Trust

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5&6

In December of last year we talked about resolving to trust the Lord. In March we revisited the idea. Today we will do so again.

Trust.  Whew! As I sit here in the midst of a very challenging season of life, I am very aware of the importance of trust.

Trusting in God allows me to have hope in the midst of tragedy. Trusting in God helps me to expect great things! Trusting in God lets me know that what is happening right now is no surprise to Him and He is working on my behalf. Trusting God helps to inform my perspective and attitude toward my current circumstances and the resources God has used to bring these circumstances about. Because I see this trying season as something that is working for my good, it helps me not to hold resentment toward the agents of this season – those who have contributed to stresses, pain, or pressure. I can see this season as one in which the Father can move on my behalf to help me grow. A time where I am being allowed to grow in godliness, to purge the ugliness, and to learn how to gracefully nurture the spiritual fruit of longsuffering as I’m being given the opportunity to trust God for a considerable length of time while not seeing the evidence of His promises.

Some of you know well about that! I have heard from and know women who have prayed for their husband to come to Christ for over 10 years! And now they rejoice because God gave them what they prayed for – what He desired. But they had to be persistent, knowing that God is to be trusted, but waiting on His timing. Faithful in prayer. Trusting.

So how are you doing? How’s your trust been this year? Don’t give up even if you’ve been waiting a while to see the promises of God come to pass. He’s trust worthy.

Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced. - Romans 10:11

To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required

Luke 12:47&48 - The servant who knows what his master wants him to do, but does not get himself ready and do it, will be punished with a heavy whipping. But the servant who does not know what his master wants, and yet does something for which he deserves a whipping, will be punished with a light whipping. Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.



At verse 42 in the 12^th chapter of Luke, we see Jesus teaching regarding a master who temporarily leaves home and places a servant in charge. He says that the servant does well to carry out his duties honorably, not knowing when his master will return. Jesus says that the servant that knows what he was supposed to be doing but is found neglecting his duties will be punished severely. Other servants, however, should they err unknowingly, will be punished lightly. Bible scholars believe Jesus, in this discourse, was alluding to Levitical law found in the 5^th chapter regarding sins committed in ignorance as well as law found in the 15^th chapter of the book of Numbers regarding the commission of intentional (presumptuous) sin. While both are punishable, there is a distinction in the punishment that each receives.

He that commits sin in ignorance, because of carelessness or neglect will receive a lighter punishment. Interestingly, we see Jesus on the cross asking the Father to forgive those who crucified Him because “they do not know what they do”. Jesus was indicating that they were ignorant, their eyes were not open, they were not making an informed observation of the circumstances and acting in full knowledge – they did not perceive what they truly were doing.

He that willingly and brazenly commits a sin – well aware of the wrong but intent on it – he will receive sharp punishment. His knowledge of what is right aggravates the sin.

Jesus goes on to reveal that to whom much is given, much will be required. The Living Bible translation, I believe, does a good job of making this verse 48 concept clear: “Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.” The servant to whom much is given – the one whom God blesses greatly - carries a greater responsibility. This man is expected to be a wise and faithful steward of all the Lord has placed under his authority. With great blessing comes great responsibility. We often pray for great blessing but may neglect to truly understand the duty that comes with it.

Father, as we receive from You, may we respond with appreciation and a sober understanding of our responsibility.

Lead us Not Into Temptation

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13)



This is part of the “model prayer” that Jesus taught to His disciples. The idea of being “lead” into temptation presented a problem for me because it seemed cruel that the God would actually lead us into temptation and in James 1:13 we read “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” So further research was needed. What I found was very interesting.

In the Greek, this term “temptation” is an enticement and provocation to sin. Pretty basic, right? But there is also an association with deep or open sea – an indication of the level of overwhelm that occurs when we are given to temptation. There is a disastrous depth to temptation that is to be avoided. It is likened to being in the depths of the open sea, without hope of rescue.

