The Fruit of the spirit is......joy

We often talk of our Christian walk as a battle or warfare. Daily, we face trials and difficulties of various kinds. We struggle with sin; we face antagonism from others; we feel we are failing in many ways; we are burdened with cares and heartaches. And yet....we come to our next fruit bearing quality - the fruit of joy!

What is Joy?

Strongs again - "to be bright and cheerful"! How many Christains do you know who are always "bright and cheerful"? Rather, it seems so easy for us to be dull and cross - burdened by difficulties instead of being lifted in joyfulness. But, we are to have joy! As with love, and with all the elements - IT IS NOT OPTIONAL! That means...when the washing machine breaks down - be joyful! When your head aches - be joyful! When you are lonely - be joyful! When you face trials - be joyful! In every circumstance, in every season of life - REJOICE! We are told in I Thessalonians 5:16 to "Rejoice evermore" which means literally "at all times". And Philippians teaches, "rejoice in the Lord ALWAY, and again I say, rejoice"! We are commanded to have joy at all times, and so we must.

How can we experience this though - how can we have joy, even in difficulties?  It may be easy to have happiness when things go well, but what about the rest of the time?  We can show happiness - which by meaning (happen, things that OCCUR bringing a response) depends on circumstance.  But, joy is sourced from somewhere different - NOT based upon our circumstances.

THE ESSENCE OF OUR JOY

So, we must firstly consider where we get this joy. And, as with our love, true joy comes only from the Lord. Joy must begin on the inside, to be evidenced on the outside. It is necessary to look into our soul and consider what deserves our joy. Psalm 35:9 says, "and my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation." Our point of commencement is in our soul. So, why is our soul joyful? We are joyful "in the Lord" - in "his salvation". We are saved and secure in Him. When we consider that he has saved us, and that we are complete in Him - when we remember all that he has done, and is doing for us day by day, we have EVERY reason to rejoice.

When we have the Spirit dwelling in us, as a result of the saving work of our Lord, then we will have joy. So, on the contrary side, if we do NOT have a walk with the Lord as we ought, and forget the wonderful works of the Lord – when we stray far from Him, when we do not walk with Him daily and draw near to Him, can we have joy?

Psalm 51 is a good illustration of this. Read it through. We read here the penitential Psalm of David after he had sinned with Bathsheba. He had wilfully, selfishly, lustfully, deceitfully entered into a wrong relationship. He had sinned so grievously against the Lord. Here, he comes with a true spirit of repentance that is required of us as sinners before a perfect God. We read of him, in verse 10, casting himself on the Lord to be cleansed and have the right spirit. And THEN, in verse 12 "restore unto me THE JOY OF MY SALVATION". He had lost his joy - the joy found in remembering what the Lord has done for us, and the way we should be living for Him as a result of our salvation. We cannot have joy if we are not right with God. Not TRUE joy! We can show happiness - which by meaning (happen, things that OCCUR bringing a response) depends on circumstance. But to have that joy, of which the Psalmist speaks, we need to first be in a right relationship with the Lord.

And then, what do we rejoice IN? Our salvation! When we consider what the Lord has done for us, how can we be anything BUT joyful? He has rescued us from a deserved punishment, into an assurance of sins forgiven and a home in heaven. He suffered a cruel, harsh death, so that we would not have to be punished for our sins. If we live day-by-day remembering our salvation afresh, we will have joy.

Joy originating from the Lord is exemplified in the coming of the Saviour into the world. Matthew 2:9 & 10 we read

"the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."

They found the Messiah - the Saviour who was prophesied of in the Old Testament - and they joyed! They had found the Saviour - so too, we joy that we have found the Saviour.

Then in Luke 1:44 we read,

"For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy."

Here, the baby that Elizabeth was carrying was aware of the presence of the Saviour in the room, carried by Mary in her womb. So we are joyful when we remember that we are CONTINUALLY in the presence of the Lord!

