His Presence (5)

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text: Galatians 5v22-25

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5v22-25 (NLT)

Now, immediately we become born again, we become new creatures, old things are passed away, and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5v17). We are given the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit. “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.” For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering” (Romans 8v15-17, NLT). Hallelujah. Jesus tells us that He is the Vine and His Father the Vinedresser or Husbandman, and we are the branches. Every tree that brings forth fruit is pruned so it brings forth more fruit. Those that don’t are cut off (see John 15v1-8 below). One fruit that is made mention of explicitly in the Bible, is the fruit of the Spirit. Are you being pruned to bring forth more fruit? Hang in there. For instance, we see that one way in which patience comes is through trials and troubles (James 1v2-4). When we are going through them, we may be tempted to fret, and wiggle, and want to get out of it, and seek ways outside of God to solve them, but we know that “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will wait and not faint” (Isaiah 40v31, NLT). There are opportunities for us to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. “In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His Sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5v45, NLT). Hallelujah… Through prayer we can enable the peace of God to “guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4v7, NLT).

Supplementary Text:

“I am the true grapevine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of Mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask anything you want, and it will be granted. When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father” John 15v1-8 (NLT).

Prayer

Father, we thank You so much for Your Word and for all that You are to us. We thank You for Your pruning. Father, please help us to recognize when we are being pruned, and to submit to this pruning, that we may continue to bear fruit to the glory of Your name. We pray for great grace to yield always to the leading of the Spirit, and for a greater sensitivity to Your Spirit in Jesus name, amen. We love You Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in Jesus name we pray, amen.