God is Love

LOVE it the first and foremost of the fruits of God's Spirit. It is much, much more than merely "one of the fruits." In reality it is the very basic, essential life of the living Christ which expresses itself in all the nine fruits enumerated both in Galatians 5:22,23 (Fruit of the Spirit) and I Corinthians 13:1-7 (Charity/Love).    Look at the contrast here!  Pretty amazing! Just wanted to share.


Read I Corinthians 13:1-7
LOVE.....
-- Does not seek her own, is NOT SELFISH or self-centered.  (Love)
-- Does not rejoice in iniquity but rather REJOICES in the truth (Joy)
-- Is not easily provoked, but is SERENE and stable (Peace)
-- Suffers long, perseveres, is PATIENT (Longsuffering)
-- Is merciful, THOUGHTFUL, and concerned; it envies not (Kindness/Gentleness)
-- Is great, gracious, and generous; it is kind and GOOD (Goodness)
-- Thinks no evil but has FAITH in God and others (Faith)
-- Is HUMBLE and gentle, goes not vaunt itself (Meekness)
-- Is disciplined and CONTROLLED, does not behave unbecomingly (Temperance)

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

All of the nine Fruits of the Spirit come from the same source and that source is GOD. 

LOVE is not something God does, it's who He is!! And He lives in Us! Wow!

I John 4:16   
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Having just a mere glimpse at the content of God's love discloses that here we are face to face with a powerful, potent life principle.  We are dealing with a divine dimension of living; a radical life style. 

God grant that within us there might be generated an enormous, overwhelming, irresistible desire to become like Him who is LOVE....to have reproduced in us the fruit of His life. Our life is no longer to be lived for ourself but for Him and His!  As we make that choice, His life and His love floods in to produce eternal, enduring fruit!    It is only through the working of His Spirit that we are capable of living a life portraying His fruit and to show forth the Love of God to others, loving them as He loves with an unconditional love.  Praise God!

Remember me in your prayers as I begin to seek God on the writings of a book titled, "If It Wasn't For THE LOVE OF GOD."

Be blessed,
Connie

LOVE by Petra

Walk in the Spirit - Sharing the Five Main Points

I hope you all enjoyed the lesson

"Walk in the Spirit"

I want to share the five main points from each lesson 

as a reminder of what can help us Walk in the Spirit.

Remember...

To "Walk in the Spirit" is something we do by the enablement of the Spirit! 

1.  RENEWING OF THE MIND only comes through the Word of God and our lives are transformed through the work of the Spirit.  We can't live a positive life with a negative mind.

2.  WE SPEAK WORDS OF LIFE by giving God the reign of our heart.  Each time you speak, you are prophesying your future.  Speak no longer negative, but positive.

3.  CASTING OUR CARES ON THE LORD is a spiritual transaction of trusting Him and acknowledging that He is in charge and that outcomes are ultimately His domain.  This lightens your load.  When we cast our cares into God's hands, He puts His peace in our hearts!

4.  PUTTING ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD equips us with all we need for spiritual battle everyday.  Never leave home without it!  Prayer is essential in the ongoing battle.  Stay in close communication with the Commanding Officer!

5.  FASTING is denying the flesh and allowing the Spirit in you, full reign.  Let it be done (1) in secret, (2) with the right motive - to seek God, (3) led by the Spirit and (4) accompanied by prayer

May we all "Walk in the Spirit" so we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh,

Connie Schmoll

Walk in the Spirit - Lesson 5

Remember...to "walk in the Spirit" is something 

we do by the enablement of the Spirit.

Lesson #5

Fasting

God's chosen fast is found in Isaiah 58:6 ~ Is this not the fast that I have chosen?  To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

In Matthew 17, Jesus tells of a time when his disciples tried casting a demon out of a boy and nothing happened and Jesus said it was because of their unbelief and that these times may require prayer and fasting.

Fasting is important to a person's walk with God.  No, it does not move God, it moves you because you are denying the flesh and allowing the Spirit, full reign.  Fasting breaks the power of the flesh and its fleshly desires.

