Fruit of Love

TEXT: Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Galatians portray Christ as our LIBERTY, showing that the believer is no longer under the law but is saved by faith alone. The “law” is that portion of God’s Word found in the first five books of Moses (Genesis-Deuteronomy) by which every phase of Israel’s life was to be guided.

Paul is the author and founder of the Christian Churches in Galatia. “Stand fast,” one of Paul’s favorite expressions, meaning we must maintain our position of erectness: in the faith: (1^st Corinthians 16:13) Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong:   in the liberty.  (Galatians 5:1) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage:  in the Spirit (Philippians 1:27): Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ:  that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel:   and in the Lord (Philippians 4:1) Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.   Paul wants the Galatians to hold fast to their personal liberty (freedom in Christ Jesus).

Our freedom hinges on John 15:4, “Abide in me and I in you.”  The word “abide” in the Greek is meno, meaning to remain, continue, to live, and we shall be free to bear much fruit with God.

Our text list nine graces/fruit in order and clustered into three groups:

Love, joy peace, has to do with our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, has to do with our relationship and interaction with other people.

Faith, meekness, temperance, has to do with our own inner state of being.

The “fruit of the Spirit” is called “fruit” singular and not “fruits” plural.  Fruits plural are fruit that’s produced in us and not nine different fruits, but one singular “fruit” manifested in nine distinct qualities. So, you can’t have one without the other eight. If one’s missing you don’t have any of them because they all have to be there at once.

The word “fruit” in Greek is harpos, which is that which originates from a source and that source is the Holy Spirit of God. The flesh can’t produce these fruit. Remember, it’s the “fruit of the Spirit”.

Today, of the nine listed here, I’m going to focus on the fruit of love in the life of the believer. Are you aware the fruit of love has to do with your attitude towards other people?

Do you have a loving attitude or an unloving attitude?

Are you giving towards others, or do you tend to be selfish? If your hand is always closed, nothing can get in nor get out.

Do you view others in the worst possible light or the best possible light?

Do you judge people, or do you give them grace?

Do you tend to hold grudges, or do you forgive other people, freely?

These all have to do with your attitude towards other people – are you loving or unloving in your attitude?

Note: your attitude is different from your feelings. Everyone believes that love is important, but love is usually thought of as a feeling. When in reality, love is a choice and an action, meaning you can choose to love other people even when you don’t feel like it. It all comes down to your attitude toward others. My question! Are you showing this cluster of fruit in your life?  

1^st Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us that God is the source of our love; he loved us so much that HE was compelled to give and sacrifice His SON for us. That’s what it means to love.

·        Vs 4: Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up:  vs 5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil:  vs 6: Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.

John says, “God is love” (1^st John 4:8), not “love is God.”

What the world has done with its shallow and selfish view of love has turned these words around and contaminated our understanding of love. The world think that love is what makes a person feel good and that it is all right to sacrifice moral principles and others rights in order to obtain such “love.” But that isn’t real love instead it is the exact opposite, selfishness.

God is not that kind of love. Real love is like God, who is holy, just, and perfect. Now, my friends, how well do you display your love for God in the choices you make and the actions you take?

Often times, we talk about needing an attitude adjustment, but according to the Bible what we need is an attitude transformation! We are born selfish, and we will continue down that path until God helps us and changes us. We need God’s help to love other people as HE would have us love them.  I want to share three basic aspects of the fruit of love:

FIRST:  LOVE (the "first" fruit listed):

This word “first” is that which is foremost in position, rank, importance, coming before all others in time, order. There was nothing before Jesus Christ.  He has always been even before the world began:  Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created. Jesus said in Revelation 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” the “First and the Last.”  Without Him it would be no universe, no you and no me. He is the Creator and the Great “I AM.” HE is great and greatly to be praised.

Looking at the lineup of the fruit, love is the first one listed setting the tone for the others.  “Love” in the Greek is “agape” meaning unconditional, sacrificial love, referencing the love that God is (1^st John 4:8); that God shows (1^st John 3:16) For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life:  (1^st John 4:9) 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. This is the love that God gives as a manifestation of His Spirit bearing fruit in the heart of a yielded saint.

This fruit called "love" is greater than anything you can speak, know, understand, possess or give away according to Apostle Paul.

