thegospeloutpost@gmail.com

Tag: love

Malachi | The Purpose of Offerings 1:6-2:9

Malachi | The Purpose of Offerings 1:6-2:9

If we come to doubt God’s love, we need only to remember God’s grace and mercy demonstrated through the cross: the greatest act of love He could have done for us.

Malachi | The Love In Discipline - Malachi 1:1-5

Malachi | The Love In Discipline – Malachi 1:1-5

If we come to doubt God’s love, we need only to remember God’s grace and mercy demonstrated through the cross: the greatest act of love He could have done for us.

The Fruit of Joy: Experiencing Joy in The Hardship

The Fruit of the Joy: Experiencing Joy In The Hardship

The birth of a child is a miraculous blessing in the lives of people.  It is viewed as a joyous occasion with much celebration that life should continue. Yet, for all of this blessing, the process of pregnancy and child birth is a long arduous process filled with pain.  For nine months, the mother carries the child, caring for his or her needs as the child is entirely helpless and incredibly needy. Joints ache and fatigue runs rampant. Then, during the birth, the process is painful tonthe point where science has developed everything it can to dull the pain, and it still hurts. For all the problem of children, this is a moment of joy. Despite whatever pain or trials, the outcome and the end are sheer joy.  

The Fruit of Joy Part 1

The Fruit of the Joy: Part 1

With the fruit of love being the leading fruit for the Spirit filled Christian, Paul continues that those claiming they are filled with the Spirit also display joy as an outward expression of the Spirit within them.  A person who has no joy cannot rightly be said to be a Spirit filled individual.  Yet, for all of our preconceived notions and ideas of joy, there is a misunderstanding of what it means to be filled with joy.  Some mistake it that a person of faith must be smiling at all times in order to be joyful, to the dismay of the melancholic personalities.  Smiling does not necessarily equate to joy, although it my certainly be expressed as such.  Joy, rather than a temporary feeling is a longstanding state.  Furthermore, this status is cementing by the work of Jesus Christ.  Joy is not temporary.  Joy is a lasting state because the works of Christ are cemented and secured.

The Fruit of Love: Discipline and Accountability

The Fruit of the Spirit: Love Part 3

It seems that as some point people God the idea that loving someone meant an implicit acceptance of everything they do.  A person is viewed as the summation of their actions and their desires.  Thus to love a person was to be accepting of everything they are and everything they desire to be.  Nothing could be further from the truth of the Gospel.  The love of God is a multifaceted and complex love that surpasses understanding, comprehension, and ability.  For those of us who have received the Spirit of God, the outpouring of love is a similar love for all mankind.  Love does not mean a person will never experience any negative emotion because love does not limit itself to merely emotions.  Instead, often times, love involves the rebuke and discipline of God because of His love for His people and His desire to not see them remain in their sin.  Furthermore, our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for the world as a whole, remains to speak up against injustice and sin as the mouthpiece of God and to hold one another account fo our actions.  This love links arms with the rest of mankind and rushes towards the perfect relationship with Jesus Christ. 

The Fruit of the Spirit: Love Part 2

In seeking to understand a concept, it is often helpful to look at what that particular concept is not.  Culturally, it goes without saying that there are numerous definitions and expectations of what love is and what love looks like.  Everyone’s various expectations of what love looks like pressures each person to reflect different core values.  In seeking to allow the Holy Spirit to express the love of God as a fruit of our transformation, love must be expressed through all that we do.  Furthermore, the opposite of this same love should be ignored and avoided at all cost.  From a biblical perspective, most would assume that the opposite of love of hate.  Yet, hate has passion in common with love. Furthermore, in other areas, believers are encouraged to hate what is evil, which is a command from God, who is love.  Both exhibit passion.   The passion is, albeit misdirected, but present none of the less.  Instead, the opposite of love is fear.  Biblical authors use the  greek word “phobos” to depict the complete incompatibility of love.  Fear is a paralytic that causes us to cower, hide, and freeze.  Love, however, drives a person to intense action as the outpouring of an undeserved love that we have already received.

The Fruit of Love Agape

The Fruit of the Spirit: Love Part 1

At the outset of Paul’s discussion of the Fruit of the Spirit, the foundation is laid down mentioning love as the first fruit. While all the elements listed in Galatians are all equal parts of the Fruit of the Spirit, Paul significantly lists “love” as the first fruit and expression of a spirit filled life.  For the people of Paul’s time, love could be viewed from a few different perspectives.  One aspect is the idea of brotherly or familial love, personified by the word “phileo” (which we get the word Philadelphia from as the city of brotherly love).  Another popular perspective depicted, specifically within Greek literature, described love as primary a romantic and sexual interaction, employing the word “eros.”  Neither of these words did the description of love justice.  Love of this nature could only be described as “agape” which implies a deeper connection that either “eros” or “phileo” would be able to offer.  This love, rather than being between two people, originates in the personhood of God and expresses a deep connection.  It is not friendly or familial but rather from a direct and profound connection from the God’s heart to ours.  

Advent: The Coming of Love

During this forth week of Advent, we light the candle of love.  As we celebrate this forth week of advent, we come to the embodiment of not only the mission of God, but the embodiment of God, Himself.  God is love.  Love is defined by any act that is of God.  With Christ’s coming into the world,…
Read more

Enough

Enough: Are You Enough?

We have come to God knowing that we are not enough but that God loves us despite whatever we do.  Yet, for whatever reason, we can know that God’s love for us goes beyond our ability to earn it and still hesitate to give Him our lives.  There is a deep seeded fear that God is not…
Read more

Enough

Enough: Am I Good Enough?

The first time I had applied to enter into the Pastor training program, I was flat out rejected.  This was odd because, for me, I had believed I heard the call of God.  Others had affirmed it in me.  I was encouraged that I would get in no problem.  So, confidently walking in, I was…
Read more