Love
The Fruit of The Spirit - Love
Over the next few weeks, we will dive into an engaging series on the Fruits of the Spirit. We will explore each fruit to understand its meaning and how it applies to our lives. As believers, we often assume that we are walking in the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit), but are we really? What evidence do we have that we are truly living in the Spirit? Many times, in the Christian lifestyle, we define ourselves by the things we avoid: the places we won’t attend, the shows we won’t watch, the food we won’t eat, and the music we won’t listen to. While these choices can be valuable, they don’t truly represent life in the Spirit. As Paul states in Romans 13, we are called to “put on” Messiah Yeshua. As believers, we should be defined not by what we abstain from, but by our relationship with the Messiah and the fruit we bear. Let’s take a closer look.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, self-control.
The word “love” appears 250 times in the Tanakh (Old Testament) and 234 times in the Apostolic Writings (New Testament). The Apostle John emphasizes this theme by using “love” 72 times in his four letters, highlighting its significance in our spiritual lives.
Likewise, we read Yeshua’s words in Matthew’s Gospel
36 Teacher, which is the great command in the Torah? 37 And Yeshua said to him, " ‘You shall love Yahuah your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great command. 39 And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.
Given the frequency of the mention of Love in the scriptures, along with our Messiah stating that the entire Torah and prophets hinge upon these two commandments, it is clear that Love is a significant theme.
"Love" in the Apostolic Writings
There are three Greek words translated “love” in the Apostolic Writings (New Testament).
First, the term “Eros” refers to passionate love, as its name implies. This type of love is characterized by intense feelings and is not necessarily long-lasting. It is a prevalent form of love in today’s world and is primarily sensual, often lacking a spiritual dimension. Our culture tends to emphasize this sensuality, leading to a mindset of “I want to feel good now” and “live life to the fullest.” This approach has corrupted the hearts and minds of billions. However, ‘Eros’ can have a positive aspect if kept within the right context. For example, the passionate emotions shared between a husband and wife are a good representation of this.
Second, “Philia” refers to having “affection” for someone or “fondness” for someone, be it family member, friend, or Yourself. An example where ‘Philia’ is used is in 2nd Timothy
1 But know this, that in the last days hard times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of silver, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, thankless (ungrateful), wrong doers, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, haters of good, 4 betrayers, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, 5 having a form of reverence but denying its power. Turn away from these!
The term is mentioned a few times in the Apostolic Writings to denote love for one’s brethren, and it is translated as “brotherly love” in both the KJV and the NKJV. Additionally, it can describe the affection YHWH has for humanity and the fondness Yeshua has for the church, although it is only referenced in this context a few times.
The third focus we want to emphasize is ‘Agape,’ a term used in Galatians 5 to denote the Fruit of the Spirit ‘Love’. According to Vine’s Dictionary, Agape in the Apostolic Writings refers to:
The attitude of YHWH towards His Son, the human race, and especially towards those who believe in Yeshua, our Messiah.
It also conveys YHWH’s desire for His children regarding their attitudes toward one another and all people.
Essentially, YHWH desires for His converted children to especially love Him, to love one another, and to also extend love to all people. Agape love stands out as the first in the list of the Fruits of the Spirit because it is the essential foundation for all that follows. Love is not merely a fruit of the Spirit; it embodies the roots, trunk, and branches that give life to all other fruits. This profound love is the wellspring of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, making it indispensable in our spiritual journey.
The Scriptures tell us that "YHWH is love"
The Scriptures powerfully affirm that “YHWH is love,” emphasizing the profound nature of His love for us. All fruits originate from Love. Our mission is to embody Love as well. We must love YHWH our Elohim and Yeshua our Messiah with all our heart, mind, and soul, and we should also love our brothers and sisters as ourselves.
8 The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is love. 9 By this the love of Elohim was manifested in us, that Elohim has sent His only brought-forth Son into the world, in order that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved Elohim, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning offering for our sins. 11 Beloved ones, if Elohim so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Agape Love and obedience to the commandments
“If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.”
For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands.
Demonstrating our love for YHWH is achieved by obeying His commandments. Similarly, how do we show love to our spouse? Can we, as husbands and wives, confidently say, “She knows I love her” or “He knows I love him”? Do we express our love to our spouse every day but fail to act on their requests? The way we show our love for one another is through our actions. Just like the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” This principle also applies to our love for YHWH.
