The Fruit of the Spirit Is… Peace
Just as trees produce certain fruits, Christians must produce certain qualities and characteristics on a daily basis. These qualities and characteristics are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and are identified as “the fruit of the Spirit.” The third fruit that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to produce is peace. What does the New Testament have to say about peace? First, we must realize that we serve a “God of peace” (Romans 15:33; 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9; 1…
A Mother’s Love
Can you imagine what it would have been like to see Jesus as He hung on the cross? Jesus had been scourged. He had been beaten, slapped, and spit on. He had the crown of thorns placed on and driven into His head. As Jesus suffered because of the sins that we have committed, metal spikes were driven through His hands and feet. People who passed by mocked Him. Because of the position that He was in on the cross,…
The Fruit of the Spirit Is… Joy
Just as trees produce certain fruits, Christians must produce certain qualities and characteristics. These qualities and characteristics are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and are identified as “the fruit of the Spirit.” The second fruit that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to produce is joy. What is joy? I am afraid that we sometimes confuse joy with happiness. While the two are very similar, there are some major differences. Happiness is based on circumstances in life; joy is not.…
The Fruit of the Spirit Is… Love
Just as trees produce certain fruits, Christians must produce certain qualities and characteristics. These qualities and characteristics are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and are identified as “the fruit of the Spirit.” When people repent and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus Christ, they receive the gift of God’s Spirit (Acts 2:38). Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, they are empowered by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16) who dwells within them (1 Corinthians 3:16-17;…
The Fruit of the Spirit (Introduction)
Certain trees bear certain fruits. To my knowledge, an apple tree will always produce apples. An orange tree will always produce oranges. In the same way, true followers of Jesus will always produce a certain fruit. These defining qualities and characteristics are called “the fruit of the Spirit” and are found in Galatians 5:22- 23. In that text, Paul lists nine qualities that every Christian should demonstrate every day: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,…
Imitating Jesus
In our weekly bulletin articles over the last three weeks, we have considered ideas from Scripture that describe the kind of ministry in which I hope to be involved. While these passages and ideas certainly discuss the responsibilities that I have as a preacher and evangelist, they are not limited to those who work in full-time ministry. I believe that these passages should be a part of every Christian’s life. So far, we have considered the importance of preaching the…
Living in God’s Family
In our weekly bulletin articles, we are in a series where we are considering ideas from Scripture that describe the kind of ministry in which I hope to be involved. While these passages and ideas certainly discuss the responsibilities that I have as a preacher and evangelist, they are not limited to those who work in full-time ministry. I believe that these passages should be a part of every Christian’s life. So far, we have considered the importance of preaching…
Serving Others
In our weekly bulletin articles, we are in a series where we are considering ideas from Scripture that describe the kind of ministry in which I hope to be involved. While these passages and ideas certainly discuss the responsibilities that I have as a preacher and evangelist, they are not limited to those who work in full-time ministry. I believe that these passages should be a part of every Christian’s life. In last week’s bulletin article, we discussed the importance…
Reach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-4)
Leslie and I could not be more excited about the opportunity to be a part of this great church family. God is so good, and we are so thankful that He has brought us together. In our bulletin articles over the next few weeks, I would like to share with you some passages of Scripture that describe the kind of ministry that I hope to be involved in. While these passages certainly discuss the responsibilities that I have as a…
Revelation 18:20
Rev. 18:20 … “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.” Chapter 18 describes the destruction of the primary enemies of God and His kingdom. The adversary, like most other things in this book, is presented in symbolic form. The symbol used is the great city of Babylon, the ancient capital of Mesopotamia, where Nebuchadnezzar and other famous kings had ruled. It was from this city and…
The Bowls of Wrath
Rev. 15:7 … “Then one of the four Living Creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.” The colonial preachers in New England emphasized to their audiences that God is characterized by an overwhelming spirit of wrath, which He directs at all who sin and resist His will. The prevailing emphasis in the preaching of today, however, is that God is filled with love, mercy, and patient kindness…
Final Victory with Christ
Rev. 17:14 … “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” Although this statement occurs two-thirds of the way through the Book of Revelation, it is nevertheless the one that states its central theme. Essentially it says that, though Christ has many opponents in the world, He shall in the end be…
Eating the Little Book
Rev. 10:9-10 … “So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, ‘Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.’ I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.” We must remember that…
The Refusal to Repent
Rev. 9:20-21 … “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent not of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither can see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.” When man is confronted…
Spiritual Eye Glasses
About the time I was in the fourth grade, I noticed that my vision was not as it should be. I couldn’t see the white board at the front of the classroom very clearly, and it was becoming more difficult to dodge the dodge ball in P.E. class. When I put on my first pair of glasses, the difference between what I saw before and my new perception was astounding. I could see the teacher’s handwriting from the back of…
Don’t Lose Heart
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that…
The One Who is Blessed
Rev. 1:3 … “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” To most people the Book of Revelation is a very mysterious volume, full of cryptic passages. Some despair of understanding it, and consequently seldom read it. Others, however, look upon this terminal portion of the Bible as the key to understanding all the rest. Among these students one finds…
The Heart of Idolatry
Two notable Jewish philosophers who knew the Old Testament very well once concluded, “The central principle of the Bible is the rejection of idolatry.” As we read the narrative of the Bible from Genesis to Malachi, we will see that this is certainly true. Israel was charged to reject all counterfeit gods that competed with Yahweh for the people’s complete allegiance, reliance, and trust. The major conflict we see in the Old Testament was Israel’s rebellion against Yahweh, and choice…
The Open Door of Opportunity
Rev. 3:8b … “Behold, have put before you an open door, which no one can shut.” This statement of the Lord to the church in the city of Philadelphia in Asia Minor is perhaps the origin of the expression, “an open door of opportunity.” Observing that the Christians who composed this congregation possessed “a little power,” the Lord extended to them the opportunity to use it, though the text does not specify its nature. It suggests, however, that at least…
Love is Patient
“This world would be such a better place if it lacked those people.” This is the way I’m tempted to feel when I’m interrupted, when I sense that another person loves themselves just a little too much, when one’s personality clashes with my own, or when someone’s mistake inconveniences me in some way. When my patience is tested by the unpleasantness of those around me, it irks me, and makes me want to just avoid them. However, during these times,…