"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8
Jesus did three world-changing things at the end of his earthly life. He died on the cross, bearing all the sins of the world. He became the sacrificial Lamb, taking the sins of the world and dying for them, once for all. On the third day, he was resurrected. He rose from the dead, defeating death and the grave. Forty days later, he ascended into heaven to reclaim his place at the right hand of the Father. God had placed everything under his feet and the place of power and victory was secured. Jesus had completed his work on the earth.
Jesus knew that after he ascended, he needed a body on the earth. What he had begun must be continued to completion. So his last words to us were those in the passage above. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us and the purpose was clear. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Christ. Those who were present the day he said these things had witnessed the cross, the resurrection, and then the ascension. They were to tell the world exactly what they had seen. The message then was exactly the same as it is now. Although we weren't physically there for these world-changing events, everyone of us have experienced them. The cross, the resurrection, and the ascension are responsible for our lives in Christ.
So we are now the body of Christ. What he did, we now do. What he said, we now say. The authority he had, we now have. We have been empowered to take the message of Christ to everyone we know and beyond. This is not a mission to simply bring in converts. It is a mission to make disciples. This goes far beyond taking five minutes to lead someone to Christ. Don't get me wrong, it is vitally important to bring people to Jesus. But we must also disciple them to be followers of Christ, not just recipients of grace who return to their old lifestyle. The Great Commission is clear, we are to make disciples in the same way Jesus did when he walked the earth. This is the purpose for the empowering of the Holy Spirit.l
Sometimes we forget the real reason we have received so much from God. We have unlimited blessing. We have churches to belong to, brothers and sisters to fellowship with, and all of our needs are met. These are blessings, but they are not only for us. They are to be extended to others. Jesus gave of himself to everyone he touched. He sacrificed sleep, food, and shelter to do that. Do we have the same commitment? We need to renew the priority to be witnesses. It's not difficult, it's not strange. We simply give to others what we have already received. We start at home and then we go into all the world. This is God's heart for those who do not know him, and he uses us to accomplish it. We are his body, his hands and feet in the world.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Ninety Nine
"Then Jesus told them this parable: 'Suppose
one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave
the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until
he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep." I
tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven
over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who
do not need to repent.'"
Luke 15:3-7
I've been thinking about foundations lately. What is the foundation of my faith? What is the foundation of the church? What is the foundation God wants to renew in my life? The more I ask these questions, the more I understand that there is one great truth about God that is absolutely foundational to us and our experience here in the world. God is concerned about the lost. He loves them and he has called us to be the ones who present his love and message of reconciliation to those who have yet to meet him.
In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables: The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Obviously the emphasis was on that which was lost. God is more than concerned for the lost. He is in fact, distracted by them. The parable of the lost sheep clearly illustrates God's willingness and desire to leave the ninety-nine who are already found, to seek the one who is lost. After all, Jesus did come to seek and save the lost. Those who are found are already in the fold. They are already destined for heaven and eternal life. But the lost one, he is in darkness, destined for hell and eternal separation from God. This is so critical to God that he longs to go get the lost one. Over the finding of the one, there is great rejoicing. God loves the lost enough to search for them and find them.
God has chosen to use us to find the lost ones, share the good news of Christ with them and see them join those who are destined for eternal life. This is the foundation of the church. We don't exist so we can receive only our own blessing, we are called to extend it to the lost. This is our mission. It is the entire reason that we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are to go into all the world, starting with our Jerusalem, our Judea, our Samaria. There, we will find the lost and gather them for the kingdom of heaven. This is the foundation of our lives as Christians, sons and daughters of God.