Luke 2:10 reads

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

The news that the Saviour had come brought joy - it was a joyful message. We can live a joyful life, and bring that joyful message to others also.


Then, we also read in Matthew 28:8

"And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy;"

So, they joyed that He was risen - the Saviour lived and had conquered death. That could not fail to bring joy to those that believe! Death is vanquished and the Lord lives! Remembering God's power over sin and death causes us to have joy with those followers of old!


Where else do we find our joy? Psalm 5:11 says

"but let those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them...”

Our trust in the Lord brings us joy. We can trust Him to care for us ALWAYS (I Peter 5:7); to provide for us ALWAYS (Philippians 4:19); to bless us (Deuteronomy 28:8); to defend us (Exodus 15:2), as we read in the verse in Psalm 5.

Psalm 16:11 brings us to another source of joy –

"thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy..."

Knowing that we have the Lord's never ending presence with us brings us joy. The hymn writer says "thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide". The verse not only speaks of joy but the "fullness" of joy. We can experience a greater depth of joy when we have a knowledge and sense of God’s presence with us. God's omnipresence should fill us with joy in our life. The children's chorus really states it so simply - "joy, joy, my heart is full of joy; My Saviour dear is ever near, that's the reason why my heart is full of joy".

We can particularly think of being in God's presence when we come before Him in prayer - we have an awareness and consciousness of that presence when we know that God hears us, through Christ’s intercession and by the power of the Holy Spirit. What joy we have when we plead with the Lord in prayer! Isaiah 56:7 says

“then will I.... make them joyful in my house of prayer...”

Also, when we read in John 16:24

“ask, and ye shall receive, that your JOY MAY BE FULL”.

The Lord gives to us, liberally and wonderfully – we ask, he gives, we receive – and we have a fullness of joy. The Lord DELIGHTS to answer our prayers – we ought to return that honour with our joy and praise.


THE ENERGISING FROM OUR JOY

Let us briefly consider a small but important truth related to this joy. Read Nehemiah chapter 8, verse 10. It tells us here,

"the joy of the Lord is your strength".

When we face difficulties and trials, when we feel overwhelmed with circumstances, we can find strength - in our joy! If we keep our hearts and attitudes joyful we will have such a positive outlook on our situation. The world talks about succeeding with a PMA - a positive mental attitude. We have something far greater for rising above our problems - the joy of the Lord. Next time you are struggling in a hardship - remember all that the Lord has done for you - remember all that he is doing - and what he will continue to do.
Remember the promises of the Lord. You WILL find strength!

THE EXPRESSION OF OUR JOY

One of the most prominent aspects of our joy is its expression. There are many different ways that we see joy expressed in the scriptures. This aspect is important, as it is the witness and testimony of what the Lord has done and IS doing in our lives. If we have joy then it needs to be shown outwardly. That is then why we read, in the scriptures, of people "singing" and "shouting" for joy. These are things that others can hear! Then we read of having a cheerful countenance - we cannot be living in the joy of the Lord with gloom and misery on our faces! Psalm 63:15 says that our "mouth shall praise with joyful lips". When we think about what God has done for us - we should want to tell others - joyfully. When we receive our answers to prayer - tell others joyfully. When we go through trials and suffering and feel comforted by the Saviour - tell others joyfully. Speak of it - show it.

Our cheerful countenance is an expression of our inward joy and we want others to know the joy our salvation brings. Sometimes people think that Christians are dull and boring - some Christians live a life that would concur with that view! Some Christians even think that we should be always sombre and dull! But that's not what the Bible teaches us. We even read of people "shouting" for joy - making " a joyful noise" - and praising with "joyful lips".

So, share your joy - make sure your face, expressions and words show others the joy of Jesus in your life.

EXAMPLES THAT ILLUSTRATE OUR JOY

Although we know that we are commanded to simply "rejoice in the lord ALWAY" - all the time, in everything - we are still given helpful examples in God's Word of times when people expressed their joy. From these, we can be reminded of ways we must have joy in our lives.

