For The Fruit Of The Spirit Is In All Goodness And Righteousness And Truth - Part 1530

"Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us -- God -- who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (II Corinthians 1:21-22)

I often use the descriptive word "flow-through" to describe what our faith journey should look like to the community at large. It stems specifically from that "earnest" within to love the Lord Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and then, from His love learning to love one another. Admittedly, loving one another can be a process, and for some, the healing from repeated hurts can take considerable time. Still, from our desire to know Jesus better, there inherently comes a heart willingness to show this same Jesus that shines within you and I to those around us -- shining brightly as that city on a hill for our Lord God and Saviour.

You see, it is the will of the Lord inextricably united in your spirit that allows you to become who He purposed you to be whilst you were still in your mother's womb -- so very long ago. And, as a consequence, responding to His invitation to step out in faith, fully restored in the love and joy that can only be found in Him. The love of Jesus which doesn't entangle us again in the yoke of bondage, but instead, robed in His liberty that makes us heirs according to the promise that He destined before the foundation of the world was formed. (Galatians 3:29; Galatians 5:1)

But there is more.

When we truly understand what it meant for God Almighty to become as one of us, robed in human flesh and shedding His precious holy blood on that old rugged cross so that we might be redeemed in Him, and how it must have so often grieved Him knowing that He Himself would have to become the perfect sacrifice before we would begin to trust in His love, our hearts should be humbled. Knowing that the Lord of glory "longed after us" from the very beginning.

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in haven, and which are on earth, [even] in Him -- in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will." (Ephesians 1:7-11)

That we would inevitably "choose life" knowing that He is the giver of life. Jesus the Christ -- the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending who cared so much about His beloved creation, that He Himself determined to become the perfect sacrifice -- paying the ultimate price for you and I. Jesus is the great I AM.

[For those hearing this message for the first time, I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, and that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling on your life. To this end, I encourage you to not settle for the traditions of men but instead, seek the truth through His Word].

At the end of the day, His love and grace and mercy should be our testimony to the world. Informing those who have not heard of the liberty that comes from the gospel being the reason we glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will -- that we should be to the praise of His glory, who trust in Christ. And when we trust in Him, having heard the Word of truth, the gospel of our salvation in whom we believed, we are sealed with that holy Spirit of promise -- which is the earnest of our inheritance. (Ephesians 1:1-23)

And that, because of His love and presence in our life, we who are strong can bear the infirmities of the weak. Loving one another, as Jesus commanded, so that the fallen world and those within can know from whence comes our salvation. That Jesus is the hope of glory, and He never fails those who trust in His Name. Thus, let every one of us desire to become more like Jesus, and in so doing, edify the others around us through the knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus -- so that they too can understand that the Seed which was to come to whom the promise was made -- you and I -- has indeed come into the world.

After His kindness and love, God became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-18; Isaiah 42:13; Revelation 1:8, 11)

For Christ (who is our example) pleased not Himself, but instead as it is written, "the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me." 

Yes, Jesus is the greatest love story ever told. Let us not be weary in spreading the good news gospel to one another.

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the fullness of Christ; that we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ." (Ephesians 4:12-15)

Stand in the offering plate.