A prideful person is so self-centered that they will have a hard time with walking in the fruit of Meekness or Gentleness. They will have a hard time humbling themselves before God or man.
Meekness, Gentleness, and humility are closely related. They are direct opposites of pride and self-centeredness or selfishness.
Meekness displaces Pride. Pride comes before a fall.
Proverbs 16: 18 – 19Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (19) Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. (NKJV)
James 4: 6But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” (NKJV)
Psalm 147: 6The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. (NKJV)
James 4: 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.(AMP C)
Meekness opens the door for God’s blessings. Meekness will cause you to walk in the blessings of God.
Meekness will help you walk in the reverential fear of the Lord where there is no want.
Proverbs 22: 4The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.(Amp. C)
It takes diligence to walk a Meek, Gentle, and Humble lifestyle.
You must aim at and be diligent for the Fruit of the Spirit to flow in and from your life.
2 Peter 1:7b “. . . and to brotherly kindness charity.” KJV Charity. Here is the Greek word that describes the highest form of love, agape. It is the kind of love that is God Himself. Translated as “love” in all other bibles, the King James uses the word “charity.” Because charity is most understood as a selfless gift, the KJV used another Greek word, “charis.” Charis means “gift,” and “grace.” Charity is a gift that does not expect a return. No strings attached.
Whenever the word “grace” is used, the Amplified translation also adds, “unmerited favor,” a gift that can’t be earned. It is the last brick to go into our wall:
Without all the previous bricks, agape/love has nothing to stand on. But with them, agape/love is the most reasonable and natural result. Do we need a new definition of love? Jesus Himself said in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” KJV The first letter of St. John also says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”(I John 3:16 KJV). Is that what we are learning about the selfless, no-strings-attached, no-return-expected kind of love?
Charity doesn’t just mean sending used clothes and money to poor children on the other side of the world. We’ve got to use our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness and brotherly kindness to find out what real agape/love is. That can only come from studying and becoming familiar with the WORD. The living WORD of God. We just can’t find it in the world. There are lots of loving people out there. But are they loving with the true, perfect, laying-down-their-lives kind of love? The God kind?
In order to learn what agape/love really is, we need to study how God Himself showed us His love. It started in the beginning, ‘way back in Genesis. When there was nothing but darkness, God, Who is light, injected Himself into it. All creation followed. By the time He finished the Garden of Eden, everything was perfect for the people who were on their way. Alas, when our first parents disobeyed Him, that state of perfection ended. But God was ready right there with the Answer, the One Who was to come.
Jesus didn’t come to pass a law. He didn’t hold a meeting to establish a new policy. HE DIED. That was God’s Answer, TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE. Unbeknownst to Satan, God knew that Jesus would rise again!
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” KJV
That’s what laying down our lives gets us: RESURRECTION! Maybe not in this life, but we can live in that resurrection life of agape/love with the grace of God as our back-up. Who knew? Certainly not the devil. It was a MYSTERY. The dictionary definition of mystery is “information known only to the initiated.” That’s us! Being born again is our initiation into the resurrection life of Jesus! That’s what the book of Romans is all about.
Thank You, Oh Most Gracious Heavenly Father, that You showed us how to lay down our lives just the way Jesus Your Beloved Son did. He said in John 10:18: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” KJV Amen.
God Is Faithful. He Is always continuously faithful to His word. He cannot deny Himself.
A Born-Again Christian walking in the Ways of the Lord will be faithful to God and His Word and in all that they do.
It is abnormal for a Born-Again Christian to be unfaithful.
A Faithful person is also a person of honor. They can be depended upon. They are steadfast and consistent. They are faithful, honorable, trustworthy, and can be depended upon even when doing a job that they do not like or want to do.
Luke 16: 10 – 13He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. (11) Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (12)And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? (NKJV)
You cannot get anywhere in your Spiritual life without being faithful to God and His Living Word.
Faithfulness to God necessitates faithfulness to men.
God puts His Faithfulness in us so that we can be Faithful to Him. The trait of faithfulness will work in every area of our lives.
