Got Fruit Part 3

The following is part 3 in our Summer Series examing the Fruit of the Spirit. Enjoy.

            Over the last few weeks, we have been doing some “personal fruit inspections.” We have been looking at the character traits that are to be present in your life if you profess to be a follower of Jesus.

            As I’ve said before, and I will no doubt say again- these traits are not grown on our own strength. We may cultivate these traits, but we do not grow them.

            The Bible says: “…the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control….” (Gal. 5:22-23, NLT2)

            As we surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, His Spirit will grow in us the character traits that He wants in our lives.  

            Each of these 9 fruit of the Spirit will be present in the life of the disciple of Jesus Christ. We cannot pick and choose which ones we’d like to have and pick and choose which ones we could do without.

We can’t say: “I’ll take a little joy, and goodness, but I can do without patience and gentleness”. It doesn’t work that way!

If you are a disciple of Jesus, the Holy Spirit wants to grow all nine of these fruit in your life.

Someone once said: “Fruitage in the Spirit requires Rootage in the Spirit… This fruit can only be produced in a life that is rooted in the Spirit.” (Glenn. D. Black, from my flies on Gal. 5:22-23)

            So far on our journey together, we have examined the first two Fruit of the Spirità Love and Joy.

            Love—Agape—unconditional love, is to be the love that we have and show to all people, because unconditional love is what God has shown to us.

            The Bible says: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:9-11, NIV)

Because God has given unconditional love to us, we are to demonstrate that same unconditional love to other people.

Paul said that he could have it all, do it all and say it all, but: “…if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:3b, NLT2)

The chief fruit that God wants to grow in our lives is Love.

The second is Joy.

Joy is, as H. Norman Wright reminds us: “a realistic optimism, not the absence of hardship. It’s a choice we make to smile, when the tree stump lands on our truck cab and we say: “it could be worse.” (Wright. 1996, April 9)

Joy is a choice we make despite our circumstances. Joy comes from, and is based in God, and joy will be given to us as we become obedient followers of

Jesus. 

            This brings us to the third character trait that God’s Holy Spirit wants to produce in our lives: the Fruit of the Spirit called “Peace”.

PRAY

            Peace. It’s what everybody is looking for, but nobody can seem to find. But the Bible tells us that God has and WANTS to give—grow—in His people, peace! 

            I believe that God induced peace will express itself in at least 3 ways:

1.     Holy Spirit produced peace will allow people to be at peace with God.

The Bible says in Romans 5: “…since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Rom. 5:1, NLT2)

Peace with God comes only by faith in God. I think you might want to right that down, because it’s a truth that many a people miss: Peace with God comes only by faith in God.

You will not be at peace with God by doing what you want; you will not be at peace with God by doing what your mamma wants; you can only be at peace with God by faith in Jesus Christ.

By accepting, and living for God, we will not be running and hiding from God, as Adam and Eve did when they heard the Lord God walking in the Garden, as described for us in Genesis chapter 3.

They hid from God because they were afraid of God. They were no longer at peace with God.

They knew they had done wrong, so they hid, and tried to cover their nakedness and shame.

But no matter where we go, we will never be able to out hide-God. He is the “El Roi”; the God who sees. (See Gen. 16:13)           

He sees us and He knows that what we need is to stop running FROM Him and start running TO Him and accept the peace that have been looking for, accept the peace that only He can give.

            The Bible says: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

²⁴ Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

²⁵ For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood….” (Romans 3:23-25a, NLT2)

We can—and are—at peace with God when we stop running from, and start running to, God. We can be at peace with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Some people here today are running and hiding. You are in constant turmoil. God may be asking you to go right, but you are going left.

The Good News of Jesus Christ is that you don’t have to run anymore! You can come to God and find the peace that you have been looking for, the peace that you are unable to find on your own.

D.L. Moody wrote: “a great many people are trying to make their peace with God, but that has already been done.

God has not left it for us to do; all that we have to do is enter into it, to accept it.

It is a condition, and instead of our trying to make peace and to work for peace, we need to cease all that, and simply enter into the peace that has been purchased for us.” (Reid. 1996, 208)

By His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ has come to make peace with

God possible, and all that we must do is receive it.

