Fruit Of The Spirit

[Steadfast]

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

LOVE is the Key.

JOY is Love Singing.

PEACE is Love Resting.

LONG-SUFFERING is Love Enduring.

KINDNESS is Love's Touch.

GOODNESS is Love's Character.

FAITHFULNESS is Love's Habit.

MILDNESS is Love's Self-forgetfulness.

SELF-CONTROL is Love holding the Reins.

--Author Unknown


"Against such things there is no Law." - Galatians 5:22-23


Love,

Steadfast

[juffowup]

Nice post. I once knew a brother that each year took a new calendar and filled each day with a different fruitage of the spirit, and when he went out the door for a day he looked which one he'd try to focus on displaying. While some might question whether it is right to focus on only "one" each day, his aim was that by keeping a focus on it day by day you would make steady progress in both. He also mentioned how it was uncanny that it seemed he'd get "mildness" on a day when events seemed to try to provoke him, and "goodness" when he would later be tempted to be dishonest, etc.

[Excaliber]

There is a game that I learned from a brother....basically lets say you have a congregation gathering, you have one person introduce themselves and say which fruit of the spirit they need help with. Then the others in the group who are strong in that particular fruit will help the first person.

You just go around every person, its a great game because you get to know others in the congregation...and you are encouraged to keep working on the fruits of the spirit.

[eyes&ears]

Hi Steadfast,

Thank you for that thoughtful reminder.

It sure will be great to live in a world in the future that will be
full of Love and Peace. It fills one up with such joy.

But what a blessing it would be now if all nations and peoples were to live by these fruitages. Wouldn't that be something else? Perhaps there would be more kindness such as was displayed in NYC where the man jumped on the train tracks to cover the body of a young man who had fallen due to having a seizure. Both survived. What a beautiful display of unselfish love for our neighbor. I don't know if I have that much courage.

Love to you and your family

E & E

[Seeker of Truth]

Excaliber,

I see that you made it here okay, Great to have you on the board. Welcome brother.

This is original Truthseeker on this board, I changed my name so no one will confuse me with the other "truthseeker" on the other boards

Will talk to you all later.

[Cephalon]

Great post Steadfast. Good food for thought to start the day.

[billy]

I thought i would revive this thread Streadfast - as its such a wonderful poem to focus on - and there isnt enough said about the fruitage of the spirit- love being the dominate emotion Jehovah displays and rules all creation by

I also came across a very profound view of love on another site and just had to share with everyone here

I naturally assumed hate was the opposite to love - but thats not true - the opposite to love is indifference - sometimes we need hate to protect love - ie Jehovah hates what is bad - as we should too - so by hating the bad we are protecting the the thing that needs to be loved - this thought really got me thinking

[Jahsdisciple]

Good one Billy.
I like the poem because each quality is a differant aspect of love. Love has many facets and without it,these others couldnt exist. So love is explained via these differant aspects.Jah Himself has diplayed them all and they are seen in His dealings with people where these differant aspects of himself and we see them displayed in ways we wouldnt have seen otherwise.

"MILDNESS is Love's Self-forgetfulness."
Although Id have to say this one is a bit out. Love means knowing our own value,so it cant be "Self-forgetfulness" It means knowing we are still in Jahs image dispite "imperfection" and being confident of this value and being like Jah,we dont have to rely on other values that then lead us to try and make us feel good by values that make us think we are 'better' than others. We all have the same miraculous gift. So how can one be better or above another with the same gift ?

[billy]

Your right Jahsdiciple

After looking at that one again about mildness - it doesnt make sense to me

I would say mildness is loves tenderness - it doesnt behave sharpley and aggressive but soothing and coaxing (i have to admit, i do still need to work on this one)

I agree with you here:

It means knowing we are still in Jahs image dispite "imperfection" and being confident of this value and being like Jah,we dont have to rely on other values that then lead us to try and make us feel good by values that make us think we are 'better' than others. We all have the same miraculous gift. So how can one be better or above another with the same gift ?

I think we all need to have a measure of self love - and this can be developed by exercisng the qualites of the spirit - which makes us more like Jehovah and operating as we were intended to

:D

[Jahsdisciple]

I would say mildness is loves tenderness - it doesnt behave sharpley and aggressive but soothing and coaxing (i have to admit, i do still need to work on this one)


Billy,
I like that !

About the self love...this is why i have real problems with the love dishonoring expression "undeserved kindness"..which implies strongly that we are not deserving in any way of Jahs attention and salvation,which is contrary to why Jah sent his son. Why would he send his son if it wasnt motivated by that which is still lovable..namley US.

If you go to the 'insight' book its explains the reason why this terrible expression is used. Its 'explains' that ,amongst other things,Psa 8:4a shows that we are insignificant because of what this question implies.

Well,look at the rest of the context and the verse.. :icon_rolleyes:

Jah says that dispite imperfection we are crowned with glory and splendor and are "a little lower than angels". So because of Jahs gift to us still being there we are worthy of consideration. No one deserves life... life is a gift. Even JC in his state of non-existance could not earn life. Once made in Jahs image he was worthy because of what he now had. Same with us,once we are concieved we have this gift that 'crowns us with glory'..dispite what adam did to us,it cant stop what Jah gave us..adam cannot make Jah a liar.

