The Fruit of the Holy Spirit..Craig Denison Ministries

 The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As believers, we’ve been given the Holy Spirit as a Helper, Teacher, Friend, and seal for the promised inheritance of eternal life with God. His presence, guidance, and wisdom in our lives is our greatest gifts while here on earth. Through him we have access to direct connection with our heavenly Father. Through him we receive spiritual gifts to empower us. And through him we are able to bear the incredible fruit of abundant life. Open your heart and mind to all that the Holy Spirit would give you, show you, and lead you to this week.

Scripture:“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23

Devotional:

The fruit of the Spirit passage in Galatians 5:22-23 gives me tremendous hope for my own life. Scripture says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” When I read that list I receive a vision of who I long to be. I long to be a person full of love, joy, and peace. I long to have patience, kindness, and goodness. I long to be marked by faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Who wouldn’t? I see within those incredible characteristics the marks of a fully abundant life. I see Jesus.

At the same time, I see myself in light of these incredible fruits of the Spirit. I see all the ways in which my life doesn’t line up with what the Holy Spirit desires to birth in me. How can we, in all our sin and brokenness, live a life marked by these characteristics? How can we be a people so full of the Spirit that our very being portrays the Spirit of God who dwells within us?

God longs to tell you and me today that by his grace, a life marked by the fruit of the Spirit is entirely possible—but only by his grace. In and of myself, I can produce none of these wonderful characteristics. In my own strength, I will only produce selfishness, laziness, and pride. “But with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). The Bible calls these characteristics fruit for a reason. They are birthed out of the glorious working of God in us. They come entirely by God’s grace.

So how do we allow the Holy Spirit to work at the core of our being and produce these wonderful fruits? How do we become children of God marked by the working of the Spirit in our lives? It comes from being connected to our source, that he might plant seeds that grow within us. As we spend time with God we become like him. In his presence our heart transforms into a greater reflection of his glorious love. He can do incredible and miraculous things in us if we simply open our hearts and spend time abiding in him. The more time we spend receiving his love for us, the more areas of brokenness and sin become healed and transformed. If you want to bear the fruit of the Spirit—if you want to be a person marked by the working of God at your core—then you must spend time each day simply being loved by God.

There is no shortcut to holiness. There is no trick to godliness. Jesus has made a way for us to enter into the holy places and see the face of God. God will do magnificent things in you today if you will follow the path laid before you by Jesus and spend time resting in the presence of your heavenly Father. Receive his love. Allow the words he speaks over you to transform the way you view yourself and the world around you. Spend time in prayer meditating on his word and allowing your heart to become more like Jesus’ today.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire and ability to produce the fruit of the Spirit in you. Allow his word to fill you with hope that you can be a person marked by these characteristics.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” Psalm 1:1-5

2. Receive God’s presence and rest in his love. Open up any broken places in your life to him. Talk to him about any areas in which you consistently struggle with sin and allow his love to heal those wounds.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in you today. Ask him to lead you to a lifestyle of love, joy, and peace. Ask him to fill you with patience, kindness, and goodness toward others and yourself. Ask him to make you a person marked by faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

It’s vital that you understand these characteristics are not something you strive toward in your own strength, but they are a natural result of being loved by God. You will never be able to be consistently faithful, gentle, or anything else good in your own strength. It takes the work of the Spirit to be marked by the Spirit. Engage with the Holy Spirit throughout your day. When you find yourself in a situation and are struggling to be a person full of the fruit of the Spirit, take a minute and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help. Ask him to share with you his perspective and heart. He is with you in every moment and longs to help you live your life to the fullest. Enjoy his love today and live your life out of the abundance of God’s presence available to you.

Extended Reading: Galatians 5

The Consequences of Drifting..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Consequences of Drifting

Dr. Charles Stanley

Hebrews 3:12-13

Spiritual drifting--the gradual wandering away from God and His will--takes place when a believer ceases to steer toward the Lord. Like an empty boat set loose upon the waters, he or she makes a slow and lazy glide away from good practices like disciplined obedience, regular Bible study, prayer, and assembling with fellow Christians. And there are consequences for casting yourself on uncharted and dangerous waters.

A life adrift is outside of God's will and therefore in sin. The Holy Spirit pricks a believer's conscience to send a message when he is off course, but the drifter is prone to ignore such warnings. If a Christian continually excuses his wandering ways and denies sin, then his conscience gradually numbs. A person who becomes desensitized to wrongdoing has paved the way for more sinful behavior with less guilt. Can you imagine a more dangerous situation?

