Fruit Producers

Life does not consist of working our way to heaven, but rather being invited in because of God’s grace.

We bear fruit in our lives because we love God. We do not perform “works” in our Christian lives because we are afraid that God will send us to hell. We do “works” in our Christian lives because we are grateful for the grace, mercy, and forgiveness he has “freely” given us!!!!

God will not keep the doors of heaven shut and prevent anyone from coming in if we do not keep a 40-hour spiritual workweek. Those who “love” God will always be a light. Forgive often. Tell the Jesus story! Be committed to discipleship. Love unconditionally. And, accepts people for who they are. Heavens doors are wide open for anyone who accepts the gifts God has freely given.

It is not our job to be the keeper of the gate and determine who will get heaven. However, fruit bearers who are madly in love with Jesus will share their testimony of what He has done in their lives.

In John 15:5, Jesus declared that successful people are those connected with him.  Without Jesus at the core of a person’s life, there isn’t the needed spiritual nutrient to help a person grow and be a fruit producer in his/her spiritual life.

Spiritual fruit producers do not get results based on their own efforts. Rather, a person will produce more of God's fruit when he/she stays connected to JESUS! When one remains in Christ and allows him to live within our hearts, then there will be a high volume of spiritual producing being put out each day. 

Our world is inundated with negatives every single day.  Money doesn’t stretch as far as it once did.  Crimes are increasing as the economy is tanking.  Layoffs are happening everyday.  More and more need assistance than ever before.  What is happening to the moral fabric of a once steady America?

Our communities need steady.  They need to see values.  They need to experience someone with a godly character.  They need to see hope.  They need to see a group of people who calls themselves Christians to model and produce godly values the way God intended. 

 Is it possible that when we become producers of good fruits that it can change peoples lives?  Yes!  Is it possible that when we model love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that the Christian community will be seen as a place to be?  Absolutely YES!

In Galatians 5:22-23 the bible says that real fruit that is lasting, tasty and spiritual have no law to govern them because they are of God, not the world.  When the fruit of love takes over ones life, it transforms the person into a producer for God.  When the fruit of self-control is produced, it knows when to resist the devil so he will not poison the roots and destroy the self-control crop.

The only way one can produce fruit is to remain in Christ Jesus.  When we stop hanging out with Jesus and quit listening to what he has to say about life, the production of godly fruit will take a big hit and erosion will set in and the crops will be lost. 

However, those who remain in Jesus will be mass producers of the best fruits God has to offer!  Love.  Joy.  Peace.  Patience.  Kindness.  Goodness.  Faithfulness.  Gentleness. And, self-control!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Jesus Christ, the Superstar!

Jesus was a walking attraction show. No matter where he went, he attracted an audience. Jesus was a superstar! People wanted to touch, see, and hear him. People would line the streets to watch him walk by, sit on the banks of the sea or the side of a mountain to listen to him speak, or climb a tree just to get a glimpse. Others would stretch their arms just to touch him.

Jesus’ star status wasn’t his music ability, acting skills, nor modeling career. His star qualities for the people of his day were his speaking ability, healing powers, miracle works, and raising the dead.

Thousands upon thousands just wanted a touch of an arm. A healing. A miracle. Or, a moment of his time. The people made Jesus their superstar. Legend. Hall of Famer. Most Valuable Player. Golden Globe. Oscar. Hero.

Jesus’ star status was not self-made. He didn’t sit around thinking up ways he could make millions of dollars and have tens of thousands screaming his name: Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! His star attraction came about because he was faithful to living out the very ideas of his Father. When he was twelve, he told his parents. “Why are you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?” Luke 2:49 (MSG) also, his service to people made way for his popularity. Jesus said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve.” Mark 10:45 (NIV)

Serving the needs of people was his specialty: Jesus healed the sick, cured the man with leprosy, raised the dead to life, he made the blind to see and the deaf to hear, he fed thousands, removed demonic spirits, ate with sinners, visited the home of a tax collector, forgave a woman who broke the law of adultery, talked to other people of ethnicity, forgave. Gave grace, submitted, demonstrated humility, and kept his word to his Father.

