Text: Ephesians 1:4-5

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Tuesday, 14^th May 2024        

THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES THE FRUIT IN US 2

Text: Ephesians 1:4-5

Memory verse: Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.

When Apostle Paul asks us to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, he is not asking something extraordinary from us. This way of living and being around others is not something we can simply drive ourselves into “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved.” We unconsciously leaped straight over these doctrinal principles, not realizing that these truths are the very basis for being able to love one another with the fruits of Jesus.

To be chosen is to be picked out, chosen to obtain salvation through Christ. When we sit in the reality and mystery that God chose us before the foundations of the world to be His adopted son or daughter, our heart can’t help but soften and enlarge. When I truly believe I’m significant to my Saviour, the fruits flow more freely from within.

In addition to being chosen, we have been made holy. It means to be set apart for God, to be exclusively His. The word can also mean sacred, different. When we are grounded and settled in the reality that we have been set apart for special and sacred purposes within God’s Kingdom, the fruits come more naturally. When we are secure in our calling, the posture of humility and the ability to cheer for others will flow more freely.

To be dearly loved is to be actively loved. It means “to be fond of,” “dear,” “precious,” and “costly.” Growing up I sometimes felt more tolerated by God. As though I’d barely made the cut as His child. But Paul boldly declared that we are His beloved in Jesus Christ. We will not be able to effectively represent the fruits of Jesus without first knowing how dearly He loves us. We often try to live the fruits of the Spirit in hopes of being chosen by God, loved by Him, and set apart by Him, when it’s the other way around. Because we are chosen, made holy, and set apart, we are now able to bear the fruit as Jesus has taken up residence in our hearts. While sanctification plays a part in fruitful living, and sanctification takes time, the fruits of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are always accessible to you, because Jesus is the embodiment of them all. And He loves you dearly.

May we all work hard to learn the Word of God better. May we then put into practice the things that it says, such as bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Remember, there is no law against bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. God has laws against the works of the flesh, but not against the fruit of the Holy Spirit. When we bear the fruit of the Spirit, we are walking and living in the Spirit.

          

CGDS HYMN 4; SS&S 281:

COME, FOR THE FEAST IS SPREAD

1. Come, for the feast is spread;

Hark to the call!

Come to the living Bread,

Broken for all;

Come to His “house of wine,”

Low on His breast recline;

All that He hath is thine;

Come, sinner, come.

2. Come where the fountain flows-

River of life-

Healing for all thy woes,

Doubting, and strife;

Millions have been supplied,

No one was e’er denied;

Come to the crimson tide,

Come, sinner, come.

3. Come to the throne of grace,

Boldly draw near;

He who would win the race

Must tarry here;

Whate’er thy want may be

Here is the grace for thee,

Jesus thy only plea:

Come, Christian, come.

4. Come to the Better Land,

Pilgrim, make haste!

Earth is a foreign strand-

Wilderness waste!

Here are the harps of gold,

Here are the joys untold-

Crowns for the young and old:

Come, pilgrim, come.

5. Jesus, we come to Thee,

Oh, take us in!

Set Thou our spirits free;

Cleanse us from sin!

Then, in yon land of light,

Clothed in our robes of white,

Resting not day nor night,

Thee will we sing.

 

   Prayers:

1.  Holy Spirit, build sustainable character in me as child of God in Jesus’ name Amen.

2.  LORD God Almighty, let Your presence produce in me, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.