Characteristics of the Spirit led believer

Characteristics of the Spirit led believer

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5: 22,23)

I've been told (from the pulpit) that Agape is Greek for Godly love. Fact is, according to Strong's Concordance "agape" which is translated as the word love in Galatians 5: 22 is affection or benevolence. -a love feast.-feast of charity.

Look up benevolence in Websters Dictionary and you will find, Benevolent: Disposed to promote the prosperity and happiness of others.

It's not too big a stretch for preachers to simplify the definition of Agape Love as, Godly love.

The definition of benevolence here best represents the word love in Galatians 5: 22. Disposed to promote the prosperity and happiness of others. This particular form of love is the same love Jesus taught, as in Luke 6: 27 when he said we must love our enemies.

Promoting the prosperity and happiness of our enemies? What? Seriously?

Now that's a stretch. At least it is for people not led by the Holy Spirit of God. Even people trying hard to obey God's Word pause, when they realize this is a characteristic of a true believer.

Furthermore, if we truly want to follow the Lord, we must obey the Lord. His commands in Mat. 5: 44 Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. And Luke 9: 23 If any man will come after me, let him DENY himself, and take up his cross DAILY, and follow me. If truly believed, meditated on, and obedience is complete. Then to stand up for one's "rights" is NOT obeying and following Jesus.

Here is where I may become very "un" popular among most Christians. By advising my fellow Christians that they must never stand up for their rights at any time, in any way shape or form. If they want to fulfill what Jesus says they must do in order to be one of his true followers, according to the verses above.

Everytime I see a Christian, especially a Christian who claims to be of Cleric stature, insisting apon having "their rights" in any given situation, I am saddened that Chirstianity in the truest sense of "Christ" still is not understood, and more especially is not portrayed correctly to a lost and dieing world.

If you claim to be a Christian, you must realize, that even though you may have rights, you must always forsake them, if you want to be christ like. Christ Jesus sacrificed everything, including his life, for the prosperity and happiness of everyone. Even those who are mean and hateful, unworthy of such love.

The following confession of faith is not my idea. I don't know who first turned Galatians 5: 22, 23 into a confession of faith. But here is a rendition I have been working on for some time. My rendition follows the one I first saw, but is not the same.

I choose love: No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy: God is the God of every circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical, which only interrupts my walk with the Lord. God's grace and mercy is always greater than any problem.

I choose peace: I will live forgiven, I will forgive so that I may live. I will refuse to see people as anything less than God's creations in His own image.

I choose patience: Instead of complaining I will face changes, inconveniences, and new tasks with courage, and trust in God's will and purpose for me.

I choose gentleness: If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer as I take my God given authority over the evil one. If I make a demand may it only be of my self. I will be kind to the poor, the rich, and the unkind, for such is how God treated me.

I choose goodness: I will go without before taking dishonest gain. I will confess before I accuse. I will be over looked before I will boast. I will keep virtue with integrity.

I choose faith: I will trust God always. I will keep the faith with prayer and meditation on His Word. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God work in my life.

I choose meekness: I will yield the right-of-way, when someone takes my place. Instead of arguing, I will invite them to do so, and when the wait is long, I will use the time to pray.

I choose temperance: I will practice self-control. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal. I will be impassioned only by my faith, and influenced only by God.

To these, In Jesus Christ name, I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will rush boldly to the thrown of grace, where I will find mercy, and grace to help me succeed every time (Hebrews 4: 16). For God's grace is His divine intervention in my heart, strengthening me to live and love as He does. Glory to the Father in Jesus name, Amen.

Ask God to teach you..Proverbs 2: 1-12

THAT WE MAY LEARN THE WORD OF GOD, AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT OF HIS WORD, THAT WE MAY OBEY HIS WORD.

Here are twelve passages from the Word of God that I want to begin with.

(* words spoke by Jesus)

*Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God..(JOHN 3: 5)

Not by works of righteousness..., but according to His mercy He saved us, by washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost;..(TITUS 3: 5)

That He (Jesus) might sanctify and cleanse it (the church, and the individual) with the washing of water by the word..(EPHESIANS 5: 26)

*Sanctify them through thy truth: Thy word is Truth.....(JOHN 17: 17)

*If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples...and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free..(JOHN 8: 31-32)

...but you are washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. .......(1 COR 6: 11)

*Now you are clean through the word which I (Jesus) have spoken unto you. (JOHN 15: 3)

With what and how shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and obeying God's word. .......(PSALM 119: 9)

Being born again ... by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. (1 PETER 1: 23)

...be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. ..........(ROM 12: 2)

...be renewed in the spirit of your mind ..........(EPH 4: 23)

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him ........(Colossians 3: 10)

What is my point in showing these 12 passages of God's Word? If we "Let the Word of Christ DWELL in you (us) richly in all wisdom..." (Col. 3: 16a), then we can know God. Notice in Rom. 12: 2 and Eph. 4: 23, our minds, and the spirit of our minds, are renewed. Our attitudes that are in error to God's Will and Word, are changed, as we hear, and except God's Word.

