Rodney Howard Browne shares a teaching on The Spirit of God

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

When we are born again and we receive Jesus Christ of Nazareth as our Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God transforms our heart and makes us a brand new creature. We no longer have the same sinful desires or motivation. If we allow the Holy Spirit to continue the work in us that He has begun, we will find that we are changed from glory to glory. Instead of the works of the flesh being manifested in our lives, the fruit of the Spirit is manifested. We become blessed and a blessing. The Agape love of God is a fruit of the Spirit.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5 KJV

The Holy Spirit is the one who deposits the Agape love of God in our hearts and the one who works in us to strengthen us in the love of God. If we don’t have the love of God flowing through us then we have nothing. Without love, even all the wonderful gifts and talents that God has given us, are nothing but hollow and noisy.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NIV

Some things, like the gifts of the Spirit, are only useful to us here on the earth. We will no longer have any need of them when we get to heaven. But the love of God will always endure. We will always need the love of God and we will always walk in the love of God, in heaven and throughout eternity. When the Holy Spirit lives big on the inside of us, He guides us into all the truth and we choose to walk in love instead of the way the world walks.

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.Luke 6:27-36 NIV

We demonstrate the true love of God, not when we love those who love us, but when we love those who hate us, despise us, use us, abuse us and who try to take advantage of us. The manner in which we conduct ourselves under these difficult circumstances is the measure of the fruit of the love of God that is developed and manifested in our lives.

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

When the fruit of the love of God is manifested in your life by the way you love others, then people will know that you are a child of God and a follower of Jesus. It is not what you say that counts as much as what you live and what you do!

Foundation Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-10(NIV)

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person– such a man is an idolater– has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them. 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord.

Little children are born imitators. It is in their make-up. It comes naturally. In fact we often see ourselves reflected in our children and we are not always pleased with the results, because they don’t always imitate only the good things we do and say! It is in our spiritual nature to follow and to imitate and the one we should be following and imitating is GOD.

3 John 1:11(NAS)

11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

We have spiritual parents and leaders and we should follow them as they follow the Lord. Do not make the mistake of following someone who is only pretending to follow the Lord. The Lord is your example and the one you should look up to and the one you should try to be like.

Hebrews 13:7(NIV)
7Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

God is love and the first thing we must do is become filled with the love of God and let His love flow through us every day. This is not an optional thing. You don’t walk in love only on the days you feel like it and be mean and selfish whenever you want to. You walk in love, even when you don’t feel like it, because God walks in love every day. Aren’t you glad that God does not only love us on the days that He “feels like it”! No, He loves you every day, even when you act in an unlovable way.

We should keep ourselves from all sexual immorality and impurity of thought, word and deed. Sexual impurity is sin against your own body. It causes wear and tear on your body. It will also affect your heart and your spirit. Sex is a spiritual thing, not only a physical thing. You become forever spiritually linked to the person you join with, physically, whether it is your spouse or someone who is not your spouse. Adultery and fornication (sex outside of marriage and God’s parameters) will destroy you physically and spiritually if you continue in it.

James 3:2(NAS)
2For we all stumble in many {ways.} If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. If we are going to imitate God, we must put a guard on our lips. The man who can control his lips can control his whole body. People excuse their sinful behavior by saying that they could not control their mind or body, but the control of your body and mind begins with the control of your mouth! Do not be a greedy, covetous person, because this kind of person is an idolater! Money is their idol and God is relegated to second place.

2 Timothy 2:20-22(NAS)
20Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these {things} he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love {and} peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Follow after that which is good. Follow after righteousness, faith, love and peace. You are not children of darkness – you are children of light. Fellowship with those who walk, not in darkness, but in the light of God, imitating Him as dear children.