Howdy folks!

Welcome to the Interlude in the Fruits of the Spirit series.

Was not planning to do any interludes but felt like Abba revealed somethings that help build on the previous building blocks.

Will incorporate these into the main posts going forward. For now this will do the job!

Where we stand - Love & Joy:

So we have covered the first two Fruits of the Spirit (if you haven't, go back and read them!)

Let's have a brief recap:

Love is

Agapē - ag-ah'-pay ; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.

This is sacrificial Love. This is the Love Jesus had for YOU when he went to the cross so that we might have life.

This is the type of Love we are to have for others.

"love your neighbor as yourself" -- Meaning all of the selfish things you would do for yourself, you should instead spend the time to love your neighbor and make sure they are provided for.

Imagine if we tried to help others and provide for them with the same fervor that we try to build a habitation for ourselves.

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Joy is

Chara - khar-ah' From G5463; cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: - gladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous).

This is a never ending delight and cheerfulness. Not to be confused with Happiness.

Joy of the Lord is never ending and you can enter in to that joy only through a love of the master.

If your joy is in things of this world, you will only have temporary joy.

Where we are Going (hopefully):

You can only enter into Yahweh's Joy if you learn to Love Sacrificially (My Blog, Jeriah's believe it or not section. Test the Spirit).

Let's look at what Yeshua says:

John 15: 1-17
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants,for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Sacrificial love is the greatest love. By staying in the Yeshua's Love, which is the Father's Love, then you can abide in unity with God and Jesus.

You see that if you are in Yeshua's Love and keeping his commandments then his joy may be in you.

And that your joy might be FULL.

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So the fruits of the spirt go something like so: Love -> Joy -> ...

Once you learn to Love sacrificially you can start to see people in the Light that Yahweh is calling them to: Their original design to be a image of the Almighty Creator.

But to do that you must learn to let things go on behalf of others. You are no longer the primary target of affection and provision.

Once you learn to be able to sacrifice yourself like Yeshua did on behalf of those that Yahweh loves, then you can enter in to your master's joy. The never ending calm delight that that produces steadfastness.

James 1: 2-5
‍² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

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When all fear of death and lack of provision is driven from your midst, what else is left other than Joy?

What do you have to fear with Sin and Death being defeated?

Prayer

Abba, Father, The almighty creator and giver of life. We praise you and honor you. You are the most worthy of all praise, honor and glory. Thank you for the sacrificial love that you sent your son to operate in just as you operate in. Please help use to cultivate the necessary Awe of you. You are AWESOME. You are MIGHTY. We are so undeserving of the gifts that you have given. We were wretched creatures that you pulled out of the filth. Please help us to see the truth about ourselves and others. Help us to abide in your love that we may learn to love sacrificially. Help us to be in your joy in FULL as we go forth as your Sons and as your Bride.

That they would know us by our Love for one another.
Amen