Ezra 3 : 12 & 13 are the verses at the end of a passage where we learn of the rebuilding of the temple, specifically the rebuilding of the foundations. We read

"many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off."


That must have been an amazing expression of joy! They were so thrilled that the Lord's house was being built that they shouted for joy. They would once again have a place to worship the Lord aright, after spending many years in captivity with no place to worship. People could hear their joy "afar off"!

Do we have that same joy when the Lord's work prospers? Do we appreciate that we have somewhere to go and worship the Lord - that we have the liberty to go to Church regularly? We ought to express our joy to the Lord for these things.

I Chronicles 29:9 reads

“Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered
willingly, because with perfect heart they offered
willingly to the LORD: and David the king also
rejoiced with great joy.”


It tells us of the building of the first temple, commenced under the reign of King David. He initiates the giving of gold and precious stones for the building of the temple. Following this, the people further give of what they have also. They "offered willingly" which causes the people and David to rejoice.

Do we offer sacrificially and willingly to the Lord in all that we do? Do we joyfully give of our money and possesions to further the Lord's work. We have a lesson to learn from these people, in our attitude towards our giving.


Psalm 126:5 & 6 reads

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

Here, we are reminded of our responsibility to share the gospel with others. Not only that, but of the rewards of our sowing, if we labour with tears and effort. We SHALL reap with joy! We shall see the reward of our labours if we go with burden and care for those who we are trying to reach for the Lord. We will return with fruit for our labours. What a joy we would have if we witness to others and see the Lord blessing that labour.

Now read James 1:2

“count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”


Well, that is a challenging one! How can we possibly count that as JOY? When we are experience temptations? Well, if you read on, we learn that the trials lead to patience, which leads to a contentment with what we have, the experience of being complete - “wanting nothing”! This is truly the outliving of “all things working together for good”.



Now, before I get carried away with joy, here are some questions to further look into some aspects covered in the study.

1.Read Hebrews 10:32 – 34. What circumstances does Paul bring to our attention? What example can we learn from it? How should we view our possessions in this light?

2. Study II Corinthians 7. Note all the mentions of joy in the passage. What can we learn from them?

3. Read the last few verses of Acts chapter 13 ( verses 44 – 52). What situation were Paul and Barnabas in? What happened here? How would they have felt about it? What reaction did they have at the end of it all? What can we learn from it?

4. Read Psalm 30:5. What encouragement can we glean from this verse?

5. We considered how we can rejoice when we “trust in the Lord”. We considered the protection that he provides for us. Read the following passages, and find the different description given for the security we find in the Lord. What different types of protection do these portray? Study them and be joyful in them! Proverbs 18:10; Prov.29:25; Ex.15:2; II Sam. 22:2 & 31; Ps. 14:6; Ps. 18:2; Ps.27:1; Ps. 28:7; Ps. 89:18; Ps. 94:22; Ps. 121:5; Ps. 125:2; Heb. 13:6.

6. We also considered that we have our joy “in the Lord” and “of the Lord”. Study these references to names for Jehovah (LORD), and consider what he does that we can be joyful in.

Exodus 15:26 – Jehovah Rophe
Jeremiah 23:6 – Jehovah Tsidkenu
Judges 6:24 – Jehovah Shalom
Exodus 17:15 – Jehovah Nissi
Ezekial 48:35 – Jehovah Shammah
Genesis 22:14 – Jehovah Jireh
Psalm 23:1 – Jehovah Rohi
Leviticus 20:7-8 – Jehovah Mekaddishkem

Study Psalm 23 and find all the above!

The fruit of the spirit is.....love

There are 9 characteristics listed for us, namely - love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Now, some of these may be more obvious and evident in your life already. Some, you may only have a simple understanding of, and may not have thought of them in a deeper sense. But, one thing is for certain, we OUGHT to know and outlive them all! They should be the outworking of that work which the Holy Spirit HAS performed and IS performing in us.


