I received the Holy Ghost on February 15, 2004. That day changed everything — yet it did not automatically fix how I treated people. I could study, argue, and accumulate knowledge while my heart stayed hard. The Lord had to teach me the same lesson Paul wrote to Corinth centuries earlier.
The verse that named my problem
“Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.” — 1 Corinthians 8:1 (KJV)
Paul is not against knowledge. The Corinthians had knowledge about idols and meat sacrificed to idols. The danger was what knowledge did to them — it puffed them up. The Greek word for “puffeth up” (physioō) means to inflate, like a bellows filling something with air. Knowledge swelled their heads without building up the body.
The contrast is charity (agapē) — love that edifies, that builds up another person. Knowledge without love makes you heavy to be around. Love makes others stronger.
I lived that verse before I understood it.
When knowledge was enough for me
After 2004 I devoured Scripture, prophecy, doctrine, and end-times study. I could tell you what a passage meant and why someone else’s view was wrong. I felt puffed up — not always outwardly arrogant, but inwardly satisfied that I knew more than the people around me.
I wrote in my diary about being alone because few people thought like me. I focused on doctrine and truth while fruit withered. Paul did not leave love as an abstract idea — he listed it as evidence of the Spirit’s work:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22–23 (KJV)
Love is fruit. It is not something you memorize into existence. It grows when you walk in the Spirit. I had knowledge. I did not always have fruit — and without love, the rest of the list collapses. Who loves no one proves the Spirit is not governing the life, no matter how correct the doctrine sounds.
That was my condition for too long: puffed up with knowledge, thin on fruit.
What my grandmother taught me
The Lord used my grandmother first.
She did not mainly teach me love through lectures. She taught me through presence — birthdays remembered, breakfast made, phone calls returned, prayer when surgery was on the calendar. In November 2010 she was scheduled for eye surgery. We prayed that God’s will be done. When the doctor examined her before the procedure, he said she no longer needed surgery — only glasses. We had asked for God’s will; His will was to spare her the knife. Glory to God.
That was love I could not argue with. It was patient. It showed up on Monday mornings and hospital waiting rooms. Knowledge had taught me to analyze; my grandmother taught me to care.
What my wife taught me
The Lord used my wife to finish what my grandmother started — and the lesson was sacrifice, not sentiment.
Scripture does not define love as a warm feeling. It defines love as giving:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16 (KJV)
God so loved — He gave. That is the pattern. Love costs something. Christ provides and sacrifices. He is our example.
Paul applies that pattern directly to marriage:
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” — Ephesians 5:25 (KJV)
Christ did not only die for the church — the body of believers. He lived for us every day He walked this earth: teaching, healing, serving, submitting to the Father’s will. A husband’s love is not measured by a single dramatic moment. It is measured by a lifetime of willingness to die and to live for his wife — providing, protecting, and putting her good before his comfort.
Dr. Myles Munroe put it plainly for men: for a husband, love is not a feeling. It is a decision to provide for another person for life without expecting anything in return. That is agape — the same love God demonstrated when He wrapped Himself in flesh and died for us.
I married a woman who loves the Lord. I learned — painfully — that knowing those truths in my head was not the same as living them. I could win an argument and still fail to give. Knowledge says, “I am right.” Love says, “What does she need — and what will I sacrifice to meet it?”
Proverbs says it plainly:
“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” — Proverbs 18:22 (KJV)
A good wife is from the Lord. So is the command to love her the way Christ loved the church — not as a mood, but as covenant sacrifice: provide, sacrifice, live for her, as He did for us.
Knowledge and love in the same chapter
Paul does not stop at verse 1. In 1 Corinthians 8 he applies knowledge to a real issue — meat offered to idols. Knowledge says, “An idol is nothing; eat freely.” Love says, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (8:9).
Knowledge sees freedom. Love sees people.
That is the test I failed for years. I knew the answers. I did not always edify the hearer. I loved truth, but did not love people.
Miracles the Lord has done (from my diary)
These are not proofs that I have arrived. They are reminders that the same God who filled me with the Holy Ghost also sustains, protects, and answers prayer — often when knowledge alone would have left me afraid.
