This is the third post in a series on what the Bible teaches about patience. To read the prior posts, click the respective titles below.

• How Does the Bible Define Patience?
• The Immense Patience of God

Patience: A Fruit of the Spirit

^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

In Galatians 5:22, Paul lists patience as a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

As born-again children of God, the Holy Spirit took up permanent residence within us the moment we trusted Jesus as Savior. Since patience is a fruit of the Spirit, who lives in us, why then do many of us fail to consistently express patience in our daily lives?

The answer lies in the word, fruit.

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit, which means that it is the result, the product, the outcome of a life that is yielded to the Holy Spirit. It is an expression or an outworking of an inward transformation in the hearts of believers who are yielded to the promptings and directions of the Holy Spirit.

From a natural standpoint, patience is difficult to develop and consistently express. However, the Holy Spirit produces this fruit in those who trust and are yielded to God.

Multiple Scriptures teach us to put off our former mindsets and behaviors (the flesh) and to put on Christ (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10; Romans 13:14).

(If you are unfamiliar with the term “flesh,” it is used in the New Testament to refer to our natural selfish tendencies and behaviors that oppose the Spirit and the Word of God.)

In our children’s church some weeks ago, our children’s director taught the kids about the difference between yielding to the flesh versus the Spirit using three hypothetical characters.

Three Hypothetical Characters

1. Dead Darrin, who is not a believer, does not have the Holy Spirit and puts himself on the throne of his life.
2. Fleshly Frank, who, although he is a believer and has the Holy Spirit living in Him, ignores the promptings of the Holy Spirit and yields consistently to his flesh. He places himself on the throne of his life and does not bear spiritual fruit.
3. Spiritual Sam, a believer who consistently hears, believes, and obeys the Word and the direction of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is on the throne of his life, and he bears spiritual fruit.

While Dead Darrin and Fleshly Frank live on their own terms, Spiritual Sam abides in Christ and bears the fruit of the Spirit.

So, if we will bear the fruit of patience in our lives consistently, we must learn to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit by abiding in Christ through prayer and the Word so we can discern the voice of God, trust His timing, and OBEY Him.

Expressing The Fruit of Patience in Our Lives

 ^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

On close examination of the fruit of the Spirit, we see that they are intricately connected.

A patient person will also exhibit other fruit of the Spirit. We tend to lose patience when our self-control is weak.

According to 1 Corinthians 13:4, patience is an attribute of love. This means that we cannot fully walk in love without learning to be patient with others. Impatience and love do not mix.

It is unkind to lose our patience with others. Acting impatiently is a sign of a lack of humility and gentleness, and if we keep at it, we will ultimately lose our peace and joy.

In Ephesians 4:1-2, Paul appeals to the Ephesian Christians to express behavior and conduct that exemplifies their calling as children of God. He then goes on to list patience as one of the character traits they should display.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:1-2

Paul makes a similar appeal to his readers in Colossians 3:12.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Clothing Ourselves with Patience

Clothing ourselves with patience means we consciously submit to the prompts of the Holy Spirit and decide to act patiently, even when we do not feel like doing so. Just as we physically dress ourselves up in nice-looking clothes, we should, more importantly, consciously dress our hearts with the attributes of Christ by yielding to the Holy Spirit.

Of course, being patient with people who love us is much easier, especially when everything goes our way. But the Word instructs us to be patient with everyone and patiently endure evil (2 Timothy 2:24-25 ESV;1 Thessalonians 5:14). And, everyone includes those who get on our nerves, do not like us, and may even be rude to us.

Personally, some of the things that tempt me to lose my patience can be quite trivial. I do not enjoy being kept on hold for customer service. Or what about those long lines in the grocery store? Or teaching someone a task repeatedly? When I face these situations and others, I must be careful to pause and remember that I am equipped by the Holy Spirit to act in love and patience.

In emotionally charged situations, it is wise to recall that patience is an expression of strength. It is better to be a patient person than a warrior without self-control (Proverbs 16:32).

“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” Proverbs 15:18

Jesus is our perfect example. Because of His love for us, He demonstrated the ultimate level of patient endurance by sacrificing His life for us on the cross. We fix our eyes on Him and trust Him for the strength and wisdom to respond patiently to the people in our world.

Reflect

• Who do you need to be patient with?
• What situations tempt you to lose your patience?
• Have you experienced the ripple effect losing your patience can have on your life?
• What practical things can you do to show patience towards others?

Here are a few suggestions.

• Desire and pursue patience through prayer
• Stay in the Word consistently
• Listen actively and respond humbly. You must not have the last word
• Practice forgiveness
• Be encouraging
• Set realistic expectations

Prayer

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” Romans 15:5

Footnotes

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© Patience: A Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted, without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author, unless otherwise indicated.

The post Patience: A Fruit of the Holy Spirit appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

This is the second post in a series on what the Bible teaches about patience. To read the first post, click the title below.

• How Does the Bible Define Patience?

The Immense Patience of God

To say that God has been patient with me would be a colossal understatement.

I gave my life to Christ after what I typically describe as a tumultuous, chaotic teenage existence. We went to church growing up, so I had heard the gospel innumerable times. Friends and colleagues repeatedly shared the good news with me, but I willfully and knowingly remained in my sins until I was a young adult.

The Bible Clearly Reveals God as Patient

Here are a few of the many examples of God’s patience from the Bible.