Its not a statement,its a question that Jah then answers. If we are a little lower than angels,surely we have untold value. In my mind,this is why Jah had to redeem us,not because everlasting life was being lost,but the knowledge of the treasure inside us that was lost through ignorance. How could such a thing be lost when it was the reason He made life...to pass on to His children the gift to be like Himself...what a gift !!

This is why "undeserved kindness" is such an insult to this gift and why many in the WTS are very insecure and need to "perform acts of faith",because through these they have value. This totally ignores this gift Jah has given us and the gift we still have. "underserved kindness' perpetuates the insecurities that many have and only reinforces the doubts they have about their value..that somehow 'sin'(which is often just bad values) wipes out our value and have to work hard for "gods approval" (I HATE that expression !!!.) Psalm 8 shows the real value we have and are worthy of Jahs attention. JD

[billy]

Thanx Jahsdisciple for bringing my attention to the expression "underserved kindness"

I have to agree with your view point - there was always something that irritated me about that expression , even the term "grace" i find annoying as well

i looked up the "it" book with a fresh approach - there are two choices presented to interpret this word - i would have picked door number one - as this fits with the way Jesus is portrayed - giving constanly with out expectations - doing it freely because he wanted to


Scholar R. C. Trench, in Synonyms of the New Testament, says kha´ris implies "a favour freely done, without claim or expectation of return—the word being thus predisposed to receive its new emphasis [as given it in the Christian writings] . . . , to set forth the entire and absolute freeness of the loving-kindness of God to men. Thus Aristotle, defining [kha´ris], lays the whole stress on this very point, that it is conferred freely, with no expectation of return, and finding its only motive in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver." (London, 1961, p. 158)

It appears the wts chose door number 2 - which makes me feel cold and condemned - to make one feel guilt and shame - not feeling valued - which is exactly how christendom and the wts treats its members and why many people are turned off from religion

Joseph H. Thayer in his lexicon says: "The word [kha´ris] contains the idea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved . . . the N. T. writers use [kha´ris] pre-eminently of that kindness by which God bestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon of their offences, and bids them accept of eternal salvation through Christ." (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1889, p. 666) Kha´ris is closely related to another Greek word, kha´ri·sma, concerning which William Barclay's New Testament Wordbook (1956, p. 29) says: "The whole basic idea of the word [kha´ri·sma] is that of a free and undeserved gift, of something given to a man unearned and unmerited."—Compare 2Co 1:11, Int.

[billy]

<span style="color:#ff00ff">Here I have typed some scriptures, and have taken the word "undeserved" out - now they sound more loving and in line with the fruitage of the spirit type of kindness - they are more appealing and uplifting - and as you nicely brought out it makes one feel signigicant and worthy, like Jehovah really values us to give His attention to us - just like Jesus&#39; - it could be is the glass half empty or half full type of thing - operating from the positive is way more effective to reach the human soul

40 Paul selected Silas and went off after he had been entrusted by the brothers to the kindness of Jehovah</span>

27 Further, because he was desiring to go across into A·cha´ia, the brothers wrote the disciples, exhorting them to receive him kindly. So when he got there, he greatly helped those who had believed on account of [God’s] kindness

10 In proportion as each one has received a gift, use it in ministering to one another as fine stewards of God’s kindness expressed in various ways

10 But, after YOU have suffered a little while, the God of all kindness, who called YOU to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish YOUR training, he will make YOU firm, he will make YOU strong.

12 Through Sil·va´nus, a faithful brother, as I account him, I have written YOU in few [words], to give encouragement and an earnest witness that this is the true kindness of God; in which stand firm

14 So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of kindness and truth

[billy]

just adding a side point about the two scholors the wts has gone to for interpretation



Joseph henryThayer (1828-1901) , American biblical scholar, was born at Bostn on the 7th of November 1828. He studies at Boston Latin School and graduated at Harvard in 1850. Subsequently he studied thology at the Harvard Divinity School, and graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1857. He preached in Quincy, and in 1859-63 was chaplain of the 4oth Massachuetts Volunteers He was professor of scred literature in Anover Seminary in 1864-82, and in 1884 succeeded Ezra Abbot as Bussey professor of New Testament criticism in Harvard Divinity School. He died on the 26th November 1901, son after his resignation from Bussey professorship. He was a member of the American Bible REvision Committee and recording secretary of the New Testament Company. His chief works were his Translation of Grimms Clavis Novi Testa -, menti (1887 ) as A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament, and hi New Testament bibliograpy

Richard Trench loved words. His whole life was made rich with the study of them and those studies made the clergyman famous and have benefited generations of Bible scholars. One of his word books, New Testament Synonyms, is still helping pastors and students around the world.Richard was slow at finding what he wanted to be in life. Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1807, he attended elite English schools where he did well. At Cambridge he became one of the idealists known as the "Apostles." Famous members have included the Christian Socialist F. D. Maurice, Bible scholar Fenton Hort, and physicist James Clerk Maxwell.