There are 4.9 billion people alive on the earth who do not have a relationship with Jesus. This means there are 4.9 billion people who, if the world ended today, would spend eternity in hell, separated from God. If we lined those people up, one in front of the other with their heels touching the toes of the one behind, the line would reach around the earth, not once, not twice, not five times, not ten or twenty or even thirty times. It would reach around the world 37.3 times. This many people are alive today and do not know Jesus. And they all have faces, they all have souls, they are all eternal beings just waiting to find a Savior. Can you see them? We can offer them the truth of the only true Savior of the world. If this is not our heart today, it should be. Look at the faces of the lost. They're all around us. See them as God does. Be distracted to the point that you must tell them the good news. This is our mission, our one ultimate goal. We are the ninety-nine. We are the safe ones, and God is calling us to go get the lost ones.
Luke 15:3-7
I've been thinking about foundations lately. What is the foundation of my faith? What is the foundation of the church? What is the foundation God wants to renew in my life? The more I ask these questions, the more I understand that there is one great truth about God that is absolutely foundational to us and our experience here in the world. God is concerned about the lost. He loves them and he has called us to be the ones who present his love and message of reconciliation to those who have yet to meet him.
In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables: The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Obviously the emphasis was on that which was lost. God is more than concerned for the lost. He is in fact, distracted by them. The parable of the lost sheep clearly illustrates God's willingness and desire to leave the ninety-nine who are already found, to seek the one who is lost. After all, Jesus did come to seek and save the lost. Those who are found are already in the fold. They are already destined for heaven and eternal life. But the lost one, he is in darkness, destined for hell and eternal separation from God. This is so critical to God that he longs to go get the lost one. Over the finding of the one, there is great rejoicing. God loves the lost enough to search for them and find them.
God has chosen to use us to find the lost ones, share the good news of Christ with them and see them join those who are destined for eternal life. This is the foundation of the church. We don't exist so we can receive only our own blessing, we are called to extend it to the lost. This is our mission. It is the entire reason that we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are to go into all the world, starting with our Jerusalem, our Judea, our Samaria. There, we will find the lost and gather them for the kingdom of heaven. This is the foundation of our lives as Christians, sons and daughters of God.
There are 4.9 billion people alive on the earth who do not have a relationship with Jesus. This means there are 4.9 billion people who, if the world ended today, would spend eternity in hell, separated from God. If we lined those people up, one in front of the other with their heels touching the toes of the one behind, the line would reach around the earth, not once, not twice, not five times, not ten or twenty or even thirty times. It would reach around the world 37.3 times. This many people are alive today and do not know Jesus. And they all have faces, they all have souls, they are all eternal beings just waiting to find a Savior. Can you see them? We can offer them the truth of the only true Savior of the world. If this is not our heart today, it should be. Look at the faces of the lost. They're all around us. See them as God does. Be distracted to the point that you must tell them the good news. This is our mission, our one ultimate goal. We are the ninety-nine. We are the safe ones, and God is calling us to go get the lost ones.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Confession is Good for the Soul
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
Maybe it's a good reminder, maybe it's for us to remember our spiritual roots, but having a clear understanding of this verse is vital to all of us. There are many Christians who have confessed their sins before God and received the free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, all of us who bear the name of Christ have done this. But many do not make a practice of confessing sin before God. Some may think that because we have the forgiveness of sin that was given at salvation, there is no need for further action. But I believe that confession of sin should be a normal and consistent part of the Christian life.
I grew up in a church that believed in living a holy life. Unfortunately, there was a high degree of legalism required to live the way they wanted us all to live. So my relationship with God was defined by what I couldn't do rather than the freedom I have in Christ. I remember the question being asked, "If Jesus were to come back and you were in a theater watching a movie, do you think he would come in there and get you?" Of course the legalistic answer to this question is no. We wouldn't want to be doing something wrong when Jesus comes back. But the freedom we have in Christ reverses the answer. Because we have been saved from sin and given right-standing with God, he certainly would come into that theater and get us! So I do not preach a legalistic righteousness that comes from human effort, but there is a great need in our lives to remain as close to God as possible.