As the drifting believer's conscience becomes anesthetized, his spiritual ears are also deadened--truth cannot gain entrance because he has invited wrong attitudes and philosophies into his thinking process. What's more, his heart hardens to the things of God. Shrinking away from testimonies about divine power, grace, and mercy, he avoids situations that might reawaken the conscience and stir his spirit to repentance.

People drift from God in search of more--more freedom, choices, and pleasure. But since the consequences are a hard heart, a numb conscience, and dead ears, what they end up with is less. The drifting believer sacrifices the victorious life in Christ for an existence devoid of permanent satisfaction.

Distinguishing Holy Spirit Conviction from Enemy Accusation..Lynette Kittle

 Distinguishing Holy Spirit Conviction from Enemy Accusation

By Lynette Kittle

“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says: ‘This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds’”—Hebrews 10:15,16

For anyone who has ever felt guilty for something, how do we know if it’s the enemy of our souls pointing fingers at us or if it’s God, convicting us of sin? How can we tell the difference between the two?

Many people have attended church, hearing the pastor’s words from the pulpit, thinking he is speaking directly to them, somehow knowing what they’ve been hiding or secretly dealing with sin in their hearts and minds. If it comes from the pulpit, it’s easy to believe it’s God pointing His finger at us, but at times even the enemy sometimes shows up in church, seated in the pew behind us, poking his finger in our backs. 

In 1 Corinthians 4:21, the Apostle Paul describes ways conviction may come. “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?” So how can we discern the difference between the Holy Spirit convicting us of sin and the enemy accusing us?

Are You Talking to Me?

Scripture tells us the devil accuses us 24/7, so when it’s a non-stop, accusing, pointing finger at us, it’s mostly like him and not God. 

Revelation 12:10 describes a conversation in heaven and the fate of our accuser. “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’”

So what about those worries and fears that wake us up in the middle of the night and early morning hours, causing clenched teeth, a knot in the stomach, and a racing heart? Is that God? Or is it the enemy who works through words of fear, regret, panic, and more?

The more we read and study God’s Word, the easier it becomes for us to distinguish God’s voice from the enemy of our souls’ voice. By reading the Bible, we become familiar with how God speaks to us. Like Jesus describes in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” 

The Holy Spirit versus the Accuser

Yes, the Holy Spirit does convict us of sin but not in the intimidating methods of the devil. John 16:8 explains the work of the Holy Spirit, “When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.”

His voice draws us to repentance, to turn away from sin, He calls us to experience godly sorrow rather than terrifying fear and panic. Like 2 Corinthians 7:10 describes, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 

The Holy Spirit’s way isn’t to rip us apart but to teach, renew, and comfort us. ”But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

Intersecting Faith and Life: 
When woken up startled in the middle of the night, filled with worry and distress, we can turn to God. We can ask Him to dispel the fear and replace it with His peace and comfort, keeping in mind when the dread of the night creeps in to disturb our sleep, it’s most likely not God waking us up but the enemy attacking us at our most unexpected and vulnerable moments.

5 Questions to Help You Teach a Bible Passage..Ron Edmondson

 5 Questions to Help You Teach a Bible Passage

by Ron Edmondson

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching.” - 2 Timothy 3:16

Someone asked me recently how I address a Bible passage in order to teach about it. I certainly don’t claim to be an expert, but I do have a system. Of course the process begins and ends with prayer, but God has wired me to think systematically, so I need a format that works for me in writing a sermon message.

When teaching on a specific passage of Scripture, I consider five questions about the Bible text:

1. What does it say? – I usually look at several translations, and depending on the passage, may research the original words if needed. I want to know what the verse or verses says in a way that I can understand it. At this point, I attempt to understand the text within the context it was written… time period… location of writing… people to whom it was written.

2. What does it mean? – I always allow Scripture to interpret Scripture first. I like to use cross references and word searches for specific words or phrases I may not understand or want to explore further. At this stage, I want to understand the passage in the context of the entire Bible.

3. How does it apply it to my life? – Here I’m basically trying to decide how I can apply the truth in the text to the way I live my life… what changes I need to make in my life… how my life should be lived because of the truth in the text. This is where I use commentaries or other writings to help me better understand the text. I want to know how this passage, written so many years ago, has relevance for me today.