Our first line of defense is to ask the Father for His mercy - to ask that He not leave us to our own devices, leaving us susceptible to give in to the sinful desires that rise up in us. You see, temptation arises from what is within us. James 1:14 says “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” It is not that we are helpless against the pressures from the world; it is that the desires that are within us, if we give in to them, can move us to indulge in the sins that meet that desire. Practical examples: we are not all drawn to gambling, we are not all given to excessive drinking, we are not all given to gluttony or physical abuse. But if the sinful desires reside within us and we are not subjecting ourselves to the authority of God by the power of His Holy Spirit, we can be drawn away and enticed by these things.

May you be encouraged, challenged, and motivated by these words:

1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Galatians 5:16 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Psalm 119:11 - I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Ephesians 6:10-13 -  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

A Sweet Love Relationship

God’s love for His bride:

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. (John 3:16AMP)

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.  (John 15:13-15)

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.  (Isaiah 54:5)



The love God desires from His bride:

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.  (Deuteronomy 6:5)

 

The Creator of this universe…the Maker of mankind…the Redeemer…the precious Lord loves us so greatly that He was willing to give His life for us and there is no good thing He withholds from us. He has our wellness in mind and has made plans for us to prosper on this earth and for eternity – an eternity He desires to spend with us. His longing is for us to love Him in return with our entire being and that we would prioritize an intimate relationship with Him over everything else.  It is a sweet, restorative, strengthening, and empowering love that He desires to share with us. Who could resist such a love?

The Futility of Idol Worship - a continuation

These are the words of the Lord. The setting up of anything to be worshipped, beyond Him – the valuing of anything more than we value Him - is pointless. God, who is our Portion (meaning He is our inheritance) and the Maker of all things, is the only One worthy of our praise.

Jeremiah 10:1-16 says:

Hear what the Lord says to you, people of Israel. This is what the Lord says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them. For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm     nor can they do any good.” No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols. Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made is then dressed in blue and purple—all made by skilled workers. But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’” But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. Everyone is senseless and without knowledge;     every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them. They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the people of his inheritance—the Lord Almighty is his name.

The Futility of Idol Worship

Isaiah 46:5-7 - With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.

Does it make sense to make something and then worship it? Why would the creator worship the created? In this Isaiah passage, the prophet tells us of the Lord’s word. To whom would we compare Him? Does the Lord have a peer? And does it make sense to take our gold and silver (given to us by God, by the way), give them to a craftsman, ask him to make a statue, and then to bow down and worship that statue? This statue that we have to move and place wherever it is to reside – it doesn’t even have the ability to move itself! And it certainly does not have the power to save the worshipper from any peril.

This is the picture that the Lord gives to us of the useless worship of things that He has created or we have crafted. Money, fame, family, knowledge, power, possessions….anything we elevate above the Lord and ascribe greater value to than Him is an idol. The worship of these things is pointless and can lead to our destruction.

In Matthew 4 we see Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 6:13, which reads “Honor the Lord your God, worship only him, and make your promises in his name alone.”

We are to worship God alone. We read in Titus 2:11-13 “For the free gift of eternal salvation is now being offered to everyone; and along with this gift comes the realization that God wants us to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures and to live good, God-fearing lives day after day, looking forward to that wonderful time we’ve been expecting, when his glory shall be seen—the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Faith in God allows us to realize the free gift of eternal salvation. It also helps us to live good, God-fearing lives in which we are not given to sinful pleasures. We can worship Him here on earth and we will worship Him eternally in heaven.

Let us not spend our energy, time, and resources on worthless worship. May we only worship the Creator, the Redeemer, the Lover of our souls – the only wise God.

Our Father's Care

Isaiah 43:1-3a:  But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel.

Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He loves His children intensely, He has His eyes on us, and nothing happens to us that He is not aware of and working for our good. Regardless of the difficulty we face, we can be assured that He is with us – carrying us – protecting us. The love, grace, and mercy of our Lord is perfect and boundless!!!

Blessed are You

We first published this meditation in January, but it bears repeating. Blessings to you!

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her! Luke 1:45

This was part of Elizabeth’s declaration when Mary arrived at her home and as John leapt within her womb. The Spirit revealed to Elizabeth exactly what was happening with Mary. The Spirit also reveals to us that the Lord has wondrous plans for us! We may not know all the details yet…but God is surely moving on our behalf.

