What Is Desired? (Part 8) Know Who Jesus Is.

What God did for mankind is the ultimate act of love.  In human terms we say that Jesus is God's Son and that He is.  God humbly told it to us in those terms, because it is the way that He knew that man would be able to relate to.  Men have sons, but they do not come into being in the way that Jesus did.  We all came into existence though the linage of Adam and were born in a sin nature through Adams seed.  Jesus was the only man to be conceived by the linage and seed of the (Light)of God Himself.  This is why Jesus was sinless.  Jesus did not come into existence through the seed of Adam and fallen mankind.

The seed(Light) that was planted in Mary behind the veil in the womb, made it a place for the Holy of Hollies.  This is why Jesus had to be conceived and born through a virgin.  Jesus is the only person ever born that had to come through and break that veil that can only be done through a virgin.  When that veil was broken, it broke the veil that  separated God from man.  For now God was with us, Emanuel.  God was with us in the flesh, in the likeness of men.

Matthew wrote this in his 1st Chapter, in verse 23, quoting the prophet Isaiah from the book of Isaiah's 7th Chapter, verse 14;

             "'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name                           Immanuel,' which translated means, God with us.'"

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the Temple in Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom.  That could only have been a supernatural event. That veil separated men from the presence of God, the Shekinah, that was behind the veil.  Only the High Priest could go behind the veil to perform a sacrifice once a year for the forgiveness of sins for the house of Israel.  When Jesus became the final sacrifice, shedding His own blood and died on the cross to forgive sin once and forever for all mankind , He broke the veil that separated God from man.  There was no need of any more sacrifices.  God's Spirit could now come into the presence of man. 

Before Jesus death, we can look at it this way, the door to men's heart's were locked.  No matter what man did, they could not come into the presence of God. When Jesus died on the cross, He removed all those locks.   After Jesus death and Resurrection and Ascension, God was now outside the hearts door of every human being.  Anyone who would open up that door to Him and welcome Him in, He would come into and dwell.  God will never open up the door and force himself into any one's heart.  It is always our own decision.

Jesus said this in His Revelation that he revealed to the Apostle John in Chapter 3,verse 20;

          "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will                        come into him, and will dine with him, and he with Me"

Jesus is knocking at the hearts of all mankind, desiring that no man perish and that all would come to repentance.  Repentance takes on life on the cross through Jesus shed blood, the forgiveness of sin,  participating in Jesus baptism on the cross, by receiving what He did.  This is what leads to Salvation and Life.

New Life in ours souls was made available through Jesus Resurrection and the power that raised Him from the dead.  Immortality comes from Jesus Ascension and will become manifest at our resurrection.  At our resurrection we will be transformed into the likeness of Jesus our risen Lord.  This must take place because flesh and blood can not inherit the Kingdom of God.  The Apostle Paul recorded this in his 1st letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 15, verses, 50-54;

          "Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor can the                    perishable inherit the imperishable.  Behold I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but                        we shall all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the                            trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For                        this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.  But                            when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on                              immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory'."

Paul wrote this in his letter to the Philippians in his 3rd Chapter, verse 20 and 21;

           "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord                           Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body                       of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."

Paul wrote this in his 1st letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 15, verses 42-44;

           "So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an                                   imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is                         raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is                                       a natural, there is also a spiritual body."

I highly recommend reading the 15th Chapter of 1st Corinthians to protect yourself from the doctrines of demons, as pertaining to end time teachings.

I wrote in other Blog post about finding nuggets that shine a deeper light on who Jesus is and especially when it comes to how the baby that was born could be called Everlasting Father. The prophet Isaiah wrote this in his 9th Chapter, in verse 6;

            "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on                            His shoulders; And His name will we called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,                                        Everlasting Father, Price of Peace."

A great big nugget that I found in the book of acts, is one of my greatest treasures.  The Apostle Paul gave it to us in the 20th Chapter of the Book of Acts in verse 20;

            "Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the HOLY SPIRIT has                          made for you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which HE (the Holy Spirit)                                    PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD."

Jesus was not just the Son of God as we would perceive as humans.  Jesus was the body of the Holy Spirit.  This makes everything else make sense to the verses that would make me ask, "what does that mean"? When Jesus was here on earth, the Holy Spirit existed in two forms. He existed as the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit's body.  

The Holy Spirit became a Father when Mary was conceived by Him.  Matthew wrote this in his gospel in the 1st Chapter, in verse 18;

            "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary was betrothed to                              Joseph, before they had came together She was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit."

Matthew continues in verse 20, where an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph and says this;

            "Joseph, son of David, do no be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which is                                      conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."

There was no Father until Mary was conceived.  The vast number of people today have been taught that there is a trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  If that were true, then why are we counting the Father and the Holy Spirit twice, if the Holy Spirit is the Father.  When people try to explain to me the trinity, all of them say that, "Although it is not written in scripture (anywhere), it is perceived that there are three".  Perception is not truth.  This can only be perceived with a human mind and not a spiritual mind.  The human mind is what gives us Religion.  The Truth does not like or need Religion. 

The Holy Spirit (Light) became a Father.  Jesus is the Holy Spirit's (Light's) body.....Son.  Jesus is the Father's (Light's) body.  This is why Jesus was able to say in the Gospel of John , Chapter 14, verse 9;

                                          "He who has seen Me has seen the Father"

Either Jesus was lying or He told the Truth.  Since He can not lie, you tell me the answer.

Are there just two?  If what I just explained above does not help, let's take a look at this.       

Matthew 28:18-20;

            Jesus told the Disciples, " All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go                           therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and                         the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I AM                     with you always, even to the end of this age."

Was there something wrong with the Apostles.  Were they not able to teach others what Jesus asked had them to.  Maybe they and everyone they taught were just being rebellious and disobedient.  Nowhere in the book of the Acts of the Apostles was it recorded that anyone baptized anyone in the name of the Father and the Son (and) the Holy Spirit.  Was the (and) a translation err or maybe intentional.  It would have had to had been.  They always baptized in the Name Of Jesus.  Were they all wrong.  Of course not.  They did exactly as they were instructed by Jesus, as they understood what Jesus was telling them.  "In the name of the Father and the Son......The Holy Spirit.  Both the Father and the Son are the..... Holy Spirit and share One name Yeshua (Jesus), meaning the Lord Our Salvation.

Isaiah 45:21-23;

           The Holy Spirit tells Isaiah. "Is it not I the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, a                           righteous God and a Savior.  there is none except Me.  Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends                       of the earth.   For I Am God and there is No other.  I have sworn by Myself.  The word has                         gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back.  THAT TO ME EVERY                           KNEE SHALL BOW AND AVERY TONGUE WELL SWEAR ALLEGIANCE.

We will read further in this post and it was my main thought in writing on this, from Paul's letter to the Philippians showing that this was referring to Jesus.  Either, the Holy Spirit is lying here, which is impossible, or He will also be Jesus.

John 17:11;

            " And I am no more in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to                            You.  Holy Father, keep them in YOUR NAME, the NAME which You have GIVEN ME, that                      they may be One as WE ARE."

