"The gifts of Holy Spirit can be imitated, but not the fruit" Dr. J. Dongell, Adv NT Greek lecture, Asbury Theological Seminary

Check out this video on the Fruit of the Spirit from Joyce Meyer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaGuX8oXZLE

Week 3: Greatest of These is Love, Day 4: More About Agape

Today’s Treasure: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

Agape love is never obscene or rude. Agape love is not self-seeking as Philos love is. With agape love, we seek the highest and best for another. It is this love that causes me to seek the best for each woman of GDCF. I want the best and highest for each of you. I am a gold miner; I see so much in you and I desire to bring it out – mine out your gifts, talents, and individual ministries. It is my goal this year to see each of us grow in our love for one another, love for our church, and most importantly love for God.

Agape is not easily angered. Psalm 145:8 tells us that “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” That is our example. We must be slow to anger and rich in love; not, quick to anger and rich in love. I can say that I am slow to anger; I’m not easily upset. However, over time, those who act foolish begin to annoy me and then they do that one thing that just sends me over the edge – like “Really?!” Then I remember Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”

Let’s look at Proverbs 21:19 – “Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.” WOW! Ladies, we do not want this to be us. We do not want to be nagging or quarrelsome. Our homes should be a safe haven and refuge for our spouses and children. We should always work to maintain peace in our homes and everywhere WE are.

Agape keeps no record of wrongs. God keeps no record of our wrongs. He doesn’t bring them up every time we seek Him in prayer; He doesn’t hold back His blessings based on our past sins; He remembers our sins and iniquities no more (Hebrews 10:17). How much more should we as women of God, believers in the faith, forgive one another and remember it no more. We should never bring up our sisters past sins; we must be ‘forgetters’ of wrong. We must remind ourselves that God is in charge of justice and/or revenge; we must not indulge self-pity; we must focus on the future; and we must discipline our thoughts toward the wholesome and productive. Stop replaying what someone did to you 10 years ago, 10 months ago, or even 10 minutes ago – let it go and let God deal with them. Stop bringing up past hurts and opening old wounds; Ladies, we must be healed from those hurts and move forward in the future God has planned for us.

Agape always protects. It covers over in silence. It never exposes the faults of others.

Agape is never without effect. Agape is DIVINE Love. AGAPE NEVER FAILS!!!

A heart like yours, is my desire
A heart like yours, is what I am searching for
Full of compassion, nothing wrong within
Please hear me Lord, give me a heart like yours
~CeCe Winans

Week 3: Greatest of These Is Love, Day 3: Agape: Caring Love

Today’s Treasure: “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

Agape: Love as revealed in Jesus, seen as spiritual and selfless and a model for humanity. Love that is spiritual, not sexual, in its nature.

Let’s evaluate our love (agape) for others through the scripture I Corinthians 13:1-8. We read the scripture, yet we don’t live it out. Lord help us to love as you love; help us to Live Out the love you speak of in the Bible; that same love that held you to the cross for our sins.

1 Corinthians 13: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

God has shown us HIS amazing love by sending His son to die for us! Let us love one another as He loves us.

Oh How He Loves Us (Dave Crowder Band)

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane; I am a tree, Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy. When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, And I realize just how beautiful You are, And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so Oh how He loves us, How He loves us all

Week 3: Greatest of These is Love, Day 2: Philos: Friend Love

Today’s Treasure: “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8

Philos: the love one has toward a friend or companion; friend

When a person has philos love for another, they place their friend above themselves, they celebrate their joys and weep in their sorrow, they know their likes and dislikes, idiosyncrasies, general attitude, and basic nature.

The love we have toward our friend should be as a love for our brother or sister, especially among fellow Christians.

As this week’s lesson points out, friends can turn against you, however, this should never keep you from cultivating friendships. To be a friend has positive and negative aspects. Let us have love that flows from what is right and best. We are to be like-minded, sympathetic, compassionate, and humble.

Week 3: Greatest of These is Love, Day 1: Eros: Grasping Love

Today’s Treasure: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

This week we begin exploring the Fruit of the Spirit. We are starting with the foundational characteristic of LOVE. Let’s define the Fruit of the Spirit:

(1) The supernatural outcome of being filled with the Spirit

(2) The living proof that the Spirit of God dwells in us

There is one (1) fruit (not ‘Fruits’) with different qualities.

Day 1, we look at EROS: Grasping Love – in Greek eros is a selfish love; it asks ‘what can I get for myself.’ “Eros is associated with sexual love. Unless sexual love is redeemed by the presence of God, it becomes possessive. It seeks to conquer and control” (Living Beyond…, Beth Moore).

Eros is the physical, sensual love between a husband and wife. Eros is a necessary part of a healthy marriage. Although this Greek term does not appear in the Bible, eros, or erotic love, is portrayed in the Old Testament book, The Song of Solomon. God is very clear in his Word. Sex outside of marriage is forbidden.

Eros is probably what most people mean when they announce with a smile, "I'm in love." This type of love covers everything from queasy stomachs and warm fuzzy feelings to strong sensual passion.

There are a couple of very interesting characteristics about eros. First, in order to exist eros is dependent upon the situation and circumstances. As long as a couple is enjoying a romantic situation, eros can thrive. But, as soon as hurtful words or actions appear, eros simply evaporates.

Second, eros is also held captive to each person's perception. For example, if someone perceives a particular quiet evening dinner with candles to be romantic, eros will thrive. However, passion becomes squashed for someone whenever he or she interprets the current situation to be undesirable. Eros thus grows strong and then wastes away based upon our perceptions.

Although eros at times might make us feel like we are on cloud nine, it cannot provide a reliable basis for building a deep and meaningful relationship since it is so fickle and dependent upon perception and circumstances. Because of such things as accidents, diseases, and the fact that someone can choose to doubt or despise you regardless of your actions, it is clear that we cannot determine how others will perceive us nor are we masters of our own circumstances. Although eros is exhilarating, this is not the Biblical word used for love.

Those of us, who are married, must keep the fire burning in our marriage. As stated in our study, we should ask God daily to help us stay thrilled at the touch of our husband. And we should ask God to help us grow more desirable of one another every single day.