FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22-23 KJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

A true Christian is the person who being saved by Christ produces fruit consistent with the life of Christ. See Acts 11:26. Mat 3:8-12. Mat 7:15-21. 2 Tim 2:19. A Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit which empowers him to live the life of Christ. Walking in the Spirit is living by faith resulting in the grace to delightfully do the will of God. Psa 1:2. Gal 2:20. Rom 1:17. 1 John 5: 3-4. Hence the fruit of the Spirit as revealed in Gal 5:22-23 are generally visible characteristics of a true Christian.

We shall examine the fruit of the Spirit.

LOVE: 
God is love. Our strongest identity as children of God is love. 1 Cor 13: 1-8. Rom 5:5. 1 John 4:9-13.

How do we experience and transmit the love of God?

JOY:
Christians are supposed to be the 'happiest people on earth'. Our source of Joy is God. Neh 8:10. Isa 12:3. Heb 12:2.  Rom 14:17. Mat 13:44. Jam 1:2. 1 Thes 5:16. Phil 4:4.

Joy. Joy. Joy.  With Joy my heart is ringing...

How do we remain joyful in the face of trials and tribulations ?

PEACE: 
Peace is inner stability and a deep sense of wholeness. Like Love and Peace, nothing else can bring true peace outside God. Isa 48:22. John 14:27;16:33. Phil 4:6-7. Psalm 46. 2 Thes 3:16. 1 Thes 5:23. Rom 5:1.

I have peace like a river...

How do the thoughts of our mind affect our peace ?

LONG SUFFERING:
Or Patience. Patience is our disposition to God and others. How do we tolerate  others? This is a foremost virtue in a world ruled by selfish ambitions. Luk 21:19. Isa 28:16. Mat 18:21-35. Mat 6:12. Luk 6:36-38. 2 Tim 2: 24-25. 1 Thes 5:14. James 5:7-8.

How do we learn or practice patience?

GENTLENESS:
This is how we treat others. The root word 'chrestotes' also means 'useful'. Are we useful to people? How do we treat the weak, the poor, the injured or vulnerable? Luk 10:30-37. 1 Thes 2:7. Psa 18:35. 2 Cor 10:1. Tit 3:2. Jam 3:17.

Is gentleness easier for certain temprament? How can I be gentle and firm?

GOODNESS:
Goodness is a quality of moral excellence. People should see a Christian and see a good person. Mat 19:16-17. Luk 23:47. Act 11:24. Mat. 7:17. Rom 15:4. Dan 6:5. Eph 5:9. 2 Pet 1:5. Mat. 3:11.

What advantages does goodness have or being 'smart' ?

FAITH:
The life of the Christian is a life of faith all through. Rom 1:16-17. Eph 2:8-9. Faith which simply means trust in God is one virtue a Christian must constantly invest in. Jud 20. Heb 1,6. Rom 10:17. Mat 8:10.

How do we strengthen our faith in God?

MEEKNESS:
Meekness is strenght under control. All power is subject to easy abuse. God empowers and blesses a meek man because a meek person would not abuse God's power. Num 12:3. Mat 11:28-30. Eph 4:1-3. 1 Pet 3:4.

How is meekness different from humility?

SELF CONTROL:
Self control is mastery over one's emotions and actions. Prov 25:28. 1 Pet 1:5-8. 1 Cor 9:24-27. 2 Tim 3:1-4. To yield to the Spirit, we must control the self.

How do we practise self restraint?

Conclusion.

We are known by our fruits.  Every believer in Christ is expected of God to bear fruit. Mat 13:23. John 15:1-8, 16. Rom 7:4. Col 1:9- 10.

- prepared by Adeolu Olumodeji

HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE

HOW TO EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF GOD

This is sequel to the series Trial of Brother Lazzie.

I took Sunday School 'Fruit of the Spirit' today and I gathered these truths for you on Love.

I just want to go straight to the point.

Thank you.

1. Believe His awesome love for you.

God is 'crazy' about you. And nobody can help you understand it except you believe it. If  you believe the Scriptures, can you dare believe these ones ? Try.