Jesus just said that the Holy Father's name is the name that He gave Him, JESUS.  And then, "They may be ONE AS WE ARE".   If they are One, then they only need ONE name.

John 16:7;

             "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the                             Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you."

If Jesus is not part of  the Holy Spirit, then why would He have to go away to be able to send the Holy Spirit to them?  Might He have had to shed His Resurrected body in His Ascension?  Of course.

John 14:16;

              "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He will be with you                            forever, that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not                                  behold Him or know Him, but YOU KNOW HIM because HE ABIDES WITH YOU, and                            will be in you."

We know From John Chapter 14,verse 6, that Jesus said He is the Truth.  Jesus told the Disciples that they know this Helper, because He is with them.  Jesus was talking about Himself.  He was with them and will be in them.  We know from 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 13, verse 5, that Jesus is in us;

               "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not                                         recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you---unless you fail the test?"

John 14:18;

             Jesus told  them. "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."

Jesus told them that He would come to them so that they would not be orphans.  Jesus is telling them that He was a parent, Father, who would come back to them.

John 14:20;

             Jesus told them.  "In that day you shall know that I am in the Father, and you in Me, and                               I in YOU."

John 17:21;

             "that they may all be One, even as you, Father, are in Me, and I in you, that they also may be                       in Us; that the world may believe that you did send Me.

John 10:30;

             Jesus said, "I and the Father are One."

John 14:23;

             If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word, and My Father will love him, and WE will                               come to him, and make Our abode with him."

Jesus the Truth, now ascended, and the Father, who are the WE, will come and live in the children of God.   The Our, in Our abode, is capitalize, inferring that the two are God, the Holy Spirit in us.

Before the Holy Spirit made a body for Himself, He could not be a Comforter to mankind, because He had not experienced the life of a human.  When He came in the form of a man, He experienced humanity.  When Jesus (the Holy Body) ascended, He took all the experiences and understanding of all the hurts, the sorrows, the pain, the weaknesses, and the struggles of humans back to the Holy Spirit (Father).  Now THEY could come back and indwell those who would believe, and be their Comforter.

John 14:26;

             "But the Helper, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father WILL SEND in My name.  He will                             teach you all things, and bring to remembrance all that I said to you."

John 16:26; 

              "When the Helper comes, whom I WILL SEND to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of                            truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me."

If you notice, then last two verses said that both the Father will send the Helper and then Jesus will send the Helper.  For those two statements not to contradict each other, the two must be One and the same.

Matthew 18:20;

              "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I AM in their midst."

We just read in John 16:26, that the HOLY SPIRIT will be sent in Jesus name.  Therefore the Father...... Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit's body glorified, share the same name, Jesus, (Yeshua).  It is very important that whenever saints are coming together, either in a small group or a large group, that you always invite the presences of the Holy Spirit by invoking THEIR name, Jesus. Example; "Lord Jesus we are gathering in your Holy Name. We welcome you into our presence."  Pretty simple.

Jesus will be there, because He said He would be there.  He wants to show up so that He can, LEAD YOU INTO ALL TRUTH, TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and BRING TO REMEMBRANCE ALL THAT HE SAID.  He might want to bring forth a prophetic utterance and healing.  He wants to bring forth truth that will lead people to salvation.  He wants to change lives and lift burdens and what ever else He chooses to do.

Most importantly is the fact that when Jesus shows up among His people who call on His name to come,  His presence is with them.  All the people in that assembly,  WILL experience the presence of the Living God.  Those yet to believe in the assembly may be able to deny what was spoken to them, but they will never be able to deny that they had experienced the presence of the Living God.  This experience is what will lead most people to the Truth that leads to Salvation.  Without a church doing this, it is impossible for that church to have any life, because JESUS is the LIFE. 

When I say Jesus, He, and His, I hope by now you are seeing the Holy Spirit as the Father in the Son and the Son in the Father, making them ONE who are under the name Jesus.

We need His presence when we gather, but we, each as believers, have His presence in our souls.  In our individual lives, Jesus is our Helper, our Comforter, our Councilor, our Prince of Peace, our Everlasting Father, our Teacher, our Way, Truth and Life.  He is always with us and never leaves us.  Jesus will lead us into all truth.

The Holy Spirit came here in the presence of His own Body, to shed His own blood to create a New Creation.  When we look at it in human terms we look at it as if God had a Son and sacrificed Him on the cross.  In God's humility, He didn't come right out and say that.  That's why He said seek and you will find.  When you read scripture and come to something that makes you think,"What does that mean?", if you desire, Jesus will lead you to find the truth.  I found the truth that He never came right out and said, "I came and sacrificed Myself", but He did. 

All of what I have written so far is to give life to the passage that has meant a lot to me as a believer,  which was my main thought in writing this.

The Apostle Paul wrote this in his 2nd Chapter in his writings to the Corinthians in verses 1-11;

           "If there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation in love, if there is any                           fellowship in the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of                       the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.  Do nothing                     from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard each                       other as more important than himself.  Do not only look out for your own interest, but also for                     the interest of others.

           Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in                       the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself,                     taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  And being found in                     appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even                       death on a cross.  Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name                           which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow of those who are                       in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that ever tongue should confess that Jesus                           Christ IS Lord, to the glory of God the Father"

Remember, the Holy Spirit told Isaiah "that to Me every Knee will bow and every tongue swear allegiance".

A person can either bow now before they die, or they will bow later, which is too late.  Why should a person bow to Jesus?  What did Jesus do to be worthy of that?  

Jesus did:

He healed the sick.

He gave sight to the blind.

He gave hearing to the deaf. 

He raised the dead.

He cast out demons and evil spirits, freeing people from them.

He showed compassion to the down trodden.

He taught the truth and wisdom of heaven.

He did so many more things in his short 3 years, that John wrote this in his gospel in Chapter 21, verse 25;

            "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail,                        I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written."

In return Jesus received this:

He was shackled.

He was spit on. Multiple times.

He had his bearded plucked out.

He was punched in the face. Multiple times.

He was flogged.  Multiple times.

He was forced to carry His cross up to Golgotha, The Place of Skulls, up the path called The Way of Suffering, 650 yards.

He was awarded a crown of thorns that was push into His head.

He was nailed to the cross like a piece of wood.

He was pierced with a sword.

He was given a sponge of vinegar for His last drink.

He became the human sponge for all mankind's sin, pain, suffering, sorrow and agony.

He died.

In doing so:

He shed His blood to forgive sin, so that mankind could have the opportunity to have Eternal Life.

Jesus leaves us with two commands as recorded in Marks gospel in the 12th Chapter, verses 29-31;

             "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is One Lord, and you shall love the                              Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all                          your strength.  The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no                              other command greater than theses."

How do we Love Jesus with all our hearts?  

Open the door and let Him in.

How do we love Jesus with all our soul? 

Do everything within our power to cause the New Life in us to grow.  Feed it with God's Word.  Let the Love and Life within you to come forth.

How do we love Jesus with all our Mind?  

The mind is where the battle between yielding to the will of flesh or the will of the Spirit in you takes place.  Yield to the Spirit.

