The Fruit of the Spirit is Love

In the Old Covenant you know the Set Apart Spirit often came upon men as the Spirit of revelation to reveal the hidden truths of YAHWEH or for power to do the work of YAHWEH. But the Spirit of YAHWEH did not at that time dwell in them. Today many people just want the Old Covenant gift of power for work, but know very little of the New Covenant gift of the indwelling Spirit, working in and renewing your whole life in the MESSIYAH. When YAHWEH gives the Set Apart Spirit, YAHWEH's main object in doing so is the working out of a set apart from evil character in you. It is the gift of a set apart from evil mind and spiritual disposition, and for you to be able to say: I have to have the Spirit of YAHWEH, which sets apart from evil my whole inner life, if I am to really live for YAHWEH's honour. 

You might say that when YAHSHUA promised the Spirit to HIS students, HE did this so that they would have power to be witnesses. True, but not only for this, for when they received the Set Apart Spirit in power, the Spirit took possession of their entire beings, and worked out in them a set apart from evil or righteous walk, so that they could do the work in power. YAHSHUA spoke of power to HIS students, but it was the Spirit filling their whole beings, which worked the power. Let us now speak of the passage in GalutYah (Galatians) 5:22; "The fruit of the Spirit is Love." We read that: "Love is the fulfillment of the Law" and my desire is to speak on love as a fruit of the Spirit with a twofold object. 

One is to use these words as a searchlight in our hearts and give us a way by which to test all of our thoughts about the Spirit of YAHWEH, and to examine our experience in the set apart from evil way of life. Let us all test ourselves by these words! Has this been our daily habit, to seek out being filled by the Set Apart Spirit the Spirit of Love?  Before YAHSHUA promised the Set Apart Spirit would come, He gave a new Commandment: "Even as I have loved you, so in this way love one another." To them, YAHSHUA'S love was to be the only law of their conduct and fellowship with each other. What a message to those men who were full of pride and selfishness. "LEARN TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU." And by the unmerited favor of YAHWEH they did it. When the Feast of Weeks came they were of one mind and soul, the Spirit of the MESSIYAH did it for them and now YAHSHUA calls us to live and walk in love. YAHSHUA demands that although a man hates you, you will still love him. True love will not be conquered by anything in the heavens nor on the earth, the more hatred there is, the more love will overcome and show its true nature. This is the love that YAHSHUA commanded HIS students to exercise, what else did YAHSHUA say..."By this will all men know that you are MY students, if you love one another." Yochanan (John) 13:35.  

We all know what it means to wear a badge, well YAHSHUA in effect said to HIS students: I give you a badge and this badge is love, this is to be your mark by which all will know you. It is the only thing in the heavens or on earth by which we will be known. Do we not begin to fear that love has fled from the earth? That if we were to ask the world: Have you seen our badge of love, the world would say, no, what we have seen and heard of the Assembly is that there is no place where there is no quarreling and separation. Let us ask YAHWEH with one heart to bring this about that we can wear the badge of YAHSHUA'S love. YAHWEH is able to do it. Love conquers selfishness; 

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE!!

Why? Because nothing but love can expel and overcome our selfishness. Self is the great curse whether in its relation to YAHWEH or to our fellow men, in general or to other believers, self only thinks of itself, and seeks its own pleasure. Self is our greatest curse, but praise YAHWEH the MESSIYAH YAHSHUA came to redeem us from our own self-will. We sometimes talk about deliverance from the self-life, but I am afraid some people think deliverance from the self-life means that they no longer will have any trouble in serving YAHWEH, they forget however that deliverance from self-life means that you must be overflowing with love, to everyone all day. 

Many people pray for the power of the Set Apart Spirit and they get only a little, because they pray for power for the work and for blessings, yet they do not pray for the full deliverance from the self-life. That means not only that your self­will is in fellowship with YAHWEH, but the unloving self-will must be in fellowship with all people. 

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is LOVE!

