gentleness. Self-control is not possible without them.

The great thing is the fruit of the Spirit is not dependent on others. You can have it without any help and despite any opposition. It’s all about your personal relationship and availability to the Holy Spirit.

John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Abba, I want to be an orchard of good fruit for You! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Intimacy – Part 3 (Free to WHAT??)

There are some that say, “I am free [in Christ] to do anything!”
This thought probably comes from Baptist doctrine of eternal security of the believer; also known as “once saved, always saved”, though that is not to say that this only affects Baptist’s or that Baptist’s are the only ones that think this way.
With that thought in mind, many believe they are free to do anything and there is no consequence, this would include sin. Continue reading →