January 28, 2016
Kindness is one of the fruit that is pretty straight forward. We can look at someones behavior and rightly discern kindness. The lesson this week will look at some verses in the bible so we can tell what God says kindness is and where He says it comes from. Since this is pretty obvious we will spend only one week on this and next week we will be discussing meekness.
" If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you. " Proverbs 25 : 21-22
The coals spoken of here are not coals of judgement meant to harm or condemn, but coals of kindness meant to melt the hard heart of the non-believer by deeds of kindness. In the New Testament Jesus teaches the same lesson when He talks about loving your enemy and praying for them.
" For if you love those who love you, what reward have you ? Do not even the tax collectors do the same ? And if you greet your brethren , what do you do more than others ? For do not even the tax collectors do so ? Matthew 5 : 46-47
When Jesus died on the cross He died for each person and all people !!! The lesson Jesus is teaching here is that we should follow His example and not the example of Satan. When He is referring to the tax collectors, the most hated people in Israel, this refers to Satan. The law that non-believers follow is to be kind and greet only people of their kind... not to all people. What Jesus is teaching is to be kind to ALL people. The righteous and the unrighteous, the good and the bad, the believers and the non-believers.
" To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. " Job 6 : 14
In the story of Job, he has lost everything and his friends come to "comfort" him. They all take turns telling Job that God is punishing him for sin. Job searches his soul and concludes he has not sinned, yet his friends continue to condemn him for sinning. In this verse Job is saying that even if he did sin, shouldn't his "friends" at least show kindness and stop accusing him of sinning ? This is where the saying comes from (or at least should have) that we are to hate the sin and not the sinner. Job's friends should not have accused him but should have comforted him in his time of need. We as well meaning Christians should also learn this lesson !!
I was recently witness to the break up of a church because well meaning people were ( preachers) accusing and threatening people in the church congregation for living in sin. They should have taken a lesson from Job and comforted them and led them away from sin by leading them to Jesus instead of being righteous in their own minds and judging.....which is God's job not ours. Join us next week as we look at meekness. If you would like to know more about us or what we do, you can find us at www.prayerboxministry.org.
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Fruit Of The Spirit ... Righteousness ( Part 2 )
January 21, 2016
As we continue to teach on the Fruit of the Spirit, our class has more than doubled in 3 weeks and we now have 5 people getting saved !!! The Holy Spirit is confirming God's word through action. Today we will finish looking at righteousness. The four bible quotes chosen will show different aspects of this fruit and how we can apply to our lives.
" Not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him ? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. " 1 John 3 : 12
This verse shows several things. One, we are not all from God. This was shown from the beginning , when Jesus came and told the leaders that their father was Satan, and is true all around us today !! Also this verse shows that righteousness and unrighteousness cannot live together. Not in the individual, not in business and not in marriage. One is the fruit of the Spirit and the other the fruit of Satan. Lastly, it puts a definition into what righteousness is : righteousness is doing what God says out of faith.
" No weapon formed against you shall prosper,and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord. " Isaiah 54 : 17
This is referring to the the Jews, however, the spiritual truth is just as true today for believers. No weapon formed against a believer shall prosper. This verse also shows that when voices raise up against us in judgement, we are NOT to stand there and take it !! We are commanded that WE shall condemn it !! This verse also shows us where righteousness come from...."Me, says the Lord."
" ... even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference. " Romans 3 : 22
This verse shows not where righteousness comes from, but why. Faith in Jesus Christ !! All men have sinned and all are unrighteous in God's eyes. Believers are seen as righteous in God's eyes ONLY because of the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross. But this righteousness is given by God only to those who believe in His Son and believe the sacrifice He made for them. Amen !!!
" Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. " Matthew 5:6
Do the unsaved people hunger and thirst for righteousness ? Only the believers who have the Holy Spirit in them hunger and thirst for righteousness ! So this verse shows WHO can receive righteousness. This verse shows us that even after we receive the Spirit we can continually be filled with the Spirit and the fruit continues to grow. Thank God and Praise Him !!!
That concludes our study of righteousness. Join us next week as we look at Kindness. Also, if you would like to know more about us and what we do, you can find us at www.prayerboxministry.org.
