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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. Against such there is not law.” Galatians 5:22-23 MEV

Please notice the wording of the above passage. It is not “But the fruits of the Spirit….” It is: “But the fruit of the Spirit….!” The word “fruit” is singular. I have read and seen books and articles trying to tell us about the “fruits”, and I always cringe knowing that the author of the book/article had not correctly read the passage.

Paul is listing the characteristics of a single fruit. Pick one – any one fruit – and you will quickly be able to list nine characteristics of that same fruit. This passage is describing the characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. What does a person who is living in the Spirit and fellowshipping in the Spirit reflect? Well, this describes them. What does the fellowship in the Holy Spirit produce? These characteristics describe them.

When we think about it, these words also describe our Lord Jesus Christ. His person becomes the internal reality in those who deeply fellowship in His Spirit. Notice I am not saying the people who pray in tongues, nor am I saying that people who prophesy, heal, work miracles, etc. develop these characteristics. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us who believe, and we are free to interact and use any and all of them. However, that does not create the fellowship in the Holy Spirit. It is simply working in faith through the gifts. I love the gifts and work freely within them, but that is not the same as “fellowship in the Holy Spirit.”

Fellowship is simply the interaction of His Spirit in us; our awareness of Him and flowing in Him as we live. It becomes very real in His presence in worship, study and focused interaction. Such times enrich and change our interiors. These characteristics are automatic in a life that has such focused interaction in our Lord Jesus through His Spirit. I think this needs to be expanded, so will leave this as it is and come back to it later.

Lord, thank You for fellowshipping in us and with us; for overshadowing our lives in your delightful presence and sweetness that we become as You are in our interior beings. Thank You!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self control. Against such there is not law.” Galatians 5:22-23 MEV

One of the things I have noticed about fruit of any kind from any plant, the plant does not need the fruit. A healthy plant produces a good fruit that is simply given for others. For instance, the apples,  they are intended to be used by others. Otherwise they simply becomes fertilizer for the tree. As far as the tree is concerned, they are give-aways.

The fruit of the Spirit is like that. Whenever we try to use it ourselves for motives that are anything but pure give-away to bless others, it is not the fruit of the Spirit. In this kind of fruit, there is no manipulation, or even any desire to hold onto it or to those to whom it is given. It is something we simply delight in giving away.

Oh that we as believers in Jesus Christ would understand this fact! We do not give to others to receive back. We give in order to stay healthy and well in the Holy Spirit. All those earth-bound hooks and control factors for keeping the attention of others are simply from the wrong spirit entirely.

Also, we know that this fruit is developed from a tree full of free-running sap. These characteristics of the Believer are developed with in-depth fellowship in the Holy Spirit. They do not become a part of my gifting, they are simply developed in us by the Holy Spirit to give freely to others. If we are getting our emotional needs met through people then we will not be satisfied with what they give. It just can’t do for us what is needed. As we fellowship in our Lord through the Holy Spirit our needs become His to meet then these characteristics become a part of our person to freely supply others with a touch and taste of Him.

This brings us to the obvious conclusion that if we want to be really healthy and productive believers, we need to be spending a lot of time in Holy Spirit training and conscious presence. We cannot have these things develop as we stay as “casual Christians.” That is a term I use for those in the Kingdom that remain very self-focus and self-centered. These folk are saved, but remain pretty much as they were when first born-again, still empty and needing at every corner. In that mind-set we continually are waiting on God to move to help us.

There really is a place in Him where we learn to move as His partner in all His movements in us. That is another post. So I will let this one be as it is.

Lord, we lean. Teach us to engage you through the Holy Spirit in all we do, so we become pliable to release your good, good fruit. We choose you, please train us and develop in us your give-away fruit. Thank you.

Next week I plan on being at the Elim Oasis Conference in Lima, NY, so I will plan on posting from there. I am using my iPad today in anticipation of having that with me. I wanted to make sure all was working and connecting well. Seems to be good. Oh yes, I have a keyboard attached, otherwise I would not be doing this much typing. Thanks for reading and enjoy your week.

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law.” Galatians 15:22-23 MEV

Striving and working does not create fruit. Any ole’ apple tree demonstrates this truth. The photo above is very common to my area. Central New York, USA is truly apple country with many, many orchards dotting the countryside. Each fall the orchards are full of visitors who gather their new produce with joy and take advantage of the fresh fruit.