If the Fruit of faithfulness is operating in our lives it will make us a dependable and trustworthy person in every area of our lives. Faithfulness will cause us to be a diligent person.
When a person walks in Faithfulness other people think highly of that person.
Even when you are not present your faithfulness will be evident. People will notice it. Your faithfulness will follow wherever you go.
Proverbs 28: 20A faithful man will abound with blessings, (NKJV)
Your faithfulness has everything to do with your increase in every area of life.
A person who is faithful will be diligent. Diligence that comes from faithfulness will cause you to excel and to be promoted.
The Christian Life is to manifest itself in the faithful discharge of all duties and the honest handling of all things committed to it.
Being Faithful is to be trustworthy and dependable. You will be a person who is faithful to your word.
Colossians 3: 17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (NKJV)
A faithful person is a loyal person. A faithful person can be trusted. They can be trusted even when you can’t see them.
Ah, patience. The one thing we seem to need more than anything else. Do we really want it? Why do we have to wait for anything? Why does everything take so long? St. Peter says to add it to our temperance. Isn’t it the same thing? Of course, it would be impossible to have patience without some self-control. But I need faith, virtue, knowledge and temperance in place, before I even have a place to add patience.
Once I have the virtue, knowledge and temperance in place on my firm foundation of faith, patience should fit right in. Maybe. I need the virtue: excellence, resolution, and Christian energy to know what to do with the knowledge. I need the knowledge to be able to understand why I need temperance. And without those things, patience wouldn’t have anything to stand on. I may have the self-control to hold my temper, but I would end up pretty miserable before I got good at patience.
St. Paul puts patience in his list of spiritual fruits in Galatians 5:22-23:“But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].” That’s the Amplified Classic version. It defines patience as an even temper, forbearance. The King James calls it “long suffering!”
It’s long suffering all right! But as a fruit of the Holy Spirit that His presence within is accomplishing, that means it is already inside us as a fruit seed. If we learn to exercise it, it will grow. Not only will we notice the difference it makes in ourselves, other people will take notice of it. Won’t they be surprised! In our instant gratification society where we want everything done for us yesterday, we will stand out like a sore thumb!
All these things help us in our daily lives. But just like the spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12, they are for other people. Christianity is a life of service. These attributes aren’t just for ourselves. They work on us and through us to serve. In serving others we serve Jesus Himself. He said so in Matthew 25. And we can’t forget that as we build our wall, there are people building walls on either side of us. When we meet up, we want our wall to be straight, strong and level.
So we suffer a little. Maybe a lot. But it says in Romans 5: 1-5: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (KJV)
Tribulations? Ugh. People say, “Don’t pray for patience, you will get trouble.” What you will get is the opportunity to exercise patience. Trouble is out there. It is worse some days than others. But praying for patience isn’t how to get it. It is already there in our spirits from the Holy Spirit Himself. What we need to do is exercise it like St. Peter says. Exercise what we have to develop what we need.
Thank You, glorious Lord, for Your own precious example of how patiently You endured Your entire life and death. We will never suffer as bad as You did. According to Matthew 25, it is You who patiently wait for us to serve You by serving others. As St. Paul says, we are patiently running the race to win the prize of life everlasting (Hebrews 12:1 KJV). Amen.
To a person who knows Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, Faith which works by Love, is a natural normal way of life. A believer who does not walk the Love Walk and live by faith they are abnormal.
2nd Timothy 1: 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)
(Amplified Classic) [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
Romans 1:17b…“THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” (NKJV)
Because we have been Justified by Faith(Romans 5: 1 – 2)we shall live by Faith.
Romans 5: 1 – 2Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.(NKJV)
1st John 4: 15 – 18 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (16)And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.(17)Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.(18)There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (NKJV)
To a person who does not know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, Fear is a natural normal way of life.
1st John 4: 7 – 8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (8)He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.(NKJV)
Jesus is the Author and Developer of our faith.
Hebrews. 12: 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NKJV)
Satan is the Author and Developer of Fear.
