Leave It With Him

Gracious Habits
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 9:27am
Ephesians 5:8-9 “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light v9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” When I was a child, my mother put on five course dinners for my Dad’s business associates and their wives. My assignment at those dinners, besides helping my mom, was to be quiet unless spoken to. Often bored with the adult conversation I would study the guests. The most impressive dinner guests were Dad’s boss and his wife. Graciousness exuded from the couple. Both tall, with handsome features, they always wore neutral but quality clothes. They kept their voices barely above a whisper. Yet when they spoke the room would hush and everyone would listen intently. Their conversation portrayed concern for others and never included any boasting. Unger’s Bible Dictionary explains such a life style as “gracious habits”: “The fruit of the spirit, enumerated in Galatians 5:22,23 are those gracious habits which the Holy Spirit produces in the Christian, given more briefly as “goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Eph 5:9) the “fruits of righteousness” (Phil 1:11) are such good work as spring from a gracious frame of heart.” Unger Bible Dictionary by Merrill F Unger page 382 As we saw two weeks ago Scofield takes the explanation further. He tells us the direction that each of the attributes flows — toward self, man, or God: “Christian character is not mere moral or legal correctness, but the possession and manifestation of nine graces: love, joy, peace--character as an inward state; longsuffering, gentleness, goodness--character in expression toward man; faith, meekness, temperance--character in expression toward God.” Scofield Reference Notes by C. I. Scofield So as we end our study on the Fruit of the Spirit, might we also develop “gracious habits” that fill us, flow to others, and back to the Lord. May our lives be like that of my father’s boss and his wife, impacting those around us. Philippians 1:11 “Having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
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Singular Fruit
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, January 20, 2012 at 8:50am
Her face glowing, the young lady walked toward her girlfriend with her left hand extended. Light bounced off the large diamond on her ring finger. “I’m engaged!” she exclaimed to her friend. The two young women sat down on the park bench and admired the stone together. Harper Study Bible explains that the word “Fruit” in Galatians 5:22 is singular in the Greek, which implies wholeness or completeness. A life lived in Christ is full and complete. “The fruit of the Spirit may be likened to a diamond which has many facets. All of the facets together constitute the gem but each facet helps to reflect the true splendor of the one stone.” Harper Study Bible, Revised Standard Version, page 1744 footnote. Galatians 5:19 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,” Galatians 5:22 “But the Fruit of the Spirit…” Harper’s also states that the word “deeds” or “works” in Galatians 5:19 is plural which points out the fragmented life we have when we are not walking with the Lord. So the question is: are our lives like a diamond attracting people to Christ? Is the light of Christ shining through us, displaying the many facets of the Fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? *For more about Elizabeth's writings please visit her website: elizabethlonsethnovels.com*
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Graces Like Christ
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 9:16am
During the sixteen months we spent in the Fruit of the Spirit a thought kept haunting me — that somehow I needed to convey that these fruits are not a legalistic code of behavior but they flow from us as an expression of our freedom in Christ. C. I. Scofield says it best in his Scofield Reference Notes: “Christian character is not mere moral or legal correctness, but the possession and manifestation of nine graces: love, joy, peace--character as an inward state; longsuffering, gentleness, goodness--character in expression toward man; faith, meekness, temperance--character in expression toward God. Taken together they present a moral portrait of Christ, and may be taken as the apostle's explanation of Gal 2:20 "Not I, but Christ," and as a definition of "fruit" in Jn 15:1-8 This character is possible because of the believer's vital union to Christ Jn 15:5 1Cor 12:12,13 and is wholly the fruit of the Spirit in those believers who are yielded to Him.” The apostle Paul also gives us further insight on how by being in Christ and learning His Word these graces can become an intricate part of our lives. 2 Peter 1:1 “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: v2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; v3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. v4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. v5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, v6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, v7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. v8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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Producing Fruit
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, January 6, 2012 at 8:20am
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, v23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Whew…after sixteen months we have discussed all nine Fruits of the Spirit. Because it was such a long study it seems appropriate to spend the month of January summarizing the subject. One question that came up each time we started a new “fruit” was — how do we produce these attributes? Especially since we are sinful and our flesh doesn’t produce anything good. (Roman 3:23) As Albert Barnes explains in his Notes on the Bible the fruit is not from us. “But the fruit of the Spirit - That which the Holy Spirit produces. It is not without design, evidently, that the apostle uses the word "Spirit" here, as denoting that these things do not flow from our own nature.” He goes on to explain that in Galatians 5:19 -21 Paul describes what our flesh would like to produce — sin. Which proves the need for the filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives, if we are to lead a Christ based life. Production of the fruits of the Spirit in our souls requires cultivation. At the moment we believe in Christ as our Savior we have the Holy Spirit. But the Spirit is hindered at times from working in us because sin stands in the way. By naming our sins to God the Father, our soul is cleansed and the Holy Spirit is free to work. (1 John 1:9) Feeding on God’s Word and applying it in our lives gives us a defense against sin and helps us nurture fruit. Occupying our minds with thoughts about Jesus also helps produce fruit. May we keep clean spirits as we focus on the Lord and His Word, so that the fruit flowing from us is comes from the Spirit.
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Daniel's Resolution
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, December 30, 2011 at 10:03am
Armies overtook the young royal teenager’s city on the hill. Soldiers ravaged the countryside Daniel loved. He said goodbye to his life of privilege and education as enemy soldiers forced him to march through the desert to Babylon. Upon his arrival he and three of his friends were selected to participate in the king’s training program. Besides education it included the best food and wine and the life style that went with such lavishness. What teenager would not be tempted to participate? Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the kings choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.” Is God against fine food and drink? No. But God had given the Jewish people rules to follow for a clean and healthy life style in a time when sanitary food was an issue. The food offered to the young men most likely included some of the meats that were forbidden or the food was not prepared the right way. Also the food served had been offered to idols. Consuming the food and drink would be embracing a life style God of which approve of. Daniel used self-control and obeyed God. He became a shining light for the Lord, described in Daniel 1:9-16. As we face a New Year may we have resolve and use self-control in our walk with the Lord so that we become a living witness for Him.
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