My Weblog: The Gospel Preacher.

In Ephesians 4:29, it is written, " 29 ^aLet no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but ^bthat which is good to the use of edifying, ^cthat it may minister grace unto the hearers. "  It has been established, in the church bulletin, below, that profanity, for example, is a sin.  As slaves of Christ ( see Leviticus 25:35-46 ( especially verses 44 and 45, for example ) and 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ), for example, we are required to do what He commands us ( see John 3:16, 17, and 36; 15:12-14, for example ).  John the Baptist said to bear fruit meet for repentance, for in Matthew 3:8, it is written ( please read this entire chapter to get the immediate context ), " 8 Bring forth therefore fruits ¹meet for repentance. "  Moreover, in Romans 7:1-4, it is written, " 7 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?  2 For ^athe woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law ¹of her husband.  3 So then ^aif, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.  4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become ^adead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should ^bbring forth fruit unto God. "  The apostle Paul ( see Romans 1:1 ) wrote ( 9:1 and 16:22, for example ), here, that, as Christians, we are all the spiritual wives of Christ, and that we are commanded by God to bring forth fruit to Him.  In Luke, chapter one, we see that the birth of John the Baptist is foretold, then the birth of Jesus is foretold, then Mary visits Elizabeth, Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat ( see Luke 1:46-55 ), the birth of John the Baptist, Zechariah's prophecy, and the final verse of this chapter regarding the growth, for example, of John the Baptist, as a child.  In Luke 1:42, Elizabeth said to Mary, " blessed is the fruit of thy womb. "  If we take this statement from Elizabeth to mean that Mary was pregant with the baby Jesus, then this would mean that sometime between Luke 1:38 and Luke 1:42, Mary conceived the baby Jesus in her womb.  Also, if we assume that both Elizabeth and Mary gave birth at about nine months of pregnancy, then the period between Luke 1:42 and Luke 2:7 ( the birth of Jesus ) would be about nine months.  If these assumptions are correct, then this would mean that both Mary and Elizabeth were pregnant when Mary visited Elizabeth.  These observations are critical to the gospel message ( see Acts 15:1-21 ( especially verse 7, for example ) and Ephesians 1:1-14 ( especially verse 13, for example ), for example ) for a number of reasons.  Elizabeth referred to the baby Jesus, in Mary's womb, as the fruit of her womb.  Paul wrote that, as Christians, the spiritual wives of Christ, we are to bring forth fruit to God.  Note that Mary, as a pregnant woman, sang the Magnificat.  This means that one way that all of us Christians, members of the church, can bring forth fruit to God, is by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  In Ephesians 5:19, it is written, " 19 Speaking to yourselves ^ain psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making ^bmelody in your heart to the Lord. "  This is one way that God elevates women, and not by allowing them to assume a position of authority that has not been granted to them ( see 1 Timothy 2:11, 12, for example ).  Thus, Elizabeth and Mary serve as examples to all members of the church with regard to bringing forth fruit to God.  They are not examples only for Christian women.  For a consideration of the nine deeds associated with the one fruit of the Spirit ( see Galatians 5:22, 23, for example ), please see the SmartArt graphic, below:

The apostle Paul ( see Galatians 1:1 ) used ( see 5:2, 3, for example ) the word " is " in Galatians 5:22 to indicate there is only one fruit of the Holy Spirit.  In Galatians 5:25, it is written, " 25 ^aIf we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. "  If we demonstrate the nine deeds listed in the graphic, above, then we are walking in the Spirit.  Being desirous of vain glory, for example ( see Galatians 5:26, for example ) is contrary to the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

The deed referred to as " ¹gentleness " ( or kindness ) is certainly lacking in this world.  In 2 Timothy 2:24-26, it is written, " 24 And ^athe servant of the Lord must not ¹strive; but be gentle unto all men, ^bapt² to teach, ^cpatient, 25 ^ain meekness ¹instructing those that ²oppose themselves; ^bif God peradventure will give them repentance ^cto³ the acknowledging of the truth; 26 and that they may ¹recover themselves ^aout of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him ²at his will. "  Jesus demonstrated the deed known as goodness, for example.  In Acts 10:38, it is written, " 38 How ^aGod anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who ^bwent about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; ^cfor God was with him " ( Emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  Jesus demonstrated all nine deeds, associated with the one fruit of the Holy Spirit, at the cross ( see Ephesians 5:25; Hebrews 12:2; Acts 8:32, 33; Mark 15:24-41; Luke 23:43; Luke 23:34; Mark 15:28; John 19:30; John 19:28, for example ).  God commands that we demonstrate all nine of these deeds in our own lives, as children of God ( see Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ).  Please seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read ( see Isaiah 34:16, for example ).  Please search the scriptures daily ( see Acts 17:10, 11, for example ). 🕮