Thanks and prayers

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: - Ephesians 1.15-16

Paul’s deep affection for the Ephesians was obvious. When he heard about them and their testimony he had two simple but wonderful responses – he did not cease to thank God for them and he always prayed for them.

There seems to be a lot of conflict in the church today. In some countries social issues and politics are seeming to rip the church apart and if we are not careful we can get involved in the same things.

How different it would be if we focused on what Paul says here. Paul made sure to give thanks for the Ephesians and to pray for them.

It is easy enough to be harsh and critical of others. Sometimes there are people, even fellow believers,  that we just don’t like. Because of that sometimes we’d rather gossip or complain about them and they peculiarities or get frustrated with them and deal unkindly with them.

I realise that Paul was praying for and giving thanks for people because of their faith and their love, but I think there is the basic principle that we ought to give thanks for all those who are saved and all those who have the love of Christ.

At least, that’s what I get out of this for me.

It is kind of hard to hate on someone who you give thanks for and who you are truly praying for.

Faith and love

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: - Ephesians 1.15-16

Paul had a great relationship with the people in Ephesus. He had spent a long time ministering to them and serving with them He must have been thrilled when he heard the testimony of them that he had left behind. Particularly he had heard about their ‘faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints.’

What a wonderful testimony they had and what an  example for all of us.

I wonder sometimes what people think of me. Not in that way, but I wonder how my testimony appears to others. I wonder if people would think of me as a man of faith and love, or would something else come to mind?

Faith and how it helps us deal with trials and love and how we deal with people are two key ways for us to be a good testimony. People watch us to see if we believe what we say. Our faith in God and our love for each other will demonstrate to others the reality of or relationship with God.

My guarantee

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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. – Ephesians 1.13-14

I’ve been saved a while now and been to Bible college and seminary and preacher’s meetings and I’ve had loads of theological discussions. I’m at a disadvantage there because I don’t consider myself a true theologian. I don’t know all the ins and outs and outs. I don’t know. For example, what a kind of lapserian I am or if I am one.

Therefore I don’t know enough to discuss or debate a lot of issues. There is however one topic where try as I might I can’t see the other side.

I can’t understand how people think that we can lose our salvation once we genuinely have it. We are held is Jesus’ hand, he says, we are held in the Father’s hands, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of my salvation, and mot just for now. He guarantees my salvation till my redemption is complete. He does this for the praise of the glory of God.

If I had to keep my own salvation I would have failed a hundred times over. I know my faults and weaknesses. When I realise that my salvation is secure I realise that it is only because God saved me and His Holy Spirit seals my inheritance and preserves it in heaven without spot or blemish.

Thank God for this wonderful that saves me now and forever!

To the praise of His glory

that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. – Ephesians 1.10-12

Why?

Why did all of this happen. Why the love and the outpouring of God’s infinite grace and the adoption as sons and all of the other wonders written about? Why?

That we, who trusted in Christ, should live to the praise of His glory.

When you first read that, if you were lost or a critic of God or were looking for a reason to mock God could say that this makes God sound like He is selfish and only did what He did to make Him look good.

I know because I have read it and been told it. What kind of god would do all this to bring glory to Himself?

That seems like a fair enough question – if we are looking at God the wrong way. Sure, God expects all things to be done for His glory. He desires to be lifted up and He alone is worthy of our praise.

God, though doesn’t need our glorying in Him. I think there is a whole nother purpose. I God is love, right? God wants everyone to be saved so that everyone can avoid the penalty of sin.

Our living to the praise of His glory is to draw men to Him so that they too can find deliverance from sin and eternity with Him. We glorify God so He is seen in us. We show the world all the glory of Christ to reveal His love for the world that led Him to send His only begotten son.

We do glorify God because He is God – that is enough. However, we also glorify God to draw men to Him so they too can enjoy His love and fellowship for all eternity.

In Him

that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. – Ephesians 1.10-12

In this midst of this most amazing passage about all the wonders and joys and glories and salvation there are two words that we could miss being caught up in all of the glories of God.

Those two little words?

In Him.

Why are they so important? Because everything that happens here happens because of Him. There is nothing whatsoever that we have to do with. We can’t claim credit or build ourselves up or bring glory to us because we are all going to fail and because we were not good enough to do anything about it. All that happens is in Him and through Him.

When Paul writes to Corinth he writes that God uses the most unlikely people to do His work. If He used them people would look to them and miss the importance of seeing Christ. Those who glory have no cause to glory in themselves – only in Him.