It’s great because it’s the basis for all the other commandments. Matthew 22:37 Jesus was talking to the Scribes, the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, so here they come asking, Which is the first and greatest commandment? Jesus said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Vs 38 “This is the first and greatest commandment.” Vs 39 And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

It’s no doubt “love” is the paramount fruit (meaning more important than anything else) in the life of the believer.

It’s not only the greatest and most important, but it contains all the other fruit as well. Apostle Paul explains the absolute necessity of real Love in 1^st Corinthians 13:1-3: He said, “Though I speak with tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”  “And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”  “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.” 

So without love this magnificent manifestation of gifts and the most heroic self-sacrifice, means absolutely nothing.

Look how Paul defines real love, vs 4-7.  Love suffers long, having patience with imperfect people. Love is kind, active in doing good. Love does not envy; it’ non-possessive, and non-competitive, it wants other people to get ahead. It doesn’t parade itself.  It’s not puffed up, treating others arrogantly; it does not behave rudely, but displays good manners and courtesy. Love is not provoked; it is not irritable, rough, touchy, or hostile, but it’s graceful under pressure.

Love thinks no evil; it does not keep an account of wrongs done to it; it erases resentments. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, finding satisfaction in the shortcomings of others and spreading an evil report, rather, it rejoices in the truth, aggressively advertising the good.

Love bears all things, defending and holding other people up. Love believes the best about others, credits them with good intentions, and is not suspicious. Love hopes all things, never giving up on people, but affirming their future. Love endures all things, persevering and remaining loyal to the end. Ask yourself again, Is this the cluster of fruit manifesting in my life?

Now, can you see how many of the fruit of the Spirit are listed in Paul’s description of love? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—they are all there because they are all part of the first fruit of love.

Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God’s kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. It’s impossible to practice this kind of love without God helping us to set aside our own desires and instincts. There’s no doubt about it, the only way we will be able to give love while expecting nothing in return:

·        Colossians 3:12: “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, meekness, longsuffering.”  

Paul offers us a strategy to help us live for God day by day:

- Imitate Christ compassion and have a forgiving attitude;

-Let love guide your life;

-Let the peace of God rule in your life and keep God’s Word in you at all times and you will be able to build bridges and not walls.

·        vs 13: Forbearing one another, forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:  even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.

If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do……and over all these virtues put on “love,” which binds them together in perfect unity. This is how the fruit of love functions, to bind all the fruit together. You can’t have any of the other fruit without love.  John Edwards’s calls love “the sum of all grace.”

SECONDLY:  LOVE AND GOD

1^st John tells us that God is love, and all love comes from God. (1^st John 4:7) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God:  vs 8: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

God is described in many ways in the Bible; loving, kind, patient, glorious, majestic, all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present! There are only a few times the Bible describes God in terms of what HE is.

We are told God is Spirit (John 4:24):  God is light (1^st John 1:5), and twice we are told God is love (1^st John 4:8, 16).  In other words God is not, only loving but He is love. He is the spiritual embodiment of love, just as Jesus in His incarnation was the physical embodiment of love. All His attributes such as power and holiness, are marked by love.

Then, God wants to develop His love in your life.  (1^st John 4:11) Beloved, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another:  vs 12: No man has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Keep in mind, the fruit of the Spirit is part of your witness for Christ.

People can’t physically see God, but they can see God in you when you allow God to develop His love in your life. One of the strongest ways to be a good witness of Christ is when you display the fruit of God’s love in your life.

LASTLY: GROWING IN LOVE

The fruit of the Spirit is all about growing more like Jesus. Once you surrender your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit resides on the inside of the believer to help him/her and change him/her. The Holy Spirit works to develop the character of Christ within you. As you allow the Holy Spirit to transform your attitude, you will grow in the love of God. Today, there are a few things you can do;

Meditate on God’s Love—Remember, love has to do with your attitude and when you realize how much God loves you, it can’t but change your attitude toward others.

Jesus tells us in John 13:34: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another":  vs 35: “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love, one to another.”

