The Fruit of the Spirit, Intro, Love

Love

We just got finished talking about the Poisonous Fruits of the Flesh. But just like in Nature, not only is there Poisonous or Bad Fruit, there is also Good Fruit. The Word calls them the Fruit of the Spirit. These are listed as...

Love,
Joy,
Peace,
Longsuffering,
Gentleness,
Goodness,
Faith,
Meekness,
Temperance,

You can find them in Galatians 5 where Paul listed them. He tells us what the Fruit of the Spirit are....

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." {Galatians 5:}

Just like the Bad, or Poisonous Fruit, we will do an in depth study into these, starting today with Love..On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate Jesus raising from the Dead, and overcoming Death and Hell for us all. Why would He do such a thing? Love.

God is Love. Obviously, we could talk every time we get together about Love. In a way, we do. God is Love.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." {John 3:16-18}

It was out of Love that God Created us. Out of Love that God Spared us. It was out of Love that Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. It is out of Love, that Jesus ALLOWED us to abuse Him. To Beat Him. To Kill Him..

Think about this. At anytime, while they stripped Him Naked. Anytime, when they were spitting on Him. Anytime, while they were hitting Him. Anytime, while they were putting Strips on His Back. Anytime, they were beating Him beyond recognition. At anytime, before they drove those Nails through His Flesh to hang Him from the Cross, He could has simply waved His hand. He could have simply asked. Not only would there have been an Army of unstoppable, invincible, destroying every living creature present,,,,

"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" {Matthew 26:53}

Those destroyed here on Earth would stand before God, who not only is able to kill the Body, but also cast the Soul into Hell and ever lasting Torment..

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." {Matthew 10:28}

No. You really need to get this. Don't just scan over it. Get this. What is a "Legion?"  In Mark 5 the Demon possessed man was healed when Jesus commanded them to come out of him.

"And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many."{Mark 5:9}

We later learn that there were 2000 Swine that became possessed and killed themselves. The word "Legion" is also a Military Term that was taken from the Roman Army. A Legion denoted a group of at least 6,000 Roman Soldiers. That is at least. Although the total number could be higher. This means that anytime we read about a Legion of anything, we can know it always refers to at least 2,000 of something. So if you then do the Math, and if one Legion is 2 to 6,000 Angels, if you simply multiply that number by twelve, you'll discover that twelve Legions of Angels would include a minimum of 24 to 72,000 Angels.

Now, think about THAT. Anytime God needs a Killing, a City destroyed, whatever, He sends an Angel. Isaiah 37:36 records that a single Angel obliterated 185,000 men in one night.

"Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses." {Isaiah 37:36}

Since a single Angel was able to obliterate 185,000 men in one night, it would mean the combined strength in a Legion of 6,000 Angels would be enough to destroy 1,110,000,000 Men (Just in case you missed it, that is, One Billion, One Hundred Ten Million Men) and that's just the combined power in one Legion of Angels. Not Twelve. Just ONE. In fact, the combined strength in Twelve Legions of Angels could have wiped out the entire Human Race! But Jesus didn't. Why? Because He knew it was time for Him to voluntarily lay down His Life for the Sin of the Human Race.

"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." {John 10:18}

That is Love folks. That is the Love God has for us.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." {John 15:13}

Remember this also. We did not do anything to earn this Love. We did not do anything that would REQUIRE Jesus to come and do these things...

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." {Romans 5:8}

This is Love. True. Unadulterated. Unconditional. Unshakable. Never Changing. Never altering. Never ending, LOVE. God IS Love. Why do you think the Devil is Hate? He is the Mirror Opposite. He is the counter. He is everything God is NOT.

Therefore, as Hatred is a Poisonous Fruit of the Flesh, Love is the first listed as the Fruit of the Spirit. Love is the Greatest of all the Gifts of the Spirit...

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.{1 Corinthians 13:4-7}

Why is Love so important?

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." {1 John 4:8}

It really is that simple. Jesus gave us Three Commandments

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." {Luke 10:27}

Then He said this..

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." {John 13:34}

How did Jesus Love us? He laid down His Life for us. He came and suffered and allowed us to hang Him on a Tree, for us. He suffered Hell, Death, and the Grave, for us. He rose again, FOR US. He loved us so. We need to Love each other as such.. Always remember..

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." {1 John 4:8}

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..