Satan is Hate and Fear the way that God Is Love and Faith.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
Hebrews 11: 1Nowfaithisthe substanceof things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.(NKJV)
Fear is the substance of things not desired.
Faith is an action word.
James 1: 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (NKJV)
James 2: 17Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (NKJV)
Fear is also an action word.When you act on fear it will produce what you are fearing.
Faith acted on produces the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.
Real Faith is at rest, anchored, and steadfast in the absolute Truth of God’s Living Word.
When we have unforgiveness, worry, fear, and strife working in your life we are never at rest.
For us to properly understand Faith, it is necessary for us to understand what Fear is and how it works.
You cannot walk in Faith and Fear, or Love and Fear, at the same time.
Satan cannot do anything to us apart from fear, any more than God can do something for us apart from faith.
1st John 5: 18b… he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. (NKJV)
Love, The Living Word, and Faith are involved in everything that God does.
Fear, worry, deception, and strife are the Satan’s big guns, his big weapons. They are involved in everything that he does.
All fear is self-centered. It always focuses on self. Love is others centered. It always focuses on others.
Whenever our focus is on ourselves rather than others, we have the foundation necessary to produce iniquity and sin. That foundation of iniquity and sin opens the door for fear to function and rule.
Faith moves God because faith is in God. Fear moves Satan because fear is in Satan.
Fear does not come from God. There is no fear in God for God Is Love. Fear comes from Satan for Satan is Fear.
1st John 4: 16…God is love(NKJV)
1st John 4: 18…There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear (NKJV)
Isaiah. 54: 14 – 15 In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. (15)Indeed they shall surely assemble, butnot because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. (NKJV)
Love and Fear cannot exist together. They are direct opposites.
2nd Timothy 1: 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)
Our faith applied to the Living Word that activates the Word.
Once that Word is activated by our Faith applied to the Word we must maintain our Faith in that Word.
Since Faith can only work in the now moment both Patience and Hope are both vital to maintaining our Faith in the Word.
Hebrews 11: 1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. (AMP C)
Faith is applied to the Word, not to the circumstance or desired result.
Our Faith and Hope applied to the Word work together along with Patience to bring forth the desired result.
James 1: 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.(NKJV)
Mark 11: 22 – 26 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. (23)For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (24)Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (25)“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you yourtrespasses. (26)But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (NKJV)
(***AMP C)Mark 11: 25 – 26 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.(26)But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings (AMP C)
Faith works by Love. You cannot walk in Love and unforgiveness, worry, fear, and strife at the same time.
Love and Faith are Spiritual forces. Unforgiveness, worry, fear, and strife are carnal or fleshly.
You and only you choose which one you are walking in. When you choose unforgiveness, worry, fear, and strife instead of Love your Faith will not work.
Real Faith is at rest, anchored, and steadfast in the absolute Truth of God’s Living Word.
When you have unforgiveness, worry, fear, and strife working in your life you are never at rest.
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is committed to and is diligently walking the Love-Walk developing the Fruit of the Spirit in every area of their lives. They are Faithful to God and His Living Word. They walk a life of Faith anchored in God’s Living Word.
The Bible definition for Faith is found in Hebrews 11: 1.
Hebrews 11: 1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. (AMP C)
Faith is always now. Faith can only work in the now. Faith cannot work in the future. Hope works only in the future as a blueprint and guide for our now faith.
Faith and hope are both anchored in God’s Word. Faith and Hope work together along with Patience. All work by Love.
Faith is a Heart Condition
When Faith, Patience, and Hope all meet in a now moment you have manifestation.
God’s Word is absolute truth ** It is whether I believe it or not. It is absolute truth!
** John 17: 17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. (Amp. C)
Faith applied to the absolute truth of God’s Word always brings results.
Ephesians 3: 20Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (NKJV)
Mark 9: 22 – 23 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. (23)” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”(NKJV)
Matthew 17: 19 – 20 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” (20)So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (NKJV)
The now faith of the people was involved in the miracles that Jesus did. Your Faith has made you whole. Be it unto you according to your faith.