If you want the Holy Spirit to produce peace in your life, you must start by being at peace with God; by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, for this is the only way to be at peace with God.

Remember: "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." (Is. 48:22, NIV)

The second truth about peace is this: Holy Spirit produced peace will allow us to be at peace with ourselves.

ILLUSTRATION- I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to worry. A lot.

            Sometimes I can get so worked up over what I have got to do, that I get overwhelmed.

            Sometimes I can get so consumed and distracted by my wants, needs and wishes that I push the people that are the closest to me, or even God Himself, away.

When these things happen, my life goes from bad to worse.

It is in these times, that the Holy Spirit of God will do some of His best work.

When I am in one of the above mentioned moods, the Spirit of God will bring to mind selected Scripture verses that I have studied, verses like:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Ph. 4:6-7, NIV)

As I begin to pray more, I find myself being at peace. I tend to worry less, I receive clarity and I am able to focus on God and on others.

When we begin to rely on God and on His Word, He will grow peace in our lives. As we remain connected to Jesus, we will experience His peace.

It’s a peace that cannot be (fully) explained, but it’s a peace that we desperately need.

Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV)

The peace that God wants to grow in our lives is unlike the “false peace” that this world has to offer. Jesus longs to bring His peace into the very core of our lives. He longs to have His peace change us from the inside out.  Causing us to be at peace with who we are

ILLUSTRATION- An artist once painted a picture of peace. It was a picture of a thundering waterfall.

Beside the waterfall was a tree and one of the tree’s branches extended far out over the tumbling waterfall.

Upon one of the limbs of the tree, a bird had built a nest and was hovering over its small baby birds in the nest.  

So peace, according to the photo, is not a detachment from the confusion and turmoil of this lifeà it is a calm courage in spite of the storm. (Adapted from Caldwell, 1979. Page 42)

            Jesus said to His disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1, NIV)

            What the Holy Spirit of God wants to produce in our lives is an inner peace, a peace that only comes as we remain connected The Vine.

3.     Holy Spirit produced peace will allow us to be at peace with all people.  

Most of us have heard the saying “Actions speak louder than words”. Nowhere is this statement truer than here.

How we treat other people will prove which team we are playing for. How we act around other people, what we say to other people, what we do with other people, will demonstrate what kind people we truly are.

The Bible says: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  (Romans 12:18, NIV)

            Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9, NIV)

            In Colossians we are reminded to: “…let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.” (Col. 3:15, NLT2)

            The writer of Hebrews said: “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14, NIV)

            The Bible reminds us that we are to be at peace with all people, everywhere. People at home; people at church; people in the grocery store line; people we know and even people that we don’t know.

            Disciples of Jesus Christ—people who are filled with the Fruit of the Spirit called peace are called to peace; are called to strive for peace.

The Psalmist said: “Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? (YES, who doesn’t?)

¹³ Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! ¹⁴ Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” (Psalm 34:12-14, NLT2)

It’s our job as followers of the God Most High to be people of peace—to

live in peace with God, to live at peace with ourselves and to be at peace with the people we are stuck here with. We are to strive for peace in all areas of our life.

I must tell you, that unless you have the peace of God living in your heart, you are unable to be at peace with yourself, and you are certainly unable to be at peace with those people around you.

This is not a chicken-or- egg- experiment, this is real truth: Unless you have experienced the peace of God you will not be at peace in any other relationship.

So, are you at peace with God? This could be the most important question that you will ever have to answer.

In order to be at peace with the people around you, and with yourself, you must be at peace with God. This one relationship should affect every other relationship that you have.

To experience this Holy Spirit produced peace, you must Admit that you are a sinner, Believe that Jesus died for you, and Confess your need for a Savior.  It really is as easy as ABC.

ILLUSTRATION- Several years ago, an extensive survey was conducted in the United States by a leading polling agency.

            Questionnaires were distributed to people of various ages and occupations. The key question (that was asked) was: “What are you looking

for most in life”?

            When the results were complied, the experts were surprised. Most of them had expected answers that would suggest materialistic goals, but the top three things that people wanted in life were: Love, Joy and Peace—the first three Fruits of the Spirit.” (taken from my files on Gal. 5:22)

            Dear friends, what this world is looking for can be—should be-- found growing in your lives.