I am bringing before you the honoured promise of the MESSIYAH, that YAHSHUA is able to fill our hearts with YAHWEH's love. A great many of us try hard at times to love everyone. We try to force ourselves to love and I do not say that this is wrong, it is better than not trying at all, but the end of self-effort always ends with sadness. I fail continually, is what one must confess. Why is this true? The reason is because many have never learned to believe and trust the truth that the Spirit can pour out YAHWEH's love into our hearts.

"The love of YAHWEH is shed abroad in our hearts."  RomiYah (Romans) 5:5 This is often understood only in this sense; this is the love of YAHWEH to me... But this is only part of its meaning, the love of YAHWEH in its entirety is the fullness as an indwelling power, YAHWEH's love to me which is returned to YAHWEH in love and overflows to my fellow human being in love, that is, from YAHWEH's love to me and my love in return to YAHWEH, flowing out as love to all mankind. These three aspects are one, they cannot be separated.

Do come to believe that the love of YAHWEH can be shed in your heart and mine, so that we will walk in love all day long. Why is a Lamb always gentle? Because that is its nature. Does it cost the Lamb any trouble to be gentle? No, and why not? Because it is beautiful and gentle. Does a Lamb study to become gentle? No. Why does it come so easy to the Lamb? Because it is its nature. What about the wolf, why is it satisfied to be cruel and put its fangs into the poor Lamb? Because this is its nature. The wolf does not need to summon up its courage, because the wolf-nature is always there within it. 

Therefore how can I learn to love? You can not. Only when the Spirit of YAHWEH fills my heart with YAHWEH's love and I begin to long for YAHWEH's love in a different way from the way I have selfishly loved, when I see the comfort, joy, happiness and the pleasure of YAHWEH's love which overcomes in me, not until I begin to understand that YAHWEH IS LOVE, then I can start to receive its indwelling power which empowers me for self-sacrifice. Then I will begin to see my honour and happiness is to be like YAHWEH and YAHSHUA in giving up everything in myself for my fellow human being. May YAHWEH teach us all of these things. YAHWEH's blessing of love is amazing in which the Set Apart Spirit will fill our hearts. 

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE !!

Love is YAHWEH's gift to us, without it we could not live the daily life of love. We often speak about a life set apart to the MESSIYAH, yet we must speak also about temper. Our temper is a proof of whether the love of the MESSIYAH is filling our hearts or not. Many do find it easier to be in control of temper in the Assembly or prayer meetings, or in doing work for the Master or in daily life out side the home, yet in the home our tempers come out! Where is the love of YAHWEH in this? In YAHSHUA, YAHWEH has prepared for us a wonderful redemption and longs to make us into the image of YAHSHUA. Have we truly longed for this or asked for it and do we expect it to be fulfilled in us? Then there is the tongue! We sometimes speak of the tongue when we talk of the better life in the MESSIYAH, but just think about the freedom most believers give to their tongues, they say;" I have a right to think how I like." And they talk about each other... their neighbors... other believers... how often they use sharp words! YAHWEH keep me from saying anything that is unloving, YAHWEH SHUT MY MOUTH if I do not speak in tender love to all...even my enemies... What I am saying is fact, how often is it found among believers, who are working together for YAHWEH, that they have sharp criticism, sharp judgment, hasty opinions, unloving words, secret contempt of one another, secret condemnation of one another? Oh just as a mother's love covers her children and delights in them, having tender compassion with their weaknesses and failures, so there should be in the heart of every believer a motherly love toward every brother and sister in the MESSIYAH YAHSHUA, Have you aimed at this? Have you sought after this love? Have you ever pleaded before YAHWEH for it? YAHSHUA said: "AS I have loved you, love one another," It is in our daily life and conduct that the fruit of the Spirit is love. From this fruit love is made known, and these fruits are; joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness and kindness. With this fruit there should be no sharpness nor hardness in your voice, no unkindness or selfishness, only humbleness before YAHWEH and mankind. I have often thought as I read these words in Colossians: "Put on therefore, as chosen ones of YAHWEH, set apart and having been loved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, meekness, patience." QolesaYah (Colossians) 3:12) that if I had written this, I would have put in first the manly virtues, such as zeal, courage and diligence, but we must come to see how the gentler, the most womanly virtues are especially connected with dependence upon the Spirit of YAHWEH, These are indeed the blessings of YAHWEH's unmerited favor and they never were found out by the pagan world. The MESSIYAH YAHSHUA had to come down from the heavens to teach these things. Your happiness comes from patience, meekness, kindness, your honour is humbleness before YAHWEH!