1 Peter 5:7 KJV
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

'To care for' is a higher level than 'to care about'. If I care for you, it means that I worry for you, think for you, plan for you, step steps for you and so on.

What manner  of love is this that the Father has for us? Let's go on please.

John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 3:1 KJV
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

Romans 5:8 KJV
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Luke 12:7 KJV
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Psalm 8:4 KJV
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

God thinks about you every microsecond of the day.

Just believe it.

2. Confess your love for Him.

'I love you'.

I am sure you know the value of those words when you befriend a person. A boy and a girl. A man and his wife. A parent and a child. Those words weigh tonnes.

So why do we shy from saying them to God - who so loved us beyond any human love? The least we can do to show we love Him back is to tell Him.

Psalm 18:1 KJV
I will love thee, O Lord , my strength.

3. Brag about His love for you.

John was the 'Discple Jesus loved' - and guess what? Je was the one who labeled himself so.

John 21:20, 24 KJV
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

[24] This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

Can you beat that?

It is one thing to be one among  the harem who loves the prince, it is another thing to be so sure you are the one the prince loves the most. That's it.

Flaunt it. Brag it.

They say it got Joseph into trouble, but how do you hide a 'coat of many colours'?

Don't blame the lad, just see how his story ended.

Brag it, if you know it.

4. Train your eyes to see God's love.

Listen to messages on God's love. Read about His amazing love for you. Feed on the information till it transforms you. The Scriptures are filled with the love of God. Nature is painted with the love of God. Train your own eyes to see the love of God around you all the time.

Psalm 19:1-6 KJV
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

[2] Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

[3] There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

[4] Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

[5] Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

[6] His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Lamentations 3:21-23, 25 KJV
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

[22] It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

[23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

[25] The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

4. Think upon the love of God.

'What you think upon grows'

Jesus told us 'Take no thought...' when He taught us about Worrying. So you can choose your thoughts. Take thoughts of God's love. Just take time to bask in the thoughts of His amazing love for you.

Philippians 4:8-9 KJV
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

[9] Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

5. Practise the love of God to others.

We are so loved of God so we can love people. We cannot love God back so well because we cannot see Him. So He gave us neighbours.

Matthew 22:37-39 KJV
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

[38] This is the first and great commandment.

[39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mark 12:31 KJV
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Romans 13:9 KJV
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Romans 13:10 KJV
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Galatians 5:14 KJV
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

1 John 4:19-21 KJV
We love him, because he first loved us.

[20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

[21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

James 2:8 KJV
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Use people to master God's love.

Sorry about the word 'use'.

Do not use people. Love people.

These are some of the ways you can open your self up to God's love.

This may be the most important task of your life.

God help us all.

Amen.

- Adeolu Olumodeji

THE TRIAL OF BROTHER LAZZIE 2

TRIAL OF BROTHER LAZZIE 2

Secondly, Lazarus was The One Jesus Loves.

Okay let us establish that.
You will see in John 11:5 that Jesus loved the three siblings.

John 11:5 KJV
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

But let us hear from the two sisters themselves in verse 3.

John 11:3 KJV
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

Laughs.
So when you say 'God loves every body' just know that everybody knows who God loves when they see him.

Take note also, that the writer of the account is John. John is called 'the Beloved'. He used to refer to himself as 'the one whom Jesus loves'.

John 13:23-25 KJV
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. [24] Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. [25] He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? .

John 21:7 KJV
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord...

John 21:20 KJV
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

Even Peter (with the other disciples) knew the one Jesus loved.

Did Jacob not have 11 sons? How come the 10 knew the one Jacob loved?

Genesis 37:3 KJV
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children...

Well, God indeed loves all of us. But, all of us indeed do not believe it.

John later went on to exclaim to anyone that could dare receive it;

1 John 3:1 KJV
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us...

Picture a roundtable gathering (make sure there is food, anyway) where Jesus, John and Lazarus  were present. Okay, it is not hard to find Jesus; He will be at the center. It should not be hard to find John, it was said that '... he then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him... ' (John 13:25). So who do you think will be on the other breast? Lazzie of course! Maybe I am wrong, but that is what my sanctified imagination tells  me. Okay.