How do we love Jesus with all our strength? 

Love you neighbor as yourself.  In doing that you are loving Jesus also.  Jesus told us how to love and serve Him, in Matthew 25:34-36;

           "The King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit                         the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed                   Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;I was a stranger and you welcomed                     Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came                   to Me.'"

How we love and treat our neighbor reflex how we are loving and treating Jesus.

Jesus continued in verse 40 with this;

            "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it                          to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, YOU DID IT TO ME'."

How else do we love Jesus?  

Proclaim His Gospel (Truth).  

Romans 1:16 

             "The Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation."  

In doing so you are working according to Jesus desire.  

2nd Peter, Chapter 3, verse 9; 

            "The Lord is not slow about His promise, but is patient towards you, NOT WISHING                                  THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH BUT FOR ALL TO COME TO REPENTANCE."

What is the Gospel?  Let's work with Jesus in helping to lead people into all Truth.

The Gospel:

Jesus coming in the flesh.

The beauty and LIGHT of His birth.

The LOVE of the cross.

His precious blood that He shed.

The forgiveness of sin.

The Salvation He brought.

The power of His resurrection.  By which we are born again.

His Ascension into heaven. 

The Eternal Life He gives.

The New Creation He is making.

The kingdom that He is preparing.

His coming again to transform our mortal bodies into immortal bodies, through our resurrection, so that we can enter His kingdom. 

Paul writes this in his 1st letter to the Thessalonians in his 4th Chapter, verses 15-18;

            "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until                               the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord                                   Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with                           the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.  Then we who are alive and                                 remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to MEET THE LORD IN THE                           AIR, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort on another with these                           words."

I will close with this scripture that was written by the Apostle John in his gospel in Chapter 14:1-9;

            "Let not your heart be trouble, believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house                            are many dwelling places, if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a                              place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to                        MYSELF; that where I AM, there you may be also. And you know where I am going.                                    Thomas said to Him, 'Lord we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way?'                      Jesus said to him, 'I AM the way , and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but                        through Me.  If you had know Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you                        know Him, and have seen Him.  Philip said to Him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is                                enough for us.'  Jesus said to him, 'Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come                        to know Me, Philip?'  HE WHO HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER, how do you say,                     "Show me the Father?"'

He stepped out of Eternity so we could step into it, Jesus the Lord

May you come to the true knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus. 

The Father........Holy Spirit and Glorified Spiritual Body.

The ultimate act of Love......The Holy Spirit shed His own blood so that we could live with Him forever.

Our ultimate act of love......To receive what He did and tell others.  Pass it on.

May you know that Jesus is with you always. 

May you always be filled with His peace.

What Is Desired? (Part 7) Love

We have to start off with the simple fact that God is Love.  The Apostle John wrote this in his first letter in Chapter 4, verses 7 and 8;

                "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born                            of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

We have already learned that love is one of the fruits of the Spirit.  That makes sense, since the fruits of the Spirit are the characteristics of God that we allow to flow through us as we yield to the Spirit of the Living God within us.  With God being Love, as we yield to His Spirit within us, His love flows through us.

Let's look at characteristics of Love.  This is best described in a very popular passage that I am sure many of you have heard at weddings in reference to the love a Husband and Wife should show towards one another.  That is all good, but it is more than that.  The passage describes how we, as believers (Saints), should love one another and all people. We can also look at the characteristics of Love as how God loves us.  After teaching on the gifts of the Spirit, Paul wrote this in his 1st letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 12, verses 1-13;

               (1)"If I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but do not have love, I have become a                             noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.(2)And if I have the gift of prophesy, and know all                                     mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do                                 not have love, I am nothing.(3)And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and                                   deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing."

After going over the gifts of the Spirit, Paul is very mindful to emphasize what is more important than possessing gifts.  Gifts of the Spirit are gifts that Jesus administers for His Divine will and purpose.  People using these gifts do not show whether or not the person using these gifts are genuine believers.  We have already learned that there are those who show these gifts using Jesus name where the gifts are effective only because Jesus is protecting the integrity and power of His name.  Jesus didn't know them for they did not bear any fruit.  All the fruits of the Spirit are within the Light of Love.  Saints are able to let this love flow through them as they yield to the Spirit of Jesus within them.  People who are yet to become Saints are not able to shine forth this type of love.  Paul continues in describing what love is;

               (4)"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous, love does not brag, and is not arrogant,                         (5)does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek it's own, is not provoked, does not take into                         account a wrong suffered,(6)does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;                         (7)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Seems like a goal that is unattainable.  How can we have this attitude of love and be able to express this type of love?  This body we live in is contrary to all of these traits.  Our bodies are sin, the opposite of love.  Our bodies are selfish, while love seems to be selfless.  Are we, within our own power, even able to express love?  The answer of course is no.  So how are we able to show love?  And of course the answer is ---to yield to the Spirit of love within us.  

The new creation within a believer has come into existence because now their souls, that were once dark, are made alive through the implanting of the light of the Living God.  Our souls are like an egg that when fertilized now have life.  Without fertilization there is no life. When we receive the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, shedding His blood to forgive our sin, He comes and lives in our souls and we become, "Born of above", a New Creation.  Our bodies are not a New Creation, so what is?  It is the Life now in our souls, a New Being.

A believer must realize that Jesus is indwelling them with the presence of His Spirit, Light.  Paul wrote this in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians in his 13th Chapter, verse 5;

               "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves!  Or do you not recognize                       this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?"

Paul very seldom used an explanation point, but he did in this verse, because it was that important to him that the saints realize this.  God is Light.  Through the Light of God, Jesus was conceived.  Mary, whose egg was fertilized by the Light, is how Jesus came into the world as the Lights body.  This is how one of the things that this child would be called is Eternal Father, as written by the prophet Isaiah in his 9th Chapter, verse 6.  This is also why Jesus said, " he who has seen Me has seen the Father", as recorded by the apostle John in the 14th Chapter of his gospel, in verse 9.

If God is in you, then this same Light dwells in your soul developing you into the life that you were always intended to be.  John wrote this in his 1st letter, chapter 1, verse 5;

              "And this is the message we have heard from Him (Jesus) and announce to you, that God is                          light and in Him there is no darkness."

John also wrote in the 1st Chapter of his gospel in verses 1-13;

             (1)"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the word was God.                                (2)He was in the begging with God.(3)All things came into being by Him, and apart from                            Him nothing has came into being that has come into being.(4)In Him was life, and the life                            was the light of men.(5)And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not                                    comprehend it.(6)There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John (the baptist).                            (7) He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe                                through him.(8) He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.                                  (9) There was the true light which coming into the world, enlightens all men.(10) He was                            in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.                                  (11)He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.(12)But as                              many as receive Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to                                them who believe in His name,(13)who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,                        nor of the will of man, but of God."

And God is Light.  When we are born again of the Light, we have a duel citizenship.  The New Creation within a believer is existing in the spiritual realm, in the heavens, while our bodies are still in the physical realm, the earth.  The New Creation is with us on the earth, within our bodies.  In this fleshly body, we can only shine forth love as we yield to that new life of light and love within us.  Our life here is always in the process of growing and maturing in a way that should result in turning ourselves inside out, until we go home.