There is only one thing that separates us from God, sin. Nothing else has any power to do that. God is purely holy and he cannot have any fellowship with sin. So it is important for us to eliminate sin from our lives in favor of our relationship with God. When John the apostle wrote these words, he wrote them to Christians. He was emphasizing the importance of confession and forgiveness. Since we continue to sin, even though we are Christians, we must practice confession. Personally, I don't want to have anything between God and me. He has never changed his position or his love for me, but I have failed him many times. He hasn't changed his relationship to me, but I have separated myself from him because of sin. So I want to eliminate anything that may hinder my prayers. I want to remove anything that may separate me from God. So I practice confession regularly. And every time I confess sin, God faithfully forgives me and cleanses my life.
Confession and repentance should be regular parts of a growing relationship with God. We should practice it daily. Through this, we defeat sin with the help of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness offered by God. It is true that confession is good for the soul, for it leads us to a closer relationship with God and frees us from the entanglement of sin. Think about it. When was the last time you confessed sin to God? If it has been awhile, do it. If it is a regular part of your life, continue to walk in this important truth. We are to live as he lived and the only way to do that is to be righteous. The only way to be righteous is to take the righteousness of Christ. Every time we confess, he forgives, and another dark area of our lives is exposed to his light. Then there is more of Christ's righteousness and less of our weakness. Let's practice confession. It is good for our souls.
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
Maybe it's a good reminder, maybe it's for us to remember our spiritual roots, but having a clear understanding of this verse is vital to all of us. There are many Christians who have confessed their sins before God and received the free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, all of us who bear the name of Christ have done this. But many do not make a practice of confessing sin before God. Some may think that because we have the forgiveness of sin that was given at salvation, there is no need for further action. But I believe that confession of sin should be a normal and consistent part of the Christian life.
I grew up in a church that believed in living a holy life. Unfortunately, there was a high degree of legalism required to live the way they wanted us all to live. So my relationship with God was defined by what I couldn't do rather than the freedom I have in Christ. I remember the question being asked, "If Jesus were to come back and you were in a theater watching a movie, do you think he would come in there and get you?" Of course the legalistic answer to this question is no. We wouldn't want to be doing something wrong when Jesus comes back. But the freedom we have in Christ reverses the answer. Because we have been saved from sin and given right-standing with God, he certainly would come into that theater and get us! So I do not preach a legalistic righteousness that comes from human effort, but there is a great need in our lives to remain as close to God as possible.
There is only one thing that separates us from God, sin. Nothing else has any power to do that. God is purely holy and he cannot have any fellowship with sin. So it is important for us to eliminate sin from our lives in favor of our relationship with God. When John the apostle wrote these words, he wrote them to Christians. He was emphasizing the importance of confession and forgiveness. Since we continue to sin, even though we are Christians, we must practice confession. Personally, I don't want to have anything between God and me. He has never changed his position or his love for me, but I have failed him many times. He hasn't changed his relationship to me, but I have separated myself from him because of sin. So I want to eliminate anything that may hinder my prayers. I want to remove anything that may separate me from God. So I practice confession regularly. And every time I confess sin, God faithfully forgives me and cleanses my life.
Confession and repentance should be regular parts of a growing relationship with God. We should practice it daily. Through this, we defeat sin with the help of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness offered by God. It is true that confession is good for the soul, for it leads us to a closer relationship with God and frees us from the entanglement of sin. Think about it. When was the last time you confessed sin to God? If it has been awhile, do it. If it is a regular part of your life, continue to walk in this important truth. We are to live as he lived and the only way to do that is to be righteous. The only way to be righteous is to take the righteousness of Christ. Every time we confess, he forgives, and another dark area of our lives is exposed to his light. Then there is more of Christ's righteousness and less of our weakness. Let's practice confession. It is good for our souls.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Glory Revealed
"This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him."
John 2:11
According to the apostle John, the first miracle performed was when he turned the water into wine at the wedding feast. This miracle is not recorded in any of the other gospels. This was not a healing, no one was raised from the dead. It was a miracle, water was supernaturally made into wine. It seems that the entire purpose of this miracle was to reveal Jesus' glory to his disciples. They needed to know that he was fully God, not just a man. It would have been one thing to follow a great teacher, buy it was a greater thing to follow the only Son of God.