Jesus is referencing back to the theme in John13:13-17, regarding servanthood (washing the feet of the disciples), a disposition of the heart and spirit expressing itself in action. Here, HE speaks of it as a “new commandment” to love one another. It’s new because it presents a new standard—which is the love of Jesus. The servant, like, selfless love that Christians display toward one another witnesses to the world, that they are true disciples.

The disciples were continually plagued with passion to be great, to be first. Christ wanted them to see the desire to be first, to be superior, and honored above fellow Christians is contrary against the Spirit of the Lord:

(Luke 22:24-30) [Who is the greatest]: And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.  And he said unto them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors”.  But you shall not be so:  but he that is greatest among you let him be as the younger, and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.  For whether who is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves?  Is not he that sits at meat?  But I am among you as he that serves.  You are they which have continued with me in my temptations.  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me:  that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(John 13:12-17) [Jesus washes the disciple’s feet]:  vs 12: So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know you what I have done to you? Vs 13: You call me Master and Lord, and you say well; for so I am.  Vs 14: If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  Vs 15: For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you.  Vs 16: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither, he that is sent greater than he that sent him.  Vs 17: If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.

(1st Peter 5:5) Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.  Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:  for God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.

We can’t love until we know what love is. This is how we know what love is:

·        1^st John 3:16: Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:  and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. It also speaks about the Father’s love in sending Jesus.

Choose to forgive others:

It’s not always easy to forgive. We don’t always feel like forgiving. But, remember, love is more than just a feeling. It is a command. It is a commitment. It is a choice. When you choose to forgive someone, you are choosing God’s way of love.

·        Ephesians 4:32: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

·        Colossians 3:13: Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you: vs 14: And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfectness (completeness; wholeness).  

You still may not feel like forgiving, but that’s okay. Sometimes you just need to make the right choice first and let your feelings catch up with you later.

Ask God to develop the fruit of His love in your life.

Keep in mind, the fruit of the Spirit is something God does in your life rather than you. So, ask God to develop the fruit of love in you.

Luke 11:9: Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.

James 4:2: Yet, you do not have because you do not ask.

Learning to love is a process, it’s an action, meaning, you’re about the things of God.

·        2^nd Timothy 2:15: Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 So investigate the Word of God, and spend time in God’s Word, because it’s a fertilizer to grow the “Fruit of Love” in you.

Remember 1^st Corinthians 13:13: And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).

Praise the Lord!!

Evangelist Brenda Hansley

“The Lord’s Supper”! (pt.3)

 Text: Matthew 26:20-30:  (Christ our King) – In here we see (The Lord’s Supper instituted by Christ Himself):  [Matthew covers events from Jesus' birth to His resurrection]:  today I’m ministering on just one of those events and that’s “The Lord’s Supper” or the “Last Passover”.

·         Vs 26: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat, this is my body”.  Vs 27: And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, “Drink you all of it”.  Vs 28: For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many, for the remission of sins”.  Vs 29: But I say unto you, “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day (after His resurrection) when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom”.

This Passover festival was instituted by God for Israel at the time of the Exodus in order to commemorate the night when Yahweh spared (passed the houses where the blood was applied) all the firstborn of the Israelites, but struck dead all the firstborn of the Egyptians (Exo.12:1-51).

This “Passover festival”, the “eating of the unleavened bread” and “drinking of the wine” were looked upon as memorials of the deliverance of the Israelites being raised from the bondage of an Egyptian tyrant to being a free people owing allegiance to no one but Jehovah.  

The Exodus was looked upon as the birth of the nation; the Passover was the annual birthday feast celebrating their deliverance.  Each year the celebration was to be done as it was when they came out of Egypt:  the killing of a lamb roasted with fire, eating its flesh, eating of unleavened bread, with bitter herbs; eat it with their loins girded; shoes on their feet; and staff in hand; and eat in haste.

What the “communion”, “the Lord’s Supper”, or “Passover” is truly all about is God’s people “communing or coming into union with God and with one another as one unit.

Communion is the Greek word koinoni’a (koy-nohn-ee’-ah) meaning partnership, participation or intercourse, fellowship; communication; distribution; contribution.  It’s a “having in common”!  That happens by “having Christ in us, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27), and being a new creation in Christ Jesus  (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What’s the significance (worthiness; importance) of “this communing” [eating of the Lord’s Supper]”?  It is about “remembering what Jesus did” to deliver us from the bondage of sin and death!