It is still the same today. Our now faith is also involved.
Matthew 7: 7 – 8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (8)For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (NKJV)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is committed to and is diligently walking the Love-Walk developing the Fruit of the Spirit in every area of their lives. They
are Faithful to God and His Living Word. They walk a life of Faith anchored in God’s Living Word.
Galatians 5:22 – 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)
The NKJV Bible lists one of the Fruits of the Spirit as Faithfulness. Other translations list the Fruit as Faith. Amp, Amp C, American Standard, NKJV, NIV, The Living Bible all translate the Greek word as Faithfulness.
KJV, Modern KJV, The Passion Translation, and Youngs Literal Translation translates the Greek word as Faith.
The Weymouth Translation translates the Greek word as Benevolence.
The Greek word used in this verse is –πίστις pistis
The New Strong’s Expanded Dictionary of Bible Wordssays, “Pistis is used of belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same.
‘Faith’ means trust, confidence, assurance, and belief”
Websters Dictionary: FA’ITHFULNESS, n.
1. Fidelity; loyalty; firm adherence to allegiance and duty;
2.Truth; veracity; as the faithfulness of God.
3. Strict adherence to injunctions, and to the duties of a station; as the faithfulness of servants or ministers.
4. Strict performance of promises, vows or covenants; constancy in affection; as the faithfulness of a husband or wife.
Faith and Faithfulness are both the Ways or Nature of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. They are both Fruits of the Spirit.
We will be studying both Faith and Faithfulness. First we will study Faith since according to Hebrews 11: 6 it is impossible to please God without Faith.
Hebrews 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (NKJV)
Romans 5: 1 – 2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (NKJV)
The Bible defines pistis inHebrews 11: 1.
Hebrews 11: 1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. (AMP C)
Faith is always now. Faith can only work in the now. Faith cannot work in the future. Hope works only in the future as a blueprint and guide for our now faith.
Faith and hope are both anchored in God’s Word. Faith and Hope work together along with Patient. All work by Love.
Galatians 5:6For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. (Amp. C)
A little further down in Hebrews 11:6 we read that, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.“ (KJV) Again we are reminded that diligence is in order. 2 Peter 1:5-8 says, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make youthat ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (KJV) This list is a pretty good thing to be working on for life. But if we don’t have faith in God as the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, what’s the point? We really have no foundation to build on.
Being born again makes the difference between us and the world. In 2 Timothy 1:12 St. Paul says, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (KJV) Only with faith like that does St. Peter’s exhortation make sense. We can’t be wishy-washy about our faith. It is the gift of God through His grace and our making our decision to believe it and stick with it no matter what.
So faith is our foundation. The first thing St. Peter tells us to build on our faith is virtue. Glory and virtue are what we are called to in verse 3 of Second Peter 1. The Amplified Bible tells us that virtue is excellence, resolution and Christian energy. From my school days I learned that “vir” is the latin word for “man.” In other words, being virtuous means to act like a man. Man-up. Of course, that goes for women too. Take life seriously and “give all diligence” to strive for excellence. Resolve to keep all that I learn about excellence in life fresh and strong. To do that I have to make the choice to devote energy to it.
It seems to be a huge undertaking, especially if I am new at this. I believe in God, I am diligently seeking to know Him through the study of His WORD and praying. I’m going to church and hanging out with my new Christian friends. I’m consciously moving away from the old temptations that ran me ragged before I met Jesus. Even if I was raised in church, once I accepted Jesus as my Savior, everything changed. My faith means something now, not just which door I go into on Sunday morning, if I go at all.
My new life means that now I must work to make Jesus the Lord of my life. He is definitely Lord and Savior, but they are two different things. I have seen lots of saved people who are not making Jesus their Lord. They are living without much excellence, resolution or Christian energy. These things don’t just happen when we get born again. That is what all the New Testament letters are about, multiple lists of what to do and what not to do. Not just because the old life is sinful, but we want our new life to show improvement in what we do and think. What we say.
