Fruit!

Fruit!

Galatians 5:22 - 23 AMPC

[22] But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

In simple terms, you can define 'fruit' as the seed-bearing structure of a plant, often sweet and edible. It means that the fruit would always reflect the plant from which it is taken, or what you may call the seed. The fruit does not exist in isolation of the seed or plant and cannot be celebrated outside of the influence of the seed. Think of it this way: the one who plants the seed knows what s/he wants to get at the end of the process. The best seed is then cultivated and planted in the ground; it is carefully nurtured and kept from the influence of weeds or adverse weather, so that it can have the best environment to bloom and thrive. 

At the end of the process, the seed matures and bears visible and edible fruit, which many will partake of and enjoy. Even the person who planted the seed may not be able to consume all the fruit. People who pass by and had no idea how or when the seed was planted and nurtured will also partake in the fruit. This is just a reflection of the message in the verse above. The verse above presents all the qualities listed as the fruit of the Spirit. It does not refer to them in plural, but in singular form, which tells me that this is not an auction where I get to choose the ones that are convenient, and reject the others that may be hard to attain. 

This is a package deal, where I get all for the price of total surrender to the One who is able to plant the seed in me, nurture it, so that it produces the fruiit listed above. As the verse above makes clear, this fruit is the work His presence within me is able to accomplish. It has nothing to do with circle of influence or my bank account balance, or any networth value. It is all God from start to finish, and it is done in a life that allows Him work. It is not what I can get by labour, striving or pushing hard; if it were by effort alone, then grace is of no effect. It is also not enough to hear or read about Him; He has to live inside me. Too many times, we are content with hearsay or other people's opinions. It is time we sought for, found God, and then followed Him for ourselves. 

After all, it is first and foremost a personal encounter. There is no group or teams call for this one. Check out all the dimensions to this fruit, and you will find that all of them are first internal convictions before they become external manifestations. There is no market for joy, but you cannot deny its presence in the life of a man who has it. You cannot buy peace in the market but when you meet a man who is ruled by the Prince of Peace, you cannot doubt his encounter. It is also instructive to note that no government can make a law to make any of these dimensions unlawful. What a wonderful and wise God, who calls us into this unique and special relationship, by which He can make Himself known to the world. He has given us His all; would we also give Him our all? God's time of favour is here. 

My Rock!

My Rock!

Psalm 18:2 AMPC

[2] The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower.

Pause for a moment and reflect on the clear message at the top of the chapter from where the verse above is taken. It reads: 'A psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul'. This is the man who had been taken from total obscurity as a shepherd boy, and made the king over Israel. He had been anointed in secret, but before long, the whole nation had known about it. He is referred to as the servant of the Lord, and of course, we know that God called this same servant a man after His own heart. 

Who says being backed up by God will keep you away from trials or tough times? Who says that being a child of God insures you from rough waves and strong winds? God too does not promise such anywhere in His Word; what is guaranteed is a life filled with His power and presence. What is guaranteed is that whatever He allows to come our way is carefully calculated and calibrated to bring out His best in us. Like the pharmacist that He is, amongst many other things, He will not bring on us more than we can bear, and He will also make a way of escape for us, so we can be standing at the end of it all. That is what we have access to. 

As the verse above makes clear, you do not make claims without having a personal encounter with the One who can supply that which you need. You cannot speak quite confidently about an encounter you do not have. When David refers to God as his rock, fortress, deliverer, his God, his strength, these are things that are best understood from personal experience. You do not use such personal words for someone you only have a passing acquaintance with. These words are also from a place of struggle and victory, a place of warring and overcoming, and a place of pain turned into strength. Do you know or have anything to do with this God?

How else would I appreciate the value of a rock or fortress if I never had to run from trouble into a safe place? The value of who I know and what I have will best be appreciated when trouble comes. It is not a matter of IF but WHEN. Being a child of God is the best relationship I could ever have. He is the One who can preserve from all evil. He is the One who gives me a safe place to rest, before I have to face the world again. He is the One who saves me, and even when I am weary and broken, He picks me, cleans me up, and still sets me on the path to relevance and impact. Who else can do what God does? Again I ask: do you know and have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

No Worries!

No Worries!

Matthew 6:34 AMPC

[34] So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

It is the natural human reaction to fret and worry about things you cannot influence or control. Man usually loves to have a sense of control, as he is able to direct the narrative, but when you are already limited by time, resources and nature, you just cannot win the battle of control. As was mentioned above, it is a natural human reaction to worry, even for those who know God, and that is why the message in the verse above is instructive for us. The verse above is taken from the first Sermon of Jesus on the mountain, as He sat down with His disciples. We have always maintained that though the crowd was there, the crowd was not Jesus' main audience. 

