Galatians 6:11

11 See with what large letters I am writing with my own hand. [Mark carefully these closing words of mine.]

Remember that when Paul was in Galatia he was very sick.

And [yet] although my physical condition was [such] a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and loathe and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus [Himself]! Galatians 4:14

We can also see in scripture that Timothy also seemed to be sick a lot.

Drink water no longer exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 1 Timothy 5:23

So many of us believe, and falsely believe, that if we are sick it means that we have done something wrong, or that we lack faith. 

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:10

When we are sick, our flesh is weakened, yet that allows our Father’s strength to be great within us. Paul and Timothy were used by our Father to heal people all of the time. They were used wonderfully by our Father, even though they were sickly. Paul asked our Father to remove the thorn in his and our Father told him no.

And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted. Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me; But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Our Father will use us lay hands on the sick and they will recover, even if we are sick. Look, He used Paul to do that all of the time. The Truth is that there are times when our Father will allow our flesh to be sick and that will cause us to be used by Him in even a greater capacity. Our Father’s ways and His Grace are directed primarily towards our spirits, which are eternal. For our spirits to be strong, our flesh has to become weak. This is why He causes us to walk by faith and not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7. 

Galatians 6:10

10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers].

When Jesus was brought the woman who had committed adultery how did He act? Did He get the bullies away from her and give her peace or harshly accuse her in public and tell her that unless she repented that she would eternally burn in Hell? 

When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more. John 8:10-11

This woman was in real trouble and she had to be extremely scared. She knew that what she had done was wrong. So Jesus took the opportunity to be useful and profitable to her. He ran off the religious bullies from her and His actions of compassion and forgiveness spoke very loudly to her. Also notice that Jesus did not  make her say that she was wrong or sorry before He acted in her life. 

What did He do with the woman at the well, the woman who had been married 5 times and who was living with a guy that she wasn’t married to, John 4? Did He call her a whore and threaten her with Hell, or did He tell her that He could set her free from her heavy burdens? 

Jesus is greater in us now, then any sin that is in the world. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He never changes. So if these examples are how He acted then, that is how He will act now through us! 

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Hebrews 13:8

Beware of false teachers who are so eager to condemn people to Hell. More times then not, they are involved in the sin that they so harshly condemn. We know true prophets by the fruit that our Father has them producing.

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Galatians 5:22-23

The Holy Spirit will use us to deal with homosexuals, drug addicts, thief's, liars, and other sinners just as He used Jesus to deal with them.  

Galatians 6:9

9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

Many people read this verse and argue that we have to stay the course on our own, or that we have to have the faith to continue to serve on our own. These people actually believe that we can  lose heart. Let’s read some scripture here and see if that is true.

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20

For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, Romans 6:8

If these scriptures are true, and they are, then it would mean that if we fainted or lost heart, Jesus had fainted and lost heart. Jesus will not faint and He will never lose heart, so we as His body cannot either. 

So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). Romans 10:17

We need to hear this Truth all of the time. We are now one with Jesus, so we are also one with all of His energy, faith, love, hope, joy, peace, power, and anointing. Jesus came and now through Him we have life and we have it abundantly! 

Galatians 6:6-8

6 Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].

7 Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.

What is so great about these verses is that our Father will cause us to sow exactly what we need to reap. We are His body and His flesh, Ephesians 5:30-32, so our Father is using us to sow what He needs to reap! I have heard this verse preached my whole life. The sermons however usually placed all of the responsibility on us and not on Jesus where it belongs. The Truth is that Jesus will lead us into the paths of righteousness for His Name’s Sake, Psalm 23:3. The Truth is that our Father provides our seed to be sown, 2 Corinthians 9:10. We can do nothing without Jesus first empowering us to do it, John 15:5. The clay cannot form itself. The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. The body cannot function without the head first directing it. Neither can we sow anything without our Father being the One Who provides it, directs it, and accomplishes it. 

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28

8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

If we had to sow things on our own we would fail. If we would somehow first do it, then we would boast about how we did, and if we didn’t, then we would condemn ourselves and others for failing. This is why our Father gave us His Holy Spirit and He will not allow us to see decay. 

And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 1 Corinthians 1:8

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6

Galatians 6:5

5 For every person will have to bear (be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [little] load [of oppressive faults].

This verse ties right in with Romans 11:32.

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike].

We were all created by God to have faults. None of us is perfect on his own. Even Jesus told that the people when He was here 2000 years ago that He wasn’t perfect. 