We came to Jesus pretty messed up, but this is our opportunity to take some steps in the right direction so we can show ourselves pleasing to God by our faith, and helpful to ourselves and those around us. He will help us find people who are good examples and role models. We may not know how to describe virtue, but we know it when we see it. We are just naturally attracted to Christians who are more mature and have been giving all diligence to these things longer. If we are going to do this, we need encouragement from them. We need them to stand by us when we stumble a little. Who will teach us and give us testimony of what they went through when they were in our shoes.
Thank You, Father, that You always send just the right person at just the right time to show us what it is to strive for excellence in life. Like the Amplified says, we exercise our faith to develop our virtue, excellence, resolution, Christian energy. Amen.
2Peter 1:1-2“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” (KJV)
Like precious faith, faith that has been obtained “with us” through the righteousness of God and Jesus. A certain kind of faith; the like or same, identical faith, and it is precious. Evidently not everyone has this faith. How do we find out what it is, what the word “faith” even means? Since this meditation is on the WORD of God, the Bible, let’s look at what the Bible says about it. The book of Hebrews says in chapter 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (KJV)
Faith is a substance. How can such an ethereal concept be a substance? Being that it is in the WORD, it must be true. But it necessarily invites some exploration. Faith. Faith. Faith. Where does it come from? Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (KJV)We get faith by hearing. If we want faith in God, we have to hear His WORD.
The key is in hearing. If we hear something else, such as, “You’re stupid. You’re a loser. You will never amount to anything,” we will begin to believe it. If we hear constant criticism of a person, a situation, a government, we will begin to believe it. If we hear enough of it, it will take a lot of hearing the opposite to change our minds.
Our belief system is constantly challenged. It takes a lot of hearing to be able to stand up to any such challenge. Simon Peter and the people he is writing to have developed some powerful faith. The very fact that we have this letter tells us that our faith must be built up by hearing what he has to say. The letter from St. Jude also says in verses 20-21, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (KJV)The people back in these apostles’ day didn’t have the Bible as we know it. They had to have such great teachers who could encourage them by direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Thank God for His WORD! We have everything they had right here in our two hands! We have the full account of what God Himself wants us to hear in order to share in this “like precious faith!” But faith is more than a concept. It is a substance. Back in Hebrews it says this is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Evidence. An evidentiary substance that convinces us that the things we hope for, or expect, will happen to such an extent that we can act as though they have already happened.
Like what? Like the fact that we have a loving heavenly Father. We have a Saviour and a Lord in Jesus Christ. Like we have been forgiven and set free from all our sins! Like we are born again of water and the Spirit. If we need faith in these things and many others as evidence of the love of God and a future of glory in heaven, we have to keep hearing these things. This faith is the substance, the evidence, and, according to Second Peter 1, the foundation upon which we build all the other things we need for a life of love and godliness.
Thank You, gracious Father, glorious Lord Jesus, mighty Holy Spirit, for the gift of faith. Thank You for Your WORD. Thank You for the outpouring of Your grace to keep us and build us up in this most holy Faith. Amen.
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is committed to and is diligently walking the Love-Walk developing the Fruit of the Spirit in every area of their lives. They are habitually others centered. The fruit of Goodness is a habitual lifestyle for this person.
Psalm 145: 8 – 9The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness. (9) The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].(AMP C)
Psalm 100: 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. (NKJV) – also Psalm 106: 1; Psalm 107: 1; 1st Chronicles 16: 34
The Lord Is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so His Goodness, Loving-Kindness, and Mercy are everlasting to all generations.
Hebrews 13: 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (NKJV)
Because God IS Love and He Is the same yesterday, today, and forever, in His Goodness, by Grace, He poured out His abundant everlasting Love and Mercy toward all Mankind.
Ephesians 2: 4 – 6 But God–so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, (5) Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). (6) And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (AMP C)
Kindness, as well as all of the Fruits of the Spirit, are desperately needed in the dark world of today.
