Friday, August 21, 2015

Fruit Bearers

Jesus says that we are created to be fruit for the kingdom. What kind of fruit? Fruit is about replication. Plants do not produce fruit for our benefit.  A plant produces fruit to replicate itself, to produce more plants.

As humans we have learnt how to help a plant produce more fruit and Jesus uses the example of the grapevine, something that the disciples would relate to, to explain how they can be fruit bearers; people who replicate themselves for the kingdom.

John 15:1, 4-5, 9, 11, 16-17 MSG
"I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. [4] "Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. [5] "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is---when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. [9] "I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done---kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love. [11] "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. [16] "You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

Some thoughts on being a fruit bearer.

1. Stay connected to the vine.
To bear fruit a branch must be connected. It must have a life force and a life flow. There must be an exchange of some sort. If we want to bear fruit we need to stay connected to Jesus.

Plants have xylem and phloem cells that take food and water in. The plant uses the food and water to grow and water is transpired out of the plant. Fruit is the result of a healthy exchange. When the exchange is interrupted the plant suffers. My lemon tree and orange tree in the pots are prone examples of plants suffering because there is not a healthy exchange.

What does it take to stay connected to the vine? This is an individual thing and a corporate thing. There must be both individual care and attention to your own spiritual life and support and encouragement from the body. We live in an individual culture but church is about the whole community, not an individual. It is life, lived in community. A branch is part of the whole and as it stays connected to the vine, connected to the whole, it flourishes.

What practical actions are you taking (or would you like to take) to stay connected?

Here are some simple ideas
-Read something from the Word every day
-This can be short excerpts
-It's more important to build the discipline rather than be haphazard
-If you miss a day - begin again the next day
-Pray every day

Prayers don't need to be long and involved. A short sentence from the heart is better than babbling on forever.

Matt 6:7,8
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. [8] Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

-Be connected to a small group
-We don't do this alone. The Christian life is meant to be loved in community

Who are you doing life with?

2. The Aim is Kingdom fruit

Fruit - what kind of fruit are we bearing in our lives? Is it good strong fruit or restricted, weak and sickly fruit bearly hanging in there? Kingdom fruit is healthy and growing,  it is fruit that is useful and whole. Fruit that comes from connected branches does not succumb to the attacks.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT
"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. [8] They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

When a tree is not connected in good soil, doesn't receive enough water and food, then not only is it more vulnerable to attack, but it's more likely to succumb to attack. It does not produce any fruit because its to busy trying to save itself.

Again, my fruit trees in pots are prime examples. They are prone to attack because they are not planned deeply and connected to the life force. Our mandarin tree on the other hand is brilliant, planted in good soil and able to stay connected to what it needs, producing much fruit. The type of fruit we produce Downs on the quality of the connection.

Matthew 7:15-20 NLT
"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. [16] You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. [18] A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. [19] So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. [20] Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

When they don't get enough connection plants droop and they succumb. Interestingly it is mostly the branches that haven't grown strong through connection that succumb to attack. And those that lose connection die. They can't produce fruit in that state or if they do it's not very good fruit and is rather puny.

Jesus says that these types of branches are thrown into the fire. I believe that none of us want to be those branches. Let's become women so connected to the vine that even when attack comes, we don't succumb and instead, continue to produce fruit, good fruit, connected to the vine.

Are we stuck in survival mode, focusing on self and our needs or are we fruit focused?

What are we doing to ensure we focus on fruit for the kingdom?

3. Pruning isn't easy.
Jesus says that branches that don't produce will be cut off but he also says that branches that do produce will also be cut back, pruned hard, to produce more fruit.

When fruit is produced we feel like we are flourishing. When pruning happens it can feel like we are no longer flourishing but pruning is essential to the continuation of good fruit and increased fruit. Think Roses, grape vines etc.

Pruned vines look hard and nobbily, but at the right time they bud, flourish and grow. Sometimes it easy to think that pruning is not of God. But Jesus says he will prune us, and at the right time, we will produce more fruit. I'm sure Gideon felt like God was pruning him when he told him he had too many people in his army. Gideon had called the people of Israel to fight the enemy and God wants to ensure that Gideon understood that though he s fighting the victory was from God.

Judges 7:1-8 NLT
So Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon) and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of Harod. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. [2] The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. [3] Therefore, tell the people, 'Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.'" So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. [4] But the LORD told Gideon, "There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not." [5] When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, "Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream." [6] Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. [7] The LORD told Gideon, "With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home." [8] So Gideon collected the provisions and rams' horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him. The Midianite camp was in the valley just below Gideon.

Gideon could easily have felt pruned. But in obedience to God, he moves forward with a smaller army and God won a great victory through them. It's actually his doing, and pruning is a sign that not only has good fruit been produced, but that God desires to see more fruit for the kingdom. Pruning always leads to a healthier crop and a better crop. Pruning brings victory.