Fasting needs to be accompanied by prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit.  We are called to fast in secret with a desire to hunger for God and His Presence in our lives.  God sees the sincerity of our heart and is pleased when our motive is simply to do our best to love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Motive for fasting is very important.  We fast with one motive and that is to seek God.  If we fast just to impress people or as a ritual or a test of will power, this has been and always will be unacceptable to God.  He just won't listen to your pleas and requests.

"Sometimes we are so hungry that the only way to get fed is to fast" -- Susan Gregory, Author of The Daniel Fast.  There are different types of fasting and depends on the one God has chosen you to do. Some do liquid fasts, fast just a meal, and some can even be called to fast from TV, Computer or anything taking up more of your time that should be spent for God. 

When fasting is mentioned in Scripture, it is not addressed as...IF you fast.  It is addressed as...WHEN you fast.  (Matthew 6:16-18)  So it is expected of us because it IS very beneficial to our walk with God.  Let it be done (1) In Secret, (2) With the right motive - to seek God, (3) Led by the Spirit and (4) Accompanied by Prayer.

Fasting can give us boldness and confidence to win spiritual battles and to fight the enemy.  Fasting reveals things.  Sometimes we are not even aware how cluttered our life is until we fast. A fast uncovers clutter, sins, extra baggage, weights and disorder. 

Maybe you are one that has never fasted nor been told much about it, therefore have never had a desire to since you never knew of it's purpose or benefits.    If you are a Believer, I encourage you to experience His power through prayer and fasting.  Ask the Lord to prepare you as a chosen vessel to fast and intercede and to impart the spirit of intercession to you so that His mighty power is shown.

Enter into it wisely with baby steps before running. Be responsible. Don't decide to fast a week if you've never even fasted for three days. If you're being led by the Spirit to fast, then the Spirit will carry you through it.

May you know no other hunger but a hunger and thirst for the living God, for you shall be filled! (Matthew 5:6)  Ask the Lord to birth in you the desire to pray and fast to achieve mighty things for Him and to let your motive to fast and pray always be sincere in His sight.

Allow Him to remove all the works of the flesh, carnal desires, selfish thoughts from you so that you may be empty before Him to molt and melt you and break any hardness of the heart that may be present, so that you can then approach Him with tears of humility. Fasting should change you for the better. It should make you more pliable in the Spirit and more compassionate, not proud and haughty.

Begin to fast regularly especially if you begin feeling a heaviness in the body, a sluggishness or depression.  This can indicate a time to fast, have special prayer and to withdraw from certain pleasures.  It's time to become alive in the spirit once again!!

May you begin to see the hand of God move mightily in your own life and your family's life!

Asking the Lord to birth in me the desire to pray and fast,
Connie Schmoll

I highly recommend the book, "When Ye Fast" written by Joy Haney.

Walk in the Spirit - Lesson 4

Remember...to "walk in the Spirit" is something 

we do by the enablement of the Spirit.

Lesson #4

Put on the Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10 ~ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on the whole armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

We, as Christians are fighting a spiritual battle everyday and that battle is between the Spirit and the flesh.  It is important that we begin each day making sure that we have on the armor of God and be prepared for any battle that awaits us.  It is true what the Lord spoke to me through a devotional, that He has equipped us with all we need.  Read Ephesians 6 to learn of the Armor of God.

-- Helmet of Salvation - protects our thinking.  God promises us if we remain true and faithful to Him, no matter what, we have a home in heaven. Even if we lose some of our battles in life situations here on earth, we still have eternal life promised in heaven.

-- Breastplate of Righteousness - helps protect from the slings and arrows (temptations) from the evil one.  Our righteousness is through Christ Jesus who gives us the desire to do right, which protects us from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. 

-- Shield of Faith - helps extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. When we put our faith in God as we read and learn about Him, we build faith. (Proverbs 3:5,6)  It is faith that helps us win the battle.  The Bible tells us that we obtain this faith by hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) Faith comes via Scripture as we continue to read and learn of Him.

