A Word of Praise
God’s Fruit
God’s Fruit
by Pastor Marie Esposito
The fruit of the Spirit is powerful.
It is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, temperance, and faith. –Galatians 5:22-23
I want to enrich your thinking about God’s fruit and elevate your perspective about it.
The fruit of the Spirit manifested in your life is evidence of His Presence.
His Presence displays His fruit.
The full nature and character of God is evidenced in the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is Evidence of the new creation life.
WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD WILL BE A KEY IN WHAT KIND OF FRUIT IS SEEN IN YOUR LIFE.
ALIGN YOURSELF WITH GOD.
We can elevate our vision to align with His perspectives of peace, promise and provision thereby displaying His life: His fruit in our lives.
Alignment is relational.
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- relationship
- relative
- receive
- remain
John 15:1-4, 8
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- abide
- agree
- align
Galatians 5:22-23
The first fruit is love: all the rest are complementary to this foundational truth. God is love and
HIS LOVE COMPLETES THE LAWS OF GOD.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, temperance and faith.
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- Love that completes
- Joy that overflows
- Peace that subdues
- Patience that endures
- Kindness in action
- A life full of virtue
- Faith that prevails
- Gentleness of heart
- Strength of spirit
THESE ARE LIMITLESS QUALITIES.
As we rest in Him, we find ourselves experiencing a greater revelation of His gentleness, kindness, joy and love which is His very Essence. His peace, His goodness, His faith – THE VERY NATURE OF GOD.
We can draw closer to God through studying His Word, through prayer, by being connected and committed to a local body of believers.
Make room for Him, remain in constant communication with Him, waiting on Him in His Presence until the flow begins and the Holy Spirit takes over your very breathing.
Cultivate a spirit of surrender to intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
Faith in the logos – Hearing the rhema
The Word is alive causing us to progress into ever-deepening expressions of the Lord’s mighty power: fashioning us into Warriors of truth of His kingdom displaying His fruit.
Ways to deepen relationship with the Word
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- Memorization
- Visualization
- Personalization
- Melodization
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- Hebrews 5:14
- Luke 6:44
- Philippians 4:17
Our transformation – He loves… He triumphs in our new man image coming forth and rising to be seated with Him in heavenly places as we are created to please Him and encounter Him every day; having our eyes enlightened with a deeper understanding of Him. His true nature is visibly displayed through us every day as we “see Him” in ourselves, and those around us; as we encounter and depend on His Grace being more than sufficient.
Remain in a rest produced by believing that His Presence is present.
Amen!
Turn to the One Who has enfolded you into His grace.
We have a “bright” future! – Isaiah 60:1-2, 5
The Lord Is My Shepherd — It’s All Gooood!
The Lord Is My Shepherd — It’s All Gooood !
by Pastor Roy Esposito
Ephesians 1:17-18 (Passion)
The Spirit of Wisdom and of the Spirit of Revelation — so that we might have direct knowledge of Him.
“Ordinary Knowledge” — Knowing about Him through second hand experiences or hearsay.
Affords a sense of false security in our relationship with God.
Direct Knowing — produces the sovereignty of sons of God and the inner authority to BE witnesses of Him to the world.
Jehovah Rophe — “The Cure”
Humility — allows us to look at ourselves truthfully and to admit our powerlessness without Him.
Courage — allows us to enter the “cave of the heart,”confess our wounds and our need for “The Cure”
Julian of Norwich — “The spiritual life begins with the acceptance of our wounded self.”
Brennan Manning — “Seek transformation not information.”
Spiritual Hunger — to pursue holiness.
Holiness – doing things God’s way.
Craftiness — The serpent’s way
Nature of the Son — to do the Father’s will.
John 10:11 — “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
John 10:27 — ” My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me.”
Psalm 23 –” The Lord is my Shepherd —-“
Shepherd (Heb) — Ra’ah — “Best friend”
1. He supplies every need.
2. Lie down in green pastures
Love (Grk) Agape —
Ago — “to lead like a shepherd”
Pao — “To rest”
His love leads us to a place of rest in His heart.
3. By still waters — (Heb — Menuha) “Waters of a resting place” -speaks of tranquility in times of storms.
4. Restores my soul — “He causes my life (soul) to return.” — So often our lives drain us.
5. Leads me to paths of righteousness — “Circle of righteousness.”
Sheep traveled up the mountains of Israel in a circular manner forming paths to the top. With each step we take the Shepherd leads us higher, though it may seem like we’re going in circles.
6. In the valley of the shadow of death we fear no evil.
A shadow has no substance. It is only a representation of the an original.