We have what the world is looking for… a Holy Spirit produced Peace, and being at peace with God, being at peace with ourselves and living at peace with all men will go a long way to showing the world what they are desperately looking for.

 The Bible says: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23a, NIV)

The Holy Spirit produces these characteristics in the lives of true disciples of Jesus Christ. Unless you remain connected to the vine, you are not—nor will you ever be—at peace.

The Long Haul

The Following is a message I preached on father's day, at MRWC on Sunday, June 19th, 2011.

ILLUSTRATION—I love trucks.

For most of my childhood, I wanted to drive an eighteen-wheeler. There was something about driving a huge truck that appealed to me.

            Even today, I still admire a nice looking truck. Each time I pass by a truck, I will try and take a quick glance at the make, model, and color of the truck.

            I love trucks.

Take a look at this truck.  This is a Peterbilt Optimus Prime.  

            If the name Optimus Prime means nothing to you, I’ll forgive you this time, but Optimus was the lead character in the “Transformers” cartoon series and now the Blockbuster movie franchise.

            I think it’s awesome that someone took the time to “transform” their truck into Optimus.

            I love trucks.

            I remember one time when I was a little younger than I am now, going into the Mack dealership in Fredericton and asking the sales associate if I could have some pictures of some of their trucks.

            The salesman asked if I was interested in trucks, and I told him that I was,

and he asked me “what my favourite truck was” to which I immediately replied “Peterbilt”.

            I don’t think that went over too well with the salesman, but I was young, and he realized that I didn’t have a million dollars to purchase a truck anyway, so he gave me the photos and I took them home and covered the wall in my room.

            I love trucks.

            I have always wanted to go on a Long Haul. To sit in the truck and go for a long drive would be greatàbut I would have to take my wife because I would want the full experienceà meaning I would want to sleep in the back as she drove!

            I love trucks.

            I think that doing life with God is a lot like driving a truck. It’s a Long Haul.

            There may be stops along the way, things may even get a little rough; but God has asked all of us, to settle in with Him for the Long Haul.

            So, today being Father’s Day, I would like to talk to Men in general and Dad’s specifically, but as for the rest of you: don’t tune out, for there’s a message here for you as well.

            I believe that God is asking each of us to go on a Long Haul with Him in at least 3 ways.

1.     With our Children.

I want to be involved in my kids’ lives. I want my kids to know that I love them. I want my kids to know that their father stands behind-- and will support—them.

While they may do things that I might not always agree with, I will always love them.

My children are my responsibility, and because I am a Christ follower, I have a God given responsibility to teach my kids about God.

The Bible says: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.

7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.   9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:4-9, NIV)

God had given His people instructions to follow and those instructions were to be followed exactly.

Part of what the people were to do, was to instruct their children in the ways of God.

God’s Word was to be the primary source of their education: before they slept, when they woke up, when they walked down a road… Parents were to teach their children.

The people were even instructed to tie symbols around their hands and heads to remind themselves to teach their children about the things of God. (show photo)

Parents were to teach their children God’s truth—they were to talk about God at home and on the Long Haul. Every opportunity was a chance for parents to talk to their kids about God.

ILLUSTRATION- A few weeks ago, Emma was showing me something that she had made at school relating to Easter.

I asked her if she knew why we celebrated Easter and she just shrugged her shoulders.

            I sat her on my knee and began to explain to her, and Erica, the reason we celebrate Easter and about the Hope that Jesus brings with His Resurrection.

            That was an opportunity for me to teach my children about God.

ILLUSTRATION-At each family meal, we pause for a word of prayer and if we don’t pray, one of the kids will say: “Hey! We didn’t pray!”

            The Bible says: “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4, NIV)

            It’s my job as a father to teach my kids in the ways and things of God.

            Parents, this is your job as well. Some of you still have children at home, but some of you don’t.

            For those that have children at home, make sure you take the time to teach your kids about God… remind them about who He is and what He has done in your life. Use the Long Haul to teach your kids about God.

            For the parents who don’t have kids at home anymore, your responsibility to teach your kids about God may have changed slightly, but you can still remind your children that God loves them and that you are praying for them.

            While our parenting style can and will change as our children grow, we can still use the opportunities that we have to remind our kids about God.