4. How does it apply to others? – Now I ask myself, “How can the people listening to this message apply this text to their life?” Although a text has only one true meaning, it can have multiple applications in a person’s life. I try to consider as many of these as possible. I see part of my job communicating as helping listeners connect the passage to their life, the changes that may need to be made, and how to live out the truth of the text in their life. Of course, the real teacher is the Spirit of God, but I also know God uses teachers to help people grasp Biblical principles and apply them.

5. How can I communicate so they will understand and apply it to their life? – The final question is perhaps the hardest step for me, but equally important to the other steps. I want to teach in a way that appeals to different learning styles in the room, captures and holds people’s attention, and engages them in the message enough that they will consider the message even after the message is delivered. The real win for me is not when people enjoy a message as much as when they are willing to make changes in their life to live it.

Now obviously, once you do something many times you start to form habits and so I don’t always think through these questions consciously, but basically this is the process I go through each time I preach. Also, it should be noted (because if I don’t someone will for me) that this entire process should be done in a spirit of prayer. My end goal is that God would use my limited abilities to communicate His truth.

A Prayer to Be Happy for Others..Laura Bailey

 A Prayer to Be Happy for Others

By Laura Bailey

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” - Romans 12:10 NIV

I watched my daughter’s smile fade as she heard the name of her classmate announced for an award she was hoping to receive. I was happy to see my girl clapping her hands, hugging her friend, and not letting disappointment spoil the rest of the program. But my momma's heart knew we would discuss this later.

As soon as the car door shut, my daughter, hands crossed, pronounced, “I wanted that award; I can’t believe it wasn’t me; I do all the right things too.”   It didn’t matter that she held a fistful of accolades; her sole focus was not on what she accomplished but on what she didn’t obtain. 

In a true teachable moment, her father and I shared the importance of being happy for our friends and doing the right thing rather than being acknowledged or rewarded for our behavior. As my words of admonishment quickly slipped out of my lips, I felt that familiar pain of conviction. I am almost 40 years old, and I still struggle with being truly happy for others when they receive something I want. Graciously the Spirit has worked in my heart to remove jealousy, anger, or bitterness in these situations, but if I am honest, I am still working on not withholding praise or compliments when things don’t go my way.

Can you relate?

• Your co-worker, who you know is more than deserving, gets the promotion you’ve been working overtime to get.
• Your sister announces she is pregnant with twins, and you have been struggling with years of infertility. 
• Your dear friend shares that they are moving into a new home, a significant upgrade from their current digs, while your family is bursting at the seams in your tight quarters.

It is hard to be happy for others, even those we love and care for deeply, sometimes. 

In Romans 12, Paul is writing to the Roman church sharing the marks of a faithful Christian. He reminds them that we have all been adopted into God’s family and are now siblings; we should treat each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Our love should be genuine and sincere ( Romans 12:9), a deep affection for one another. 

Paul also urges us to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10). But how do we do that? Is Paul promoting competition among the body of believers? In a sense, yes. Instead of going tit for tat with our affections, respect, and service, we are called to be “one-upping” each other constantly. Think about how different our world would be if we were always looking for ways to give more love, higher respect, and extra service to others. 

We don’t have to withhold happiness for our brothers and sisters in Christ; instead, we can lavish them with sincere joy. This is one of those “preach easy lives hard” messages. In a fallen world, unhealthy competition often overtakes the desire to outdo each other in a positive way–but it doesn’t have to be that way. Especially for those who belong to Christ, we can never surpass the abundance of grace and mercy God gives us daily. When we remember the gospel and all that has been done for us, we can’t help but “rejoice with those who rejoice”, ( Romans 12:15).

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gifts of salvation. We are so grateful to be adopted into your family; thank you for the blessing of brothers and sisters in Christ. We ask that you help us as we celebrate others and give us a genuinely overjoyed heart when a brother or sister in Christ accomplishes something great or noble or is blessed, even when we feel more deserving. Give us the gift of self-forgetfulness, thinking less of ourselves and more of others.

Give us eyes to see how richly you have blessed us, looking only to you and not comparing our lives with others. Help us remember that we are not competing, you love your children equally, and we don’t have to earn your affection. Give us confidence in how you created us, and let us use our gifts to encourage one another. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.