Current — ongoing provision
| Miracle | |
|---|---|
| Now | Providing for us without debt — making and keeping us debt-free. “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another.” — Romans 13:8 (KJV) |
| Now | Keeping us in good health without prescription drugs, vaccines, blood transfusions, or surgery — trusting the Lord for the body He gave us. “That ye abstain from … blood.” — Acts 15:29 (KJV); “Ye shall not … print any marks upon you.” — Leviticus 19:28 (KJV); “If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.” — Exodus 20:25 (KJV) |
| 2024–2025 | While we focused on health, the Lord provided income greater than when we were working. |
Holy Ghost and salvation
| Date | Miracle |
|---|---|
| February 15, 2004 | Received the Holy Ghost — the foundation of everything that followed. |
| 2005 | Marc, a new member who had been struggling to receive the Holy Ghost, was filled with his son present — speaking fully in tongues. |
| October 4, 2013 | At Pastor Samuels’ church in Jamaica — a congregation I served during my Deeper Life Bible School practicum and evangelism work. Cory and others received the Holy Ghost that day. |
Protection and deliverance
| Date | Miracle |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Survived a car accident in New Jersey — minor damage only. |
| 2005 | Accident prevented — while speeding, a voice told me to slow down; brakes locked; cars inches apart on a blind curve; nothing hit us. |
| 2005–2007 | Falling asleep at the wheel night after night going to and from work — only God’s grace kept me from accident or arrest. |
| April 8, 2007 (Easter Sunday) | Out-of-control car (Maxima) took out a street sign and tree, slammed a light pole sideways — pole stayed up; car missed my sister Sheree’s vehicle in the driveway though it was in the direct path. “The LORD’s angels encamp about them that fear him.” |
| January 7, 2013 | On a ladder that slid from beneath me on the roof — caught the edge and lowered myself; would have fallen ~10 feet to concrete. |
| May 3, 2016 | On the subway, stepped between my cousin Janelle and a young man who threatened to stab me — by God’s grace he did nothing. |
| August 2019 | After the Queens NYC Half Marathon, my wife passed out on the subway platform and almost fell to the tracks. |
| January 2024 | A driver ran a red light and T-boned my car. The Lord protected me — no injury; insurance paid for repairs; I drove the car home after the accident. |
Provision and answered prayer
| Date | Miracle |
|---|---|
| 2005 | After missing trains and fearing job loss, cried out for a car in Jesus’ name — received a Nissan with no money out of pocket; Geico insurance cheaper than every prior quote. |
| 2005 | House warming — led to invite 40, afraid of the cost; seven came to the apartment and ten came to the restaurant; God worked out seats and provision like the seed parable. |
| 2005 | Hurricane on direct course to Jamaica — slowed, diverted, then strengthened after passing. |
| September 4, 2005 | Laid hands on Connie (my uncle’s wife) after church — her headache went away. Glory be to Jesus. |
| 2005 | Raise came lower than expected — gave thanks anyway; months later received retroactive increase plus more. |
| 2005 | When down and out, Tony Strano called unprompted with work at Carnegie Hall — a job never applied for. |
| 2005 | Left car by Manchie (Sister Bell) with windows down on an overcast night — returned to find it untouched and dry; rain began after I got inside. |
| 2005 | Same season, another night by Manchie (Sister Bell) — cars before and after mine had side mirrors stolen; mine was left alone. |
| November 23, 2010 | Grandmother’s eye surgery cancelled — doctor said glasses only; God’s will to spare the knife. |
| September 8–10, 2013 | Evangelism crusade at Back Bush Mountain View — rain threatened first three days; each time God held back the rain. |
| September 2013 | cousin Tricia’s computer — favor at the shop: twice the memory for a fraction of what another tech wanted to charge. |
| 2014 | Running late for graduation pictures — express bus, drop straight to Deeper Life, arrived just after Sister Reid; Kindle order favor with discounts and waived fees. |
| 2019–2020 | While courting Michelle, the forecast often called for showers — yet day after day turned out perfect for being together. GIA — God is Awesome. |
| February 2021 | Fled Sodom (New York) and arrived in Texas during the historic freeze — airport closed, roads closed, supermarkets closed, gas stations closed, ruined apartments all around us. Our luggage was lost — but the Lord returned it to us. Through it all the Lord opened stores, hotels, gas stations, and highways, and protected our apartment while others flooded. |
Healing and breakthrough
| Date | Miracle |
|---|---|
| 2012–2013 | At Deeper Life Bible School, our class went as a group to the hospital to pray for patients. When we returned on later visits, we would hear that a patient had been discharged without surgery — healing and release we traced back to prayer. |
| 2016 | Prayer chain with Aunt Pat — seeing results; good conversations about God, health, and stewardship. |
This list is not complete. My diary records dozens of answered prayers, dreams, and favors. I include these so you see the pattern: God has been faithful when I was not. Knowledge did not save me from the ladder, the subway, or the out-of-control car. Love is fruit — His first, then learning to pass it on — is what He is still teaching.