It is only in Him that people have hope – that why we live to the praise of His glory.

The mystery of His will

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, - Ephesians 1.7-9

Redeemed through His blood. The forgiveness of sins. The riches of His grace abounding in His wisdom.

Made known to us the mystery of His – according to His please which He planned.

Indeed there is a mystery of God’s will. There is a truth which is there but it is not always easily seen I like a good mystery. At one point I was on an Agatha Christie kick and read dozens of her novels. I like the classical 19th century mysteries. I like some of Arthur Conan Doyle. I even like ‘Murder She Wrote.’ In fact TG4 are showing them now and Mary and I watch an episode most evenings. It is fun to try to see the truth before it is revealed.

Salvation is like that. It is a great mystery. In the Old Testament the clues are there. The gospel can be seen. There are little things and even great things, enough in fact that many people were saved before Jesus came by faith in God’s plan.

We though are blessed to have the whole mystery revealed to us. God will is for us to be saved and conformed to His image. The riches of His grace have revealed the great mystery to us and we see the simple plan of salvation through faith in His Son.

Now it is our job to show that mystery to others.

The riches of His grace

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace – Ephesians 1.7

Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin.

If God’s grace is the storehouse for all He does we can be assured that it is a storehouse that will never run dry.

Our redemption is not limited by what we do or how. It won’t be taken away or cancelled because we don’t act worthily. It is ours and it is built only on all the riches of His amazing grace.

I can’t think of a better description of God’s infinite grace that the words of this great old hymn:

1.    Marvellous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

o   Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

2.    Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

3.    Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

4.    Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Redeemed

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace – Ephesians 1.7

Redeemed how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am.

What amazing and powerful words about one of the key aspects of salvation. Before Christ I was trapped in the slave-market of sin. My redemption price was so high that no man could ever pay it. The wages for sin was death so the price of redemption is the shedding of blood- but it had to be the blood and the perfect unflawed sinless One.

We are redeemed by the blood of Christ. We are freed from the captivity of sin. We are bought back and brought into a proper relationship with God. My redemption is a great gift. The word reminds  that my salvation had a cost, but that God chose to pay the price.

I’ve been redeemed by the blood of Lamb. I’ve been redeemed and I know am. I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb saved from sin and I know I am.

In love...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. – Ephesians 1.3-6

…in love having predestined us to adoption as sons…the good pleasure of His will…the praise of His glory…

What amazing words we read here. I feel bad not pausing on every word, but one things really sticks out in my mind. There are two words here that are the focus of why God does what He does. What are these two marvellous words? In love.

God acts in for love for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.’ We love Him because He first loved us. God is love.

His plan, from before everything else and anything else was precipitated on His great love.

In love God predestined that those who put their in Him would be adopted as sons into His family. Adoption is an amazing thing. It is even amazing in human terms. When a couple chooses to adopt a child that child becomes theirs and they become the parents in every sense of the word. Birth certificates can be changed so that the birth parents are replaced by the adoptive parents. Names are changed to reflect the new parentage.

In this case our adoption means that we have been accepted into the family of Jesus, the Beloved, and that His family lasts forever.

In love. Are there two more amazing words in God’s lexicon?

Holy and blameless

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. – Ephesians 1.3-6

He has chosen before the very foundation of the world that we who are in Christ should be holy and without blame before Him…

Holy and without blame surely does not sound like me today. It seems like a place I could never reach. My flesh keeps getting in the way and I too often yield to it instead of to holiness and blamelessness. I soon realise that I can’t keep myself holy and blameless. I just simply can’t do it on my own. I will fail every time I try it.

But I can be holy and without blame. In fact even though I still struggle with sin today I can be assured that I will be presented that way before God because of the work of Jesus Christ and His shed blood. He stands and will stand in my stead. God’s looks on Jesus and pardons me. I have all holiness and blamelessness of Christ imputed on me.

Now I need, by His strength and mercy, to show those truths in my life to the world around me. I can make holy and blameless choices because of Christ in me. May the world see the holiness of Christ and His blamelessness in me today.

Every spiritual blessing

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. – Ephesians 1.3-6

Blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Wow. Just wow.

A lot of us may not see much in the way of physical or earthly blessings. We may not have much of what world would call a blessing. Even Christians can get caught in the trap of saying we are only blessed when we are see physical success and good health and things going our way. There is nothing wrong with giving thanks to God for those things, but they are not a sign of what is really a blessing.

