Balance - Intro to Fruit
BALANCE
All work and no play make Jack a dull boy…
But all play and no work make him something worse!
All truth and no love is brutality… (harshness and contempt)
All love and no truth is hypocrisy! (Spinelessness or cowardice)
In all things in life there is a balance that is needed. Often going to the extremes in any area of life can cause perversion or misuse and cause unhealthy choices that lead to destructive lifestyles. Alcohol is not evil. Jesus and the disciples drank wine. Jesus even turned water into wine at a wedding! Drugs are not evil. Many drugs (not all) are very useful in alleviating pain and suffering in people going through operations and recovery, something that can be considered merciful. Money is not evil. It is a useful tool to teach you discipline and a way to provide for your own family and others in need (it can also reveal what is important to you). Intimacy, marriage, family, sports, government, hobbies, church, worship…none of these are evil in and of themselves and all have their place as long as they can be kept in balance.
All of these examples can easily turn to evil once you become addicted to or misuse them: alcoholism, drug addiction, greed, pornography, perversions of godly pictures of marriage and family, sports gambling and idolatry, communism and socialism, legalism, health wealth and prosperity gospel, worshipping self, nature, or others, etc., etc. etc.
In the special creation of humanity, we are designed in the “image of God” and part of that includes the fact that we were designed to have a deep, meaningful, and personal relationship with our Creator. That’s why in our hearts we ALL know that God exists, but we can suppress that truth and try to fill that void with something else. We all have a deep longing to be loved and that is only something God Himself can fulfill. If you reject His love then you will look anywhere and everywhere for something to replace that love, no matter how destructive and tainted it is. The same can be said for meaning and purpose, which describe your goals, ambitions, and actions. All of life comes down to who the Creator is and what He wants and even expects from us. If you reject Him (meaning His purpose and intention behind everything) then your whole life is shooting at the wrong target and will lead to addictions, depression, hopelessness, and confusion – to start off a very long list of destructive behaviors!
The study of God and His word is theology. The principles found in that study that are foundational truths are called doctrine. A sound method of going about that study is called hermeneutics using an exegetical approach. The problem that can arise in this area is especially profound and one that is evident in our culture…forever learning but never really applying! Just giving lip service to your faith when it suits you. Having so much wealth and prosperity that we never really rely on God unless a tragedy comes our way. There is an imbalance between knowing and doing in a me-centered prosperous culture that is in danger of becoming the “luke-warm church”. The balance comes from living out the knowledge that you profess to be true. You are what you eat is mostly true (you’re more than just food!) but you are what you believe is always true (you might say and act differently to gain other’s approval at times, but your core beliefs will be seen by those who pay attention). If you are a Christian (godly belief system) then you will bear godly fruit. If you only pretend to be a Christian (worldly belief system) then your fruit is as filthy rags before a righteous God.
Christians can be looked at as those who are getting multiple PHD’s in doctrinal studies throughout a lifetime of learning (the average Christian will spend about 2-3 times as much time in their lifetime studying Scripture as is necessary for the minimum amount required for PHD’s), but what is the fruit of all this knowledge? Is there a changed heart? Is the evidence of our faith evident to others? Does our walk match our talk? It has been said, “Do not worry about what you do not understand in the Bible but worry about what you do understand and do not live by!”
The purpose of this sermon series is not to shame anyone. It is not to guilt you into doing something. It is not to manipulate your emotions to get some kind of momentary or temporary transformation. It is not to get you to give more money or praise any human efforts in any way!
The purpose is to tear you down so that you can be built up again. To empty the cup full of yourself and fill it with what was intended to be there. To replace any bitterness you have with mercy and grace. To be able to love those who are not worthy of love. To forgive where forgiveness isn’t earned or easy. To be kind when evil is all around you. To be humble when pride and vanity and ego are fighting for their voice to be heard. To be content with whatever you have and whatever comes your way.
For lack of an exciting title this series will simply be called “fruit”. This is merely an introduction to prepare you for what is to come. This will focus almost entirely on the application and practice of God’s Word in the life of a believer. What it looks like to pick up your cross and die to yourself. What a transformed heart looks like in action. What it means to renew your mind and say no to the world system. In essence, what it means to be a Christian. Not just some random words spoken but an in depth look at how this all looks in real life!
Our focus will be on two major portions of Scripture and how those areas are played out in Christ and in those who profess to follow Christ:
- The beatitudes – Matthew 5:3-12
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
- The fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-25
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
There are some important ground rules that need to be set in place when looking at these very important truths in Scripture:
- These can only be applied to those who are born again, born of the Spirit, and indwelt with the Spirit – any fruit apart from that is rotten fruit!