-- Loins Girded with Truth - holds everything else together.  If we do not have truth, there is no way for us to win the battle.  The Word of God is our absolute source of truth today.  If we do not have ourselves girded with truth, then there is no way for us to win.  The truth sets us free. (John 8:32)  The entrance of God's Word gives us light. (Psalm 119:130)

-- Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace - If our lives are not built around the Gospel, then there is no way we are going to make it.  Take the Gospel with you wherever you go.  It's important that we know and understand the Gospel.  Hide it in your heart so we won't sin against Him.  (Psalm 119:11)

-- Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God - our spiritual tool needed to defeat the devil just as Jesus used when He was tempted in the wilderness.  The Word is God's power of salvation. (Romans 1:16) and is living, powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Along with putting on the Armor we must be Praying always in the Spirit which is essential in the ongoing battle.  Prayer is our direct communication to God. Prayer is not to change God's will or His mind; it is for us to be conformed to His will.  Prayer is all throughout the Bible.

Prayer is not only for asking...but it's also declaring - praying the Word.  Also prayer is listening, letting God talk to us.  God has so much that He wants to tell us. We just have to take the time to listen. Prayer is the most important conversation of the day.

Sometimes we don't know what or how to pray.  That is why the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us intercedes for us in prayer.

Romans 8:26,27 ~ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Intercessory prayer is also much needed during battle.  God has made a way for us to be able to intercede for others.  At times He may lay someone on our heart to pray for them.  Or other times, we may feel a weight of something on us...or just feel an urgency to pray - God calling us to prayer...to intercede.  We may never know why or who it was for, but know that God does!  I thank God for those who have interceded for me!

I Timothy 2:1 ~ I urge then first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone...

Quote by Francis Frangipane:

"If you want to be like Christ, you must be willing to lay your life down for others.  As an Intercessor, you will "stand in the gap."  What is the gap?  It is the distance between the way things are and the way things could be if God intervened.  You stand in the space between the failures of man and the mercies of God and intercede. Anyone can find fault in others, but can we stand in the gap and pray for mercy to triumph over judgment?"

Putting on the Armor of God,
Connie Schmoll

Walk In The Spirit - Lesson 3

Remember...to "walk in the Spirit" is something 

we do by the enablement of the Spirit.

Lesson #3

Cast all your cares on the Lord

Psalm 55:22 ~ Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

No matter what your circumstances may be, God can - and will - carry you through them.  Sometimes you may be weighed down by a situation that seems too heavy for you. Do not try to cope with this burden alone.  Instead, bring it into His care and keeping.  Although your circumstances may not change right away, you can find real relief through this process.

Casting your burden on Him is a spiritual transaction.  You trust Him and acknowledge that He is in charge of your life and that the outcomes are ultimately His domain.  This lightens your load immensely, relieving you from feeling responsible for things beyond your control.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, leaning not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.  Proverbs 3:5-6

He tells us to come to Him when we are burdened.  Matthew 11:28-30 ~ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

When you come to Him weary and burdened, He has promised that He will give you rest.  Take His yoke upon you - trusting in His unfailing Love - and let Him carry your heavy load.  For He says His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

All that weighs heavy on you is not for you to carry. Give it all to Him!  Cast your cares on Him and leave it at His feet to take care of, because He cares for you!  1 Peter 5:7

When we put our cares in His hands, He puts His peace in our hearts!

Casting all my cares on the Lord,

Connie Schmoll

Walk In The Spirit - Lesson 1 & 2

Remember...to "walk in the Spirit" is something 

we do by the enablement of the Spirit.

Lesson #1  

Renewing of the Mind 

Romans 12:1,2 ~ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

We must renew the mind with the Word of God.  When thoughts come that are not of God and His ways, bring them into captivity and cast them out. This is what the Bible says to do in 2 Corinthians 10:4,5.  Don't receive them! Don't dwell on them! Replace them with the positive, the good, the Word! His Promises! His Truth!  Our minds are renewed by God's Word and our lives are transformed through the work of the Spirit.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you make God your default focus. Try and become conscious of your thoughts when your mind is at rest.  Don't let them gravitate towards worries or even some pleasure seeking. Some of these thoughts are useful but others are not. 

Spending some time in quietness is a big need - away from TV, radio and other distracting noises.  Communicate with God frequently throughout your day.  Also it is vital that you saturate your mind with Scripture, which is all about Him. (Psalm 119:11)  As you practice these disciplines, you will gradually be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Lesson #2 

Speak Words That Produce Life

Proverbs 18:21 ~  Death and life is in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit there of.

