Topic: Fruit of the Spirit I [Open Heavens Tuesday 23rd January 2018]
Memorise: Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. – Romans 13:10
Read: Galatians 5:22-26 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 48-50, Revelation 21:9-27
MESSAGE
Over the next few days, we shall be taking a closer look at the important subject of the fruit of the Spirit. Our Bible text spells out the fruit of the Spirit as these: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. In considering this important subject matter, the key words to take note of are “fruit” and “Spirit”. From these key words, we understand that the fruit of the Spirit have their origin in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, a person who has no relationship with the Holy Spirit cannot exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, no matter how hard he or she tries. The good news is, if you have given your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells inside you. This truth is established in Romans 8:9b which says:
“Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
However, for to manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you, you need to cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit by walking side by side with Him every day. This is the reason why, after outlining the fruit of the Spirit, Paul in Galatians 5:25 wrote,
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? It means interacting with the Holy Spirit like a friend that you can see. It means asking Him what His opinion is before making any move, and yielding to His directions even when they are contrary to yours. It means listening to His voice before wearing that outfit, taking that job or picking that spouse. It means speaking what He suggests to you as the appropriate thing to say to that person. It means going to that place that He moves you to visit. It means keeping quiet when He instructs you to shut your mouth. It means giving out that gift that He nudges you to bless that fellow with. It means yielding to His voice when He reminds you to forgive that person who wronged you. When you cultivate such relationship, the fruit of the Spirit will no longer be a checklist of character traits to be worked on. It will become your nature, effortlessly flowing from within you.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the character traits that emanate from working with the Holy Spirit. Today, we will begin with love. Without the manifestation of love, our confession of faith becomes hypocritical (1 John 3:16-18). To love can be tough and difficult sometimes, and this is why we need to daily ask the Holy Spirit to pour out His love into our hearts (Romans 5:5). We need to demonstrate the God kind of love for the world to know that we are Christ’s disciples indeed. This will motivate them to join us as we journey to heaven with joy unspeakable, full of glory.
Prayer Point: Precious Holy Spirit, as I walk with You day by day, speak to me, comfort me, teach me, guide me and show me things to come, just like the Lord Jesus Christ said You would. Amen.
Hymn 2: I Need Thee Every Hour
1. I Need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus:
I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee,
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh bless me now, my Saviour;
I come to Thee.
2. I need Thee every hour;
Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their pow'r
When Thou art nigh.
3. I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
4. I need Thee every hour;
Teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfil.
5. I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.
Open Heavens 23rd January 2018, Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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