Status Updates From The Fruit of the Spirit: Th...

So is that the problem faced by Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s day? “The person who does not have self-control is a vulnerable person.  Their life is like a city that has been broken into, invaded by enemies, and left without walls of protection.”

Like Alexander the Great, conquering all world (except himself). “The one who is able to rule his own spirit is better than the one who has the power to conquer a city.”

Or if he saw someone come back from the dead? He had Moses and the prophets - like the rich man trying to commandeer Lazarus’ services after death. “The German atheist philosopher Nietzsche once said that if he saw more redeemed people, he might be more inclined to believe in their Redeemer.”

A welcome thought. “But gentleness is also opposed to turning a blind eye to the problem.  There are some cases where a failure to be angry is a failure to respond in the right way.  In other words, there are some cases where the failure to be rightly angry is a failure of courage to do the right thing.”

Haha I love the DOORMATS acronym explanation. “If you think of gentleness as a sort of mild-mannered powerlessness, then it is not something that most of us, especially men, would desire to strive for.”

Couldn’t agree more! “Goodness is first of all what you are.  It is the nature of the tree to be good or not good.  A tree that is planted by God cannot help but yield good fruit, eventually.”

The affirmation of God’s goodness and sovereignty sound a little like the Kenya refrain: “God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good; that is His nature.”

“Kindness is an inner disposition which delights in cheerfully advancing the happiness of others and in meeting their needs, fulfilling their wishes, and removing their distresses. It is also an outward demonstration in real actions toward the end of benefitting another.”

A knowledge of Greek words can be useful! “There is a practical component of being useful in the lives of others in acts of kindness.  Isn’t that interesting?  It represents a gentle, caring disposition which we should have towards meeting the needs of others.”

Also true, in home and workplace! “The fruit of the Spirit which is kindness does not naturally occur in human hearts.  It has to be supernaturally implanted there and brought to life by God the Spirit.”

“The people of the western world owe much and most of the cultural kindness and care for the helpless that we experience to the influence of Christianity.” #truth

Christopher Lasch (“Culture of Narcissism “) would agree re: the ‘war of all against all’. “The world of fallen man is one big aggressive and passive aggressive battlefield where every man and every woman, and yes, even every child, is at war with everybody else to get something or to gain some advantage.”

“But having been forgiven and having been somewhat transformed is like opening the damn that has held back joy.” :) Eternal consequences are a big roadblock to joy.

Chapter 14 (“The Source of Joy”) has two very telling examples of a woman reaching for satisfaction in relationships, and a man seeking satisfaction is financial security. Jesus asks both of them to consider whether or not they need these things to have joy.

The explanation of the interaction between Jesus and the woman at the well is spot on. “Not only did He say "Go," but He added "Come." She was not only to go and call her husband, but she was to come back to Jesus in her true character and condition.” Love rejoices in the truth.

In the stages after his conversion, CS Lewis would probably agree. “Joy comes from a direct, personal, continuing connection to God.  Without that relationship it is impossible to know true joy.” Because true joy doesn’t change, so it must have its origin in God - everything else changes.

I wonder if elders want to tell this to mulish congregants. “You probably have an understanding of what it means to be teachable.  It means that you give up your right to be offended by correction.”

Quotable! “Humility is needed then for spiritual growth. Pride says, “I’ve got this.” Humility says “help me, I need your help, Lord.” So then, the humility of prayer is involved in fruitfulness. Prayer, when it is sincere, is an act of humility.”

This was a spirited defense against spiritual cannibalism. “A true disciple’s life is a life that nourishes others with the fruits of the Spirit.  A tree does not eat its own fruit.  The fruit of our lives is not for us.  It is by nature for others, and is meant to nourish and serve others.”

Once we get past the issues of lack of maturity and the comparison complex, the content starts to gain momentum. “Indifference is an unhealthy response to our call to make the Lord known.” If the call to glorify God seems like a suggestion, yes, it’s time for a temperature check!