We know that Jesus ate the sacrifice with His disciples that the disciples had made ready for the “Last Supper” as stated in the gospels.  

·       Mt. 26:17-25 [first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him where wilt that they should prepare for Him to eat the “Passover”]:   Vs 18: And he said, “Go into the city to such a man and say unto him, the Master said, my time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples”. Vs 21: And as they did eat, he said, “Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me”.

·         Mark 14:12-16 [They killed the Passover and His disciples  asked where might they go to prepare for Him to eat the Passover]:  vs 13: And he sent forth two of his disciples, and said unto them, "Go you into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him".  Vs 14: And wheresoever he shall go in, say you to the goodman of the house, “The Master said, where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples”?

·         Luke 22:7-20 [Preparation for the Passover]:  vs 7: Then came the day of unleavened bread when the Passover must be killed:  vs 8: Jesus sent Peter and John saying, “Go and prepare us the Passover that we may eat”.

·         John 13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.  Vs 2: And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him: vs 3: Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he was come from God and went to God; vs 4: He rises from supper and laid aside his garments; and took a towel and girded himself. Vs 5: After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Passover in Hebrew is (pe’cach) a pretermission, in relation to exemption; (the festival or the victim).  It's also from pa-cach’ [paw-sakh’] meaning to hop or skip over (or spare); to hesitate; to limp; to dance; pass over; halt; become lame; leap.

In the Greek, Passover is (pas’cha), the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices connected with it:  Easter.  It goes back to Hebrew (pe’cach) a pretermission, in relation to exemption [the state of freeing or being free from an obligation or liability imposed on others]; us (the festival or the victim).

This Passover meal Jesus was about to have with His disciples now wasn’t just a memorial of Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage, because that had to be repeated annually.

In part one of this series I made the statement or asked the question, why did Jesus use “bread” in the Lord’s Supper and not a lamb?  It was because He was establishing a “new testament” or “new covenant” with Himself as the sacrificial Lamb, and the disciples were about to get a new revelation of the “eating of the unleavened bread” (Jesus the sinless Lamb) and the “drinking of the cup” (drinking of His blood) with the words of Jesus Himself, when He stated:

·        Matthew 26:26: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and break it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body”.  Vs 27: And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, “Drink you all of it”.  Vs 28: For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins”.

Jesus’ use of the “breaking of bread” (and not meat) was showing them that from this point on the types and shadows were to cease (come to an end) when the real or true Sacrifice was come and offered.  There was to be no more shedding of blood when once His “innocent (not guilty) blood" was shed.  There must be nothing which might cast a doubt upon the all-sufficiency (acceptance; abundance; efficacy) of what He was about to do on that Cross because He the Lamb of God being sacrificed, once for all, would NOW be that “unleavened bread” (the sinless Lamb), and His “innocent blood” would pay the penalty for our sins!

·       Hebrews 10:11: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Vs 12: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

What Jesus was teaching His disciples at this time was that now the Passover was about “remembering what HE had done or was about to do” to deliver them and us from the bondage of sin and death!

For the past few weeks I’ve been talking about communion or The Lord’s Supper and focusing mostly on the breaking of the bread, but for a few minutes I’m making mention of the “drinking of the blood”!

Blood in Hebrew is dam [dawm] meaning, blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or animal; the juice of the grapes; drops of blood.

Blood in the Greek is haima [hah’-ee-mah], meaning blood (of men or animals); (the juice of grapes); (the atoning blood of Christ); bloodshed; kindred.

We can rightly call it “the river of life” flowing throughout the body.

·         Leviticus 17:11: The life of the flesh is in the blood.

 There are many different kinds of tissues in our bodies as bone, muscle, etcetera, and blood is considered tissue as well.  But of all the tissues, blood is mobile and flows throughout the body. So because it flows through every cell that means it's not limited in its function giving life to every cell because “life of the flesh is in the blood”.   This happens in the natural, how much more "the blood of Jesus?