The Word must dwell, that is, it must LIVE in you. You must know the Word of God. However, if you don’t pray, knowing won’t be good enough. The Devil knows God's Word. Studying God's Word helps us get our minds right. Prayer, is our direct link to God, for the "spirit of our minds", so HE can "renew" our spirits, and our minds.

Unlike the Devil, you have a choice. In 2 Chronicles 7: 14 we are told by God to first HUMBLE ourselves. Second we are told to PRAY. Third we are told to SEEK God's face (this means study His Word). Last we are told to REPENT (turn from our wicked ways). HUMBLE - PRAY - SEEK - REPENT. The order in which we are given these four precepts, is not an accident.

def: PRECEPT any commandment, instruction or order intended as a rule of action or conduct; esp., a practical rule guiding behavior, technique, etc.

Notice PRAYER comes before SEEK. Don't confuse seeking with prayer. Seeking is a matter of learning what God wants from us.

A lot of people today, not knowing what the Word says, will say, "I tried God, but he didn't do anything for me." So they reckon God isn't worth obeying or even trusting. They totally ignored the very first step in approaching Him. They do not humble themselves.

God is not someone to try. He is God. He is THE ONE to obey.

But that dosn't mean He is an angry, mean disciplinarian, watching to see if you are going to obey, so He can administer punishment if you don't. Instead, He is a God who administers love and mercy without end. Psalm 136 is 26 verses long, and everyone of them ends with, "for His mercy endures forever."

The first 9 verses praise God for His greatness, the next 17 are about God killing the enemies of Israel. "O wait," you say, that dosn't sound like mercy. That sounds like one of the many contridictions we hear people going on about. But if you truely seek God through His Word, you will understand that what sounds like a contridiction, is not contridictory at all.

God's mercies are toward those who put their trust in Him and obey Him (Ps.144: 8-20). He is willing to forebare with the non-believer for a while. But once they cross the line with those who trust and obey Him, then they make themselves His enemy, and He rises up to defend His people.

Today we live in the age of Grace. The Old Testament was a covenant of the blood of animals. Where the grace of God was only extended year after year for the temporary covering of our sins.

The New Testament is a covenant sealed with the Blood of Christ (Mt.26: 28; Mk.14: 24; Lk.22: 20; 1 Cor.11: 25). Now through the man, and Son of God, Jesus, who is the Christ (God in the flesh Jn.1: 1,10-11,14,17), we can recieve the mercies and grace of God the Father, permanently, once and for all.

Anyone who is already a believer is being constantly taught by God. Their ability to hear Him and learn, depends on how much they pray.
Anyone who is called by the Holy Ghost to be born again into the Kingdom of God, must begin with believing in their heart God raised Jesus from the dead (we know He died for our sins Rom.3: 25; 1 Jn.2: 2 and 4: 10).
Then a confession of faith in Jesus as Lord must be made (Rom.10: 9-10).
As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name (Jn.1: 12).
But you have to Humble yourself, PRAY, Seek Him (study His Word), and after He reveals to you what He finds in you to be disobedience; Repent.
Our being perfected is something the Holy Spirit does over time (1 Cor. 6: 11; Jn.8: 31-32; Rom.12: 2; Eph.4: 23; Ps.119: 9).
But regardless of our progress, if we first obey Rom. 10: 9-10, then from that moment on, Jesus has made a way for us to enter into, and remain in the Kingdom of God.
All we have to do from the moment we first believed, until the day we leave this world, and live our eternal life with Him, is continue as best we can. Learning about Him, trusting in Him (to meet our needs), and sharing the praises (of how HE meets those needs Mat.6: 33).
Also, we must share the love and mercies of God, in the name of Jesus, with all whom He causes to cross our path. That is our duty toward Him (Eccl.12 :13; Mat.5: 44-45; Mk.12: 30-31), (HE forgives us, so we must forgive others Mat.6: 14-15).

JUDE 24-25
Now (I commend all who took the time to read this) unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His Glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen

(this study, although posted on 7/24/2012 was the first one I ever wrote in 2007)

Tongues: The most controversial topic in Chrisindom

Jude 20 - "build up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost."

