"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". Galatians 5:22-23 The clusters of fruit, the attributes of our relationships are:
1) Love, joy and peace = our relationship with God
2) Patience, kindness, goodness = our relationship with others
3) Faithfullness, gentleness and self-control = our relation to self.
Fruit is natural in its growth, it cannot be hurried or picked before it is ripe. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us NOT become weary in DOING GOOD, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do NOT give up." Galatians 6:7-9
SOW A THOUGHT, REAP AN ACT
SOW AN ACT, and YOU REAP A HABIT;
SOW A HABIT, and YOU REAP A CHARACTER;
SOW A CHARACTER, and YOU REAP A DESTINY.
We need humility and faith to bear fruit in our lives. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in me." John 15:4
We must ask for help to activate our self-control. Through the discipline of our mind, we cultivate habits of thinking and action that with practice, over time produce maturity --- maturity requires patience with ourself. "Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near." James 5:7-8 So as we wait, as we exercise the holding of our tongue and the self-control of our actions, we are encouraged by this inspired word from God. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phillipians 4:8
THE FULLNESS OF JOY is descirbed by God in Psalm 16:11
THE PEACE OF GOD is described in Romans 5:11
THE ACCESS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT is for us in John 14:27
Friday, August 13, 2010
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Allow yourself the freedom to SPARKLE! Does a star think of allowing itself to sparkle? To sparkle is not a matter of thinking, sparkling is a matter of being.
ReplyDeleteIn Thy presence is fullness of joy...
Psalm 16:11 NASB --Fanny Levin
COUNT THE FRUIT FROM NOAH your blessing!
ReplyDeleteLEARN FROM NOAH how to SURVIVE anything!
ONE: Don't miss the boat. LOVE God!
TWO: We are all in the same boat! Peace!
THREE: Plan ahead, JOY comes in the morning
FOUR: PATIENCE, God may need you at 60
FIVE: BE KIND to critics.
SIX: Build GOOD on high ground.
SEVEN: Be FAITHFUL travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Be a GENTLE snail among cheetahs.
NINE: SELF-Contol stress, float awhile..
TEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.
REMEMBER: The Ark was built by an amateur, there was no rain, and he did this while being ridiculed by his peers! The Titanic was built by professionals with plenty of praise going on all the time.