The real proof of our salvation is the eternal spiritual blessings both now and for all eternity. Of course we have the assurance of our heavenly eternity in God’s presence. Now though we have the spiritual blessings of love and hope and peace and rest and assurance and the knowledge that we have all that because Jesus is with us day by day by day.

It is these spiritual blessings that get us through each day in this broken and troubled world. My need is to focus on these spiritual blessings and not on the broken world around me.

Crucified the flesh

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

All those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its lusts and passions and desires. Paul says the same kind of thing to the Romans in Romans 6. In Christ we are dead to the old world. Our flesh has not power. Our lusts have no power. Our passions have no power. When they win out it is because we chose to let them win. It is because we choose that over holiness and righteousness living.

Why does the flesh give us so much trouble when we have already crucified it and put it to death and mortified it and it has not power and no dominion over us?

There is only one answer when we do that – we prefer the rotten old flesh to the blessings of the Spirit.

Only when we truly realise that we are truly dead to the flesh can we begin to have any know of victory of it. It can only win when we choose to let it win.

The fruit of the Spirit is self-control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, temperance. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

Forgive me. I just realised that I left out a part of the fruit of the Spirit a week or so ago, but its too important to skip.

The fruit of the Spirit is…self-control, or temperance. One evidence of the fruit of the Spirit is that we are not out of control.

When I think of ‘out of control’ I think of children. I love them and I especially love my grandchildren, but sometimes they all can get out of control. That’s because they are young and immature. You expect it.

We don’t have the excuse for being out of control though. We are not children whose emotions overpower or reason.   ‘I couldn’t help myself’ juts doesn’t work.  If we bear the fruit of the Spirit we don’t lose control.

‘I just can’t handle it any more. I am going to lose the head’ may very well be true – but we don’t have to handle it. We can rest on the Holy Spirit and His power and might to give us self-control. Not losing it in tough situations it truly a mark that He is in control and not us.

God forbid that I should boast

But God forbid that I should boast save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. – Galatians 6.14

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

This is a sobering thought. It takes all of us out of the picture and it makes it all about Jesus. There is nothing in our salvation that we can take credit for – nothing.

May it never be, ever, God forbid that I should boast about anything.

Why is that such a big deal. Why such strong language?

The reason is that if I boast in anything dealing with my salvation I demean the work of Christ. All I can do is to accept His pecious gift. I am saying that I shared in His work on the cross. I say that what He did was not enough.

So indeed God forbid that I boast in anything. It is enough that Jesus died.

My faith has found a resting place,
  Not in device nor creed;
I trust the Ever-living One,
  His wounds for me shall plead.
 
I need no other argument,
  I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
    And that He died for me.

Do good

And let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6.9-10

Do good to all – how simple does that sound? Why is it so hard then to do good?

There can be a lot of reasons. For one thing we may be so occupied with ourselves that we don’t see the others who needs our good. We also may just be selfish with our time or money or resources. The person we like doing good to the most is us.

Because we are not to get weary in well doing we ought always seek to do good and do it at every opportunity to the best of our ability. Of course this includes doing good by sharing the gospel, but it is much more than that - it is just doing good by being there for people and meeting needs and being Christlike in our dealings. He always went about doing good.

We are to be doing good to all men – but especially to those who of the household of faith. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who need us. We need to be aware of that and be there for them in their time of need. None of us should ever have to suffer or do without when we have each other to do good.

Don't be weary...you will reap

And let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6.9-10

Don’t grow weary in doing well, for in due season you will reap if you do not not faint.

I can’t begin to describe how much this verse has meant to me through the years. I remember one time in particular back in 2002. We are been struggling along here in Naas for about four years. We had a small group of believers – but in one weekend we lost everyone but our family.

Of course I was down, discouraged, despondent, and even depressed. I was ready to pack up and go back to Alabama.

Then I did my morning devotions and came across Galatians 6.9 – ‘don’t grow weary…you will reap.’ Mary and I did our devotions. Part of the devotions was ‘don’t be weary…you will reap.’ In our family devotions we read 'don’t be weary…you will reap.’ In the evening I did bedtime devotions and, well you can guess it.

That verse has never lost its impact. We have had many tough times since then. Over and over my heart and my mind go back to that day. It is a milestone. It is a pillar of stones in the midst of the Jordan. It is my Bethel. It is my memorial stone.

We will reap. When? Who knows. It may be soon. It may be years. It may not be till I get to heaven.

But we will reap – if we just don’t quit.