The sinful world in which we live has trivialised and sentimentalised love. People use the term lightly and easily. Love can mean everything or nothing – “I love my husband” or “I love cake”. The 2 are worlds apart in importance (or they should be!…) However, as Christians, there is a lot to learn about what it means to love – to live it as an action, not just to express it as an emotion.

I think it is important, especially considering how lightly the term is often used, that we define love in the Biblical sense. The word “love” or “charity” is mentioned 339 times in the Bible. The Old Testament mainly uses the word ahab – which means “to have affection for”, and chashaq, “to cling, join to love, delight in”. The New Testament, however, uses several different words for love. Firstly there is agapao – “to love”. Then, there is phileo, which is “to be fond of, a friend to, have affection for”. There are other much less used terms – thelo, to “choose or prefer” (see Mark 12:38), philarguria “love of money”, philandros “love to husband”, philoteknos “love to children” and philanthropia “benevolence, kindness toward man”. Strong, in his Greek Concordance describes the difference between agapao and phileo like this

phileo - to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), that is, have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while agapao is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head)


In short – agapao is a love that we mentally make a decision to have, not just an emotion or feeling like phileo. We have to CHOOSE to love, rather than it naturally being there.

Bearing this in mind, all of our instruction to love in the New Testament, is agapao – a love that we set our mind to show. It is deliberate, not a spontaneous emotion or sentimentality. It goes far deeper and means a lot more.

Then what can we learn about this love that we must bear as fruit?



WHY ARE WE TO LOVE?

Primarily, and most importantly, we love because we are commanded to. It is a direct command from our heavenly Father, and therefore must not be ignored. John 15:12 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” Simple really….isn’t it?…..

Romans 13:10 teaches that “love is the fulfilling of the law.” Love is the essence of the rest of the law – if we love, then we will be able to keep all the rest. So we must love, in order to fulfill all that we have been commanded to obey. It is the motivator of all else that we do.




WHO ARE WE TO LOVE?


We are told to love many different groups of people, but these are the most-mentioned ones.


THE LORD



We must consider that our love must firstly be to the Lord. We are directly told to “love the Lord” or “love God” 21 times in the Bible. We cannot neglect such a clear and repeated instruction. There is not a choice given, rather a commandment. Where does this love begin then? I John 4:13 teaches “We love him, because he first loved us.” The Lord set His undeserving love upon us and demonstrated it in sending his son to die for us and take the punishment for our sin. What an example! Then, John 14:23 teaches “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Then, if we first love the Lord, above all else, then we have the indwelling Spirit who then enables us to show that love to others. I John 4 verse 10 &11 then states – “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another”. So, we come a full circle – God loves us, we love Him, we show love to others.

The commandment to love God is emphasized in Mark 12: 30 & 31. The Lord tells us that there is “no greater commandment”. Think of that! All of the seriousness of the ten commandments – all the serious sins that we must strive to avoid, or deeds we must to do – and yet, loving the Lord is more important than them all. Why? Because loving God will then give us a desire to follow all the others! When we are walking with Him, and loving Him in every way, we will WANT to obey. Our love for the Lord then has a reflective quality – it is HIS love that we are showing to others, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.


ONE ANOTHER

31 times in the scriptures, we are told to love one another. John 13:34 says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” So, we are reminded again that our love to others stems from Christs love to us. We are told more explicitly to “love one another as I have loved you”. In every way that He loves us we have to love others. It then is understandable that “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples”. If we love like the Lord, then our relationship with the Lord should be obvious. We are told also to love our “neighbour”. This would be included in the umbrella of “one another”, but would be more specific to those “near” to us – in distance (ie where we live) and in a Church and family setting. I suppose we are reminded of this, as it is not always easy to show love to those nearest to us. They are the ones whom we have contact with regularly, and have more potential to have “unloving” behaviour shown to us, perhaps making them harder TO love? But then, isn’t this the essence of that “agape” love we are to show – to make that effort to love even when it is not easy. The people that we worship with on the Lord’s day and have fellowship are just as imperfect as we are. Circumstances arise that make a loving spirit and demonstration difficult – but we must still show love to them. Our example of the Saviour can only be used for good to others that may not be walking as they should. The Lord can use it to challenge the ones that are not behaving in a Godly way. So – keep on loving!