If we trace the development of that luscious fruit, we discover the process of its development lies in the careful tending of its tree and the health of its sap. The tree just stands there – through the sun, rain, snow, wind and whatever that comes its way. It continues to stand, as its roots are nurtured by fertilizer and by trimming from its caretaker. But the tree, well, it just stands and lets it all happen.

In the spring, there is the abundance of bees and the sound of buzzing everywhere, but the tree, well it just stands. The sap is flowing within, and it continues to bring fresh life to the interior of the tree. Sure enough, a bud develops and then a flower and out of that flower a little apple. As the season continues into the heat of summer, the sap continues to flow and produce the fruit as the tree; well it just continues to stand.

The point? Well, the “fruit” of the Holy Spirit is not developed by our effort but by our fellowship in life. Paul says to the Corinthian people as he closes his letter we call 2 Corinthians,

“14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

Paul knew that the only way to live in the fullness of what we are in Christ is to fellowship with and in the Holy Spirit. Nothing else will develop the fruit needful for our outward expression revealing our Lord in our world.

13 We know that we live in Him, and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, God’s love is perfected in us, so that we may have boldness on the Day of Judgment because as He is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:13-17 MEV

So we are left once again at the doorstep of trust.

“Without faith is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Our study will not develop these characters that are ours in Him. Our working in prayer will not do it either. We can only rest in Him and trust the Holy Spirit to develop us from living with untapped resources to releasing the full bloom of those resources. We lean and trust Him, learning fellowship in His heart as we study and talk with Him.

Learning to rest instead of working is hard on all of us. But it is the way of the Holy Spirit. We are to rest in Him and all He has finished. He calls us to trust — to just stand there. It is the foundation of everything that He does in us and for us.

Lord, teach us to rest. We have such a tendency in our life in you to turn everything into some discipline or effort. Teach us how to relax, trust and begin to unfold in your heart as we allow you to unfold in ours. Such is our journey in you. Thank you for holding us in rest.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22 MEV

I have known this passage for most of my life. I memorized it when I was a young child and have repeated it often. It never seems to lose its comfort. However, there has always been a challenge in it as well. How on earth can I have all of those attributes in my life?

So I have done what most of us do with such, I studied each and every characteristic and “tried” sincerely to implement them in my life. Never realizing that the attitude of me trying was going to end in frustration each and every time.

Jesus said, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 MEV

I knew this one too. Yet, I had never put them together. When we choose to go deeply into our Lord’s heart and presence, we begin to experience a number of items that are usually not mentioned. Change occurs deep within us. It is a change that we volunteered for – for sure, but it happens, not because of trying, but because of fellowship. As we grow accustomed to giving and receiving love in Him, there begins a shift in our entire perception. Oh, it is not a rapid thing, nor a thing of accomplishment in any way. It is instead an adjustment in my core that aligns my heart in such sweet gentleness in Him.

What I have begun to understand is that His love is so complete, and His gentleness in me is so real that I know I am accepted as I am. His delight is in me. In that is a huge release into rest that allows a fellowship so deep that even my core relaxes into Him. I am very much “still in process” and I am sure will be all my remaining years in this sphere. There is much, much to adjust and renew; however, it is all done in such a beautiful movement that my heart overflows with His love.

Lord, You are so much more that we have ever dreamed. On this Resurrection weekend, may our fellowship and belonging together bless You in me.

“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with them who love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations,….” Deuteronomy 7:9 MEV

Our LORD is more faithful than our seasons! I have been watching my iris beds as I saw the flags of these minature iris’ pop up a few days ago. This morning – the flowers have very faithfully arrived! The white ones have not yet been seen, but these beauties adorn my front lawn iris bed this morning. They will only last for a few days, so I will enjoy them – rain and all. I wanted to share them with you.

In my prayer time this morning, our Lord was instructing me (once again – He does it so often and in such patience) that He is faithful. Of course He is! But how easy it is to think about what our circumstances are proclaiming. If we are not cautious we will believe that what these situations say is truth. It is always only a passing season – simply because in a moment of time everything changes. So whatever truth it contains, it is brief. On the other hand, our beautiful Lord Jesus is always the same and always faithful to us as individuals and faithful to His word to us and in us.

So as we begin to see the first signs of our season changing, let’s embrace the momentary beauty and allow His faithfulness to be the center of our thoughts and actions. What a marvelous Lord we have. And just think, next spring, once again up these tiny beauties will come – if the earth remains.

“Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, that they may be one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.” John 17:20-23 (WEB)

If you will, for just a moment, allow this passage to be “seen” in your mind and Spirit. For years, I misunderstood what our Lord was saying and therefore, totally missed a very key understanding of this New Covenant that has been cut in Christ and given freely to all who will receive Him.