From the beginning of human history, God showed patience to Adam and Eve by not annihilating them and starting all over after they sinned in Eden. He was patient in the days of Noah when sin was rampant in the world. He could have destroyed the entire human race. Still, He exercised patience by instructing Noah to build an ark to save his family (1 Peter 3:20).

God was very patient with the patriarchs, an imperfect family full of conflicts and drama that, in today’s lingo, would be described as dysfunctional.

When God revealed Himself to Moses in the wilderness, He personally identified Himself as a gracious God who is slow to anger (Exodus 34:5-7). Jonah echoed the same words, albeit with exasperation, after God forgave the people of Ninevah—a wicked city that, as far as Jonah was concerned, was undeserving of God’s mercy and patience.

 ^“He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” Jonah 4:2-3

For generations, God warned the Israelites through multiple prophets to turn from idolatry, but they persisted in their evil practices. Eventually, God used the Assyrians and Babylonians as instruments of His judgment against Israel and Judah. In His patience and mercy, He still made a way for the exiles from Judah to return to Jerusalem after 70 years in Babylon.

Patience is not only an attribute of God the Father but also of Jesus Christ.

In 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Paul recounted his testimony of Jesus’ immense patience to him. He identified himself as a former blasphemer, persecutor, violent man, and “worst of sinners” who, through God’s mercy, experienced the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:15-16

The Purpose of God’s Patience Toward Us

The purpose of God’s patience is for us to be saved, transformed, and enjoy eternity in His presence. But His patience does have a limit. God is rich in patience, but He is also a God of holiness and righteousness who will execute His judgment at the right time (Romans 2:4-5).

It’s not that we get on God’s last nerve and wear Him out with our actions—not at all. God loves us infinitely. He is a compassionate Father who gives us many opportunities to learn from Him and redirects our steps innumerable times along the way.

But just like a good Father does not allow His children to get away with everything, if we persist in going our own way, we will eventually bear the consequences of our actions.

God’s kindness is not intended to encourage us to sin but to draw us towards repentance—a changed heart.

^“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

So, stop and think about the depth of patience God imparts to us daily. He does not punish us swiftly as we deserve, but instead, He is slow to anger and abounding in love (Numbers 14:18). He is patient with us, not wanting us to perish, but that we may all come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).

I will be eternally grateful that I, too, share the testimony of one who has experienced Christ’s immense patience. By God’s grace, I repented, put my faith in Jesus, became born-again, and received His promised Holy Spirit.

God’s patience toward me did not end after I became born again. My friends and family may not fully comprehend me, but God sees and understands the intricacies of my soul. His patience continues to undergird and strengthen me as the Holy Spirit transforms and changes me to become more and more like Christ.

And that will be the focus of my next article—how the Holy Spirit enables us to express the fruit of patience. In the meantime….

Reflect

• In what specific incidents in your personal life have you experienced God’s patience?
• How have you responded to God’s patience towards you?
• Have you accepted His gift of eternal life?
• If not, what is holding you back?

Prayer

Father, I thank You for being compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger towards me. I am eternally grateful that You displayed Your immense patience by sending Jesus to the cross to save me from my sins. I yield my life completely to You. Mold and transform me through the power of the Holy Spirit to be Your instrument of reconciliation to draw others to Your Kingdom as I display Your love and patience to them. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Footnotes

To support this ministry, DONATE HERE.

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© The Immense Patience of God Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author unless otherwise indicated.

The post The Immense Patience of God appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

Patience

In our fast-paced, self-focused, results-oriented world, cultivating the fruit of patience safeguards us from being torn apart by the rapid currents of life.

Patience is very important in a Christian’s life. It affects every aspect of our lives—our relationship with God, ourselves, and others, as well as our overall well-being, career, and finances.

Exhibiting the fruit of patience reveals that we trust in God and have yielded ourselves to His direction and timing for our lives. Just as a farmer patiently tends to the soil, sowing seeds and nurturing them through seasons of both rain and drought, so too are we called to cultivate patience in the fields of our own lives (James 5:7-8).

As always, I do not write as someone who has graduated and holds a certificate in patience. No! I write as someone who remains under the tutelage and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and I invite you to learn with me so that we can grow and mature together in patience.

So, join me as we study what the Bible teaches about patience. This is the first in a series of multiple posts, so be sure to come back to read the rest.

How Does the Bible Define Patience?

^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

Patience is much more than merely passing time. It is waiting on God and on His timing and direction with good temperance, even in the midst of adversity.

The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible defines patience as the “Ability to take a great deal of punishment from evil people or circumstances without losing one’s temper, without becoming irritated and angry, or without taking vengeance. It includes the capacity to bear pain or trials without complaint, the ability to forbear under severe provocation, and the self-control which keeps one from acting rashly even though suffering opposition or adversity.” (1)

The Greek word for patience in Galatians 5:22 is makrothumia, which means patience, forbearance, and longsuffering. [Source]

Depending on the Bible version you are reading, you will find the words endurance, perseverance, and patience are used interchangeably in some verses. For example, in Hebrews 12:1, the NIV uses the word perseverance, the ESV and NLT use endurance, and the KJV uses patience.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1 NIV

The Greek word translated as perseverance by the NIV is hupomoné, which means endurance, steadfastness, a patient enduring. [Source]

Below is a word study on patience. Reflect on the listed synonyms and antonyms, as they will help you understand and grasp the meaning and practical implications of patience.

Therefore, we can see that there is tremendous power in patience. A person who exhibits patience can persevere through trials, put up with difficult people, and overcome challenges without becoming overwhelmed and falling apart.

