How to bear the fruit of the Spirit!

On the night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus taught his disciples by using a farming image:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:1-4

The person who remains, lives, trusts, relies on Jesus, will produce fruit!

Jesus repeats, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

A life lived in Christ, is a fruitful life, a Spirit filled life.

Paul too, runs with the farming imagery, as he contrasts the acts of the godless life with the fruit of the Spirit filled life.

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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.

You can tell the kind of tree from the fruit it produces, the authentic christian life produces the fruit of the Spirit. God works that fruit in us, as we "sow" in the Spirit.

Likewise the godly person prunes bad fruit, or God prunes bad fruit from the godly person.

So I say, walk 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 are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

What does the fruit of your life show about the health of your relationship with God ?

Walk by the Spirit!

GP

Family Service is coming this Sunday, 24/6

This is a reminder that this Sunday

is Family Service !

Our theme will be the fruit of the Spirit.

Youth Group and Kids Church

will be involved in the service for the

whole time. We will have

a sausage sizzle after the service.

It is a little crazier than normal

but a Chance to celebrate with families as a church family!

Kanishka will be speaking on the Fruit of the Spirit

at 8am in the more usual way...

See you there !

GP

Fun alert for Youth Group and their Families

Here are a few dates to put in your diary

for Third Term for Youth Group and their families!

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1. Friday the 10th August

Family Quiz Night for Youth Group

and 10am families

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2. Friday 17th August

Youth Surge @ Applecross Anglican

7:00-9:30pm.

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3. Friday 14th September

Youth Group Fun n' Games

for Youth Groupers and their friends

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Call Jeremy Chappel for more info 9381 2640 !

How to pray in the Spirit !

Romans 8 describes the life of the Spirit (It is well worth a slow read and reflection!)

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit....For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God."

Christians are people of the Spirit. Notice two things about how the Spirit impacts on our prayer life:

1. By the Spirit we call God "Our Father..."

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as children, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ Romans 8:14-17

By the Spirit, we are adopted as children of God, we are invited to cry out to God as "our Father..." The Bible describes God as the Heavenly Father who longs to give good gifts to his children, so we approach God with confidence in prayer in our time of need?

The Spirit enables us to have this intimate prayer relationship with our heavenly Father.

How does this change the way you think about prayer?

How does this effect what you pray for?

2. The Spirit helps us to pray when we struggle to pray

Second the Spirit helps us when we struggle to pray. We all know this temptation.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

When prayers are a struggle for us the Spirit, as the counsellor, the helper, the advocate, speaks on our behalf and takes our feeble prayers to our Heavenly Father, who hears and responds.

As David Seccombe said "I don't know about you but when I hear this it makes me want to pray more!"

How does this encourage you when prayer is a struggle?

Paul encourages us to pray in the Spirit.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

Keep praying!

Hear David Seccombe's Talk on this Subject:

http://stmattsshentonpark.org.au/o/content/blogsection/6/83/

GP

A night with David Seccombe

A Catch Up With David Seccombe over coffee

David will be giving an update about the work at George Whitefield College, South Africa on Monday the 18th June 2007.

Venue: 6 Strathcona Street, West Perth
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm

Please contact Betty McSkimming on 9444-8512 or 0412-844-869 if you are coming to

assist with catering purposes.

Download a talk !

Did you miss a talk ?
Do you want to listen to one of our talks again?
Do you want to send a talk to someone you know?

You can download our talks via the website....
You will find our recent talk series Luke, Micah, Zechariah
and our two new series in progress...

1. How to Walk by the Holy Spirit @ 8am & 10am
2. The Scandal of the Cross @ 5pm

click on the link below to our audio download section.....

http://stmattsshentonpark.org.au/o/content/blogsection/6/83/

How to receive the Spirit !

Acts 2: 1-11 describes the Day of Pentecost.
The experience of the Spirit, is marked by noise like a wind,
Tongues of Fire, the speech of the nations....

But what does it mean?

Peter explains to the crowd from 3 OT passages:

1. Through Joel 2, Peter explains that Pentecost is the fulfilment of the OT promise of the Age of the Spirit coming.
2. Through Psalm 16, Peter explains that Pentecost happens
because Jesus was raised from the dead by his Heavenly Father!
3. Through Psalm 110, Peter explains that Pentecost happened because Jesus returned to his Father's side to pour out the Holy Spirit on his people, as he promised.

So Pentecost is about the Old Testament believers were being drawn into the new age of the Spirit. The kick-off is marked by the Spirit falling on God's people to witness to the risen Lord Jesus.

Acts 2:1-11 describes the experience of the Old Testament Faithful on that day.

Acts 2:38 describes our experience of the Holy Spirit as we are born into the new age of the Spirit.

How should we respond ?

"Repent and be baptised, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call"

Everyone who genuinely entrusts themselves to the Lordship of Jesus,
who turns from their old ways, of living apart from God, will receive the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit! Baptism is the outward sign of the inward turning to Jesus.

But once we have received the Spirit, What does the Spirit do?

Walk in the Spirit!

GP