The Fruit of Discipleship ~ To Abide

Joh 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
(32) and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

For years as a young Christian I believed that in order to be a good Christian I needed to bear fruit. I would try very hard to produce lasting fruit and would get burned out, tired of trying, and eventually give up all together. Only to get some rest and try all over again. I was bound by the expectation that I was supposed to make disciples, live a good clean life, stop sinning etc. It made for a very challenging Christian walk... It was all about me performing in such a way that I pleased God and he would then be accepting of me. When I found myself returning to habitual sins I would try to cover them up. "Good Christians wouldn't do such a thing so I better not let anyone know," I would think to myself. Until one day I finally had enough.

So, what changed? I heard a message of grace. I learned that Christ came to set me free from performance Christianity and called me to rest in Him. To simply abide... So I did just that. Rather than trying to do good works for God, I simply began to rest in Christ. I poured over His Word and discovered so many wonderful truths that brought me peace and comfort in my walk with Him.

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

I discovered that the fruit of discipleship came from my abiding in Him, not my doing good works for Him.  What I did for Christ came from my love for Him and my abidance in His word, not through good works or my own effort.

Today and every day I long for His Word. To simply rest in Him and find freedom from the sin that entangles us. To know that He is the one who produces fruit in my life. Apart from Christ I can do nothing. But when I abide in Christ I can do all He has called me to do. When I came to the understanding that a branch can not bear fruit on its own I was finally set free from the burden I placed on myself to be a good Christian and do a lot of good things for God.

If you can relate to this post, then today I encourage you to quit trying so hard... to stop performing for Christ and simply rest in Him.

Be Blessed,
Keith

Works vs. Fruit... Fruit Wins!

I have been impacted lately by the verses in Galatians 5. Especially as I look further down into the chapter around Gal 5:16-26. "The deeds of the flesh are evident." When I am in my human nature I am walking in the flesh. The evidence of this is manifested in my works. The outward and inward things that control me. It is something, that if left unchecked, will turn into habits and become natural ways of being.

However, the fruit of the Spirit is altogether different. I don't have to "work" to acquire the fruit Paul is talking about in verse 22. I just need to abide... Jesus tells us in the book of John to abide in Him:

Joh 15:3-4  "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 

When we are in the flesh we are working toward evil but when we are in the Spirit we become bearers of fruit. Spiritual fruit... So fruit bearing is not about works. It is not about doing the right thing for Jesus. It isn't even about being good. It is about abiding in Jesus and allowing His fruit to be produced in your life.

Have you ever gone to an orchard to pick fruit? One thing I have noticed is there is generally more fruit than there are people to pick it. It is all over the tree, dropped on the ground, and fills basket after basket. And so should it be with you and me. I pray that as we abide in Jesus that our fruit will be so abundant that it will overflow to many.

When it comes to the battle of works of the flesh vs. fruit of the Spirit there is one thing to remember... 

fruit wins.

What if... I Stopped Grieving The Holy Spirit...

Last night I completed the first chapter of Francis Chan's book - Forgotten God. It is a book that focuses on the person of the Holy Spirit and how we, as Christians, should be transformed because of Him.

He posed a question in this first chapter... "How would your life look if the Holy Spirit left you?"

I really thought long and hard over that question. Unfortunately, after thinking about it, I embarrassingly admitted to myself, "probably not a whole lot different."

It did lead me to ask myself a similar question posed slightly different. "Does my life even look that different because I do have the Holy Spirit?"

Do I live like I have been transformed by the Spirit of God or do I live like everybody else? My wife and I had this talk a month ago. Her answer was that we need to be different as Christians. Our lives should look more loving and compassionate than the next guy. (Pretty much the Chan take on the subject) I had a little different take on it.

I figured since I am saved by grace, and for the most part, a pretty messed up guy, then I should measure my level of the Spirit in me not by whether I look different than the next guy but whether I look different than I would have I not been renewed by God. If I compare myself to the next guy I will always find someone, Christian or not, who appears to be more godly than I am. There will always be people who build hospitals for children, feed the hungry and the poor, care for widows, etc... and not know Jesus. So comparing was a difficulty for me.