YOUR ENEMIES

Well now – if loving our family, or loving fellow Christians can be a difficult job – loving our ENEMIES?! Those who hate us, those who do not love God’s word. The word enemy derives from the latin inimicus, from in- not + amicus - a friend. Those who are not our friends – have no desire to be, because they know we love the Lord. The dictionary definition includes “A person who is actively opposed to someone else” (emphasis mine). They are doing and saying things to try oppose our truths and life lived for God. And we are to LOVE them. This is one of the biggest tests of our love – it is difficult and requires effort to SHOW love to those whom it is easier to dislike and who often deserve to be disliked. But, it can then be an opportunity of witnessing and winning others for Christ.


So then, we have thought of WHO we should love. We need to then consider….



HOW ARE WE TO LOVE?


When we look through the different references to love, we learn a lot about the way in which we must demonstrate our love to others.

We must “walk” in love – Eph. 5:2 –to live in and be occupied with love. This reminds us that it is an active attribute, and requires a moving forward also. We shouldn’t be content with our love, but move forward with it and develop it.

We must “labour” in love – I Thess 1:3 – this reminds us that we must toil and work hard to produce love. It is not an easy task, but requires our every effort and energy.

We must “serve” in love – Galatians 5:13 – our love should motivate us to serve others – to be practical in our help and care for them. And, we should BE loving in the way that we show that servants heart. I john 3:17 & 18 also speaks of this – “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” So, if we do not endeavor to meet the needs of others when we see them, we have to question if the Lord’s love is in us. We must outlive our love in the most practical ways. Gill in his commentary says –

“true love is a laborious and operative grace, hence we read of the work and labour of love; it shows itself by the saints serving one another, in spirituals; as by bearing one another's burdens, forbearing with, and forgiving one another, praying for each other, and building up one another on their most holy faith; exhorting each other to the duties of religion, and not suffering sins upon one another, but admonish in love, and restore with meekness; and in temporals, distributing to the necessities of the saints, ministering: to them of their worldly substance, and supplying their daily wants: and this is loving "in deed", or "in work"; this is actual love, love in fact, and what is apparent and evident: and it is "in truth", when it is in reality, and not in show only; and when it is cordially and heartily done, with cheerfulness, and without grudging.”

Much there to apply and take to heart!


I know a lady, and, to put it kindly, she seems to struggle to show much outward joy and happiness. She attends Church, but nothing outwardly indicates much happiness.

Well, one day I had an awful lot of over-ripe bananas, so I decided to make several little banana loaves and give them away. Now, I could have given them to those I thought would seem to appreciate them. Some I did, but I decided to give some to the aforementioned lady. You see, we are told to display love as part of our fruit. Thinking loving thoughts about someone is a start. Telling others you love someone does not even mean enough. SHOWING love – now, that means more.

I didn’t expect an enthusiastic response – but, WOW! She smiled widely and thanked me sincerely! Now, that was worth showing love for. It blessed and encouraged me, as well as her I hope. BUT – even if she hadn’t have responded like that, it would STILL be worth it – because it is the right way to live.


We must love “without dissimulation” – that is sincere, without hypocrisy.  How easy it is to SAY we love, but then do not show it as we ought to.



Now, your turn again.  This time, I have more for you to study!  

1.  Read Mark 12:30.  How are we to love?  What does this entail?


2.  Read Luke 6 31-35 & Matt 5 43-46.  What can we learn from these passages? 
 How are we  to love?

3.  Read Deuteronomy 10:19.  Which people have we to show love to here - what practical ways can you think of to apply this?

