Scripture Text: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Gal 5:22-23 (KJV)

How powerful is your life for Christ? What have you done lately that has declared you to be one of His?

Well, there are those who go around gloating about their Christianity, but the Word says,

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. " Mat 7:20 (KJV)

I can't help but think of the student in a Bible college I taught in years ago who was expounding on the word, and she said, "Even Jesus cursed the fruit tree because it got in His way". Now, she said a few things after that but I had to stop her and ask her where she found that in the Bible. She read it, and I have to say, what she was saying was not completely correct - but the thought had a profound impact on me as a Christian and a leader. The verse actually reads:

"And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away." Matthew 21:19 (KJV)

There's a crowd of us here on earth that don't really do much good in the way of bearing fruit, but if Jesus was walking down the road we would see to it we were in the front row where we could get a good glimpse of Him. Now, everyone would and I know that, but the point is, if we were about our Father's business, we would be bringing the sick and the dying to Him and step aside so that they might be touched or touch the hem of His garment. That would be bearing fruit to the Glory of The Lord more than our walking away having seen the Master.

Jesus said,

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Mat 7:21-23 (KJV)

But you see, that little college gal was more right than I was in my thinking even though she mistook the verse to mean something else. Jesus said in John 15:2,

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

So you see, it is important to make sure that you:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Mat 5:16 (KJV)

. . . and we can only do this by the spirit working in and through us. It is His testimony that we give with every word we speak, and it his love and compassion that we show every time we offer a cup of cool water on His behalf. That's important to remember.

I want to at least begin today in the fruit of the spirit known as love.

Now, we have pretty well covered how this comes about it a persons heart and life when we were discussing the section on Peace - showing how God brought Peace between God and man by sending Jesus as The Sacrifice "once for all" for our sins. This opened the door then for us to love God and to love others. It made it possible by the indwelling Holy Spirit to love even the unlovable and to forgive those that we were in error with.

But one of the main areas of love that many preachers either forget to preach about or they don't feel it is necessary (I do), is the area of perfected love.

Now, very simply this means do you love God so much that you can trust Him? Many people say they love God and I believe that they do - but can they trust him when their child gets sick? Can they trust Him when one of their parents is dying? Can they trust him when the doctor tells them that "they" are extremely ill?

Perhaps you've not experienced anything so deep and sullen as that. Do you trust God with your finances? Do you trust Him enough to pay tithes on your Gross income and not your Net. "Oh come on brother Wayne - My pastor says I only have to pay 10% on my NET. Okay, but how much do you love God. Do you love Him enough to pay 10% of your Gross? DO you love him enough to go beyond the tithe and send an offering to missions or to other ministries who you know are working for the Lord? Do you trust him to keep your job safe and to give you the kind of wisdom to do your job better than it's ever been done so that your employer will say, "You know that gal/guy's got something". He/she's a real asset to this company."?

The fruits of the Spirit are what again? Remember yesterday's message? They are the workings of God the Holy Spirit in our lives and there is a love that we can give to God and that we can give to man. Many have shown forth that kind of humanitarian love and make no claim to love God. But Just as Jesus asked Peter three times do you love me, it wasn't until the third time that Peter responded by the Spirit. Peter had denied Jesus, and had deserted him at a time He needed Peter the most. Peter was thinking about leaving the ministry that Jesus had called him to and go back to fishing, and he was angry that he had betrayed the Lord. But Jesus needed him. Jesus needs you. He calls you and I to service in His kingdom and gives us a purpose that no one else could achieve quite like we can. I know I'm no one special, and I know there are all kinds of internet ministries out there that do a much better job than I could ever dream of doing. But God called me - He needed me for this very moment in time to remind you that your life counts. What people see you do is a message in itself.

You can't truly have a relationship with the Father if you can't say that you love Him enough to trust Him - even enough to allow Him to take your life into the palm of His hands and shape you for His special purpose. Friend, the Holy Spirit can help you through those horrifying memories of the times you denied the Lord too! He can help you to soar high above the burdens you are carrying and help you to see, that Jesus is the ONLY way out. Can you trust Him? Do you love Him That much?

Let's pray.

Father: I do love you. I do trust you. Help me Holy Spirit to lay everything at the feet of Jesus and leave it there. In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen.