How to be a Fruity Christian (Part 8)

As we continue to look at what true joy looks like, we must ask ourselves "How is true joy develped in the life of a human being?"  First, true joy only begins when Christ is invited to take over one's life completely.  Joy is an overflow of real, saving faith.  Jesus stated about Abraham, "Abraham saw My day (faith) and rejoiced."  Second, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy, and this joy can only be cultivated when we allow the Spirit of God to work in our life rather than quench Him (Acts. 13:52;Rom. 14:17).  Third, true joy is only tested and developed through suffering.  This statement may sound foolish, but when you read the book of Philippians, the life of Jesus, and even James 1:2 - "Consider it all joy when you fall into all sort of temptation and trials...", we clearly see that if God gave a Christian a life of complete ease on this earth, then we would not be able to understand what true joy truely looks like.  Fourth, true joy flows out of a committed prayer life (John 16:23-24).  And last, true joy is only experienced as we walk with Christ (John 16:20-22).  The prophet Habakkuk summed up real joy when he stated, "Even though nothing is going right and  life seems to be falling apart, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!" (Hab. 3:17-18)  Until next time, let the joy of the Lord be your strength, as you walk closely with Him. 

How to be a Fruity Christian (Part 7)

Today I want to describe to you where true joy comes.  Galatians 5:22 tells us that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy..."  When you and I have God's love in our hearts, then the other eight fruit will take root and begin to grow in our lives.  Someone has said that joy is love's conscience.  When we are walking in God's love and in His overflowing passion for us, then our lives can be joyful no matter the ourward circumstances.   Many people, even Christians, think that they can have lasting joy from their family, occupations, recreations, and even in material treasures.  But the longer one lives, the clearer they learn that the things of this life cannot keep them joyful.  Yes, I might be happy having a family, but there are times when my family will steal my joy.  There are days I love my job, but then there are other days I want to quit.  Oh, I can remember the time my Tennessee Volunteers made be happy, then there are other times...I don't want to describe how I felt about them.  And yes, driving a new car off that lot created a smile on my face, but having the pay for it six years almost gave me an ulser.  These things may bring a moment of happiness to our lives, but true joy is a gift from God (Ecc. 5:20).

Did you know that the word "joy" occures in some form 326 times in the New Testament.  Nehemiah tells Israel that "God's joy is to be their strength." (Neh. 8:10).  Scripture is clear, the fruit of joy flows from one source and one source only, Christ Jesus. (John 15:11, Phil 3:1)  The word joy is connected to the word grace.  True joy comes when we let go of the law and let God's grace embrace us.  John McAurther states, "Joy is the deep down sense of well-being that aides in the heart of the person who knows all is well between himself and the Lord."  Real joy is not based on favorable circumstacnes or human emotions.  The fruit of the Spirit is not a feeling or emotion.  Pleasures are momentary, real joy is deep & abiding!  And I promise, the closer you walk with Christ, the less stress you will experience and a greater joy you will carry in life, knowing that Christ is by your side, never to leave you or forsake you.  Until next time, keep walking close with Christ.

How to be a Fruity Christian (Part 6)

We have seen so far that the key fruit of the Spirit is love, from which the other nine virtues flow.  We have also learned that even this world takes the word "love" and applies to mean affection for  food, pets, and movies, as well as a word used to justify their sinful lifestyles.  The reality of the manner is that we as human would know nothing about true love had it not be for God demonstrating that love toward us as noted in John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Once a person is transformed by God's love, then this key fruit begins to ripen and develop their life.  How is this love demonstrated in a Christians life?   First, it proves who is really a child of God (1 John 3:14;4:7).  Some of the other characteristics/fruits might be counterfeited by our old nature, but God's love (agape) can not be counterfeit.  Either you have God's love in your life or you don't!  Second, God's love forgives (Matt. 18:21-35).  It will move you to forgive your spouse, children, friends, and even your enemies.  True love never seeks revenge, but forgives those who have hurt you just like Christ forgives us.  And last, true love is displayed through our work (Matt. 5:43-48).  There are plenty of people in this world who claim to love, but God's love is only displayed through self-sacrifice.  During WW 2, at Ravensbruck concentration camp, hundreds of women were chosen to be taken to the gas chamber.  One of the women in line became hysterical not wanting to die.  From a crowd of woman not chosen for death, a figure emerged and approached the woman broken by fear and hysteria.  She said, "It's all right.  It's all right.  I'll take your place."  This lady, was Elizabeth Pilenko (Mother Maria), a nun arrested and sentenced to Ravensbruck because of her love for the Jews, as to hid them in her home.  The time she lived in this prison, even the guards spoke of her as "that wonderful Russian nun."  It is examples like this throughout the ages that proves how powerful the love of God truly is when it takes root in the hearts of men and women.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.          