The Fruit of the Spirit, which the Spirit brought from the heavens out of the heart of the executed MESSIYAH and what the Spirit gives to us is first and foremost, LOVE. You know what Yochanan said: "No man has ever seen YAHWEH, if we love one another, YAHWEH will live in us and this Ones love will be perfected in us." Yochanan Alef(1 John) 4:12. We cannot see YAHWEH, but we can see our brother and sisters and if we love them, YAHWEH will live in us through YAHWEH's Spirit. Do we believe this to be true? Loving one another is the way to real fellowship with YAHWEH. Yochanan also gives us this test; "If anyone says, I love YAHWEH and yet hates his brother, he is a liar, because he who does not love his brother who he can see, how can he love YAHWEH who he has never seen? (Yochanan Alef 4:20), There is a brother or sister, a most unloving individual, who causes you sorrow every time you meet them, This person has the very opposite disposition to yours, and you say: "I cannot love this one!" Oh friend, you have not learned the lesson YAHSHUA wanted to teach you above all else. Let that person be what they will, you are to love them.

LOVE IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, All Day And Every Day

Yes, listen, if a believer does not love their brothers and sisters in YAHSHUA who they have seen, if you cannot love that unlovable person who you can see, how can you love YAHWEH who you have not seen? You can deceive yourself with beautiful thoughts about loving YAHWEH, yet you must prove your love to YAHWEH by loving all your brothers and sisters in YAHSHUA, this is the standard by which YAHWEH will judge your love to YAHWEH. If YAHWEH's love is in your heart, you will love your brothers and sisters in YAHSHUA,

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE!!

Now what is the reason YAHWEH's Spirit cannot come in power? The children of YAHWEH when ever they come together, to whatever Assembly or group they belong to, must love one another truly, or the Spirit of YAHWEH cannot do this Ones work. We talk of grieving the Spirit of YAHWEH by worldliness, ritualism, formality, error and indifference, but I tell you the one thing that grieves YAHWEH's Spirit most is lack of this love. Let every one search their own hearts and ask YAHWEH's Spirit to show us the truth in our own hearts. 

OUR LOVE SHOWS YAHWEH'S POWER

Why are we taught that the fruit of the Spirit is love? Because the Spirit of YAHWEH has come to make our daily life an exhibition of YAHWEH's power and an uncovering of what YAHWEH can do for YAHWEH's children. In the second and fourth chapters of Acts, we read that the students of YAHSHUA were of one heart and inner being. During the time they were with YAHSHUA they were never walking in this Spirit. All of YAHSHUA'S teaching could not make them of one heart and inner being. But the Set Apart Spirit came from the heavens and shed the love of YAHWEH in their hearts and then they were of one heart and inner being. This same Spirit that brought this love from YAHWEH must also fill our hearts. Nothing less will do. Even as the MESSIYAH did preach love while on earth, this teaching would not teach any man to love unless the power of YAHWEH's Spirit comes upon them to bring YAHWEH's love into their hearts. Think of the Church at large, what divisions. Think of all the different denominations. Take the question of separation from evil, of the cleansing blood of YAHSHUA or the immersion of the Spirit, how much separation is caused among believers by such questions!! The trouble is not in the differences of opinion, we do not have the same constitution and temperament or mind, but how often hate, bitterness, contempt, separation and unlovingness are caused by the truth of YAHWEH's Word!! Our teachings, and creeds have become more important than love! We often think we are zealous for the truth, yet we forget YAHWEH's command to speak the truth IN LOVE!! This has been true throughout the history of the assembly, what bitterness there has been over the Supper of YAHSHUA, which was meant to be the bond of union among all YAHSHUA'S followers. So, down through the ages the very truths of YAHWEH have become mountains that have separated us. If we want to make requests in power and if we expect the Set Apart Spirit to come upon us with power, if we want YAHWEH to pour out the Spirit, we must enter into a covenant with YAHWEH, so that we will love one another with YAHWEH's love. Are you ready for this? Only true love is large enough to accept all of YAHWEH's children, even the most unloving, unworthy, unbearable children, or trying ones. If my vow of absolute surrender to YAHWEH was true, then it means YAHWEH's love will fill me to be a slave of love, to love every child of YAHWEH around me. 