Reap what you sow

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. – Galatians 6.7-8

God will not be mocked. The world that seems to be gleefully mocking God today will not always get away with it. One day the world is going to reap the reward of its sinful sowing. Sowing the flesh will bring a reaping of fleshly corruption.

It’s really only natural. If you sow green beans you are not going to reap corn. If you plant an apple tree it is not going to grow pears. A grape vine won’t grow watermelons.

In the same way people are going to reap what they sow as well. Those who sow the works of the flesh are going to reap the works of the flesh (corruption). Those who sow the fruit of the Spirit are going to reap the effects (everlasting life).

I can’t imagine two things in greater contrast. Corruption or everlasting life are as diametrically opposed as you can get. You reap what you sow. You get what you grow.

One day it is all going to clear. We are all going to look back and this old world and it’s all going to make sense. We are all going to reap what we sow.

Oh yeah, there is one thing more – only those who are in Christ can truly sow in righteousness and only those are going to reap eternal life in Him.

Share in all things

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. – Galatians 6.6

There is a lot of debate about payment of pastors and other Christian workers. There is a pretty strong movement about that says there is no need for pastors and teachers and other who say they need to support themselves and ‘let God take care of them.’

The Old Testament and the New have a different notion though. God’s people are responsible to take care of those who teach and shepherd them. ‘A workman is worthy of his hire’ the Bible says.’ God gives us pastors and teachers to equip us to do the work of the ministry and we need to make sure that our equippers have their needs met.

While this does means that I think it means a whole more. The context here is that of bearing and sharing burdens. If we are judging by context this passage says that those who are taught and shepherded by a pastor/teacher need to help bear his load of the ministry. It means that the work of the church is not the pastor’s alone. That doesn’t negate the need to meet his physical and financial needs, but it is also to lighten is load in general.

It means that all the church and the pastor share in all things to make sure that all of the Lord’s work is accomplished.

If you think you are something

If you think you are something

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. – Galatians 6.3-5

‘If anyone thinks he his something.’ That really says a lot doesn’t it? It is something we are all prone to do at times. We can really think that we are something special at times. We can look at us and others and start to think that we are so much better than others.

Thinking highly of ourselves is a dangerous thing to do. We read in another place ‘let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.’  

Pride is a terribly destructive thing. Ultimately pride will take us to the place where we think we don’t need God anymore. When we think we don’t need God anymore and try to get by on our own strength – when we think we are something – we are going to fail.

Burden bearing

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6.2

This is an interesting passage about burdens. In another verse we read that every man should bear his own burdens and in verse two we read that we should bear each other’s burdens.

Really though it is pretty simple and pretty practical.

The word of God is clear. He does not want any of us to be a burden to others because of our laziness to deal with our own needs. God expects us to work and do what we can to meet our own needs and burdens relying on Him.

There are times though that our burden just gets too heavy and we can’t do it. It is those times that we need to look out for each other and share those burdens. Jesus knew that when we told us to let Him help carry our burdens. It is those times that we must be aware of the needs of others and be there to help them carry their loads. Bearing those burdens fulfils the law of Christ when He tells is to love other. We are also told to love others as we love ourselves. We should carry our own loads, but we also must love others enough to help them carry their loads.

Don't provoke each other

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5.26

Right after the description of the fruit of the Spirit we have this short little list of instruction that apply some of the aspects of the fruit. I can easily miss this section because it comes after such a ‘famous’ passage.

Let’s not be conceited
Let’s not provoke each other
Let’s not envy each other

All of these concerns are based on pride. Pride makes me conceited. Pride makes me provoke others so that I can look better. Pride makes me envious. It can be kind of ‘fun’ to get a rise out of someone. It can make us feel better about ourselves. It takes the focus off of us.

Provoking another is childish. Some children just seem to take great joy in getting a response out of another. This is more true that even with the rise of social media. Everybody like a good fight it seems. So much of what I see on Facebook is Christians picking and prodding at each other. That may be a bit of fun for a while, but rarely do we know when to stop and someone always gets hurt.

I played a stupid game with my friends as a young adult. We would ‘discuss’ an issue or ‘debate’ as we liked to call to call it. It seemed like harmless fun but in retrospect I am not so sure. The rule was that if you responded with an insult you lost the debate.

I am not convinced that there is no profit in provoking a brother to anger to the point where he resorts to personal attack.

Our purpose is to edify and build each other up.

Don’t provoke. It wont do any good and only has the potential for harm.

