October 23, 2020: The Fruit of the Spirit Is Love. Do We Allow The Spirit to Take Full Control?

The second chapter of the book, "Absolute Surrender" by Andrew Murray, is entitled, "The Fruit of The Spirit Is Love". This chapter can open up your eyes to realize how much we are missing, as Christians, by not utilizing the full power of the Holy Spirit living within 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, at all times, be "absolutely surrendered" to the Spirit in order 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 our loved ones. That happened to me this morning with my son Adrian. He got up a little late this morning for his first, on-line period for school. I quickly spoke with a harsh tone with him and told him that he had to go bed earlier now and set his alarm clock thirty minutes earlier as his discipline.

As I sat down at my laptop to begin to write this post today, I realize that today was my son's fifteenth birthday, and I felt terrible in what I did and I surrendered myself to the Holy Spirit, confessed my attitude and anger I had, and went and hugged him, told him I was sorry, and wished him a Happy Birthday.

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.

P.S. I would like to wish my son, Adrian, a very, Happy Birthday today...Love you Adrian.