Remember from last week that the fruit of the Spirit is a unity. The qualities listed in Galatians 5:22-23 are not nine fruits; they are nine facets of one fruit. For example, in the story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet, we saw him showing love to his disciples—but his love also displayed humility, patience, kindness, etc.
The same evening that Jesus washed his disciples' feet, Jesus talked to them about joy. Even while the ordeal of his own suffering grew nearer and nearer, he was focusing on preparing his followers for the ordeal that was approaching for them. He wanted them to know that after the sorrow, joy would come, and the joy would last forever. This week, let's look at the quality of joy, from John 16:16-22
16"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me." 17So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?" 18So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about." 19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'? 20Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
That last evening with his disciples, after Jesus washed his disciples' feet, he pointed out Judas as the betrayer, he predicted Peter's denial, he comforted the disciples with the reality of heaven, and he spent a good deal of time preparing them for his departure. He warned them that he was going to have to leave them in a little while, but that they would see him again. Jesus told them that they would weep and mourn. Their grief would be overwhelming, like a mother suffering in labor and childbirth, but afterward they would have joy.
What does this tell us about joy?
1. Joy is essential for a follower of Jesus. Jesus told them, " I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice...." The apostle Paul was very direct when he exhorted the Christians to have joy: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God" (1 Thessalonians 5:16); and again, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). Why? Because Jesus returned from the grave, and he rescued us from death and hell. Nothing can diminish the joy of this reality!
2. Joy and sorrow coexist in this world. Sin brings sorrow in this life, and we all have many trials. When you become a Christian, the fact is that you become gladder and sadder at the same time. You are glad because of the joy of the gospel, and you are sad because of sin. You mourn over your own sin and the sin that brings so much pain and sorrow to everyone; you also suffer difficult trials for righteousness' sake. But for the believer, there should always be joy in the midst of sorrow.
3. Joy overwhelms sorrow. Joy is like a furnace. When the cold seeps in from outside, the furnace kicks in and the heat overwhelms the coldness. One definition of joy is "the spiritual buoyancy that comes from enjoying the privileges you have in Christ." Joy keeps us from giving in to the sorrows of life. Sadness seeps into our lives regularly, but when you remember the privileges and promises that you have in Christ, the joy overwhelm the sadness.
4. Joy is permanent. Jesus said, "No one will take your joy from you." Joy is permanent because the basis of your joy is eternal. Happiness based on happenings comes and goes. When you focus on happenings you forget your joy. When you focus on Jesus you will be joyful.
How can you cultivate your joy? Jesus is the key! He said, "I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice."
1. You must know Jesus as your personal Savior. you must believe the joyful news of forgiveness and salvation.
2. You must love Jesus. Joy is found in knowing Jesus, not just loving the gifts he gives. In this life, there will be trials as well as blessings, but loving Jesus gives us the ability to consider even the trials a joy for the sake of following Jesus.
3. You must obey Jesus. In John 15:10-11, Jesus said, "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
How is your furnace of joy?
1. What tends to dominate you more, joy or sorrow? If sorrow dominates, try to identify the source of your sadness. What are you thinking about that produces sadness? How do you need to change your thinking?
2. How is your lack of joyfulness manifested? Whining and complaining? Depression? Anger and resentment? What else?
3. Assuming that you struggle to be joyful (at least sometimes!) , consider who else is negatively affected by your lack of joyfulness. Your wife? Your children? Your co-workers? Your neighbors?
4. Consider the three ways to cultivate your joy listed above. Which kind of "cultivation" do you need most? What specific, concrete actions can you take to cultivate joy?
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Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Fruit of the Spirit
We know that all Christians have the Spirit living within them and, therefore, all Christians have some fruit of the Spirit. But we can’t take that fruit for granted. Second Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Fleeing and pursuing are not passive words—so we are not to be passive, but to work diligently at cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. How? Well, primarily by prayerful, regular study of the Word of God, including meditation on it and obeying it. And, of course, that’s why you’re part of the Men’s Ministry, isn’t it—to pursue the fruit of the Spirit in your own life?
Galatians 5:22-23 lists some qualities of the fruit of the Spirit. The nine listed in Galatians are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Remember that “fruit” is singular. There are not nine fruits, but only one, with many facets or aspects. That means that when the fruit is present in your life, you can’t have only one or two of the qualities without any of the others. You can’t have joy and peace, but no self-control. You will have at least some measure of all the qualities. Taken together, as a unity, they represent Christ-likeness. And Christ-likeness is worth pursuing.