As we continue to teach on the Fruit of the Spirit, our class has more than doubled in 3 weeks and we now have 5 people getting saved !!! The Holy Spirit is confirming God's word through action. Today we will finish looking at righteousness. The four bible quotes chosen will show different aspects of this fruit and how we can apply to our lives.
" Not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him ? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. " 1 John 3 : 12
This verse shows several things. One, we are not all from God. This was shown from the beginning , when Jesus came and told the leaders that their father was Satan, and is true all around us today !! Also this verse shows that righteousness and unrighteousness cannot live together. Not in the individual, not in business and not in marriage. One is the fruit of the Spirit and the other the fruit of Satan. Lastly, it puts a definition into what righteousness is : righteousness is doing what God says out of faith.
" No weapon formed against you shall prosper,and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord. " Isaiah 54 : 17
This is referring to the the Jews, however, the spiritual truth is just as true today for believers. No weapon formed against a believer shall prosper. This verse also shows that when voices raise up against us in judgement, we are NOT to stand there and take it !! We are commanded that WE shall condemn it !! This verse also shows us where righteousness come from...."Me, says the Lord."
" ... even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference. " Romans 3 : 22
This verse shows not where righteousness comes from, but why. Faith in Jesus Christ !! All men have sinned and all are unrighteous in God's eyes. Believers are seen as righteous in God's eyes ONLY because of the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross. But this righteousness is given by God only to those who believe in His Son and believe the sacrifice He made for them. Amen !!!
" Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. " Matthew 5:6
Do the unsaved people hunger and thirst for righteousness ? Only the believers who have the Holy Spirit in them hunger and thirst for righteousness ! So this verse shows WHO can receive righteousness. This verse shows us that even after we receive the Spirit we can continually be filled with the Spirit and the fruit continues to grow. Thank God and Praise Him !!!
That concludes our study of righteousness. Join us next week as we look at Kindness. Also, if you would like to know more about us and what we do, you can find us at www.prayerboxministry.org.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Fruit Of The Spirit ... Righteousness
January 14, 2016
Sometimes there is a word or concept that you know what it means but you just can not find the best way to describe it to someone else ! One of those words for me is sanctification. I have taught for years and still I come up short when trying to explain this !! The word righteousness is another of those words. So I have learned that whenever I teach on these words..... I pull out my bible dictionary and read directly from it. This week was no exception : As we started class I read the entire passage to the class before we read the passages. Here I will not do the whole passage, but will write enough that you will get a good idea ! Then we will cover 4 or 5 passages from God's word that will show different aspects of righteousness.
"RIGHTEOUSNESS - Holy and upright living, in accordance with God's standard. The word righteousness comes from a root word that means " straightness". It refers to a state that conforms to an authoritative standard. Righteousness is a moral concept. God's character is the definition and source of all righteousness (Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; Rom. 9:14). Therefore, man's righteousness is defined in terms of God's.......God accounts or transfers the righteousness of Christ to those who trust in Him. ( Rom. 4:3-22; Gal. 3:6; Phil. 3:9) We do not become righteous because of our inherent goodness; God sees us as righteous because of our identification by faith with His Son." (Nelson's Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible page 918 )
" Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12 : 11
When we were children, our parents would chasten us to teach us the difference between good and bad behavior. It was never fun !!! In fact it usually hurt. The key to this passage , however, is the last part... to those who are trained by it. If as a child your parents chastened you over and over and you did not learn the message...Then your behavior was not changed. God treats us the same way. He chastens us in many ways to teach us what He wants from our behavior. If we listen and obey, then we will reflect His righteousness !!!
" For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." ( Romans 5 : 17 )
When Adam sinned he brought universal sin into the world. When God said that he (Adam) will surely die Satan convinced him God meant physically and not spiritually. But that was not the case so now all men will surely die spiritually until one man Jesus, came and died for our sins. So, no life is given abundantly to those who believe in Jesus. Death was given by one man and life given more abundantly through Jesus ! Because of this the fruit of righteousness is now available to the ones who believe in Jesus !!