You do not place a demand for commitment on an uncommitted majority. You do not make a demand for faith from a generation that has been brought up on fear and rumours, unless you have first changed the inner point of control and influence. This is what Jesus was trying to do here. I note that He did not rebuke His disciples for worrying; He gave them a reason to stop worrying, but also provided an alternative focus. This is also important: too many times, we tell people what to stop doing but we do not provide a viable alternative focus or activity. The natural mind is prone to activity - mental, psychological, emotional. He just cannot sit still; he needs an answer to all of life's questions.

He is unable to see beyond this immediate second, yet he wants to have in place a ten-year plan. Whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with planning, it has to be done with the right mentality, attitude and focus. As the same chapter from where the verse above is taken makes clear, no one can add a single cubit to his height or a single day to his span of life by worrying? The birds of the air do not hunt, and they have no savings account, yet it is hard to find any of them falling to the ground dead due to hunger. The lilies of the field have no tailors yet they are always beautifully adorned. Not even Solomon with His riches had such beauty. 

If God can take care of these creatures which are not promised eternal life with God, how much more will God take care of us in whom He has deposited a part of Himself? As it has been pointed out, rather than worry, put all your trust in God alone. Why worry about a tomorrow you have not seen, when you have a God who holds tomorrow in His hands? Each day has its own troubles, but this God also promises mercies on a daily basis. His mercies have not failed yet and He will not start today. He does not sleep or slumber, and He does not get tired. The One who made us in His own image is also invested in our success and advancement. Trust Him with your life. God's time of favour is here. 

All I Need!

All I Need!

2 Peter 1:3 AMPC

[3] For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

There is power in personal encounters. The man who wrote this letter would know this. We know how and where he started: he was an ordinary fisherman, busy at his place of work when Jesus borrowed his ship to teach and preach, and then blessed him with a boat full of fish. That encounter was enough to change the direction of Peter's life. We also know he was not always the best version of himself at the start; he was given to fear and emotional responses. In fact, his name was Simon the reed. It was his encounter with Jesus, as well as the inspiration he got from the Spirit, that led to the name Peter being added to his name. 

It is even more special to consider that this was the same man who walked with Jesus for more than three years, yet at the first sight of arrest, he denied ever knowing Jesus. Before we blame Simon, remember that another disciple named Judas Iscariot actually took money to betray the same Jesus. It is clear that the grace of God is not something we earn by any good thing we could have done, but it is simply a function of God's goodness and mercy. By human standards, men like Simon, Judas Iscariot and even Thomas  may not have been qualified to be called disciples, but this is where grace does not always follow logic. Who says it must always make sense? 

This same Peter now writes to those who have obtained the same precious faith that he, along with other apostles, also obtained. This is the work of faith, not just works. This is the righteousness of God that all who come in faith to the Saviour Jesus Christ receive. If men like Peter could speak of grace this way, it means that there is nobody who is beyond the grace of God. It does not matter how dirty my past is; it does not matter what the weight of the past is. All that really matters is that I respond to the offer of God that has been made available. His power, presence and presents are available for all men, particularly for those who submit their lives to Him. 

He does not only sort out the eternal; He is also invested in the earthly. He wants me to be a blessing down here, and in preparation for eternity. God wants me to be His eyes, ears, hands, feet and heart, so that men are attracted to His light in me. The best way I can do these is to reflect His glory and power by the things I do, the way I look, the words I speak. I am His ambassador; the earthly and visible representative of an invisible God. As the verse above makes clear, He has given us all that we need for life and Godliness. The One who calls is the One who also equips. He does not do half-measures. Do you know this God? God's time of favour is here.

New Life!

New Life!

Colossians 3:1 AMPC

[1] IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Paul was writing this letter to the church in Colosse, and it is instructive that this letter was co-written by Timothy, someone who had been mentored in the faith by Paul. Timothy was not one you would have reckoned with by Jewish standards, because his father was Greek, but we now know that the past does not always determine the present or the future. That Timothy became the vessel he became is a testament to the power of God to save and to use. There is no one who is so far gone that s/he is beyond the grace of God. He is the One who takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. It really matters in whose hands that life is. 

It is also instructive to note the audience to which this letter is addressed: the saints (the consecrated people of God) and believing and faithful brethren in Christ. This also matters. As we have always maintained, the audience defines the demand. You do not place a demand for commitment from a majority which has no idea of what is required by God. How can you commit to a God who you do not know or whose authority you do not submit to? The other danger is that this majority is of course in large numbers, and can be quite loud and visible. The crowd can make noise, but it does not always mean that God is backing up that noise. 

