Happy Fruity Weekend

First Baptist Church

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Published by NealCarole Gracey February 24 at 7:10am

• Happy “Fruity” Weekend, Everyone!

I remember one Sunday many years ago a pastor was preaching on the Fruits of the Spirit. To get his message across better he brought with him real fruit. For example, a “peach” stood for goodness because a peach is soft and pleasant. A peach is juicy and smooth, kinda’ what goodness is like. Goodness is very refreshing. He did the same thing with the banana, the apple, the cherry, and the orange. That, my friends, was a great object lesson that I didn’t forget. (Thanks PD)

This Sunday’s Sunday school lesson is taken from the scripture that includes the fruits of the spirit, Galatians 5:18-6:10. The actual scripture is 5:22, 23 which says,”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

BUT --- the scripture all around these fruits is not soft and pleasant; or juicy and smooth. It is evil and full of sin. Paul here is talking about “works of the flesh.” What people do before they know Jesus Christ. For example see verses 19-21, which says,” Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Wow, now that’s not good! Beloved, look at the contrast between knowing Jesus and being a follower and then NOT knowing Jesus and not being a follower. Many people may say…I’m not a murderer! I’m not an adulterer! I never delved into witchcraft! Do you realize that Jesus said that if you hate someone that you’ve already planned murder in your heart? Do you realize that lusting doesn’t have to be over another person’s spouse, that it can be for more and more money? Did you realize that by reading the Horoscopes and following the star charts and believing in the works of Horoscopes that you are delving into the realm of witchcraft and the occult. Even certain games have elements of evil, especially video games.

Soooooooooooooooooooo, what’s the point here? Well, the point is not to tell you all what you’re doing wrong. It is to show you that when Jesus comes into your heart and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in you, the sour fruit of your soul becomes sweet; the rotten fruit of your spirit becomes fresh again; the unattractive fruit turns beautiful, and the dead fruit is resurrected to new life!

Friends, when you accept Jesus Christ into your heart, you become a new creation. You have been born again. You are given new life and a new vision for your future. You are adopted into the family of God. Heaven is your home! Wow, that’s a little extreme from just talking about fruit isn’t it? It may seem so but remember my friends, Jesus is extreme and His ways are extreme. That’s why many refuse to believe in Him. The scriptures tell us that “the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” Jesus offends evil because He is a sweet Savor; a flavor that refreshes and brings peace, and faith, and love.

If you’ve never tasted the fruit of the spirit, and you would love to do so; simply ask Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life. Invite Him in today…and He will come in.

See See you in Sunday school 9:00 am @ First Baptist of Three Springs, PA.