Fruits of the Spirit August 27, 2009
Over the next several weeks I am going to look in depth a little bit at the fruits of the Spirit. What are the fruits of the Spirit? They are the attributes that God gives us to work on and they set us apart from non-believers. Have you ever met a non–believer who was loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled ALL AT ONE TIME? Come to think of it, I don’t know of many Christians who posses all of these attributes. But we know that with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26), and it is possible to acquire all of these fruits in your life. You may think, “But it’s so hard to remember to live these out everyday!” Slow down there. You don’t need to perfect each fruit all in one day. What I like to do is take it on a step-by-step basis. One day, work on love. The next day work on joy. Then peace, then patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Write it on your calendar if you want, or do what I do and write it on your feet or your hand to remind you. Also, make the decision to start working on the fruits. You can’t really start doing something if you don’t decide to do it. Tell God that you want to acquire these attributes and He will help you.
He Never Comes Too Late August 26, 2009
“8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[b] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-10
Sometimes it seems that God has forgotten us, but the Lord is NOT slack with His promise!! I love this verse! 
It is such a comfort!
Consider Jesus August 24, 2009
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
~Hebrews 12:2-3
How many times have you felt like everything in your world is crashing down around you all at once, and you just wanted to give up? Maybe it’s a relationship with a brother or sister, or a parent or friend that really frustrates and discourages you. Maybe it’s something going on physically that is just wearing you down. Maybe it’s just a bunch of little things at work, with school, with things going on in the world. Or maybe it’s all of that and more! I think everyone goes through times where you feel bogged down by worries and stress. It’s so easy to get discouraged, and feel like you can’t take any more of life. But the Bible tells us to be “joyful always,” no matter what the circumstance.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame“
How can we be joyful when our world seems to be falling apart? Look at Jesus- He had the cross to endure, yet He did so joyfully! He didn’t focus on the pain that He was going through, either the physical or the spiritual pain (of being separated from the Father). He focused on the end goal-unity and eternal fellowship with His Bride, the Church. He felt the pain, but He didn’t focus on it.
“For consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.“
It’s hard to not focus on our pain, because in our minds we suffer a lot! But consider Jesus-He went through SO much more pain, physically, mentally, emotionally, and relationally/spiritually. He never fainted. He never gave up. He never wavered from His goal. His love for us spurred Him on to go through the ultimate suffering. He is our example of being joyful always. When I consider Jesus, my problems suddenly seem very small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I know that if Jesus can give His life for a sinner like me, I can surely give up the rest of my computer time when my Dad or brother want on. I can do the dishes for Mom again. I can get through the hard relationships in my life. I can get through life joyfully without “fainting in my mind.”
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” ~Philippians 4:13
Every Day is a Fresh Beginning… August 21, 2009
“Every day is a fresh beginning,
Every morn is the world made new.
You who are weary of sorrow and sinning,
Here is a beautiful hope for you;
A hope for me and a hope for you.”
~ Susan Coolidge
“Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean, do not be disturbed because of your imperfections, and always rise up bravely from a fall. I am glad that you daily make a new beginning. There is no better means of progress in the spiritual life than to be continually beginning afresh, and never to think that we have done enough.” ~ Francis de Sales
Isn’t that a neat thought? That every day is a fresh beginning? It’s like a new page in a notebook…blank, nothing written on it yet, so fresh and clean that it just BEGS you to write something new on it…something good, beautiful, and wonderful! That is what each, new day is like…thing is, we’ve just gotten so use to there being a new day all the time that it’s not something special to us! We take it too much for granted that we’ll have another day…but we don’t know that we will! Each day is special and wonderful because God made it! God gave each day as a gift to us! Imagine how life would be if we received each day AS a gift from God…as a beautiful, precious gift that makes us excited to receive it! Imagine the difference that could make in our lives! I’ve been struggling alot lately with not dreading the days ahead of me. I worry over the little things until they pile up and I dread the day before me. What I’ve been doing is saying that the day, the gift God gave me, was worrisome, troublesome, and not something I wanted at all. Ouch. It certainly makes me cringe when I think of it that way! I want each of my days to a source of joy…to me and all those around me…I don’t want it to be a gift that I receive the wrong way or use the wrong way. I want to receive it with excitement, and use it to the best and fullest it can be!
However, there are troubles in our lives…that’s just the way things are. We sin, we mess up, we do alot of things we regret…but let’s not drag all that with us day to day. Let’s leave it in the “yesterday” and view every day as a fresh beginning! A chance to start over! A chance to do better! Let’s not waste it in regret or tears over our mess-ups…let’s truly repent and ask for forgiveness for our mistakes, and leave it in “yesterday”. Imagine “tomorrow” as a gift wrapped up with a pretty bow and held out to you from God. Let tomorrow be your fresh beginning!