Superstar status wasn’t Jesus’ idea. The way he loved people and served others made him the attraction of his day. He didn’t’ sell tickets to his events, nor did he have any hidden agenda. He simply wanted everyone to see his Father. John 14 Jesus said, “Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me…That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son….” (MSG)

Is it possible that Jesus’ star status has been diminished because we haven’t allowed him to be on the stage of our lives?  Could it be that the once superstar has lost the lure of followers because there hasn’t been much excitement about his messages among Christians?  Could it be true that his fame has taken a backseat to the culture changes, political correctness, and modern lifestyles?  Could it be said that Jesus’ messages do not motivate us anymore because it makes us think about what is right and wrong?

If ever there is a time that Jesus’ superstar status needs to be the headline show is now!  Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."  God’s people getting along are vital for Jesus to be seen by the world that he is worth following.  When Christians are fussing, fighting, and starting up new churches because they can’t get along, it sends a negative message to a culture that is already skeptical.  We can drive throughout towns in America and find a host of Christian churches in every community. 

If Jesus is going to be the centerpiece of our community, County, State, and Nation, then every believer in Jesus must adopt his model of unity.  He prayed, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”  John 17:20-21

For Jesus’ superstar status to be seen, each believer must live like he lived, love the way he loved, model the characteristics that he modeled: Be simple. Pray often. Love God and people. Be forgiving. Help shape lives. Mentor the young in faith. Sacrifice your selfish desires. Be grace. Live right. Connect with people. Be mercy. Allow the Spirit to indwell. Making it about God, not self.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Who has more influence: Christians or Culture? The Influence of Christians (part 2)

According to dictionary.com the word influence means:  “the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others.”

Jesus modeled influence effectively.  Although some of the “so-called” religious people felt his influence was being jeopardized when he spent time with the “less than” people.  In Luke 5:27-32 there is a conversation with “religious” people and Jesus’ disciples about who Jesus was associating himself with.  They asked, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”  Jesus quick on his feet shot back, “healthy people don’t need a doctor, sick people do.” (New Living Translation)

Christians have an opportunity to demonstrate values that will influence our culture for the greater good.  In reading many surveys, without exemption, the overwhelming view of non-churched people felt that Christians are judgmental, hypocritical, old fashioned, and way too involved in church politics.  I’m sure some can and will argue the perceptions non-churched people have of those of us who call themselves Christians.  Is it fair, maybe not, but could there be some truth to how they perceive us?  Absolutely!

It is amazing to me that Christians can work together at their jobs.  Attend little league to watch their children play baseball.  Cheer in the stands together for the local high school football team.  Eat together in restaurants.  And, have cookouts with their neighbors in their backyards.  But come Sunday morning, it becomes the most segregated time of the week.  There are some streets that have at least two of the same type of church because one thinks they are more right than the other.  Or, we have churches splitting over silliness and start another church across town.  What does this behavior convey to the non-churched person?  How are we as Christians able to influence our culture for the greater good if we cannot get along ourselves?

Our culture needs Jesus followers who are committed to living a consistent spiritual life.  Our culture needs Christians who are bent on demonstrating behaviors that are godly, holy, and right.  Our culture needs to see consistency.  They must see love demonstrated toward each other regardless of their philosophies about salvation.  Our culture needs to see unity between each Christian and not an “I’m the only one right” Christian mentality. 

If Christians live out the following principles of spiritual living in our culture, then our culture will begin to shift into a honorable, loving, caring, selfless, spiritual, and morally sound place.

Culture changing lifestyle for every Christian biblical tips:

Be positive – Philippians 2:14 says to do everything without arguing or complaining.

Be a builder – Ephesians 4:29 says to build up others according to their needs.

Be kind – Galatians 5:22 says that kindness is a bi-product of a Spirit controlled life.

Be friendly – 1 Peter 4:9 says to offer up hospitality.

Be lovers – 1 Peter 1:22 says to love deeply from the heart.

In order to compel others to Jesus, we must be modeling it ourselves.  No theology or doctrine can stand if our influence isn’t there to back it up

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

  

Who has more influence: Christians or Culture?

As a little boy, I remember sitting next to my parents as we listened to what the preacher had to say.  There was no sleeping.  Writing notes.  Coloring.  Playing video games, or eating.  My parents felt that “church” was to sit and listen.  No movement. 

We also dressed the part.  It was the days of leisure suits and dippity-do.  My suit was powder blue and my hair had enough dippity-do that it wasn’t about to move no matter what I did. 

I still remember the preachers I was “forced” to listen to.  They would pound the pulpit and proclaim their sermons with a fiery passion and delivered a message that made you afraid if you didn’t obey every word of it. 

Looking back after living 40+ years, I see the value in attending a church gathering that focused its attention of right living.  I may disagree with the preaching method, but who is to say that my method or anyone else’s is any better today. 

I teach that the culture should not change the church, but the church influences the culture.  When a church is focused on living out Values.  Morals.  Ethics.  Honesty.  Love.  Going the extra mile or two.  Generosity.  Unity.  God. Spirit.  It will transform a culture modeling the very ideas of Scripture. 

Could it be possible that our churches have focused on the wrong messages?  Is it possible that our churches are more in competition with each other than it is to weed out the satanic corruption that is permeating our culture?  Could it be possible that we’ve allowed the cultural changes to take a backseat and ignore the decay of values, morals, ethics, honesty, love, going the extra mile or two, generosity, unity, God and Spirit because we have become self-absorbed, selfish, and less caring what our children are being taught through television, music and other social media?

It is a fact that our culture has changed over the last 40 years. It is also a fact that our churches have changed, too?  The simplicity of seeking, serving and sharing seem to have faded away into a more complex way of doing “church.”  We say that we have to keep up with the changes in our culture and generations.  I agree!  We do need to know what is happening and ensure we are engaged and connected with our culture in a very positive way.  However, if we are living out the principles of Scripture and seeking, serving, and sharing, then our culture doesn’t change so badly that it is hard to recognize. 

Jesus got into the mix of his culture.  He didn’t keep office hours, nor did he tell the people to check with his secretary to see if he has an opening.  He was in the trenches with the people.  Scriptures says, “ He came into the world to seek and to save the lost.”

 Luke 19:10.  Some churches have the tendency of using their facilities as the go to place for spiritual security only.  Jesus had the philosophy to go to the people to model what right living looks like.  He also came to minister to the needs of the people, according to Matthew 20:28. We will not know the needs of our community unless we are engaged and connected the way Jesus was. 

Jesus dealt with the sins of the people straight up.  He didn’t sugar coat his message, but he always said it with a loving and grace heart.  Jesus said to the people, in Mark 2:17, “…Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.” (MSG)

In order to make a lasting impact in our culture, every aspect of the Christian life must be seasoned with the flavor of Jesus.  Jesus talks to the large crowd that gathered to hear him speak at the base of the mountain about being salt and light in Matthew 5:13-16. A Salt life means: “a tasty flavored life” If something doesn’t taste good; it generally isn’t eaten and thrown away.  Christians have the responsibility of ensuring our life is tasteful so that it will cause someone to want to come back for seconds and thirds and fourths!

Jesus also said that we are the light of the world.  Light helps others see what Christian values, morals, ethics, honesty, love, going the extra mile or two, generosity, unity, God and Spirit looks like.  In order to help others see the importance of having a relationship with Jesus, we must be lit up with love, joy, peace, kindness, and goodness.  We must demonstrate a life style that others are willing to change and be like.    

It is the responsibility of Christians to help shape a culture to look like Jesus, act like Jesus and live like Jesus.  The corruption of a community isn’t just the fault of those who have always lived in corruption; they don’t know any other life.  The fault of a corrupted culture partly lies with Christians who idly sit by and live a self-absorbed life and churches who are more concerned about their offerings, programs, and the only one’s right slogans than they are about the spiritual well being of every citizen in the town.

It is time each Christian stands up for the values, morals, ethics, honesty, love, going the extra mile or two, generosity, unity, God and Spirit to change a culture for Jesus

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

God Offers Hope

"Timmy had been misbehaving and was sent to his room.  After a while he emerged and informed his mother that he had thought it over and then said a prayer.   "Fine", said the pleased mother. "If you ask God to help you not misbehave, He will help you."   "Oh, I didn't ask Him to help me not misbehave," said Timmy. "I asked Him to help you put up with me."

