Friday, February 10, 2023

Evangelism: Starter Kit (Part II)

 We are human. Self evident-we are not very bright. Intelligent. Sure. Common sense? Absolutely NONE. Humans have about as much sense as God gives paint.  But even paint knows to stick to the wall and look pretty. We can't even do that.  Indeed, we are a gross waste of space in existence and even with all of that, HE loves us still.  That's the power of God. The absence of Christ is the presence of the Holy Spirit for those that have chosen to accept Him. But wait. The Holy Spirit is not a "what"? NO. He's a "who". His pronouns are "He" and "Him".  Let's learn more below...



Who is the Holy Spirit? The 3rd person of the Trinity. When God the Son left this earth to sit on the throne at the right hand of God the Father, God the Holy Spirit was placed upon the earth to teach, build, guide, comfort and remind us of who we are in God’s Kingdom and manifest the Kingdom of God in us and through us. You represent your Kingdom through your culture. God’s culture expands through the Holy Spirit in you. You literally take on the characteristics and nature of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will cultivate the nature of Jesus Christ in you. You will be a living example of what a citizen of God looks like.

 

The Holy Spirit will show you how to behave like Jesus behaves. Remember, God chose you. And also remember, the Holy Spirit is the Father of Jesus! So what better teacher than the one who taught Jesus how to become the Christ? The Holy Spirit guided Jesus and now guides you. To be under guidance of the Holy Spirit is to be in relationship with God.

 

1+1+1=3 does not equal God.     1x1x1 = 1 = God.

 


The Spirit brings out the exchange; the righteousness; the integration. You have integrity because you are integrated with God. The Holy Spirit is Eden. You are with Eden. Eden is the presence of God with you. God works through the Holy Spirit through you.

 

Jesus did not perform “miracles” in the sense that man has come to know or define. It was simply God working through the Holy Spirit in Jesus to bring forth His Will. Just as He did with Jesus, the Spirit will raise you from a baby to an adult. You will be renewed, repaired and restored. The heart is the only thing God cannot repair. So, he replaces it. Problem solved.   

Now, God can work through the Holy Spirit through you to bring forth His Will.

 




The Fruit of Love

Fruit is something you can pluck and take with you when it’s ready. It is the outcome or result of what is produced from the seed.

 

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOVE we recognize today:

Physical love is visual, stimulating, erotic, worldly or self-gratifying.

Natural love is between 2 people ie parent/child.

Conditional love is temporary adoration for people and can be unforgiving if betrayed.

Material love is selective and determined by what you choose to like or dislike in places or things.  

Brotherly love is built on affection for another such a friend spouse or mate

Unconditional love is God’s love for man. It has no limits. No strings. No requirements. It’s just because.

 

The Scriptures are the Original Truth. The Word of God is knowledge. Lack of knowledge brings darkness. Satan can only get a foothold if you are not in line with the Holy Spirit. From the Holy Spirit you will gain strength to overcome your fears, you will learn how to better yourself as a Christian and how to share what you learn with others. You will become a branch of the Kingdom that bears fruit by default. Knowing the Holy Spirit is with you brings you peace of mind which leads to peaceful thinking which leads to peaceful action and reaction in your daily life. You will gain direction from the Holy Spirit through prayer. Prayer time is alone time with God and realigns your focus.

 

Fruit of the Spirit

The word “church” comes from kirk or kuriakos which means to pertain to or belong to a lord. It is not a “religious” word. It is utilized in Christian vernacular as a person or persons who belong to Christ our Lord. You are called by God to be the fruit of the Spirit. To be the end result of what the Holy Spirit has brought up in you. You are the manifestation of God’s culture.

 

This is what it means in the Lord’s Prayer to say, His Kingdom come, His Will be done. The image and culture of God in man has dominion. These united persons in Christ become His “church; a reflection of His common unity or “community”.

 

There is only one fruit of the spirit with many characteristics.

1.       Patience-to be long-suffering, to endure or tolerate for a long time

Job 1-the model of patience and faithfulness to God

Ephesians 4:2-there is fruit in patience from God

Colossians 3:12-compassion is patience with others God is love and if love does not give up this means God does not give up.

Philippians 1:6-God will bring good out of patience.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 – be strong, pray for people and help them; even if they don’t appreciate it; God does and that’s what matters.

2.       Gentleness – is strength under control. Let the Holy Spirit continuously guide you in all relationships. Gentle communication is a character of the fruit. If you remove the gentleness in your communication the relationship can fail. When you are gentle, you are adaptable.

3.       Goodness – this is virtue, beneficence, do well to give, provide, help, serve and be useful.

Acts 10:38-Jesus was able to go and do good because God was with him.

Acts 20:35-it is more blessed to give than to receive

 

You will bear good fruit and people will want that from you. You will influence, entice and satisfy.  Your fruit is a reflection of your integrity. God keeps his word-keep yours. Be the same person in front of people as you are behind closed doors. God is unchanging and steadfast. So are you. Your labor is not in vain to God-1 Corinthians 15:28.

 

God is protecting His name; not yours. Do not boast in your righteousness. God does all things in you for His namesake. If you act in His name by His command, He will back you 100%. Die to your will and live for His. This is what “let go and let God” means. This is also what “let go of all you have” means.

 

4.       Humility – have respect. Yield to the Will and authority .

5.       Meekness-remain in control in the face of adversity. Be meek in your foundation and you will not crumble under a storm. Meekness is revealed the most when there is trouble in your life.

Proverbs 14:29/16:13 – be slow to anger, do not repay evil with evil, do not sin in your anger, anger is energy from God to take action without fear. It is not be used to destroy yourself or others, but to protect and bring out of in a time of trouble.

James 4:17 – to know right and do wrong anyway ( Isaiah 53:5 again!) your soul cannot sin. It is the part of you that belongs to God! It is in your soul that the Holy Spirit dwells. The soul controls the mind and the mind controls the body. The body has no choice but to submit and obey the mind when the soul commands it to avoid sin. Your “free will” is the most powerful tool you have as a human being. Use it wisely.

6.       Temperance – is self-control from the Holy Spirit. Jesus had self-control because of Christ in him. Ergo self-control is God control! You will have power over your actions, thoughts, desires, emotions and appetites.

Romans 8:14 – be led by the Spirit. Lack of temperance can lead you to sin or just throw you off track! Stay aware and alert so you do not overreact, overindulge, overspend or overdraw. All of these reactions can have a negative effect on you and others. 




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