Overflowing Fruit

Come, sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. John 15:16

During the spring and summer, I admire the fruit growing in our neighbor’s yard. Their cultivated vines climb a shared fence to produce large bunches of grapes. Branches dotted with purple plums and plump oranges dangle just within our reach.

Although we don’t till the soil, plant the seeds, or water and weed the garden, the couple next door shares their bounty with us. They take responsibility for nurturing their crops and allow us to delight in a portion of their harvest.

The fruit of the Spirit changes us so we can impact the lives of those around us.
The produce from the trees and vines on the other side of our fence reminds me of another harvest that benefits me and the people God places in my life. That harvest is the fruit of the Spirit.

Christ-followers are commissioned to claim the benefits of living by the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16–21). As God’s seeds of truth flourish in our hearts, the Spirit produces an increase in our ability to express “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (vv. 22–23).

Once we surrender our lives to Jesus, we no longer have to be controlled by our self-centered inclinations (v. 24). Over time, the Holy Spirit can change our thinking, our attitudes, and our actions. As we grow and mature in Christ, we can have the added joy of loving our neighbors by sharing the benefits of His generous harvest.

- Our Daily Bread Ministries -

Smooth Preaching

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears:  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."   2 Timothy 4: 1-8

     The faithful preacher of the Gospel is never universally popular.  While some will love him for his faithfulness, great numbers will hate him for his unwillingness to compromise.  In the days of Isaiah, the Lord pronounced judgment because the people refused the warnings of doom, for they wanted the prophets to bring messages which would not condemn their sins.  They said,  ". . . speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits."

     People often believe that a good sermon should make folk feel comfortable and at ease.  On the contrary, however, a real good Bible sermon is one which first of all disturbs, irritates, awakens, causes dissatisfaction and unrest.  Before anyone can find comfort in Christ, he must first of all be made to feel his failures and shortcomings.  There are three steps in the process of conviction.  First the sinner becomes mad, then he becomes sad, and, finally, he becomes glad when he confesses his sin and turns to Christ.

     What kind of a sermon did your preacher give you last Sunday?  Was it one that made you feel satisfied with yourself?  If it did, you better hear someone else next Sunday.  But if the sermon, awakened in you a consciousness of your unworthiness, then thank God for him.

     A man described under three heads a certain sermon he had heard.  He said it was a moving, soothing, and satisfying message.  It was very moving for half the audience left before it was one-half over.  It was very soothing because most of those who remained fell fast asleep; and it was highly satisfying since everyone declared that they had had enough of that kind of preaching.  The Word of God is a sword (Hebrews  4:12); a knife  (Acts  5:33); a fire  (Jeremiah  23:29); a hammer  (Jeremiah  23:29);  and a lamp  (Psalm  119105).  The Word is a two-edged sword.  It wounds to heal, it kills to make alive.

"Bread For Each Day"