Let’s reflect on this for a moment. What kind of marriage would we have if we ignored our spouse’s likes and dislikes? Our words of love would become meaningless. While our spouse may or may not be satisfied with our actions, it would reveal something about our attitude. If we are unwilling to demonstrate love on a human level to someone we claim to love, depend on, raise children with, and share life with, how much more challenging will it be to express love to the Creator Himself? The truth is that our love will be driven by a fear of punishment, not by a genuine desire to do good.
In contrast do we disregard the commandments and say it’s okay the Father knows my heart? The answer to this should be more of a concern than some false sense of freedom. Yes, the Father does know our hearts! We must be careful not to allow our flesh to steer a charted course in our spiritual lives, making allowances here and there all in the name of cheap grace deceiving ourselves. It’s irrelevant what we may think, what we have been taught, or what our flesh fights against. Do we lean upon our own understanding or His?
We must take inventory to ask ourselves do we live everyday assuming we are living a Godly set-apart life or are we willing to submit as the bride of Yeshua and say Yes, I will do what you have asked me to do. “Put on Messiah Yeshua!”
7 And Mosheh came and called for the elders of the people and set before them all these words which Yahuah commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together and said, “All that Yahuah has spoken we shall do.”
That’s our covenant call every day, to do all that He has commanded us to do.
It is through our willing submission to keep His commandments that the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) shapes our minds and thoughts. This goes beyond mere obligation or fear-driven obedience. The Ruach makes it a joy for us to walk in His ways and to embrace the fullness of the Messiah.
Do you have an Agape attitude?
Ask yourself what is your attitude toward keeping the commandments? Do you view your obedience as a type of “get out of hell free card”, to please one’s spouse, or to fit into a fellowship group? Is your motivation not sourced from a genuine desire to love your creator and to live before Him in a way that pleases him?
As a set-apart people, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly longing to please Him, or are we settling for less by adhering to only a few commandments while ignoring others that seem too burdensome? Perhaps we simply lack the time to fully understand their significance and how they apply to our lives. Many of us enter this “Torah” movement, and, in Paul’s terms, we could refer to ourselves as grasping the “Elementary Principles” of Torah observance.
While these terms may seem broad, let’s consider their implications. We may embrace the Sabbath, adopt some dietary changes, observe the feast days, and sport Tzitzit, convincing ourselves that we are ‘walking in Torah.’ Yet, we often fall into the trap of complacency, neglecting the 100+ commandments that are relevant to us. What about the Fruits of The Spirit and the works of The Flesh? Paul stated that ‘Those who practice such as these (referring to the Works of The Flesh) shall not inherit the Kingdom! That is a major statement that we have to reckon with. Let’s continue
1st Corinthians 13 - The Love Chapter
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of messengers, but do not have love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophecy, and know all secrets and all knowledge, and if I have all belief, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am none at all. 3 And if I give out all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I am not profited at all. 4 Love is patient, is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, is not puffed up, 5 does not behave indecently, does not seek its own, is not provoked, reckons not the evil, 6 does not rejoice over the unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, 7 it covers all, believes all, expects all, endures all. 8 Love never fails. And whether there be prophecies, they shall be inactive; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be inactive. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be inactive. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child. But when I became a man, I did away with childish matters. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, as I also have been known. 13 And now belief, expectation, and love remain - these three. But the greatest of these is love.
In the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians Paul is writing to the believers in Corinth about love. Let’s focus in on verses 4 – 7
Love does not boast and is not puffed up
Agape love does not boast, does not draw attention to itself, and is not arrogant. As believers, we have many reasons to feel proud. We’ve been chosen by Yah as a “First Fruit,” we are being prepared to rule over cities or nations and even over hosts of angels. We have the assurance of YHWH’s favor and protection in our lives, and we are on our way to inheriting the kingdom! With all of this, we might feel justified in boasting a little, right? However, Agape love counters that tendency and fosters a humble attitude. This is the love that Yeshua exemplified when He had the power to call down legions of angels for His defense but chose instead to demonstrate humility. We, too, are called to adopt this mindset of lowliness before YHWH and others, including our enemies.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; "but in lowliness of mind" let each esteem others better than themselves.
Even in all of Paul’s ability to boast he said, “I’m the chief of all sinners”.