What promise has the Lord made to you? We know He promises never to leave us or forsake us. We know He will supply all of our needs. We know He is the one who saves us from the power of sin and death. And He declares, explicitly, that He has great plans for us! (see Jeremiah 29:11) But, what else? Has He given you a vision for a business…a ministry…a unique invention? Has the Lord spoken to you about your children and how He will care for them? Have you heard a promise from Him regarding your health? Are you waiting to see it come to pass?

A couple of days ago [actually back on January 3] we talked about labor pains being the indicator that something is getting ready to be birthed. Well, Mary, at this point, is not in labor…she has no proof except for a promise from God. And Elizabeth prophetically declares that she is blessed because of her belief in the word of the Lord. Is God’s promise “proof” enough for you that what He promised will come to pass?

Blessed are you, precious one, as you also believe that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you.

Why Confess?

Confess: to tell or make known (as something wrong or damaging to oneself) (Merriam-Webster)

Confess: An extended hand indicating power, means, and direction. To praise, to release & to assent, to acknowledge. A covenant disposition. (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible)

MW defines confession as revealing something – especially as an admission of guilt. But in the original Hebrew and Greek, we learn a little more about the confession that the scriptures speak of. Confession is not just making something known; it indicates acknowledgement and agreement with the truth. And even more exciting, confession that is in agreement with the word of God has power, acts as a resource, and gives spiritual direction.  

1 Timothy 6:12-14(AMP): Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses. In the presence of God, Who preserves alive all living things, and of Christ Jesus, Who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I [solemnly] charge you to keep all His precepts unsullied and flawless, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One).

“The profession Timothy and all faithful ministers make before many witnesses is a good profession; for they profess and engage to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold on eternal life” – Matthew Henry

Part of fighting this good fight is to profess, to confess, to agree with and declare what the word of God says. Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

God’s word is powerful and effective.

We also learn in the book of Jeremiah that the Lord has great plans for our future; plans to prosper us and not to harm us. Because of this, we who are His children need to speak in line with His word. It is for our benefit as well as for the benefit of others that the word of God is declared. The word of the Lord does not go forth without accomplishing what He intends. As believers, we must understand a few things:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.  (2 Timothy 3:16&17)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  (Hebrews 4:12)

For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, therefore I spoke… (Psalm 116:8-10)

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,”[see Psalm 116:10] we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus…  (2 Corinthians 4: 13&14a)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light…Then God said…Then God said…Then God said…Then God said…Then God said…And God blessed them, saying…Then God said…Then God said…Then God blessed them, and God said to them…And God said…and it was so…Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Genesis 1:1-3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31)

God’s word is powerful! His word is powerful enough to create our reality. We must believe and speak His word in order to walk in our God-ordained reality and in order to lift up the Lord so that He may draw mankind to Himself. It is a matter of life and death. Confess it!

And finally: Romans 10:14 says, “How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher

Why Jesus?

Do you know why you are here? Do you understand that you were uniquely designed by God and designed for something great? Are you operating in the gifts that the Lord has placed inside of you? Are you impacting the world and glorifying God with your talents? Are people being drawn to Christ because you are lifting Him up?

What has your life experience been thus far? – Significant? Fulfilling? Focused? Rich? Rewarding? Unintentional? Haphazard? Scattered? Unsatisfying?

When your time here on earth is over, who will remember you? Why will they remember you?

Have you considered these questions?

If you are a Christ-follower, let me encourage you that you are dearly loved and have been designed by our Creator to do great things…to make an impact on this world…to leave your mark here…to change lives. As the children of God, we should be lifting the Lord up so that He may draw mankind to Himself! We have been given all that we need to do exactly that. Go for it! Whatever He has called you to do – DO IT!!!

2 Peter 1:3&4 - His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

If you are not a Christ-follower, let me encourage you that you are dearly loved and have been designed by our Creator to do great things…to make an impact on this world…to leave your mark here…to change lives. I encourage you, as a person lovingly designed by God, to investigate the claims of God found in the Bible so that you may learn about Him, learn about the Savior Jesus Christ, and embrace the truth that the God of the universe loves you, has great plans for you, and He desires for you (at the end of your life here on earth) to live eternally in heaven with Him. This is why Jesus came to the earth: to make a way for us to have an abundant life both here on earth and in the life to come.