7. His rod and staff bring comfort. ” The comfort of Your love takes away my fear. I will never be lonely.”
Rod — correction
Staff — guidance
8. Prepares a table in my enemy’s presence.
The place He chooses for fellowship makes a mockery out of those who would bring accusation against us.
9. He anoints my head with oil. — He anoints us with the fragrance of the Holy Spirit.
Two Types of oil:
1. Oil of the priesthood
2. Oriental perfumed oil – the fragrance of God’s hospitality.
Both overflow us getting on everyone we come into contact with.
10. Goodness and mercy follow me all my days.
(Passion) — “So why would I fear the future? For Your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life.”
11. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Passion) “Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to Your glorious presence to be forever with You.”
Observations From the Wilderness of Shur
Observations From the Wilderness of Shur
By Pasto Roy Esposito
Matthew 16:18 (Passion) – “All the power of death will not overpower it.”
Our parts:
- Acknowledge and accept as TRUTH.
- Shut all the Gates of Hell that are open in us.
- KEEP THEM SHUT!
Exodus 15:22-26
Shur – A point of observation as from a rampart (An embankment for defensive purpose)
First thing to learn in our own wilderness:
How to turn “bitter” things sweet.
The Cross – 1 Corinthians 18 – “The power of God. – ” Breaks the “slave mentality”
Hebrews 2:14-15 (Passion)
Romans 6:6 – No longer slaves to sin!
Romans 8:25 – “The Called” are still required to respond to the call
We are not just being called OUT of the world but also INTO the authority and responsibility of SON-SHIP.
Hebrews 5:8 – Spiritual authority is released when the works of the flesh are afflicted.
Isaiah 53:5 – “By His stripes we were healed.”
Obey –(GRK) – to Hear – Respond and Obey
2 Corinthians 11:16-33 – Paul’s many afflictions
Exodus 15:25 – “There He tested them.”
God’s tests are for promotion and spiritual elevation not punishment.
Exodus 15:26 – “—diligently heed the VOICE of the Lord your God—”
To Heed it you have to be able to HEAR it!
“Ordinary Knowledge” of God – Pious Appearance – Proper Behavior – Correct Doctrine
Ephesians 1:17-18 – Direct Knowing
Jehovah Rophe – “THE CURE”
Bitterness – Fermented Unforgiveness – A primary “Gate of Hell.”
Jesus’ Name – represents His mission and purpose on Earth: To distribute afresh God’s Love to us.
Romans 8:10-16 (Passion)
Ephesians 1:17-21 (Passion)
The Power of A Repentant Heart
The Power of A Repentant Heart
by Pastor Roy Esposito
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 89:14
Righteousness — God’s standard
Justice — Our adherence to that standard
Process — A system of operations in the production of something; a series of functions that bring about a result in a measured duration of time.
Psalm 127:1
Matthew 7:24-27
Matthew 11:28 — “Come to Me …”
Matthew 11:28-30(Passion Bible)
Coming/Turning — Repentance
Our Apostolic Call
1. To be fruitful.
2. To multiply that fruit.
3. To occupy all of creation.
Repentance is not about being sorry, guilty or penitent;
but about “coming” to the Lord!
1. Confess your flaws and shortcomings.
2. Confess also God’s goodness, love, mercy, willingness
and ability to change your reality.
Hebrews 11:6 — “… He will reward those who diligently seek Him.”
Daniel 9:3-23 — “Lord hear — Lord see — Lord FORGIVE — Lord listen and act!”
Forgiveness — 2nd element to building a strong house.
Matthew 6:9-15(Passion)
VS 12 — Aramaic — “Give us serenity as we also allow others serenity.”
“If there remains a debt that’s not released there is no freedom. A heart that’s not free has no time, energy or resource for anything but it’s own struggle.” — PR
Unforgiveness — a dam that blocks the flow of “the Living Water”.
“The spiritual life is not about climbing a ladder of perfection. It is the process of embracing one’s wounds in order to find and have access to the transforming power of God already in us through Jesus.” — PR
Galatians 5:22(Passion) “Divine Love in it’s varied expressions:
Joy that overflows
Peace that subdues
Patience that endures
Kindness in action
A life full of Virtue
Faith that prevails
Gentleness of heart and
Strength of spirit
Absurd (Latin — Surdus) — DEAF
Absurd Living — a life that is deaf to the Voice of Life who speaks to us in our silence.
Jesus taught us to pray in a manner through which we discover that prayer is more than saying something — it’s actually being something. — PR
Psalm 42:7
God is Sovereign by Dawn Albani
God Is Sovereign
by Dawn Albani
The Light / Life Connection
The Light / Life Connection
by Pastor Roy Esposito
John 1:1-5
Phos – A constant, self-generated, unwavering light
Jesus –: “The Word” – Logos
Logos – The highest principal of cosmic order.