Lets look at the new life within us as to why it is able to love and why we can draw from that love source if we realize that it is available.

Love is patient....The creation within us is not effected by people around us.

Love is kind.....The creation within us has no reason to not care for people.

Love is not jealous.....The creation within us is not insecure.

Love does not brag..... The creation within us knows who he is.

Love is not arrogant.....The creation within us doesn't need to be better than the other guy.

Love does not act unbecomingly.....The creation within us is a child of the Righteous One.

Love does not seek it's own.....The creation within us is a joint heir of all the wealth of heaven.

Love is not provoked.....The creation within us cannot be irritated.

Love does not take account of a wrong suffered.....The creation within us cannot be offended by anything done in the physical realm.

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness.....The creation within us desires righteousness and salvation for the souls of men.

Love rejoices in the truth.....The creation within us knows that the Truth leads to Salvation.

Love bears all things.....The creation within us is pressured by nothing.

Love believes all things.....The creation within has no doubt.

Love hopes all things.....The creation within us has tasted the power of the glory to come.

Love endures all things....The creation within us has overcome the world.

Of all the gifts, the gift of love that is given to us by the Living God when He comes to dwell in us, is what creates in us this New Life where love becomes our power.  Love is our power over our bodies.  Love is our power to shine the kindness of God to others that leads to repentance resulting in the salvation of their souls.

There is a characteristic of love that you might not associate as love, but it may be.  There is a righteous anger and righteous indignation that should not be confused with the anger of the flesh.  You may hear or see things that make you disturbed in your spirit, because they are probably the same things that disturb Jesus who dwells in you.

We find this in Proverbs, Chapter 6, verses 16-19;

          (16)"There are six things that the Lord hates.  Yes, seven that are an abomination to Him.                            (17)Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood.(18)A heart that                                  devises wicked plans.  Feet than run rapidly to evil.(19)A false witness who utters lies,                              And one who spreads strife among brothers.

You will be disturbed in your spirit by these things also, but only for the purpose of arousing you to prayer.  On these things we take our little mustard seeds and command those mountains to be exposed and cast into the sea.

Jesus showed righteous anger and indignation when he turned over the money changers tables in the temple, because they were turning the Temple of God into a "den of thieves".  You might feel the same about some of the churches we see today.  Pray.  

Jesus also didn't seem very loving when He called the Scribes and Pharisees;

Matthew 23;27 "white washed tombs full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness",  

Matthew 23:33 "brood of vipers",  

 Matthew 23:26 "ye blind guides", 

Matthew 23:17 "you fools", 

Matthew 23:33 "you serpents", 

Luke 11:44 Woe to you hypocrites

This may not sound loving, but Jesus said this to them in this way to get their attention.  He would later die for them also and wanted salvation for them, but Jesus was more concerned for those who they were deceiving.  Jesus explained this when He said this statement as recorded by the apostle Matthew in his gospel in Chapter 23, verse 13;

           "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom                                   of heaven from men, for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are                               entering to go in."

Jesus had an issue with them because they were deceiving the people.  They were rejecting and hiding the truth from people.  They were putting burdensome requirements on the people that no one can conform to while existing in this flesh. We have the same issue today in religions and churches where the truth is not being taught and the requirements they put on people to earn salvation are not of Jesus.  Jesus has no part with religions.  The Truth is simple and needs no religion.  There is no religion in the spiritual realm of heaven.  You must read the word of God so that you can discern between the truth and the doctrines of demons that are intended to close up the way to salvation and the kingdom of God to souls that need to know. Pray.

Paul finishes this off in Chapter 13, verses 8-13;

            "(8)Love never fails, but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are                          tongues, they will cease; If there is knowledge, it will be done away.(9)For we know in part,                      and we prophesy in part;(10)but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.                              (11)When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child, when I                      became a man, I did away with childish things.(12)For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then                    face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall be known fully just as I have been fully                              known.(13)But now abide faith,hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is Love."

The Apostle John gives us this insight in his 1st letter, in Chapter 3, verses 7-16;

              "(7)Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves is                                born of God and knows God.(8)The one who does not love does not know God , for God                            is love.(9)By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only                                      begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.(10)In this is love, not that                            we loved God, but He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.                                      (That means, Jesus paid the price, dying in our place so that we could have eternal life.)                              (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.(12)No one has beheld                        God at any time, if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.                          (13)By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit.                      (14)And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior                          of the world."

As you allow your love to shine forth always remember the goal, it is all about the salvation of souls.  This is why Jesus, meaning the Lord our Salvation, came.  Jesus, the Light, came to be our Savior, bring into being a visible Glorified Body for Himself, and to bring into existence a New Creation made in the likeness of His Glorified Body to dwell with Him for all eternity.

Philippians 4:20 and 21;

               "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we earnestly wait for a Savior, the                                 Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with                             His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to                               Himself."

May the love of Jesus fill your hearts and overflow for His glory.

What Is Desired? (Part 6) The Gifts Of The Spirit.

The gifts of the Spirit are just that, gifts.  Gifts are something that someone gives to someone else.  Jesus gives many different gifts to His Saints to use for many different reasons and many different purposes.  When a person becomes a Saint, through believing and accepting the ultimate gift of Jesus sacrifice on the cross resulting in the free gift of eternal life, they become part of Jesus body.  Jesus is the head of the body and the believers make up the rest of the body.  Jesus is the Spirit that fills each believer and each believer makes up a specific and unique part of His body.  

Just as the human body has many parts and each part having a specific purpose in helping the body function properly, so does Jesus' body.  Jesus supplies gifts to different parts of His body so that they can function in a manner that will have the greatest influence in revealing who He is, what He did, what His desire is, what He wants, which is Salvation for everyone.  The Apostle Peter taught us this in his 2nd letter in Chapter 3, verse 9;

            "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards                            you not wishing for any to perish but FOR ALL TO COME TO REPENTANCE."

The main purpose for Jesus' church (body) is to work in unity with Jesus' Spirit to lead people to Salvation. Salvation is who Jesus is.  The apostle Paul explains the use of gifts best when he wrote this in his 1st letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 12, verses 1-31;

                (1) "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.  (2)You                                  know that when you were pagans (unbelievers), you were led astray to dumb idols,                                      however you were led. (3) Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking  by                                    the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus is accursed', and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord', except                                  by the Holy Spirit."

This is an important thing that Paul has revealed here.  He showed us how to discern whether or not a person has received the love of the truth as to be saved and is now indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  A person who is not indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, will not acknowledge that Jesus is Lord.  Many people will say that Jesus is Lord, but you have to take it to the place that they understand, 'Lord', when they are saying that.  Many will say that Jesus is Lord, when they look at Lord as referring to something less than God Himself.  A true believer will acknowledge that Jesus is the Almighty God, not anything less.  There is only one Lord.  The Almighty God gave Moses 10 commandments, with the 1st being this, 'I Am the LORD your God, you shall have no other gods before Me.  Paul is saying that only a true Saint indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, will acknowledge that Jesus is The Lord our God.

