Are We Living by The Spirit?

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please… Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:16-17,24-26 NASB1995)

The whole purpose of Jesus dying on that cross, putting our sins to death with him, and being resurrected from the dead, was so that, by God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in him, we might now die to sin and live to God and to his righteousness in walks of obedience to his commands in holy living, for the glory and praise of God, and in the power of God, as led by the Spirit, and not in our own flesh. Sin is to no longer have mastery over our lives, but Jesus Christ is now to be Lord and Master of our lives, as we submit to him.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

So, what should that look like to “walk by the Spirit”? And to “live by the Spirit”? Certainly it involves daily denying self, putting sin to death, by the Spirit, and walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. But it isn’t all just about putting sin to death and obeying God’s commands. It is also about answering God’s call upon our lives to go where he sends us, and to say what he commands, and to do what he has gifted and called us to do as members of his body, the body of Christ. It is about ministering to others.

For Jesus Christ did not give his life up for us on that cross just to save us out of our bondage to sin and to promise us eternity with God when we die. He gave his life up for us to change us and to conform us to the likeness of himself and to make us into the people of God fit for his service. Our lives are no longer to be our own to be lived for our own purposes, but our lives are to be surrendered to the will of God for his purposes. And he has something very specific that he has for each one of us to do in this life.

Our callings from God, although the same in some respects, are also very different from one another. For although we may have similar gifts of the Spirit, we won’t all be the same body parts, and we may not all use our gifts in all the same ways. For God made us all different, and he uniquely designed each one of us specifically as he had planned for our lives. And so we are not all going to fit into some organized standard created by other humans as to how our body parts are to operate within the church.

And let me give you an example of this. I was on a Christian discussion site a few years back where there were these two women who opposed me on a regular basis. One of their criticisms was that I had songs posted at the end of most all of the writings given me by the Lord. They felt that wasn’t biblical for some reason. For it just didn’t fit with what they were used to. But the Scriptures instruct us Christians to address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.

[Ephesians 5:15-21; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25]

So, in 2004, the Lord called me to write down what I am learning from him during my times spent with him in the word each day and to post these writings on the internet so that a herald could “run with it” (the name of my blog). In 2011 he started me writing simple songs of faith. In 2018 he started me writing poems. And in 2020 he started me making video talks. And these he has me post on the internet on various sites on a daily basis. This is my calling from God, which may not be the same as everyone else.

Your calling of God may be something similar as mine, or it may be something completely different from the calling of God on my life. And that’s good that we are not all the same. But all of us should share one common denominator, and that is that we are being led by the Spirit, and that we are walking by the Spirit, and that we are living by the Spirit and no longer according to our sinful flesh. And what we are doing should be in line with the Spirit and with the Scriptures and it should not be against the Scriptures.

[Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20]

Fully Ready!  

Based off Acts 20-22,26; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8

An Original Work / June 19, 2013

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?

I’m fully ready to suffer for Christ.

If I must die for the sake of His name,

I am convinced it will not be in vain.

Glory to God and to His Son Jesus,

Who has redeemed us; bought with His blood.

May I speak to you? Jesus came to me;

Asked of me, “Why do you persecute me?”

He said, “Now get up and stand on your feet.

Go, and you’ll be told all I have for you.

I have appointed you as a servant,

And as a witness; you have been sent.”

“Go into the world and preach the gospel.

Open the blind eyes. They will receive sight.

Turn them from darkness to the light of Christ;

From power of the evil one to God,

So they may receive forgiveness of sins,

And a place among those who’re in heav’n.”

https://vimeo.com/115439432

Are We Living by The Spirit?

An Original Work / March 19, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Called to Freedom

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery… For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:1,13-14 NASB1995)

The book of Galatians centers much on the subject of the Old Covenant law and what it looks like for the believers in Christ to be free from the liturgical, ceremonial, sacrificial, purification, circumcision, dietary, and Sabbath laws. And it addresses the subject of the Judaizers who were trying to convince the Christians that they had to obey some of the Old Covenant laws and customs, most especially that they must be circumcised. Paul let them know that they did not have to be circumcised of the flesh, but of the Spirit only.

But Paul also let them know that freedom from the Old Covenant liturgical and ceremonial laws was not freedom to now live in sin. It was not freedom to now live however they wanted to live. It was not freedom to not have to obey God and his New Covenant commands. Under the New Covenant we still have to obey God. Sin must not be our practice. Holy and righteous living, by the grace of God, in the power of God, should be what we now practice. For to love is to prefer what God prefers, which is obeying God.

[Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:1-26; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10]  

Too many people today are teaching that, under the New Covenant, God’s grace forgives us of all sins and promises us eternal life with God, but regardless of how we live, even if we continue in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord. But God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return (Titus 2:11-14). So, what they are teaching the people are lies disguised as truth. 

But we also still have Judaizers among us today who are trying to convince Christians to be more like Jews and to hold to some of the Old Covenant ceremonial laws and customs, and that this will draw them closer to God. But that is a lie, just like it was when Paul wrote to the Galatians. And we also have it being pushed on Christians that we should give honor and support and almost a kind of worship to the physical and political nation of Israel, which, as a nation, is anti-God and antichrist, not God’s chosen ones.

[Genesis 17:7-9; Genesis 18:19; Matthew 21:43; John 8:18-19,38-47; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 9:4-8; Romans 11:17-25; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:6; Colossians 3:12-15; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16; Hebrews 8:6-13; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 2:22; Jude 1:5; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9] 

So, we need to be students of the Scriptures who study them in the correct biblical context, under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. And we need to be followers of Jesus Christ who test what we are hearing from others against the teachings of the Scriptures, taught in the correct biblical context. For we are not free to keep sinning against God, and we do have to obey his commands. And we are not to give our honor, value, and support to a political nation which is anti-God and antichrist in faith and practice.

Your Word  

Based off Psalms 119

An Original Work / December 27, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Praise You with an upright heart as

I learn of Your righteousness.

I seek You with all my heart;

Do not let me stray from Your law.

I have hidd’n Your word in my heart

That I might not sin against You.

Open my eyes that I may see

Wonderful things in Your word.

I am a stranger on earth.

I have chosen the way of truth;

My heart is set on Your word.

I will walk about in freedom,

For I have sought out Your truth.

Teach me knowledge and good judgment, 

For I believe in Your law.

Your hands made me, and they formed me;

Give me understanding, Lord.

I put my hope in Your word.

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light unto my path.

You are my shield and my refuge;

In Your word I put my hope.

My heart trembles at Your word, Lord.

May my lips o’erflow with praise.

May my tongue sing of Your truth, Lord.

Your salvation, Lord, long I.

Your word, Lord, is my delight. 

https://vimeo.com/125862410

Called to Freedom

An Original Work / March 19, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

But The Fruit of The Spirit is..

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:19-24 NASB1995)

Basically, what these few verses did here was to present the true biblical message of the gospel of Christ, of our salvation. For Jesus Christ, in his death on that cross, took upon himself our sins, and he put our sins to death with him, and he was resurrected from the dead, so that, by faith in him, we will now die to sin and walk with him in obedience to his commands. By the grace of God we will put off the old sinful nature, be born of the Spirit, and now live holy lives, pleasing to God, bearing the character of our Lord.

For, when the Scriptures teach that if sin is our practice, and not obedience to our Lord and to his commands, that we will not inherit eternal life with God, this is speaking to all who profess faith in Jesus Christ. It serves as a warning to us to not take God and his commands lightly. It lets us know that faith in Jesus Christ, if it is biblical faith, and so it comes from God, will result in us denying self, dying to sin daily (by the Spirit) and us walking (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord’s commands, in the power of God.

BUT… if we continue to make sin our practice (habit, lifestyle), and not obedience to our Lord and to his commands, then we don’t know God, we are not in fellowship with Jesus Christ, he is not our Lord, we don’t love God, we are not his offspring, we are not saved from our sins, and we do not have eternal life with God. For it is not the one who says, “Lord, Lord,” who is saved from their sins and who has eternal life with God, but it is all who are doing (obeying) the will of God the Father in heaven (see Matthew 7:21-23).

So, don’t believe the lies which are spreading so rapidly today which are teaching that we can “believe” in Jesus, have all our sins forgiven, and be guaranteed entry into God’s heaven when we die, but while we continue to make sin our practice, and regardless of whether or not we obey our Lord’s commands. For faith = obedience. And disobedience = unbelief, as taught all throughout the New Testament Scriptures. But you can see this especially in reading Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; and 1 Corinthians 10:1-22.

Therefore, if our faith in Jesus Christ is of the Spirit, and not of the flesh, it should produce in us the fruit of the Spirit and not the fruit of the flesh. No longer should we be engaged in habitual lies, adultery, idolatry, sexual immorality, fighting, drunkenness, and carousing, etc. But we should be producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. But love obeys God. It is centered in moral purity. And kindness is not lying to people. So obey God, not the flesh.

[Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:1-26; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10]  

Awestruck Grief  

An Original Work / April 21, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

When in awestruck grief 

o’er my sins, Lord, I bow,

Will You hear me, Lord, 

and forgive me just now?

I am so amazed that 

You could love me so.

Yet, Your love and kindness 

ever fill my soul.

Lord, You are amazing, 

and gracious and kind

To have offered Yourself 

for us when we’re blind.

You were crucified 

on that hill, Calvary,

When they hung Your body 

to die on a tree.

Now that You’ve redeemed us 

and, thus, set us free,

I pray, Lord, for all 

on this earth to believe

In Your sacrifice, Lord, 

cleansing all our sin,

So that we can live for You, 

and die within.

https://vimeo.com/116209740

But The Fruit of The Spirit is..

An Original Work / March 19, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Finding Better Ways to Communicate

“And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus…” (Romans 15:14-16 NASB1995)

In context, these words were addressed specifically to the Christians in Rome. And this seems to also be a continuation of Paul’s conversation he was having with them as recorded in Romans 14 and 15 about not passing judgment on one another with regard to disputable matters (differences of opinion). And this subject was discussed in the previous writing, “Bearing Their Weaknesses.” We should not argue over disputable matters.

So, when Paul stated to this group of Christians that he was convinced that they were full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another, this is not to be taken as God’s words to everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ today. This is not a doctrinal teaching. He was encouraging them after he had rebuked and corrected them, yet he was letting them know that his words of correction were necessary for them.

Paul really set a model for how we should speak to one another in the faith if we know personally the people to whom we are speaking. Sometimes we will have to speak words of correction to help one another to stop doing what none of us should be doing, and to encourage each other to do what is right and just and holy. If we can, we should find positive things that we can say to and about the people we are addressing so that they do not lose heart.

But we should never lie to people to try to make them feel good. We should always be honest. But honest doesn’t necessitate being nasty. We can speak truth, but speak it in love and with kindness and consideration, but without compromising truth which some do just to not offend anyone. Truth hurts sometimes. But correction is necessary sometimes, too. But if we can find the good in people, too, in those we know, that is good for us to do, too.

Now, for us who are writers, who are writing out what we are learning from our times spent in the Word of God each day, and who are posting these writings on the internet, we don’t generally know the people to whom these messages will go, so we cannot say with confidence anything specific about our readers. So I cannot say that I am convinced of anything about you who are reading this. So all I can do is to share with you what I am learning.

But I pray that you will take what I share with you to the Lord in prayer, and that you would ask the Lord to teach you from his word what lesson he would have for you to get from it, according to the correct biblical context. I pray for all of us, if we are communicating with others in ways which are not good that we would learn better ways of communicating that are helpful, but also biblical, and that are honest, and not compromising of truth in any way.

[Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20]

Better Is

Based in part off Proverbs 27

An Original Work / October 5, 2018

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Better is Love’s chastisement from a friend,

Than to have your sins coddled to no end.

Wisdom is seeing danger – flees from sin,

Trusting in your Redeemer, pure within.

Jesus is your salvation – freed from sin –

Giving you life eternal, without end.

Trusting in His provisions, peace within,

Simply by giving your life all to Him.

Living your life for Jesus ev’ry day,

Tell of His mighty power, lives to save.

Listening to Him speaking to your heart,

Tell of His grace which gave you a new start.

https://vimeo.com/293958787

Finding Better Ways to Communicate

An Original Work / March 18, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Bearing Their Weaknesses

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” (Romans 15:1-2 NASB1995)

When Paul penned this letter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to the believers in Jesus Christ in Rome, to the beloved of God, called as saints, it was all one continuous long letter. It was not separated by chapters and verses like it is now for our convenience. And we need to be aware of that so that we don’t interpret these words out of context and thus reach erroneous conclusions. So, I would encourage you to begin reading in Romans 14:1-23, because Romans 15:1-13 just continues on that same thought.

For Romans 14 is all on the subject of those who are “weak in the faith,” not weak, having to do with sin, but having to do with some Jews who believed in Jesus but who were unable to let go of the dietary and Sabbath laws of the Old Covenant which God had with his people. This also had to do with those believers in Christ who were free from the Old Covenant dietary and Sabbath laws who were casting judgment on those who were still bound by the dietary and Sabbath laws. But each side was condemning the other.

So, although God definitely regarded the Jewish Christians who were not able to let go of the dietary and Sabbath laws of the Old Covenant as those who were “weak in the faith,” he did not condemn them for it. Rather he honored them as those who were of genuine faith in Jesus Christ who did what they did for the Lord, in worship of God, and in honoring God. And so he encouraged them and he encouraged those free to eat and to not have to obey the Sabbath to not cast judgment on one another, but to get along.

