The Power of ♥ Love ♥

But the fruit of the Spirit is love. . .

(Galatians 5:22)

Spiritual fruit is one manifestation of power produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.  Part of the spiritual fruit is the Christ-like quality of love. It is the first portion of the fruit listed. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.   Galatians 5:22-23

Love is the greatest power!  

To understand the power of love, you must know what the Bible teaches on the subject. The spiritual fruit of love - this powerful force -  is not the type of sexual or carnal love depicted by the world. It is “unfeigned” love, which means it is a holy love. Unfeigned love is the type of love we are to show to others:

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. 1 Peter 1:22

The word "charity" used by Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians is speaking of love.  This passage of scripture focuses on one of the greatest principles of spiritual power; the power of love.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3  

 The power of love is greater than:

© Tongues given by the Holy Spirit: Someday these tongues will cease. Whether you speak in tongues known or unknown to men, it is a powerless message without love. 

© Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge is powerful, but someday human knowledge will vanish. Love will remain.  

Charity [love] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.   1 Corinthians 13:8

© The gift of prophecy: What a powerful gift prophecy is-- to be able to speak a direct message from God and foretell future events. But prophecies will someday cease.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.   1 Corinthians 13:9-10

© Faith: Even if you have enough faith to move mountains it is nothing if you do not have love. 

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:2

© Giving: No matter how much you give to others, it is of no benefit unless given in love. 

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

© Martyrdom: Even if you were to die for the cause of the Gospel, it is a worthless sacrifice unless done in love.  

© Hope: Hope is important because without it life is full of despair. But love is more important than hope. 

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.  1 Corinthians 13:13

All other principles of spiritual power, all spiritual gifts, 

all ministries must operate through the power of love, 

or they are useless.

When everything else fails, the power of love will succeed.

The Love of God is an emotion of deep affection, care, and concern developed in your life through the Holy Spirit. It is not a type of love you can develop yourself. It is a Godly type of love that can only be developed by the power of the Holy Spirit:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us  (Romans 5:5)

Note the characteristics of this Godly love given in I Corinthians 13:

Verse 4:         Love suffers long.

  Love is kind.

  Love does not envy others.

  Love is not prideful, lifting up self.

Verse 5:       Love does not behave unseemly (bad conduct towards others).

Love does not seek for itself (is not selfish).

Love is not easily provoked (made angry).

Love does not think evil of others or think of evil in general.

Verse 6:       Love does not rejoice in iniquity (does not take pleasure in doing wrong hearing wrong about others).

Love rejoices in truth (not lies and gossip).

Verse 7:       Love bears all things (even hard things).

Love believes all things (believes in others).

Love hopeth in all things (does not give up hope in God or others, despite the circumstances).

Love endures all things.

Verse 8:      Love never fails (regardless of the circumstances).

The first and greatest commandment is that we are to love God:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment.  Mark 12:30

Our love for God is tested by our obedience to Him:

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

John 14:23

But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.   1 John 2:5

The second greatest commandment is love of others:

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.   Mark 12:31

Jesus wants you to love others as much as He loves you:

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.   John 13:34

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  John 15:9, 12

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.  John 17:26

It is by love that you are recognized as a believer:

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.   John 13:35

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.   1 John 3:14

If you do not love other believers, God's love is not in you:

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 1 John 2:9-10

Love of other believers results in spiritual unity which is a powerful force. When the disciples were united in prayer:  

Pentecost happened                                                         (Acts 2)

They were of "one heart and mind"                              (Acts 4:32)

and with power continued to testify                             (Acts 4:33)

They devoted themselves to the unity of fellowship  (Acts 2:42)

and many signs and wonders were done                     (Acts 2:43)

(Biblical Studies)

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