                  (4)"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.(5) And there are a varieties of                              ministries, and the same Lord.(6) And there are varieties of affects, but the same God who                          works all things in all persons."

Notice here that Paul refers to the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God.  Remember, 'The Lord our God is ONE'.

                   (7)But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.(8)                                       For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of                                 knowledge according to the same Spirit,(9) to another faith by the same Spirit, and to                                   another the gifts of healing by the one Spirit,(10) and to another the effecting of miracles,                             and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various                                 kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.(11) But one of the same                                   Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually Just as He wills.

Whereas fruits of the Spirit that saints bear, give evidence to their faith,  the gifts of the Spirit are the things that Jesus gives out to His Saints for the edification and well being of His body, the church, and the Salvation of souls.  The fruits of the Spirit are the different characteristics of Jesus that we allow to flow through us.  The gifts of the Spirit are things that Jesus manifest to His Saints either as a lifetime gift or a gift that is given in a special moment, all for an eternal purpose according to His will.  Each part of Jesus body has an individual function and that function is a gift in itself.

                    (12)For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of                                      the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.(13)For by the Spirit                                    we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free,                                  and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.(14)For the body is not one member, but                                  many.(15)If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body',                                  is it not for this reason any the less a part of the body.(16)And if the ear should say,                                      ' Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,' is it not for this reason any the                                    less a part of the body."

Paul is speaking through these verses to Saints who might question their faith because they don't have what they see another believer having.  Many churches have helped to foster this insecurity through some of their doctrines.  For example, some churches tell the Saints that if they don't speak in tongues they are not filled with the Holy Spirit.  Speaking in tongues is just one of the many gifts.  Saints are not required to have a gift or even control the distribution of gifts.  The gifts are given by Jesus. So beware of doctrines of demons that are meant to foster doubt in the mind of a believer.  This may cause them to question themselves in their minds that maybe they are not a Saint. This is intended to cause them to fall away from the faith. 

 Paul is telling them not to look at what would seem to be a more notable gift that someone else may have, but know that you have a unique gift in yourself, according to Jesus will, for a special purpose.  Maybe even greater than what is seen.  Remember, being a Saint is a gift in itself. In verse 7, we read that 'each of us have been given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good'.  That means that we have all received the gift of eternal life when we received Jesus' Spirit in our souls.  Receiving Jesus' Spirit in our souls occurs when, through faith and our acceptance of Jesus sacrifice, we are placed on the cross with Jesus, we died with Jesus on the cross, buried in the grave with Jesus, and then we were raised with Him in the power of the Resurrection to a new eternal life.  This is how Jesus became Our Salvation and saved souls for the purpose of making a New Creation.  We now use our new life for the common good of all the body and to grow the body as new members enter.

                    (17)If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?  If the whole body were                                    the hearing, where would the sense of smell be? (18)But now God has placed the                                        members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. (19)And if they were all                                    one member, where would the body be? (20)But now there are many members, but                                      one body. (21)And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you', or again the                                  head to the feet, 'I have no need of you'. (22)On the contrary, it is much truer that the                                    members of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary, (23)And those members                                    of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor,                                and our unseemly members have come to have more abundant seemliness,(24)whereas                                our seemly members have no need of it.  But God has so composed the body, giving                                    more abundant honor to that member which lacked,(25)that there should be no division                                in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.(26)And if                                one member suffers, all the members suffer with it: if one member is honored, all the                                  members rejoice with it."

I am sure each of you, who are Saints, can relate to situation where another Saint was going through a hard time, trial, tragedy, or struggle where you could actually feel what they were going through and actually were baring some and absorbing some of their suffering.  Maybe you didn't know about it until after the fact, but in your spirit you were uneasy and baring their hurt. Where on the reverse a situation where a Saint is being acknowledged for there good works, and in your spirit you are rejoicing with gladness.  Or when someone you know comes to the Truth and becomes part of the body.

                    (27)Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. (28) And God has                                      appointed in the church (body), first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then                                      miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, various types of tongues.                                            (29)All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers,                                are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? (30) All do not have gifts of                                          healing, do they? ALL DO NOT SPEAK IN TONGUES,do they? All do not interpret,                                  do they?(31) But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I will show you a more                                            excellent way."

Paul goes on in Chapter 13 to speak about the gift of Love, but for the sake of not repeating myself, I am reserving that for (Part 7), which will be on Love.  Love is one of the fruits of the Spirit, but it is also a gift of the Spirit. Paul goes on, in Chapter 14, teaching about the use of some of the gifts in the church, when assembling together.

                     (1)"Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may                                            prophesy.

Paul tell us to Pursue love.  God is Love.  Paul wants us to, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus", that is a quote from Peter, in his second book, Chapter 3, verse 18.   As we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus (Love), Jesus will use us to edify and grow the church with the gifts He will trust us with.  Prophesy is very important because is tells us of Jesus will and future events.  No true prophesy will ever contradict the words of Jesus, in the gospels and Jesus Revelation to John, or the words of the Old Testament prophets. There has always been a warning to those who prophesy something that does not come to pass. 

 Anyone who quotes the words written by the Prophets of the Old Testament or the words that Jesus gave us concerning things that will come to pass, are prophesying.  They will never be contradicted.  The gift of prophesy will always bare witness to what has already been spoken or it will be a move of the Spirit of God, where Jesus will reveal a word of encouragement, edification, comfort or  it might be a warning to the church for correction, which will help edify.

                      (2) "But the one who speaks in tongues does not speak to men, but to God; but no                                        one understands, but in the spirit he speaks mysteries. (3)But one who prophesies                                        speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. (4)One who speaks in                                  a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church."

The gift of tongues is an angelic language that a Saint uses in their prayer life to edify themselves.  It is a language spoken between them and Jesus for self edification and growing in their relationship with Jesus.  All of this is for Jesus purpose and Jesus will.  Again, not everyone is given this gift.  

Sometimes in churches that invite Jesus into their presence invoking the name of Jesus, (Matthew 18:20, Jesus said, 'When two or more are gathered in my name, I Am there in the mist of them'), there is a move of Jesus' Spirit that will move upon one of the saints to give an utterance in tongues that will be interpreted by another Saint who is given, by Jesus, the gift to interpret the utterance.  This is done this way to verify the legitimacy of the prophesy that Jesus wants us to hear.

                      (5)Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues(which Paul is implying that not                                                  everyone does), but even more that you might prophesy, and more important                                                is the one that prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets,                                      so that the church  may receive edifying."

Paul goes on in Chapter 14 to teach the importance of using these gifts properly and not out of order and it makes total sense.  Maybe just common sense or spiritual sense.  Paul teaches that tongues should not be spoken in the assembling of the Saints unless there is an interpretation.  This means unless there is a move on a Saint to speak forth a gift of tongue and that it is followed by a saint who is moved with the gift of interpretation to prophesy what was spoken.  Done in this way,  tongues becomes a sign to unbelievers when followed with an interpretation, which becomes a sign to believers.  Paul continues with this in verse 22:

                      (22)Now tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but                                          prophesy is a sign, not for unbelievers, but to those who believe.(23)If therefore the                                    whole church should assemble together and all speak in tongues, and men with no                                        gifts or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? (24)But if all prophesy,                                  and an unbeliever or men with no gifts enters, he is called to account by all;(25)the                                      secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God,                                      declaring that God is certainly among you."

