The Fruit of A Born Again Spirit By Emily Wooten
Galatians 5:22-23 …The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…
What do we mean when we talk about fruit? One might say that fruit refers to the product of a newborn spirit. We can be ruled by these forces of a newborn spirit.
Romans 5:5 … because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
God’s love, for God is love, produces forces that help us manage our behavior. Jesus walked in love with patience.
1 John 2: 5 But who keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Jesus managed his behavior as a human in this earth. We can too. (The word perfected in 1John 2:5 means to make complete, to accomplish, brought to its end.)
Ephesians 4: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The work perfect here also means to be brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing, mature. We see that we are working toward and end. That end will produce in us peace.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing (Don’t be anxious); but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We are instructed to keep ourselves from being anxious. The same way love is in our spirit, so is all the fruit of a newborn spirit there. We must use these forces of love to overcome every undisciplined thought. Before we produce fruit that is inappropriate: hate, anger, boasting, impatience, we have thoughts that suggest we should behave that way. That is the place where the fruit of the spirit is produced or the works of flesh. We choose.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
If we see a brother or sister who has allowed themselves to be overtaken by ungodly behavior, this is a good time to speak the truth in love. Paul would not have suggested that we can have a spirit of meekness if it were not possible. We can choose to operate in humility, walking in love with patience. The Holy Spirit can give us the right words to say to love and help someone. If we choose works of the flesh we might be accusative, abrupt and without compassion. Notice the scripture says to consider yourself so you aren’t tempted. Walking in love produces faith and patience.
James 1:3-5 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and does not criticize; and it shall be given him.
Confession: I operate in love, joy and peace and God calls me perfect, entire, and wanting nothing.
Growing Up Spiritually-Part 3
By Emily Wooten
Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
In Colossians 1:9-11, Paul prayed that the body of believers (new born Christians) at Colossae would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; so they could walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; which would cause them to be strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness…
This is a good example of how we can pray over ourselves and our loved ones. Without his Spirit teaching us, we can be a born again Christian and still not understand what is God’s will.
If a child did not grow as time passed, we would think something is wrong and we would be right. It is not God’s will for the human who has asked Jesus to forgive their sins and come into their heart to still be a baby Christian years later. Paul also prayed in
(Ephesians 3:16-19 That God would help you, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in your inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend how expansive is God’s love; and to experience the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.)
In this paraphrased copy of Ephesians 3 prayer, we can see that God’s love working in us fills us with the fullness of God as we are rooting and grounded by Christ’s word being planted in our spirit and we are strengthened with his might. It is available now to every Christian but it is up to every Christian to apply God’s word and instruction in love.
James 1:21-22 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
What we choose to say about God in us can over ride any thought that would prevent us from exercising God’s word in our lives. When thoughts come to make us week remember. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby…
Confessions:Hearing & Speaking God’s Word Causes Me To Grow!
If God says it’s possible, I do too!
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Everyone wants to be heard. In order to be heard we have to obtain the hearer’s attention. In the scriptures we see God’s instructions which help us approach God in his love language. If we follow his instructions he promises he will hear us!
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
In addition to clear instructions, God also sent us a comforter. If we let him, he will lead us in prayer and teach us so we aren’t praying a miss or in unbelief.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. Of a truth I say unto you, whoever shall say to this (obstacle, sickness, weakness) mountain, “Be removed, and be cast into the sea;” and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he says. Therefore I say unto you, What things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.
Jesus told us, in his instructions for us, we have what we say. I can’t, I don’t, and I’m afraid should not be our conversation when discussing what God has for us. Praise be to God, he has given us hope! We can say, “I am free from sickness and disease!” We can say, “My body is healed in Jesus name.” We can say, “I operate in strength and wisdom. God has given me health!” According to the scripture we just read in God’s instructions to us, we can speak to our body in Jesus name and command it to obey what God said. We can call our body, well.
Everyday people wake up and take medication from the pharmacy. They will take more at lunch time or evenings. Perhaps they even have bedtime meds that they will consume. God’s medicine is far more important. This week as you take your prescribed medicine, lay your hand on your body part as you confess, “I call my (name the body part) healed and whole. I am loosed from all infirmity in Jesus name!”
Every time you take your pharmaceutical medicine, take God’s medicine saying, “I’m free from every form of weakness, disease or malfunction. I thank God for restoration, correction and strength.”
Remember, all things are possible to him that believeth.