Romans 8: 26, 27 - (26) The Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
("groanings which cannot be uttered", words one speaks that can not be understood, repeated, copied or talked about by others.)
(27) And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.
(Notice the words "makes intercession for the saints", this does not mean the gift of being able to preach to people of another language, with a miracle of divinely imparted ability to speak in the language of another people. It has to do with private, personal prayer between you and God.)

Incidently, this form of prayer, makes the transmission of the Lord's Will much more easily brought to the mind of the person praying, i.e. "But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2: 16b.)


The next verse is irrefutable proof, that praying in tongues, in private prayer, is God's will.

1 Corinthians 14: 2 - he that speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks NOT UNTO MEN, BUT UNTO GOD, FOR NO MAN UNDERSTANDS HIM; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
(Those who will dispute the validity of a personal prayer-language or "tongues", will come up with very odd at best ways, of discounting tongues after reading this verse.
In their "reasonings", they try to rationalize their denial, as intellectualy as possible. After all is said, its simply denial of God's Word and Will, with pathetic excuses.)

One does not have to speak in tongues to be saved. But to deny oneself, or others to do so, according to these verses, is simply denial of a wonderful gift from God. It is a tool in the tool box of the christian's life that makes the job of living for God easier.
Sticking to the major subjects of the bible, to avoid controversy, comes out of lack of understanding, and denial of the above scriptures. And is even warned about in 1 Timothy 4: 3, 4 - (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine (teaching), but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Tongues is not new. Paul said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all" (First Corinthians 14: 18). He taught about two kinds of tongues. The one in verse 2 is a private prayer language. And then in verses 5-23, it is for the edifying of the church, and a sign to non-believers.

 Tongues is something, for anyone who has a problem accepting it, to seek the Revealer of all Truth, the Holy Ghost Himself, for correct instruction. Real growth and transformation comes when, we except all the Truth. Not just the majors.

Any one can debate Jude 20 , Romans 8: 26 and 1 Corinthians 14: 2. But they won't be debating with me. They will be debating with God.  

Being a Christian means God talks to you (personally) .. Romans 8:16

Afflatus, af-fla-tus, [af-FLAY-tes], A divine imparting of knowledge; REVELATION. Inspiration.

People who are not born again, can not understand the deeper meanings and life giving benefits of the Word of God, because the scriptures are spiritually discerned (First Corinthians 2:14).
Until they except the power of God to be saved, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16-17).

They may expound what seem to be great things, from the Holy Writ. However, as long as they are still trying to achieve there own salvation, the truths they expound on, will always have a sense of heaviness (Mark 7:7; Pro. 14: 12-13).
"Wherefore The Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men" (Isa. 29: 13)
I've seen people leave church services feeling good. Then shortly after, suffer the grief of not knowing if they were worthy of eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said we must be born again to see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). In verse 6 He said that which is born of the flesh is flesh, that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

In Matthew 13: 11 Jesus says, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." People who are not "Born Again" won't see the mysteries even when they look right at them (Mat. 13: 15). God deliberatley vails the hearts of those who refuse to have faith in His Son, and the salvation He provided (2 Cor. 3: 14-16).
According as it is written, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear (Rom. 11: 8; Isa. 29: 10-13).

The Holy Spirit tells us what Christ thinks about everything we bring to the Lord in prayer (First Cor. 2:16...But we have the mind of Chirst).
How much time you spend in prayer (Lu.9:23 daily - Mk.14:37 one hour) determines how well your spirit hears the Holy Spirit (Rom.8:16).
In First Thessalonians 5:17 the Apostle Paul says to pray without ceasing. In Jude 20 we are told to build ourselves up, praying in the Holy Ghost (praying in the Holy Ghost can't be any clearer than is stated in 1 Cor. 14: 2, and Rom. 8: 26 says why we do this).
In Ephesians 3: 16 "...to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man," can only be accomplished by praying in the spirit as Jude 20 says.

First there has to be a belief in the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, after He died for your sins. With this belief there has to be a confession of faith in Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10: 9-10). This can only happen if the Holy Spirit calls you out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light. You are being called even now, if you haven't received Jesus as Lord, because God would have all men to be saved (1 Peter 2: 9; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Tim. 2: 4).
As you learn about your relationship with Him (Col.3:10; Eph.4:23), and as you spend time with Him in prayer (Luke 9:23; Mark 14:37), it becomes a natural way of life.
Confess the Lord Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 10: 9-13).

Then listen to the Holy Spirit, He will be talking to you in your spirit (Rom.8: 16). The more you pray and read the Bible, the better you will hear. Being a christian means God talks to you. But are you listening?