            If we’re in this parent thing for the Long Haul, then we must be willing to teach our kids about God.

Of course, it’s hard to teach your kids about God if you haven’t personally

experienced Him yourself….

If you have never invited Jesus into your heart, I want to encourage you to give it some serious consideration. It will be the best thing you can ever do for your family.

#2. The second way that God is calling us to the Long Haul is with our spouses.

ILLUSTRATION- Nine years ago this coming Tuesday, I made a decision that changed my life forever.

            Nine years ago this week, I married Elizabeth Joy Brown. I don’t think I need to tell you that this was one of, if not the best, decision that I have ever made.

            I love my wife with all my heart. I made a commitment to be with her for the Long Haul.

            It hasn’t always been easy, it won’t always be easy, but because I made a commitment to her, because I love her, I want to stay with her.

            The Bible says: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her….” (Eph. 5:25, NIV)

            The kind of love that Christ has for the Church—agape—is the same kind of love that I am to have for my wife. I am to love her with an unconditional love.

            The only way that we can love our wives, men; the only way you can love your husbands, ladies, is by allowing the Holy Spirit to produce in our lives the Fruit of the Spirit called Love.

We are unable to love our spouses the way Christ loves the church unless the Holy Spirit grows love in our lives.

ILLUSTRATION- Several years ago, the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, made public the 1,300 recently discovered letters that the late President wrote to his wife, Bess, over the course of a half-century.

            President Truman had a life-long rule of writing to his wife every day that they were apart. He followed this rule whenever he was away on official business or whenever Bess left Washington.

            … Every day (that) he was away, the President of the United States took time out from dealing with the world’s most powerful leaders to sit down and write a letter to his wife. (unknown)

ILLUSTRATION-I still have the old letters that my girlfriend then, wife now, wrote to me one summer 12 years ago when we were apart.

I still have on file several hundred emails that she sent to me over that same period.

            I have old movie ticket stubs, golf score cards, and photos of some of the

events that Beth and I have been on since we’ve been together... (She’s going to have one pile of junk to throw away when I’m gone.)

            Because I’m in my marriage for the Long Haul, I choose to love my wife and stay with her no matter what.

            Men: Do you love your wives? Are you honouring your wives? Are you listening to your wives?

            The Bible says: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.” (Pr. 18:22, NIV)

            To be in our marriages for the Long Haul, we must love our spouses.

            There’s at least one more way that God wants us, married or not, kids or not, to commit to the Long Haul: with our lives.

            Colossians 3:17 says: “…whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (NIV)

            And just so we don’t miss this important truth, Paul says the same sort of thing in verse 23: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Col. 3:23, NLT2)

            As followers of Jesus Christ, it’s our responsibility to listen to Him, to take direction from Him, to figure out what He wants us to do and do it to the best of

our ability.

            As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to live our public lives in a way that brings honor and glory to God.

We have a Biblical mandate to give 100% effort at whatever we find ourselves doing.

            As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the responsibility to live our private lives in a way that brings honor and glory to God.

We have the responsibility to be pure, God-honouring people; to be “…above reproach…” (1 Tim. 3:2, NIV) and to ensure that what we allow to enter into our hearts and minds and homes is God honouring.

            If you are a follower of Jesus Christ who is in it for the Long Haul, then:  “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ….” (Philippians 1:27a, NIV)

ILLUSTRATION- If you really want to go somewhere that you’ve never been before, generally, you do one of two things: you will consult a map, or you will ask for directions from someone who knows the way.

            In many cars and trucks today, people have what’s called a Global Positioning System, or GPS.

            These little machines will tell you exactly where you are, they will show

you where you need to go, and give you the route that you need to take to get you to where you want to go.

            They are a wonderful device to have, especially if you don’t know where you are going.

            If we want to reach our final destination and have a successful Long Haul, then we are going to have to follow the Map:

            “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith....” (Hebrews 12:1-2a, NLT2)

Friends, the race has already been marked out for us, the only thing that we have to do is follow directions.

We are to follow “…the race marked out for us.” (Heb. 12:1c NIV)

We are to follow the One who said: “…I am the way and the truth and the life…” (John 14:6, NIV)

We must follow Jesus Christ.

