god is love

1 Jn 4:7-8

7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 

8  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

Love (agape) a word to which Christianity gave new meaning. Outside of the NT, it rarely occurs in existing Greek manuscripts of the period. Agape denotes an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he does. It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object. 

Agape is more a love by choice than philos, which is a reciprocal love; Agape refers to the will rather than the emotion, but True Agape Love will involve emotion as well. Agape describes the undeserved love God has for the world.

The words “love, loved, loves, and beloved” are found about 46 times in 1 John.

Heb 13:8 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

1 Jn 4:9-10

9  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 

10  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

1 Jn 4:14-16

14  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 

15  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 

16  And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Jn 3:16 

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Rom 5:8 

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Eph 2:4-5 

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 

5  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) 

HE LOVED US FIRST

1 Jn 4:10

10  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

1 Jn 4:19

19  We love Him because He first loved us.

Eph 1:3-4 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 

4  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love 

GOD HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING, THEREFORE WE SHOULD LOVE HIM WITH EVERYTHING

Mk 12:30-31

30  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  This is the first commandment. 

31  And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these

GOD IS THE DEFINITION OF LOVE

Rom 5:5 

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

Gal 5:22-23

22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

1 Cor 12:31-13:8a

12:31  But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way (God’s Love).

13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers (patient) long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself (boast), is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

8a Love never fails.

1 Cor 13:13 

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

1 Jn 4:1-6 

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

2  By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 

3  and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 

4  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

5  They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 

6  We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 

DISCERNING WHO TO TRUST

Mat 7:6

6   Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. 

Phil 3:2 

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation (Judaizing teachers)!

Rev 22:14-15 

14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 

15  But outside are dogs and sorcerers (pharmakos, druggist, magical potions) and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.  

Jn 2:23-25 

23  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 

24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 

25  and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. 

commit –  to have faith in them, to entrust Himself to them, submit to their control, to have confidence in them

START BY TRUSTING GOD

Ps 118:8 

118 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 

Prov 3:5

5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WE CANNOT TRUST

Mat 10:16-20 

16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 

17  But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 

18  You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 

19  But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 

20  for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Mat 24:11, 24 

11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

24  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.   

2 Cor 6:14 

14  Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

1 Cor 15:33 

33 Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits (morals, character)

2 Thes 3:6 

6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT IS ESSENTIAL IN KNOWING WHO TO TRUST

1 Cor 12:10c 

10c (spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit) to another discerning of spirits

1 Jn 4:1 

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits

1 Jn 2:27 

27  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Heb 5:14 

14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 Thes 5:19-21 

19 Do not quench (extinguish, suppress) the Spirit. 

20  Do not despise prophecies. 

21  Test all things; hold fast what is good.  

TRUST THE FRUIT

Mat 7:20 

20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 

Gal 5:22-23 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patient), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23   gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  

1 Jn 2:28-29

28  And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 

29  If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. 

NOW WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD

1 Jn 3:1-2a

1  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 

2  Beloved, now we are children of God;

Gal 3:26 

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 4:6 

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

WE WILL BE LIKE JESUS

1 Jn 3:2

2  Beloved, now we are children of God, it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 Cor 13:12 

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  

GOD’S CHILDREN ARE LED BY HIS SPIRIT

Rom 8:14-21

14   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

15   For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.

(In Roman law, once adopted, an individual could not be disinherited, unlike natural born sons.)

16  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 

17   and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

19  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 

20  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 

21  because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

GOD’S CHILDREN ARE HUMBLE

Mat 18:1-4

1  At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2   Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 

3  and said, Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted (turn around, change) and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 

4  Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

Jesus is referring to “child-likeness” rather “child-ishness”. 

Child-likness is humble, trusting, quick to believe, teachable

Childishness is  selfish, rebellious, gullible

Lk 14:11 

11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

1 Pet 5:5 

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, but GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

James 4:10 

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 

1 Jn 3:1-2

1  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 

2  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 Jn 2:21-27 

21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 

22  Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 

23  Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 

24  Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 

25  And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. 

26  These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 

27  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Lk 4:17-18

17   And He (Jesus) was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah (chp 61). And when He had  opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 

18   the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed

Jn 14:16-17

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 

17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  

another (allos) - One besides, another of the same kind, one besides Jesus, and in addition to Jesus, but one just like Him.