The Church of Jesus Christ is called His body and we are members of his body (Ephesians 5:30) and severally, members, one of another (Romans 12:5).  In this body Jesus Christ is the Head (Colossians 1:18). The life of each member depends on His blood for life, nourishment, cleansing, redemption, and growth.  For the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11).  Every born again believer is a member of that body and lives the common life of every other member, by the one thing which unites them and makes them “relatives”, even the blood of Christ.  It matters not whether you’re Jew or Gentile, male or female, black, white, green, Catholic, Baptist, whatever, if you’re a believer we’re all one through the blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ.

·         Acts 17:24: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; vs 25: Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things; vs 26: And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; vs 27: That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel (search) after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.

Someone might ask, “Well, how do we drink Jesus’ blood” as He mentioned in John 6”?

·         Vs 53: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

Drink (pi’no), means to imbibe (drink any liquid; to absorb [take in] or assimilate (take in ideas or knowledge and understand fully).  It's also from the root word piot’es, meaning repletion (filled or well supplied with something); plumpness, richness (oiliness);  fatness.

·         Vs 54: Whoso eats my flesh and drinks my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  Vs 55: For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed.  Vs 56: He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells (men’o) [to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy); abides remain; continue; endure; be present] in me, and I in him.  Vs 57: As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father:  so he that eats me, even he shall live (za’o) [be alive; quickened; have life] by me.

So how do we drink Jesus’ blood?  We “drink” Jesus’ blood by the receiving or the “inhalation” (breathing in) of the Spirit (ru’wach) in [Hebrew] or (pneu’ma) in [Greek]) of God.  As I explained briefly in part 2:  1st John 5:7: There are three that bear record in heaven (higher realms of spiritual elevation), the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:  and these three are one.  Vs 8: And there are three that bear witness in earth (the body you and I live in), the Spirit and the water (Word), and the blood:  and these three agree in one.

One in Greek is homothumadon', meaning, each of the three are unanimous; with one accord (mind).  Agree is from the root word eisi (I-see’), meaning, each of the three are present; are; be; were; have; is.  Agree goes to another root word eimi (i-me’), meaning, I exist; I am; it is I; be; I was, have been.   Synonyms for agree are: concur; conform; accord; answer; attune; blend; click; cohere; coincide; covenant; contract; acknowledge; admit; allow; assent; comply; see eye to eye.  

This tells us that we were there in the beginning with our Heavenly Father!  He is with us now, has always been, and forever will be "in us"!!  Hebrews 13:5c: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee!!

Leviticus 17:11: The life of the flesh is in the blood.  

Again, when Jesus in John 20:22, breathed (exhaled His breath) on them, and said unto them, "Receive you the Holy Ghost", they inhaled (breathed in) also the blood of Christ that was contained in the Spirit of Christ!  

I would like to say again:  1st John 5:7: There are three that bear record in heaven (spiritually elevated places), the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:  and these three are one.  Vs 8: And there are three that bear witness in earth (the body we live in), the spirit, and the water (Word), and the blood:  and these three agree in one.

Again, the word agree in this verse is the Greek root word eisi (i-see), meaning, they are:  agree; are; be; is; were.  It goes to another root word eimi (i'mee), meaning, I exist:  am; have been; it is I; was. This tells us that we were "one" in the beginning with our Heavenly Father!!  But He brought us forth in flesh bodies to teach us to overcome in the flesh and were reconnected as "one" again through Christ Jesus! 

John 17:20: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word:  vs 21: That they all may be one, as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

He is with us now, has always been, and forever will be "in us"!!  Hebrews 15:5c: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee!!  

See how these manifestations correspond with each other in 1st John 5:7-8?  The Father [vs 7] the Spirit [vs 8]:  the Word [vs 7] the water [vs 8]:  the Holy Ghost [vs 7] the blood [vs 8].  GLORY TO GOD!!  So when we receive God's Spirit, we are receiving His blood also!!  [Praise break]!!!

This is how we attain to having eternal and everlasting life, through “eating Jesus’ flesh” and “drinking His blood” or "by eating the chief meal" along with "drinking His blood"!!!

·         1st John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world!!! 

Remember with Adam in Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God breathed (naphach’) [to puff; inflate; blow hard; kindle [set on fire] into his NOSTRILS (aph) face; countenance; forehead (frontal lobe) [deals with speech; personality; higher intellectual processes (concentration, planning; and decision making); verbal communication] THE BREATH (neshamah’) [wind; divine inspiration (inhalation) [being inspired mentally and emotionally; a stimulus of creative thought; action; or idea] OF LIFE, and man (male/female) became a living soul.