We are starting this first week with the quality of love, which is the sum and source of all the other qualities. Let’s examine love as we see it in John 13:1-7, which tells of an event in the life of Jesus when the Spirit’s fruit was ripe. Jesus showed love, the kind of love we all need to have for others.
1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." 8 Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." 9Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean."
12When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Men, we can learn a lot by studying Jesus’ behavior. Although he was God, he was also a man—a man who was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. A man who “learned obedience through what He suffered.” Think about the love he showed here as he faced Gethsemane and the suffering of the cross.
Remember that this was his last evening with his disciples. Jesus knew that Judas was lost and full of hate for Jesus and would betray him. Jesus knew that the disciples were weak and confused and that they would fail him. Jesus knew too that he would soon—within hours—undergo the greatest suffering and agony that any man would ever face. In that circumstance, he chose to show the extent of his love for his disciples by washing their feet, including the feet of Judas, his enemy.
Why was foot washing such a big deal? Because it was a task that only the most menial, inferior slaves did. It was so demeaning that Peter was embarrassed by what Jesus was doing. But Jesus had a point to make, and when he explained it to them afterward, he said: I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Jesus taught them that they were to be known by the same kind of self-sacrificing love toward one another. Jesus’ followers are here to love God and love other people for God’s glory. You can make God look great by what you do!
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when you are looking for ways to show love:
1. Love is practical. Look for simple things that need to be done for someone else, and do them.
2. Love involves doing unpleasant things (like washing feet). Look for things that need to be done that perhaps no one else wants to do. Or, perhaps, show love to someone who is difficult to love, who has done wrong to you.
3. It requires humility to do tasks that are beneath you, or not worthy of your time and talents. Be willing to do things that might bring disapproval. Maybe something is needed that you ordinarily wouldn’t do yourself—but that might just be an opportunity to show love.
4. Love is not always welcomed, but that shouldn’t keep you from showing it.
Love is not self-seeking; don’t show love expecting your kindness to be appreciated. One example of this is giving constructive criticism to a friend when it is needed—your loving rebuke may not be appreciated, but love will motivate you to overcome your reluctance or fear. Be satisfied with knowing that God is the One who sees and rewards our good deeds.
In your men’s group, talk about ways to show love that imitate Christ’s “foot washing.” Deeds of love will be different for each of you, of course, depending on your situation. Here are some ideas to get started.
• Helping aged or infirm folks with physical chores they can no longer physically do, like cleaning gutters, changing light bulbs, moving furniture, etc. Or, if needed, help with their physical care.
• Clean the bathrooms or refrigerator for your wife.
• Take an interest in someone who is not especially interesting to you, but who may need your friendship. This might be someone you think is boring, or needy, or whining complainer, etc.
• Talk to a friend lovingly about an area of sin you are aware of that he needs to overcome. Be prepared to follow through and help him change if he wants you to.
• Take time (outside of work hours) to listen to a co-worker who is struggling and give some helpful counsel.
Galatians 5:22-23 lists some qualities of the fruit of the Spirit. The nine listed in Galatians are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Remember that “fruit” is singular. There are not nine fruits, but only one, with many facets or aspects. That means that when the fruit is present in your life, you can’t have only one or two of the qualities without any of the others. You can’t have joy and peace, but no self-control. You will have at least some measure of all the qualities. Taken together, as a unity, they represent Christ-likeness. And Christ-likeness is worth pursuing.
We are starting this first week with the quality of love, which is the sum and source of all the other qualities. Let’s examine love as we see it in John 13:1-7, which tells of an event in the life of Jesus when the Spirit’s fruit was ripe. Jesus showed love, the kind of love we all need to have for others.
1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." 8 Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." 9Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean."
12When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Men, we can learn a lot by studying Jesus’ behavior. Although he was God, he was also a man—a man who was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. A man who “learned obedience through what He suffered.” Think about the love he showed here as he faced Gethsemane and the suffering of the cross.
Remember that this was his last evening with his disciples. Jesus knew that Judas was lost and full of hate for Jesus and would betray him. Jesus knew that the disciples were weak and confused and that they would fail him. Jesus knew too that he would soon—within hours—undergo the greatest suffering and agony that any man would ever face. In that circumstance, he chose to show the extent of his love for his disciples by washing their feet, including the feet of Judas, his enemy.
Why was foot washing such a big deal? Because it was a task that only the most menial, inferior slaves did. It was so demeaning that Peter was embarrassed by what Jesus was doing. But Jesus had a point to make, and when he explained it to them afterward, he said: I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Jesus taught them that they were to be known by the same kind of self-sacrificing love toward one another. Jesus’ followers are here to love God and love other people for God’s glory. You can make God look great by what you do!