Helper (parakletos) - From para, “beside,” and kaleo, “to call,” hence, called to one’s side. The word signifies an intercessor, comforter, helper, advocate, counselor. 

Jn 14:26

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 

Jn 16:13-14

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 

Act 1:5

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

Act 1:8

8 But you shall receive power (dunamis – 120 times NT) 

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 2:1-4

1  When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

3  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and 

began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Eph 3:19-20

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you (saints) may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

20  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us

Eph 5:18

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit

1 Cor 2:9-10

9 But as it is written: "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 

10   But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 

Rom 8:26-27

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

27   Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

COMMUNION (INTIMACY) WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Phil 2:1

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy

2 Cor 13:14

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 

communion / fellowship (koinonia) - intimate union, common union, literally – one spirit

Jn 16:13-14

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 

1 Jn 2:15-17

15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

16  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 

17  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 

world (kosmos) - the system of life that operates apart from God; the values, desires, priorities, and mindset of fallen, sinful humanity, a culture driven by self-centered desire, pride, rebellion, and temporary things. The ruler of this world is Satan (1 Jn 5:19, Jn 12:31, Rev 12:9).

Lk 4:1-13 

1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 

2  being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. 

3  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." (lust of the flesh) 

4  But Jesus answered him, saying, "it is written (Deut 8:3), 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, but BY EVERY WORD OF GOD.' " 

5  Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 

6  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 

7  Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." (lust of the eyes)

8  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written (Ex 20:2-6), 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, and HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.' " 

9  Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 

For it is written: 'HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER YOU, TO KEEP YOU,' 

11  and, 'IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU DASH YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.' " (pride of life)

12  And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said (Deut 6:16), 'YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD.' " 

13  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. 

Eph 2:1-3 

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 

2  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 

3  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 

Rom 12:2 

12 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Col 3:1-2 

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 

2  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 

1 Cor 1 

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

21  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 

27  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 

28  and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 

29  that no flesh should glory in His presence. 

30  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 

31  that, as it is written, "HE WHO GLORIES, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD."  

THE EVIL GENERATION

1 Jn 2:18-19

18  Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 

19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

Mat 12:38-39

38   Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." 

39   But He answered and said to them, an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 

WE ARE “IN” THE WORLD – NOT “OF” THE WORLD

Jn 17:14-16 

14  I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 

15  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 

16   They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world

Jn 15:18-19 

18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 

19  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 

Rom 8:35-39 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

36  As it is written: for your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37   Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 

38   For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor to come, 

39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Jn 2:15

15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

Gen 2:4-15 

4  This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 

5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 

6  but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 

7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 

8  The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 

9  And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

10  Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 

11  The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 

12  And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 

13  The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 

14  The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 

15  Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 

A SECURE PLACE TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT 

garden (gan) fenced, hedged around, protected, defended

Eden (Ēdhen) pleasurable, prosperous, delightful, fruitful

MANKIND BEGAN IN THE GARDEN AND ENDS IN THE GARDEN

Rev 22:1-2 

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

2  In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

GOD’S CHILDREN BECOME THE GARDEN

Is 5:1-7 

1  Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His (God’s) vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. 

2   He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; so He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. 

3  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. 

4   What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? 

5  And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 

6   I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it." 

7  For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.

Is_51:3  

3 For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her  desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

Is_58:11  

11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Ez_34:29  

29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore.

Ez_36:35  

35 So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.'

Song_4:12-16  

12 A garden enclosed (protected) Is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

13   Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits, Fragrant henna with spikenard, 

14  Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices— 

15  A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And streams from Lebanon. 

16   Awake, O north wind (Holy Spirit), and come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.

Song 5:1  

1 I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones!

Song_6:2  

2 My beloved has gone to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed his flock in the gardens, And to gather lilies.

Jn 15:1-8

1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

2  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

3  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

4  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 

5  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

6  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 

8  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 

Gal 5:22-23

22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 

Ez 47:12 

12  Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.

Rev 22:1-2 

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

2   In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.