4.  Read Ephesians 1:15 and Colossians 1:4.  What commendation does Paul bring of the churches in Ephesus and Colosse?  Can this be said of your Church setting - what can you do to make this the case?

5.  Read Titus 2:4.  How can you show your husband today that  you love him, thinking of all the aspects of love that we have considered?

6.  Read Psalm 145:20, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 6:24, John 14:23,
I Cor. 2:9, James 1:12.  What are the different
 ways we are rewarded for loving the Lord?

7.  Read II Cor. 12:15 - what example does Paul set for us here?

Now for the "big one"!!!!!!

8.  Read I Cor. 13......List all the attributes of love given here.  How can you apply that in the relationships that you have - to your husband, to  your children, to your parents, siblings, friends and others?

"The Fruit of The Spirit"

As we begin our studies on the Fruit of the Spirit, I think it important to look at the subject in general, before taking a “bite” at each of the elements mentioned!

Firstly, I think we must first ascertain that no subject is exhaustible when it comes to the things of the Lord. Many people can look at God’s Word and each find some different thought based on the same principle and truths. It is these “pearls” that we can share with each other once we have studied. His Word is an ocean in which an endless number of pearls can be found. However, like the ocean, God’s Word is vast. Therefore, to find these precious “pearls” we need to search, and delve into the depths of God’s Word. They don’t just come floating along on life’s sea! We need to put in that effort, worthy of the things of God. We sometimes find these pearls under God’s goodness, with ease – when the “sunshine” of His goodness draws our eye to one of these “pearls” which we have not noticed before. They can be “stirred up” by seas of difficulties – just like when a storm has come, it churns up the muddy waters and we find things previously hidden. But, the way we will find these pearls of truth is the most common method – searching, seeking, and studying…

Before we begin, another “s” – supplication. We need to earnestly seek the Lord to guide us as we look at these precious truths that He has revealed to us. They are for His glory and our good – what better thing can we do! Ask for His wisdom, a desire to learn, and a desire to OBEY once we have found these truths.

So, on with our study. In God’s Word, turn to and read GALATIANS chapter 5. We will be specifically dwelling on the verses 22-23.
Read further up the chapter in order to get the context of these verses we will study. Paul is referring to liberty and the law. He tells us that by living our life in the Spirit we are under liberty, not under the law. However, he warns of not allowing this liberty to hinder our Christian walk. We must not use it as an excuse to give “occasion to the flesh” (verse 13) – that is giving the flesh the opportunity to prevail. We are, of course, sinners saved by God’s grace. We naturally are inclined towards the “old man” and a life where the flesh seeks to have pre-eminence. However, verse 16 tells us to “walk in the Spirit. And ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh”.

WHAT THEN IS THIS FRUIT?
Then, we read that by walking and dwelling in the spirit we have this fruit. It is our guard against fulfilling the lusts of flesh, which are then listed in verse 19-21. This fruit is evidence in our life that we belong to the Lord – fruit is something physical and seen by others. If we do not display this fruit, people could rightly call into question if we do indeed belong to the Lord, because “by their fruits ye shall know them” Matthew 7:20. Don’t we feel so keenly how the flesh battles to take control in our lives? But we know how to battle it! Live out the fruit! Immerse yourself in a life that is governed by the actions produced by this fruit, and you will soon experience a life of greater overcoming. We can influence others for the Lord by our life lived in the Spirit, shown by this fruit. What a challenge – what an encouragement!

They are wonderful characteristics, which we are REQUIRED to live out if we are believers. No choice here! No picking and choosing – “but I am so much better at being loving than patient – surely that’s ok?” NO! We must strive and work at them all, because they come as a package. It is so often misquoted as the “FRUITS” – note the plural. They are rather the “FRUIT” – note the singular. They must come together, in order to fulfil the requirement made of us in verse 25. If we are saved and have the Spirit dwelling in us and we “live in the spirit, let us also WALK in the spirit”. Walking is an adjective – a “doing” word. We must live out these actions to walk as true Christians. No, it is not easy – were we promised that it would be?