What areas of your life has God pruned?

Let God do his work and see great victory in your life.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Convictions of Hope

Over the last few weeks we've looked at Love, Grace and Mercy.

As we understand God's love, we develop a conviction of his love, mercy and grace no matter the circumstance. The conviction in our heart is that God is good, he loves us, pours out his grace and mercy on us and desires our best. This means we can live a life of hope.

Hope

What does it mean to have hope? When the Bible says that hope is "an anchor for our soul", what does it really mean?   What is the hope that we have?

If we look at the preceding verses the hope we have is related to who God is and what he has done for us in Christ. The hope we have is the hope that is placed in the promise of God and the work of Christ.

The words translated as hope is expectation of something. It is, in this sense "a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation".

Hebrews 6:16-20 NLT
Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. [17] God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. [18] So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. [19] This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. [20] Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus has made a way. He has gone before us. This is the anchor we have. The anchor is a stay or safeguard for our Soul, (our psyche, the vital force that animates the body and specifically the feelings, desires and affections according to the Blue letter Bible.)

In other words the promises are there to give us a future hope and they are there to guide and safeguard our desires, our feelings and emotions, and the affections. The anchor is form and steady, it is certain and true, it is trusty and trustworthy. In other words they are faithful and steady.

We can be sure that God's promises in Christ will hold fast. So what does this mean for us?

1. What promises?

The promise of eternal life and home in heaven. Jesus said in John 14:2 that he goes to prepare a place for us because he is the way the truth and the light John 14:6

John 14:1-3, 5-6 NLT
"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. [2] There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? [3] When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. [5] "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" [6] Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

(there might be a series in that at some stage)

The promise is one of being made right with God and being in relationship with him.

Romans 5:3-5 NLT
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. [5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Jesus says "I call you friends" in John 15 when he talks about the vine and the branches. We not servants but friends. This is all about relationship, and relationship with God through Christ. Not rules and regulations, but relationship.

John 15:14-17 NLT
You are my friends if you do what I command. [15] I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. [16] You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. [17] This is my command: Love each other.

We have a relationship with Christ. Paul writes in Rom 8 that we are heirs of the Father and joint heirs with the Son.

Romans 8:16-17 NLT
For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. [17] And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

All that is Jesus' to inherit is available to us as well. We are part of God's family. We have God's promise that we are hours children.

Ephesians 1:16-18 NLT
I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, [17] asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. [18] I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called-his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Romans 8:23-25 NLT
And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. [24] We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. [25] But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

We have a future and a hope.

Ephesians 4:3-6 NLT
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. [4] For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. [5] There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

We have a future.  When we're tempted to think there is no hope or we have no future, the word of God tells us that we have a future and a hope.

There are also promises God has personally spoken over our lives. God speaks to us.

What promises has God given you in his word and given you personally for your life? (always backed by his word and not contrary to it)

If you don't know I encourage you to look further and discover God's promises for you. He has a good future for you.

2. Place our hope in God

How do we place our hope in God? When we know the promises we can place or hope in God. We do this when we make a decision that we will trust and believe. A bit like the  guy who said "I believe, help my unbelief"

Mark 9:17-25 NLT
One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, "Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won't let him talk. [18] And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn't do it." [19] Jesus said to them, "You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." [20] So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. [21] "How long has this been happening?" Jesus asked the boy's father. He replied, "Since he was a little boy. [22] The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can." [23] "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." [24] The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" [25] When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. "Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak," he said. "I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!"

He had a son who was afflicted by a demonic spirit and Jesus' disciples didn't know how to deal with it but Jesus did. Jesus also challenged him about his belief. I love the honesty of this man's reply. He says "I believe but I'm struggling with unbelief "

If we're honest we also feel the same way. There are some things, some promises we know God has given and we believe them, but unbelief creeps in. Jesus wasn't worried by this type of unbelief, because it came from a trusting heart and a desire to believe.

Abraham is my hero of hope. Even when there was no reason for hope Abraham kept hoping, believing be would become the Father of many nations.

Romans 4:16-21 NLT
So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. [17] That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. [18] Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping-believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!" [19] And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead-and so was Sarah's womb. [20] Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. [21] He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Even when all seemed at an end Abraham chose hope. He is called the Father of faith, but he is also a great example of how to live in hope even when the external seems hopeless.

How could he do this? Hebrews 11 tells us that they looked to a future Jerusalem, they looked to something heavenly and eternal rather than earthly and temporal.

Hebrews 11:10 NLT
Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

Colossians 3 says "Set your mind on things above" .

