As you will see in the Scripture – there is one very special incredible verse that will tell you that God the Father wants to transmit and impart 9 specific fruits of the Spirit. God wants all of us to enter into a sanctification process with Him so that He can begin the process of molding, shaping and transforming us into the express image of His Son Jesus Christ. He wants to make us into a better and more holy people. He wants to transform us by the renewing of our minds. He wants to put right thinking into our thought process.
It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that this sanctification process is done with you in this life. However, you will not be a passive robot in all of this. You have to be willing to work in cooperation with the Holy Spirit once He begins to start this process within you.
Your job will be to get into the Word to find out exactly what it is God is going to want to change about you. You will need to find out exactly what qualities God will want you to try and “put on” into your personality and what qualities He will want you to try and “put away.”
When God the Father purposely isolates and spells out 9 specific qualities that will be coming direct from His Holy Spirit – then He is really letting you know the extreme importance of these 9 specific fruits.
These 9 fruits are major fruits and qualities that are coming direct from God Himself – and every Christian should do the best they can to work with the Holy Spirit in getting all 9 of these fruits worked into their personality.
Here are the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit listed one right after the other in a bullet point format:
• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Longsuffering
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control
Now here is the specific verse from Scripture where these 9 fruits are being given to us by the Lord:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
Before I get into the appropriate commentary on each of these nine fruits, note the following:
1. The word “Spirit” is with a capital “S” – which means these 9 fruits are coming directly from the Holy Spirit – not from us.
2. What this means is that God’s love, God’s peace, God’s joy and God’s goodness can start to be transmitted up into our personality. These are His attributes and personality qualities that will start to flow and mesh into the core of our personality. Think about the ramifications of this – that God the Father Himself is allowing us to share in a part of His divine nature by allowing His Holy Spirit to transmit and impart these nine divine qualities right up into our soul and personality!
This is why God the Father is specifically telling us in this verse that these 9 fruits are coming directly from His Holy Spirit – so that we can all fully appreciate the magnitude of such an experience.
Jesus has already told us that He is the vine and we are the branches. The branches draw their life from the vine – not vice versa. Just as the branch draws its life from the vine, so too must we draw our life directly from Jesus. Jesus will release His life into us through the Holy Spirit in the exact same way that the vine will release the life of the tree into the branches.
In one short, but incredible powerful Scripture verse, God the Father is giving all of us an incredible revelation on what can go on behind the scenes in the spiritual realm for those who are willing to work with Him in this sanctification process.
Now I will go on to describe what each one of these nine fruits are all about and give you definitions from some of the different Bible dictionaries and commentaries, thereby making it easier for you to work with the Holy Spirit once He starts to move in on you to try and impart some of these divine qualities and attributes into the core of your personality.
1. Love
If I had to rank all of the above fruits in their order of possible importance, the quality of love would have to be #1. And this is why it may have been listed as #1 fruit in the above Scripture verse.
Here are some of the different definitions on what love is from the different Bible dictionaries and commentaries:
• Unselfish, benevolent concern for another; brotherly concern; the object of brotherly concern or affection
• The self-denying, self-sacrificing, Christ-like love which is the foundation of all other graces
• Unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the well being of another
• The high esteem which God has for His human children and the high regard which they, in turn, should have for Him and other people
• To love, to have affection for someone; to like; to be a friend; the love of brothers for each other
One of the main messages that comes through loud and clear from studying our Bible is the extreme importance that God the Father is placing on that everyone learn how to love Him, love ourselves, love one another, and to even go as far as to be able to love our enemies and those who will try and hurt us.
However, our abilities as fallen humans to love one another is very limited. This is why it is so important for each and every Christian to work very closely with the Holy Spirit to get this fruit worked up into the core of our personalities. It is only when the love of the Holy Spirit starts to flow and enter into our personalities can we even begin to love God, love ourselves, and love one another to the degree and to the intensity that God would like to see from each one of us.
To those of you who will be entering into this sanctification process with the Lord – this quality should be listed as the #1 quality you should really attempt to put on into the core of your soul and personality. The Holy Spirit will be moving on you very early and very quickly to get this quality imparted into your mind, soul and emotions due to the extreme importance of it in your walk with the Lord.