WHERE DOES IT START?

The concept of our Christian life involving the bearing of fruit begins earlier on in the New Testament. There are 3 main passages in the Gospels that refer to fruit bearing, to which we can apply principles as Christians. One I shall look at in greater detail, the others are YOUR part to do before the next study!

The first is the well-known passage in John chapter 15. Turn to it now and read the whole chapter. We begin with the position that God fulfils in this analogy. The Lord Jesus is the “true vine” – He is where our new life stems from. God the Father is the “husbandman” – the one who cares for and tends to the vine. Immediately we are then thrown into the issue of fruit bearing, in a very forceful way.

1. A REPROOF - We are told in verse 2 that “every branch that beareth not fruit he taketh away”. WELL! What a warning! We cannot afford to neglect the bearing of this fruit in our life. If we do not fulfil it, it is presumed we are not in Christ!

2. A REQUIREMENT – Believers MUST bear this fruit – it MUST be evidenced and outlived by us. It is a command, which has no element of choice. “Abide in me” – not, “on days you feel like it”, or “if you choose to abide”. ABIDE! – now, today, every moment, in good times, in bad times – ALL the time!


3. A RELIANCE – verses 4 and 5 then remind us the only way of bearing this fruit. “Abide in me, and I in you”. If we obey this command to abide, or dwell and have our permanent abode, in Christ, then He will abide in us. His continual presence and influence is then with us, governing our thoughts, words and deeds. Not only are we reminded to dwell in Christ, but also we are reminded why – “for without me ye can do nothing”! All that we may demonstrate of any virtue does not come from our sinful self, but of the Lord. We do not have the desire or the strength to accomplish fruit bearing on our own. The moment we turn on self-reliance we are then “fulfilling the lusts of the flesh”, warned of in Galatians 5, and we are bearing nothing.


4. A RETURN - THEN, we can bear fruit, abiding in the vine. Indeed “ the same bringeth forth MUCH fruit”! There are no small measures with the Lord! By putting our all into the Lord – by casting ourselves upon Him in every part of our life - then we will produce the fruit that is the evidence of this relationship.


5. A REWARD – Verses 7 and 10 remind us that God is good and gracious. When we obey His command, He blesses us by giving to us. Verse 7 “if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” It reminds us, firstly, that our relationship must include fellowship with God in prayer. Abiding in God draws us into closer communion with Him in prayer – our God-given means of speaking to our Heavenly Father. Secondly, we are reminded that God blesses us by answering our prayers. We mustn’t forget the issue that our prayers must be in accordance with the Word of God! We cannot ask for “things” and expect to find them on our doorstep the next morning! Rather we can claim God’s promises as our prayers “my God shall supply all my needs”, as opposed to expecting to receive our “greeds”!

Verse 10 then promises, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love”. He promises us that we will dwell in His love – we will be aware of His love around us at all times, with all the comfort, strength and delight that that brings to us. This, in turn will stir us up to continue bearing the fruit that is required of us! And, this thought leads us so naturally towards the first element of the fruit that we are to bear – love! Flowing out of God’s love to us, is a desire TO love. But more of that next month…..!


NOW!…..the passages for our study!

Passage 1 is found in Matthew 13 verses 18-23, Mark 4 verses 3- 20 and Luke 8 verses 5-15. It is the same parable repeated 3 times, but as always with the gospel there is value in reading them side-by-side. There is invariably a different angle taken on the same information, giving us a greater depth to the meaning of the parable.

After reading, use these questions to study the passage carefully.

1. What are the hindrances to the seed having good ground? List them.
2. How could these be considered in real terms, in our Christian life?
3. What are YOUR thorns and stones? – how can you take practical steps to sort out your “garden” so the “seed” has good ground to grow?
4. What is the key to bringing forth fruit? What heart attitude is required.



Passage 2 is found in Luke chapter 6 verse 41-45.