So how about it church? Are you in it for the Long Haul? Is it your desire to

follow Jesus Christ?

If your answer is yes, then come along and enjoy the Long Haul that God has prepared for you. He will not leave you stranded on the side of the road somewhere. He is with you each step of the way:

“…God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Heb. 13:5b, NIV)

If you are not on the Long Haul with Jesus, know that you can pull over and stop where you are and you can ask Jesus to take the wheel of your life and help you teach your kids, love your spouse, and live your life in a way that pleases Him.

If you want to arrive at the Ultimate Destination—Heaven—after the Long Haul is over, you will have to follow the One who said: “Come, follow me…” (Matthew 4:19, NIV)

Got Fruit, part 2

The following is the second message in a study on the Fruit of the Spirit. I preached it on June 12th at MRWC.

ILLUSTRATION- Fred was a landscape contractor. His first job was to remove a huge oak stump from a field. Fred had to use dynamite, but the only problem was he had never used it before.

            He was somewhat nervous about it, especially with the old farmer, (standing right beside him) watching his every move.

So he tried to hide his jitters by carefully determining the size of the stump, the precise amount of dynamite that would be needed, and where it should be placed to get the maximum effect.

            He didn’t want to use too small an amount, and have to do it over, nor did he want to use too much….

            When he was ready to dentate the charge, Fred and the farmer went behind his pickup truck where a wire was running to the detonator.

He looked at the farmer, said a prayer and plunged the detonator. (Needless to say,) it worked… all too well! 

The stump broke loose from the ground, rose through the air in a curving arc and then landed right on the cab of the truck.

            Fred’s heart sank. All he could think about was the ruined cab.

Not the farmer! Slapping Fred on the back he said: “with a little more practice, you’ll get it in the bed of the truck every time” (Wright, 1994, June3)

            One of these two people exhibited a strange quality. One of these two people showed disappointment, while the other showed Joy.

            Joy is the second quality that will be evident in the lives of disciples of Jesus Christ.

            “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23a, NIV)

            Joy is the second fruit of the Spirit, but what does “joy” mean? Where does “joy” come from?

Do we all have “joy?” If not, were do we get “joy”?

            These are just some of the many questions that I have as it relates to the

Fruit of the Spirit called Joy.

There are many more questions that I have about joy that I might never find an answer for, but here’s one thing I know for sure about Joy—if you have a pen you’ll want to write this down—Joy comes from God.

            Listen, again, to our text: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy…” (Gal. 5:22a, NLT2)

            I would have you notice just exactly who is doing the work, and notice who

is on the receiving end of all the work.

            According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit produces, grows, does the work of growing joy in the lives of disciples of Jesus Christ.

            If the Holy Spirit does the work; that means that I am on the receiving end of the work.

            Joy is not something that believers can produce on- or in—their own strength.

            Joy is given to all believers by God’s Holy Spirit and joy expresses itself in the life of the believer.

            If that is true, if joy is something that is grown in our lives only by the power of the Holy Spirit, then why are there so many “joyless Christians” living today?

            You know the kind of people I’m referring to, right? You ask a “joyless Christian” how they are doing and they will respond with something like: “I’m horrible.” “My life stinks”.

ILLUSTRATION- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. was a member of the United States Supreme court for 30 years…

            At one point in his life, Justice Holmes explained his choice of career by saying: “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like an undertaker.” (unknown)

            I’ve met people like this, you’ve met people like this, and perhaps there are even people like this in this room today… Christians looking and acting like undertakers.

            So, I wonder, why are there so many “joyless Christians” in our world? Is the Holy Spirit not working in and on those people?

            I think much of our problem is our lack of understanding. We don’t have a good understanding of this word “Joy”.

            We think that joy means “happy”. Joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness—whatever that truly is—is based on how I feel. Happiness is based on our circumstances, especially if they go our way.

ILLUSTRATION- I am happy when the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Red Sox or the

NY Yankees. I am happy when I am with my wife. 

“Happiness is based on circumstances that go our way.” (H. Norman wright’s devo. 1996, april 8)

            Joy is not based on circumstances, joy is not a feeling.  Joy is a choice, joy is a mindset.

