In its simplest form, growth involves transformation. It usually comes as a result of something changing, something evolving, something expanding, something forming. Growth sometimes takes place quickly and seemingly effortlessly, due to the rapid succession of processes; but at other times it is slow and painful.
Now I don’t know what it takes for a tree to grow a fruit, but I do know that if it is anything tantamount to what it takes for a human body to grow a child in the womb, then it is a long, unhurried process. A fruit is the elaborate by-product of months, and sometimes years of growth that must first take place in the mother tree. No tree can produce unless it has first gone through a season of personal growth and maturation, for if the tree is under-developed, then so will its by-products. Hence, fruits are an indication of the maturity and health of the source from which they sprung.
In spiritual terms, the same is true. In order for us to bear fruit, there is a process of growth that must first take place within us. There is some stretching, some crushing, some watering, and some shaping that must first occur. Every time we walk through a challenging life experience, we are exposed to an opportunity to grow in our inner man and by extension bear fruit.
To walk in love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control requires first walking in maturity. Simply put, if you are underdeveloped as a believer, you will produce underdeveloped versions of the above. It is in allowing ourselves to be nurtured in the soil of God’s hands and pruned by His Spirit that we become fertile and reproductive.
The beauty of growing in God is that we become more and more like Him at each stage of our development. Thus, the only science involved in bearing spiritual fruit is the determination to continually grow in our relationship with Christ. And should we allow ourselves to grow in Him, we will inevitably become more loving, more joyful, more peaceful, more forbearing, kinder, gentler, filled with goodness and self-control.
Today, determine to develop your inner man and intertwine your will with God’s until the reproductive organs of your spirit begin to bear fruit that look like Him.
Scripture of the Day: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5
Showing posts with label gifts of the Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gifts of the Spirit. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Holy Spirit – His Presence
The Holy Spirit did not make His first appearance at Pentecost. Students of the Bible will find Him mentioned as early as the creation account (Gen. 1:2). He is also shown to be doing the Father's work throughout the Old Testament and Gospels. However, the Spirit arrived in the upper room with a fresh mission from the Father.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit empowered individuals for specific tasks. For example, Bezalel's God-given wisdom and craftsmanship enabled him to become the Tabernacle's chief architect (Ex. 31:1-5). We also read that the Spirit settled upon: leaders needing help in administration (Num. 11:16-17); warriors facing formidable tasks (Judges 6:34; 1 Sam. 16:13), and men called to proclaim God's word (Isa. 61:1; Ezek. 2:1-4). When the Lord wanted a job done, He chose someone to do it. Then the Holy Spirit equipped him or her for the task. He gave power only to certain people and didn't necessarily remain with them long.
Indicating that the Spirit's involvement with believers would be different than before, Jesus told the disciples, "He abides with you and will be in you" (John 14:17). God's Holy Spirit had come alongside the disciples during their time with Christ. But following the completion of Jesus' work on earth, He would dwell within them.
Since Pentecost, every believer has received the Holy Spirit. If Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, then the Spirit is the sap equipping us for the Christian life. Furthermore, He no longer comes and goes but rather remains permanently. He seals us in Christ—proof of the promise that we are forever in God's presence (Eph. 1:13-14).
Scripture Of The Day: "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" - Ephesians 1:13 (NKJV)
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The Best Gift
If you travel in the mountains of North Georgia, you might pass by a church with the unusual name of Dewberry Baptist Church #2. If you drive on a little while longer, you will come upon another church called Dewberry Baptist Church. When I first encountered these two churches years ago, I asked a friend of mine who was the resident Baptist historian for North Georgia about it. His face lit up. "Oh, that's a great story. That church split over a chicken leg."
Well, now I was hooked. I had to hear the rest of the story. It is, as they say, a doozy! It seems that in the mid-1800s a controversy arose in the congregation of Dewberry Baptist Church about the doctrine of predestination. About half of the congregation had strong feelings about pro-predestination and the other half had very strong anti-predestination beliefs. At the height of the controversy, the two chief proponents - or antagonists might be a better description - of the two points of view were sitting across from each other at a covered dish dinner. At some point in the meal the non-predestination ringleader turned to the predestination ringleader and said, "You mean to tell me that before the beginning of time I it was predetermined that I was to eat this drumstick?" "Yes, brother, you were" replied the other.
The non-predestination leader then said, "HA!", threw the chicken leg across the room and walked out. About half of the church walked out with him. They started a new church, but did not want to give up the church name to "those people," so they named their new church Dewberry Baptist Church #2.
