BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

B V O V : 2 7 POINTS TO GET YOU THERE: by Gloria Copeland is continually bubbling up within us. He has made resident within our born-again spirits mighty forces that can enable us to overcome anything the devil might throw our way any moment of the day or night. Galatians 5:22-23 calls these unbeatable forces the fruit of the spirit. They include love, joy, peace, long-su ering (or patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (or self-control). Contrary to popular belief, the fruit of the spirit aren't just nice qualities we should adopt so we'll be pleasant company—although people who have those fruit are delightfully pleasant! The fruit of the spirit actually release the supernatural power of God in our lives. Love, for example, is God's power to overcome every obstacle, for as 1 Corinthians 13:8 says: "Love never fails...." Joy forti es you with supernatural power when you start to weaken, for Nehemiah 8:10 says: "The joy of the LORD is your strength." Peace undergirds you and helps you make supernaturally correct decisions, for Colossians 3:15 says: "Let the peace...from the Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with nality all questions that arise in your minds…]" (Ampli ed Bible, Classic Edition). Although space does not permit here, I could go right on down the line listing every single fruit of the spirit, and show you how each one releases the power of God to make you victorious in some area of your life. I could also show you how failing to release even one of those fruit in your life can make you vulnerable to the enemy's attacks. Greg Zoschak, who wrote a wonderful book on the fruit of the spirit, says it this way: Each fruit of the Spirit enables the individual believer to better cope with adverse situations that arise in his life. There is not any trial, any situation or temptation that a child of God will face that one of these fruits of the Spirit will not overcome.... Actually, a believer cannot be a totally successful overcomer if any one of the fruits of the Spirit is missing in his life because that particular area will be the very one in which the devil will concentrate his attack. Your Natural Supernatural Disposition The fruit of the spirit are so vital and so powerful that if I had to choose between the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit (which, thank heavens, I don't!)—I'd choose the fruit. Why? Because it's possible to have spectacular gifts of the Spirit manifesting in your life yet still get so far o course you end up shipwrecked, a spiritual failure. When you have the fruit of the spirit owing in your life, however, you can be assured that you will never fall! That may sound extreme—but it's true. I know it is because the Bible makes that very promise in 2 Peter 1. It says: Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.... give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall (verses 5-8, 10). When I realized what that verse was saying, I made up my mind. I determined to have these powerful forces called the fruit of the spirit owing in my life because 1 As you choose to abide in Jesus, you will begin to produce fruit of His nature. (John 15:4-8) 2 You have been given everlasting fruit, which will never decay. (Gal. 5:22-23) 3 Use the joy that has been made available to you as your strength and you will overcome any weakness in life. (Neh. 8:10) 4 Recognize that you have matured, yet are still maturing. You're being equipped with skills intended for a greater purpose. (Heb. 5:14) 5 Place your confi dence in this truth; His peace is the remedy for any and all confusion you'll ever face. (Col. 3:15)

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