John 3:16&17 - God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world.

John 10:10 - The thief [satan] comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I [Jesus] came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Romans 10:9-11 - If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

If you have questions, post them in this thread, email me, inbox me. Contact me any way you desire, and I’d be delighted to talk with you. J

A few final words for all of us:

These things that I once considered valuable, I now consider worthless for Christ. It’s far more than that! I consider everything else worthless because I’m much better off knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It’s because of him that I think of everything as worthless. I threw it all away in order to gain Christ and to have a relationship with him. This means that I didn’t receive God’s approval by obeying his laws. The opposite is true! I have God’s approval through faith in Christ. This is the approval that comes from God and is based on faith that knows Christ. Faith knows the power that his coming back to life gives and what it means to share his suffering. In this way I’m becoming like him in his death, with the confidence that I’ll come back to life from the dead…Brothers and sisters, imitate me, and pay attention to those who live by the example we have given you. I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ. In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things. We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior.  Through his power to bring everything under his authority, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorified body. (Philippians 3:7-11, 17-21)

 

With love.

Through the Storms of Life

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:35-41)

“Today’s passage from Mark recounts an incredible display of Jesus’ power. As the Lord of creation (Col. 1:15-17), Christ had the right and the authority to instruct the wind and the waves and have them obey Him. Yet this miracle caused the disciples to fear greatly, which prompted Jesus’ statement in verse 40. The disciples feared the storm more than they trusted the one who was with them in the boat. Jesus tells them (and us) to trust what we have seen in Him to get us through both the literal and metaphorical storms of life.” – RBC Ministries

The Most Important Lesson I Could Ever Teach - Francis Chan

In this brief 42-minute message, Francis Chan shares on how to spend time alone in the Bible, to studying it for yourself, and having time alone with God. This is a powerful, challenging, and encouraging word that I believe is well worth setting aside time to enjoy. I pray you will.

Blessings to you.

To watch the vid, click on the link below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmNNxF_-DAw

 

The Fruit of the Spirit - IN CONCLUSION

The precious Holy Spirit is a multi-faceted, complex, and precious gift from God. And it is proof that God makes His home in us! How amazing is that!?!?!

1 John 3:24 (AMP) - All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He [really] lives and makes His home in us: by the [Holy] Spirit Whom He has given us.

The Fruit of the Spirit - SELF-CONTROL

Self-control speaks to a moderation in the exercise of our natural desires. We like to eat but are warned against gluttony, we like humor but are warned against coarse joking, we like to sleep but are warned against laziness. Often when we speak of self-control, we talk about it in the context of abstinence from sinful behaviors and this certainly is appropriate.  However, in this study, I want to encourage you to not only look at the so-called “big sins” but to be mindful of those “smaller” things that we may indulge in because we make excuse that they are not really a big deal. Lunch on a regular basis with a co-worker (just because you are a woman and he is a man, both married to someone else, and sharing intimate details with one another is not a problem…right?). Working on tasks for my small business after work hours at my regular 9-5 job (no big deal since I’m no longer on the clock, even though I’m using the printer, printer paper and ink, additional electricity, and office supplies…right?).  

2 Peter 1:5-9 says: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

This nearsightedness that is synonymous with blindness means to envelop with smoke, to inflate with self-conceit, to be high-minded, and to be lifted up with pride. There is an applicable expression used that one “cannot see the forest for the trees”. This nearsightedness makes us actually blind to the full reality before us. Our lack of self-control is often spurred on because we are so focused on the here and now…what we want in this moment…what feels good for today. We are painfully nearsighted, disregarding the fact that we have been cleansed from the sins of our past and are now called to greatness in Christ. In this 2 Peter passage, we are encouraged to allow the named qualities to increase within us so that we will not be ineffective and unproductive, forgetting that we have been delivered and instead returning to the sins of the past.  