Today, many years later, the controversy is long forgotten, and the two churches get along wonderfully.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is for us to allow ourselves to get sidetracked by things that aren't even a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of eternal consequences? We all can tell horror stories that we have either experienced personally or have heard from someone who was there about churches splitting apart over the color of carpet, the shape of the chandeliers, the style of music, the pastor's salary, building programs, or any number of things that in the context of eternity are utterly meaningless.
This is exactly what motivated the Apostle Paul to write one of the most, if not the most beautiful passages in the entire Bible: I Corinthians 13. We know these four paragraphs of Paul's letter as "the love chapter," but many people don't realize the context in which it is placed. The gist of I Corinthians 13 is that if we as followers of Jesus Christ do not have love as our overarching goal, aim and passion, then we are worthless to the world and to the Kingdom.
The Corinthian Church had many problems, and one of them was that people were using the gifts of the Spirit, and tongues in particular as some sort of spiritual merit badge. Those who exercised the gift of tongues felt they were more spiritual than others, which apparently caused other people to seek earnestly after that gift so they, too would be considered spiritual. In chapter 12, Paul states clearly that God gives a variety of spiritual gifts to people so the church can function well. Just as the eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you" we cannot say that one gift is more important, or spiritual than another.
At the end of chapter 12, Paul says, "I will show you a more excellent way." His next paragraph (what we know as Chapter 13) begins with, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal..."
Here is what Paul is saying to you and me in those four brief paragraphs: All of the things that we would use to boast of our spirituality or advance the Kingdom are meaningless and worthless unless love rules our lives and our actions!
Want to be a spiritual giant? Let God's love consume you and guide everything that you do. See the world - and the church - through the eyes of Jesus and with the heart of God the Father. Love others as you are loved.
That is the most excellent way.
Scripture Of The Day: "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." - Romans 13:8 (NKJV)
Well, now I was hooked. I had to hear the rest of the story. It is, as they say, a doozy! It seems that in the mid-1800s a controversy arose in the congregation of Dewberry Baptist Church about the doctrine of predestination. About half of the congregation had strong feelings about pro-predestination and the other half had very strong anti-predestination beliefs. At the height of the controversy, the two chief proponents - or antagonists might be a better description - of the two points of view were sitting across from each other at a covered dish dinner. At some point in the meal the non-predestination ringleader turned to the predestination ringleader and said, "You mean to tell me that before the beginning of time I it was predetermined that I was to eat this drumstick?" "Yes, brother, you were" replied the other.
The non-predestination leader then said, "HA!", threw the chicken leg across the room and walked out. About half of the church walked out with him. They started a new church, but did not want to give up the church name to "those people," so they named their new church Dewberry Baptist Church #2.
Today, many years later, the controversy is long forgotten, and the two churches get along wonderfully.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is for us to allow ourselves to get sidetracked by things that aren't even a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of eternal consequences? We all can tell horror stories that we have either experienced personally or have heard from someone who was there about churches splitting apart over the color of carpet, the shape of the chandeliers, the style of music, the pastor's salary, building programs, or any number of things that in the context of eternity are utterly meaningless.
This is exactly what motivated the Apostle Paul to write one of the most, if not the most beautiful passages in the entire Bible: I Corinthians 13. We know these four paragraphs of Paul's letter as "the love chapter," but many people don't realize the context in which it is placed. The gist of I Corinthians 13 is that if we as followers of Jesus Christ do not have love as our overarching goal, aim and passion, then we are worthless to the world and to the Kingdom.
The Corinthian Church had many problems, and one of them was that people were using the gifts of the Spirit, and tongues in particular as some sort of spiritual merit badge. Those who exercised the gift of tongues felt they were more spiritual than others, which apparently caused other people to seek earnestly after that gift so they, too would be considered spiritual. In chapter 12, Paul states clearly that God gives a variety of spiritual gifts to people so the church can function well. Just as the eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you" we cannot say that one gift is more important, or spiritual than another.
At the end of chapter 12, Paul says, "I will show you a more excellent way." His next paragraph (what we know as Chapter 13) begins with, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal..."
Here is what Paul is saying to you and me in those four brief paragraphs: All of the things that we would use to boast of our spirituality or advance the Kingdom are meaningless and worthless unless love rules our lives and our actions!
Want to be a spiritual giant? Let God's love consume you and guide everything that you do. See the world - and the church - through the eyes of Jesus and with the heart of God the Father. Love others as you are loved.
That is the most excellent way.