The lifestyle of the Fruit of the Spirit in the life of the believer is a light to a dark world.
Every believer should be and is responsible for bearing the Fruit of the Spirit as a lifestyle. This hurting world must see this fruit in operation in the lives of the believers.
1st Thessalonians 5: 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. (NKJV)
Matthew 5: 14 – 16“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (NKJV)
Ephesians 5: 8 – 10For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (9) (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), (10) finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. (NKJV)
Philippians 2: 12b …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (14) Do all things without complaining and disputing, (15) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (NKJV)
Ephesians 4: 17 – 18This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, (18) having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; (NKJV)
The Loving-Kindness and Tender Mercy of God is calling out to a dark and hurting World. His Heart cry to this dark World Is:
Matthew 11: 28 – 30Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.](29) Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. (30) For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. (AMP C)
John 6: 37All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me]. (AMP C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is committed to and is diligently walking the Love-Walk. They are others centered, developing the fruit of Kindness in every area of their lives.
Galatians 5: 22 – 23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)
Kindness and Goodness are connected. They are both Fruits of the Spirit relying on each other and flow together but are not the same. That is why they are listed separately in the Fruit of the Spirit listed inGalatians 5: 22 – 23.
In today’s world we are in desperate need of kindness.
With the Fruit of the Spirit present and operating in our lives, we do not have to live like the World lives.
Kindness should never be confused with weakness. Kindness is power under perfect control.
When we allow the Fruit of Spirit to have dominion in our lives, we live a higher life than the carnal natural life. We will be Spiritually Minded, which is life and peace.
Romans 8: 5 – 6 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (AMP C)
Being Spiritually Minded is by far a much higher life than living a carnal fleshly life allowing our emotions to govern us.
As we walk the Love-Walk developing the Fruit of the Spirit, the Fruit of the Spirit flowing from our Spiritual Man gives us the control. When we are not walking the Love-Walk, we are out of control allowing our fleshly carnal man to be governed by our emotions.
Loving-Kindness flows from a heart of Love. The kindness is done solely from a heart of Love and not because of what the other person has or has not done. Loving-Kindness expects nothing in return. It is others centered. This is the Fruit of Kindness listed in Galatians 5: 22
As God’s Children we should be walking a habitual life of kindness.
Psalm 145: 8 – 9The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger andabounding in mercy and loving-kindness.(9) The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created]. (AMP C)
Colossians 3: 12 – 14Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (NKJV)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is walking in the Peace and Rest of the Lord. This person exercises the Fruit of Peace in every area of their life. They are at Rest in God’s Living Word.
Psalm 23is a wonderful image of the person who has entered and is dwelling in The Secret Place of God’s Rest in Psalm 91
When entering into and dwelling in the Secret Place of God’s Rest the Lord Himself becomes our Shepherd.
Psalm 91and Psalm 23are both about deep intimate relationship, covenant, refreshing, protection, provision, rest, and guidance.
Psalm 23: 1 THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. (Amp. C)
The Lord is My Shepherd, My Lord, I have made an absolute quality decision my choice.
Because He Is my Lord, my Shepherd I shall not lack! If you have made the Lord Your Shepherd – You shall not lack.This is an absolute truth.
However, we need to be aware that there are conditions in this verse that puts us in the position where we do not lack.The conditions unlock God’s provision.
Those conditions are:
Our submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives.
Our submission to Jesus Christ being our Shepherd in every area of our lives.
Our submission to The Living Word as being first place and final authority in our lives.
A lack of knowledge and our not acting on the knowledge that we have causes us to be in lack.
What do we do when we have a lack of knowledge?We obtain knowledge and we act on that knowledge, or we will continue to lack.
Just to have knowledge is not enough. We must have faith in the knowledge that we have. Faith is an action word. For faith to be real faith there must be action that flows from the faith.
It is not by your own works but there is a work or action that flows from the faith.
James 2: 17 – 18Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (18) But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (NKJV)
The source of the knowledge of God is His Living Word. The abiding Word always brings forth fruit and restwhen we submit to it and make it final authority.
