This page is dedicated to bringing encouragement and insight to God's people and reaching the lost for Christ.

Father, I thank you for the timelessness of your Word and your Promises. I pray you will use these words to encourage your children as they grow in their relationship with you. I pray that you will work in the heart of every person who does not know you as Lord to bring them to yourself, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When I first read this I was struck with what a powerful way to begin morning prayer, or my devotions. If you have ever watched the Series called The Chosen. You no doubt will remember the way that Jesus and the disciples began their day as they awaken from a nights rest. They sit on the edge of their bed. They open their hands palms up upon their knees and they greet the Father with thanksgiving and worship. I immediately saw the beauty in following up my morning acknowledgement of God with this Declaration of the Fruits of the Spirit. 

Sunday morning (7/16/23) while worshipping at New Beginnings the entire congregation recited the declaration and Pastor Bill reminded the congregation that as we speak these declarations into our lives we are speaking spiritual truths to ourselves. We are also speaking- developing Christ-like character in the image of God himself through the Holy Spirit.

However you may choose to use this declaration, I strongly endorse the use of it to build Christ-like character in your own walk with the Lord.

We are called to a walk of obedience that sets us apart from non-believers Read chapter 15 of the Gospel of John. Be sure to take in verses 9 through 14. In these verses Jesus frankly tells his disciples that he loves them even as his father loves him. Then he tells them to remain (abide) in his love. How will we know that we are in his love? We know that we are abiding in his love if we are imitating the life he lived in service to others.

If you are able to stop here and open your bible to John 15:9-14 - think deeply about what it means to you to remain or continue in Jesus’ love. For me I know that I am continuing in Jesus’ love when I am obedient to do the things that I know that Jesus would have me do. It is not in speaking but in doing that our love is observed. Our love is not only observed by God, but it is also observed by those around us.

It is not in saying I have faith, or I believe but it is in demonstrating that faith by doing the works of faith that our witness has its greatest effect. James tells us faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-20) Instead of saying be warm and filled and walking away we are called to make that warmth possible if it is in our means; make that filling possible if it is within your means. As Jesus was obedient to the Father and demonstrated the Love the Father had for his creation, you and I are called to the same work of ministry. The only thing that may be different about our calling to ministry will be found in how that call is manifested. This is where the Ephesian Model comes in: The Apostle Paul tells us that God has given to each of us a certain amount of grace that accompanies individual gifting(s). The grace is so that you will be able to use that gift for the benefit of others. Were it not for that measure of grace we would consume the gift for our own needs and gratifications. But along with the gifting, God has included a portion of his grace. We are able to act selflessly because of the grace of God at work in our lives. We are able to excel in meeting the needs of others because of the grace of God that has accompanied his gifting.

Regardless of what the gifting from God is in your life it has an outward not an inward purpose. We can derive the greatest joy, the greatest blessing, the greatest pleasure when we have focused our gift toward those in need. The grace and gifts from God have a three-fold purpose according to Paul: 1. The perfecting of the saints-that is the maturing of the saints of God into the servant-heirs of his kingdom 2. The work of the ministry - the obligation, responsibility, duty of all God’s children is to continue the work that Jesus began. Teaching men to know the good news of the Father’s love and sacrifice and coming judgement is an ongoing work until Jesus returns. 3. The edifying of the body of Christ- Instead of finding and exposing one another’s faults we need to be supporting one another’s growth in the Lord. If we find a brother or sister overcome by a fault, failure, or sin we are to help them to restoration. (Gal. 6:1) When we fulfill the scriptures that admonishes us to bear one another’s burdens, we make it possible for the true work of Christ to be done. Men will know that we are his disciples by our love one for another. (Jo 13:35) What will you do to promote the Ephesians Model in your own life and church? selah

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