Reflect

• Is the fruit of patience evident in your life?
• What next step would you take after understanding the importance of patience in a Christian’s life?

Prayer

Father, left on my own, I am incapable of developing and cultivating patience in my life. Please forgive me for the many times I have gone ahead of You to say and do things of my own accord. Strengthen me and help me through Your Spirit to walk in love, joy, and peace as I yield to Your timing and direction for my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Join me next time as I discuss the “Immense Patience of God.”

Until next time…

Chizobam Idahosa

Reference:

1. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Patience. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1619). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Footnotes

To support this ministry, DONATE HERE.

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© How Does the Bible Define Patience? Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author, unless otherwise indicated.

The post How Does the Bible Define Patience? appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

In my last post, I started a discussion on “7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times,” based on Jesus’ discussion with His disciples the night before He was crucified, documented in John chapters 14-16.

We examined four principles for choosing peace:

1. Trust Jesus, and do not focus on your circumstances.
2. Keep a Heavenly focus.
3. Accept Jesus as the only way to the Father.
4. Pray in Jesus’ name.

Today’s post is simply a continuation. I strongly recommend that you click HERE to read the last post before moving on to the fifth point below. And, remember that this is not an exhaustive study of John 14-16. I will not include everything Jesus said, so I encourage you to pick your Bible and study the text yourself.

7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times: Contd

5. Depend on the Holy Spirit for Peace

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” John 14:16

In His last conversation with His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus emphatically promised to send the Holy Spirit to them. (See John 14:16;26-27;15:26;16:7.)

The Greek word for Holy Spirit is Paraklétos, defined as One who is called to one’s aid. It also means an advocate, intercessor, consoler, comforter, and helper. [SOURCE]

The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, brings out the full meaning of Paraklétos more clearly.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever.” John 14:6 AMPC

The Holy Spirit is our:

• Comforter – when we are grieving, and our hearts feel torn.
• Counselor – when we feel confused and need the truth to guide us.
• Helper – every single day, in every single task, both the mundane and the complex
• Intercessor – helping us pray when we have no idea what to even pray about.
• Advocate – like a defense attorney, He speaks for us and defends us when the devil throws lies and condemnation our way.
• Strengthener – empowering us to run our Christian race and win the prize.
• Standby – always with us, never leaving us, and always ready to be our Helper.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:26-27

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the Scriptures and everything Christ has spoken to us. He gives us understanding and teaches us scriptural truth, putting us in a position where we can apply truth to the circumstances in our lives.

The peace that Jesus gives us is not like the peace the world offers. The world offers a transient, external, superficial attempt at peace, while Jesus’ peace comes from the Holy Spirit.

The world’s peace depends on circumstances and people, while Jesus’ peace is an outflow of His divine nature which we receive when we are born again. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, manifested in the lives of those who believe in Jesus Christ and are led by His Spirit.

Personal Testimony

I went to sleep last night feeling like an underachiever based on the many opportunities I have had. The devil sold me a lie laced with condemnation, and I swallowed it. On awakening this morning, 1 Peter 2:9 immediately came to mind. I spent many minutes in bed meditating on the Scripture as the Holy Spirit comforted me. He reminded me that God is pleased with me, and my heart overflowed with peace.

6. Remain Permanently Connected to Jesus Christ

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Some versions of the Bible use the word ‘abide’ instead of ‘remain.’ Abiding in Christ means that we are consistently connected to Him and never lose our awareness of His presence.

Practically, abiding would look like praying, worshipping, studying, and meditating on Scripture. Abiding would also involve obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit and consciously inviting God into everything we do.

I do not do this perfectly, but my intention through each day is to maintain a continuous dialogue with God. I ask Him questions, seek His help, and thank Him for various things.

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). If we are going to enjoy the peace of Christ, we must stay completely integrated into a relationship with Him. If we attempt to do life our way, we cut off His power and presence, resulting in spiritual, mental, and physical burnout.

In my first article on peace, I listed some potential peace stealers. Two peace stealers that I have to guard against consistently are busyness and too much information. These two peace stealers tend to join forces attempting to clog my mind and disconnect me from Jesus Christ. I value my relationship with Jesus, and I already know what it feels like to experience burnout, so I have learned and continue to learn to make room in my life so that I can remain in Christ. If I edge Christ out with activities and information, I lose my peace and start bearing thorns and thistles – anxiety and fear.

Remember Jesus’ friends, Mary and Martha? (See Luke 10:38-42.) Martha was upset and busy with many activities, while Mary chose to make room for Jesus. She sat at His feet and listened to Him.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, promises that the Holy Spirit will produce His fruit through us if we abide in Him. So, what changes do you need to make to consistently enjoy Christ’s peace and allow it to overflow to others?

7. Accept Jesus’ Offer of Peace

Jesus’ final words of instruction to His disciples before He prayed over them and was arrested were:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

God does not torment His children with evil (James 1:17). However, we live in a fallen world and will all experience adversity. Jesus guaranteed His disciples that they would have trouble. But He also offered them peace. He told them many things so they would know that He alone is the source and originator of true peace.

Let’s review the sections of His discussion on choosing peace in troubled times that I highlighted in this article:

1. Trust Jesus, and do not focus on your circumstances. John 14:1
2. Keep a Heavenly focus. John 14:2-3
3. Accept Jesus as the only way to the Father. John 14:6
4. Pray in Jesus’ name. John 14:12-14; 16:23-26
5. Depend on the Holy Spirit. John 14:16;26-27;15:26;16:7
6. Remain permanently connected to Jesus Christ. John 15:5
7. Accept Jesus’ offer of peace. John 16:33

In Christ, we can have peace. But we can also choose not to accept His offer of peace. If we ignore His words, we reject His offer.

