Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $4.99 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.
La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.
Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
Manna Minutes en español:
Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:
Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
View Content By Specific Category
¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit - Part II
This is a continuation of Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit - Part I. Please read part I in order to benefit from this three part introduction to the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
In the first part of the Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit, we were introduced to love and joy. We now move on to finding out what the Christian Bible says about the remaining fruit of the Spirit: peace, longsuffering, gentleness, and goodness. Faith, meekness, and temperance are covered in part III.
Peace
Unfortunately, many people, including Christian believers, believe that Christ came to the world to establish peace on earth. This is the conclusion to which they come when they read, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). However, have they not considered that Christ himself taught, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household" (Matthew 10:36).
The peace of Jesus is for those who serve him. This is why he said to his disciples, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (St. John 14:27). What then does Luke 2:14 mean by saying, "and on earth peace, good will toward men?" Please read Did Jesus Come to Bring Global Peace? for understanding of the scriptures on the peace of God.
Longsuffering
The Living Bible Paraphrased uses the word "patient" for longsuffering, which is correct. Longsuffering is one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit because Christians are not only to be patient with others as the Spirit leads, but to be patient in their wait upon God. We read, "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience" (James 1:3). We also read, "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Finally, we are reminded that king David, a man after God's heart, said, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me; and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1).
Gentleness
Sadly, many Christian believers misunderstand this characteristic of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit and end up becoming "door mats." This not the intention of the scriptures. Did not John the Baptist speak very harshly to the hypocrites who came to his baptism? Yes, he did. Sometimes people need to be spoken to in a harsh tone; otherwise, they do not get it. John the Baptist called them vipers and called them evil. He said, "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things...?" (Matthew 12:34). This is only one of many instances in scripture where we read of God's people speaking with bold frankness.
However, Christians should not have a loose tongue, have rude behavior (preaching the harsh truth is not rudeness) or an unfriendly demeanor. Christ preached the gospel and against sin, but he was the meek and humble--and gentle lamb of God. Christians are told to be as wise as serpents, but as harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16). Living the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit allows the believer to be all that God told him to be.
Goodness
Christians are to do good. This might sound like an easy thing to do, but it is not always easy to carry out. This is especially true if the believer is not even skilled in discerning good from evil. This is why the Christian Bible warns, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hosea 4:6). Focus on this one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit is a little different.
Isaiah 5:20 also warns, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Yes, it is truly possible to sometimes be confused regarding what is evil and what is good. This is why the scriptures vehemently urge, "...Lean not (don't trust) unto thine OWN understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). And we read, "Get wisdom. Get understanding. Forget it not...." (Proverbs 4:5). This is very important to living out the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Continue to Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit - Part III
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
Copyright notice: This website and its content is copyright of © Heavenly Manna (HeavenlyManna.net) 2002-2016.
Comments/Comentarios:
Send Comments or a Private Message about One of Our Services / Envíe Comentarios o un Mensaje Privado acerca de nuestros servicios
Once comments reach 10, they close. IF YOU USE PROFANITY, WE WILL REJECT YOUR COMMENT AUTOMATICALLY.
We're a small team, please be patient as we review comments.
©2003 - 2013 Heavenly Manna Ministries
Images: courtesy of Free Digital Photos, openstockphotography.org, FreeFoto.com, Wikimedia Commons. Multiple crosses image - Wikimedia Commons - C.G.P Grey - Animation by Heavenly Manna