Today, many Christians talk about the glory of God. People long to see his glory, but many have struggled to understand what it means. What is God's glory and how do we see it? I believe it's simple. It is exactly the same as when Jesus changed the water into wine. To see God's glory is to see a demonstration of his deity and power. This is the single thing that sets the true God apart from all other gods who are worshiped. There is no other God who claims to have risen, no other God who claims to have the power to perform miracles or heal. This is what sets our God apart. This is why he is the one true God. And this is why his glory is so important for the world to see.
It is not simply for our pleasure that God wants to reveal his glory. He wants to reveal it so that everyone will know that he is the only God. Peter and John went with Jesus one time, to the top of a mountain. There Elijah and Moses appeared and Jesus was transfigured. This means that he no longer appeared as a man, he appeared as God, supernatural in power and appearance. Again, Jesus displayed himself as God. All people are drawn to the supernatural. We want to know that there is someone greater than us who is in control. God responds by revealing his glory, and we know he is who he says he is.
Let's pray for God to reveal his glory more and more. When his glory is manifest, miraculous things happen: Needs are met, the sick are made well, people come to be saved, and our faith is built. Don't be afraid of God's glory. Don't be intimidated. It is for our good that his glory is revealed. Without it, the church misses out on the incredible supernatural power of God expressed through his love for us. So I pray, "God, show us your glory!"
John 2:11
According to the apostle John, the first miracle performed was when he turned the water into wine at the wedding feast. This miracle is not recorded in any of the other gospels. This was not a healing, no one was raised from the dead. It was a miracle, water was supernaturally made into wine. It seems that the entire purpose of this miracle was to reveal Jesus' glory to his disciples. They needed to know that he was fully God, not just a man. It would have been one thing to follow a great teacher, buy it was a greater thing to follow the only Son of God.
Today, many Christians talk about the glory of God. People long to see his glory, but many have struggled to understand what it means. What is God's glory and how do we see it? I believe it's simple. It is exactly the same as when Jesus changed the water into wine. To see God's glory is to see a demonstration of his deity and power. This is the single thing that sets the true God apart from all other gods who are worshiped. There is no other God who claims to have risen, no other God who claims to have the power to perform miracles or heal. This is what sets our God apart. This is why he is the one true God. And this is why his glory is so important for the world to see.
It is not simply for our pleasure that God wants to reveal his glory. He wants to reveal it so that everyone will know that he is the only God. Peter and John went with Jesus one time, to the top of a mountain. There Elijah and Moses appeared and Jesus was transfigured. This means that he no longer appeared as a man, he appeared as God, supernatural in power and appearance. Again, Jesus displayed himself as God. All people are drawn to the supernatural. We want to know that there is someone greater than us who is in control. God responds by revealing his glory, and we know he is who he says he is.
Let's pray for God to reveal his glory more and more. When his glory is manifest, miraculous things happen: Needs are met, the sick are made well, people come to be saved, and our faith is built. Don't be afraid of God's glory. Don't be intimidated. It is for our good that his glory is revealed. Without it, the church misses out on the incredible supernatural power of God expressed through his love for us. So I pray, "God, show us your glory!"
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Dwelling Together
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
Psalm 133:1 (KJV)
I've been impressed lately, by the theme of unity. The more I look at the book of Acts church, the more I understand that it was built by the power of the Holy Spirit and the unity and single mind of all the believers. Over a thousand years before the birth of the church, King David wrote about unity. He understood the principle and he understood the importance. Without unity, there is little progress toward common goals.
