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 Love

In tennis, love is a score of nothing. That is interesting but so fitting. In the case of tennis you get nothing in return for an action performed. We are to love one another just because and not to get anything in return.

The bible speaks of love often. Love thy neighbor Matthew 22:39. Love your enemies Matthew 5:44. The love of God 1 John 3:17. Love and hate 1 John 4:20. Love the Lord thy God Matthew 22:37. Love waxing cold Matthew 24:12. Circumstantial love Luke 7:42. The love of Christ 2 Corinthians 5:14. The greatest love (charity) 1 Corinthians 13:13, Love is Romans 13:10, Proof of love 2 Corinthians 8:2. Rooted in love Ephesians 3:17. Labour of love Hebrew 6:10... I could go on and on.

What actually is love according to the bible? We will use the Greek lexicon to translate love. Come and look into a few of these in detail.

1. Love your neighbor; your enemies; love and hate; love the Lord thy God; circumstantial love; love is; - agapao (ag-ah-pay-o) means: to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
2. Love of God; waxing cold; the love of Christ; the greatest love (charity); proof of love; rooted in love; labour of love - agape (ag-ah-pay) means brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.

Love:

• We are to love our neighbor and our enemies. The bible refers to the same type of love. There is to be no difference in your love for either. The same as you would do for your neighbor; you are to do for your enemies. It is the same love we have for the Lord.
• Our love should not wax cold. Do not love now and hate later. You know? When you sort of love a person. Love is not temperature controlled. Hot one minute and cold the next. Not this type of love. Not the rooted type of love. Jesus said even sinners know to love those who love them, Luke 6:32. We as Christians must be rooted in love. Love should be deep seated in us. It is a labour of love to love those who aren't loveable. You have to work at it. When you labour at a job, you do it until it is done. The same goes for love.

Try loving someone whom isn't so loveable. Try apologizing to someone even though they were wrong. Try smiling at someone who has just worked on your last nerve. Now that's love.

 Joy

So, we know what F&W says about joy. What does the bible say? Is it the same?

It speaks of:

• great or exceeding joy, Luke 1:44. The babe in Elisabeth's womb leaped with joy when it heard Mary's greeting. She was immediately filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied. This was prophesied in verse15 and fulfilled in verse 41. Elisabeth also received wisdom and knowledge (see verses 42- 43). How did she know this was to be the Mother of her Lord? How did she know Mary was to become pregnant? Mary wasn't pregnant yet. I am convinced, being filled with the Holy Ghost shall give us exceeding joy, wisdom and knowledge.

• • Gosh, I could go on and on. Note from earlier on in this chapter Zacharias could not speak because of disbelief (verses 18-20). It wasn't until he agreed with the spoken word (verses 59-64) that he was healed. It wasn't until he agreed with Elisabeth (now filled with the Holy Ghost), that he received his healing. Only was he filled with the Holy Ghost after he came in agreement with the spoken word.

    Our agreement with the Word of God brings us healing. This is exceeding joy.

    Read Luke 1 in its entirety. Especially read what Mary says in verses 46-55 and Zacharias beginning with verse 68. How fulfilling.

• temporary joy, Matthew 13:19-21. One receives the word with joy but has no root to sustain it. When tested, joy failed. The Greek definition of this joy is: the cause or occasion of joy, joy received. This joy is dependent upon circumstances. Circumstances change. Therefore this joy can change with it. Your fruit will be tested. It will be thumped, pulled or tugged. It might be dropped, squeezed or shaken. Lastly it will be picked and maybe even devoured. Will your joy stand up to the test?

 Peace - Funk and Wagnalls: a state of mental or physical quiet or tranquillity; calm. freedom from mental agitation or anxiety.

Bible: Click here for the Greek definition

You just can't get around peace without faith. They work hand in hand. You must have faith in order to have peace. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. You can't see faith, just as you can't see peace. It is a state of mind. A process of the mind.

• Jesus speaks of peace making us whole. Faith in God and who He is will give you peace. Peace is based on a decision you make. In Mark 5:34 "thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole..." You must make a decision based on faith to be at peace.
• Peace can be your salvation. But again only by your faith. "And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." Luke 7:50. Only when you make an effort, "go" shall you have peace. It is not automatic.
• Put a demand on peace. Demand its existence. It is your decision to make peace happen by calling it out. "And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house." Luke 10:5. This causes for strength. You cannot be a wimp to demand peace. You must come strong and armed. Ready for battle. "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:" Luke 11:21.
• Sin can rob you of your peace. You cannot have peace, not true peace, if you are in sin. Sin blind you from your peace. Jesus said it is hidden from your eyes. Come out of sin, enter into peace. Click here and read about it from the amplified bible.