May we be mindful to nurture the Spirit within us and cultivate the fruit…especially the virtue of self-control…so that we may be effective and productive in our calling from our Lord Jesus Christ and so that we may partake in the protection that comes from the Spirit of God.

Proverbs 25:28 - A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls [open to attack].

The Fruit of the Spirit - MEEKNESS

There is a sweetness to the fruit of the Spirit as we repeatedly see the themes of gentleness and an even-tempered disposition. This term “meekness” is no exception. It speaks to a mildness and a humility. It is a tender reminder of the heart of our precious Savior.

Matthew 11:29(AMP) - Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

The Fruit of the Spirit - FAITH

Faith: persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself; -assurance, belief, believe faith, fidelity. (Greek Dictionary of the New Testament)

The author of the letter to the Hebrew believers said this:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1NKJV)

And I love this in the Amplified version…

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. (Hebrews 11:1AMP)

FAITH!!!!! Faith is not some whimsical belief in things we hope in; faith is substantive, evidential, credibility, proof, a confirmation of truth. It is a gift from God, placed inside of us, that confirms what we do not yet see.

Hallelujah!

The Fruit of the Spirit - GOODNESS

The goodness of the Spirit is good in any sense - benefit, wellness, virtue, beneficence. Matthew Henry notes that this is a goodness “which shows itself in a readiness to do good to all as we have opportunity”.

The Word tells us that the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 33:5) and that His goodness endures forever (Psalm 52:1). King David said “I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” The goodness of the Lord satisfies and fills His children. His goodness leads us to repentance and follows us all the days of our life. He blesses us with His goodness.

Psalm 31:19 - Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!

In Exodus, God told Moses that He would allow His goodness to pass before Moses. God hid Moses between two rocks, placed His hand in front of Moses (because he could not actually see the Lord and live) and He passed before Him. God referred to Himself as goodness. The goodness of the Lord is expansive and unlimited. It does good, it provides goodness, it evokes goodness, it encourages and strengthens those of us who God has prepared His goodness for. God is good. And this is the precious Spirit Who now lives in us.

Jeremiah 31:14 - I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”

Praise God!

The Fruit of the Spirit - GENTLENESS

The gentleness of the Holy Spirit speaks to a fulfillment of a need. It is excellent, useful, easy, good, gracious and kind, and a sweetness of temper. And it can be freely called into action when we have been wronged.

This gentleness reminds me of Otis Redding’s song Try a Little Tenderness. Part of his lyrics say: “It's not just sentimental, no. She has her grief and care, yeah.  But the soft words, they are spoke so gentle, yeah. It makes it easier, easier to bear, yeah.”

This gentleness, like the tenderness Redding speaks of, helps to make the grief that all of us bear, a little easier. When we speak to one another with gentleness, deal with one another gently, meeting a need – life gets easier.

Try a little gentleness. J

The Fruit of the Spirit - LONGSUFFERING

Longsuffering is also called patience and forbearance in the scriptures. This term conveys the sentiment of “patience to defer anger, and a contentedness to bear injuries”. The Amplified Version clarifies that longsuffering is characterized by an even temper. And in the Greek, we see the nuances both of leniency and fortitude.

Longsuffering is fairly straight forward terminology but the way in which we walk through a season of longsuffering is special.

May we engage our times of lengthy trials with the fortitude and grace given to us by the precious Holy Spirit.

The Fruit of the Spirit - PEACE

Jehovah Shalom

Phil 4: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The sweet peace of our God, Jehovah Shalom (Judges 6:23&24), is ours to experience. We are advised to live peacefully, pursue peace, strive for peace, seek peace, to walk in peace, to be peacemakers, to rest peacefully, and to allow peace to rule in our hearts - but the assurance that the peace of Jehovah Shalom will guard our hearts and minds is most precious. We need it as we live this tumultuous life on earth and as many of us are prone to anxiety. God’s peace, in the midst, is a dear gift.

Praise God!

The Fruit of the Spirit - JOY

In the Greek New Testament Dictionary, we find the definition for this use of the word “joy”: cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight: - gladness, greatly, (be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous)

The joy found in the Lord is great…exceeding…overflowing. And it is unconditional, meaning that the joy we experience by the power of the Holy Spirit is not based on outward conditions; it is within us because of the presence of the Holy One.

