40 Days of Power-Day 38

40 Days of Power-Day 38

We have daily been praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,  and temperance (against which there is no law). Gal 5:22-23. You should now be seeing these fruits beginning to be manifested in your lives. This is one of the essential elements of an effective fellowship group. The first fruit of the Spirit is love. Here, the highest form of love is referred to—Agape love. It is the kind of love that works no evil or harm to others. It is not filled with envy, jealousy, covetousness, hatred, selfishness nor evil planning and does not rejoice in the face of evil. It is longsuffering, kind, faithful, enduring, rejoicing in truth.  1 Cor. 13:4-7. This love allows us, as members of Spirit filled fellowship groups to manifest understanding and sensitivity to others in the group, and allow us to have a calming, soothing effect on others. It also allows us to have a sympathetic, non judgmental, prayerful attitude when someone in the group reveals their struggles. They know we won’t take their issue to the phone but to the Lord. Our words and actions will be compassionate, redemptive and healing. The other essential element of effective fellowship groups is the gifts of the Spirit. The Spirit gives different gifts, i.e. apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors, (Eph 4: 11-16) but all are intended to benefit the group by perfecting us and growing us into the fullness of Christ thereby edifying the body of Christ. PRAYER: Father baptize us with your Holy Spirit and bring truth and revival into our lives and our churches. Manifest the fruit of your Spirit in my life and the lives of others around me. Restore us to the fullness of joy and peace in you. Remove the spiritual hindrances, thorns and briars in our lives. Impart great joy and rejoicing in you in our churches.