And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? There is no one [essentially and perfectly morally] good—except God alone. Mark 10:18

So relax, you have shortcomings. Our Father created all of us to have them. Our imperfection in no way hinders our relationship with our Father. He has mercy on us all alike. We are perfect because of Jesus and what He has accomplished for us, not because of ourselves and our efforts, John 19:19-23.

But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded, Romans 5:20

Now this Truth scares a lot of people. They believe that if we talk this way then people will just go and do whatever they want to. The problem with this fear is that it makes Jesus totally passive. It makes of Father reactionary to us instead of leading us. It is only when we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit to understand that our Father is always in control and that we can never do anything on our own, that He will actually stop us from doing the things that we call wrong. 

O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:24-25

Jesus Alone allows us to be delivered from ourselves and He is really good at it.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it). Romans 11:36

Galatians 6:4

4 But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.

We can only do this when the Holy Spirit has set us free from all condemnation and guilt.

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. Romans 8:1

And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 1 Corinthians 1:8

As long as we feel that we have to first measure up, or keep a set of laws on our own, we will feel condemnation, because we can never measure up on our own. What will happen is when we feel condemned for failing, we will look at others to see if they are measuring up, because misery loves company! Then when we feel that we have succeeded at something, we will boast about it as we judge and condemn others who have failed. So to set us free from all of this, Jesus has made us dead to all religious laws.

Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4

The only way that we will ever be used to produce fruit is when the Holy Spirit empowers us to know that it is always the power of our Father working through us that produces it. We test our conduct based on Jesus. We never look at ourselves, we always look to Jesus.

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

We do all things through Christ Who strengthens us, Philippians 4:13. We are more then conquerors through Christ, Romans 8:37. Without Jesus we can do nothing, John 15:5. We have the complete satisfaction that Jesus will succeed through us. 

Galatians 6:2-3

2 Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].

Every one of our burdens in Christ is light and He always makes our yoke easy, Matthew 11:30. This is the Truth because we are now one with Jesus, Ephesians 5:30-32, and everything is easy for our Lord. Jesus ever lives to intercede for people and because He does, they are saved to the uttermost. This is Who we are now one with. This personality trait of Jesus is what is greater in us and causes us to be more than conquerors.

Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1

3 For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.

Amen, look at what we are told: people cheat themselves if they don’t live to intercede for others. The peace for us is that Jesus will never allow us to be cheated. He will cause us to walk in the Paths of righteousness, because He lives so that we will love others as He loves them.  

I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them. John 17:26

The glorious Truth is that people do not have to accept our intercession for them to receive it. If we forgive their sins, they are forgiven for Christ’s sake, not just for their sakes. They will receive the benefit regardless. How awesome is that? Don’t believe this? Just look at scriptures. Jesus forgave the people who were killing Him on the Cross and they didn’t ask for it or believe it, yet they received it, Luke 23:34. Stephen forgave the people who were stoning Him and they didn’t ask for it or believe it, Acts 7:60. These people were forgiven to satisfy the intense love that our Father has for us, Ephesians 2:4. 

I honestly believe that the Holy Spirit is going to begin to have all of us intercede and forgive people as we never have before and the world will benefit from it. How else will they begin to say peace and safety?

When people are saying, All is well and secure, and, There is peace and safety, then in a moment unforeseen destruction (ruin and death) will come upon them as suddenly as labor pains come upon a woman with child; and they shall by no means escape, for there will be no escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3

Galatians 6:1

1 Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.

Look what the Holy Spirit tells us here in verse 1: any person. He doesn’t just say believers, He tells us that we will be used to forgive all people. If any person is overtaken in sin, we will be used by the Holy Spirit to intercede for them so that they are saved to the uttermost. Through Christ we have the power to bring people into right standing by forgiving them their trespasses.

[Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained. John 20:23

Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! Matthew 18:21-22

The adulterous woman that was dragged out for Jesus to judge did not sin against Him, yet Jesus forgave her. The lame man that Jesus told to to pick up his mat and walk did not sin against Jesus, yet He forgave him, Mark 2:5. We have become one with our Father through Christ, so we will be used by our Father to forgive as He used Jesus to forgive and Jesus even forgave those who weren’t sinning against Him. 

When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more. John 8:10-11

Look how gentle Jesus was with this woman. He did not recount her adultery in front of everyone. He did not tell here how dangerous her sin was. He did not tell her that He was the Lord as He forgave her. He just ran off the arrogant religious bullies and made her feel safe. This is how the Holy Spirit handles us and this is how He causes us to handle others. 

Look at what we are also shown in verse 1, that we must act with all gentleness or we also will be tempted into the sin. I have seen it my whole life, religious people who are harsh judges always seem to be doing what it is that they are so harshly judging. You show me a preacher that is always preaching and judging others about sexual vices and he is doing them. Or a preacher who goes off harshly on people for drinking and in all likelihood he is drinking.  

