Tag: fruits

Fruits of the Disciplines

Dancing in the Kingdom- Table of Contents

Dancing In the Kingdom – Part 3 – Dancing in the Kingdom– Chapter 15 – Reforming our Souls

Fruits of the disciplines

[Bible references: Ruth 3:11; 1 Samuel 13:14; 2 Samuel 11; 1 Kings 22:35; 1 Kings 16:33; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Job 2:3; Psalm 15:1-2; 78:72; Proverbs 4:23; 10:9; 11:3; 17:3; Nehemiah 7:2; Daniel 1:8-9; Matthew 5-7; 12:33; 15:19-20; 23”27-28; Romans 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:10, 33; Galatians 5:22–23; Colossians 3:12-15 23-24; Philippians 2:12–16; 4:8; 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9;2:7-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Peter 1:6-7;’ 5:1-4; 2 Peter 1:3-8] 

Forming our dependence on the Holy Spirit

Practicing the disciplines opens us up to the work of the Holy Spirit within us, transforming our very inner character (moral qualities, ethical standards, and principles) into the likeness of Christ. Christian character is the product of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that produces the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, long suffering, and self-control. Although it is the Holy Spirit who transforms us, we are still called to work with and not against the Spirit. It is by His grace that we are transformed, and it is also by his grace that we can work with Him as He brings His kingdom into the world. Because the Spirit of God lives in us, He provides the grace and power that make godly living possible. We are encouraged to make use of this great power.

Forming our character/integrity

People of character are noted for their honesty, ethics, and charity. Descriptions such as “man of principle” and “woman of integrity” are assertions of character. A person’s character is the sum of his or her disposition, thoughts, intentions, desires, and actions.

It is good to remember that character is gauged by general tendencies, not on few isolated actions. We must look at our whole life. For example, King David was a man of good character although he sinned on occasion. And although King Ahab may have acted nobly once, he was still a man of overall bad character. Several people in the Bible are described as having noble character: Ruth, Hanani, David, and Job. These individuals’ lives were distinguished by persistent moral virtue.

People of good character are often described with terms like integrity, honesty, strong moral fiber, care and concern for others, and the like. Although their character is demonstrated in actions, true character resides in the heart. True godliness includes both right actions and right motives.

Forming our choices

Character is developed by our choices. Daniel “resolved not to defile himself” in Babylon (Daniel 1:8), and that godly choice was an important step in formulating an unassailable integrity in the young man’s life. Character, in turn, influences our choices.

We can develop character by controlling our thoughts, practicing Christian virtues, guarding our hearts, and keeping good company. Men and women of character will set a good example for others to follow, and their godly reputation will be evident to all.

Observe

Read 1 Peter 1:5-9. Which characteristic gives you the most problems?

Desires and truths of the faith

Dancing in the Kingdom- Table of Contents

Dancing In the Kingdom – Part 2 – The Kingdom Revealed – Chapter 12 – Launching the church

Desires and Fruits of Faith

[Bible references: Psalm 1:1-3; John 15:1-5; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:10; James 2:14-26]

A part of faith is the mental assent to the truth of who Jesus is who we are, but that is just the beginning. If the assent is real, then faith should include a submission of the will which will then lead to a lifestyle that demonstrates trusting in Jesus and submitting to His Lordship. This faith should affect who we are and should show up in our behavior as Jesus starts the process of transforming our character. The fruits of the Spirit ought to be increasingly visible in our lives. Becoming a mature Christian ought to seen in the maturity of the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.

For us to grow and mature, and produce spiritual fruits, we need to think like a farmer; growing fruit requires feeding and nurturing. To this end, Jesus cautions us to remember that we are like branches on a vine, we need to stay connected to him to grow. Staying connected to God however is not an easy thing for us as we tend to be like sheep mindlessly wandering around. Thankfully, we have a God who has never stopped pursuing us.[1]

Our dance with God is a dance where He works on the process of transforming our lives to look more like Him. Our personalities will not all be the same, but there are certain characteristics that should become more evident in our lives. One concise list of those characteristics can be found in a short sentence within the letter to the Galatians, “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). The first and most primary characteristic is that of love, a fuller expression of which can be found in 1 Corinthians 13. The epitome of love is described in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” God created us out of the outpouring of His love, and He has created us to be in His image. Love is the characteristic that permeates all of God’s other characteristics and it should be the driving force in all we do.

[1] Compelling Truth “Does God Pursue Us?” Compelling Truth www.compellingtruth.org/does-God-pursue-us.html

Reflect

Our lives should be increasingly marked by a love that has responded to the love of God. We should not be driven by fear or hatred or legalism. In what ways do we seem to be motivated by something other than love?

Observe

Read Psalm 1; John 15:1-5; 1 Corinthians 13. What should mark a life of faith?