We must remember that we cannot have peace without Him. His peace is ours because we are His, and we abide in Him, not because we really try hard.

Jesus overcame the world through His death, burial, and resurrection. As believers, we share in His authority. Because we are in Him, His victory also belongs to us (1 Cor. 15:57).

My husband is a passionate soccer fan. He gets tremendously nervous when his team, Arsenal, is playing. However, he can relax and enjoy the game when he already knows the final score. Knowing that Jesus has overcome the world should bring us peace. We can enjoy the peace of Christ in a troubled world because we have read the end of the Book, and the Prince of Peace wins!

So, will we accept and enjoy His peace or keep striving?

Prayer

Father, I am grateful that through Jesus, we, Your children, can have peace in the midst of great adversity. Thank You for speaking Your peace-giving words through Christ. As we deal with difficult circumstances, give us the grace to humble ourselves and allow these words to comfort and strengthen us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Empower us to keep our focus on Jesus, abiding and hoping in Him. So that Your peace will continue to fill and encompass us as we journey through life – eagerly awaiting our reunion with Christ. I humbly ask this of You, in Jesus’ name, Amen!!

Related Articles:

• Peace with God through the Cross
• 7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times: Part 1

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© 7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times: Part 2. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author unless otherwise indicated.

The post 7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times: Part 2 appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times

This is my second article this year focused on peace. Last time, we defined peace, highlighted ten potential peace stealers, and discussed what it means to have peace with God – peace that comes through acknowledging, receiving, and identifying with everything Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross. If you missed it, please, click HERE to read it.

Today’s article will focus on finding and maintaining the peace of God irrespective of life’s circumstances. John chapters 14-16 document Jesus’ heart-to-heart discussion with His disciples the night before He was crucified. Jesus knew His time had come, so He spent time teaching and preparing His disciples for life, ministry, and the troubles awaiting them. Jesus plainly told them they would be hated, persecuted, ostracized, and even killed! (See John 15:18-20 and John 16:2.)

These men had left all they had – homes, families, professions, friends, etc. – to follow Jesus for three solid years, and now Jesus was telling them that He was leaving them. Can you imagine the confusion and sorrow they must have felt?

Jesus loved them, so He gave them specific instructions on how to overcome troubled times. He began His conversation by telling them in John 14:1 that they should not let their circumstances trouble their hearts. In John 16:33 (NIV), He ended with the words, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The instructions He gave them are all relatable to our lives. We will all face varying degrees of trouble and adversity. As I have encountered many anxious moments recently, I have found His words comforting and encouraging. I have received Jesus’ words as though He is speaking directly to me, and that is why I decided to write this article on choosing peace in troubled times based on John 14-16.

This will by no means be an exhaustive study of John 14-16. I will not include everything Jesus said, so I encourage you to pick your Bible and study the text yourself.

Let’s go!

1. Trust Jesus, and Do not Focus on your Circumstances

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

Heart in this verse refers to our inner selves, i.e., our thoughts, character, mind, and intentions.

Jesus instructed His disciples to resist allowing their circumstances to agitate and trouble their thoughts and minds. He was not saying they would not experience trouble – He knew they would. But instead of focusing on their problems, Jesus comforted them and commanded them to put their faith and trust in God and Him. He assured them they could trust Him (and His words) just as they trusted Father God because He and the Father are One (John 14:10; 10:30).

Faith is simply taking God at His word. It is believing Him and stepping out to do what He said you should, irrespective of contradictory circumstances. To believe Jesus is to trust that He will do what He said He would. And faith is essential for living in God’s peace.

Scripture tells us that to be saved, we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10). But our faith is not restricted to our salvation experience alone. We must believe in Jesus for salvation and also believe in Him to live a victorious Christian life.

Just like His disciples, Jesus has not promised us a trouble-free life. He has assured us that we can have a peaceful, untroubled mind when we trust in our loving Father “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV).

Reflect

• Do you believe in God?
• Do you believe He loves you, keeps His Word, and fulfills His promises?
• Do you believe that you- yes, even you- can enjoy the peace of God?

If your faith feels weak, here are two practical steps you can take:

• Spend time in the Word, and your faith will begin to grow because faith comes through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
• Pause and reflect on the times that God has proven Himself faithful to you, your family, and your friends.

2. Choose Peace in Troubled Times by Keeping a Heavenly Focus

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14: 2-3

Jesus promised His disciples that they would be with Him in Heaven.

The greatest joy of a believer is that we get to spend eternity with Jesus. Everything in this world is temporary, including our troubles.

Jesus is not implying that we should throw in the towel and drag through life anxious, depressed, and waiting for death to deliver us from misery. Not at all!

Jesus wants us to put on the full armor, which He gave us as protection and defense against the devil, who may use trouble as a tool to detract us from our purpose in this life. Ephesians 6:15 lists the shoes of peace as armor, and 1 Thessalonians 5:8 lists the helmet of the hope of salvation as another piece of armor. The helmet of hope protects our minds from despair and despondency just as a physical helmet protects the skull and brain.