Prophesy is Jesus speaking through the interpreters to all those that He has something He wants them to hear or bear witness to them that He Is, or a message to edify.

                      (26)"What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a                                              psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.  Let all                                        things be done for edification.(27)If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two                                      or the most three, and each in turn, and let one interpret;(28)but if there is no                                                interpreter, let him keep silent in the church; and let Him speak to himself and God." 

Paul concludes this subject in verses 39 and 40;

                       "Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak                                          in tongues.  But let all things be done properly and in orderly manner."

Today we don't see much of tongues utterances followed by a prophetic interpretation for various reasons.  Some Christian churches teach that the gifts of the Spirit are not available for the church today.  They teach that it ended after the time of the Apostles.  The body of Jesus (church) did not stop functioning after the Apostles passed and in fact they were just getting started and needed the gifts even more.  Prophetic utterances are one of the ways that we hear from Jesus today.  We will need these utterances even more as Jesus return approaches.  That is why we are taught to,"not forsake the assembling together, even as we see the day approaching".  Paul just taught us, in verse 39, "do not forbid to speak in tongues.  He followed though with,"let all things be done properly and in orderly manner.

Other churches permit and even encourage the saints to speak tongues in assembly in praise and worship which Paul taught us not to do in  verse 28, with his reasoning he gave in verse 23, "that an unbeliever would think you are mad".  So for the purpose of being sensitive toward the unbeliever and for their sake, nothing should distract us from the number one purpose why we assemble, the Salvation of souls.  With many speaking tongues at the same time, it is not how Jesus intended it and it allows no opportunity for Jesus to speak to us through an interpreter.

We also learned that Jesus told us, "where two or more gather in My name, there I will be in the mist of them".  Unfortunately, many churches today and for many years now, have let Satan and demonic spirits come into the churches to prevent Jesus name from being used.  Fortunately, Jesus name is returning with the help of a new awakening among newer believers.  For a long time some Pastors and worship teams, knowingly or unknowingly, stopped using and magnifying Jesus name.  You would here more, Lord, God, He, Him, and Christ.  The problem with that is that there is no power in any of those references.  If a worship team does not invoke the presence of Jesus using His name, then there is no purpose for a worship team.  If the Pastor does not invite Jesus into the assembly acknowledging that we are gathering in the name of Jesus, the Life and Power to the assembly waits in the wings.  If I was Satan, and wanted to take the Life out of the body, I would have done that too.  You cannot have the gifts of the Spirit if you don't have the Spirit there.  You cannot have utterance in tongues and a prophetic interpretation unless the Spirit that gives the interpretation is invited to be there using His name, Jesus.

All the power for the Saints is in Jesus name.

Acts 4:12; "There is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved".

Mark 9:38 and 39; "John said to Him, 'Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not of us'.  But Jesus said, 'Forbid him not; for there is no man who works a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of me'.

Mark 16:17 and 18; "These signs shall accompany those who have believed; in My name they will cast out out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover".

Philippians 2:10 and 11;"so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those who are in heaven and on the earth and under the earth".

Notice what we just read in Mark 9:38 and 39 that there was a man, that the disciples did not know, who was able to cast out demons using Jesus name.  That is something believers will do in Jesus name.  It didn't matter whether you were a believer or not, using Jesus name is the power that gets the result.  There will be people that will come to Jesus and say that they did many wonders in His name, and He will say to them that He never knew them.  These were people who did things that looked like they were using the gifts of the Spirit, but Jesus didn't know them, so they could not have done the works with gifts of the Spirit, so why could they perform these things.  It was the name of Jesus that got the results.  Jesus allows the results because He does't want Satan to use His name in vain with no results that would dishonor Jesus name.  

Jesus said this in Matthews gospel, Chapter 7, verses 22-23;

                   (22)"Many will  say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your                                         name and in Your name cast out demons and in your name perform many miracles?';                                     (23)And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who                                          practice lawlessness.'

We covered this in (Part 5).  These people never accepted the truth of the gospel.  Jesus said  they never bore fruit.  He said you will know them by their fruit.  My point here is that Jesus name holds all the power and Salvation is the desired outcome above all.  We use the gifts of the Spirit for Jesus' glory and the edification and the common good for the whole body of Jesus, the church. The gifts are more than just signs of wonders.  The gifts are greater and more effective in the smaller silent uses, but all the gifts have there special place and purpose for the perfect goal of giving all the glory to Jesus.  Jesus, meaning, the Lord our Salvation, uses the gifts through us to bring souls into the kingdom of God as His body moves as it was designed to.

Paul sums it up all of this in his letter to the Romans in Chapter 12, verses 3-20;

                    (3)"For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think                                            more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound                                                judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.(4)For just as we are                                            many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,(5)So                                    we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.                                    (6) And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each                                        exercise them accordingly: if prophesy, according to the proportion of his faith; (7)if                                  service,   in his serving; or he who teaches,  in his teaching;(8)or he who exhorts, in                                    his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who                                    shows mercy, with cheerfulness.(9)Let love be without hypocrisy.  Abhor what is                                        evil; cling to what is good.(10)Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give                                          preference to one another with honor;(11)not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in                                    spirit, serving the Lord;(12)rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to                                    prayer,(13)contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.(14)Bless                                        those who persecute you; bless and curse not.(15)Rejoice with those who rejoice,                                      and weep with those who weep.(16)Be of the same mind toward one another; do not                                    be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in you own                                                estimation.(17) Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  Respect what is right in the                                    sight of all men.(18)If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.                                  (19) Never take you own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for                                  it is written, ' Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord.(20)'But if your enemy                                    is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for in so doing                                      you will heap burning coals upon his head.'(21)Do not be overcome by evil, but                                          overcome evil with good." 

As the body of Jesus, the church, moves and functions as Jesus intended, with the Saints using their gifts, not only will all the members of the body be blessed, but the kindness and message will become a living visible message coming forth from the body that will result in the Salvation of many souls.  The kindness of the church that will come forth, will result in the heaping of burning coals on the heads of those who oppose us.   That just means that they will be convicted.  Remember, it is the kindness of God that leads people to repentance.  That kindness of God was intended to come forth and be made visible in Jesus body, the church.

What Is Desired? (Part 5) What Are The Fruits Of The Spirit?

The fruits of the Spirit are s reflection of a persons relationship with Jesus.  They are the things by which we can determine whether a person is known by Jesus or not known by Jesus.   Jesus explains this as recorded by Matthew in his gospel in Chapter 7, verses 15-23;

                     "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they

                     are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes

                     from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit,

                     but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree

                     bear good fruit.  Therefore you will know them by their fruit.  Not everyone who

                     says to me, 'Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will

                     of my father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not

                     prophesied  in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders

                     in Your name?  And I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who

                     practice lawlessness!'

