A Characteristic of Devine Wisdom - Gentleness

“The Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then Peaceable, Gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of Mercy and Good Fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” ~ James 3:17

How has the Practicing of the “Fruits of the Spirit” been going in your life this past week? I believe we will have good opportunity in the week before us to Practice “Gentleness!”  But remember it takes at least 21 days of Practice to make a good habit come into reality in your life.  As we continue to search out a “Fruit of the Spirit” we find that there are companions in Scripture that work with the particular Fruit we are practicing.  In this Message today we see Gentleness associated with strength, power, and war. This is quite revelatory … “God is my Strength and Power: and He maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon high places. He teacheth, my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the Shield of Thy Salvation: and Thy Gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.” 2 Sam. 22:33-37 Gentleness is an attribute of our Saviour.  Paul expressed this under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit in 2 Cor. 10:1 “I Paul beseech you by the Meekness and Gentleness of Christ:” What is revelatory in this study is: Boldness and Gentleness work together! Paul comes forth in the Holy Spirit as he informs us of the Gentleness of Christ, yet he is bold to renounce sin.  1 Thess.2:4-5  As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: VS 7  We were Gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:” We are admonished as ‘servants of the Lord’ we must not strive, but be Gentle unto all men, apt to Teach and ‘Patient.’ The Fruit of the Spirit is sincerely prominent in a Christian’s life.   When we can respond in Gentleness, we invoke the Wisdom of God in the circumstances of our life!  O what a Gentle Saviour who lives in us!
Loving you, together let us Practice His Gentleness! Pastor

God is Longsuffering - Let's Practice Part 5

“Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” ~  Ps. 86:15

Trusting that you are “Practicing” these Messages, I rejoice!  I have quickly found that as I desire to increase my Love, Joy, and Peace ─ I am, given much opportunity to show forth the Love of God, and Jesus Joy, not to mention His Peace! In all circumstances of our life, we are not alone, for the Lord is ever with us!  This is His promise as we walk in His Spirit and His statutes. Today we explore “Longsuffering.”  It is amazing as we research the Fruit of His Spirit within us; “Longsuffering” for instance, it is something that we no doubt like to shy away from.  That of course is natural, but to think of God in a “Longsuffering” moment causes us to stop for a moment and think about Him, He practices Longsuffering?! We find the word “Longsuffering” appears for the first time in Exodus 34:6. It is our Scripture today for the Prayer Requests. “The Lord passed by Moses and proclaimed that God is Merciful, Gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth.”  What was the occasion for this moment that seems to be a “Longsuffering” moment for God? God had given His people Ten Commandments in stone, and when Moses returned with the Tablets of God’s Commandments, he found God’s people worshipping a golden calf.  In anger Moses hurled the Tablets to the ground – they were broken! “Longsuffering of God: He had brought them out of bondage, loaded them down with the treasures of Egypt and spoke audibly to them. But in their lack of Patience [which is a Fruit of the Spirit] while waiting for Moses’ return they sinned grossly against God.  Yet He was “Longsuffering” with them and Moses stood in the gap for them: Ex. 32: “… if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” And in the New Testament, 1 Peter 3:20 we read about disobedience: “Sometimes were disobedient, when once the Longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” We continue to learn that God does not require anything of us that He first has not went through. Think of His Longsuffering as His Only Begotten Son was crucified!  Let us meditate upon the Fruit of His Spirit that He desires of us to practice!   Loving you, Pastor

Prince of Peace

“Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: the government shall be upon His shoulder: His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”   ~ Isa. 9:6

  

 How did your “Practicing Experience” go this past week?  I feel like the Apostle Paul when he said “I find then a Law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” [Romans 7:21] But we must hold on to the tried and true statement that “Practice makes perfect!” Just to remind us, we are practicing God’s Love, Jesus Joy, and today’s Message: “His Peace!”  As I pursued Peace for this Message, I found that Peace is mentioned many times in the Old Testament as in the New Testament.  Once we see that Jesus sat something in order, it is passed along throughout the Biblical Text.  Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you! Then He said “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!” I am finding in these moments of our society there is much to be fearful of: However, even in those fearful moments we can abide in His Peace. It is “The Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” [Phil 4:7] The key word here is the Peace of God goes beyond our understanding and such Peace is planted in our heart & mind through Jesus Christ our Loving Saviour!  We have been admonished by Jesus in John 16:33: That in HIM we have Peace; “in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!” I believe Jesus was encouraging His followers to know that His Peace was not subjective to the world’s type of peace. His Peace will conquer our fears and bring comfort in every situation of our life. Jesus has sent the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, to bring all these things to remembrance that He has taught us in Scripture.  Peace like Joy was part of Jesus arrival as the Son of God born in flesh: Luke 2:13-14;  “… Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host Praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, good will toward men.”  With that information the Glorious Prince of Peace has come!           Loving you, Pastor