Jesus wants us to stand tall against the enemy’s tricks as we go through life with peace and hope.  He wants us to complete our earthly mission with expectancy, knowing He has prepared for us to reign and rule with Him for all eternity (Revelation 2:25-26). Hopelessness is an energy drainer, but when our hope is anchored in Christ, knowing that we will see Him face to face, we can go through life with strength and perseverance (Hebrews 6:18-19).

If we already know how it’s going to end, then there is no reason for us to live a fearful life.

Reflect

• How is the reality of Heaven impacting your life today?

Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our minds on things above, not earthly things. We can choose peace in troubled times by fixing our minds and spending time on things with eternal value. When we do so, the troubles of this temporary world lose their sting.

3. Accept Jesus as the Only Way to the Father

^“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

We can choose peace in troubled times by depending on Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life.

Jesus boldly declared that He is the only Way to the Father. If we want to have a relationship with the Father, we must go through Jesus. There is no other way. True, lasting peace is alien to those who do not have a relationship with the Father. Click HERE to be directed to my last post on peace with God through the Cross.

Even when we already have a relationship with the Father through Jesus, Jesus remains the only Way, the Truth, and Life. We can forever depend on Him for guidance, truth, and sustenance.

• Do you feel lost? – Jesus is the Way
• Are you confused and trying to make sense of too much conflicting information? – Jesus is the Truth
• Do you feel depleted of inner strength and peace – Jesus is the Life.

4. Pray! Pray!! Pray!!!

In the same conversation with His disciples, Jesus repeatedly invited them to pray and ask God for their needs in His name. Obviously, when we bring our concerns to the Father in Jesus’ name, our requests must align with the Word of God. For example, it would do us no good to pray to God to zap someone who hurt us with lightning because God does not want us to seek revenge (Romans 12:19).

Slowly read the three Scriptures below, from John chapters 14-16, where I emphasized the references to “ask in my name.”

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:12-14

 

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:23-24

 

“In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.” John 16:26

But why so specific? Why do we need to ask in Jesus’ name?

Philippians 2:9-10 tells us that “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…”

This means that no matter what need or concern you have today, no matter how intense or prolonged it has lasted, it remains subject to the name of Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, He has empowered us through the Holy Spirit to do great things for His glory. Jesus even went further to state that we would do greater things when we ask in His name. Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords promised to back us up. Therefore, there is no reason to shrink back in timidity and lose our peace.

Jesus’ words remind me that I do not have to respond in fear when tempted to be anxious. We can choose peace in troubled times by consistently answering anxiety with a prayer to God and asking Him for our specific needs in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We can trust God to answer us and leave the results to Him.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7 NLT

Reflect

Is anything weighing heavily on your mind? Why not ask the Father for help in Jesus’ name?

Prayer

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” In Jesus’ name, Amen! Romans 15:13 NIV

Related Articles:

• Peace with God through the Cross
• 7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times: Part 2

Until next time….

Chizobam Idahosa

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© 7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times: Part 1. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author unless otherwise indicated.

The post 7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times: Part 1 appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

Hello, hello!!

This is my last article in a three-part mini-series on bearing the fruit of love. In the first post, we discussed the importance of obeying God’s command to love Him and love others. Then we went on in the second post to answer the question, “What does biblical love look like?”

If you missed any of them, I encourage you to click the links to read them before scrolling down.

What we are going to be talking about today is love as a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Love is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

In my last post, we defined biblical love using 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. And we can all agree that we cannot generate this type of sacrificial love by willpower or effort. God is love (1 John 4:8). Love comes from God and is imparted into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. When get become born again, we become new spiritual beings because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross for us (2 Corinthians 5:17). God removes our stony hearts and gives us hearts that can respond to His love and love others (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 11:19).

The Holy Spirit moves in to dwell permanently in us (1 Corinthians 6:19). He is the One who saturates our hearts with God’s love and empowers us to love others.

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Without Him, we would revert to selfishness, and our love walk would be futile. Therefore, walking in love is a fruit or product of the Holy Spirit. It is not behavioral modification or becoming our best selves. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the lives of those born again and yielded to Him.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 NIV

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 1:22-23 NIV

Did you notice that both Scriptures state that the only reason we can love is because we are born again? God gave us the Holy Spirit and poured His love into our hearts to enable us to do the impossible, such as loving Him and others. If you identify as a born-again believer but are not manifesting the love of God, ask God to show you what the problem is, then humble yourself and obey Him.

Cultivate the Fruit of Love by Abiding in Christ

God has given us the Holy Spirit, but we must remain connected to Him and allow Him to direct us. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Some versions of the Bible, such as the NKJV, use the word ‘abide’ instead of ‘remain.’

Just like a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains connected to the vine, we will not walk in love unless we abide in Christ and yield our lives to Him.

Abiding means that we maintain an intimate consistent, unbroken relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We do not visit with Jesus or put Him on time-out. Instead, we are yielded to His leading. We spend time with Him in worship, prayer, and through the Word so that we are ready to react in love when people or circumstances squeeze us.

(To read more on abiding in Christ to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, click HERE.)

Putting on the Fruit of Love

Love is not based on emotions. It is an act of the will. We decide to yield to the Holy Spirit and obey Him when He prompts us to do something for someone as an act of love. God has given us His Spirit to dwell permanently in us. Still, ultimately, we will need to decide whether we will act in love or choose selfishness.

Colossians 3:14 says, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” And 1 Thessalonians 5:8 says, “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

So, we must decide to put on love, and it’s an act of the will.