No need to panic here.  This should not stress out anyone as to figuring out whether or not you are one of these.  When Jesus said that the only people who shall enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do the will of my Father in heaven, we can look at what Jesus said, as recorded in John's gospel, Chapter 6, verse 40; 

                    "And this is the will of Him who sent me, that every one who sees the Son, and 

                    believes in  Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day"

I wrote about this in (Part 3) of this series, on those who Jesus never knew.  It was simply because they never really believed and that was evident because they did not bear fruit.  They were more than likely doing it for themselves rather than for Jesus.  It is more about Salvation and souls and eternity rather than the temporary things that we can see.  

When the Light sent into the world a human born of His Light, the Light now had a form.  The Light sacrificed His own body, that WHOEVER would receive the work of that sacrifice, would in return receive Everlasting Life.  Done.  The work was complete.  A person receiving and accepting the sacrifice of that work, has completed all their work requirement.  Done.  All we are required to do is live out that Salvation.  We now have the Light of Eternal Life dwelling in us and He refers to Himself as Jesus (Yeshua). The Lord Our Salvation.

So why must we bear fruit?  We don't bear fruit, the fruits are the characteristics of the Light, Spirit, Jesus, Who is now indwelling us.  When we yield to the Spirit within us and let it come through us, the fruits of the Spirit become evident and are evidence that we have received the sacrifice that Jesus made and that He is indwelling us.  We of ourselves have no fruit to bear, it is the Spirit of Jesus within us that shines the fruits through us.  That's why Jesus said, "You shall know them by their fruits".  Basically, showing whether they are of Jesus or have no place in Jesus.

To allow the fruits of the Spirit to come through us, we not only have to yield to the Spirit, but we must also resist the desires of our flesh that are in conflict with the Spirit.  It is really like the cartons that have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other.  You have the choice to yield to which ever one you want to.  To allow fruit to come through you,  you must tell the little devil , who represents our desires of the flesh, NO. You and all of us at times will give into our fleshly desires, but the children of the Light will not make it their practice.  When we give in to the flesh, that is sin.  When that happens there is a simple remedy, there is no need for self condemnation.  The apostle John told us what the remedy is, when he wrote this in his first book Chapter 1, verse 9;

                      "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and

                      to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Jesus' blood cleansed us once and for all on the cross when He shed His blood on the cross.  Our sins to Him are, "as far as the east is from the west', and "as white as snow".  Please just acknowledge when you give in to the flesh and move on.  Don't give satan a place to come in and try to get you to dwell on it and to the point where you begin to condemn yourself.  That might be a sin too.  "That which is not of faith, is sin".  So you MUST heed the words of Paul and stand on it, where he wrote this in his letter to the the Romans in Chapter 8, verse 1;

                      "There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Before we move on to learning what the fruits of the Spirit are, we must first take a look at this battle that goes on between our flesh and spirit.  We must look at what it takes to be successful in defeating our flesh and allowing the fruits to come forth.  Paul continued in Romans Chapter 8, verses 2-14;

                      "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of

                      sin and death.  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, 

                      God did; sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for

                      sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might

                      be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the

                      Spirit."

Paul will continue on with explaining the mindset of those who have been born again of above and now have the Spirit of God in them enabling them to have the ability to resist the flesh, verses those who have yet to be born of the Spirit and are still walking according to the sinful flesh.  

                       "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,

                       but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set

                       on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the

                       mind set on the flesh is hostile to God; for it does not subject itself to the law of 

                       God, for it is NOT EVEN ABLE TO.  However, you are not in the flesh but in the

                       Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the

                       Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.  And if Christ is in you, though the

                       body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  But if

                       the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised

                       Christ Jesus from the dead also will give life to your mortal bodies through His

                       Spirit who dwells in you.  So then, brethren, we are under no obligation, not to the

                       flesh, to live according to the flesh---for if  you are living according to the flesh,

                       you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you

                       will live.  For all who are being led by the spirit of God, these are sons of God"

Notice Paul says that those who are being led by the Spirit now dwelling in them are putting to death the deeds of the body.  Our walk, until we leave this realm and are transferred into the kingdom of God, is always learning, as we grow in Jesus, how to yield to the things of the Spirit and resist the cravings of the flesh.  The rest of our lives we are working to put to death the flesh.  Our fleshly nature will not be totally dead until either our death or at the resurrection.  As we learn to put to death the flesh, we are able to bear more fruit.

Paul tells us what things to watch out for and work on to distinguish between yielding to the flesh or yielding to the Spirit.  Fruits of the flesh verses fruits of the Spirit.  In Paul's letter to Galatians in Chapter 5, verses 16-25;

                    "But I say, walk by the Spirit , and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

                    For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for

                    these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you

                    please.  But if you are led b the Spirit, you are NOT UNDER THE LAW.  Now 

                    the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are; immorality, impurity, sensuality,

                    idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, disputes, dissensions,

                    factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I 

                    forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things

                    shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

When Paul says that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God, he is in a way telling people that they need Jesus to be their Savior, because living in the sin of the flesh, apart from the Spirit of God, is impossible not to practice these things.  You can notice Paul said,  "Those who practice these things", not, if you act out in one of these.  A person who makes a practice out of these acts of the flesh are either, not yet  born of the Spirit of God, or it could be a Saint stuck in sin.  Our job is not to turn our backs on a fellow Saint stuck in sin, but instead do what James teaches in his 5th Chapter, verses 19 and 20; 

                   "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him

                   know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from

                   death,and will cover a multitude of sins."

Finally, what are the fruits of the Spirit?  Galatians Chapter 5, verses 22-25;

                    "But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS,

                     GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL, against such

                     things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the 

                     flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by

                     the Spirit."

Almost everyone would be willing to admit that we are not born with any of those characteristics.  This is due to the fact that everyone of us have been born of the flesh in a sinful state, void of the Spirit of God where these fruits dwell and come from.  This is why people who are able to shine these characteristics in their lives and behavior will be showing evidence of the Spirit of God within them.  Remember, "You will know them by their fruit."

Take a glance back at the fruits of the flesh.  It is easy to see why the new created being, within a believer, would have no need or desire for any of those fruits.  The New Creation doesn't even think that way.  A believer's soul has now received the life of the Light of God and is now a New Creation filled with the Spirit of the Living God, Jesus.  As in our earthly existence in the flesh, our heavenly existence starts out as a new born baby also, but in the spirit.  As the New Life grows within us, through the feeding on the Word of God and though basic trials of this life, a Saint should become less interested in the desires of the flesh and it should become easier to resist them.  It is the flesh that desires and acts out in those fruits.  The new being should begin to control the flesh and slowly put to death the flesh.  This battle between our spiritual being and fleshly being is played out in our minds.  The victor between the two is determined by each choice we make in either bearing fruits of the flesh or fruits of the Spirit in every circumstance in our lives.  The one we yield to wins in that choice.

The apostle Paul gives insight to this, when he tells us this in his book to the Ephesians, Chapter 4, verses 21-24;

                    "if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,

                    that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is

                    being corrupted with the lust of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your

                    mind, and put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in

                    righteousness and holiness of truth."

