Fruit Of The Spirit

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

What fruit does God want to see from the believer’s life?  He wants the fruit of the Spirit ---Christian character that glorifies God.

The Apostle Paul compares winning lost souls to Christ as bearing fruit. He also names Holiness, faithfulness, and praising God.

The difference between spiritual fruit and human “religious activity” is that the fruit brings glory to Jesus. We tend to boast on what we do in our own strength.

True spiritual fruit is so beautiful and wonderful that no man or woman can claim credit for it; the glory must go to God alone.

God Is Still In Control

God is still in control! He is still on the throne.  He is still the Prince of Peace for those who will walk by faith and not by sight, a peace that passes all understanding,

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God has His own brand of peace that keeps and comforts the hearts of His children. The secret to walking in peace is to walk in faith, knowing that the Lord is in absolute control of your life.

The Lord didn’t save you to be agitated, worried, and filled with fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

God's Grace Is Sufficient

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

There’s never a shortage of the grace of God---grace for our spiritual ministries, our material and physical needs. If God’s grace is sufficient to save us, surely it’s sufficient to keep us and strengthen us in times of suffering.

God permits us to become weak so that we might receive His strength. This is a continuous process. The Apostle Paul prayed three times for The Lord to remove his thorn in the flesh.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. . . . .

Whenever you are going through suffering, spend extra time in the Word of God, and you can be sure He will speak to you. God’s  grace is sufficient for your need.

Joy, Peace, And Hope

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

If God had only provided forgiveness from sin and escape from eternal condemnation, we would have received much more than we deserve. I’m glad He also provides eternal life in Christ.

That’s not all we receive in Christ. In Him we are filled with joy and peace by faith. The Lord wants us to enjoy an abundant, victorious life in Him.

Many people  miss out on God’s best. He wants to fill us with joy and peace yet we often allow the cares and hindrances of life to defeat us.

We don’t have to live as if we only hope God will provide. We can live in full assurance, knowing He is more than able to meet whatever need we have and keep us throughout eternity.

It's All About Jesus

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

The Apostle Paul  had endured beatings, stoning, and imprisonment, and he says, “But none of these things move me”. What a statement! His life was built on the Rock Christ Jesus.

If we are to have a life worth living we must be settled in the faith and absolutely certain of our salvation.

Paul also said, “Neither count I my life dear unto myself”. He was literally saying, “I’m not living for Paul; I’m living for Jesus.” It wasn’t about him, it was all about Jesus. He was willing to die for the cause of Christ.

 There are many who have walked this road of faith and reached the same conclusion. Who is most important in your life?

The Name Of Jesus

Most of our names are unimportant. We could have any other name and still be the same person we are. But there’s one name that’s above every name. It’s a name that prompts the citizens of Heaven to shout and the citizens of Hell to shudder.

The Name of Jesus brings help to the helpless, peace to the tormented, rest to the restless, hope to the hopeless and comfort to the comfortless.

Philippians 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Whether you do it willingly or not, there is coming a day when every angel, every demon, every saint, every sinner, even Satan himself will bow to the Name of Jesus.

Have you bowed to Him as Savior?  As Lord?  As your only hope? As everything?

Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name. Bill Gaither

From The Splendor Of Heaven

Consider the enormous step that our Savior took as He left the splendor of heaven, condescending to the form of a man. He who knew no sin became sin so that we might be forgiven. He, who dwelt in the  glories of eternity past, humbled Himself and entered a world full of sin, greed, and death.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

He wasn’t crucified because of the hatred of the Jews or the sentence of Pilate. He willingly gave His life for us.

John.10:17-18 – Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.