October 22, 2021: Fruit of the Spirit Is Love...Do We Allow the Spirit to Take Full Control of Us?

The second chapter of the book, "Absolute Surrender" by Andrew Murray, is entitled, "The Fruit of The Spirit Is Love". This chapter can open our eyes to realize how much we are missing, as Christians, by not utilizing the full power of the Holy Spirit to live through us.

As stated by Andrew Murray from "Absolute Surrender":

"Under the Old Testament you know the Holy Spirit often came upon men as a divine Spirit of revelation to reveal the mysteries of God, or for power to do the work of God. But He, (the Holy Spirit), did not then dwell in them". Now, many just want the Old Testament gift of power for work but know very little of the New Testament gift of the indwelling Spirit, animating and renewing the whole life".

"When God gives the Holy Spirit, His great object is the formation of a "holy character". It is a gift of a "holy mind" and "spiritual disposition", and what we need above everything else, is to say:

"I must have the Holy Spirt sanctifying my whole inner life if I am really to live for God's glory"

You see, as new-born Christians, we are incapable to live a life of "holiness", without the power of the Holy Spirit. We must always be "absolutely surrendered" to the Spirit

to "love each other" as God would expect us to. Without our constant surrender to the Spirt, we become angry and short-tempered so easily and take out our frustrations on the people that are close to us, especially our family members.

In chapter thirteen of the Book of John, before His departure from this world, Jesus would show to His disciples an example of love, by washing their feet. Then He said the following to them:

John 13: 34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

It is impossible, and we are incapable to love in this way, as Christ did, without the Holy Spirit taking full control of our hearts and minds. We must have Christ live through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then the world around us will know that we are different because they will see Christ in us.

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

It is so easy for our "old self" to take control of our minds and attitudes so quickly. We must try to begin our mornings with prayer to God, surrender ourselves continually, and thank God for His special gift of the Holy Spirit He gave us, to be able to love as we should.