Colossians 3:1-4 NLT
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. [2] Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. [3] For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

When we set our minds on the heavenly, we get a different perspective
This enables us to view our life in a different way.  Think of the Grand Canyon or the  Aussie outback. When you see it from the ground you only see part. When you see it from the air you get a much larger view and a different perspective.

How's your perspective?

What promises are you holding on to, or maybe let slip, hoping even when it seems hopeless?

If you've let it slip, have the courage to take it up again and hope, even though at the present time circumstances don't seem conducive to fulfilment. It can all change very quickly. For Abraham, it came about in the last expected way.

God's promises are always yes and amen. In other words he will bring it to pass. Habakkuk was told that even though the promise tarried it would happen at the right time.

Conclusion
God has given us a hope that is in Christ, not based on human hope but a heavenly hope of eternal life, relationship with God and a home in heaven.

Hold fast to the hope we have in Christ.

Convictions of Mercy

Over the last two weeks we have looked at God's amazing and unconditional love for us,  and his grace that saves us, enables us to live, and to extend love and grace to others.

1 John 4, Eph 2:8-10
We love because he first loved us. We have salvation through the grace of God, not by anything we have done, but through what God has already done and planned to do long ago.

Today we will look at God's mercy
I think of a the song from a few years ago, "Everyone needs a Saviour,  a love that's never failing,  let mercy fall on me."

We all need mercy. God's mercy is always available. As we live, we know that we will make mistakes, when we meet God, it is his mercy,  extended through Christ, that brings us into relationship, and forgives all our sins as far as the east is from the west.

There are a couple of different words that are translated as mercy. They are translated in a similar way but are quite different words. However they do have interchangeable meaning and can be translated as either compassion or mercy.

Generally the word for mercy means - mercy, kindness, loving kindness. This is God's mercy.  It is kind,  comes from the heart of a  loving God and is expressed in kindness and compassion.

1. God's mercy is always available
Jeremiah understood about God's great mercy even in the midst of disaster and calamity. He had been a prophet to Judah and was now in great distress. When he began as prophet Judah had a good king but terrible kings followed and Judah was taken, Jerusalem was destroyed and people taken into captivity.

Lamentations records his lament for his people and his beloved city.  In chapter 3 however we read the following and possibly somewhat familiar verses:

Lamentations 3:19-27 NLT
The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. [20] I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. [21] Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: [22] The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. [23] Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. [24] I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" [25] The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. [26] So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. [27] And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline:

Jeremiah was in a state of bitter suffering but was able to draw on his remembrance of who God is, even in the midst of total disaster. He was deliberate in remembering the mercy of God and God's steadfast love and mercy regardless of the situation. His mercy is new each and every day. It is always available. The psalmist and the prophet Micah spoke of God's mercy, available when needed.

Psalm 41:4 NLT
"O LORD," I prayed, "have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you."

Micah 7:18 NIV
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

God has: Forgiven, born our sins, taken away our sins and instead brings mercy and grace.

Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are---yet he did not sin. [16] Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

We can come to God, come with confidence because Jesus has made a way, and approach him because he and we can receive mercy from God in our time of need.

Have you sought God's mercy for your life?

Do you come boldly into his presence knowing that mercy is available to you regardless of you history or present situation?

How can we become like Jeremiah and be deliberate in trusting in God's goodness and mercy?

2. We are to show mercy to others
Matt 5:7
Blessed are the merciful....

(Main use of the word translated as mercy is to have mercy on, or to receive mercy from).

Jesus says that we will receive mercy when we are merciful. God blesses those who are merciful in their attitude. Mercy does not mean soppy. Merciful means having compassion and showing kindness to others even when they don't deserve it. We didn't deserve mercy but because of God's grace we have received mercy.

The story of the unforgiving servant is an example of Mercy given by the master, but not fully understood by the servant, so having received mercy,  he was unable to pass it on. The words used are compassion and mercy.  The master says "I showed compassion,  why didn't you show mercy?"

Matthew 18:23-33 NIV
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. [24] As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. [25] Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. [26] “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' [27] The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. [28] “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. [29] “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.' [30] “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. [31] When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. [32] “Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. [33] Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'

God expects us to show mercy to others in the same way that he has shown mercy to us.

James 3:17-18 NIV
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. [18] Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Full of Mercy and good fruit.

Jude 1:20-23 NIV
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, [21] keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. [22] Be merciful to those who doubt; [23] save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear---hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

God's mercy to us requires us to extend mercy to others but it is mercy that recognises sin and deals with it in an appropriate manner.

How can you extend and show mercy to others?

Who is God asking you to extend mercy to?

Conclusion
God's mercy is available each and every day regardless of the situation. Sometimes we have to be deliberate in reminding ourselves that God's mercy is available and new each day and we can boldly come to him to receive mercy. Having received mercy from God we are to extend it to others