There are different ways that the Holy Spirit may prompt us to put on love, depending on the circumstances and the people we are dealing with. In very challenging scenarios, when we are relating with people who are difficult to love, we need to ask God for wisdom and grace to love well.

Practical Ways to Put on Love

Putting on love may require you to pray for your offender and forgive (Matthew 5:44). Forgiving someone means that they do not owe you anything anymore and that you are going to make a choice to release them both in your thoughts and actions. You may need to go to your offender and talk to them about the situation. And you may need to take a witness as the Bible instructs us to (Matthew 18:15-16). No matter how the discussion unfolds, you need to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). The Bible also says that we may need to overlook an offense by figuratively turning the other cheek or going the extra mile (Matthew 5:38-41).

As I mentioned in my last article, walking in love does not mean that you open the door for danger to dine and sleep with you. In this world, there are some people that you will need to establish safe boundaries for. But even setting boundaries must be done on the foundation of love. If we are always building fences to keep people away from us, then claim we are setting boundaries, we may need to examine our motives for selfishness.

In the same conversation where Jesus instructs us to take witnesses with us when confronting an offender, He continued the discussion by stating that “If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector” (Matthew 18:17). As you can see, Jesus wants us to do our part to live in peaceful, loving relationships with others. We are to do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:14).

In Conclusion

Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. None of us will successfully bear the fruit of love unless we are born again and yield to the work of the Holy Spirit. We cultivate God’s love in us by abiding in Christ and choosing to put on love when the Holy Spirit prompts us.

No, it’s not an easy road. But we can do it because the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in us (Romans 8:11). And if we fail, God has promised in 1 John 1:9 that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

In the Words of Apostle Paul from Ephesians 3:17b-19,  “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” In Jesus’ name, Amen!!

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© Love: A Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted, without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author, unless otherwise indicated.

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Welcome!!

This is my second article in a three-part mini-series on bearing the fruit of love. In my last post, we discussed the importance of obeying God’s command to love Him and love others. If you missed it, read it HERE before scrolling down.

Today’s post will focus on the attributes of love as I answer the question, “What does biblical love look like?”

What Does Biblical Love Look Like?

Jesus is our Perfect Example of Love

Jesus commands us to love others as He loves us, and He loves us sacrificially and unconditionally. He willingly shed His blood and gave His life on the cross for us (John 15:12-13). While Jesus was physically on earth, He exemplified God’s love. Jesus showed His love for God by obeying Him. (See John 6:38; 12:49-50; 14:30-31; 15:10.)

Jesus showed compassion to people. He did not isolate Himself from crowds or turn a blind eye to people’s needs by selfishly enforcing His personal space or “me time.” Jesus understood the difference between true rest (which we all need) and self-centeredness. He replenished Himself through prayer (Matthew 14:22-23) and rest. But He also knew when to give up His rest in favor of serving others (Mark 6:30-34).

It was out of love and compassion that Jesus:

• Healed the sick – Matthew 14:14
• Fed 4000 hungry men (besides women and children) – Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2
• Healed the blind – Matthew 20:34
• Taught the crowd and later fed the 5000 – Mark 6:34-44

Therefore, just like Jesus, our love for each other should be self-giving and not self-centered. We are to be more concerned about the well-being of others than our comfort. Laying down our lives for others as Jesus did for us (1 John 3:16-18).

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Ten Characteristics of Biblical Love

Here are ten characteristics of love pulled from the New Testament. As you go through the list, ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas where you need to grow and develop in. The good news is that although none of us will score a perfect 100%, we can all grow and mature in love (Philippians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3).

1 Corinthians 13 – The Love Chapter

However, when it comes to studying and meditating on the characteristics of biblical love, the singular chapter that captures it the best is 1 Corinthians 13. Below is Apostle Paul’s rendition of the God-kind of love from 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Using the NIV, we see that there are eight things that love does and eight things that love does not do.

Love Everyone, Every Time

We are to do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). And everything really means everything – talking, working, eating, playing, training, correcting, etc.

And we should exhibit these characteristics, not only to those who are kind and loving towards us but even to our enemies. Jesus commands us to love the people who irritate us, get on our last nerve, disrespect us, and even try to harm us (Matthew 5:43-44). Now, this does not mean that we open the door and invite disaster and danger to dine with us, but it means that we extend grace, forgiveness, and patience where it was lacking. We pray for our enemies and resist retaliation. We do not curse them and call down thunder to zap them out (Luke 6:35).

A few years ago, I read and re-read 1 Corinthians 13 almost daily for over a month in response to a challenge given by a Pastor. I invite you to read, listen, and meditate on this chapter consistently for as long as it takes for God’s love to transform you and show up in your actions in greater dimensions. Consider using different versions of the Bible on different days for comparison, depth of study, and to gain a richer understanding of the text.

Prayer

Father, help us take Your command seriously to walk in love toward everyone. As we study and meditate on Your Word, fill us with an understanding of what You require of us. Give us Your grace and resolve to walk in obedience daily as we pursue loving as Christ did so that people around us will be drawn to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!!

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© What Does Biblical Love Look Like? Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted, without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author, unless otherwise indicated.

The post What Does Biblical Love Look Like? appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

Since becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, the most crucial lesson that I have learned, I am learning, and will continue to learn, is how to love God and love others.

A few years ago, I wrote an article on how God’s love for us empowers us to love others. In the article, I primarily discussed God’s love for us.

Our first focus is understanding how much God loves us because it is His love for us that empowers us to love Him in return and love others. When we truly receive God’s love for us, His love transforms us and overflows to others. Then, bearing the fruit of love becomes supernaturally natural to us because it is powered by God’s love.