So here's my "what if." What if the Spirit of God left me today? Right now! Would I act differently? Would I start living for myself at the expense of others? Would I forsake God? Would I start drinking, driving too fast, cussing, acting unbecomingly? Would I quit being nice to people? Would I divorce my wife? I often think that we assume that only Christians have the ability to keep it together and non Christians lives will just fall apart without God.

So, back to the original question... What would my life look like?

I think I can see where the next chapters in Forgotten God are going, and knowing the way Francis Chan communicates I would imagine he is going to head down the path of, "why does your life not look different since you possess the Spirit of God?"

And that is the question I ask myself today.

• What if I lived obedient to the Spirit of God in all things?
• What if I prayed in the Spirit each moment of the day?
• What if asked the Holy Spirit to intercede on my behalf?
• What if I trusted Jesus when He said it would be better for me to have the Holy Spirit?
• What if I stopped quenching the Holy Spirit? (Eph 4:30)

Would my life look noticeably different?

What if...

Have You Been Transformed?

There is a sense in our American Culture that we are a Christian nation that does Christian things filled with Christian People. I often ponder what God might think about the idea of this. "One nation under God" we say. But what does it really mean for a person to be under God? According to the verses in 2Corinthians to be under God means that we have been reconciled to God through Christ Jesus. That we are a new creation and the old ways of living have passed away and the new way of living has come.

2Co 5:17-20 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (esv)

Being a Christian doesn't mean believing in a philosophy of doing good things for people. There are a lot of non-Christians who help others and do all kinds of good for people. It doesn't mean we are a Christian nation if we profess to be bigger, stronger, and nicer than everyone else. In order for our nation to be a Christian nation we need to look at ourselves and ask one simple question... "Am I a Christian?" Am I following the ways of Christ or am I doing things my way and living the way I feel best fulfills my wants and personal desires? Am I reconciled with God through Jesus Christ?

There are a lot of churches that proclaim that if you said the "sinners prayer" then you are saved and will be for the rest of your life. There are others who say that you need to be saved and then do all sorts of good things for God. And then there is God's Word which says this:

1Jn 3:4-9 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. (esv)

Following Christ isn't about good works or trying to keep the law of God, it is about experiencing firsthand the grace of God and abiding in it. If God's seed abides in you then you desire the things of God and you don't desire to live continually in sin. Practicing righteousness isn't about working for God. It is about being righteous in Christ and evidence of that comes out in our life by how we relate to God and others. If we continually live in sin, this passage declares we have neither seen God or even know Him.

If we claim Christianity in our life we need to do a reality check and see if we are abiding in Him, otherwise it is simply lip service and a way of convincing ourselves we aren't going to go to hell. Jesus addresses this issue in Matthew.

Mat 7:22-23 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (esv)

Christ will say to the posers of the Christian faith, "Depart from me you poser, you may have tried to look like you were a Christian and even done good things, but I never knew you because you did not abide in me. You did it all for your benefit and your glory and your joy. You were not sheep of my fold."

Today I encourage you to do a reality check. If you have been abiding in God and fighting the effects of sin in your life then praise God for His sustaining grace. If you have claimed the grace of Jesus as your own but have been living life to benefit yourself and not for Christ then I implore you to turn your heart back to Him. If we want to be a Christian nation then we first and foremost need to be nation of Christians. Let's allow Christ to make a difference in our life so we can help impact the lives of those around us.

Blessings...

A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

"He, therefore, is the devout man, who lives no longer to his own will, or the way and spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God, who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes all the parts of his common life parts of piety, by doing everything in the Name of God, and under such rules as are conformable to His glory.

We readily acknowledge, that God alone is to be the rule and measure of our prayers; that in them we are to look wholly unto Him, and act wholly for Him; that we are only to pray in such a manner, for such things, and such ends, as are suitable to His glory." (A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life - William Law, A. M. 1686-1761 *see note below)

One thing I am reminded of every time I read a book or writing from an early church writer is the need to live a life holy and devout and completely for the Lord. This quote from William Law is right at the beginning of his book and sets the tone for how we should be living our life today as a Christian. It isn't about legalism or performance, it is solely about being completely sold out to Jesus in everything we say, do, and think. Living a devout life comes from a heart that has been renewed by the spirit of God and can only be done by the power of God.