God puts up with a lot of our bad stuff.  Our behavior can and does irritate him and causes him to get angry.  However, God is no different than most parents when it comes to loving their children no matter what they’ve done wrong.

God loves us for who we are, not what we do.  God wants our faithfulness, commitment, and our spiritual loyalty.  He wants us to grow in spiritual maturity.  He desires for us to read the book he spent over 1500 years writing we call the bible. 

God loves for us to chat with him.  He loves morning conversations with his kids as they drink their coffee or sit in a quiet place to chat.  God loves it when his kids love each other despite biblical differences.    God also loves it when each of his kids lives a life of integrity, ethics, and morals based on Scripture.

A God trait is not holding grudges and not forgiving those who do wrong.  1^st John 1:9, says, “if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.” (MSG) Also, God says in Isaiah 43:25, “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”   (NLT)

Sin is a problem and it robs our relationship with God.  Romans 1:18 says, “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful….” (NLT)  Also, a lifestyle that is not honorable before God will cause eternal difficulties.  1^st Corinthians 6:9 says, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (NIV) 

No one is perfect.  No one is sinless.  No one has the market of complete rightness.  However, this isn’t the end of us.  We are not a stuck people, rather a loved people.  God said in

2 Corinthians 12:9, “…my grace is sufficient for you….” John 3:16 says, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son….” (NLT)

There are many who just focus on the sin and how horrible a person is when they do wrong.  Many are made to feel worthless, ashamed, and condemned.  Being a Godchild means there is much more to the relationship with God than just dealing with sin.  God provides so much for each of us.  His hope for us is that we accept what he has to offer.  No cost.  No gimmick.  No strings attached.  No lies.  He just wants to show you something incredible! (more to come!)

Remember, Be God Controlled,

Brian 

The Jesus Story of Hope

“The stone!  Look, the stone!  It’s been moved!  Look! Mary, look!”

Slowly.  Quietly.  Heart pounding.  The ladies enter the tomb of Jesus.

“He’s gone!”

“Not only did they beat him and made a spectacle out of him by parading him through the streets, they now have stolen his body! 

When will it ever end?  Enough!”

A man appears to the ladies in the tomb to explain what happen to Jesus.

“Wait!  It’s not what you think.  Jesus hasn’t been stolen, He is alive!”

“Alive?”  “YES!  Alive!”

“Go tell the others that Jesus will meet up with them in Galilee.”

“Go, quickly!”

“Peter!  James!  John!  Jesus is alive!  Jesus is alive!” Shouted Mary!

“Come on Mary, quit joking around.”  “We’re serious, he is alive!”  “We’ve been to the tomb.  “We spoke to a man who said that Jesus would meet up with you in Galilee.  You’ve got to believe us!”

While ten of the disciples were scolding the ladies for speaking nonsense, Peter takes off running to the tomb.  He enters the tomb and to his surprise, Jesus is gone.

“Gone?  No, it couldn’t be!  Jesus alive?  No way!”

Finally, it happens.  Jesus and the disciples meet up!  It took Jesus showing his hands and feet before they broke out in a full celebration. Oh, it was a celebration!  Worshipful celebration!

Yes, Jesus is alive! 

Doubt cripples us.  For many people, seeing is believing. The disciples were no exception to the rule when it came to doubting and lacking faith.  Although Jesus tried to prepare the disciples by giving them subtleties or straight up instruction, they either didn’t listened to the words of Jesus or comprehend what he was trying to tell them. 

Friday had a death grip on Jesus.  All seemed lost and without hope.  The words Jesus proclaimed while on the cross appeared to make no impact.  He’s gone!  However, the thugs that murdered Jesus, the disciples, and all those who either like or disliked Jesus underestimated the power of God. 

Friday was a day of hatred.  Sunday became a day of grace.

Friday was a merciless day.  Sunday became a merciful day.

Friday was a day of hopelessness.  Sunday became a day of hope 

Friday demonstrated cruelty.  Sunday demonstrated unconditional love. 

Friday was a day of suffering.  Sunday became a day of healing.

Friday Jesus died!

Sunday, Jesus resurrected!  He is alive!  Now there is hope!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian 

Sermon: Living Out the Spiritual Life

Living Out the Spiriutal Life