It is difficult to gather a large group around a central theme and goal. We don't see this kind of unity very often, but when we do, consider the results. In the early twentieth century, a group rose up under the banner of 'Women's Suffrage.' Thousands of women joined the movement proclaiming their right to vote. Massive changes were made as women were granted voting equality. In the 1960s, Martin Luther King headed the civil rights movement which unified thousands of African-Americans to stand for equal rights. Today, the unity of that group has brought incredible changes. These are just two examples of what people who are in unity can accomplish.
If we the church, would gather under the kind of unity that these earlier groups had, great things would happen. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the unity of believers, the early church grew exponentially. We have the same possibilities today. We have the Holy Spirit guiding us, and we have a church filled with followers of Christ. If we really gather in unity, the results will be dramatic. These are the days of the harvest. These are the last days of the church. There is a mission that only we can accomplish. It is the call of God in our lives to fulfill the Great Commission and touch the entire world with the gospel. This will be accomplished through the relentless preaching of the kingdom. This is the call, this is the purpose. So the church must be unified to accomplish the goal.
When there is unity, changes happen. When there is unity, the world changes. It has happened before and it should happen now. the other blessing of unity is the refreshing that each of us receive when we are together. In the New Testament, it is spoken of often. When the church got together, the people were refreshed by the unified spirit that was present. There is nothing more refreshing than to be in a group of people with the same heart, purpose, and goals. In fact, within human strength, there is nothing more powerful. When that power is joined with the power of the Holy Spirit, a force is created that is absolutely world-changing. Be refreshed. Accept the call. Let the church arise in unity. The world will never be the same!
Psalm 133:1 (KJV)
I've been impressed lately, by the theme of unity. The more I look at the book of Acts church, the more I understand that it was built by the power of the Holy Spirit and the unity and single mind of all the believers. Over a thousand years before the birth of the church, King David wrote about unity. He understood the principle and he understood the importance. Without unity, there is little progress toward common goals.
It is difficult to gather a large group around a central theme and goal. We don't see this kind of unity very often, but when we do, consider the results. In the early twentieth century, a group rose up under the banner of 'Women's Suffrage.' Thousands of women joined the movement proclaiming their right to vote. Massive changes were made as women were granted voting equality. In the 1960s, Martin Luther King headed the civil rights movement which unified thousands of African-Americans to stand for equal rights. Today, the unity of that group has brought incredible changes. These are just two examples of what people who are in unity can accomplish.
If we the church, would gather under the kind of unity that these earlier groups had, great things would happen. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the unity of believers, the early church grew exponentially. We have the same possibilities today. We have the Holy Spirit guiding us, and we have a church filled with followers of Christ. If we really gather in unity, the results will be dramatic. These are the days of the harvest. These are the last days of the church. There is a mission that only we can accomplish. It is the call of God in our lives to fulfill the Great Commission and touch the entire world with the gospel. This will be accomplished through the relentless preaching of the kingdom. This is the call, this is the purpose. So the church must be unified to accomplish the goal.
When there is unity, changes happen. When there is unity, the world changes. It has happened before and it should happen now. the other blessing of unity is the refreshing that each of us receive when we are together. In the New Testament, it is spoken of often. When the church got together, the people were refreshed by the unified spirit that was present. There is nothing more refreshing than to be in a group of people with the same heart, purpose, and goals. In fact, within human strength, there is nothing more powerful. When that power is joined with the power of the Holy Spirit, a force is created that is absolutely world-changing. Be refreshed. Accept the call. Let the church arise in unity. The world will never be the same!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Knowing God's Love
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how long and high and wide and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 3:16b-19
We are so blessed to be loved by God. Many people in the world labor under the false belief that God, whether they know him or not, is either a tyrant or a disinterested deity who simply watches what happens. But God has demonstrated his love for us in practical and amazing ways. The one true God sent his only son into the world to live among us, sacrifice himself for us, and then be exalted to the right hand of God. This is an amazing truth that we believe by faith. The salvation of all mankind has been provided by God, but not all are willing to receive.