Thus enters chapter 15 which so many people are taking out of context and are misinterpreting. And they are teaching that this is teaching tolerance of sin. It is not! We are not to bear the deliberate and habitual sinful practices of those who profess Jesus as their Lord. We are not to be nasty to anyone, but as fellow Christians we are to be exhorting one another daily so that none of us are led astray by the deceitfulness of sin. And if a fellow believer is caught in sin, we who are righteous are to help them to freedom from sin.

So many people who call themselves Christians today are teaching us to “stay in your own lane” and to not judge others for their sins. But the Bible does not teach that all judgment is wrong. It teaches us that hypocritical and false judging is wrong. We are not to judge by appearances, or without a hearing, or according to the flesh, or hypocritically, or by ourselves. But we are to judge sin as something that is wrong, that is against God and our fellow humans, and as something we need to put to death in our lives.

[Matthew 7:1-5,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 7:24,51; John 8:15-16; Romans 2:3; Romans 6:1-23; Galatians 6:1-5; Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 10:12; Hebrews 3:13; James 5:19-20; Jude 1:22-23]

So, whenever you read Romans 15, at least the first 13 verses, read them in the context of chapter 14, and interpret them in that context, which is where they belong. For pleasing our neighbors for their good, to their edification, is not ignoring blatant and deliberate and habitual sin in the life of one who professes faith in Jesus Christ. It has to do with not condemning one another over disputable matters and differences of opinions which are not in contradiction to the commands of our Lord under the New Covenant.

But rampant sin being tolerated within the gatherings of “the church” is something that needs to be addressed and dealt with biblically (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-13). 

As the Deer 

By Martin J. Nystrom

Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after You

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZv3jzOTE70

Caution: This link may contain ads

Bearing Their Weaknesses

An Original Work / March 18, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

God's Goodness and Lovingkindness

 

My Cup Overflows

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5 NASB1995)

Over my lifetime, I was rejected much because of my love for Jesus and my desire for him and my hunger and thirst after righteousness and for my passion for serving him with my life, and because I stood on the Word of Christ, taught in context, and I did not compromise truth or righteousness in order to “fit in.” Since so many of today’s modern “churches” here in America are now businesses being marketed to the people of the world, and many of them are diluting the truth of the gospel, I became one to be discarded.

Yet the rejection that I received in these institutional market-driven churches was the catalyst for the Lord then calling me to be a missionary on the internet. And this is not anything I would have chosen for myself, and it was not anything that I would have ever dreamed of. What the Lord did is he took a woman rejected by men, he put me on the internet, and he has been using me here for 21+ years to spread the truth of the Scriptures to the people of the world in multiple nations, at least 131 countries I know of.

So, where so many pastors discarded me because of my stand on truth and righteousness, and because I would not compromise truth, and I would not lie, but because I was a person of integrity and honesty whose life was committed to serving the Lord Jesus and to sharing the truth of the gospel, the Lord Jesus prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies, and he anointed me for his service, and my cup overflows with his grace and mercy and with all that he has been having me share these past 21+ years.

And all the glory and all the praise goes to God and not to me. I am just his messenger, writing down what he is teaching me each day, and posting these writings on the internet, out of obedience to him, in my love service to him as my only Lord. I would not and I could not do what he is having me do of my own accord or in my own strength and wisdom. Only in the power of God, by his mercy and grace, am I able to do what I do each day. And I thank the Lord every day for this opportunity to serve him in this way.

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:31-38; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18; Romans 10:14-15; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 5:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9,21; 1 John 2:6]

A Believer’s Prayer 

An Original Work / July 31, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

With my whole heart, Lord, I pray 

To be Yours, and Yours always.

Lead me in Your truth today.

May I love You, and obey.

Lead me in Your righteousness.

When I sin, may I confess;

Bow before You when I pray;

Live for You and You always.

Love You, Jesus, You’re my friend.

Life with You will never end.

You are with me through each day,

Giving love and peace always.

You will ne’er abandon me.

From my sin You set me free.

You died on that cruel tree,

So I’d live eternally.

Soon You’re coming back for me;

From this world to set me free;

Live with You eternally.

Oh, what joy that brings to me.

I will walk with You in white;

A pure bride, I’ve been made right

By the blood of Jesus Christ;

Pardoned by His sacrifice.

https://vimeo.com/114796263

My Cup Overflows

An Original Work / March 17, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love