What I am still learning
- Knowledge answers questions. Love builds people.
- Edification is the test — not whether I win the study, but whether the hearer is stronger in Christ.
- Love is fruit — if I love no one, knowledge has puffed me up and the Spirit’s work is missing (Galatians 5:22–23).
- Love is sacrifice — God gave; Christ lived and died for the church; a husband provides and lives for his wife without keeping score (John 3:16; Ephesians 5:25).
This site exists to refine and expand knowledge, correct error, and likely humble me. If a post is wrong based on the Bible, comment with the verse. I welcome Scripture-grounded correction — that is love edifying, not knowledge puffing up.
The fruit of the Spirit — each quality (Galatians 5:22–23)
Knowledge can be quoted from memory. Fruit is what others see when you walk in the Spirit. Paul lists nine qualities — one fruit with nine expressions. Below is each KJV word with its Greek term, Strong’s number, and the sense given in Strong’s Concordance and standard lexicons (Blue Letter Bible, Bible Hub, eSword).
Study the original words in Blue Letter Bible — Galatians 5:22–23 or Bible Hub — Galatians 5 interlinear.
| KJV word | Greek | Strong’s | Definition (Strong’s / lexicons) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love | agapē (ἀγάπη) | G26 | Affection, benevolence, brotherly love; the love that seeks the good of another rather than self. |
| Joy | chara (χαρά) | G5479 | Gladness, delight — cheerfulness that does not depend on circumstances alone. |
| Peace | eirēnē (εἰρήνη) | G1515 | Rest, unity, quietness — harmony with God and men; the opposite of strife. |
| Longsuffering | makrothymia (μακροθυμία) | G3115 | Patience, forbearance — slow to anger; enduring injury without retaliation. |
| Gentleness | chrēstotēs (χρηστότης) | G5544 | Kindness, moral goodness, integrity — usefulness toward others; a gentle disposition. |
| Goodness | agathōsynē (ἀγαθωσύνη) | G19 | Uprightness, benevolence — active goodness that does what is right toward God and neighbor. |
| Faith | pistis (πίστις) | G4102 | Persuasion, credence, moral conviction — faith and fidelity; trustworthiness in action, not empty talk. |
| Meekness | prautēs (πραΰτης) | G4239 | Mildness, humility — strength under control; not weakness, but power submitted to God. |
| Temperance | enkrateia (ἐγκράτεια) | G1466 | Self-control, mastery of desires — inner discipline over appetites, words, and impulses. |
Paul closes with: “against such there is no law.” No statute of Moses — and no weapon of accusation — stands against a life bearing this fruit. Love heads the list for a reason. Without it, the rest is noise (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).
Questions for reflection
- Has knowledge ever made you feel superior to weaker believers (1 Corinthians 8:1–2)?
- Who taught you love by living it — not merely explaining it?
- When you speak Scripture, does the hearer leave built up or beaten down?
- Can others see fruit in your life — or only hear knowledge? Walk the list above honestly:
- Love (G26) — Do I seek anyone’s good besides my own?
- Joy (G5479) — Is gladness from the Spirit visible, or only debate?
- Peace (G1515) — Do I sow rest and unity, or strife?
- Longsuffering (G3115) — Am I slow to anger when wronged?
- Gentleness (G5544) — Is kindness toward the weak evident?
- Goodness (G19) — Do my actions match upright benevolence?
- Faith (G4102) — Am I faithful in what I promise God and people?
- Meekness (G4239) — Is my strength under God’s control?
- Temperance (G1466) — Are my appetites and tongue governed by the Spirit?
Read 1 Corinthians 8–13 in full context. Knowledge about idols and meat is Paul’s entry point; love is where he leads the whole church.
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