- Jesus is the example we look to and perfection we desire – not comparing ourselves to others to make them seem worse somehow and make us look better. This is not a competition to be won or lost here, but only seeking after growth and fruit with the right motivation!
- Scripture has the final say in these matters – not the opinions of others or what seems right to you or some misguided group. And Scripture interprets Scripture meaning you can’t just pluck a lone verse and make it mean what you want it to say without comparing it to the rest of God’s Word.
- There will always be a balance in each blessing or fruit that brings peace and contentment – and the opposite is also true where extreme views and their application will bring about strife and anxiety.
- You are not an island! Each of these truths is in regard to the body of Christ, which is about the entire church, not just all about you. Christ’s strength in others will strengthen your weaknesses and vice-versa. You can’t have every gift and blessing to the degree that Christ displayed them. The goal is that we all submit to Christ and become unified in displaying all of our gifts together to the glory of God.
- Application or fruit should be a joy and never a burden – if you dread it or make it just another checklist to ensure your righteousness before others then it will never come from the right place. Your heart is not transformed if your attitude and actions are not transformed as well.
Finally, and most importantly, God WANTS your heart. He doesn’t need anything from you. You don’t bring anything to the table that He is missing. He didn’t create you so He could then be complete somehow. You are not the cat’s meow, the bee’s knees, all that and a bag of chips, or any other silly idiom that places a false sense of importance on your individuality. You are not a plague on the environment that needs to be eradicated as many environmentalists and evolutionists believe either. There is a balance to your identity. You are only unique and important because of who created you that way. He created you, knows what’s best for you, wants to have a relationship with you, wants to indwell and bless you, wants to guide and direct you, wants you to live with Him forever, and in the big picture you are a love offering between the Father and the Son. Your loving response to that should be surrender, submission and obedience! That requires a transformation of your heart, which only God can provide:
Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Your goal is the same as mine now and that is to take a good long look in the mirror (not literally of course but just an inward reflection), and ask yourself the following questions:
- Where am I on my spiritual journey?
- Since my spiritual birth do I look more and more like Christ or still mostly like myself?
- Do others see any kind of transformation in me and mention that?
- Am I more afraid of offending other people or God?
- Are God’s instructions and desires for my life joyous to me or a burden?
- Is my fruit evidence of my faith and is that pleasing to God?
There is no shame in admitting the truth to yourself of where you at, no matter how guilty you might feel about your short-comings or lack of submission. Now is the time for honest reflection as you can’t move forward if you can’t be honest about where you are at. This study should bring about immense feelings of inadequacy and shame at times, which is necessary to bring about transformation, which yields peace, joy, and hope!!
Now is the time for salvation. Now is the time for submission and obedience. Now is the time for light in a dark world. Now is the time for salt in a flavorless culture. Now is the time to die to your flesh and your sins and to live for God. Now is the time…NOW IS THE TIME…there is no guarantee of tomorrow, next week or next month…there is only now!! Eternity will reveal your response!
One final thought to ponder is this: “what is holding you back?” Why will you not totally surrender and submit to all the God has planned for you? Do you really think that your own plans are better than God’s? Do you really think that God does not care or notice you? Just listen to this description and you can decide for yourself:
◦ He is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End!
◦ He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of it all!
◦ He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.
◦ He always was, always is, and always will be...
◦ He is Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!
◦ He was bruised yet brings healing!
◦ He was pierced yet eases pain!
◦ He was persecuted yet brought freedom!
◦ He was dead yet brought life!
◦ He is risen and brings power!
◦ He reigns and brings Peace!
◦ The world can't understand him,
◦ Armies can't defeat Him,
◦ Schools can't explain Him
◦ and leaders can't ignore Him.
◦ Herod couldn't kill Him,
◦ The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and
◦ The grave couldn't hold Him!
◦ Nero couldn't crush Him,
◦ Hitler couldn't silence Him,
◦ Other religions can't replace Him, and
◦ The world can't explain Him away!
◦ He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
◦ He is Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and Grace.
◦ He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.
◦ His ways are right, His word is eternal,
◦ His will is unchanging, and His mind is on us.
◦ He is Redeemer, Savior,
◦ Guide, and Peace!
◦ He is Joy, Comfort,
◦ Lord, and Life!
Just maybe that is someone worth putting our trust and faith in! Or maybe you still think you and your ways are better than His… Let’s pray…