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 NIV

If you have not read my prior article on love, I implore you to read it HERE before scrolling down to study what the Word teaches about loving God and loving others.

Love is a Command

Next, we need to acknowledge that love is our primary command from God. A command is an order given by a superior authority that requires obedience.  Walking in love is of first importance to God and, therefore, should be to us as well. It is not an option, suggestion, or request. To put it bluntly, if we are not walking in love, we are disobeying God.

When a Pharisee approached Jesus and asked Him what the greatest command of the law is, Jesus responded by saying:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NIV

To love God is to obey Him (John 14:23; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6), and obeying Him keeps us united with Him and protected by His love (John 15:9-10). When we love God, we are all in with no holding back. We become fully yielded to Him and His purpose for our lives. It stops being about checking off boxes but about following Him wholeheartedly and not out of compulsion.

Why Did Jesus Make Love a Command?

Jesus made it a command because others will recognize that we are God’s children and become drawn into His kingdom by observing our loving actions. If we fail to love, we do not align with our responsibility as ambassadors for Christ.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV

How effective would we be as Christ’s ambassadors if we tell everyone at work that we are Christians but then exude a critical and judgmental spirit full of envy and strife?

Apostle John, who referred to Himself multiple times as “the disciple who Jesus loved,” must have known without a doubt how much he was loved by Jesus. (See John 13:23; John 19:26; John 20:2.) Having personally experienced God’s love, he reminded us multiple times in his letters to obey God’s command to love.

Meditate on the Scripture listed below, all written by Apostle John in his letters to the churches.

“Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:4-6 NIV

 

“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” 1 John 3:23-24 NIV

 

“And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 1 John 4:21 NIV

 

“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,” 1 John 5:2-3 NIV

 

“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” 2 John 1:5-6 NIV

Walking in Love Fulfills the Commands of the Law

Going back to Jesus’ response to the Pharisee, notice that Jesus said that “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40). By saying this, Jesus made it clear to His listeners that as they walk in love, they would, by default, keep all the commands of the law. They would no longer have to keep track of their obedience to each regulation of the ten commandments since walking in love fulfills them all.

Apostle Paul also underscores this truth in Romans 13:8-10.

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:8-10 NIV

Conclusion

My main goal in writing is to remind us that God has commanded us to walk in love. I plan on sharing at least two more articles on biblical love, so stay tuned! In my next article, I will discuss the attributes of love by answering the question, “What does biblical love look like?”

I pray that we would love God by obeying Him and allowing His love within us to flow from us to others as we yield to the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Until next time …..

Chizobam Idahosa

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© Love is a Command: Not a Suggestion. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

The post Love is a Command: Not a Suggestion appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

Earlier in the year, I shared ten powerful things that the Word of God does in our lives and encouraged you (and me) to commit to spending time studying, meditating, and obeying God’s Word.

Suppose you missed that post, no worries! You can read it by clicking HERE.

Today, I’m focusing on the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Word of God by showcasing the Holy Spirit as the author of ALL Scripture, and the One who teaches us and transforms our lives through the Word.

The Holy Spirit: The Author of Scripture

We believe in and worship one God who eternally exists as three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From multiple Scriptures, we learn that the Father is God (Ephesians 1:3), Jesus is God (Romans 9:5), and the Holy Spirit is also God (Acts 5:3-4), but there is only one God.

The Holy Spirit is the author of all Scripture, both Old and New Testament.

“For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21 NIV

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

The transliteration of the Greek word for God-breathe is theópneustos, which means that God is the One who inspired all written Scripture. Theópneustos also “relates directly to God’s Spirit (pneuma), which can also be translated as “breath” (Strong’s 2315). So the Spirit of God inspired the prophets and apostles and “carried them along” as they wrote down the words of Scripture.

Holy Spirit: The Spirit of Christ

Jesus is the Living Word (John 1:1,14), and the Bible is the written Word inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus Christ, reflecting the unity of the Trinity (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:9).

The Spirit and the Word are ALWAYS in perfect harmony and agreement. Jesus Himself testified that the Words from His lips were Spirit-filled and life-giving.

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” John 6:63

Jesus sent His Spirit, God’s Spirit, as a gift to be with us, live in us, teach us about Him, and remind us of His words (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit is everywhere at the same time and able to permanently dwell in the church and us, His followers (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Every believer can enjoy intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

I encourage you to become intimately aware and sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit in you. He is a Person. Therefore, get comfortable with Him. Talk to Him and ask Him questions. Seek His guidance and invite Him to help you understand the Word of God. He will teach you everything and show you how to live as Jesus did.

What Role Does the Holy Spirit Play When We Study the Bible?

 The Holy Spirit Teaches and Interprets the Word 

The Holy Spirit is a Teacher. He is the One who teaches us and helps us to understand the Word. He unfolds our spiritual understanding so that we can receive everything that God has graciously provided to us (John 14:26).

The Bible makes little to no sense without the Holy Spirit because it requires spiritual discernment. Without Him, Bible study becomes nothing more than a tedious academic exercise. But, we can depend on the Holy Spirit to teach us the Word because as the author, He is able to help us correctly interpret Scriptures so that we can discern truth from lies.

“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

The Holy Spirit Transforms Our Lives Through the Word

God speaks to us through the Bible. The Holy Spirit is the One who makes the written Word of God “speak” to our hearts and transform our minds. He makes the Scriptures come alive to us and helps us apply them to our lives.

