This morning I read one of my favorite stories in the Bible. It is the account of God using Rehab to deliver the spies from being captured. God took a known harlot and through a simple act of kindness and the promise of words exchanged, her life and the life of her family was spared when God defeated Jericho. Rehab was among those who had witnessed the crossing of Israel across the river Jordan. SHe had heard the rumors of the great kings on the other side of the Jordan being defeated and the events in Egypt. She didn’t know God personally, but her heart desired to know this God who has shown him great and mighty power. I feel like my life is a mirror to hers. I pray daily that God would keep transforming me and through his SPirit make me a reflection of Him to bring a message of hope to those who are lost, empty, and hopeless.
Yesterday I wrote about how we need a good glass cleaner (Jesus) to clean the lenses of our eyes. To stop looking at people with worldly labels and to allow his love to change how we see people. We need to love all people as he does and to have compassion on him. We do that through the HOly SPirit that dwells within us. The power to see is the power of the Holy Spirit. Not only do we see but there are nine other characteristics of God we are given through the Holy Spirit. In Galatians we are given a list of the fruit of the Spirit. When we are surrendered and giving control to Him, he works these amazing nine characteristics through us all at one. The first three are a trinity of experience.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… Galatians 5:22
love
The first in this list is love. Yesterday I wrote about learning we can do nothing without the love of God flowing through us. Everything we do on our own is vain and will fail, but God’s love never fails. But what is this love? WHat does it look like?
The world’s view of love is very contrary to God’s definition and characteristic of love. The world defines love as romance or a warm feeling. God’s Word, however reveals that love is an action and not a feeling. Love is based in what we do. The Biblical definition of love is self-sacrificing, putting the needs of others before our own, and following the example of Jesus by humbling ourselves as servants.
5 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. Romans 5:5
Real love, true love, perfect love, is worked through us by the Holy Spirit.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
What a beautiful definition of what love produces. Love is an act, not a feeling. When we are loving through the love God fills our heart it works. God shares with us what love is not and what it is and what it produces. Outside of God, love is nothing more than the selfish notion to get something from someone else. It’s only through the Holy Spirit we can set aside out sinfulness and our selfishness to put the needs of other above our own and to humbly serve others. The love of God that works through us is his mercy that we give others. Because he shows us love, we show love to others.
joy
The Holy Spirit is what fills our hearts with joy. We can not produce joy in our lives. Joy is not a mere happiness, but joy righteousness and peace are from the Holy Spirit. True joy not dependant on circumstances, but joyful in ALL things. Joy is more than a temporary feeling of happiness. Joy is lasting and is based in more than an emotional reaction to circumstance. Joy is an active choice of attitude. We rejoice, as Christians, because we have a true redemption. Our joy comes from the Holy SPirit because we have a line between us and our Heavenly Father and NOTHING can destroy that.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. Psalm 71:23
When trouble comes, the wind and waves are crashing about us, we can rest comfortably in our Heavenly Father because only he can comfort us. We find joy in all circumstances because we trust our Heavenly Father no matter what circumstance arise.
18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:18-19
Our joy comes from the eternal hope in Christ.
peace
The world’s definition of peace and God’s are two very different definitions. The world is full of strife and division that is exasperated by sin and evil. The world is looking for a uphoria and utopia from strife. This is not the peace God works through the Holy Spirit. God’s peace is not the absence of problems, but the addition of power to meet those problems. WHen everything is crashing down around us, we sing praise and worship through the peace of knowing our Heavenly Father is with us. He will deliver us and we can rest knowing he rules over everything. We know we can take anything to God.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Our peace comes from knowing that Christ has defeated evil. Evil has no power over our lives, except what we give it. As Christians we are not immune to sin’s effect on the world, but we can take our worries to God. We also take heart that in CHrist, through the Holy Spirit, we have the peace and knowledge that he is in control. No matter the struggle, we are given peace in Him.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Trinity of Experience
The fruit of the Spirit are broken into three categories. Love, joy, and peace are the experiencing the characteristic of God and allowing him to use them to meet the needs of those around us and our own needs. It’s only through His love we can truly love others. It’s only through joy can we experience life in Christ and our freedom, liberty and victory that is given to us. It’s only through Him we can have a true peace to know he is in control and always with us, no matter what we have gotten ourselves into.
What an amazing blessing from our Heavenly Father to receive freely the gift of love, joy and peace from him!
It Starts Small 
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