Also, Adam means “to show blood in the face”; to be rosy (ruddy; red).  Man had become “red” with the “blood of understanding” of God because he now had the mind of God in him!  So when the “LORD God” breathed into Adam He breathed God’s blood into Him and in the blood was the “life” that made him a “living soul”!

Adam had been given God's "innocent (not guilty) blood", but when the creation fell through him, his blood became "guilty" and God had to send the innocent Lamb, Jesus Christ to give the creation an all prevailing "innocent blood" transfusion.  Matthew 27:4 (Judas said): "I have betrayed the innocent blood"!  That's why 1st Corinthians 15:22 states: In Adam all die, even so in Christ, shall all be make alive!!

·         Leviticus 17:11: The life of the flesh is in the blood! 

John said “the Spirit and the blood agree in one.  Agree is from the root word eisi (I-see’), meaning they are; be; were; have; is [ONE].  Then it goes to the word eimi (i-mee’), meaning I exist; I am; it is I; be; I was; have been.  What did Jesus say?

·         Revelation 1:8: I am (always present tense) Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (pantokrat’or) [the all-ruling, God (as absolute and universal sovereign); Omnipotent].

Jesus has always been the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).  Even in Exodus 12 in relation to the Israelites exodus out of Egypt that Lamb killed was Jesus and His blood had to be applied to the lentils (mashqowph’) [sense of overhanging; upper door post].  The “upper door post” is the mind of man.  Why is that? 

·         Psalm 24:7: Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be you lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory, shall come in! 

So this “door post”, our mind has to be transformed (changed; renewed; refreshed) and become Christ minded, which is spiritually minded so that we can live! 

·         Romans 8:6: To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

·         Philippians 2:5: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

·         1st John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world.

We’re still talking about “the Lord’s Supper”!

The festival had been annual and no rule was given of time and frequency of the “new feast” that had now occurred to change the old.  Now, what was spoken in 1st Corinthians 11:26, emphasizes:  For as often (daily; as many times as) AS YOU eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death, till he come.  [This coming is not out in the sky, but “to you” individually]!  That's why Jesus said in relation to His "coming" (appearing; manifestation) in Matthew 24:36: But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  Because it's a different day and time for every man (male/female), when he/she accept Christ as Savior!!  Hallelujah to JESUS!!!

·       Revelation 3:20: [church at Laodicea]: Behold, I stand at the door and knock:  if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and him with me.

SUP (deipneo) [dipe-neh’-o] means to dine (eat), take the principal (first in rank; importance; or (evening) meal; supper.

How can Jesus eat and drink with us?  The same way He ate and drank with the disciples in the gospels.  When they had communion or the last supper they ate and drank together (Matthew 26:26).  As we minister God’s Word to one another we are eating of the “bread” that each of us are and drinking of the "blood" by inhalation or receiving of God’s Spirit from one another. We’re eating Christ and He is eating us!  [Get that]!!  That's why Paul said, 1st Corinthians 11:29: He that eats and drinks unworthily (anaxi'os) [irreverently (disrespectfully; disdainfully; contemptuously; disparagingly)], eats and drinks damnation (kri'ma)[condemnation judgment] to himself, not discerning (diakri'no) [separating thoroughly; distinguishing] the Lord's body.  Vs 30: For this cause many are weak (asthene'o)[feeble (in any sense); diseased; strengthless] and sickly (ar'rhostos)[infirmed; sick] among you, and many sleep (koima'o) [slumber; deceased; dead].

Many religiously think and believe that they must die and go to heaven (up yonder) "to eat the marriage supper of the Lamb", when in truth, we can and are "eating supper" with Him right here and right now, by eating of His Word, and drinking His blood, and eating of one another in sharing the Word, by God's Spirit!  Revelation 19:7: Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him:  for the marriage of the Lamb is come (present tense), and his wife (we the church) hath (already) made herself ready.  Vs 8: And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  Praise break!!!

