Fruit of the Spirit Archives – Sonshine's Journal

December 27, 2022December 27, 2022

In the Spirit…

Rev 4-8 John writes twice that he was “in the Spirit.” What does that mean to us today? Yesterday, we recalled the words of Jesus to Peter, “Follow Me!” When we are following, we are doing as Christ. He was fully controlled and permeated by the power of the Holy Spirit. The question lay before me: am I ‘in’ the Spirit? How do I know? I can know if I am demonstrating the Fruit of the Spirit, which Paul outlines for us in Gal 5: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” [Gal 5:22-23]

Today the challenge is to test the spirits to see if they are of God. 1Jo 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God,

November 6, 2022November 6, 2022

The Promise

John 14-17 Jesus assures the disciples that He will not leave them as orphans but will send them the Helper, the Holy Spirit. He will teach them and recall to their memories all the things Jesus has taught them. He will be their comforter, teacher, guide, memory recaller, and so much more. He is our lifeline to the very presence of God. He will bring to our minds things we have been taught but mostly scripture we have read. As Jesus talked to the disciples, he gave them this promise: ‘Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever.” [Jn 14:16] He will bring peace to your hearts in times of uncertainty. When “he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority but will speak whatever he hears and will tell you what is to come.” [Jn 16:13] His whole purpose is to glorify the Son.

What a glorious promise to know that Jesus prayed that God send the Holy Spirit to us and for us. We are to exemplify His Fruit to the lost so that many may receive the promise! Look at the list in the attached photo and let the Spirit teach you what you are lacking so you may be His instrument to lead someone to Christ.

October 12, 2018

How Kind Are We?

heart.2ajpg 2Cor 8 “Kindness…and Generosity”

“Kindness”…a Fruit of the Spirit. The Macedonians were a poor people but a kind and generous people. They had listened to Paul’s plea to help the saints in Jerusalem who were facing difficult and challenging hardships. There had been a famine and then the double taxes put upon them left many of them without means to take care of their personal needs. Yet, “They [the Macedonians] gave according to their means and beyond their means…they did so voluntarily.” That is kindness in real life. The Corinthians needed a fresh reminder of this Fruit.

You know the drill. You say you will give but then you get busy and other things take a greater priority. Maybe, like the Corinthians, we all need a fresh reminder that when we have an abundance to give we should set aside a small portion for to help others. This is practical kindness in real life. For us it means that we give so that others are blessed. The Corinthians were in need of encouragement to give liberally, generously and kindly just as the Macedonians had done. We may need the same.

kindness 2cor82a Whenever I read this passage the Holy Spirit pricks my heart. He is saying when you give you put feet to your words. Does it do the same for you? When God makes you aware of a need do you step out to share out of your poverty or riches or do you look at your wallet and count the bills lying on the dining room table?

This cup’s saying is my today’s reminder. How kind and generous are you, am I?

May 18, 2015

What Sustains You?

It has been said that if we don’t know God in times of peace we will not recognize Him in times of trouble. Also, if we are the Martha’s rather than the Mary’s we will be just too busy to hear the Master say “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God!” I am the God who can be your refuge in trouble as well as in peace. I am the Mighty God Almighty who rules over all, for I the Lord am king and I will be exalted. My promise to you the believer is this: “ If you remain in me and my words remain in you,” [Joh 15:7] I will abide with you so that you can go forth and bear the Fruit of the Spirit after being filled and nourished from Me, the Vine.

So what sustains each of us in times of peril or cosmic upheavals? It is this; we are never alone! He is our ever present help in times of trouble or times of peace for He is dependable. We will know who God is when we hunger and thirst for righteousness. Just as the Living Water for which the Samaritan woman longed He will be our satisfaction. He will be the voice speaking behind us saying, “This is the correct way, walk in it,”[Is 30 paraphrase]

Do you know Him?

February 15, 2014

Are you a Barnabas?

Barnabas, the man who impacted my life. God graciously places people into our lives for many reasons but the most memorable are those who come to us and leave with words of encouragement lasting upon our hearts. Barnabas was such a person. Born in Cyprus and living in Jerusalem, he so touched each life he crossed that he was given the nickname “son of encouragement.” Oh would that be our nickname instead of complainer, thankless or some other.

The dictionary defines encouragement as that which inspires courage or confidence. The early church faced many obstacles such as the distractions of the widow’s needs, the raging anger of Saul of Tarsus, the stoning of Stephen, and more. In spite of all this Barnabas was steady, always ready with a word to give courage to faltering hearts. He so loved the new foundling church that he sold his land and gave the proceeds for the church’s needs. And now in chapter 11 we find that the apostles sent him on a journey to check out the Cypriot believers in Antioch. He was fully prepared with language skills, familial ties, he knew the mannerisms and the ways of these brethren of his so he was the perfect choice. But, there is better reason: Barnabas “was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith,” Stop and think about that for a moment. To be full of the Holy Spirit means that he was demonstrating the Fruit of the Holy Spirit: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” [Gal 5] In addition his faith was his foundation and he lived and walked by this: “The righteous by faith will live.” [Rom 1] “You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.”[James 2].

It was because of Barnabas living out his faith through the Holy Spirit that many came to know the Lord. Who is the Barnabas in your life? Take time today to let them know, for the Barnabas’ of this world are usually the unassuming quiet behind the scenes people. And how about yourself, could you be a Barnabas to someone today?