This study is one of the most important studies other than the cross of Christ you will find on Spirit Journals. The framework of this study was actually done over 12 years ago now in the summer of 1993. I feel like I have aged 50 years since then and have come to know more the importance of the Holy Spirit's CHARACTER being in us even more so than His power. I have had to learn this unfortunately through much pain, suffering, loss and tears. I pray that those of you reading this who are young in the Lord will not make the mistake I did in developing image more than character. Our character counts with God. In fact, it is our CHARACTER that will be in question at the Judgment Seat of Christ at the end of this journey we call life as a believer. The Lord will never congratulate us on the "power" we possess because any power we do possess is HIS power, not ours. What He WILL judge us for is how little of HIS CHARACTER we allowed to shine through to those around us, including the lost and dying. How much more would the church of the 21rst Century see a great harvest of souls if we allowed the heart and nature of Jesus to shine through us. We're so busy trying to impress people and "wow" them with the spectacular instead of coming to a simple child-like faith and development in Christ. Paul warned us in 2 Corinthians that the enemy's greatest attack would come in staking a claim on our hearts to draw us away from the "simplicity of Jesus." The fruit of Spirit is exactly that. It's the nature of Jesus that so needs to shine through us all, Chris McDonald being the number 1 in need of that. I write this introduction with tears knowing I have fallen short many times of allowing HIM to be glorified in my life to others. I pray that something you read on these pages will encourage you, exhort you and open your hearts door to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. This study is really the result of placing our faith in the Cross of Christ for it is only in those confines that the Holy Spirit can produce the FRUIT of the Spirit, or the nature of Jesus.

I can only state it like it like Paul when he said that he "travailed," over the Galatians that "Christ be formed in them." I pray that to be so with everyone reading this study guide, I really do. Neighbor it's getting late and if you're name is not written down in the Lamb's book of Life today, you had better make your calling and election SURE. It's that important.  I know this is a 10-year old study and for that reason I'm updating many of the lessons to go into an updated second volume that will be released soon. The lessons here though will be a tremendous building block to all those who read and study them. If you would like a CD-ROM copy of all the lessons on Word formatted documents that actually contain study questions and exercises please email us at cmc4jesus@aol.com and put "Fruit of the Spirit CD" in subject line. These are available for a donation of any size to Dove Light Ministries.

We have other studies available including 3 brand new studies on the Fall Feasts of Israel - www.dovelightministries.com

May God bless the study of His word.

Heavenly Father, I pray for everyone who comes to this part of our site that is hungry to know more about how to be MORE LIKE YOU. Lord, we must DECREASE, and you must INCREASE. Forgive us for now allowing more of your nature and character to shine through us in these last days. Forgive your church for the apostasy it has found itself in because of our pursuit of temporal matters and not eternal ones. Lord, deliver us from the spirit of Babylon, Jezebel and the nature of Laodicea that says we are "rich, increased with goods, and have need of nothing." I pray today for that in Jesus name. Lord, start this inward revival in ME today and as a result touch those around who so desperately need to know You and experience a loving touch from heaven before it's eternally too late.

In Your name we pray, Amen.

"A Smoking Flax He Will Not Quench, A Bruised Reed, He Will Not Break,"