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Galatians 5:22-23

The Holy Spirit will have us correct people as Jesus did with the adulterous woman, never in anger or pride, always in gentleness and humility, with the Truth that will set them free. 

Galatians 5:22-26

22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,    

23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

    

Some fruit comes quickly, some fruit takes longer to ripen, but our peace is that all of these things will come into our life’s. The Holy Spirit is a winner, He knows what and how to do it for each one of us who are in Christ. Because the Holy Spirit is in us, there is no longer any need for laws. He will do far greater things through us, then we could ever do own our own by keeping a bunch of laws. 

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

    

Notice that our flesh is crucified and not that it is being crucified. What this means is that Jesus in now in control of our life’s, works of the flesh do not control our relationship with our Father and neither does the Law.  

25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

    

I love the word “if.” It throws the wicked for such a loop. So many will read “if” and they will immediately go to the flesh and what we have to do. Yet for the saved, the “if” has been taken care of. The Truth is yes, “if.” But we don’t have to worry about “if,” because Jesus fulfilled the requirements of “if” for His body. In Christ we live by the Holy Spirit, just as our Head does, we can’t help it. So when we read “if,” we rejoice and glorify the grace that we have been given to us through Jesus. 

26 Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.

There is no room to glory in self, when it is all Jesus and for the truly saved it is all Jesus. If conceit starts to come in, rest assured, Jesus will remove it! 

Galatians 5:19-21

19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,

    

20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),

    

21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

    

It is the Holy Spirit’s job to clean these works of the flesh out of us. We do not have the power, belief, will, or works to allow us to be righteous. Righteousness comes from free and undeserved Grace and only Grace makes us righteous. Our peace with all of this is that we are never left alone by the Holy Spirit for even a moment. Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us, Hebrews 13:5. Look how Paul wrote about our freedom in Christ.

All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. 1 Corinthians 10:23

What Paul is saying here in Corinthians is that we are no longer under the law of sin and death, Romans 8:2. Sin no longer separates the Bride from the Groom. Sin no longer has any strength over us, because the Blood of our Savior destroyed sins ability to effect us, Romans 8:3. So our works do not bring us closer or separate us from our Father. What Paul is also saying is that because we are now one with Jesus, we will not do all things. Just because we are free to do all, doesn’t mean that Jesus looses His control over His body. Jesus is still our Head in this freedom, He is still our Shepherd, still our Vine, still our Lord, and He is still in control.

When the Holy Spirit reveals this Truth to a person, the acts that used to be so feared by us no longer matter to us and then they finally stop. When people are empowered by the Holy Spirit to no longer look to themselves to not be impure, immoral, drunk, jealous, angry, selfish, or any other of these things, they finally stop committing them. But as long as we believe that we have to obey a law or do a work to find favor with our Father, these sinful things will continue. Man has no ability on His own or through His own efforts to stop sin, it has to be Jesus and His power working through us. 

FOR SINCE the Law has merely a rude outline (foreshadowing) of the good things to come--instead of fully expressing those things--it can never by offering the same sacrifices continually year after year make perfect those who approach [its altars]. Hebrews 10:1

If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward. But if any person's work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:14-15.

It is the Holy Spirit’s job to cleanse us. He may do it while we are alive and in these bodies or He may do it when we no longer have these bodies. Either way, we will not be lost! How cool is this Truth? We may not all be the Bride of Christ, or own the Kingdom, but that doesn't mean for a second that there will not be tons and tons of guests in our Kingdom. 

Look at all of the ways that our Father describes His relationship to us: He is the Potter, the Gardener, the Shepherd, the Head, the Vine, the Lord, and Master. All of these descriptions show us that He is in control of us. The potter is responsible for what the clay becomes. The vine tells the branch what to produce and when to produce it. The gardener is responsible for the plant and its health. The shepherd protects and cares and leads the sheep. The head first directs and controls all body parts and the master is in control of the slaves. This is our freedom: God is responsible for our life’s! So we are able to actually relax, there is no fear in the perfect love of Jesus and He will not lose any of His chosen ones. In Christ we will be raised up on the last day! 

Galatians 5:17-18

17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

   

And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? There is no one [essentially and perfectly morally] good—except God alone. Mark 10:18

The flesh of God, which is Jesus, told the people that He wasn’t good. What? Jesus tells us that the perfect flesh of God wasn’t good. He tells us that the perfect sacrifice wasn’t good. So if the best flesh that ever lived couldn’t make the grade, how could we ever be good? The glorious Truth is that we can’t! The Truth that sets us free is that we weren't created to. We were created to mess up and live under mercy, not laws and works. We live under Grace, which is all free and undeserved.  