How to Be a Fruity Christian (Part 5)

In the mid 1990's, on Monday Night Football, the game would begin by each starting players saying their name and the college they attended.  As the players listed their colleges, it so happened that a player from Ohio State University said something like, "My name is ____________and I'm from THE Ohio State University."  And even today, every player from Ohio St makes sure to add the word "The" before their school's name, in order to clearly distinguish Ohio State University as the only school that matters in the whole state of Ohio.  When we talk about the "fruit of the Spirit", many believe that their are nine different fruit.  Yet look closely at Galatians 5:22 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love..."  The word fruit is singular.  We can say that "LOVE"  is "The Fruit" of the Spirit, from which the other eight flow.  Without the love of God coursing through the veins of a believer, there is no possible way to have real joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

To be a "Fruity Christian" really means to be a person who has the love of God in their lives.  The Bible is clear that this love (agape) is a love that is supernatural in origin.  This love is God's gift to humanity through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus.  Jesus told His disciples that the world would know that they were His children by their love (agape) for one another (John 15).  Jesus went on to teach that the all ten commandments can be summed up in two points:  Love (agape) God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love (agape) your neighbor has yourself."  The fruit of love is the supreme virtue of Christian living.  The Apostle Paul states that love is the perfect bond of unity; the perfect glue for any relationship (Col. 3:14).  Ultimately, this fruit is the sole characteristic that describes God - "God is love." (1 John 4:16).  So you see, when you accept Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live within you and begins to cultivate the love of God in your life; and it is from this foundation of love in which we begin to grow in every area of our Christian walk.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.      

How to Be a Fruity Christian (Part 4)

If a Christian is expected to produce fruit (Gal. 5:22-23), then the next question we must ask ourselves is, "What is the purpose of fruit?"  Did God create fruit trees to produce beautiful looking fruit only to be stared at?  Is the purpose of fruit to be solely a decoration?  No!  The main purpose for fruit is to provide sustenance to whoever eats it.  So when God's Word calls Christians to produce fruit, then it means that the primary purpose of a Christian is not to be seen at a distance as a trinket, but rather to provide sustenance/life to this dying world.  You see, when you and I allow the Holy Spirit to work and move in our lives, then our lives begin to produce the fruit of love which in turn is displayed in joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  When a Christian deliberately lives and gives out this fruit to their family, communities, work place, and wherever they go, then that Christian is providing life for this world.  When a "Christian" refuses to allow it's fruit to have an impact on their surroundings, then death settles in.  Proverbs 12:12 states "...the root of the righteous yields fruit."  Proverbs 11:20 states "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, he that wins souls is wise."  Scripture is clear, that our words, speech, talk, or work will either feed or starve those around us. The late Jim McGinley made this powerful observation, "I am not to judge you, but I am a fruit inspector, and I have a right to look at the fruit you are producing."   Is the fruit that you are producing worth eating?  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

How to Be a Fruity Christian (Part 3)

I do not claim to be an expert in farming or cultivating fruit trees.  Yet I do enjoy planting both vegetables and fruit trees, and then spending the next months and even years watching them produce their bounty.   In all my work, I have learned that the more I (the care-taker) do for my plants, the better they will produce.  If I carefully prepare the soil, fertilize, weed, water, and spray correctly, then those plants will produce a better harvest.  This truth also applies to the Christian life.  In order for the child of God to produce a bountiful harvest the cultivator or vine-dresser (John 15:1-5), Jesus Himself, will do all He can so that we, His vines, will produce bountifully for His glory.    We should not worry about the vine-dresser's cares for us.  He will only do for His children what will be the best for our spiritual growth.  In fact, God uses discipline and correction as part of the pruning process in our lives.  Yes, it is painful for the tree and for the child of God, but the end result is a great harvest.  This growth and harvest is depended only as we "abide in Christ (John 15:4 & Ps. 1:3).  If we purpose to discipline our lives daily, to walk closely with Christ, the fruit of the Spirit will be evident by all.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ. 

How to be a Fruity Christian (Part 2)

When you and I see apples on an apple tree, pears on a pear tree, or oranges on an orange tree, one word that never come across our mind is the word "death".  When we see a tree producing fruit it is a clear sign that tree is alive.  No matter how poor the outward appearance of that tree may be, the production of fruit lets us know that tree is still living.  This is the lesson the apostle Paul is teaching us in Galatians 5 to the church in Galatia.  When we see the fruit of the Spirit in the life of a believer is a sign of life and growth.  If we see the fruits of the flesh hanging from the spiritual limbs of people, then it reveals to us that sin and good works dominate their inward life, resulting in death (Gal. 5:19, Rom. 6:23).  In fact Jude 12 states, "...wicked men are like trees with no fruit."  So a correct assumption from this passage can be as follows:  First, a true believer in Christ will produce good fruit.  Second, those who do not have Christ living in them cannot produce fruit.  Third, a lack of fruit (for short period of time, John 15) can apply to a backslidden believer.  Fourth, the love of God in a believer's life, will manifest itself as various Spirit-filled qualities/fruit as listed in verse 22-23.  When a Christian is determined to walk closely with Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, this walk will be made evident by the abundance of fruit they produce.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ and producing good fruit.