Scripture Of The Day: "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." - Romans 13:8 (NKJV)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Greatest Of Them All
One of the greatest and most underestimated provisions God has made available to us to make our lives fruitful and fulfilling is His love! Nothing we achieve or possess is worth anything unless we possess the love of God. The apostle Paul testified, "If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing" (1 Cor. 13:3).
Love is the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:36-39), the greatest gift (1 Cor. 13:13), and the greatest of any spiritual fruit we can possess (Gal. 5:22). The perfect love of God casts out fear (1John 4:8) and covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Love is both a "gift" and a "fruit" given by the Spirit of God to empower us to live life to its fullest!
I've discovered through years of ministering to people that many of them truly do not believe that God cares about their day-to-day well-being. They believe that getting saved and being spared the horrors of hell is all God has planned for them in this life. They mistakenly assume that "abundant life" is synonymous with the "after life."
This misconception causes many people to conclude that they must wait until they die to experience abundant life. They perceive life as something to be endured instead of something to be enjoyed. This is wrong! Jesus said that He came that we might have and enjoy life in abundance, to the full, till it overflows (John 10:10, Amp.). He came not only to save our souls but also to offer us a more abundant way of living that is full and overflowing.
In 3John 1:2, God expressed His will for our earthly lives when He stated through the pen of the apostle John, "I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." God desires that we prosper and be fruitful in all respects. Can you receive this revelation? Well, it is the truth!
Armed with this revelation we should raise our expectations of life and pursue one that is full and overflowing. God wants us to do more than merely exist and endure life. He wants us to enjoy, prosper and live fruitful lives.
Understanding the preeminence of God's love and its impact on every area of our lives is essential to our living an abundant and fruitful life that glorifies God (John 15:8). When we possess and live according to God's love, we possess and live in God's best. We possess everything we need to succeed and prosper.
Jesus proclaimed that, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love" (John 15:9). Jesus reveals that the effective agent that flows from Him to us and empowers us to live an abundant and fruitful life is the love of God. Everything flows from and depends upon the love of God!
The abundant life is more than an abundance of possession but engenders the concept of wholeness. Living the abundant life involves our being divinely directed, empowered and supplied to fulfill God's purpose for us in life. We must first possess abundance internally before it will manifest externally in our lives.
Abundance is the fruit of God's "agape" love. Agape is the limitless, selfless and overflowing love of God that transcends our sins, situations and stations in life. It makes our lives full, complete and worth living. In making our transition from our situation to our destination, we must be cognizant of the source of every blessing and success we experience along the way.
Without God's love in us, and our willingness to share this love with others, it all means nothing. Always remember that, "your situation, is not your destination--only preparation!
Excerpt from Pastor J.C. Matthews' book "Your Situation is Not Your Destination." (Various scriptural references)
Scripture Of The Day: "If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit." - 1 John 4:12-13 (NKJV)
Stir It Up
Baking was always a part of my upbringing. And I love to bake, especially a peach cobbler! One day, a Christmas present I received as a child came to my remembrance. It was the "Easy-Bake Oven." As I reflect back on growing up, the memories of my Mother making cakes and pies came to me and a smile came on my face.
During my junior high and high school years, she started a business that consisted of baking and beautifully decorating cakes for birthdays, weddings and all kinds of events, even for some very well-known people. I will never forget the birthday cake she made for boxer George Foreman with the crown that sat on top of the cake. The other day, I made a pound cake. After putting all of the ingredients into my large mixing bowl, it then had to be stirred up. In order for this cake to be baked and come into its formation, it had to be stirred up first. We have stand up bowls and hand held mixers that work with electric power to mix it together and stir it all up.
Just like the cake ingredients in a mixing bowl, the gift that God has given and placed down within us has to be stirred up too. We won't fully function or operate strong in the power of the Lord if we don't ask Him on a continuous basis to, "Touch me Lord, stir up the gift. I need the boldness that can come only from You. Never should I be afraid or ashamed of doing what You've called me to do!”
For most of us, boldness doesn't come naturally. The Apostle Paul encouraged one of his spiritual sons in the faith, young Timothy, to be bold through the power of God. He reminded him to "stir up the gift" that God had given him when he had been assigned for the work of God. The gift that was in Timothy had gotten to a tiny flame. It needed to be fanned into a large flame!
Has your gift gotten to a tiny flame? Does it need to be stirred up? We too can receive this same boldness from God that Paul talked about – boldness to serve Him and carry out the work that He's called us to do. God sent His Holy Spirit to comfort, strengthen and encourage us. Let's praise and worship Him for the boldness and confidence that's ours through His spirit. Stir It Up!
Scripture Of The Day: "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame (stir up) the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV).
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