I believe this is why our brother Paul admonished the Philippian believers (and us, also as believers) to rejoice in the Lord always. And he immediately reiterated “rejoice”. (see Philippians 4:4) The happiness that we experience on this earth is transitory at best. The origin of the word happy is in Old English and has the sense of “lucky”. One of the definitions of happy is: having a sense of confidence in or satisfaction with (a person, arrangement, or situation). This is perfect! We see a distinct difference between joy and happiness – one is an ever-existing, internal presence while the other is a conditional experience based on how we feel about our outward circumstances.

So do you always feel joyful? I’m going to guess that you will say “no”. But based on the definitions we’ve just examined, I have asked a flawed question. A better question would be how are you cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in your life so that joy may be more full within you? You see, we cannot confuse joy and happiness. Off and on we may feel happy but we are constantly indwelt (with or without feelings) with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

So how can we cultivate the fruit of the Spirit?

1. Pray about it. Ask the Lord to allow the fruit of the Spirit to flourish in your life.

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

2. Resolve that you will live according to the Spirit.

Rom 8:5&6 - 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. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

3. Immerse yourself in the Word of God in order to understand the nature of God.

2 Tim 2:15(AMP) - Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

4. Walk the walk. God will help us to walk in the Spirit and will strengthen us.

Prov 3:5&6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.

Nehemiah 8:10b - Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Psalm 28:7 - The Lord protects and defends me; I trust in him. He gives me help and makes me glad; I praise him with joyful songs.

Joy is within you! Nurture the fruit of the Spirit that is within you and experience the strengthening joy of the Lord.

The Fruit of the Spirit - LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I love that the first attribute of the Spirit that is mentioned is love! God is the very embodiment of love so this makes perfect sense. We read in the Word that greater love has no man than to lay down his life for a friend – and that is exactly what Christ did for us. Our Savior and the Father God love us in a manner that is unrivaled; it is perfect.

The love of God is patient; in no rush for results. In fact, the word tells us that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9). The ultimate patience! The love of God compels Him to wait for us, His precious children, to come to Him and fellowship with Him and to become all that we are designed to be. Further, His love is kind, non-envious, not boastful or proud, it’s honoring of others, and seeks our good. He is not easily angered but abounds in forgiveness. He celebrates the truth! He is our Protector. Some translations, rather than saying “always trusts”, will have some form of “believes all things”. This is a little better way of saying that godly love is inclined to believe well of all – to see beyond the outwardly obvious and believe well of its subject. And Matthew Henry says, “…when, in spite of inclination, [love] cannot believe well of others, it will yet hope well, and continue to hope as long as there is any ground for it.” The love of God always hopes and always perseveres. This is the love of our Father and this is the love which lives inside of us. And although we are imperfect and sometimes will mess up, the love of God never fails.

Last week we looked at some life verses. This would be a great one to memorize, meditate upon, and to allow ourselves to be led by. Even in our humanity, we have the ability to love in a godly manner. So sweet.

The Fruit of the Spirit

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us…to guide us daily…to strengthen us as we live this life...to help us fulfill our calling…to help us reflect the nature of God. The fruit of the Spirit is the nature of God being manifested in us. And like literal fruit, we can help that fruit to grow by reading and submitting ourselves to the word of God. We are born into sin but according to 2 Corinthians 5:17 “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” We no longer are slaves to the old, sinful nature (also referred to as “the flesh”). Now that the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are strengthened to fight those old desires and live according to the new creation we have become. This is what Paul writes:

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:13-25)

Over the next several days we will take a closer look at the fruit of the Spirit. See you tomorrow!

Life Verse Week

This week we will look at some scriptures that many believers adopt as “life verses” - verses they use as foundations for daily living. Have you identified some life verses? If so, share them with us.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Life Verse Week

This week we will look at some scriptures that many believers adopt as “life verses” - verses they use as foundations for daily living. Have you identified some life verses? If so, share them with us.

Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men