But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 [NIV]
Don't just believe it,
Do you want to bear fruit... Remain in Christ!
In John 15, Jesus says “I am the vine, you are the branches...
I've chosen and appointed you to bear fruit, much fruit, fruit that will last”.
To do this he says “remain in me”. Now,
I've never seen a branch disconnect itself from a tree to connect with a different one.
But, the fact that Jesus says this suggests that we are not forced to remain
and we see how people choose not to connect with Jesus, the fruit of which is death.
But, when we connect to Jesus He brings Life, Life to the full and Life eternal.
A branch on a tree doesn't hang around all day wondering how to bear fruit or trying to make more fruit.
It just connects to the trunk or the vine... it’s life source and it naturally bears fruit.
When we connect to Jesus and allow him to influence us through His word and His Spirit fruit naturally occurs.
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.
There are other fruits as well, like leading others to Christ.
The problem comes when we look to things other than Jesus to bring us life.
We fill our lives with many things and are influenced by many ways of thinking
that will lead to fruit of a different kind, which results in all kinds of evil.
This is why we constantly champion Bible reading, prayer and meeting with other Christians
because these are the ways that we connect in to Jesus and His Spirit.
I know this may be an unusual concept but I want to be a fruitful branch for Jesus. How about you?
Jesus warns the religious leaders - part 8 - Matthew 23:1-36
How terrible it will be for you...
...Hypocrites!
For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed
and decorate the graves of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.
Then you say, *We never would have…
Matthew 23:29-30. [NLT]
Have you noticed how in our situation we find it so easy to say I would never do that or I would never have done that when we hear or see someone do something of which we disapprove?
I've often heard it said, “if I was Adam or Eve I wouldn't have eaten of the fruit... I would have listened”. And yet you only need something as simple as a 'Don't touch - wet paint' sign and the first thing people do is touch it to see.
When we consider the Ten Commandments, on a beautiful sunny day when everything’s going well and our conscience is clear, we will agree that they are given for our good and we should live by them. But, then when something goes wrong in our lives or when we find ourselves under pressure or tempted, we can convince ourselves that something is o.k. because...?
I often wonder why people do the things they do? I sometimes in hindsight ask myself - why did you do that? In different circumstances we can end up doing something that we would never have thought possible.
Some reading this may even think not me! Yet, if the great 'man of God' David can fall into adultery and murder and Paul can write, “what I want to do, I don't do and what I do not want to do I end up doing”. Then it will be good for us to stay aware! Stay close to Jesus, constantly on guard, for there but for the grace of God go we! It is only Jesus that can keep us on track.
Let's not put our confidence in anything or anyone else, including ourselves!
Please pray for everyone who is going back to school this week,
please can you pray for the people who are going into new schools or new classes that they will settle in well and enjoy themselves.
Please pray for everyone that you know of that needs a touch right now.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom and works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs. CSW also aims to mobilise the general public to pray, protest on behalf of persecuted Christians and provide for their needs. They seek to be a voice for the voiceless, for the millions of people facing persecution in Communist Asia, South & Southeast Asia, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America, Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East & North Africa. They have seen some amazing successes not the least of which is the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry into the human rights situation in N. Korea.
Remember to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world
1 For the hundreds of human rights lawyers and activists who have ‘disappeared’ or been arrested and harshly interrogated in China.
2 For Li Helping a Christian human rights lawyer who went missing on 10th July.
3 Urgent prayer needed also for Tang Jingling a Christian human rights lawyer who has been repeatedly detained and tortured for speaking up about the religious freedom in China.
4 Pray that N. Korea would be referred to the International Criminal Court so that the regime can be brought to justice. Pray that one day the walls would come down and the people of N. Korea would be free.
If you would like to give to Missions just put your Missions gift in an envelope marked Missions and drop it in collection any time along with your offerings. Each month, you can read a little more about Christian Mission organisations and what they do.
MACMILLAN COFFEE AFTERNOON
2:30 – 4:30pm Saturday 26th September
Tea, Coffee, Cakes and Cream Teas on sale
All proceeds going to MACMILLAN
Join us at 3:30 at life well church on the 20th for our harvest celebration.
Where we are going to thank and praise god for all the things he gives us.
8th Vicki Wilson
11th Nathaniel Parker
14th Linda Willis
15th Joshua Ellens
18th Chris Screen
23rd – Sue & Mark Williams