You can be the greatest man of God and have some of the greatest gifts of God flowing through you – but if you are not walking with all of this in the spirit of love and humility, it will have all been for naught.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
A Reminder
The only one who forgives and forgets our sin is Jesus. The power of the blood removes our sin as far as the east is from the west. Even when you move on in life and make changes people never forget and especially never forgive. Jesus is so faithful and loving. Jesus truly is the Lover of our soul.
3 things to remember
1. Walk in your forgiveness. Don't let your past mistakes hold you back.
2. Be a forgiver. Don't ever hold on to the past sins of others.
3. keep moving forward in the improvements you are making. don't live in the past
3 things to remember
1. Walk in your forgiveness. Don't let your past mistakes hold you back.
2. Be a forgiver. Don't ever hold on to the past sins of others.
3. keep moving forward in the improvements you are making. don't live in the past
Monday, April 19, 2010
4 important principles to remember about the Holy Spirit
1) The Holy Spirit is God, but He is a Person, not a force
2) What is the mission of the Holy Spirit? To reveal Jesus. What is Jesus mission…to reveal the Father. What about the Father…to send Jesus and the Holy Spirit so we can come to Him. Perfect Harmony. They never had a crisis management meeting in Heaven. They never tried to sit down and work things out. They never had a power struggle amongst themselves.
3) The Holy Spirit gives gifts for use in ministry and empowers effective ministry
4) The Holy Spirit is a distinct Person within the Godhead, not a force, a thing, or an "it"
2) What is the mission of the Holy Spirit? To reveal Jesus. What is Jesus mission…to reveal the Father. What about the Father…to send Jesus and the Holy Spirit so we can come to Him. Perfect Harmony. They never had a crisis management meeting in Heaven. They never tried to sit down and work things out. They never had a power struggle amongst themselves.
3) The Holy Spirit gives gifts for use in ministry and empowers effective ministry
4) The Holy Spirit is a distinct Person within the Godhead, not a force, a thing, or an "it"
Sunday, April 18, 2010
6 things the Holy Spirit does
1) He teaches you things about God and yourself. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
2) He tells the truth. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
3) He guides. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
4) He convinces. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
5) He prays for you. Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
6) He commands. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
2) He tells the truth. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
3) He guides. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
4) He convinces. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
5) He prays for you. Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
6) He commands. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Message on the Ascension of Jesus
1. THE ASCENSION WAS AN ANSWER TO JESUS’ PRAYER
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. Jesus left all the splendor of Heaven to live as a lowly man upon the earth. At His ascension – He returned to His prior glory
2. AT THE ASCENSION JESUS RECEIVED HIS KINGDOM
Daniel 7:13-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Daniel foresaw the ascension of Christ to the Father (“Ancient of Days”) He saw that at this time Christ would receive a kingdom
Acts 2:30-33 – Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.Peter affirms that Jesus reigns upon David’s throne, being exalted to God’s right hand
3. THE ASCENSION WAS A VICTORY PROCESSION FOR JESUS
Ephesians 4:8 “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”Colossians 2:15 –He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.. At the cross (and subsequent resurrection and ascension), Jesus triumphed over all the forces of evil and making “a public spectacle of them”
4. JESUS ASCENDED IN ORDER TO MAKE ATONEMENT
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.Jesus entered into the true Holy of Holies to offer His own blood to God
Having finished this priestly work, He “sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (priests always did their work standing)
5. JESUS ASCENDED TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US
John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. If we would have that home, we must follow the “way”. Jesus is the way – John 14:4-6
We are not left “on our own” to find that way . . .
6. JESUS ASCENDED SO THAT HE COULD SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 16:5-7 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. The Spirit (the Helper) guided the apostles into “all truth” (John 16:13) That truth is recorded for us on the pages of the NT
7. THE ASCENSION OF JESUS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HIS RETURN
Acts 1:9-11 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Remember John 14:3, Jesus said, if (or, since) I go away, I will come again
8. THE ASCENSION OF JESUS PRE-FIGURES OUR OWN ASCENSION TO MEET HIM WHEN HE RETURNS
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. The faithful dead will be raised to join the faithful living as they ascend into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Remember, John 14:2-3, Jesus will take us back to that place He is preparing for us.
CONCLUSION:
Did you realize that the Bible has so much to say about the ascension? Because of the ascension, we may rest assured: That Jesus made full atonement for our sins. That He is now reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords. That He is preparing a place for us. That He will come to take us back to that heavenly home, at which time we will ascend to meet Him.
Are you ready for that day?