I know you want to say God loves you and you receive His love. Let me give you a simple test. Ready?
This is the test;

God loves you the way He loves Jesus Christ.

Cut!
Stand Still!

I just took a snap shot of your mind.

What did I find there?

'How can God love me like He loves Jesus? Jesus is the first and only begotten of the Father; I am adopted'
Or

'What did I do to merit His love? Jesus died for the world'
Or

'Heresy! Jesus did no sin. What is my own basis for such love?'

Okay. So you see yourself?

One of the best songs of my generation is 'I don't know why... He loves me so... I don't know why...'

But people should sing it like this 'I don't know why... I can't take it... I don't know why...'

You won't be the first to question or doubt God's great love. See this;

Malachi 1:2a KJV
I have loved you, saith the Lord . Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us?

What is in man that can't absorb such great love from God? Ephesians 1:5-6 KJV says
'Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved'.

This means our love was predestinated. Long before we came, back in eternity, He loved us. Maybe you will get it with the Story of the Twins; Esau and Jacob.

Romans 9:11-13 KJV
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) [12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. [13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

See the full version of the scripture we quoted earlier.

Malachi 1:2 KJV
I have loved you, saith the Lord . Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord : yet I loved Jacob,

This manner of love is called 'Election by Grace'.He chose to love you that much! Simple. And you can choose to refuse it! Simple.

Lazarus was loved. Loved by Jesus. And He received every bit of it.

Well, let me not push you beyond limits. I know the part you like. You want to love Jesus. That's okay.

Did you notice it was Peter that Jesus asked to love Him not John? See their conversation.

John 21:17 KJV
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

There is a reward for lovers of Jesus of course. And all of us should love Jesus. See the reward.

Romans 8:28 KJV
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

We should all love God, I insist.
But I dare you to be the one that Jesus loves. Or to be one who opens up to take it all. Here is the reward for that.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Those that love God have all things work together for THE (not their) good.
Those that God loves, God thinks about them and GIVE them an expected end.

One is better, you decide.

Did I pitch God loves you VS You love God?

If that is how you understand it, I have offended you and I am sorry.

Anyway, Lazarus was the one Jesus so loved.

But wait. Is that another reason that guy was lazy? Oh sorry. He was not lazy. He was just one to whom God would give an expected end; that which everyone else work everything else together for.

Let me divide a scripture without breaking it.

Philippians 2:12-13 KJV
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

They that love God dwell in verse 12. They work our this salvation. They work out the answer.
Those that God loves dwell in verse 13. They are given the answer. They do all of God's will yet so so effortlessly. The enjoy so much pleasure in God's will. But the Verse 12 believers love to sweat it out. They find so much pain in God's will.

While Peter denied Jesus and even fled. John was the one at the foot of the Cross to whom Jesus committed His mother. Those that receive God's love end up loving God most.

John 19:26-27 KJV
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! [27] Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

If you thought I am saying 'Don't love God, just accept His love', I lost you since. But if you got it that we can only love Him acceptably if we accept His love, you got it.

1 John 4:19 KJV
We love him, because he first loved us.

Let us conclude now.

Did I talk about Lazarus today? I doubt it. I talked about the One Whom Jesus Loved. Lazarus was one. John was another. Adeolu is another. Okay.

But here is the part I dread about this Brother Lazarus's story. The part of his trial. The Paradox of Love. The Conflict of our Faith.

John 11:3 KJV
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

The One Whom Jesus Loves? Sick? How?

Then the One Whom Jesus Loved even died of that sickness.

No. I can't take that now.

Let's make it another date.

- Adeolu Olumodeji

MOTHERHOOD - Part 3

MOTHERHOOD 3

Mothers have very little time for supervision these days. More so that the era of fulltime housewife is fast fading, children now come home to empty houses and have only the television and the video as their companions. The Blackberry has taken the roles of parent and family. We all need the extra income that comes into the family from the mother's pay packets but we also have the adverse effect. The working class mothers syndrome had really altered the family system. It has promoted the development of 'unattached, uncommunicative, learning impaired and uncontrollable children'.