The Living Word is what God uses to provide our every need. The Living Word must be activated by our Faith which works by Love.
Matthew 6: 33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (Amp. C)
John 15: 7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. (Amp. C)
2nd Peter 1: 2 – 3May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (3)For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). (Amp. C)
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is walking in the Peace and Rest of the Lord. This person exercises the Fruit of Peace in every area of their life. They are at Rest in God’s Living Word.
We must put feet to our faith in the Living Word. Our feet must be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.
Peace is not only a Fruit of the Spirit, but it is also a very important and vital part of the Armor of God.
Ephesians 6: 15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. (Amp. C)
In preparation to face the enemy – We must do this before we face the enemy.
Peace will make you sure-footed and confident with firm footed stability.
Real Faith and Trust in The Living Word of God brings peace and confidence.
Peace will cause you to stand firm on the solid rock. Fear stands on sand.
When the pressure is on, fear runs and cannot stand. When the pressure is on, Peace will remain firm, and we will be able to stand, therefore.
A person walking in the ways of the Lord is a person who is walking in the Joy of the Lord. This person exercises the Fruit of Joy in every area of their life. The Joy of the Lord is their strength.
Nehemiah 8: 10b… Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (NKJV)
Proverbs 17: 22A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. (NKJV)
If we are truly Born-Again, joy is already present in us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Joy is one of the Fruit of The Spirit listed inGalatians 5: 22 – 23.
Galatians 5: 22 – 23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23)gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)
(Amplified Classic)But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes]
Joy is a major Spiritual force.
We must choose Joy and activate it, otherwise it will remain present but in-active.
Joy, like all the Fruit of the Spirit, must be activated by our Faith and exercised regularly in order for the fruits to develop. We must always be Fruit of the Spirit minded.
When we, by Faith in the Living Word, walk the Love Walk it activates and develops the fruit of Joy and all the related fruit of the Spirit.
When we apply our faith to the promises in God’s Living Word, rejoicing in the Lord will bring us to a place of rest in our Faith.
Real Faith is at rest in the Word.
Romans 15: 13May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope. (Amp. C)
Hebrews 4: 1 – 3 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. (2)For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (3)For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “SO I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.(NKJV)
We must Rejoice always in every circumstance of life.
I did not say that it would be comfortable or easy, but we can do it. The more we exercise the fruit of Joy by Rejoicing in the Lord the easier it becomes. It will become a lifestyle.
Ephesians 1: 4 – 6 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (NKJV)
Colossians 1: 12 – 14Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light. (13) [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, (14) In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. (Amp. C)
Ephesians 1: 7 – 10 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace(8) which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (9)having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, (10) that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. (NKJV)
Colossians 1: 20 And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross. (Amp. C)
Ephesians 1: 11 – 14 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (12) that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. (13) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (NKJV)
Because of the Mercy and Loving-Kindness of God, He imparted His abundant Grace toward Mankind.
God Is Love. All the Ways of the Lord flow from Love, God Himself.
Holiness flows from Righteousness, which flows from God’s Grace, which flows from God’s Mercy and Loving-Kindness, which flows from Love, God Himself.
John 1: 16 – 17For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. (17) For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.(Amp. C)
Psalm 5: 11 – 12 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. (12) For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. (NKJV)
The Bible is the full of God’s Mercy and Loving-Kindness. It is the Gospel of Grace.
Acts 20: 24But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (NKJV)
The Word of Grace is able to build us up, strengthen us, and give us our rightful inheritance.
Acts 20: 32 And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God’s set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul). (Amp. C)
2nd Timothy 2: 1SO YOU, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus. (Amp. C)
1st Corinthians 15: 10 But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me. (Amp. C)
Colossians 3: 12 – 15Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (14)But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (NKJV)
***(Amplified Classic) – Colossians 3: 14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].
We draw our strength from the Holy Spirit and the Living Word of God.
Ephesians 6: 10In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. (Amp. C)
John 14: 26But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. (27)Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] (Amp. C)
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