Just as with our thoughts, we must also be careful what we speak.  We must begin to speak words that bring life, not death.  Positive not negative.  First, renewing our minds with God's Word will help change what we speak because what comes out of our mouth usually begins with a thought. 

I saw this quote the other day, "To bridle your tongue, give God the reins of your heart."  Again...we are giving it to God and not trying to control it (the flesh) ourselves. Focus on Him (the Spirit) and let Him do it!

If you have the Spirit of God living in you, acknowledge that power within.  Knowing that you have the conscious choice to pull lessons from both your positive and negative experiences today, what can YOU DO to make a better life for yourself?

The first thing is to change what you speak.  As Scripture says, "Death and life is in the power of the tongue".  Do you know that each time you speak, you are prophesying your future?  Speak no longer negative, but positive.  Let your words now produce life instead of death.  THEN you'll start seeing good and bright things growing in your life instead of bringing death to those great things God wants for you!!!

Reflection: 

Take some time to read and meditate on God's Word and pick out some of His Promises and the Scriptures that are your favorites that have made a difference in your life. Memorize them and hide them in your heart. Renew your mind with God's Word and begin speaking His words over your circumstances.  Allow the Spirit to transform your life and you'll begin to see it getting easier to handle situations that come your way that were hard to handle before.  His Word is alive and living in you!!   

We can't live a positive life with a negative mind!  

Renewing my mind and speaking words that bring life,

Connie

Walk in the Spirit - Introduction

I was becoming a bit weary and frustrated lately on the constant talk about the flesh and how we were to keep trying to control it, and found that this caused me to focus more on the flesh.  My first thought was, "What's the deal?!" Then God laid a Scripture on my heart that made me aware of the cause of the weariness and frustration and it all began to make sense to me.

Paul said in Galatians 5:16 to "Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh".  This made me realize that we had it all backwards.  We were trying to bring the flesh under control so we could walk in the Spirit but all this was doing was causing us to be more focused on the flesh than on the Spirit.

Romans 8:6 says "For us to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

Your mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, but when your mind is focused on the flesh, trying to control it all the time, it brings death, negativity, you become frustrated and you grow weary of trying.  I decided then to begin focusing on the Spirit and it's been so much better for me. Wow!!

The Lord let me know that He has equipped us with all we need to learn to "walk in the Spirit" and that His Word and His Spirit are freely here to help.

He spoke to me through a devotional written by Sarah Young, "Remember that I have fully equipped you to handle whatever comes your way.  What you need is help in using the equipment."

I began to read, study and pray to learn more about 'walking in the Spirit' and what it actually meant and I wanted to share with you all I have been learning.

What does it mean to "walk in the spirit"?
To "walk in the spirit" is something we do by the enablement of the Spirit.  The Spirit enables us by producing in us strong desires that accord with God's will.  This is pretty much what God said he would do in Ezekiel 36:26-27 - "A new heart I will give you and a new spirit I will put within you...I will put my Spirit within you and CAUSE (emphasis mine) you to walk in My statutes". So...when we walk in the Spirit, we experience the fulfillment of this prophecy.

We, as Believers have the Spirit of Christ, the hope of glory within us.  Those who walk in the Spirit will show forth daily, moment-by-moment holiness.  This is brought about by consciously choosing by faith to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide in thought, word and deed.

We can know that we are walking in the Spirit if our lives are showing forth the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Beware of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-20) that keep you from inheriting the kingdom of God and just allow the Spirit to produce the godly fruit in your life instead. 

Being filled (walking) with the Spirit is the same as allowing the Word of Christ to dwell in us.  The result is thankfulness, singing and joy.  To "walk in the spirit" is to follow the Spirit's leading.  It is essential to "walk with" the Spirit, allowing Him to guide your steps and conform your mind.

I want to share a few things that will help us in "Walking in the Spirit".  Here is the list but I will be sharing them in separate postings, so...be watching for them.

Renewing of the Mind
Speaking Words That Produce Life
Cast Your Cares on the Lord
Put on the Armor of God
Fasting

Watch for the first lesson or lessons in next posting.

Walking in the Spirit,
Connie