            “Joy does not depend on outer circumstances but on the reality of God.” (John Sanderson as quoted in h.norman wright’s devo. April 8)

            Author H. Norman Wright reminds is that joy is “a realistic optimism, not the absence of hardship. It’s a choice we make to smile, when the stump lands

on our truck cab and we say “it could be worse” (ibid)

            Joy is not a feeling, nor is it based on outside factors. Joy is a mindset that comes from God, because God, by the power of His Holy Spirit, produces joy in the life of every believer.

            D.L. Moody said: I think there is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is caused by things which happen around me and circumstances will mar it, but joy flows right on through trouble;

joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all though persecution and opposition, it is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart, a secret spring which the world can’t see and doesn’t know anything about.

The Lord gives his people (continuous) joy when they walk in obedience to Him. (Reed. 1996, 169)

            While happiness comes to an end when our circumstances change, joy continues on, even when we face darkness.

            Paul reminded us in Philippians chapter 4 to: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”(4:4, NIV)

            I find those words interesting. Paul wrote those words, not from the mountain top, but from a prison cell.

As he faced death, Paul told the believers to rejoice—to rejoice in the Lord for this is where true joy comes from.

            So this leads me to a most obvious question: do you belong to the Lord? Have you surrendered your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Are you living in the light of His love?

            This is how the Holy Spirit will grow the Fruit of the Spirit called Joy in your life. He will not grow the Fruit of the Spirit called Joy in your life if you don’t belong to Him.

            Jesus said: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned….

8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:4-6 & 8, NIV)

For disciples of Jesus to have the Fruit of the Spirit called Joy, we must remain connected to Jesus.

If the Holy Spirit produces joy in the lives of believers then to have joy produced in our lives, we must remain connected to God.

ILLUSTRATION- Power failure—the lights dim and then go out. The sounds of machinery, the refrigerator, or air conditioners come to a halt. An eerie silence hangs in the air.

            Usually it happens when there’s an over-short in the system or a transformer wore out.

Sometimes it’s just a simple thing such as tripping over a cord and unplugging it from the wall socket.

            No matter the cause, a power outage is no fun, especially if it goes on for an extended time.

            Consider then two questions—first, who’s your power source? Is it you? Your spouse? Your friends? The Lord?

Some of us go through life connected to a real power source and others run their lives on a portable battery pack of their own doing.

And naturally they run out of juice after a while. But when your source is the Lord, there’s never any lack of power.

            In Acts 2:32-33 we read: “³² “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. ³³ Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us….” (NLT2)

One of the gifts God has given us is the Power of the Holy Spirit.

So the second question to consider is—are you plugged in? An eclectic saw won’t work by running the blade back and forth by hand over wood. It’s got to be connected. (Adapted from h. Norman wright. 1996, April 9)

To receive the Holy Spirit produced fruit of joy we must remain connected to Jesus Christ.

The Bible reminds us that “…the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Neh.8:10, NIV)

            If you are going through life looking more like an undertaker than a follower of Jesus, then maybe you need to ask God to grow in your life the Fruit of the Spirit called Joy.

            Joy is not dismissing the hardships that are in your life, Joy is allowing Jesus to take those hardships and fill you with his Spirit.

            I know that things in this life aren’t perfect. I know that we all face sickness, I know that we all face death, I know that we all battle sin on a regular basis, but I also know that: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31, NIV)

            I know that God is on our side; I know that God is for us; I know that He

wants to produce in our lives the Fruit of the Spirit called Joy.

            The Bible says: “Be joyful always…” (1Th 5:16, NIV)

            Notice the time limit on this command; be joyful…..always. In the good times and in the bad times.

            We can be joyful in the good times and in the bad times because true joy does not come from ourselves, but true joy comes from the Lord.

            The Bible says: “I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2, NIV)

            We are to rejoice in, and find our joy, from God. 

            If you have never experienced this joy that only comes from a Spirit filled life, then can I encourage you to submit to the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ?

He wants to work in your life, He wants to fill you the fruit of the spirit called Love AND joy.

            If you have given your life over to Jesus, ask Him to show you how He wants you to demonstrate this fruit in your life… in the good times and in the bad times.

            The Bible says: “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.” (Romans 14:17-18, NLT2)

Are you filled with the Fruit of the Spirit called Joy?