TWO THEMES TODAY - 1st THEME Can be stated from various perspectives: *JESUS AT THE CENTER *LIVING BY THE SPIRIT *BEING GOD’S VINEYARD/GARDEN *PRODUCING GOD’S GOOD FRUIT
Galatians 5:22-25 – CEB 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. 24 Those who belong to Messiah Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit.
How Do We “Live by the SPIRIT?” and “PRODUCE FRUIT?” Try Harder?
How Do We “Live by the SPIRIT?” and “PRODUCE FRUIT?” MOVE CLOSER! & STAY CONNECTED!
TWO WAYS of LIVING A PICTURE OF PAUL’S THEOLOGICAL PARADIGM JESUS – HOLY SPIRIT (fruitful living) LEGALISM LICENSE (both lead to “works of the flesh”)
STAY CONNECTED – BE A FRUIT BEARER ISAIAH LOVED TO USE THE GARDEN/VINEYARD IMAGE JESUS CLAIMED TO “FULFILL” and ENHANCE IT PAUL CHALLENGES US TO “HANG ON TIGHTLY”
BE GOD’S VINEYARD (1) GOD IS THE GARDENER/THE VINEYARD KEEPER
LET JESUS BE GOD’S VINE IN YOUR LIFE (2) “I AM THE VINE. YOU ARE THE BRANCHES” “REMAIN IN ME & I WILL REMAIN IN YOU” “YOU WILL PRODUCE FRUIT”
ONE GARDENER – ONE VINE – MANY BRANCHES MANY KINDS OF FRUIT
PRAYER: FOR MORE OF GOD’S SPIRIT IN MY LIFE – STAYING CONNECTED FOR MORE OF GOD’S SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES – STAYING CONNECTED
2nd THEME THE FRUIT OF LOVE DEFINED BIBLICALLY - WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF LOVE? Agape – “a Stubborn Commitment to put the ‘Good’ of the Other(s)’ first – ahead of my own self-interest.”
TO PRODUCE AGAPE WE NEED FIRST TO RECEIVE AGAPE Galatians 2:20-21 (CEB) 20 I have been crucified with the Messiah and I no longer live, but the Messiah lives in me. 21And the life that I now live in my body, I live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God’s Son, who loved me and gave himself for me. -WE NEED FIRST TO RECEIVE AGAPE/LOVE-
MOVE CLOSER TO JESUS WHO LOVES YOU & YOU WILL PRODUCE MORE “LOVE-FRUIT” (1) Gal 5:22 CEB But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness… Gal 5:6 CEB Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t matter in the Messiah Jesus, but faith working through love does matter.
MOVE CLOSER TO JESUS WHO LOVES YOU & YOU WILL PRODUCE MORE “LOVE-FRUIT” (2) Gal 5:13 CEB You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. 14 All the Law has been fulfilled in a single statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.
LOVE – AGAPE? LET’S BE HONEST… AGAPE: PUTTING THE “GOOD” For OTHERS – God, Friend, Foe ahead of our own self-interest! NOT “NATURAL” for MOST of US, MOST of the TIME “MORE LOVE? MORE OF YOU (JESUS) IN MY LIFE!”
JESUS’ COSTLY COMMITMENT TO LOVING US/YOU 23On the night on which he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread. 24 After giving thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this to remember me.” 25 He did the same thing with the cup, after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my life-blood. Every time you drink it, do this to remember me.” - JESUS, LOVE US, HELP US LOVE OTHERS, DON’T GIVE UP ON US!
MY PRAYER TODAY: JESUS DON’T GIVE UP ON US JESUS: HELP US RECEIVE MORE OF YOUR LOVE; SO WE CAN PRODUCE MORE LOVE FOR OTHERS ME as an Individual YOU as an Individual US as a Fellowship US as the Followers of Jesus USA & World-Wide US as the World – the Human Race
PRAYER SONG – “LOVE DON’T GIVE UP ON US” (Lizz Wright – “Painted Sky”) Remembering anniversary of MLK’s Death for promoting love (“good for the ‘other’”) between Races – this song occurs at the “Ebenezer Baptist Church” where MLK co- pastored with his father. “Painted Sky” describes our attempts to do life on our own “Love” is what we need to experience “real life”