Dr. Robert Shaw puts it this way; 'the boarding house system is a force that we have to reckon with. Parents send their children to full boarding system before they are nine till they are out of they university. These are the formative years being taken over by various school authorities. Some children start kindergarten or DayCare before age 2 and really do not have much to learn at their mothers' knees. They are collected from schools by 3'o clock during which time the mother is still at work. When she comes, she hurries through dinner and some other activities.

Our children need supervision and they need attention. A good mother has time to listen. When a child picks up courage to say 'Mummy I want to talk to you', please drop whatever you are doing and listen. Give it a little more time and the child may lose the courage.

Get to meet your children's friends. Do not always shoo away your child's friend believing that you have a better idea of who he should befriend. Invite his friends home and you will get to see whether your child is safe in the relationship or to utterly duscourage it. Unfortunately, children now make friends on the internet and we may not get to meet those friends. They are also exposed to pressures and problems unknown to past generations. Mothers should always be curious.

A good mother will be willing to discipline his child in love. The Bible says a boy let on loose will cause  his mother shame. Prov 25:15. If a child is endlessly indulged and never hears the word 'No', he may becomw deliquent. A child must be made  to know other people have lives, emotions and needs. A child who receives no discipline will not be self disciplined.

Effective mothering includes setting limits. Mothers spend more time with the children so they are much involved in that area of discipline. 
'You can go out now but you must be home bu 7pm'. 
'You can watch video but let me know the films you watch'

These are limits without being too strict.

Mothers must however review their methods of discipline and instructions especially as their children grow older and begin to show signs of maturity. Perhaps certain rules or instructions could be relaxed or adjusted in keeping with the young one's ability to act responsibly.

You must open conversation with your children in a relaxed atmosphere. You get to know more about your children during such times.

(To be continued)

- Mrs Grace Ebe Olumodeji

DELIGHT IN GOD'S WILL

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015

DELIGHT IN GOD'S WILL

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Psalm 40:8 
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. [KJV]

Tunde was just in time to see his two year old son putting his hand into the electric socket on the wall. He saw that there may be not enough time to cover the distance, he shouted 'Stop !'. Luckily the boy looked back, excited at the voice of his father. And Tunde smiled back as he approached him and took him away from danger.

Tunde's son was too young to understand the danger in putting one's hand into naked electricity but he was wise enough to delight in the voice of his father above the desire to try something new. Eve faced a similar challenge in the garden. Satan beckoned on her to try something new and interesting, but which God had clearly warned against.

This is the challenge we face each time we get tempted; to enjoy the pleasure of sin or to enjoy the delight of obeying God's voice. When we do not enjoy obeying God, it is a sign that we are rebellious and Psalm 68:6 says 'the rebellious shall dwell in a dry ground'. That is, the rebellious will always find life difficult. But whoever delights in obeying God will be saved from many dangers.

Go into today with a heart that rejoices at God's voice - even His rebuke or correction.

Pray that God should create a right spirit within you. Amen. Not yet saved? Tap: http://bit.ly/1iTOmol

- Pas. Adeolu Olumodeji

Yearly Bible Plan: John 16-18

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GOD THE SUSTAINER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015

GOD THE SUSTAINER

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Malachi 3:6 
For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. [KJV]

God is not just the Creator of all things; He is the Sustainer of all things. It is easier for people to believe God created all things, what we may not actively believe is that He is personally involved in the sustenance of His creation.  Let us consider a few scriptures in addition to our main text.

Psalm 50:10-11: For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. [11] I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. KJV

Matthew 6:26: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? KJV

Luke 12:28: If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? KJV

God cares for animals, fowls, and grasses because He created them. How about man being the star of His creation? Hear what Jesus Christ says.

Matthew 10:29-30: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. [30] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. KJV

God is personally involved in the life of every man, how much more when you have accepted His Only Son as Savior and Lord.

Go about today with rest in the truth that God is with you and nothing just happens to you.

Prayer: Thank God for such great love He has for you. Not yet saved? Tap: http://bit.ly/1iTOmol

- Pas. Adeolu Olumodeji

Yearly Bible Plan: Amos 1-4

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