Producing good fruit takes time and effort.

The Holy Spirit – Part 7

Each spring I plant a half dozen tomato plants, anticipating a crop of big, red, tasty tomatoes.  Over the years I’ve learned that it takes time and effort to produce good tomatoes.  First I look for an area of my back yard that gets lots of sunlight; I put effort into preparing the soil; I carefully follow the directions that explain the correct depth for planting the new plants; I mulch the ground around the young plants; I prune and thin out leaves to allow for good circulation; I pinch off suckers; I water the plants as needed; and I wait patiently for the fruit (yes, tomatoes are fruit) to form and ripen.

After a period of time, all of this effort pays off with a nice harvest of tasty tomatoes.

In much the same way, the fruit of the Spirit needs time and nurturing for it to grow in a Christian.

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

When we become Christians we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  However, just receiving the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean that we are all loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.

The fruit of the Spirit needs to be nurtured in such a way that it can mature.  For the fruit to grow and mature, a Christian needs to spend time in the Word and spend time in prayer.  For the fruit to mature, a Christian needs to be willing to relate to others and serve others. For healthy fruit, a Christian needs to spend time in worship.  Trials of various kinds (James 1:2) helps the fruit to mature.  Pruning, as strange as it may seem, (John 15:2) is also needed to produce good fruit.

A life that is being transformed by Christ is rewarded with a harvest of life changing fruit.

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

Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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He who is in you ….

The Holy Spirit – Part 6

Without any doubt, our world is filled with evil.  Anyone who has any awareness at all of current events knows that Satan, the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “the god of this world” ( 2 Corinthians 4:4), “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) is actively controlling the minds and actions of  millions of people.   The behaviors we see being manifested are “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these,” (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV) such as murder and idolatry.

Isn’t it great that scripture says,

“…. for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 ESV),

so that we who have the Holy Spirit living in us can say,

“….for he, The Holy Spirit, who is in us, is greater than he, Satan, who is in the world.”

More about the Holy Spirit in future blogs.

Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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Did you know that Christians are in constant contact with God the Father?

The Holy Spirit – Part 5

Have you noticed your computer modem and router flashing or flickering, even when you are not doing anything on the internet?

Even if all of your equipment is turned off and unplugged from your modem or router, you’ll still see some traffic coming from your Internet Service Provider.  A very simple, and not very not technical, explanation for this it that the Internet Service Provider stays in contact with your modem so that when you want to access the Internet a useable connection is available for you.  I really do not understand how this works, I just know that it does work (most of the time) and I have access to the Internet.

We might say that the Holy Spirit works in a similar way.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26 ESV)

Without our prompting, the Holy Spirt communicates our needs to our Father in heaven.  Again I must say that I really do not understand how this works, bit I do know that it is awesome.

Add Romans 8:34 to this thought.  Scripture tells us, “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Scripture tells us that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are both interceding on our behalf with God the Father.  Even without our knowing it, we are in constant contact with our Heavenly Father.  So regardless of how we may be feeling in times of weakness or suffering, or any other time, we are not being left to our own resources. We are being heard, loved and cared for every moment of every day by our Father in heaven.

Do these comments leave you speechless?  Don’t worry about it. The Holy Spirit and Jesus will speak for you.

More about the Holy Spirit in future blogs.

Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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September 11, 2001         9/11        911

As you think back to September 11, 2001 you may want to read Psalm 91:1….

My Refuge and My Fortress

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—

10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91 ESV)

As bad as things may appear at times,
remember that we have a sovereign God who is always in control.

Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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A Master Teacher

Have you ever thought about the fact that all Christians have “A Master Teacher” living inside of them?

The Holy Spirit – Part 4

All Christians have a Divine Teacher, the Holy Spirit available to them 24/7.

• The Holy Spirit teaches us spiritual truths and brings these truths to our remembrance.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26 ESV)

• The Holy Spirit teaches us what we ought to say when we need to be saying something.

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12 ESV)

• We have a Divine Teacher, the Holy Spirit, living inside of us.

But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. (1 John 2:27 ESV)

What an awesome, often underutilized, resource all Christians have living inside of them.

It would be foolish not to take advantage of such a valuable resource.

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Personal commentary (for what it is worth):   Not to contradict John 2:27 where it says, “you have no need that anyone should teach you”, I believe that God also uses Spirit filled Believers to minister to us.  If John did not believe that God uses other believers to teach truth, he would not have written his epistles to teach us.  God uses Pastors, Bible teachers, parents, friends, and other people to share Biblical truths. The real work, however, is done by the Holy Spirit.  Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 2.  In verses 11-13 we read, “So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.   And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.  (You may want to read all of 1 Corinthians chapter 2.)

More about the Holy Spirit in future blogs.

Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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The Spirit of Truth

The Holy Spirit – Part 3

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17 ESV)

• The Holy Spirit – the Truth – dwells within believers.

 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, ….(John 16:13 ESV)

•  The Holy Spirit is a resource of supernatural revelation (God’s truth) made available to all Believers.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 ESV)

• The Truth Will Set You Free

 Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 25:5 ESV

More about the Holy Spirit in future blogs.

Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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Empowered to be a witness for Jesus.

The Holy Spirit – Part 2

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses ….” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

• If you are a Christian, you have the gift of the Holy Spirit and you are empowered to be a witness for Christ.

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31 ESV)

• With the Holy Spirit at work within you, you are equipped to speak the word of God with boldness.

And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (1 Corinthians 2:3-4 ESV)

• If you understand the workings of the Holy Spirit, you know that your ability to effectively share the Gospel only happens because the Holy Spirit enables you to do so.

 All Christians have the potential to be bold, powerful witnesses for the Lord.

You have the potential to be a bold, powerful witness for the Lord.*
*(If you are a Christian.)

More about the Holy Spirit in future blogs.

Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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Believe and Receive

The Holy Spirit – Part 1

“Believe and receive” is a potentially controversial phrase so I need to put these words into context.

The Bible says in Romans chapter 10 verse 9 “…. if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

In Ephesians chapter 1 verses 13 we read: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit…”

Also in Acts chapter 2 verse 38 we read: “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Believe and Receive.

When we became a Christian we received the free, undeserved, unearned, gift of the Holy Spirit living in us.

What an awesome, often unutilized, resource all Christians have living inside of them.

More about the Holy Spirit in future blogs.

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Just ASK

Does it sometimes feel like God is not answering your prayers? Does it seem like obstacles are popping up all around you?  Do you sense that doors are being closed in front of you?  If that is the case for you, remember to ASK.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV)

Just ASK

• Ask: Keep on asking

…. pray without ceasing, …. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV)

• Seek: Keep on seeking

 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14 ESV)

  …. be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

•  Knock: Keep on knocking

Don’t give up.

And he (Jesus) told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1 ESV)

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:6 ESV)

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Happy Labor Day

Labor Day was created as a way to acknowledge and pay tribute to the workforce for all they have done to make our country prosperous and strong.

Remember:

• We were created to work.

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work,  ….. (Exodus 20:9-10 ESV)

…. aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, (1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV)

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.  As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 ESV)

• Hard work is profitable

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. (Proverbs 12:11 ESV)

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23 ESV)

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24 ESV)

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV)

• We should be working for the Lord.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalm 90:17 ESV)

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!  You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. (Psalm 128:1-2 ESV)

• Our work should benefit others.

You yourselves know that these (Paul’s) hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:34-35 ESV)

• Our labor should be enjoyable.

….  also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. (Ecclesiastes 3:13 ESV)

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 ESV)

Happy Labor Day

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