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when you are looking for ways to show love:
1. Love is practical. Look for simple things that need to be done for someone else, and do them.
2. Love involves doing unpleasant things (like washing feet). Look for things that need to be done that perhaps no one else wants to do. Or, perhaps, show love to someone who is difficult to love, who has done wrong to you.
3. It requires humility to do tasks that are beneath you, or not worthy of your time and talents. Be willing to do things that might bring disapproval. Maybe something is needed that you ordinarily wouldn’t do yourself—but that might just be an opportunity to show love.
4. Love is not always welcomed, but that shouldn’t keep you from showing it.
Love is not self-seeking; don’t show love expecting your kindness to be appreciated. One example of this is giving constructive criticism to a friend when it is needed—your loving rebuke may not be appreciated, but love will motivate you to overcome your reluctance or fear. Be satisfied with knowing that God is the One who sees and rewards our good deeds.
In your men’s group, talk about ways to show love that imitate Christ’s “foot washing.” Deeds of love will be different for each of you, of course, depending on your situation. Here are some ideas to get started.
• Helping aged or infirm folks with physical chores they can no longer physically do, like cleaning gutters, changing light bulbs, moving furniture, etc. Or, if needed, help with their physical care.
• Clean the bathrooms or refrigerator for your wife.
• Take an interest in someone who is not especially interesting to you, but who may need your friendship. This might be someone you think is boring, or needy, or whining complainer, etc.
• Talk to a friend lovingly about an area of sin you are aware of that he needs to overcome. Be prepared to follow through and help him change if he wants you to.
• Take time (outside of work hours) to listen to a co-worker who is struggling and give some helpful counsel.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
WEEK NINE — Radical Amputation and Accountability
You will need to apply the previous procedures regularly, to various temptations. Sometimes you will find it difficult, and you may even find yourself failing in the battle against temptation. Now, let’s give some further consideration of this matter.
Read Matthew 5:29-30, and ask yourself these questions:
1. Am I avoiding all unnecessary situations, contacts, etc., in which I will be tempted? Be honest!
2. Do I find myself, instead, purposely frequenting those contexts? If so, what must I do?
3. When I cannot avoid contact, possibly dangerous situations, and the like, what should I do then?
[Check out Job 31: 1 for one such initial solution.]
4. If the problem is extreme, what must I do?
5. How would you apply the words about tearing out the eye, etc., to this problem?
6. Last. If for some reason there is still a problem in this area that you find more difficult than you can handle along, speak to the pastor or your elder about it. They will be glad to help.
As you engage in this battle with temptation, remember the encouragement of Christ in Matthew 5:6:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
You must not only learn to radically amputate, you must also learn to radically hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness.
Read Matthew 5:29-30, and ask yourself these questions:
1. Am I avoiding all unnecessary situations, contacts, etc., in which I will be tempted? Be honest!
2. Do I find myself, instead, purposely frequenting those contexts? If so, what must I do?
3. When I cannot avoid contact, possibly dangerous situations, and the like, what should I do then?
[Check out Job 31: 1 for one such initial solution.]
4. If the problem is extreme, what must I do?
5. How would you apply the words about tearing out the eye, etc., to this problem?
6. Last. If for some reason there is still a problem in this area that you find more difficult than you can handle along, speak to the pastor or your elder about it. They will be glad to help.
As you engage in this battle with temptation, remember the encouragement of Christ in Matthew 5:6:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
You must not only learn to radically amputate, you must also learn to radically hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness.
Monday, March 2, 2009
WEEK EIGHT — The Stages of Temptation
How to win the fight!
Read James 1:13-15. This passage in James takes apart the stages in which temptation works its way from the heart outward. Temptation can be resisted at any point along the way. As long as you live, it is never too late to repent. However, the further you go in the process of temptation, the harder the consequences are likely to be. How can the temptation be checked at various points?
Point 1. When you experience the appeal of sinful desires:
Point 2. After you have decided to give in to sinful desires:
Point 3. When you are experiencing the consequences of giving in to temptation—the growth of sin that brings forth death:
Read James 1:13-15. This passage in James takes apart the stages in which temptation works its way from the heart outward. Temptation can be resisted at any point along the way. As long as you live, it is never too late to repent. However, the further you go in the process of temptation, the harder the consequences are likely to be. How can the temptation be checked at various points?
Point 1. When you experience the appeal of sinful desires:
Point 2. After you have decided to give in to sinful desires:
Point 3. When you are experiencing the consequences of giving in to temptation—the growth of sin that brings forth death:
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