" For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness." ( Romans 6 : 20 )
This passage draws the sharp contrast between those who are saved and those who are not. Those who are saved have the Fruit of the Spirit, those that are not have the fruit of Satan. For every good thing God gives his followers Satan has a cheap imitation. Satan's fruit leads to death and destruction.
God's fruit leads to life and eternity with Jesus ! Again.... the Fruit of the Spirit is available ONLY to those who are saved and have given their life to Jesus. IS THAT YOU ????
" and said,"O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord ? ( Acts 13 : 10 )
Here the Holy Spirit is speaking through Paul and tells us the goal of Satan and hi phony fruit ! As we showed earlier Satan has much fruit that leads to death and destruction, here Paul calls out 2 of them.....deceit and fraud. The goal of Satan is stated here is to pervert the straight ways of the Lord.
Next week we will finish up our study of righteousness ! Be blessed and if you want to know more about us and what we do you can find us at www.prayerboxministry.org.
Sometimes there is a word or concept that you know what it means but you just can not find the best way to describe it to someone else ! One of those words for me is sanctification. I have taught for years and still I come up short when trying to explain this !! The word righteousness is another of those words. So I have learned that whenever I teach on these words..... I pull out my bible dictionary and read directly from it. This week was no exception : As we started class I read the entire passage to the class before we read the passages. Here I will not do the whole passage, but will write enough that you will get a good idea ! Then we will cover 4 or 5 passages from God's word that will show different aspects of righteousness.
"RIGHTEOUSNESS - Holy and upright living, in accordance with God's standard. The word righteousness comes from a root word that means " straightness". It refers to a state that conforms to an authoritative standard. Righteousness is a moral concept. God's character is the definition and source of all righteousness (Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; Rom. 9:14). Therefore, man's righteousness is defined in terms of God's.......God accounts or transfers the righteousness of Christ to those who trust in Him. ( Rom. 4:3-22; Gal. 3:6; Phil. 3:9) We do not become righteous because of our inherent goodness; God sees us as righteous because of our identification by faith with His Son." (Nelson's Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible page 918 )
" Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12 : 11
When we were children, our parents would chasten us to teach us the difference between good and bad behavior. It was never fun !!! In fact it usually hurt. The key to this passage , however, is the last part... to those who are trained by it. If as a child your parents chastened you over and over and you did not learn the message...Then your behavior was not changed. God treats us the same way. He chastens us in many ways to teach us what He wants from our behavior. If we listen and obey, then we will reflect His righteousness !!!
" For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." ( Romans 5 : 17 )
When Adam sinned he brought universal sin into the world. When God said that he (Adam) will surely die Satan convinced him God meant physically and not spiritually. But that was not the case so now all men will surely die spiritually until one man Jesus, came and died for our sins. So, no life is given abundantly to those who believe in Jesus. Death was given by one man and life given more abundantly through Jesus ! Because of this the fruit of righteousness is now available to the ones who believe in Jesus !!
" For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness." ( Romans 6 : 20 )
This passage draws the sharp contrast between those who are saved and those who are not. Those who are saved have the Fruit of the Spirit, those that are not have the fruit of Satan. For every good thing God gives his followers Satan has a cheap imitation. Satan's fruit leads to death and destruction.
God's fruit leads to life and eternity with Jesus ! Again.... the Fruit of the Spirit is available ONLY to those who are saved and have given their life to Jesus. IS THAT YOU ????
" and said,"O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord ? ( Acts 13 : 10 )
Here the Holy Spirit is speaking through Paul and tells us the goal of Satan and hi phony fruit ! As we showed earlier Satan has much fruit that leads to death and destruction, here Paul calls out 2 of them.....deceit and fraud. The goal of Satan is stated here is to pervert the straight ways of the Lord.
Next week we will finish up our study of righteousness ! Be blessed and if you want to know more about us and what we do you can find us at www.prayerboxministry.org.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Fruit Of The Spirit ... Truthfulness ( Part 2 )
January 7, 2016
When we say the word " Truthfulness " we all have an idea what that looks like. As we have learned in this study, there are many ways and forms that the bible means when it says this. It means to be truthful in ALL ways and in all forms of thought, action, and belief. In the following four versus we will get an example of what this should look like when this fruit shows in us !
