The Fruit of the Spirit is Love

(Taken from my book, "IDENTIFYING GOD". To order a copy, or for more information contact me at edhan362@yahoo.com) C.S. Lewis in his book The Four Loves, called "agape" an unconditional love not dependent on any lovable qualities that one possessed. This amounts to caring for others regardless of the circumstances. Lewis went on to say that "agape" was the greatest of all loves. "Agape" then is God's love acting on our nature and flowing from Him, through us by the Holy Spirit. "Agape" is seldom used outside of the New Testament in the ancient Greek language. But in the New Testament, it is the primary word for love.Jesus said in John 13:35, "By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love (agape) one to another." The love (agape) that Jesus taught and lived went even deeper than that. He said ?
"Love (agape) your neighbor." (Mat. 5:43)
"Love (agape) your enemy." (Mat. 5:44)
"Love (agape) the Lord thy God." (Mat. 22:37)
"Love (agape) one another." (Joh. 13:34)
"Love (agape) Me (Jesus)." (Joh. 14:15)

Doesn't that cover just about everybody? We, in the Spirit of Christ, are commanded by Jesus to love (agape) everyone, even our enemies. "? Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Mat. 5:44). Now that's a tall order. All that we can say is, "Holy Spirit, help us to love with God's love!"We see this selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love (agape) in Jesus when He said, "Greater love (agape) hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Joh. 15:13). Paul took this statement a step further by saying, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love (agape) toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:7-8). This is the sacrificial love (agape) of Jesus toward us. Even when we were enemies of God, Jesus died to save us, deliver us and heal us!

I grew up with a grandmother who understood and lived unconditional love (agape) before my eyes. But she didn't start out that way. She was living in Indiana, when she answered the call to go and cook at a rescue mission in California. She responded dutifully by selling all that she had to make the trip and get started. When she got off the plane, my father (who was 15 at the time, and had gone before her)said, "Momma, you're going to have to change your ways. You're too proud." This bothered her as she thought of all she had given up to answer God's call.On the drive from the airport to the mission she had imagined serving in one of the beautiful Spanish missions of California. Then they pulled up in front of the rescue mission.The place that she saw looked like an old Indiana barn that needed painting. None the less, they showed her to her room, and let her know that services would begin at 6 p.m.Grandmother got all dressed up like "Kelsey's pet horse" and went down to the chapel for the evening service. She took a front row seat. A little before six o'clock they opened the doors. Homeless men came pouring in the door from the street to sit through the "ear beating" (that's what they called the sermon), before they could get some hot food. About 200 men crowded into a room that sat 150. They smelled of stale wine and perspiration. Grandmother prayed, "Surely God, you have made your first mistake. You would not want me in a place like this."At testimony time in the service my father stood and shared, "I thought skid row was a place, geographically speaking. But I found out that it was really a condition of the heart. I found skid row in my 15 year-old heart, and I knew I needed Jesus."When the service was over, grandmother went back to here room and knelt down beside an old broken down davenport, and surrendered her will to Jesus. She said to God, "If you want me to stay here you are going to have to give me your love, because I don't have what it takes."

God agreed by giving her some immediate instructions. Her assignment was to stand at that door before the evening service and shake the hand of every man that attended. That is how she earned the reputation as "Mom of Skid Row." Her expressions of affection, good will and benevolence followed her ministry for over 25 years, until she went home to be with the Lord.The Holy Spirit wants to grow a "I Corinthians 13" kind of love (agape) in all of us.(Taken from my book, "IDENTIFYING GOD". To order a copy, or for more information contact me at edhan362@yahoo.com)
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"Identifying God" - the book

Check out my book "Identifying God" at www.edhan-idgod.vpweb.com

We invite you to read our book, which is a Bible Study in the
character, nature and authority of God!

Do you know who God is?
You may think you know, but you have no idea.
God is not who you think He is.
God is not who others say He is.
God is who He said He is.

The book “IDENTIFYING GOD” offers a biblical definition of the One True Deity. This Scriptural portrait of the character of God can be a tremendous help for new believers looking to foundationalize their faith. It can also be beneficial for established believers by filling in some of the gaps in their personal faith.

Through this study you will discover …
• The nature of God from the meanings of His biblical names.
• Why the name of Jesus has authority over every name.
• The ministry of God’s Holy Spirit, who works within you.

In a world that is faced with a serious “identity crisis,” this book can help to settle much of your confusion by aligning your faith with “the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.”

Here's what people are saying about author
Ed Han and the book "IDENTIFYING GOD"...

"Ed Han is a quality and detailed Bible teacher. His teachings are both practical and theologically deep at the same time. In his book IDENTIFYING GOD, Ed uses these strengths to address a foundational understanding of God. His insights will be helpful to a wide variety of people. Most importantly, Ed lives a real sincere, down to earth Christian life. His life reflects his teachings and therefore there is real life in his teachings."
Tim Kurtz, Pastor
Fusion Christian Fellowship
Yuba City, CA

"I received your book IDENTIFYING GOD. I thank God, who gave you the prophetic message concerning the writing of this book. I must confess, it is helpful and I was inspired as I read it. Your illustrations gave me deeper understanding of the topics being discussed. This book is very good and you are an excellent teacher. Brother Ed, God richly blesses you. In fact your explanations made me read with excitement. I would like you to teach this topic here in Ghana in my ministry. I believe God is using you to talk to Africa . It is as if you are an African and know the problems here. God is using your book for spiritual break through! Hallelujah! Our God is wonderful. I am very happy about your teaching and I love it.Thank you for your teaching. You make it very simple to understand. You are a great teacher of the Word."
Joseph Ntsiabah
Pastor in Ghana
West Africa