eternal values ministries

                                                           The Fruit of the Spirit 

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is the Character of God. This is God's standard of holiness in our lives. The purpose of our salvation is that we be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

[Phl 3:10 KJV] 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;...

[Rom 8:28-29 KJV] 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  

Above all things we may aspire to in this life as saints of God, our first priority must be a personal transformation/conformation to be as the Lord. Without this we are in danger of preaching one thing and living another.  

[1Co 9:26-27 KJV] 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 

[Rom 12:1-2 KJV] 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.   

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:...  

The apostle Paul lays out for us the nine manifestations of the Fruit of the Spirit. Please note it is one fruit, not many fruits. 

[Gal 5:22-23 KJV] 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

This he puts in contrast to the works of the flesh.  

[Gal 5:19-21 KJV] 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (unrestrained sexual behavior) 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, (contention debate strife) emulations,(jealousies,rivirly) wrath, strife, seditions, (divisions) heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, (carousing) and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  

                                          The first Fruit of the Spirit: Love  

Love is the first fruit and is the foundation, for God is Love.   

[1Jo 4:7-11 KJV] 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.  

Here we read : God is Love. The LORD loves us, he is benevolent. However this love speaks of the very essence of God's being. Therefore his love proceeds from his being. For us to love as God loves you must be Born Again. This scripture is not saying that when a person loves he is born of God. For many unbelievers have had a sacrificial giving love, but this love though directed towards others at their own expense can only love as a man. We have heard of great sacrifices men do for their families. Some give their lives to save others as in war times. Yet this is not God's love as proceeds from his being, but from man's being. Mankind is created in His image, and being fallen still possess some semblance of the divine.  

The Love of God can only manifest in us if we possess his Holy Spirit. For man's spirit can only take him so far, yet God's love is eternal.  

[Eph 2:4-10 KJV] 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  

This eternal love not only extends to eternity future, but was given us in eternity past. 

[Eph 1:3-6 KJV] 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  

So God is Love. If you have received Christ by Grace through faith and possess his Holy Spirit, you are His child and as you surrender your life unto Him, He will teach you to Love others as He loves you.  

                                 The Joy of the Lord is my strength.  

The second fruit is Joy. It would seem impossible not to have the Joy of the Lord if you know His love. Again, this is a supernatural Joy that proceeds from His being.  

Heb.12:2) Looking 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  

A job well accomplished gives great joy to the doer and receiver. Jesus set his face as a flint toward the cross and thus became the Author and Finisher of our faith.  

Isa 50:7)  For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 

Jhn 19:28 ¶ After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.   

Our Lord determined His faith in the Garden of Gethsemane. He wrestled before His Father in prayer. He made up his mind to be obedient, even unto the death of the cross.

[Mar 14:34-36 KJV] 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. 

Our Lord went through a great battle. In this battle he thought upon you and me.  

[1Jo 1:1-4 KJV] 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.