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The nine biblical fruits of the Holy Spirit comprise: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Saint Paul covers love, the foremost fruit, in an entire chapter. (1 Corinthians 13)
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“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
Live by the Spirit and do not gratify the flesh, because it has desires against the Spirit. The works of the flesh are orgy, hatred, rivalry, factions, sorcery, jealousy, immorality, impurity, idolatry, dissensions, licentiousness, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, and the like. Who gratifies the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. Who belongs to Christ crucifies his flesh with its passions and desires.
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Love is patient and kind. It is not jealous, pompous, inflated, rude, and it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love believes, hopes and endures all things.
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If I do not have love, I am nothing, Lord
Love is comprehensive, love is helpful,
love does not have envy, love does not seek evil.
Love never gets irritated, love is not rude,
love is not selfish, love is never bending.
Love excuses everything, love believes everything,
love awaits everything, love is always faithful.
Our faith, our hope, before God will end;
love is something eternal, never, never will end.
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