Y'shua before his crucifixion commanded those who follow in the Master's footsteps to love one another. We are at war with ideas, thoughts, and other demonic influences that take us away from our First Love. Do you have your brother's back? Are you your brother's keeper? Has Abba brought a brother or sister into your life to watch your back so you will not get sidetracked by the enemy? I reiterate, we are on a battlefield, and love/ahava is our lethal weapon against the forces of darkness.
Something was beginning to be revealed to me at the time I was illustrating this. If you don't see it yet, let's flip the image.
Could this be the Tree of Life? As you can see the Ruach HaKodesh is the roots of this tree with ahava as the trunk or stem of the tree. The 8 fruit of the spirit come forth from the connection with ahava while ahava comes from the Ruach. Is it significant that there are 8 fruit coming from ahava? The illustrations show that these qualities should come from one who is born of the Ruach.
So we have built upon our diagram with further Scripture. Is it safe to say that these qualities are part of the fruit of a tree and can be represented as a sound mind? It is not a stretch at all. Abba appears to be giving us further revelation on ahava/love. We can then say that an unloving spirit will produce fruit contrary to this tree. Do we see a lack of self-control, retaliation, unfaithfulness, lack of goodness, anger, impatience, strife, and sadness? We can be sure that this proceeds from someone who did not receive love in some way. If the Ruach Ha Kodesh is the power behind a sound mind, what is the power behind a mind that is not sound? Certainly another kind of spirit from another kingdom. Ha satan as the head along with his henchmen as side kicks are citizens of this kingdom of darkness. If we see these unloving qualities present in ourselves it is important for us to remember that it is not us. This would be true if we recognized them in a brother or sister as well. All of us have merely become a vessel for these henchmen. Somewhere in our past or in our generations, we have entered into agreement with them. The first step to removal is to recognize them.
One fruit of the Ruach (Spirit) is love. Have you asked why it is the first one listed? Let me provide an illustration that may provide some revelation.
Something was beginning to be revealed to me at the time I was illustrating this. If you don't see it yet, let's flip the image.
Could this be the Tree of Life? As you can see the Ruach HaKodesh is the roots of this tree with ahava as the trunk or stem of the tree. The 8 fruit of the spirit come forth from the connection with ahava while ahava comes from the Ruach. Is it significant that there are 8 fruit coming from ahava? The illustrations show that these qualities should come from one who is born of the Ruach.
A Sound Mind
But, Elohim has not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love/ahava, and a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 (emphases added)
2 Timothy 1:7 (emphases added)
So we have built upon our diagram with further Scripture. Is it safe to say that these qualities are part of the fruit of a tree and can be represented as a sound mind? It is not a stretch at all. Abba appears to be giving us further revelation on ahava/love. We can then say that an unloving spirit will produce fruit contrary to this tree. Do we see a lack of self-control, retaliation, unfaithfulness, lack of goodness, anger, impatience, strife, and sadness? We can be sure that this proceeds from someone who did not receive love in some way. If the Ruach Ha Kodesh is the power behind a sound mind, what is the power behind a mind that is not sound? Certainly another kind of spirit from another kingdom. Ha satan as the head along with his henchmen as side kicks are citizens of this kingdom of darkness. If we see these unloving qualities present in ourselves it is important for us to remember that it is not us. This would be true if we recognized them in a brother or sister as well. All of us have merely become a vessel for these henchmen. Somewhere in our past or in our generations, we have entered into agreement with them. The first step to removal is to recognize them.
Ahava a Weapon Against the Real Enemy
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
1 Corinthians 13:13
Why is ahava greater than faith and hope? In the tree diagram shown previously we see faith and elements of hope in the branches of the tree. So ahava is all encompassing and is the foundation point where all of the tree's branches emanate from.
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Kefa (Peter) 4:8
Does not a tree provide shade and covering from the scorching rays of the hot sun? So ahava covers a multitude of sins by producing these fruit of the Ruach. As we abide in this tree sin is covered over as we continually are nourished by its ever producing fruit.
But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good. 17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. Romans 7:16-17 (emphases added)
The preceding 2 verses are describing a profound dynamic. First, they demonstrate that sin is a being for only a being dwells. Sin is not an abstract word describing a behavior, but a being seeking to manifest its nature through a vessel. The vessel is humanity. The first Adam submitted himself as a vessel of the being called sin (ha satan and his servants) when he partook of the forbidden tree. Humanity had the opportunity to be a vessel manifesting the Father's fruit and conduit of righteousness. Ahava is the lethal weapon against sin and is a kippur or atonement. Let us go back to the beginning of 1 Kefa 4 to gain more insight.
Therefore, since Messiah suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2 that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of Elohim.
1 Kefa 4: 1 (emphases added)
1 Kefa 4: 1 (emphases added)
Does this sound like a military term “arm yourselves”? Since good fruit is from the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and from a heavenly Kingdom, we can conclude that rotten or bad fruit is from an unholy spirit and a demonic, evil kingdom. Remember those old war movies where one partner in arms would say to his compatriot, “Cover me,” as he tried to get behind enemy lines? Ahava is the cover in a military sense to get us behind enemy lines. This cover provides the opportunity to cast out enemies from the members of our bodies. With Abba's provision we can take back the vessel that Abba wants to prepare and manifest His presence in. Also from the tree perspective (in our diagram), the other branches are providing the cover to bring forth the manifestation of His presence.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of Elohim; and everyone who loves has been born of Elohim, and knows Elohim. 8 He who doesn’t love doesn’t know Elohim, for Elohim is love. 9 By this Elohim’s love was revealed in us, that Elohim has sent his one and only Son into the world 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 as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, if Elohim loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen Elohim at any time. If we love one another, Elohim remains in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1 Yochanon (John) 4-7-12 (emphases added)
So let us ask ourselves, does the love I possess emit the 8 fruit found in our tree previously discussed? Manifestations of fruit represent life and is the evidence that we are born of Elohim. In the above verse, Yochanon is explaining to us a powerful truth! If genuine love is manifested to me from a brother or sister, I have seen Elohim! Here is another way to say this, love/ahava emanating from a brother or sister toward others is the very presence of Elohim.
We know and have believed the love which Elohim has for us. Elohim is love, and he who remains in love remains in Elohim, and Elohim remains in him. 17 In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement, because as he is, even so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 Yochanon 4:16-18 (emphases added)
1 Yochanon 4:16-18 (emphases added)
So building on our diagram we see that Elohim is love. So Elohim is the trunk and roots of the tree. If we remain in Him we will manifest all of the fruit of our tree illustration. And the fear that this passage is referring to, is the fear of standing before the throne on the day of judgment. If we abide in Him we cannot be judged since we are in Elohim who is love. Love covers a multitude of sins. However, if fear has its way in me; love is not perfected and His presence is not perfected in me. What do I mean by perfected? Love perfected is coming to the place in your life where you realize that you must place your confidence in Him and not in yourself.
Closing Thoughts
It has become a common story these days that the family of redeemed Yisrael is arming themselves against one another. The weapons we have chosen are strife and contention. Shall Yisrael, at this time, arm herself with a different weapon? If we climb the higher road there is a much greater weapon to behold. It is a weapon that will vanquish every foe. Will Yisrael this time arm themselves with the lethal weapon of ahava?
Love,
Tzefanyah Pappas
__
Chazak Chazak v'nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!