John 4:27-34 [The woman Jesus ministers to at the well testifies and brings a city to Him]:

·       Vs 31: In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, “Master, eat”.  Vs 32: But he said unto them, “I have meat to eat that you know not of”.   Vs 33: Therefore said the disciples one to another, “Hath any man brought him ought to eat”?  Vs 34: Jesus said unto them, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work”.

We know that CHRIST is that “Bread”:  John 6:33: The “bread” of God is he which cometh down from heaven and gives life unto the world!

BREAD in Hebrew is lech’em, meaning food (for man or beast), especially bread or grain (for making it):  food; meat; showbread; loaves; fruit; meal; provision.  It goes to another word lacham’, meaning to feed on; to consume; eat; overcome; devour; ever; prevail.

It was “showbread” (face-bread) or the bread of presentation.  The priest had to keep this bread daily before the Lord and anoint it with pure frankincense.

·       Leviticus 24:5-7: And thou shalt take fine flour and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.  And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.  And thou shalt put “pure frankincense” upon each row that it may be on the bread for a memorial even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Frankincense here is from the Hebrew root word (lebownah’), meaning frankincense from its whiteness.  This whiteness being the “righteousness of God” that the sons of God are become through Christ.

·       Isaiah 61:3: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called “trees of righteousness”, the planting of the LORD that he might be glorified.

·       Romans 8:2-4: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  that the “righteousness” of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

·       2^nd Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made “the righteousness of God” in him.

The diet of early Hebrews ordinarily consisted of bread, meat, and liquids.

Bread in the Greek is ar’tos, meaning bread (as raised) or a loaf; showbread.  Then it goes to the root word airo (ah’-ee-ro), meaning to lift; to take up or away; to raise (the voice); keep in suspense (the mind); to sail away; to expiate sin:  carry; lift up; loose; put away; remove.

This means “to take, raise up, to lift, to take upon oneself and carry what has been raised physically”.  What was it that Christ raised up physically? 

·       St. John 6: 38: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  Vs 39: And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise “IT” up again at the last day.

What was the “IT” He took upon Himself to raise up in Himself who is the “first day and the last day” (Revelation 1:17)?  It was the creation itself and all that’s connected with it, and took our sins to the cross!!

·       Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  Vs 3: For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  vs 4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

·       2nd Corinthians 5:19: To wit (know), that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them:  and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation: 

·       vs 21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin:  that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

·       Ephesians 2:14: For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us:  vs 15: Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to  make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

·       Colossians 1:19: For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell:  vs 20: And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself:  by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

·       Colossians 3:13: And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses:  vs 14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross:  vs 15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

May I also add that we are "individual creations" being raised!  2nd Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (ktis'is) [original formation; building; creation]:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Because Christ is that BREAD, we are also that same BREAD, as He!!

·       1st Corinthians 10:17: We being many are “one bread” and “one body”:  for we are all partakers of that “one bread”!

And that “ONE BREAD” is “CHRIST”!

So we eat of this “Bread” continually because it’s the “hidden manna” spoken of to the church in Pergamos:

·         Revelation 2:17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; “To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the “hidden (secret) manna”, and will give him a white (light) stone , and in the stone a new (fresh) name written, which no man knows but he that receives it.

The “hidden" [krupto (kroop’to) to conceal (by covering); secret)] manna” is not the same as the "manna" or the edible wafer given to the Israelites in the wilderness that they questioned about it or questioned the what-ness of it.  

That which had been hidden (concealed or kept secret) in relation to God's Word from the beginning is now revealed by revelation (manifestation or taking off of the cover of things not known before) truth of God's Word.  This is the "hidden manna", the receiving of the understanding that the fullness of God can be and is contained in us while we're alive, manifesting Him in the earth now.  This is the knowing that He is us and we are Him, and we are "one" with Him, through Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  As he is, so are we, in this world (1st John 4:17).  But there are those even when you give them scripture to support this truth, the still "QUESTION IT"!

2nd Corinthians 2:7: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  vs 8: Which none of the princes of this world knew:  for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  Vs 13: Which things also we speak not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  Vs 14: But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God:  for they are foolishness unto him:  neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The white (light) stone (pse’phos) was [a pebble (as worn smooth by handling), (used as a counter or ballot); a verdict (of acquittal) or ticket (of admission); voice] and is our entrance into kingdom authority, justification, deliverance, freedom, life, peace, health, all the blessings of God.

