Tag Archives: Tell what you’ve seen and heard

SHARING YOURSELF.103015

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drinks, communication, friendship and people concept - happy young women with cups sitting at table and talking in mall or cafeAwhile ago we started talking about what it means to be a “Practicing Christian”.  We suggested that a “Practicing Christian” is one who practices the fundamentals of Christianity, which include focusing on God every day; making Jesus the Lord of your life; having a quiet time which includes reading the Bible and some devotional, praying, meditating and listening to God (every day); and sharing yourself, your life and your knowledge of God with others, through prayer and share, Bible studies, Church and Christian activities (every day).  You notice I’m stuck on the part about ‘every day’.  That’s what Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would follow Me [be My disciple, My student, My follower], let him deny himself, take up his cross DAILY, and follow Me.”

So today we’re talking about sharing yourself.  After you’ve spent a little time focusing on God and doing the things that are listed above, you’ll see that your relationship with God is beginning to develop, and without even trying you start feeling the urge to say something to other people about what’s happening to you in your heart.  (It’s that change that the Greeks call metamorphosis, sometimes translated into English as “transformation”.)  It’s the same thing that happens when a caterpillar changes from a worm into a butterfly.  That’s us, when we start to spend time focusing on God.  Paul talks about it Romans 12:2. Continue reading →

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BEAR FRUIT? 021215

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In John 15:5-8: Jesus says to his disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Galatians 5:22 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  Matthew 28:19, in Jesus’ Great Commission, He says, in part, “Go make disciples  .  .  .”   What is fruit?  Fruit is two things: 1] the fruit of the Spirit; and 2] disciples we help God bring to Jesus.  If you are filled with the Spirit, [1] you will bear (show, demonstrate, produce) the fruits of the Spirit. You’ll act and talk nice, you’ll be happy and giving and forgiving; you will exhibit the characteristics of love that are discussed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “the Love Chapter”.   AND  [2]  You can’t help but tell what you’ve seen and heard about Jesus. (see Acts 4:20) When you do that, others will come to know Jesus; they will become disciples of Jesus; they will become the fruit of your discipleship. Jesus says, in Luke 9:23, “If you want to be my disciple, deny yourself, take up your cross (die to your sinful nature) daily, and follow Me.”  That’s what it means when it says in John 15, “If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

I was going to ask, “How do we bear fruit?”, but Jesus already answered it.  So let me add:  God picked us (Christian brothers and sisters) before the foundations of the earth to be His, to be surrendered to Him, to do His will, so He will be glorified, and He will give us whatever we ask because we bear much fruit.  Talk about being in tune with the Spirit!  Praise the Lord, Hallelujah!