The Holy Spirit uses the truth of the Scriptures to combat the lies of our selfish inclination, the world, and the devil. He helps us discern whether our thoughts and actions align with the will and Word of God.

There is no limit to what the Holy Spirit will produce in our lives when we allow Him to mold and transform us with the Word.

The Holy Spirit Guides our Lives Through the Word

As we spend time in the Word, the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of truth guides us and leads us to Jesus who is the Truth (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit uplifts, reveals, and makes Jesus known to us, and helps us to fix our minds on Jesus.

The Holy Spirit guides us in our study of the Word by highlighting the Scriptures we need at that specific time. He uses the Scriptures to guide our path and our decisions in life.

 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” John 16: 12-13a

The Holy Spirit Helps us Remember the Word

The Holy Spirit helps us remember the Word and gives us the boldness to act on what we know.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

Practical Steps for Bible Study

The Holy Spirit reveals the Living Word, Jesus, to us through the written Word. We need both the Word and the Spirit to live victoriously as Christians.

Therefore, pray before you study the Word and receive the Word with humility. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the understanding you need. Be expectant that He has something to reveal to you. Then yield and obey Him as He teaches and guides you with the Word. He is only a prayer away!

Prompts

You can ask Him the following questions:

What …

• … does this Scripture mean?
• … truth do you want me to believe about who God is and who I am in Him?
• … are you revealing to me about my life?
• … steps of obedience are you prompting me to take?

Sample Prayer 

Heavenly Father, I thank You that I can come before You in prayer because of what Your Son, Jesus did by conquering the cross. Thank You so much that I am blessed to have a copy of Your written Word. It’s my desire to personally know You and Your ways as I read the written Word.

Thank You, Holy Spirit that You revealed and inspired men to record these words. Lord, I confess that in and off myself I can’t grasp Your mysteries. Holy Spirit, I rely on You to reveal and give me understanding of these deep truths.

Jesus, by the grace within me, I choose to hear, believe and obey all that You speak. I welcome Your presence as we fellowship together through the Scriptures I’m about to read.

Amen!!

Prayer used with permission from Keystone Fellowship.

If this post has blessed you, please share it with someone else. You can also use the social media buttons below. Thank you so much!!

Until next time……

Chizobam Idahosa

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

Except where indicated, Scriptures are from the NIV.

© The Holy Spirit: Author and Teacher of the Word. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

The post The Holy Spirit: Author and Teacher of the Word appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

Today, I’m sharing an article written by my friend and ministry partner who chooses to remain anonymous. Using Scriptures, she teaches us what goodness is, and the importance of obeying God’s command to be good always.

Before I got born again, I was not naturally inclined to be good in my thoughts, words, and actions. Having received a new nature in Chris Jesus, I remain committed to abiding in Christ through His Word and obeying the prompts of the Holy Spirit. If I do not, I dishonor God and prevent others from tasting God’s goodness through me. Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit, which flows from me to others as I yield and surrender myself to the Holy Spirit.

My challenge to you (and me) is to find as many Scriptures as we can that speak on the fruit of goodness and meditate on them until they become ingrained in our subconscious.

Until next time…..

Chizobam Idahosa

The Fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, GOODNESS, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” Galatians 5: 22 -23 ESV

We understand from Galatians 5:16-24 ESV that when we allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lives, we bear the fruit of the Spirit. Goodness is one of the fruit we bear as we yield to the Holy Spirit.

What is the fruit of Goodness?

Goodness is the manifestation of moral excellence. We bear the fruit of goodness when we allow the Word of God through the help of the Holy Spirit to shape how we think, speak, and act.

In Luke 6:45 ESV, Jesus said, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

The contents of our hearts determine our actions. In Matthew 15:19 ESV, Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” These Scriptures show us that what fills our hearts determines what we say and do, and we know from Psalm 19:7-10 ESV that the Word of God is the good treasure. Therefore, bearing the fruit of goodness must begin with renewing our minds with the Word of God so that by the help of the Holy Spirit, we can start to think, speak and act in a manner that is good and acceptable to God.

The Word of God is filled with Scriptures that will produce the fruit of goodness in us if we take the time to study them, meditate on them, and make a habit of obeying them.

Seven Bible Verses on Bearing the Fruit of Goodness

“So then, as we have opportunity let us do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10 ESV

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16 ESV

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” Proverbs 3:27 ESV

“For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:10-11 ESV

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Romans 12:9 ESV

“Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” 3 John 1:11 ESV

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Luke 6:27-28 ESV

 God is Good

Psalm 25:8-9 ESV tells us that the Lord is good and upright, and in Ephesians 5:1, Apostle Paul commands us to be imitators of God.

Every time we obey the Word of God, we bear the fruit of goodness. By our obedience, we proclaim God’s moral excellence (His goodness) and fulfill God’s purpose of making us His chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, and His very own possession (1Peter 2:9 NLT).

God is glorified when we bear the fruit of goodness. Furthermore, it is of great benefit to us both in this life and when we reunite with our Lord and Savior. (See Psalm 125:4-5 ESV, Revelation 2:26 NLT)

Let us pay close attention to these commands, not just to have head knowledge of them, but to hide them in our hearts and practice them as we interact with people.

Prayer 

Inspired by the words of Apostle Paul, I earnestly pray that God will make us worthy of His calling. And that by His mighty power, He will fulfill our resolve to do good and our every deed prompted by faith.

I pray that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in us, and we in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

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