After graduation, Richard (whose ancestry went back to exiled Huguenots) displayed an adventurous and idealistic streak which led him to throw his support behind Spanish exiles in an 1830 attempt to overthrow King Ferdinand VII. The scheme ended in disaster. Richard escaped with his life because he was at Gibralter.

Until this time, Richard had been unsure what to do with himself. He had thought of going into law. However, there were clergymen in the family and he was ordained as a deacon the same year that he married. Three years later, on this day, July 5, 1835, he was ordained as a priest in the Church of England.

That same year, Richard published the first of his books, a life of Justin Martyr in verse. A few years later he issued Notes on the Parables of Our Lord. Other books on the Scriptures followed: on Solomon&#39;s Proverbs, Christ&#39;s Miracles, the Sermon on the Mount, the Gospels, and John&#39;s letters to the seven churches of Asia.

In 1852 he published a popular study of words. In this, he showed how language is molded by character and molds character. "[Language] is full of instruction, because it is the embodiment, the incarnation, if I may so speak, of the feelings and thoughts and experiences of a nation, yea, often of many nations, and of all which through long centuries they have attained to and won." Just two years later, he published his New Testament Synonyms which shows various shades of meanings in the Greek words. In all of his books, he showed deep wisdom, as for instance, when he wrote: "We must not conceive of prayer as overcoming God&#39;s reluctance, but as laying hold of His highest willingness."

Another example: "No man can be without his god. If he have not the true God to bless and sustain him, he will have some false god to delude and to betray him....For every man has something in which he hopes, on which he leans, to which he retreats and retires, with which he fills up his thoughts in empty spaces of time, when he is alone, when he lies sleepless on his bed, when he is not pressed with other thoughts; to which he betakes himself in sorrow or trouble, as that from which he shall draw comfort and strength -- his fortress, his citadel, his defense; and has not this a good right to be called his god?"

Richard went on to become Bishop of Dublin where his gentle character, sympathetic spirit and godly life did much to ease the awkward transition during which his church ceased to be the state church of Northern Ireland. He died in 1886 after a long illness, beloved by all.

[Jinnvisible]

I suppose `undeserved` can be positive or negative, depending on how it is used.

e.g.

1): "What have I done to deserve this Love?" ~ Undeserved Love (+)

2): "What have I done to deserve this Organisation" ~ Undeserved Organisation (-)

[bimp5]

There is a game that I learned from a brother....basically lets say you have a congregation gathering, you have one person introduce themselves and say which fruit of the spirit they need help with. Then the others in the group who are strong in that particular fruit will help the first person.

You just go around every person, its a great game because you get to know others in the congregation...and you are encouraged to keep working on the fruits of the spirit.[/b]

Great Idea!! I agree this is an excellent way to widen out in the congregation! :clap:

[Jahsdisciple]

Billy,
I liked the way you used those verses and then put in the more positive meaning. It really changes the whole feeling of them. I also thought of using "gods abundant love" ,but really the word is trying to portray the reason for Jahs feelings for us.

"Joseph H. Thayer in his lexicon says: "The word [kha´ris] contains the idea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved . . . the N. T. writers use [kha´ris] pre-eminently of that kindness by which God bestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon of their offences, and bids them accept of eternal salvation through Christ." (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1889, p. 666) Kha´ris is closely related to another Greek word, kha´ri·sma, concerning which William Barclay&#39;s New Testament Wordbook (1956, p. 29) says: "The whole basic idea of the word [kha´ri·sma] is that of a free and undeserved gift, of something given to a man unearned and unmerited."—Compare 2Co 1:11, Int."

What a load of mental excrement ! Thats the problem,he and the WTS cant see what this Psalm is saying. There is what adam did to us AND there is what Jah gave us through adam. adam couldnt wipe that out. That somehow adam could wipe out what He gave us,that sin (what adam did)stops Jahs gift to us.

Im not sure grace is right either,like you say. Even the song says something like "for saving a wretch like me" If we know our worth,we are not a wretch,just ignorant.

What I didnt like about the WTS reasoning was that Psalm was saying that we have something amasing. They use a question OUT OF CONTEXT and not even see the reason for the question,which was then answered.

Anyway,Im just glad this expression is not true and that Jah meant something else by it as Psalm 8 gives the evidence for.

[Juan23]

Fruit ... Mark II





FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

LOVE is the Key.

JOY is Love Singing.

PEACE is Love Resting.

LONG-SUFFERING is Love Enduring.

KINDNESS is Love&#39;s Touch.

GOODNESS is Love&#39;s Character.

FAITHFULNESS is Love&#39;s Habit.

MILDNESS is Love&#39;s gentle Demeanour.

SELF-CONTROL is Love holding the Reins.

--Author Unknown

[billy]

Nice adjustment Juan23

by: Jahsdisciple (http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/index.php?showuser=690) "There is no fear in love,but Perfect(ed) love throws fear outside because fear acts as a restraint" In the end times,dont let fear have its &#39;restraint&#39; on us,but let Jahs love grow inside us and throw this fear far from us.

how do you think "fear acts as a restraint" means?

i know the bible says we are to fear Jehovah and fear is the beginning of wisdom - so some fear is necessary