" The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. " Proverbs 12 : 19
This shows the benefit of truthfulness versus lying. Stated another way lying will benefit the flesh for a minute ( may get you out of trouble ) but truthfulness will be credited to you as righteousness in heaven forever ( You may get in trouble now, but you will pay for it now and not later ! )
" Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. " Proverbs 12 : 22
Two versus later Proverbs draws a contrast to how the Lord looks at truthfulness. Of all the things that man does against God's will, there is only 7 that are an abomination ( means He hates worst above everything else !) in His sight, and lying lips is one of them. That is why it is one of the fruits of the Spirit !
"" Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me" says the Lord." Jeremiah 9 : 6
The first part of this chapter talks about all the deceit that the people have done and this is the final verse of that section. The rest of the chapter talks about how the Lord is going to deal with His people. This verse tells us that because the people have chosen to lie and deceive the choice they have really made is to not to know Him !!! Since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.... the same holds true for us. Every time we choose to lie, we are really choosing not to know Him !
" You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. " John 8 : 44
It is normal for a son to want to imitate their father. So when the Jews decided not to trust that Jesus was from God, they were choosing to believe ( and to imitate their father ) their father the devil. When it talks about him being a murderer from the beginning, this refers to when he caused Adam and Eve to sin in the Garden of Eden and to loose their spiritual life.
Join us next week when we take a look at what God's word says about righteousness. Also, if you would like to know more about us and what we do, you can find us at www.prayerboxministry.org.
When we say the word " Truthfulness " we all have an idea what that looks like. As we have learned in this study, there are many ways and forms that the bible means when it says this. It means to be truthful in ALL ways and in all forms of thought, action, and belief. In the following four versus we will get an example of what this should look like when this fruit shows in us !
" The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. " Proverbs 12 : 19
This shows the benefit of truthfulness versus lying. Stated another way lying will benefit the flesh for a minute ( may get you out of trouble ) but truthfulness will be credited to you as righteousness in heaven forever ( You may get in trouble now, but you will pay for it now and not later ! )
" Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. " Proverbs 12 : 22
Two versus later Proverbs draws a contrast to how the Lord looks at truthfulness. Of all the things that man does against God's will, there is only 7 that are an abomination ( means He hates worst above everything else !) in His sight, and lying lips is one of them. That is why it is one of the fruits of the Spirit !
"" Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me" says the Lord." Jeremiah 9 : 6
The first part of this chapter talks about all the deceit that the people have done and this is the final verse of that section. The rest of the chapter talks about how the Lord is going to deal with His people. This verse tells us that because the people have chosen to lie and deceive the choice they have really made is to not to know Him !!! Since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.... the same holds true for us. Every time we choose to lie, we are really choosing not to know Him !
" You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. " John 8 : 44
It is normal for a son to want to imitate their father. So when the Jews decided not to trust that Jesus was from God, they were choosing to believe ( and to imitate their father ) their father the devil. When it talks about him being a murderer from the beginning, this refers to when he caused Adam and Eve to sin in the Garden of Eden and to loose their spiritual life.
Join us next week when we take a look at what God's word says about righteousness. Also, if you would like to know more about us and what we do, you can find us at www.prayerboxministry.org.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Fruit Of The Spirit ... Truthfulness
December 31, 2015
When we talk about the Fruit of the Spirit, we are talking about what happens to us as the Holy Spirit indwells us. If that is true, then what fruit indwells us before we are saved? Jesus answers that question when He told some of the Jewish leaders that their father was the father of all lies.... Satan !
For every spiritual thing given to us by God, Satan has a cheap imitation ! In today's fruit of truthfulness, the cheap imitation is lies. Satan is the father of all lies.
In this week's study we will look at 5 versus from the book of John in the New Testament.
" And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1 : 14
In this verse we see that the Word (Jesus) became flesh (human) and we saw His glory even though His glory was inside flesh. The glory that we saw was that Jesus was full of grace and truth. If all of humanity had a spirit of lies and rebellion in their spirit, then when one comes that has the Spirit of grace and truth, ALL would see His glory. This same truth applies today... If you have the Holy Spirit in you, the unsaved people will see that. You never know who is watching you !
" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" ." John 14 : 6 .