Just look at Abraham August 20, 2009
“God places the heaviest burden on those who can carry its weight.” ~ Reggie White
Have you ever thought about why God would give His children the hard burdens, the heavy ones that seem to weigh us down until we cannot walk anymore? Look at Christians around the world who suffer everyday for Christ’s name: they live without the comforts of good food, running water, or warm beds. Christians in China are jailed for their faith and often tortured or killed. All over the world Christians carry the “burdens” of hardship, persecution, and suffering for Jesus’s name. But would God give so much work to the Christians who aren’t strong or dedicated enough to do that work?
I’ve seen Christian families here who have lost loved ones or had to scrape and scrounge to have enough money to even buy groceries. But those people have survived. They’ve gotten through the pain and the hard times, trusting God every step of the way and doing all they can to bless others. Sometimes I think people see hardship and burdens as punishment from God, but on the contrary, I think that God blesses those that can carry those burdens. God gave Abraham one of the hardest (if not THE hardest) burdens: to sacrifice his son. Abraham didn’t disobey God like any other person might of–he obeyed God, and it ended up that God told Abraham not to sacrifice Isaac, because God saw how obedient Abraham was. He blessed Abraham for his obedience, even.
The next time you face a burden that just seems to hard to carry, remember that He gave it to you because He knew that you could carry it.
Romans 8 August 19, 2009
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 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.” 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. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
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[b] 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.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 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.”[c]
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 things 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.
Light and Darkness August 18, 2009
wanna be in the Light
As You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation
‘Cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want is to be in the Light
~ TobyMac’s “In the Light”
Everybody…Shine the light don’t hide the light
Before they find the light
For the world will change
All the people gotta see the light so be the light
For the world remains
Through the face of Christ, they’ll see the light
~ Michelle Tumes’ “Shine the Light”
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” ~ Matthew 5:16
I’ve been thinking alot lately about being a “light”…more specifically, I’ve been wondering how I, personally, am a light…Do I shine of Jesus at all? Do I appear different to the world? Do I represent Jesus, not only in how I speak but also in how I act? What do I do to shine His light? And I’m sad to say, my answer was, “Nothing much.” I strive to dress modestly, I stand up for my beliefs when they’re threatened or bashed, and I try to do it in a calm, collected, godly manner. But I look at the rest of my words and actions and see that I do not always show His “light” through them. My words to my family are certainly the worst. I speak in anger, irritation, and spite. Not thirty seconds ago I spoke hastily to my little sister because she was trying to talk to me as I prepared this article. Every day there are tests to see if I spread “light” or “darkness”, and in those few words of annoyance to my little sister, I spread “darkness” rather than light. Instead of living and speaking the way Jesus would have me, I lived and spoke selfishly. Instead of being lighting up my little sister’s day, I made her sad, maybe even hurt.
Thinking on this subject has made me realize how much I am lacking in my life of walking with Christ. By spreading “darkness”, I step-by-step move farther away from God, and I do not want that to happen! I want to be more aware of what I’m spreading: darkness or light…because I want to be a light not just another person in the dark. So this week, I am going to practice being in the light, spreading the light, shining the light, being a light.
Lay it all aside August 17, 2009
The past three weeks God has really been challenging me to truly obey Him in everything. The first Sunday that we began meeting with our church, one of our elders preached on Hebrews 12:1-2 which says (in the NASB),
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (emphasis mine)
On the way to church that morning, I had been thinking about how tired I was, and how I have so much going on in my life. I was (and am!) tired of being busy, of never having enough time to get the important things done, and tired of not having enough time for my family. As I thought about all that I do during the week, God impressed on my heart the amount of time I spend on the internet each day, and the amount of time I waste watching tv/movies. It’s embarrassing to really think about exactly how much time I just waste everyday, doing things that aren’t making a good difference, or, worse, are actually hurting me by causing me to be lazy, snap at my family, and be discontent with my life. I knew that God was telling me I needed to give these things up, but I didn’t want to. I pushed the thoughts aside until Brother Alan began to preach.
In verse 1 of that passage, the KJV says “every weight, and the sin”. You can’t run a race and WIN if you have a heavy backpack weighing you down. And you can’t run the Christian race of serving the Lord everyday in every moment if you have “me time” or distractions weighing you down. If there’s anything that is distracting you from serving the Lord, from spending time with Him and in His Word, and from developing relationships with the people He has placed in your life, lay it aside! Get it completely out of the way! Instead of fixing your eyes on yourself and your own wants, “fix your eyes on Jesus” and ask Him to work through you!
In last week’s sermon, we learned about how the Lord disciplines the ones that He loves. This verse stuck out to me, and I think it can go along with what I’m trying to say.
“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Hebrews 12:11 (NASB)
Letting go of our wants is never easy, and can be painful. We’re humans-”me first” is our default mentality. That’s why it’s so hard when we feel God telling us to do something like get rid of a pleasure in our life to focus on Him. It’s not what we want naturally. But even though it causes us sorrow, we should still obey and yield to God’s discipline, because “it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
I don’t know about you, but in this race of living for God, I want to run my best! I know it means letting go of my wants and looking instead at Jesus, but the pain of refusing my selfishness is but for a short time-obeying God brings great joy!!
“for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b (KJV)
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5b (KJV)
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