 Longsuffering - Funk and Wagnalls: Patient endurance of injuries, misfortune, etc., for a long time.

Bible: Not quite the same. Patient endurance is true. The Greek refers: Patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, slowness in avenging wrongs. Click here and read more on the Greek interpretation. 

We are to endure hardship as a good soldier.

Numbers 14:18 speaks of the LORD being longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression...

We are to forbear one another in love. This is our vocation, our calling. Ephesians 4:1-3 Put up with each other despite our differences and quirks. Colossians 3:12 says to "put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering."

Longsuffering appears to be a command and not something we are to choose to do. Let's read more. Although God is longsuffering, He does not let the guilty escape. "Once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. " 1 Peter 3:20. We know what happened to the rest.

God is so longsuffering that He will wait until we come to our senses. We too should be so longsuffering with others. "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

We know as Christians we are to be Christ-like. How much more should we practice longsuffering as Christ has towards us. 1 Timothy 1:16. "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."

Be patient with others. For God isn't through with you yet either.

 Gentleness - Funk and Wagnalls: The word gentleness was not in this dictionary as written.  Merriam-Webster's meaning of gentleness is: the quality or state of being gentle; especially : mildness of manners or disposition.

The bible definition of gentleness is found in the Greek word Chrestotes (pron. khray-stot'-ace).  Meaning moral goodness, integrity, benignity, kindness.

Note gentleness is interpreted as goodness also. But goodness is mentioned separately in this text. What does the Greek show for goodness? The same definition is used for both words. So, why is it mentioned twice in this scripture as though they are different? Is it possible that God wants to drive it home that we need this in our lives more? Well, we know the fruit of the Spirit are all characteristics of one fruit. We must possess them all. We shouldn't have one without the other. So it makes little difference that gentleness and goodness are one in the same.

Just as natural fruit is to be handled with gentleness. How much more should God's fruit, His people, be handled the same.

In the amplified bible gentleness and meekness is intertwined as having humility and self-control. We are not to do evil for evil. The Old Testament mentions an eye for an eye, but Jesus says we are to forgive others 70 times 7 times. Matthew 18:21-22. We are to pray for and bless our enemies. Does that mean we are only to forgive our brother 490 times? We know one person is not going to offend us 490 times. At least we hope not. No, it means we are always to forgive. See how gentleness and longsuffering also go together? Another example of all being one fruit.

It is so easy for us to pay someone back for something they've done to us. Reward evil for evil. Tit for tat. Now we have the proverbial smoking gun pointed at us. We have overlooked that they will reap for what they've sown. Now, we also shall reap for our own wrongdoing? In essence, you will be taking the brink for something that was done to you. Your response to do evil back to them will cause hellfire on your own head.

I have seen cases where evil for evil backfired because the other person retaliated. Things kept going in circles. More of reasons not to play tit for tat. You never know what else lurks behind those walls. One wrongdoing turns into a domino affect of wrongdoings. Where does it end? Hopefully it ends at the cross. End it at the beginning with goodness, gentleness and humility.

Let me give you a prime example: There was a situation where someone came to me saying I did something. It wasn't anything wrong. They just said, I did something this way and should have handled it another way. They were working with 3rd hand information. I had the chance to go to the 3rd party and ask if they had said that. But, the Holy Spirit already counseled me concerning this person's integrity. "Things are not always as they appear", said the Lord. So my first impression was that it wasn't true or that they interpreted what the person said incorrectly. I knew I hadn't done what they accused me of. Well, I could have said, "No, I didn't do that." Instead the Holy Spirit counseled me further. He said to just tell them you should have handled it the way they said and it will all be over. Rather than get someone else involved and go back and forth it was all over in a matter of minutes. I know what I did and it wasn't important that I prove it. You don't always have to let a person know they are wrong. You don't always have to have the upperhand in every situation. It is not worth it.

Several times I have talked with others about the scripture that says, if your brother has something against you, you are to go to them and make it right. Matthew 5:23-24. They always say, "That doesn't sound right". And it doesn't. Why should we go to them if they have something against us? But that's the heart of God. His ways aren't logical. His ways aren't our ways. His thoughts aren't our thoughts. God's way is always the way of letting go of pride and humbling ourselves. His way is gentle, good and kind. This is what pleases God. Jesus prayed for God to forgive his enemies in the midst of their trying to kill him.

