Behind the Bucking chutes

Fruit of the Spirit

Posted April 1, 2008

Taught at Monroe, GA, Nov. 14, 2008

Election Results Response: Live out a Christian Life

Many, particular in the evangelical Christian community, are upset by the current election results. Those results will change the course of direction for the United States (and even influence Canada), but just because the voting is done doesn't mean a single person can't make a difference or effect the world around them.

Now is a chance to stand up and make a pledge to live out a truly authentic Christian life; to agree to fight against hypocrisy in our own lives and help others to see what a Christian truly is. By living out an authentic Christian life, the Christian community can, in fact, make changes that can affect the people around us more than the political changes so many of us are afraid will now come.

But first, we have to understand what a Christian is in the evangelical/Biblical sense, not what the words has come to represent in the mainstream crowd. The word "Christian" has been hijacked by anyone who believes in a higher power. Oprah Winfrey is such an easy example to use as so many know who she is and what she stands for. No one would argue that she's not a good person. She's a very good person who does a lot of very good things and believes in God but not in following Christ, something I've heard her express in an interview.

That's what a Christian is, a follower of Christ. Among the Christian community, we can argue the semantics of whether to be baptized by sprinkling or full immersion or the multitude of other theologies that set us apart by denomination. However, regardless of denomination, we all believe in some core values such as salvation through Christ, one way to Heaven, and to love a neighbor as ourselves. Others would call us hypocrites because of how badly we fail at loving others and living up to the standards of perfection set by Christ.

Regardless of the mistakes we make, true followers of Christ struggle against sin, understand the forgiveness and grace Christ has given us and strive daily to be a little more like Christ.

You can argue semantics of this description of a Christian but the bottom line is, this is an opportunity to see our countries changed (the US and Canada). The direction of the country will change under new leadership but that direction can still be influenced by good old-fashioned revival.

It starts with one heart at a time being willing to live out an authentic Christian life. That's not a perfect life but it sure as heck is a life that stands out as different from the average person on the street. Too many of us call ourselves Christians and live out a life that doesn't look a bit different from the lives of those around us. We seek whatever feels good, mistake feeling bad about a hangover for guilt or conviction of sin and put ourselves first before anyone else. We don't even think about altering our lifestyles to help reduce the temptation in our lives. Instead, we get angry and tell someone else to quit judging when, right or wrong in their approach, they try to hold us accountable for our sinful choices.

1 Corinthians 15: 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

We think we're 'saved' because we remember an emotional alter call when we were 14 years old but nothing in our hearts truly changed because we simply weren't ready for, or didn't truly understand what it meant to have, a relationship with Christ.

Well, now is a great chance to do some self-examination. To ask ourselves if we ever truly began a relationship with Christ or ever truly understood what that meant. Now is the time to ask Christ to transform our lives and help us move away from sin.

Galatians 5: 16-26 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Galatians 6: 7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature, will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Instead, we need to ask Christ to help us become that city on a hill that others see, wanting to know what it is that we have that helps us through whatever hardships we face, that helps us live a life filled with putting Christ, and then others, first before our own needs and desires.

Matthew 5: 13-16 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Do our lives show the 'fruit of the spirit' from Galatians 5: 22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Or do our lives continue to show our sinful natures from Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. ?

Who will stand with me and seize this opportunity? Who will ask Christ to help them move away from sin; to help them fight temptation; to help them become more Christ-like? Who will accept Christ for the very first time? Who will seek after God the way he seeks after us and become beacons for others to see?

Who will help our countries change, first in our own hearts and then by reaching out to others with the message of Christ? Who is going to pray daily for their country, for their enemies and those who look down on or even hate us for what we're agreeing to stand for? Who will pray for the Holy Spirit to help draw us away from sin and the people and situations where we know we are weak or will fall to temptation?

Who will agree that it's time to stop confusing the world around us about what a Christian is and start living our lives in a way that others can't help but see we're different? Who is willing to truly say goodbye to their old sinful natures and live out the life that Jesus asks us?

Luke 6: 43-49 43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Who will say, "I want to see God transform me and through me, see God transform others."

And remember Jesus' words from Matthew 5: 11-13 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Let it be your prayer today to accept the forgiveness of Christ if you have never done so before or if you're wondering if your life was ever truly transformed, that God would help you see the condition of your heart and what you need to do to change it. If you wonder if you have ever truly given your heart to Christ, ask God to reveal that to you. If you have done these things but know you are struggling against your sinful nature, pray that God would give you the strength and courage to change and become more Christ-like; that he would give you the strength to resist temptation and the discernment and resolve to avoid situations that you know will lead to sin or cause you to fail.

If you need help praying or with any of this, you know you can call. If you are truly willing to commit to living as an authentic Christian (mistakes and all), will you call or email me so that I and others can start praying for you and so we can all start to encourage each other in this goal?

865-293-2668