Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

Tag: sharing

  • Fruit

    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” Galations 5:22 KJV

    The first thing to notice about this verse is that it is singular. Fruit not Fruits. All of these listed traits are one fruit.  You do not get to choose one and not another.  The Holy Spirit brings them all together on one plate and not A La Carte. This Fruit or Trait is available for every believer if they will accept it.

    What is missing from this list is also very important to understand.  Preaching, Teaching, Spreading Doctrine are not a fruit of the Spirit. They are listed as Gifts of the Spirit in other bible verses.  Gifts of the Spirit are only given to a few people and not to everyone. Gifts of the Spirit are given to certain people at the Holy Spirit’s discretion.

    “Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life” James 3: 1-2 The Message.

     There is a big distinction between Fruit of the Spirit and Gifts of the Spirit.

    Scripture defines the fruit of the Spirit as internal character and relational virtues rather than verbal declarations and theological knowledge. The Fruit describes traits in a person’s inner transformation and how they treat others.

    A person can memorize scripture, articulate perfect theology, and preach eloquently while lacking love, patience, or humility. Scripture warns that gifted speech or knowledge without love amounts to “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”.

    The Holy Spirit equips some believers with gifts like communication and teaching to serve for the benefit of the glory of God, but the fruit is the evidence of the Spirit’s reshaping of human nature.

    We are to focus on a relationship with Jesus and then take that relationship and show it in how we relate to every human being we encounter. The fruit of the Spirit is the natural overflow of abiding in Christ and letting His life work show through us.  

    We tend to focus on verse 22 and not look verses 23-25.

    “The Spirit, however, produces in human life fruit such as these: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self-control—and no law exists against any of them. Those who belong to Christ have crucified their old nature with all that it loved and lusted for. If our lives are centered in the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit”. Galatians 5: 22-25 JB Phillips Translation

    The Fruit of the Spirit only comes to those that have crucified their lives to Jesus. The old nature, old habits, old behaviors, old way of thinking, and control issues are put in the past and forgotten. You are a new creation in the Spirit and should be guided by the Spirit.

    The most important trait missing from the list of fruit or gifts is the act of condemnation.

    “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world”. John 3:17 KJV   Condemnation in any format is the work of Satan and is not related to any gift from God.

    Sinners would not have been transformed while eating and drinking with Jesus if he had condemned them over lunch. Condemnation is a fruit of the flesh and not a fruit of the Spirit.

    God knows that the best way to accomplish His great commission is through one’s actions and relationships than through any words that you can utter.  That is why the fruit of the Spirit is relational features and not preaching.

    Today, show people what God has done for you by how you treat them.  Your words are worthless if you do not show love and compassion for them and their lives.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry 

  • The Best Method

    How would you complete the sentence: “The Son of Man came . . .”? The Son of Man came to preach the Word? The Son of Man came to establish the kingdom of God? The Son of man came to die on the cross?

    There are three ways the New Testament completes the sentence, “The Son of Man came . .  “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45); “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10); “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking . . .” (Luke 7:34).

    The first two are the purpose of His coming. He came to serve, to give His life as a ransom for my sins and to seek out and save the lost. The third statement is His method. He came to eat and drink with people.

    In his book “Eating Your Way through Luke’s Gospel” Robert Karris says, “In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.”

    Luke’s Gospel is full of stories of Jesus eating with people:

    In Luke 5 Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Levi

    In Luke 7 Jesus is anointed at the home of Simon the Pharisee during a meal.

    In Luke 9 Jesus feeds the five thousand.

    In Luke 10 Jesus eats in the home of Martha and Mary

    In Luke 11 Jesus condemns the Pharisees and teachers of the law at a meal.

    In Luke 14 Jesus is at a meal when he urges people to invite the poor to their meals rather than their friends.

    In Luke 19 Jesus invites himself to dinner with Zacchaeus.

    In Luke 22 we have the account of the Last Supper.

    In Luke 24 the risen Christ has a meal with the two disciples in Emmaus, and then later eats fish with the disciples in Jerusalem.

    “But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Luke 7:35 NIV.  This is the next verse that tells you that the proof His methods worked was the radical change or transformation of the people He was eating and drinking with.

    One of the best examples is Zacchaeus.  We have no idea what was said over lunch, but Zacchaeus was completely transformed into a new individual when lunch was over.