The apostle Paul, prayed this prayer for all. It is a passionate plea. God wants us to know him and the fullness of his love. One thing Paul prayed seems to be a paradox. He said that he wants us to "Know this love that surpasses knowledge." How can one know something if it surpasses human knowledge? The truth is, we cannot understand the fullness of God's love. It truly is beyond any human understanding. If all people understood how much God loves them, everyone would run to him to receive it. But God has provided a way for us to know his love. It is not found in our own intellect, it is found in the Spirit.
The heart of Paul's prayer is for us to "have power." This power only comes after we have been "rooted and established in love." Those who are able to know God's love are those who have received his Son and the forgiveness of sin he provided. All who are outside of real relationship with God through faith in Jesus, cannot fathom God's love. But we can because of the presence of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. He is the source of power that gives us the knowledge of God's love for us. Paul prayed this over Christians, not unbelievers. So we must tap into the power of the Holy Spirit every moment in order to know what is impossible to know.
We need a fresh understanding of how much God loves us. There are times when we feel alone, but we never are. There are times when we feel abandoned, but we have never been. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth regarding the love of God for us. When we are able to grasp it, our lives are changed. We stop attempting to please God through legalistic actions. We will know that he created us individually and loves each one uniquely. When we stop struggling to understand God's love and simply receive it as the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do so, we will experience true freedom in Christ. We won't be shackled to a set of rules or false righteousness. We will know that God loves us unconditionally and that in itself is everything we will ever need. God is love!
Ephesians 3:16b-19
We are so blessed to be loved by God. Many people in the world labor under the false belief that God, whether they know him or not, is either a tyrant or a disinterested deity who simply watches what happens. But God has demonstrated his love for us in practical and amazing ways. The one true God sent his only son into the world to live among us, sacrifice himself for us, and then be exalted to the right hand of God. This is an amazing truth that we believe by faith. The salvation of all mankind has been provided by God, but not all are willing to receive.
The apostle Paul, prayed this prayer for all. It is a passionate plea. God wants us to know him and the fullness of his love. One thing Paul prayed seems to be a paradox. He said that he wants us to "Know this love that surpasses knowledge." How can one know something if it surpasses human knowledge? The truth is, we cannot understand the fullness of God's love. It truly is beyond any human understanding. If all people understood how much God loves them, everyone would run to him to receive it. But God has provided a way for us to know his love. It is not found in our own intellect, it is found in the Spirit.
The heart of Paul's prayer is for us to "have power." This power only comes after we have been "rooted and established in love." Those who are able to know God's love are those who have received his Son and the forgiveness of sin he provided. All who are outside of real relationship with God through faith in Jesus, cannot fathom God's love. But we can because of the presence of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. He is the source of power that gives us the knowledge of God's love for us. Paul prayed this over Christians, not unbelievers. So we must tap into the power of the Holy Spirit every moment in order to know what is impossible to know.
We need a fresh understanding of how much God loves us. There are times when we feel alone, but we never are. There are times when we feel abandoned, but we have never been. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth regarding the love of God for us. When we are able to grasp it, our lives are changed. We stop attempting to please God through legalistic actions. We will know that he created us individually and loves each one uniquely. When we stop struggling to understand God's love and simply receive it as the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do so, we will experience true freedom in Christ. We won't be shackled to a set of rules or false righteousness. We will know that God loves us unconditionally and that in itself is everything we will ever need. God is love!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Fruit Bearing People
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
Galatians 5:22-25
I believe strongly in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I believe in his power. I believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, comfort and counsel the believer, and empower disciples to do the work of the ministry. Many Christians believe these same things and speak often of the power of the Holy Spirit resident in them. All this is good, but there is a measure of the Spirit-filled life. The measure is found in the producing of fruit.