Are you desiring to live out the will of God in your life? Do you put forth effort every day and try to do the right thing but it just seems to be an uphill struggle? I encourage you today to walk in the spirit of God. (Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.) When we look to God and spend our time in devotions to Him rather than wallowing like a hog in the ways of this world we can use the power of the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. He is the vine and we are the branches. A true follower of Christ understands that everything we do is done through Him, by Him, and for Him. Our job is to abide in Jesus and the fruit of the spirit will come. (Joh 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.)

So how do I abide in Jesus? That is a question I have asked myself over the years and every time I found the answer I thought to myself, "surely there is another way, I don't have time to do that..." To abide in Jesus means to stick to Him. To be by His side every moment of the day. To spend my time with Him. Not my extra time, but all my time. He doesn't want the 5 minutes of leftovers at the end of the day, Jesus wants my entire heart, mind, and strength (deut 6:5) to be captive for His eternal glory.

"Abide in Me" Jesus says. When we allow the distractions of our job, family, entertainment, and other activities to keep us from Him we are a making them a higher priority than Him. Psalms 1:1-3 says this: How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

William Law continues, "But we can no more be said to live unto God, unless we live unto Him in all the ordinary actions of our life, unless He be the rule and measure of all our ways, than we can be said to pray unto God..."

Jesus is our Lord and Savior who deserves all of our affection. When we grasp the depravity of our condition prior to meeting Him and the glory of our salvation and what that means for our eternal well being, then how can we not want to devote our entire being to Him? Even in the ordinary things we should see Jesus working in our life.

Lord, I pray today for my heart to be like your heart. I want to be a mirror to the world and have it display the reflection of your love. Help me meditate on your ways day and night and put aside all the distractions the world tries to throw my way. Amen.


*note: The William Law quoted in this post is not the Latter Day Saints William Law from the 1800's. This William Law is the British Theologian...

God Wants More Than A Tweet

Psa 1:1-3 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. (nasb)

We are living in such a tag line society these days. What I mean by that is that the average attention span seems to be a matter of minutes or even seconds. Capture me instantly or I will move onto something else.

While having dinner with a friend the other night, we were discussing what we believed could be some serious consequences of this new generational thought. Even in the Christian world we are getting caught up in the one-minute Bible studies, short snippets of messages sent to your cell phone, and very "culture relevant" devotionals that seem to leave God out and pop culture has become the main topic. Please don't get me wrong, I am a huge technology guy and I love the way God can be glorified in numerous ways through this media. But it concerns me that we are falling into the trap of the world and simplifying the message of the gospel to fit our hectic lifestyles. There is a place in our Christian walk for reading a quick tweet or a short message from a Facebook status update. I subscribe to a few myself and get snippets of God's word numerous times throughout the day and enjoy it very much.

So how does all this fit into what the Bible says about our responsibility to seek Him? Psalm 1:2 tells us that a man's delight is in the law of the Lord and he meditates on it day and night. When I read a verse like this a couple things come to mind for me. First, what does it mean for me to delight in the law of the Lord? And second, define meditate.

Psa 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. (nasb)

To delight in something means to find extreme satisfaction in a certain person or thing. Imagine if you will for a moment a place that you have been in your life that was beyond words. I can remember a time when I was around 16 years old and I went to Hawaii. As we were flying high over the little island of Maui I remember the vivid colors of the ocean and the amazing hills that seemed to be never ending. The sky was crystal clear and I really thought as I gazed upon His glory that I could see forever. I was in total amazement of God's creation and was completely delighted to be there at that moment. Shear delight in fact!

God tells us that when we delight in Him he will give us the desires of our heart. When we find our complete satisfaction in Jesus rather than a football game on TV or a mystery novel, He will fill us more than we could ever imagine. But in order to delight in Christ we need to change how we live. Put the remote on the shelf, slow down our hectic lives filled with movies, and entertainment, and a whole lot of nothing and begin taking time to meditate on His law.

