We remind ourselves, not only at this season, but every day, of the glorious truth of the Easter message. Matthew 28 records the testimony of the angel of the Lord at Jesus’ empty tomb. He said to the two Marys: “HE IS RISEN.” To all who have received Jesus Christ as their Saviour, the power of that resurrected life indwells us, seeking to break forth and spread His kingdom, the kingdom of God, to this earth.
God declares over us His purpose on the earth as He calls forth the power of His resurrected Son in us: “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee,” Isaiah 60:1. He speaks creative life over us in a proceeding word as He quickens His words once spoken through the prophet Isaiah. For this day, this is our calling:
ARISE, SHINE, FOR THY LIGHT IS COME.
The Lord has clearly shown us in Galatians 5 the fruit of the Spirit. Verses 22-23 list them: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. The word clearly states the fruit is OF the Spirit. These fruits are not “OF” us but come from the life of the Indwelling Christ in us, as we yield to His direction. We are only called to bear these precious fruits to the glory of God. A fruit bearing tree gives it’s fruit away to others. If not, the fruit becomes rotten and falls to the ground. The fruit is given to extend God’s kingdom. We are in the Lord’s vineyard and He will send a continual flow of people to us to supply with His fruit we are bearing. Just keep giving the fruit away, whoever He sends, give His fruit away to them unconditionally.
There are times in all our lives when the Holy Spirit will bring to light a lack in one, or more, of His fruits. We so desire them, they tantalize with their beauty, yet we are aware of our lack. All the fruit of the Spirit is from the life of Another, the Lord Jesus living in me, so any lack of fruit is due to me operating in my flesh and not walking in the Spirit, (Romans 8 – the whole chapter is an enlightening encouragement to walk in the Spirit and how to avoid the pit falls of carnality – walking in the flesh.)
The Lord encourages us in Colossians 3:1-3 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” If I am seeking anything for myself instead of “those things above” (verse 1) then the Lord withholds His fruit from my life. The carnal mind is enmity against God. Romans 8:6 “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” There lies the source of my problem. The divine Guide, the Holy Spirit, will guide me back on track if I humbly obey His promptings and directions. I will have to buy truth at God’s counter where He is showing me the error of my way, (my will). How do I buy truth? Under the light of the Holy Spirit I humble myself and acknowledge my wrong which has produced my lack. The blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse me from my sin of walking in the flesh and His resurrected life will flow through me once more unhindered by the blockage of self I had been operating in for my own selfish ends, my own glory. I am the only one who can hinder the flow of the life of the resurrected Christ in me. Christ in me – the hope of glory, God’s glory! Christ in me – death to the self life when I allow Him to rule my heart and I bear His fruit in my life. As Jesus is the author and finisher of His faith in my life, He should also be the author and finisher of what I am believing. Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” If my life lacks His joy and peace, somewhere what I am believing needs to change. The Lord will show me if I ask and humbly bow to His direction. 1 Peter 5:5 “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.” When I stop resisting Him, His grace will flow to me, and through me as I re-discover the joy of His abundant life.
In the natural a tree has seasons where, in a healthy environment, it will grow – first the leaf, then the bud, then the blossom and finally the fruit. As we learn to abide in Jesus, His life will bring forth His fruit in our lives, for His divine purpose and glory.
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Everything negative that comes out of me is related to my old life. Everything positive in the fruit of the Spirit is from the life of Another, the life of the Lord Jesus in me. I need less of me and more of Him. As Paul said, “I die daily”. As I surrender my will to the Lord Jesus in the daily hustle of relationships and circumstances, His glorious resurrected life replaces my old self. What a glorious divine exchange – His beauty for my ashes of wood, hay and stubble!
The true wealth of this life is only found in a full relationship with our Creator God, our loving Heavenly Father, and in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. May the power of His resurrected life rise up in us today that we will never be the same again – all for His glory!