For those who have made that commitment, the message in the verse above is clear: we have been raised with Christ into a new life. When Christ died on the cross, He took away the power of sin and death, giving us access into the new life that only Christ can give. We now share the same life; we share the power of resurrection, because this new life does not end. This is both humbling and instructive; it is a life that is only available in Christ, and it places a demand for new pursuits and priorities from all who seek it. What worked in the old life no longer applies in this new life. What was permitted under the old order no longer works in this new order. 

For people who share this new life, the verse above lays out this requirement: aim at and seek the rich, eternal treasures that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. It does not mean that I forget how to be a blessing down here on earth, but the values of the earth must not hold my heart. I cannot afford to focus only on what I can get here, but the desire for eternal life with God must be of utmost priority.  The treasures in Christ beat whatever the earth can give you; the earth can even give you, but it cannot guarantee that you will enjoy it. Focus on God, even as you make impact for Him down here. Eternity will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here. 

Be Wise!

Be Wise!

Daniel 12:3 AMPC

[3] And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.

Let us put the verse above in the right context. These were the final words of the book of Daniel, and as we know, this latter part of the book was about prophecies of the end. Daniel himself was a Jew who found himself in captivity along with other Jews, but what distinguished him was his commitment to purity, both internal and external. Even though he was in a foreign land where he could have blended in without feeling guilty, he knew what God's standards were, and he would not compromise. For all of us who seek impact, relevance and eternal reward, we cannot afford to do what others do, live as others live, and even eat as others eat, as Daniel found out to his advantage. 

Daniel was also a man given to prayer. As we read from the book of Daniel, there were deep mysteries revealed to him simply because he was a man given to prayer. It was so special that even a dream and its interpretation were both revealed to him, which shows the heart of God in dealing with people who make time for Him, as well as God's readiness to share deep things with those who can handle them. Can God say the same about me? Can I find time in the midst of the most pressing schedule, to commune with God and seek His face for all that is both present and ahead? As we have said several times, God will not force Himself on anyone. 

He will also not go against the exercise of my freewill but be sure that He will show Himself strong and mighty in the lives of all who seek Him sincerely and with their whole hearts. This is the foundation of the verse above. God has needs too, and He seeks men who will listen to His heart and seek to do His will. He does not promise a life free of tribulations or tough times, but He sure promises us His ever-abiding Presence and Power. As the first verse of the chapter from where the verse above is taken makes clear, there will be a time of trouble and distress for the world, but God promises deliverance for all whose names are written in the Book. 

That has to be the right motivation for all that I am asked to do: whatever it is I want to do: teach the undiluted word of God and turn many to righteousness. It is by personal example that the life of Christ can be made attractive to the world around me. The verse above refers to teachers and those who are wise. To be able to teach the right way is to be humble and open about your struggles, and totally depending on the One who cab help you stand. To be wise is to also lead others to the saving knowledge of Jesus, saving them from eternal damnation. This is the best use of the life that God has given me. That is true wisdom. Do I truly have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Refuge!

Refuge!

Psalm 46:1 AMPC

[1] GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.

This is a psalm written by the sons of Korah. We do not know the context, but there is no doubt about the depth of the message. You do not speak like this without some deeply personal experience of the God referred to in the verse above. Mature men are confident to speak about someone or something they know quite well, and this also applies here. Can I say with utmost confidence that I know this God that the sons of Korah spoke of in the verse above? I also note that it went far beyond just hearsay; as much as it is nice to hear others speak about God, it is even more important to know Him for yourself. 

When trials and tough times come, you really cannot depend on just what someone else has said. It has to be something you have personally found to be true, proven by personal experience. Another thing that is clear from the verse above is that you do not come to such a conclusion without some rough and tough times. How do you call God a refuge if you have never had to run to Him for safety from danger or trouble? How do you find God to be a place of strength if there had not been times of weakness, discomfort, pain or failure? Again, this is the power of personal experience. Men can speal of what they know, but they cannot experience God on your behalf. 

He has walked in my own shoes, so His experiences have become sources of help and inspiration for me. He was tempted by the devil, and whatever it is that we go through today has already been answered and provided for by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just like a definition of 'refuge' lays out, it means protection, shelter, or a safe place that keeps you away from danger, trouble, or hardship. Of course, there must be danger for a refuge to make sense. The human experience is unpredictable; God does nor promise a life free of trouble, but that in spite of what comes, there is a presence that stays true. 

The verse above also refers to the same God as a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Again, how do you prove this to be true if life was all a bed of roses? How do you test the veracity of this claim if you never had pressure? I must value the blessings of this life which enable me learn the value of God’s presence and power.  It does not matter how bad things get or how deep problems go; God is ever-present. He stays in when everyone else steps out. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has not changed or moved; if He seems far, I must check where I am and where I have been. He is that faithful. God’s time of favour is here.