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE

Oh YAHWEH did a wonderful thing by sending YAHSHUA who is now at YAHWEH's right side, then the Spirit of YAHWEH came down out of the  ABBA'S (FATHER'S) heart with YAHWEH'S everlasting Love. Oh how we have degraded the Set Apart Spirit into a mere power by which we do our work.

YAHWEH forgive us! Oh that the Set Apart Spirit would be held in honour as the power to fill us with the very nature of YAHWEH and YAHSHUA.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE

Do we need the power of the Spirit in our work also? Yes, we do, we not only need YAHWEH's love to bind us to one another, but we need this love in our work for those not in the kingdom. Do we not often undertake a work for YAHSHUA with a natural spirit of compassion for our fellow human beings? Do we not often undertake this work because our pastor or friends call us to it? Do we not often perform our work with a certain zeal but without having had an immersion of love? People often ask: "What is the immersion of fire?" The fire of YAHWEH's love, the everlasting love that led YAHSHUA to the stake, the immersion of fire of this love. This immersion of love is what the Assembly needs and to get this love we all must begin at once to get down on our faces before YAHWEH in confession and beg: "YAHWEH let your love flow down into my heart, I am giving my life to YOU in prayer and will live as one who has given up everything for this everlasting love to live in and fill me."

Yes, if the love of YAHWEH were in all our hearts what a difference it would make! So many believers say: "I work for the MESSIYAH, yet I feel I could work even harder, but I do not have the gift. I do not know how or where to begin. I do not know what I should do!" Brother, sister, ask YAHWEH to immerse you with the Spirit of Love, and this love will find its way. Love is a fire that will burn through everything. YAHWEH fill us with love. We need it in our work, 0 YAHWEH, immerse your workers with a tender love.

Oh that YAHWEH would begin with us now and immerse us with YAHWEH's love.

You may be an earnest believer, an earnest pastor or one who does good, but how often do you have to confess that you know little of what it is to live with YAHWEH? May YAHWEH give us the right spirit, a spirit of prayer and supplication, so that we will do the work of intercession, the work of going before YAHWEH on behalf of others. Let me ask you, in the NAME of YAHSHUA not to let a day pass without praying for all of YAHWEH's children. Take time to pray also for YAHSHUA'S Assembly, it is right to pray for non-believers, but Shaul told us to pray for believers first.

Do make this your request every day: "YAHWEH, watch over your set apart from evil ones (saints) everywhere. The state of the assembly is terribly low, plead for YAHWEH's people so that the Spirit would come upon them, plead for each other, plead for all believers who are trying to work for YAHWEH. Let YAHWEH's love fill your heart, ask YAHSHUA to pour it out to you everyday. Open your heart to the Spirit of YAHWEH, set yourselves apart unto the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit is love. YAHWEH help us to understand this...

May YAHWEH grant that we learn day by day to wait upon YAHWEH. Do not wait upon YAHWEH only for yourself or the power to do so will soon be lost, but give yourself up to YAHSHUA'S work and the love of intercession. Pray more for YAHWEH'S people, for the Spirit of love to come in ourselves and in them. Because the work of YAHSHUA is connected with us, the answer will surely come, our waiting upon YAHWEH will be the source of happiness and power.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE

Do you have a lack of love to confess before YAHWEH? Then make your confession before YAHWEH and cast it at YAHSHUA'S feet, believe that the blood cleanses you, that YAHSHUA comes in power to clean you and deliver you, so that HE can send to you the Spirit of YAHWEH. 

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE

 

By Brother Pat McCulloch

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