18 But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

  

So the question is how many people are led by the Holy Spirit? How many people are led by the will of God? 

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. Colossians 1:16

O Lord [pleads Jeremiah in the name of the people], I know that [the determination of] the way of a man is not in himself; it is not in man [even in a strong man or in a man at his best] to direct his [own] steps. Jeremiah 10:23

Man's steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a man understand his way? Proverbs 20:24

John answered, A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing, he can take unto himself nothing] except as it has been granted to him from heaven. [A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from heaven; there is no other source.] John 3:27

The Truth is that all of mankind is led by God, whether we know it or not, so all of us are under mercy and grace. We don’t have to accept or even be aware that our Father is in control, for Him to be in control. What type of Father would He be if His children had to first empower Him?

For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. Acts 4:27-28

Even those who say that they don’t believe or hate God, are led by God, so they too are under mercy and set free from the curse of the Law. 

Galatians 5:14-16

14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

    

Because Jesus is our Head, love is a done deal for those who have truly been called and chosen to be one with Him. We do not work to get love, Jesus works and ever lives to give us love! The battle is all Jesus’ and the victory is all ours. 

I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them. John 17:26

A great example of the Truth that it is Jesus causing us to love can be found with John. John was always confessing that he was the disciple that Jesus loved. We so want to tell people that we love Jesus and that is great, but the power of our life is that Jesus loves us. We are one with Christ, so we will love as He loves, we cannot help but to love our neighbors as Jesus love them, 1 John 4:17. We will love our enemies as Jesus loves them. We will love our friends, family, and co-workers. Because of Jesus, will we love those who have wronged us and we will not remember what they have done. Jesus will cause us to forgive all, Hebrews 2:11. He will cause us to intercede and forgive people that we don’t even know. We are new creatures in Christ and we ever live to intercede in the full and complete power of our Head’s Love. 

15 But if you bite and devour one another [in partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not consumed by one another.

    

16 But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

    

The Holy Spirit is given to us by Jesus, we do not get Him on our own. So for those whom the Holy Spirit is given, we cannot help but be responsive to Him. Think of it, do we control God or does God control us?

So why did our Father have this verse written like this?

Then the disciples came to Him and said, Why do You speak to them in parables? And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Matthew 13:10-11

Jesus spoke in such a way that it would take the Holy Spirit to cause us to understand. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He never changes, Hebrews 13:8. This verse was written so that those who are not the Bride of Christ will trust in themselves. Yet for those who have been chosen by God to be the Bride, Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth to us and the Truth sets us free. 

There are many who use scriptures to trap and insnare people. Our Father knew that they would, and He wrote the Bible so that they could. He wrote the Bible this way because He knew that He would reveal the Truth to us Himself, 1 John 2:27, because to us the Truth has been given. And the Truth is that because Christ controls us, we will not devour each other. The Truth is that we will respond to the Holy Spirit. We may buck and scream, we may spit up some warm milk, we may doubt and complain, but the glorious Truth is that none of that matters, we will respond to the Holy Spirit. He will never leave us or forsake us, Hebrews 13:5. 

Galatians 5:13

13 For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another.

    

The great Truth for us is that our freedom and love are directed by Jesus, John 17:26. He is our Shepherd, He is our Head, and He is our Vine, John 15. Jesus will never allow us to lose anything or stray from the Truth. Jesus will not allow one of His body parts to act or lose anything!  

And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I should not lose any of all that He has given Me, but that I should give new life and raise [them all] up at the last day. John 6:39

Jesus ever lives to intercede for us and because He does, we are saved to the uttermost.

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them. Hebrews 7:25

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] Romans 11:29

Because of Jesus we are saved completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time to the uttermost. Jesus is responsible to insure that our freedom never stops our Father’s love and power from serving the world. Our freedom in Christ will never insnare us or hinder us! Our Head eternally lives to intercede for others and the Head insures that His body will too. 

Another great Truth about our freedom is that it will never be taken from us and none of us will ever be lost. Our freedom also comes with a peace that passes all understanding. Which means that we may not understand all of our Father’s plans and we may not be able to quote all of His Truth’s, but we know beyond any shadow of a doubt that through Christ we are eternally free.

This freedom removes us from all condemnation: condemnation for ourselves and condemnation for others, Romans 8:1. Our freedom allows us to love all, even our enemies. 

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. Romans 8:1

But love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, and abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked. Luke 6:35