The fruit of the Spirit is...gentleness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit… Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. – Galatians 5.22-25; 6.1

Somehow, at least in the circles I have been involved in for a good chunk of my Christian life, gentleness is one of the least mentioned fruits of the Spirit. I have spent a lot of time learning how, men especially, are supposed to be tough. The mark of a man is what a tough guy he is. Men who are gentle are often looked as with suspicion. I once was talking to a pastor about how much I appreciated another man and the pastor I was talking to said some about ‘oh, that limp wrist.’

I know we are supposed to be soldiers and warriors and athletes in the faith. I know we are to part of the army of God and to earnestly contend for the faith.

Jesus called Himself gentle. The servant of God must be gentle. The requirements for pastors includes gentleness.

Not too long ago a razor company did an ad which attempted to present this aspect of true manhood. It was lambasted on many fronts, including a lot of Christians who felt like it downplayed the toughness required of a ‘real man.’

I thought though that they had a point. The ‘macho’ man, the tough guy, and the bully type are the men who seem to be admired and elevated. It would be bad enough if it was just the world, but the church has adopted that same attitude in many ways.

Of course ‘men must be men’ and we have a masculine role in society. We do have to fight the good fight of faith and we do need to be strong.

But at the same time there does need to be a gentleness about us. One of the characteristics of a pastor is that he must not ‘be a brawler’ looking for a fight. The fight may come, but godly men are not to be looking for the fight.

I think gentleness and meekness go hand in hand. Meekness has been defined as ‘power under control.’ Just because the power is there doesn’t mean we always have to use it. The Holy Spirit shows Himself through us  in a gentle, loving, compassionate life.

The fruit of the Spirit is...faithfulness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

It is required in a steward that a man be found faithful. Success is not a fruit of the spirit – faithfulness is. Faithfulness is certainly a fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

Faithfulness is not always easy. It is especially tough to be faithful when we don’t see visible success in our ministries. I think all of us always want to see more in the way of physical, visible signs that what we are doing has value. The west is a success driven society. We measure people by how much they do and how well they do it. I don’t think it is a bad as it used to be but I remember a newspaper that listed the top 10 churches by attendance, professions of faith, and baptisms. They gave the impression that big numbers are what matters to God.

God though is not impressed by that. Man might me and we always want to look good in front of others, but in reality one thing really concerns God – are we faithful. Do I have the faith required just to keep on keeping on no matter what I see?

No matter what our circumstance God wants us to keep on going no matter what the circumstances. Don’t get weary in well doing. Don’t lose heart. Just keep on keeping on. That will show us that we really trust the God that we say we will trust.

The fruit of the Spirit is...goodness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

When I was in Scouts all those many years ago part of the Scout oath were the simple word ‘to do good.’ Doing good and being a ‘good person’ is something we take for granted. It is another one of those words that somehow doesn’t seem as important as some of the other things.

Am I a ‘good guy?’ Is that how people think about me? Do I go about doing good for God and for others?

Being good is something kind of intangible. Goodness, like kindness, is hard to measure. Some words the dictionary uses are ‘to be desired or approved of, pleasing and welcome…’

If I just use those words as a standard how do I do. Am I the kind of man that others approve of just because of my goodness? Am I pleasing to others and am I the kind of guy that people want to welcome into their lives.

We need never to be offensive, but good. The gospel we preach is going to offend, but we never should. We are to live such good lives that our lives never turn people of from the message we preach.

Like I said, it’s hard to define – so let’s just be good.

The fruit of the Spirit is...kindness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

In our Kids Klub we have one simple rule. It makes it easy because all the kids know all the rules. What is that rule?

Be nice.

It’s great because it is kind of all encompassing and suits every type of activities. It means be nice (Ai am using niceness and a synonym for kindness) to the teachers and other kids and the people who take care of the building and visitors. Bing kind means that we do things to make their lives better.

Kindness is the same in ‘real life.’ It is one of those  traits that we can manifest from the very first time we meet someone. It is something we can do with complete strangers. We can even do it driving our car and being polite to other drivers.

I don’t always get a chance to share Christ on my first encounter with people. I may do something as hold a door open, or step aside and let them go first, or smile, or say a kind word, or any number of things. Many folks who aren’t even Christians have adopted a motto is ‘pay it forward’ where we just do an act of kindness and when someone is kind to us to pass that one to someone else.

If the world can do that, shouldn’t we do it even more?

We can all be kind – and that could make all the difference in the world.