1. What sin are we warned against committing?
2. If we avoid this sin, what will the result be?
3. What effect will having a fruit-bearing life have on our actions and attitudes?

Our prayer must be that we will draw near to the Lord in our day-to-day walk, so that we bring forth fruit to His honour and glory. May we know His “still small voice” as we read and study His Word.

Testimonies

I think that so often we have friends that we make as Christians, and we don't even know their testimony of how the Lord saved them!  It is so encouraging to hear how the Lord works in the lives of others, and I think it can be used to "build each other up" in our faith.  If you feel able, please share your testimony with us by e-mailing me (see the address at the bottom of the page....), and I can load them on.

Once again, the only place I can start is with myself!

I was born into the home of loving, Christian parents - which I will always be thankful to the Lord for.  They sought to bring us  up (myself and my 3 siblings) in "the fear and admonition of the Lord".  
I remember clearly, at the age of 5, having an understanding of the consequences of my sin before the Lord - that I was heading for a lost eternity if I did not trust in Him as my Saviour.  My mother knelt by the bed with me, and I turned to the Lord as my Saviour.  I clearly remember that it had been raining (what a surprise....in Scotland?!), and after praying, the sun had come out and was shining in my window - a reminder to me that the Lord comes in and makes a change in your life.  

I remember trying to live for the Lord at school, even at a young age.  Trying to tell others of the Lord, and invite them to Church.  When I hit my teens I had a real struggle to put the Lord first in my life.  The peer pressures of teenagers came my way to tempt me.  But, praise God, my testimony is one of God's keeping in my life.  My relationship was strengthened, and I grew closer to the Lord.  At the age of 16 I was particularly challenged in my walk with the Lord.  At a service in Northern Ireland we were challenged of the need to give ourselves WHOLLY to the Lord, for Him to use as He sees fit.  I realised that I had been holding back in many ways and needed to surrender wholly to Him in every area of my life - to serve Him in every way I could.  I didn't know then that the Lord would bring me to become a Pastor's wife (and I may have been rather terrified if I had known that then!).  

The Lord has kept me lovingly so far, and I know He will continue to do so "through all the changing scenes of life" as the hymnwriter penned it.

Favourite Hymn

Here we can share our favourite hymns.  There are so many to choose from, of course, and it may be hard to choose just one!  It would be nice to hear the reasons for your choices - how the Lord has used it to challenge, encourage or bless you.

I will start with one of mine.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not:
As thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Chorus
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth.
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!



We had this hymn at our wedding, as it is a favourite of ours.  We feel that it has been our testimony as a couple, as well as our experience before we were married.  The Lord provides for ALL our needs - He has promised too, and we have no reason to doubt any of God's promises.  The reminder of our pardon from so much sin, and God's peace and presence, are further promises to be claimed from the Lord.  Such simple, but profound truths!


The next hymn is a favourite of Maryse's.

Naught have I gotten but what I received;
Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed;
Boasting excluded, pride I abase;
I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!

Refrain

Only a sinner, saved by grace!
Only a sinner, saved by grace!
This is my story, to God be the glory—
I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!

Once I was foolish, and sin ruled my heart,
Causing my footsteps from God to depart;
Jesus hath found me, happy my case;
I now am a sinner, saved by grace!

Tears unavailing, no merit had I;
Mercy had saved me, or else I must die;
Sin had alarmed me fearing God’s face;
But now I’m a sinner saved by grace!

Suffer a sinner whose heart overflows,
Loving his Savior to tell what he knows;
Once more to tell it would I embrace—
I’m only a sinner saved by grace!

It is truly only by God's grace that we have any standing before him - "by grace are ye saved".

Prayer Requests

This will be an area where we can share prayer items.  If you e-mail them to me, I can post them on the Blog.  I can up-date the post with the above title, whenever they are received.

Pray for me as I seek to bring this study to you all - pray that God will guide me and use this study for His glory alone.