Psa 119:97 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. (nasb)

Time after time the Bible tells us to meditate day and night on the Word of God. This means to focus our complete attention on Him and study and contemplate over the truths we hear and learn. We meditate on this great Book so we can can be careful to do all that is written in it. When we live by the power of the Holy Spirit and meditate on the Word of God we will be fulfilled. It is a simple equation really. Delight in the Lord, meditate on His word day and night, do all that is written in it, and our way will be prosperous and we will have success... (That is an entire writing in and of itself...)

Jos 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (nasb)

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

So, where are you at today? Are you finding the Word of God a delight to your soul? Do you meditate on it day and night or are you satisfied with a little tweet here and there in you life? I encourage you today to develop a plan to dive into the Word of God. When you open up and discover the amazing truths that He affords us, I promise you, it will delight your heart and your soul...

Lord, help me to find all of my pleasure in you. Give me the commitment and desire to seek you before I turn on the television or fill my time with many of the other distractions that I have placed around me. I want my delight to be in you and your Word.

Till Death Do Us Part... Part Four - Forgiveness

In my last post regarding marriage, Till Death Do Us Part... Part Three, I highlighted what I felt were the five key elements to keeping a marriage in tact and fruitful.

Forgive - Love - Trust - Endure Hardship - Submit

Forgiveness is the first key to unlocking a healthy and happy marriage. One of the problems I discovered shortly after writing Part Three was that all five keys to a healthy and happy marriage involved doing something. Bearing fruit so to speak. Forgiving one another, loving one another, trusting each others motives, enduring, and submitting to the needs of each other. Action, action, action. So my conflict came when I asked myself the question, "what happens when we don't feel like springing into action in our marriage and it takes too darn much effort to keep on doing?"

In this posting I want to work on tackling this question and deal with the first key; forgiveness. Jesus tells us in the book of John to abide in him. A branch can not bear fruit unless it abides in the vine.

Joh 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (esv)

Bearing the fruit of forgiveness in a marriage can only be accomplished when we abide in Jesus. There is no amount of willpower that can sustain us while we are going through difficult times in our marriage like being in Christ can. The New Believer's Bible Glossary defines it this way. "Abide - To remain consistently in fellowship with God by maintaining a close relationship with Jesus Christ." Therefore, for us to "do" all the things we need to do to keep our marriage healthy and happy, we need to first be one who abides. To abide in Jesus means that we need to know him. We need to spend time in His Word daily learning what it means to be like Him. A disciple is one who follows the ways of his teacher and since Jesus is our teacher we need to know everything we can about His character. In order to forgive like Jesus we need to be like Jesus.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

But sometimes forgiveness is quite difficult. What happens when a spouse has done something so terrible that forgiveness doesn't seem possible? Philippians 4:13 tells us we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. Not some, or a few, but all things...even forgiveness. As challenging as it may be, forgiveness is more for the forgiver than the receiver. One of the things we should remember is that we too have offended and need to be forgiven. All too often we get caught up in the fact that our spouse has done something to hurt us all the while we may be doing things to hurt them as well.

Luke states it so well, Luke 6:36-38 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

Forgiveness can be kind of tricky however. It doesn't mean that a person subjects themselves to neglect or abuse, nor does it mean that we are a door mat and allow our spouse to take advantage of our forgiving heart by walking all over us. What it does mean is that we lead like Jesus in our marriage and take the first step towards reconciliation when there has been offenses one to another. And a special message to men... Be the first one to reconcile in your marriage! If Jesus came down to your house and wanted to have a conversation with you and your wife regarding your marriage, I believe it would start somewhat like when God came to Adam and Eve in the garden. Remember what he said? It was something like this, "Adam, where are you?" (Gen 3:9)

So here it is in a nutshell. Abide in Christ daily so we can learn to be like Him so that we can forgive our spouse and when we are offended try to be the first to reconcile... whew!

Lord please forgive me when I offend my spouse. Forgiveness is about changing my heart so I pray Lord that I will be quick to forgive and that you will give me the time, energy, and wisdom to seek you daily. I want to be more like you.

For further reading:

Till Death Do Us Part... Part One

Till Death Do Us Part... Part Two

Till Death Do Us Part... Part Three

When Does One+One = One