We all, born in this flesh, are corrupt, because the flesh is corrupt.  In our fleshly nature, our brains and minds are programmed by things we see, things we hear, things we learn, experiences we may enjoy in the flesh, but that is only until we don't.  When we are programmed with fleshly things, we act out according to the flesh.  The only way to be able to reverse that is to accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to make in us a New Creation.  Becoming a new spiritual creation, we are now able to be renewed in the spirit of our mind.  As we learn the truth that is in Jesus, reading the Word, reprogramming ourselves with the things of the Spirit, we are now able to war against the old things that programmed our minds according the the flesh, and with our renewed mind win the victory to yield to the spirit.

Paul wrote this in his book to the Galatians, Chapter 6, verse 8;

                    "For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the

                    one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life."

Even as saints, we still make the decision whether what we are doing is either programming the fleshly part of our minds and giving the flesh life, or programming the spirit of our minds giving power to our spirit.

Jesus gives a warning and encouragement, when He taught this, as recorded by John in his gospel, in Chapter 15, verses 1-11;

                   "I Am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser.  Every branch in Me that does

                   does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, 

                   that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have

                   spoken to you.  Abide in Me, ans I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

                   unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am 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.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a

                   branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are 

                   burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you; ask whatever you wish, and

                   it shall be done for you.  By this is My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and

                   so prove to be My disciples.  Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you,

                   abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as

                   I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His love.  These things I have

                   spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."

The way John writes this in the first two words reflects one of those gold nuggets we look for in scripture that reveals who Jesus is.  These type of nuggets help us come to the true knowledge of who Jesus is.  When John writes that Jesus said, "I Am the vine", he capitalizes (Am), making it a noun.  Making I Am a name.  Where have we seen that name?  In the book of Exodus, Chapter 4, verses 13 and 14 Moses has this exchange with God about after discussing delivering Israel out of Egypt;

                   " Then Moses said to God.  'Behold , I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say

                   to them.'  'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.'  Now they may say to me, 

                   'What is His name?  What shall I say to them?  And God said to Moses, 'I Am Who I

                   Am'.  'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I Am has sent me to you.'"

I will have to do blog just on the nuggets, or maybe Jesus will stop me so you will seek out the nuggets.  Jesus did say, "seek and you will find".  We will have to see if He will let me help.

Anyway, back to the Vine and branches and bearing fruit.  Very simple, branches that dwell in the vine, that don't bear fruit, are taken away, out of the tree.  Branches that bear fruit, He prunes.  Farmers prune branches for the purpose of getting more fruit the following year.  A branch that bears fruit, will not bear fruit again on the same branch.  Where the fruit was, the branch is clipped and what usually happens is that two more branches grow out from that spot.  This way it produces twice the fruit.  

One reason why the branch (Saint) is pruned is so they can bear more fruit.  Another might be so that the one who bears fruit can't just be content on the fruits they have already produce, since the evidence of them are gone.  Jesus wants us to continue to bear fruit more and more every year until we see Him face to face.  It should be easy for a saint to bear fruit if they are yielding to the Spirit, because it is not us doing it.  Jesus said that no one can bear fruits of the Spirit unless they abide in Him.  Everyone who abides in Jesus and Jesus in them, will produce much fruit, because apart from Jesus we can do nothing.

 

Abide means to dwell in.  Jesus gives a warning to those who don't dwell in Him.  The ones who are not dwelling in Jesus are those who have not yet come to believe.  Jesus will do many things between now and His coming to give people a chance to come to the love of the truth to be saved.  Not receiving the love of the truth is the only reason people will perish and it will be their choice.  Paul taught this in his 2nd letter to the Thessalonians, in Chapter 2, verse 10;

                    "and with all deception of wickedness, for those who perish, because they did not

                    receive the love of the truth so as to be saved."

The ones that are taken away from the tree are those who were in the tree, but didn't ever bear fruit.  These are those of the house of Israel that did not receive Jesus as their Messiah, Savior.  They where taken away because of their unbelief.  Notice they were not thrown away, dried up, put in the fire and burned up.  Since they didn't believed, they were removed some that the Gentles, who would come to believe, could be grafted in.  Israel's unbelief resulted in riches for the Gentles. Paul teaches this in his letter to the Romans, in Chapter 11, verses 11-25;

                    " I say then, they did not stumble as to fall, did they?  May it never be!  But by their

                    their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them Jealous.  Now

                    if their transgression (rejecting their Messiah, Jesus) be riches for the world and their

                    failure be riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!  But I am

                    speaking to you who are Gentiles.  Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I

                    magnify my ministry, if somehow i might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and

                    save some of them.  For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will

                    their acceptance be but life from the dead?  And if the first piece of dough be holy, the

                    lump is also; and if the root be holy, the branches are too.  But if some of the branches

                    were broken off, and you, being an wild olive, were grafted in among them and

                    became partakers with them in the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant

                    toward the branches; but if you are arrogant remember that it is not you who supports

                    the root, but the root supports you.  You will say then, "Branches were broken off so

                    that I may be grafted in."  Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you

                    stand by your faith.  Do not be conceited, but fear, for if God did not spear the natural

                    branches, neither will He spare you.  Behold then the kindness and severity of God;

                    to those who fell severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness;

                    otherwise you also will be cut off.  And they also, if they do not continue in their

                    unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.  For if you were

                    cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature

                    into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural branches

                    be grafted into their own olive tree?  For I do not want you, brethren, to be

                    uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that the partial

                    hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the gentiles has come in."

Jesus told us how we stay in tree when He said, " If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love".   Jesus told us what His commandment is, " that you love one another, just as I have loved you.  In the gospel written by Matthew, in his 22 Chapter, verses 37-40, Matthew recorded Jesus stating this;

                   "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with

                   all your mind'.  This is the greatest and foremost commandment.  The second is like it,

                   'You shall love you neighbor as yourself.'  On these two commandments depend the

                   whole law of the Prophets."

Our final destination for all eternity is nothing to play with.  If we receive Jesus' free gift of eternal life, that he made possible through His shed blood and death on the cross, as long as we want to stay in Jesus hand, there is nothing that can take us out of it. Jesus spoke this as recorded in Matthew's gospel, in Chapter 10, verses 27-30;

                    "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal

                    life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one is able to snatch them out of the

                    Father's hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater that all; and no one

                    is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE."

                    Another gold nugget.

We love Jesus with all our heart, by giving Him our heart to dwell in.  We love Jesus with all are soul, as we yield to the Spirit now dwelling in our souls, so that He can bear fruit through us.  We love Jesus with all our minds, as we desire to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, through the reading of the Word and coming to the true knowledge of Jesus.  Then we can, with our minds, love and desire the things of the Spirit more than the things of the flesh, so that we can bear much fruit.

LOVE...JOY...PEACE...PATIENCE...KINDNESS...GOODNESS...FAITHFULNESS...SELF-CONTROL

With these attributes given to us from above as fruits, I am sure that is easy to LOVE your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus, love, joy peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, be with you in abundance.