Bless your enemies and pray for them. It puts a feather in your cap and sends blessings your way. Bless someone you get a blessing, curse someone you get a curse. Who shall you please? Yourself or God? 

 Goodness - Funk and Wagnalls:  ¹ The state of quality of being good.; esp. excellence of character, morals, etc.; virtue.  ² The best part.  ³ God: Goodness knows.

The bible definition of goodness is found in the Greek word agathosune (ag-ath-o-soo-nay) virtue (excellence) or beneficence, benefit, well.

Although the word good is found often in the bible, goodness used in this sense is only found four times. In Romans 15:14 Paul speaks to the Romans letting them know he is persuaded they they are full of goodness...able to admonish (caution or warn) one another.   Also in Galatians and Ephesians speaking about the fruit of the Spirit. Further, in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 as Paul prays that God will count them worthy and fulfill all the good pleasures of His goodness. Not their goodness but the goodness of God.  

See how the word benefit is part of the Greek definition? Also excellence. Our goodness or excellence is beneficial, meaning it profits. How much the same when we are not good it profits nothing. It benefits none or nothing. So to be evil one gets no benefit or profit. In essence, the one who benefits is Satan. Although you help him to benefit, you get nothing from him. No reward. Actually, you do get something. Hell. God benefits our goodness with blessings, joy, health and welfare.

When Jesus is referred to as "Good Master", he reproves and says that only God is good. Is this a contradiction? Why even try if only God is good? That means nobody can be good or excellent. Not a contradiction at all. The fruit of the Spirit are characteristics of the Spirit we are to work to possess.

Before the sin of Adam, man, by nature had these characteristics of God inside. He did not have to strive to possess the fruit. It was instilled by God from the beginning. God gave man a choice to choose good or evil.  Because of the fall of Adam we are not good by nature. Satan won our nature. We have a sin nature. We are born in sin and shaped in iniquity. Now we must strive and fight our flesh, our sin nature in order to possess what was originally ours. Our fruit of goodness and perfection.  So only God is good by nature.

Therefore, God sent Jesus into the world to give us an example of a good life. Jesus was tempted with the same things as we but He continued His walk without sin. We have the same opportunity through Christ. No we are not good and can never be in our own right. But, through Christ and His righteousness we can do all things and be all things. Even be good by striving towards goodness and asking forgiveness when we are not.

Let us all work towards that goodness, that excellence, that life that will benefit all who come in contact with us. Be good and do good. Be a blessing and be blessed.

 Faith - Funk and Wagnalls: ¹Belief without need of certain proof. ²Belief in God or in the Scriptures or other religious writings.

The bible definition of faith in this sense is found in the Greek word pistis (pis-tis). Persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher).  Especially, reliance upon Christ for salvation.

To me faith is the most important aspect of being a Christian.  I like F&W's definitions best. We must have faith in God and His Word before the work of Jesus is manifested in our lives. We say we "know in our knower".

"Have faith. Have faith." I have heard this so much growing up. "You must have faith in God."  That is all good and true, but nobody told me how.  HOW DO I HAVE FAITH? It's simple. You have faith by speaking what you believe. Speaking it no matter what the circumstances are. Speaking it no matter what you see or hear. Speaking it until you are blue in the face. Speaking it until it comes true. 

The scripture says, "Without faith it is impossible to please him (God)". Heb.11:6. God wants us to believe "because", not "because of".  Belief because of something means you have warrant to believe, proof or evidence. Believing just "because" takes faith.  You can see no end. You see no light at the end of the tunnel, but you believe and walk towards that light regardless.

Heb 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Jesus said,

"Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

Unlike Thomas, we must believe because we have hope not because we have seen.

So, how can you believe in something you cannot see? Let's see. You know you have breath, a brain, a heart, but you cannot see them. Sure,  you have evidence of your breath on a cold winter day and you feel your heart beating and you have thoughts. What about your lungs then? See them? Feel them? So, we only know because we were taught these things exist and are necessary to sustain life.

The same with faith. It exists in order for us to sustain life. Not life in the natural sense of the word, but an abundant life. Yeah, we can live without faith in God, Jesus and the scriptures. But it is not a fruitful life. It is a life of worry, anxiety, stress and failure.

How comforting it is knowing there is someone there to carry our burdens (Ps 55:22). Never put your full trust in man. Man is a human being and human beings can fail. They have a choice whether to answer your call or not. They even have caller I.D.  Ha!

The Lord can never fail. He never tires and He is always there waiting for your faith to make a call on Him. Heb 7:25 says, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them". When you call on Him and believe in Him according to the Word, He has no choice but come to your rescue. He lives for it. He died for it. We can live stress free knowing we have that someone and that they "have our back".