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. Jesus left all the splendor of Heaven to live as a lowly man upon the earth. At His ascension – He returned to His prior glory
2. AT THE ASCENSION JESUS RECEIVED HIS KINGDOM
Daniel 7:13-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Daniel foresaw the ascension of Christ to the Father (“Ancient of Days”) He saw that at this time Christ would receive a kingdom
Acts 2:30-33 – Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.Peter affirms that Jesus reigns upon David’s throne, being exalted to God’s right hand
3. THE ASCENSION WAS A VICTORY PROCESSION FOR JESUS
Ephesians 4:8 “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”Colossians 2:15 –He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.. At the cross (and subsequent resurrection and ascension), Jesus triumphed over all the forces of evil and making “a public spectacle of them”
4. JESUS ASCENDED IN ORDER TO MAKE ATONEMENT
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.Jesus entered into the true Holy of Holies to offer His own blood to God
Having finished this priestly work, He “sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (priests always did their work standing)
5. JESUS ASCENDED TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US
John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. If we would have that home, we must follow the “way”. Jesus is the way – John 14:4-6
We are not left “on our own” to find that way . . .
6. JESUS ASCENDED SO THAT HE COULD SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 16:5-7 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. The Spirit (the Helper) guided the apostles into “all truth” (John 16:13) That truth is recorded for us on the pages of the NT
7. THE ASCENSION OF JESUS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HIS RETURN
Acts 1:9-11 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Remember John 14:3, Jesus said, if (or, since) I go away, I will come again
8. THE ASCENSION OF JESUS PRE-FIGURES OUR OWN ASCENSION TO MEET HIM WHEN HE RETURNS
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. The faithful dead will be raised to join the faithful living as they ascend into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Remember, John 14:2-3, Jesus will take us back to that place He is preparing for us.
CONCLUSION:
Did you realize that the Bible has so much to say about the ascension? Because of the ascension, we may rest assured: That Jesus made full atonement for our sins. That He is now reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords. That He is preparing a place for us. That He will come to take us back to that heavenly home, at which time we will ascend to meet Him.
Are you ready for that day?
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The Amazing Presence of Jesus
Jesus was an amazing man. The Bible clearly teaches us that when he spoke people were in awe at the authority He commanded. His miracles were beyond belief. His compassion for the lost sheep of Israel was without question. His disciples witnessed it all. In that little barn in Bethlehem God became a man. In the tomb that first Easter morning a man shed His humanity and took up His full divinity.
It was one experience to hear the eternal words of the son of man but can you imagine hearing the words of the resurrected son of God. For 40 day after his resurrection Jesus spent time with His followers continuing to enlighten them about the Kingdom of God. Talk about 40 days of purpose.
Jesus had a plan for the personal empowerment of His disciples. The Ascension was strategic because now the Holy Spirit of God could descend into the hearts of every believer. Now the power of God would be personal and effective in His church.
It was one experience to hear the eternal words of the son of man but can you imagine hearing the words of the resurrected son of God. For 40 day after his resurrection Jesus spent time with His followers continuing to enlighten them about the Kingdom of God. Talk about 40 days of purpose.
Jesus had a plan for the personal empowerment of His disciples. The Ascension was strategic because now the Holy Spirit of God could descend into the hearts of every believer. Now the power of God would be personal and effective in His church.
Monday, April 5, 2010
It's Not Over Yet
After Jesus arose from the dead He still had a few things left on His agenda. Jesus was going to make appearances for the sake of the faithful and He still had a few things to set in order before His Ascension. His encounter with Thomas was classic and His words to Peter were penetrating. As Jesus made His preparation to leave the earth realm we are reminded of the eternal plan of God. Jesus was not leaving just to leave. He was leaving because He was thinking empowerment. Jesus knew that His departure would set in motion the coming of the Holy Spirit. Please review the following sequence.
Jesus...Is God...revealed in Old Testament...born of virgin...lives a sinless life...cucified on the cross...dies on the cross...taken off the cross...buried in the tomb...is raised from the dead...on the earth 40 days...Ascends to heaven...sends the Holy Spirit...is coming again!
Jesus...Is God...revealed in Old Testament...born of virgin...lives a sinless life...cucified on the cross...dies on the cross...taken off the cross...buried in the tomb...is raised from the dead...on the earth 40 days...Ascends to heaven...sends the Holy Spirit...is coming again!
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