People love power. We love to see miracles, healing and other manifestations. These also are good, for they confirm the Word of God to us. But there is no substitute for a consistent Spirit-led life. The great major league baseball star, Ty Cobb was an outstanding, record-breaking athlete who performed incredible feats on the baseball field. He is remembered by his tremendous achievements, but his character did not match his athletic greatness. It has been said, "It is difficult to tell which is longer - the list of records Ty Cobb left shattered when he retired from baseball, or the stories of his nastiness."* You see, his character marred his achievements. The same is true of believers. If we have the Holy Spirit, if we are involved in great manifestations of his power but are not producing fruit that changes our character, we are not adequately representing God to the world.
The way we grow spiritual fruit is to constantly live in relationship with the Holy Spirit. Those who are the closest to us, know us best. Our families can testify of our goodness, and they can tell of our weaknesses. The closest relationship any of us have as Christians is with the Holy Spirit. He lives in us and he knows everything about us. If we are willing to receive his counsel and conviction, we will produce fruit in keeping with a godly lifestyle. So our relationship with him is far more than a matter of power and manifestations. It is primarily a relationship intended to produce godly character in us. Jesus said, "Thus by their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:20). We will not be remembered by any acts of power. We will be remembered by the spiritual fruit we produce.
The key to a Spirit-filled life is the daily act of keeping in step with the Holy Spirit. This can only happen in lives that are yielded to him. To produce fruit, we must listen to the Holy Spirit's voice and then do what he says. This obedience will produce virtues in us that will be seen and appreciated by all. It is through the fruit of the Spirit that God is glorified. If people see these things in us, they will understand that these are a reflection of God himself. Yes, God is powerful, but he is first, love. I don't believe the Bible ever says, "God is power." But it certainly does say, "God is love" (1 John 4:8b). His love poured out to us will result in great spiritual fruit that will change our character and declare to the world that God truly is love. This is the true manifestation of a Spirit-filled life.
*Larry Schwartz for ESPN.com
Galatians 5:22-25
I believe strongly in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I believe in his power. I believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, comfort and counsel the believer, and empower disciples to do the work of the ministry. Many Christians believe these same things and speak often of the power of the Holy Spirit resident in them. All this is good, but there is a measure of the Spirit-filled life. The measure is found in the producing of fruit.
People love power. We love to see miracles, healing and other manifestations. These also are good, for they confirm the Word of God to us. But there is no substitute for a consistent Spirit-led life. The great major league baseball star, Ty Cobb was an outstanding, record-breaking athlete who performed incredible feats on the baseball field. He is remembered by his tremendous achievements, but his character did not match his athletic greatness. It has been said, "It is difficult to tell which is longer - the list of records Ty Cobb left shattered when he retired from baseball, or the stories of his nastiness."* You see, his character marred his achievements. The same is true of believers. If we have the Holy Spirit, if we are involved in great manifestations of his power but are not producing fruit that changes our character, we are not adequately representing God to the world.
The way we grow spiritual fruit is to constantly live in relationship with the Holy Spirit. Those who are the closest to us, know us best. Our families can testify of our goodness, and they can tell of our weaknesses. The closest relationship any of us have as Christians is with the Holy Spirit. He lives in us and he knows everything about us. If we are willing to receive his counsel and conviction, we will produce fruit in keeping with a godly lifestyle. So our relationship with him is far more than a matter of power and manifestations. It is primarily a relationship intended to produce godly character in us. Jesus said, "Thus by their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:20). We will not be remembered by any acts of power. We will be remembered by the spiritual fruit we produce.
The key to a Spirit-filled life is the daily act of keeping in step with the Holy Spirit. This can only happen in lives that are yielded to him. To produce fruit, we must listen to the Holy Spirit's voice and then do what he says. This obedience will produce virtues in us that will be seen and appreciated by all. It is through the fruit of the Spirit that God is glorified. If people see these things in us, they will understand that these are a reflection of God himself. Yes, God is powerful, but he is first, love. I don't believe the Bible ever says, "God is power." But it certainly does say, "God is love" (1 John 4:8b). His love poured out to us will result in great spiritual fruit that will change our character and declare to the world that God truly is love. This is the true manifestation of a Spirit-filled life.
*Larry Schwartz for ESPN.com
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