The key is you have to believe without doubt. (see Mark 11:23.)  You cannot speak faith and have doubt. You cannot believe one day and speak negatively the next. The works of our faith is like a seed planted. It must take hold and grow. When you doubt or speak against what you have believed it is like pulling the seed up before it takes root and grows. Hey, but even then, plant that seed again. Don't allow your mouth to pull it up next time. "I know God can heal me but...", the seed is pulled up before it even gets into the ground. Another thing, you cannot compare your situation with anyone else's. "Grandma had faith and ....", "Sister Faithstein had faith and she didn't get healed." You are not Grandma or Sister Faithstein. You do not live in their body, neither do you have their mind or know what they have spoken out of their mouths.

Romans 4:3 (Amplified Bible) "For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God)."  Hey, that's a twofer.  What's a twofer?  You get two fer (for) one. HeeHee! When we have faith, we get what we believe for and we are credited for righteousness. Now, you can't get better than that. Well maybe. Read the book.

 Meekness - Funk and Wagnalls: ¹Meek Having a patient, gentle disposition. ²Lacking spirit or backbone; submissive.

The bible definition of meekness in the Greek is praotes (prah-ot'-ace).  Gentleness, mildness.

How on point is F&W with their definition in comparison to the bible?  The first definition is right on point.  The second is more of a worldly definition almost meaning weak.  Do not confuse meek with weak.  Jesus wants us to be gentle, mild and patient not wimpy.  He wasn't wimpy when He turned over the Sellers' tables in the temple.  In fact, He was down right angry.  The bible says "Be ye angry, and sin not:" Ephesians 4:26a.  Being angry is not a sin.  It's what you do with that anger that may cause you to sin.

Let us see what bible examples we have of meekness or where it is used in the King James.  Paul says to the church of Corinth, "What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? 1 Corinthians 4:21.  Oh well, Paul says shall I come in love and meekness.  Love and meekness goes hand-in-hand.  Although it has its place, the rod isn't always necessary.  In some instances, it can be damaging.  The bible states that "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1.  Although someone may come to us in anger, ranting or raving, it is our soft, meek or mild answer that will calm down that anger.  We aren't to rant and rave with them.  That accomplishes nothing.  Practice to be meek.  Don't think the devil won't try you.  When you make the determination to practice meekness, He will send your way all opportunity to walk out of it.

We are also to think of ourselves when we talk to others.  Don't pull out a hammer and start in on their heads.  Remember when you were where they are. Or, don't think you are beyond being where they are.  Put ourselves in the same situation.  How would you want someone to handle you?  Consider Galatians 6:1, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

Meekness is something we have to put on.  Something we have to practice, as I mentioned above.  If you aren't meek now, you may not be meek tomorrow.  Put on meekness.  If it falls off, put it back on.  Just don't take it off so you can walk out of kindness.  It's not something you can just put it on and take it off at will.  "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid." Romans 6:1-2a. We do not purposely sin because we know we have God's grace. So, put on meekness everyday.  "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; " Colosians 3:12.

Also, we are not only to show kindness one to another.  We are to speak kindness of one another.  Evil conversation is just as bad as evil treatment.  "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men." Titus 3:2.

I guess we all have something to learn.  I know I do.  How about you?

 Temperance - Funk and Wagnalls: The state of quality of being calm; restrained; self-controlled.

The bible definition of temperance in the Greek is egkrateia (eng-krat'-i-ah).  Self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites)

Wow, self-control. We can all use a large dose of that in diffferent areas and with the opportunities we face. In my opinion, self-control is the only fruit that, if exercised, will help you master everyone of the others. If we control our heart we can love. If we control our attitude we can have joy. If we control our thoughts we can have peace. If we control our tolerance we can be longsuffering. If we control our feelings we can be gentle.  If we control our actions we can exercise goodness. If we control our hopes we can have faith. If we self-control we can have meekness.

There are times when we don't want to exercise self-control. We want to lash out in anger. We want to put self-control on the back burner for another day.  Felix felt that way. Click here.

The bible tells us to add self-control to our lives. If we lack self-control we are blind and have forgotten we have been redeemed from this old nature. As with the other fruit, we must make a conscious effort to wear these them. We must study and practice them. The scripture below says it better than I can.

2 Peter 1:5-11 (New Living Translation)

  5So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. 6Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. 7Godliness leads to love for other Christians,[a] and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. 8The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.

10So, dear brothers and sisters,[b] work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away. 11And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.