    “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Luke 19:8 NIV

    “Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14 NIV

    Jesus is trying to tell you and me that the best way to share is not in a sermon, preaching, condemnation, fear of damnation or exclusion.  It is eating and drinking with people.

    Effective discipleship and outreach do not require complex programs, just a table, food, and an open seat.  Prioritize listening and genuine presence.  You are not there to talk about yourself.

     By eating with tax collectors, outcasts, and acknowledged sinners, Jesus offered tangible acceptance and forgiveness which then brought about a complete transformation. Dining together acted as a living picture of God’s banquet, showing that outsiders were welcomed into God’s family, which irritated the religious elite of the day. 

    Jesus’s method of evangelism and ministry centered heavily on sharing meals and table fellowship with people from all walks of life.

    Is your heart and house open to allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you to transform others. People don’t want to be invited to your church to be introduced to God. They will be happy to attend a church where they have a friend. 

    “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:5 NIV. Even in the presence of darkness and evil, Jesus wants to eat and drink.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Today open your house and share God with others by your friendship of eating and drinking.

    Prayers for all.

    Larry

  • Representing

    Is there such a thing as too much worship, praise, and sacrifice to God?

    In 2nd Samuel chapter 6 we read of King David taking the Ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David.  In verse thirteen we read that when they had taken six steps they stopped and He sacrificed a bull and a fatted calf.  Did he stop and sacrifice these animals every six steps or just once?   If he had done it every six steps he would have made over 5000 sacrifices on the journey.  Most commentaries weigh in on the subject and choose that King David sacrificed every six steps.

    This would mean that King David sacrificed over 10,000 bulls and fattened calves on this journey.

    We find that this sacrifice is small compared to King Solomon when he dedicated the temple. 

    “Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the Lord”. 1 Kings 8:63 NIV

    I do not think we can comprehend the logistics of sacrificing, on altars, 120,000 sheep and 22,000 bulls. The Effort and time taken to say thanks to God.

    They observed this festival for 14 days. We are told in verse 66 that they were “joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people.”

    How do you show your praise and excitement over what the Lord did for you today?  A simple thanks, maybe a little longer prayer?

    “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might”. 2 Samuel 6: 14 NIV

    “Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops”. Isaiah 42:11 NIV

    “You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, Here is your God!” Isaiah 40:9 NIV

    Do you not think that praising God for His many blessings and Miracles is worth more than a simple “thank-you”.

    Why from the mountain top?  It is a perfect place for the sound of your praise to be carried to all the people.  Sound Carries a lot farther from the mountain top than from the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

    “Let your joy lift up people around you just like a song carrying across the hills”. Let it be seen on your face and in your walk.  Your presence in a room should bring in God’s presence.  Without asking people should see, hear and feel the wonderful blessings of your Savior.  

    Are you embarrassed to praise God to others?  What would be some reasons that we are hesitant to praise God from the mountain tops?

    Fear of judgment: Worrying that others will think you are strange, fanatical, or out of touch.

    Social pressure: Wanting to avoid awkward silence, arguments, or being mocked by peers and coworkers.

    Private habit: Feeling that faith is a personal matter meant only for home or church walls rather than public spaces.

    Self-consciousness: Worrying about how you look or sound to the people standing right next to you

    How to Overcome Hesitation.

    Focus upward: Shift your attention away from the people around you and onto God, just as King David did when he danced unashamedly.

    Live authentically: Let your daily actions, kindness, and peace speak first so that when people ask, sharing your faith feels natural.

    Start small: Share simple expressions of gratitude in everyday conversation rather than feeling pressured to give a grand speech.

    Let them see and experience your God before you ever speak a word!

    I had finally arrived at the checkout register at Costco. When I handed my card to be scanned the cashier looked at me and spoke.  “I saw you way back in the line and I could see the smile and peace on your face”.  I just smiled even brighter and responded that I was smiling because I was blessed by God this morning. She looked up and responded that she was blessed to have me in her checkout line this morning. We had a wonderful, very short conversation about God’s blessing, and I went on my way. 

    God introduced His presence to her before the Holy Spirit ever put a word on my lips.

    Dance every step you take today. Let God shine forth from you.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Let God shine through you.

    Larry