Did you know that even if we know the end of the Christian journey: “A new heaven and a new earth, a new Jerusalem like a bride for her husband and no more tears, death, sorrow, pain”[i] the bible still expects a Christian to run their race in a very disciplined way? In fact it compares us to sportsmen like this:
“Therefore, I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing]. But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].”
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 AMP
You would think that knowing that you have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb and that your name is in the lamb’s book of life, you should simply relax and take it easy enjoying the grace of God. No! It is actually a lot more than that. Jesus the Christ who went before us expects his saints to be disciplined, in order to successfully complete their work – even if this work was already planned from the beginning of time.
Let me speak in the flesh for a moment. When a child is born, their DNA or their genes already contain all the instructions needed for them to grow into an adult for example their hair colour, the height they will achieve, the pitch of their voice, even perhaps how they will respond to certain situations, but this child, with assistance from their parents must work hard for these things to happen – and this requires hard work, it requires a clear and known goal – turning this dependent child into an independent adult.
Likewise in the spirit, when a Christian is first born again, the Spirit who brings this new birth has already given this “new born” Christian all the DNA of Christ in order for them to do the good work prepared for them from the beginning, but this Christian will need to get to know what their goal is and then start moving towards it. As this Christian is growing spiritually and doing good work, they will find that without exactly knowing how, they end up manifesting the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus. Hoe does this happen? It’s in their spiritual DNA. What is this fruit? This 9-fold fruit is described as follows:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5: 22 -23 (NIV)
Now in these series of which this message is part 12, this being the last part we have been using an analogy of an orange tree growing to describe how a Christian matures in the Holy Spirit to the point of bearing lasting fruit. What the Lord, who is the Spirit however did in these series is build a 3 tiered work. He juxtaposed or knit together three things:
· First was understanding the 6 stages an orange tree goes through from seed to bearing fruit. A process which takes 5 years.
· Second, was understanding the 9-fold fruit of the spirit described in Galatians 5: 22 – 23.
· Third, was knitting them together into various messages (#1-#12) he gave me for his Church to mature in the Spirit filled life.
Like an orange tree has one purpose – to bear fruit, each of us, has one purpose, a good work to do that God has prepared for us – one we do as “co – workers” with him. In this last message, the Lord wants us to learn about the fruit of goodness and peace.
And what does the fruit of the Spirit of Goodness and Peace look like?
As I meditated on these two-last fruits of the Spirit I came to a realisation or perhaps God gave me a revelation. The bible says that No one is good but God (Mark 10: 18) [i]and it also shows us none of us has true peace but that which Jesus gives us, not like the world[ii]. It therefore follows that none of the 9 fold fruit of the Spirit can indeed be produced by a man on his own, it is an act of God alone. Many of the other fruit we covered in previous messages it was not exactly clear to me but these last two fruits make it clear that you can’t fake the fruit it is a work of God alone. It is the Spirit that causes you to walk in virtue, in up rightness (goodness) and to be able to have inner peace even when the world is crying “wolf wolf” (peace)! The bible explains this further as follows:
First, it is God himself who chose you from the beginning – by means of his Spirit
“But we should and are [morally] obligated [as debtors] always to give thanks to God for you, believers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctifying work of the Spirit [that sets you apart for God’s purpose] and by your faith in the truth [of God’s word that leads you to spiritual maturity]. It was to this end that He called you through our gospel [the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection], so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 AMP
Second, it is God who does most of the growing, let us not boast – but do work with one purpose
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NIV
Third, God works with us throughout our good work.
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and encouragement and the good [well-founded] hope [of salvation] by His grace, comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts [keeping them steadfast and on course] in every good work and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 AMP
Doing a good work is a disciplined process, perhaps like a growing orange tree.
But what is this good work the bible speaks of and what does it mean to be disciplined in it as this message covered? Jesus’ own example can make this clearer.
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