The fruit of the Spirit is...longsuffering

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

I don’t do patience very well. I don’t wait very well, I certainly don’t like the idea of longsuffering. I, like most people, want what I want and I want it now. I want to be at the front of the queue. I don’t like being put on hold.

That’s fine and we just have too get used it. What is really hard is to wait on God when He doesn’t take care of things according to my schedule. We get tired of being under pressure and it can seem like we just can’t buy a break.

That is when we get the sense of this word for patience – long suffering. It means bearing up under pressure. It is not like that waiting in a queue that I hate. It is much more than that. It is when our lives are a constant pressure that seems to squeeze the life out of and the kind of darkness that we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is especially  for our brethren in Christ who suffer real threats to their lives day another day for their faith in Christ. How many of them must cry out in the sleep ‘when will this sever end?’

That’s when our long-suffering is really tried. That’s when we must depend on the Holy Spirit to help us bear this fruit. It is also one of those times where people watch us to see how people who say they trust God do when the pressure is on.

I have to stop and check myself here. Dos this fruit of the spirit show this evidence by life? We are told that we are known by our fruit. Does my ability to ‘bear up under pressure’ reveal my faith?

Lord, help me reflect this spirit on long-suffering in my life that I might better reflect You.

The fruit of the spirit is...peace

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

People are always looking for peace. We are looking for peace in this troubled world. We all like a peaceful home. Most of all though we want peace on our hearts.

I’ve got a peace in my heart that the world never giveth and a peace it cannot take away.It’s an everlasting peace and I know it there to stay.

That’s how the song goes at least.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. Jesus said that when He left He would leave peace – not like the world’s peace.  Earthly, fleshy peace is fragile. It is easily broken.

Jesus’ peace though is totally different. The peace He left us is an inner peace that cannot be shaken by outer events. It is a deep abiding peace that God is it covered. It is a peace that is only possible through faith. It is a peace that we can’t stir up but that is given by the Spirit. We can only trust Him and appropriate His peace in our lives.

The fruit of the Spirit is...joy

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart to stay.’

That’s a lovely kid’s song that we have sung with children for many years. It is a great goal, but how often does it ring true in our hearts?

We sing another song about how the joy of the Lord is our strength. It can really hard to find joy in this world. There is not a lot to be joyous about.

But this world is not the source of joy. Sure, the world can bring a measure of happiness. The world can bring laughter and mirth and fun. That deep settled joy that caries us though is a whole different matter. Happiness is contingent on circumstances. Joy is based on something much deeper. True joy is based on faith to get us through every circumstance.

Do people see the joy of the Lord in my life, or do that see a tragic ‘woe is me’ kind of faith. Only the joy of the Lord will draw them to Christ.

The fruit of the Spirit is...love

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

I don’t know if word order means much in Greek. Either way it is interesting that in the fruit of the Spirit love comes first. I think possibly it could be first when we read things like ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and might and love your neighbour as yourself’ and let your love be without hypocrisy’ and ‘the greatest of these is love’ and ‘do everything in love.’

The clearest  manifestation of or faith should be love. Love is what sets us apart. Love is the opposite of all the works of the flesh which are based only on self-love.

A lock of love is all around us. We live in a hard, cruel, vicious world where love is at premium. If we love we are going to make a difference in a love-less world. People are always going to notice love and love is the one thing they can never argue against.

True love is God’s love. It is the love that is going to make a difference in us and to those around us. Love is fruit that Spirit led people bear. It is the fruit that makes the difference.

Works of the flesh or fruit of the Spirit

 – Galatians 5.19-25

This passage draw the dramatic difference between a life of the works of the flesh and a life showing the fruit of the Spirit.

Even the English words sound dramatically different.  Fornication, adultery, uncleanness, lewdness, wrath, dissension, etc and etc on the one hand and love, joy, peace, gentleness, and goodness on the other. The contrast is clear, and we need to ask ourselves which list we want to describe our lives? Which list best describes my life?

The first list certainly describes the world doesn’t it? Everything is dirty and ugly and vile. That is all the flesh can produce. That’s why the world acts the way it does. It acts the flesh leads and we should be surprised when broken people live like they are in a broken world.

Then we have the fruit of the Spirit. What the Spirit produces could not be more different than what the world produces. They are things that the flesh simply can’t do. People can love and comfort and find a measure of joy and peace but nothing can do those things like the Holy Spirit. He is the personification of those traits.

The works of the flesh or the fruit of Spirit? The choice is clear.