·    The white (light) stone is us being cleansed by the washing of water by the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26), and purified by the “Holy Ghost fire” of God to take out of us all the dross or everything that is not like Him (Hebrews 12:29), so that as he is, so are we, in this world (1st John 4:17).

As stated before, we being those “white (light) lively stones”, is us being the righteousness of God in Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21), which is the determining factor of our verdict of acquittal or innocence, because we’re delivered from sin, death, hell, and the grave by the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. 

·         Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  Vs 2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

These “white (light) stones” are also our ticket of admission into the Kingdom of God:

·         Luke 12:32: Fear not little flock:  it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

·         Luke 17:20: The kingdom of God comes not with observation (ocular vision):  vs 21: Neither shall they say, Lo here!  Or, lo there!  For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Revelation 2:17: And in the stone a new (fresh) name written, which no man knows but he that receives it.

We that are sons of God (male/female), are not mere men (mortals), but we are the invisible God, made visible in the earth!  John 10:34: Jesus answered them (the Jews):  “Is it not written in your law, I said, you are gods”?  This is what also gives us our “new name” which is THE WORD OF GOD!  As he is, so are we, in this world (1st John 4:17).

·         Revelation 19:13: And he was clothed with a vesture (the body of Christ) dipped in blood:  and his name is called The Word of God.

Because of our eating of the Bread, the Word that was made flesh, we are also the Word made flesh!  Ephesians 5:30: We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

As we “eat of His flesh” and “drink of His blood” continually (not some particular day), that means that we have already come into union (communion) with Him!!

So having communion a certain Sunday out of the month isn’t scriptural, but man-made.  A person can do this “as often” as he/she chooses, even daily.

This is the fulfilling of Revelation 19:7:

·         Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him:  for the marriage (gam’os) [wedding] of the Lamb is come (present tense) and his wife (the church) hath made herself ready!

So those waiting to get to their heaven beyond the blue to eat the “marriage supper” with the Lamb, will miss it, because it has and is taking place for those that’s “eating His flesh” and “drinking His blood” right here and right now!!

·         Vs 8: And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white (light):  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

We are God’s righteousness now:  2nd Corinthians 5:21: For he was made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We’re already married to Him and are eating and enjoying “the marriage supper” (chief meal; feast), Jesus’ flesh and blood continually now because we’re no longer the bride wearing the veil, because the veil has been removed and we are the “wife” that’s been unveiled by the “revelation truth” of God’s Word that has freed us to bring forth sons of God legally for His kingdom!! Psalm 2:12a: "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry".

We know now that after Jesus ate the Last Supper with His disciples as stated in the gospels while they were eating according to Matthew 26:26-28, He “break  bread” and told them to eat it, because it was His body, and He gave them the cup and said, to drink it because it was His blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins, demonstrating to them that the types and shadows were to cease [end] after He was crucified.  There was to be no more shedding of blood of animals when once His “innocent all prevailing blood” was shed, because He was the ultimate (last; final] sacrifice!!

·         Hebrews 9:11: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; vs 12: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

·         Hebrews 10:3: But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  Vs 4: For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  Vs 9: Then said he, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God”.  He taketh away the first that he may establish the second.  Vs 10: By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The Passover is both commemorative and typical. 

Commemorative:  because the deliverance it commemorates (celebrates; honors) was a type of the great Salvation it foretold.  No other shadow (profile; outline) of good things to come contained in the law can compete with the festival of the Passover in expressiveness (articulation; dictation; oration) and completeness (integrity; plenitude).   

Typical:  because the “Passover lamb” is the leading feature in the ceremony of the festival.  The lamb slain was Christ the “Lamb of God”, slain for the sins of the world.

·         1st Corinthians 5:7: Purge out therefore the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened.  For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. 

·         Vs 8: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

·         Hebrews 9:22: Without shedding of blood is no remission.

So let us keep constant communion with Jesus the Christ by eating continually of His flesh and drinking continually His blood through the Word and Spirit of the Living God so that we can live forever!!!  HALLELUJAH!!!

Pastor Gracie Perry