This was the phrase that started the Jews to plot to kill Jesus ! Why ? When God had given the instructions on how to build the temple, there were three section. Each was set apart from the other from the other. The inner most Holy of Holy was where God would come to be among His people. Each of these sections had only one gate to get to God. Each gate had a name. The names were the way, the truth and the life. What Jesus was saying here was that there was ONLY one way to God... and that was through Him !
" the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14 : 17
In this verse we see plainly that Jesus says the Holy spirit will dwell with you and WILL BE in you. Why does He say this ? Because Jesus has not died for us yet. After He dies THEN the Holy Spirit can come and live inside us. Here, also Jesus gives the Holy Spirit the name of Spirit of Truth. This is to let all believers know that this Spirit is from God and not a cheap copy from Satan !!
" However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." John 16 : 13
Once again Jesus confirms a name of Spirit of Truth for the Holy Spirit. He also tells us something about the Spirits job when He does come to indwell us. 1) Guide us into all truth, 2) Speak only what he hears, 3) Speak not in His own authority, and 4) tell us things to come. This truth from Jesus was a radical idea since the Holy Spirit is yet to indwell anyone and Yet Jesus is telling us not only that He will, but is also telling us part of what the job of the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth) will be !
" Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth." John 17 : 17
To be sanctified is to be set apart for God's purpose. The process of sanctification is a life long spiritual process done by the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer. The goal is to as much like Jesus as we can. This process can ONLY be accomplished by the truth and with the truth.... The Holy Spirit and the word of God !
Next week we will finish up with the fruit of Truthfulness. I hope this study is helping you in your walk and pray Jesus uses this study to reach many with His Truth !!!
When we talk about the Fruit of the Spirit, we are talking about what happens to us as the Holy Spirit indwells us. If that is true, then what fruit indwells us before we are saved? Jesus answers that question when He told some of the Jewish leaders that their father was the father of all lies.... Satan !
For every spiritual thing given to us by God, Satan has a cheap imitation ! In today's fruit of truthfulness, the cheap imitation is lies. Satan is the father of all lies.
In this week's study we will look at 5 versus from the book of John in the New Testament.
" And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1 : 14
In this verse we see that the Word (Jesus) became flesh (human) and we saw His glory even though His glory was inside flesh. The glory that we saw was that Jesus was full of grace and truth. If all of humanity had a spirit of lies and rebellion in their spirit, then when one comes that has the Spirit of grace and truth, ALL would see His glory. This same truth applies today... If you have the Holy Spirit in you, the unsaved people will see that. You never know who is watching you !
" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" ." John 14 : 6 .
This was the phrase that started the Jews to plot to kill Jesus ! Why ? When God had given the instructions on how to build the temple, there were three section. Each was set apart from the other from the other. The inner most Holy of Holy was where God would come to be among His people. Each of these sections had only one gate to get to God. Each gate had a name. The names were the way, the truth and the life. What Jesus was saying here was that there was ONLY one way to God... and that was through Him !
" the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14 : 17
In this verse we see plainly that Jesus says the Holy spirit will dwell with you and WILL BE in you. Why does He say this ? Because Jesus has not died for us yet. After He dies THEN the Holy Spirit can come and live inside us. Here, also Jesus gives the Holy Spirit the name of Spirit of Truth. This is to let all believers know that this Spirit is from God and not a cheap copy from Satan !!
" However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." John 16 : 13
Once again Jesus confirms a name of Spirit of Truth for the Holy Spirit. He also tells us something about the Spirits job when He does come to indwell us. 1) Guide us into all truth, 2) Speak only what he hears, 3) Speak not in His own authority, and 4) tell us things to come. This truth from Jesus was a radical idea since the Holy Spirit is yet to indwell anyone and Yet Jesus is telling us not only that He will, but is also telling us part of what the job of the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth) will be !
" Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth." John 17 : 17
To be sanctified is to be set apart for God's purpose. The process of sanctification is a life long spiritual process done by the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer. The goal is to as much like Jesus as we can. This process can ONLY be accomplished by the truth and with the truth.... The Holy Spirit and the word of God !
Next week we will finish up with the fruit of Truthfulness. I hope this study is helping you in your walk and pray Jesus uses this study to reach many with His Truth !!!
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