Love does not behave indecently
Our world increasingly promotes indecency, crudeness, and rudeness. This trend is part of a desensitizing process that leads to calling good evil and evil good. If you’ve looked around lately, it’s evident that we are well on our way. You can’t even walk through the toy department without feeling uncomfortable afterward. The packages are designed by companies to be appealing and attract children, yet they are filled with themes of witchcraft, immodesty, crudeness, foul language, murder, theft, and more. If this is the state of the children’s department, how much more vigilant do we adults need to be to avoid being led astray? Agape love stands in stark contrast to all of this; it does not behave indecently.
As believers, how can we avoid indecency in our own lives? No one wakes up in the morning intending to behave indecently; it just happens sometimes, doesn’t it? A quick joke or rash action, and suddenly we find ourselves unable to take it back. How can we steer clear of indecency if we continue to feed on it? We must reflect on the influences in our lives—those things deep down that we know aren’t the best for us and constitute sin, yet we allow our flesh to take control.
T.V., Hollywood, Movies – what are you watching? Is sin your entertainment, witchcraft, murder, adultery, immodesty, foul language. The very things you as a believer detest because YHWH detest them, you will use for your fleshly entertainment.
Here are a few examples you should consider – this is not a comprehensive list and may not even been relevant for today’s latest movies, music, Etc., but you will get the point .
Cinderella
Tangled
Harry Potter
Lord of The Rings
Frozen
Big Hero 6
Brat Dolls
Monster High
- Vampires
Zombies
Amazon and Netflix series
Murder Movies
Movies with fornication
Foul Language
- And YES – ‘Christian’ movies as well that display sin on screen.
- Music – with foul language, sexual references, demonic overtones, worldly influences, ETC
Inappropriate internet use
It’s these very things that influence us and pull us away from living in Agape Love, because they stifle our ability to put on Love. We may not think so in the moment, but we are only fooling ourselves to think these types of things are okay in the life of a believer. Turn away from these things!
Love is kind
Always use politeness and manners, no matter where you are—whether at home with your family or out in public. You are a light to those around you and serve as a walking testament to the goodness of Yah. Avoid being inconsiderate, rude, harsh, or impatient. Let Agape love shine through your actions.
Love does not seek its own
Selfishness abounds in all areas of society. We are told that in the last days people will be lovers of their own selves. That time is here, now.
2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of silver, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, thankless, wrong-doers, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, haters of good, 4 betrayers, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, 5 having a form of reverence but denying its power. And turn away from these!
We are once again instructed to turn away from everything that opposes Agape Love. The Apostolic Writings (the New Testament) tell us that a day will come when people will love themselves more than they love YHWH. They will be lovers of money, proud, boastful, ungrateful, arrogant, and lovers of pleasure, among other things. It doesn’t take long to see that we are living in such times, and the result of this behavior is the manifestation of the Works of the Flesh, through which some will not inherit the Kingdom.
We often have a tendency to read verses like these and assume they apply to someone else, but it would be wise for us to examine our own hearts and lives to see if we exhibit any of these characteristics. If you find yourself in this situation, there’s no better time to repent and turn away from these things. Remind yourself that in Messiah Yeshua, you are a new creation, and old things have passed away. Begin by seeking first the Kingdom and putting on the Fruits of the Spirit.
Love thinks no evil
does not behave indecently, does not seek its own, is not provoked, reckons not the evil
Several translations translate this portion of text ‘reckons not the evil’ a little differently. Let’s look at a few:
The New American Standard Version: “does not take into account a wrong suffered.”
The Amplified Bible: “it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong.”]
The NIV: “it keeps no record of wrongs.”
Let’s summarize the text to mean the below:
“We are not to think evil; we are not to rejoice in evil; we are not to keep records of evil; as we have to be forgiving.”
Let’s be honest: we all need help in this area. While we may not “rejoice in evil,” we all struggle at times with extending forgiveness or keeping records of wrongs and thinking negatively about others. Without the Messiah, we may fail even more. He is our example of unwavering love, even in the face of our enemies or when we are mistreated, offended, or criticized.
Summary
In summary, our relationship with evil must be kept at a distance, as allowing it into our lives can influence us to adopt its characteristics. As Romans 12:21 warns us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Fulfilling this requirement requires a special kind of strength—Agape Love. Agape Love is the energy that drives everything; it is the force that motivates true obedience. One can obey out of fear, duty, or Agape, which is the love that comes from Elohim.
When Agape Love is at the center of our lives, everything achieves perfect balance, and the result is truly wonderful.
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on AGAPE, which is the bond of perfection."
I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”
Yeshua commanded us to love. It’s not a suggestion or recommendation.
It’s a command, a Fruit of The Spirit.