“The Message”: The Blueprint for life.
John 1:9-10 – Jesus – “The True Light”
Hebrews 13:8
“We are all fired into life with a certain madness that comes from the gods…” – Plato
Jesus gives us an alternative to the madness:
A new “blueprint” for life. – The Mad Fire of desire and lust transformed to The Holy Fire of God
Holy Fire – “The Phos” – The Light of God
John 8:12 (PR’s interpretation) – “I Am the Phos (the Eternal Revelation Light of Life) which can never be extinguished. He that chooses to follow Me shall not walk in Skotia – the darkness (chaos, misery and ruin) but shall also have the Phos – the Eternal Revelation Light of Life.”
John 1:4
Ephesians 5:13-14(AMP)
1 Corinthians 15:45 – Our “Super Power”
– To Give Life to those who are dying in the darkness.
John 14:12
Revelations 12:11
Isaiah 2:2-5
A Word for the church today: “Although there are bends in the road in the form of your trials, I will cause each one of them to magnify MY LIGHT and make it more and more powerful IN YOU. Do not fear nor be dismayed but instead ARISE – lift up your heads and SHINE – reflect MY Presence. Walk in the LIGHT and bring to the Nations the many blessings of Life it contains. “This My plan, purpose and desire for your lives.”
Psalm 119:130(Passion Bible)
“Our Refinement”
The Light Within
The Light Within
by Pastor Roy Esposito
“Any outward manifestation of power without inner transformation first isn’t really super-natural but super-human.” — PR
Genesis 1:26
John 14:12 — Belief in Jesus: the pivotal point of transformation
John 14:16-17 (Passion Bible)
A “Quickening” — an acceleration of events about to take place on the Earth.
Romans 13:12 — “cast off — put on”: a transformative act
Darkness – (Greek — Skotos) — Ignorance with regard to the Divine. Implies a consequence of misery and ruin as a result.
Armor — (Greek — Hoplon) — An offensive tool or implement of war.
Galatians 5:22 — The fruit of the Spirit
Romans 12:1-2 (Passion Bible)
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (Passion Bible)
“Whatever part of us that isn’t fully submitted to the “light” will remain in darkness and be subject to the motions and ruin that accompanies it.” — PR
1 John 1:5 — “God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
Albert Einstein — Theory of Relativity
- If you could travel at the speed of light you would live forever.
- Matter can’t travel at light speed and remain as matter.
- It’s particles would break up and move in line with constant light and take the form of light.
Genesis 5:24 — ” And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him.”
Einstein’s conclusions:
- Light is constant
- Light is the only constant
- Light is the only unchangeable thing.
James 1:17 — “The Father of Lights” — no variation or shadows caused by turning
Light — Phos — a constant, self-generated light that never varies or turns aside.
Malachi 3:6 — “For I am the Lord, I do not change.”
The “True Light” — the living, pulsating life-force of God’s Presence in all creation. The continuous, non-variable flow of the Spirit.
Hell — Living the reality of Skotos/ Darkness — felt as much as seen. An “awareness of being dead.”
Encouragements:
- Hell is a location that must be intentionally chosen. It is not the destination for God’s kids.
- Only God has the power of life and death; over Heaven and Hell.
- Jesus took the keys of the fear of death and Hell back from Satan. — Revelations 1:18. Hebrews 2:14-15
- We have a “bright” future! — Isaiah 60:1-2, 5
…as I Have Loved You
…as I Have Loved You
by Pastor Roy Esposito
Matthew 22:37-39
John 13:34
John 13:35
How Jesus Loved People.
1. He was present to them and listened to them attentively — even His enemies.
2. Caringly confrontational — challenged them to think before acting — then act with love
3. Thought generational to advance the Kingdom of God
4. Celebrated all people as gifts from God
5. Humor and Joy — a sense of “Mirth” or great merriment
6. Taught spiritual principles creatively with relatable models
7. Reverence and respect
8. Loyalty — even when rejected
9. Forgiveness
10. Compassion — Cared for people.
“Kara” (Gothic) — to lament; to grieve, to cry out for, to sorrow
Jesus’ Compassion — to enter into a person’s sorrow with them.
John 7:38 (AMP)
James 5:15-16 (AMP)
John 14:12, 15 (Passion Bible)
John 14:16-17
“Another Helper” — (Allos) — One besides Me and in addition to Me but just like Me.
Jesus — The Savior from the guilt and consequences of sin.
Holy Spirit — The Savior over the power of sin by living through us in the fullness of God