This passage is letting us know “separateness” has been eliminated in its fulfillment. By “separateness” I mean separateness from Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The passage is not talking about something we do within the Body of Christ and is not talking about “unity” within the Body at all. The word “unity” does not appear in the Greek. Instead, He is praying about a reality that would be released within us when the Spirit was poured into us on that beautiful Pentecost Day!

This prayer in John 17 was completely fulfilled when the Spirit was poured out into His Body! There is nothing left for us to do about it, except receiving its truth. When He came inside, we became one Spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17) We have been embraced in the “gift of oneness” that is the nature of eternity in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He was praying that we would be one in the fellowship of the Trinity! In other words, the gifting of the Body with the Holy Spirit has eliminated any distance from God. We have been made complete in Him – lacking nothing!

This is a change in our being that has massive repercussions in our life. Our thoughts now accessing His, our plans now being laid in His, our hopes realized in Him, and our prayers always effective in Him. What an outlandish gift!

How can this be with such sin in our lives? That is the topic for the next post. Much has been revealed inside me and I am struggling to be able to describe what I have “seen” in Him. Bear with me and pray for it all to become clearer and clearer as I work with it in Him.

(WEB is World English Bible a public domain Bible accessible to all on the web.)

I am indebted to my dear friend and  daughter-in-faith, Renee Hoyle, for this beautiful photo  I am using above for the “header.” You can see its full beauty in the photo just below this post.

The word of our Lord is not to only be understood in the mind but also to be grasped in the place of our deepest “aha.” There is a “dawning” when we really get it. I watch this happened over and over in my students, and I await my own interior having the same delightful response when something is unfold by the Spirit in our time with the Word! It is a “dawning” that will literally re-direct my thinking for the entire day. It is like a new discovery that never, never gets old and never, never ends.

Years ago when I was teaching four or five (depending upon the week) Bible classes, I would go from one to the other in such newness and awareness of His marvels stored in the word. One such week, I asked the Lord, “When do I run out?” His response was beautiful. In my heart I heard , “I don’t.” It is so true. I might run out if I was teaching what I knew or understood from my own resources, but He is a resource than is ever faithful and never ending. He continues to pour Himself out in joy and glory as I receive what He has to say.

Our Bibles contain the wisdom of the universe – oh not all written down. The written down part is to allow us to have words to think on, but those words explode in His presence in such a way that one could teach all day on one verse or less. What a deposit of glory has been given to us in the Book!

One of the first times I saw this in action was at a women’s retreat years and years ago. A lady by the name of Iverna Tompkins was teaching and she taught the entire week-end on two verses in Genesis. I was overjoyed, stunned and challenged. I asked the Lord to let me teach like that. Oh I did not have in mind “like Iverna,” not at all. I had in mind learning to allow Him to reveal such glories and Himself through the written page. He is and has been faithful these many, many years.

I am preparing to teach today — an Institute level class on Hebrews 5-6. Even though I have written the text-book my students are using, and even though I have taught Hebrews many, many times – yet today it is new and alive and revealing itself in ways I have never seen. And I guess that is the point for me and for you. He wants us to “see.” Oh precious Lord Jesus, let it be so – in me and in my students – now and always!

This is the title of the teaching I will be doing tomorrow evening (2-12-16) at Psalm 19 Ministries’ regular Friday Fellowship meeting – 7 pm. Please consider joining us (at Live-Stream if you are not in our area) at 6138 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY.

When we gathered a few weeks ago, I taught on Ephesians 1:1-14. Tomorrow I will be teaching on Ephesians 1:15-23 and Romans 8:28-30. Both of these passages describe the marvelous “spiritual blessings” the Lord gives to His own. These are not earned, nor are they given to a “special few.” Instead they are in Him and therefore poured out abundantly into each who are His own. The empowering goes on and on. Yet, most of us have not understood the depth and the inclusion of ourselves in this belonging.

I have translated the passages for us in order to more accurately reflect what the Greek is saying, concentrating on the accurate translation of the conjunctions and pronouns. It is amazing what is unfolded when this is done. If the translator does not understand the completeness of the “in Christ” of all who are His, then these truths will not be understood and certainly not “seen” in the believer’s heart. These things were intended for us to “behold.” When we see, we then can embrace and walk in its empowement.

So plan to join us and allow your heart to be enfolded in our true destiny in His love and provision.

Just a little bit of color on this very snowy day to remind us all what is ahead in a few months.