Dead But Destined To Be Fruitful

They will be fruitful

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Rom 5:3-5 KJV)

 

A couple of years ago I was given the banana trees in the photo as a Mother’s Day gift. Almost two years and still no bananas. They have died twice. 

During the first summer after I planted them it rained and rained and rained. Unfortunately I had planted them in a low spot in the yard and they drowned. But, I had hope. So I planted them in a higher spot when we came home from an extended vacation with hope that they would live again.  They did. 

I watch the weather forecast daily for all kinds of possible events including frost. A few weeks ago, as should be expected from experience, the weather forecast was not correct and I woke up to a major frost covering everything. The buds on my orange and grapefruit trees were dead. Thankfully, the trees themselves were not. But, the banana trees had major damage to them. That is what we are looking at dead or dying trees. I still have hope because you see banana trees reproduce themselves. Their roots put out outreach roots and grow new plants called pups. I learned this from the experience with their first death by drowning. Kind of like the Christian who is drowned in the waters of baptism and then given new life. Even though these little trees look pretty bad and they look dead I have hope that they will still live and produce fruit. 

Like the banana tree, the faithful Christian reach out with underground offshoots that produce new growth. By the abiding presence of Jesus the Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit we reach out sharing the Good News of eternal life in the Kingdom of God for all who believe and the Body of Christ continues to grow. 

Even though we die, we shall live. Have patience, it may look devastating at times; but, the truth will never die no matter what kind of enemy comes up against it. .I have hope that the truth will live for all of eternity. In fact it is more than hope. I know that because the truth is Jesus Christ who is the tree of life and he himself likened us to the branches of a magnificent tree. We are not so unlike the runners off of a banana tree that reproduces itself.

Two years and no fruit from the banana trees. But, I have patience and I have hope that one day they will produce fruit. The ones you see here may not produce the fruit directly; but, they will through their offspring; through their pups I will see fruit one day. We may not also always get to see the fruit produced when we share the Word of God. But, fruit will be produced whether we get to see it or not. It will happen so don’t give up. Have patience and hope. Just because you can’t see or experience the fruitfulness of something doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. After all, God did tell us through Isaiah the prophet: "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

Have patience; have hope, and share the word of God so that it might produce fruit for the glory of God! God’s Peace and hope be with you all. Amen!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Season Of Spring

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." (Gen 8:22 KJV)

I have been looking forward to seeing the Magnolia trees in bloom at my most recent home this spring. Finally, one blossom has appeared! 

Every season has its own beauty. Every season has its own purpose. Depending upon where we live the seasons may appear in different forms; but, in all places there are seasons that regulate our comings and goings; that regulate what we do and how we live.

After Noah and his family got off the boat that they'd been floating around in for a season, God had promised that he would never destroy the earth by a flood like that again. He promised that as long as the earth exists there will always be seasons. There would be seasons to plant as well as to to harvest. 

Spring is upon us. For some that still means a little bit of snow and seeds will have to be started indoors. For others that means it is time to get those seeds and plants into the ground so that what we do today will produce a harvest in its own time.

What we do today will help determine how fruitful we are in the future. Do not let the season of preparedness pass you by. There is a season for everything. Spring is not the season for idleness.

Let us rejoice in the beauty of the season; the opportunities to see new growth in both creation and in our own lives. 

The world most likely will not end tomorrow or even the next day. But, it will come to an end for each of us one day. Let us not waste the days we have; but, enjoy life. Live life, taking hold of every opportunity to be fruitful and to glorify our Father in heaven.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Growth Through Faith

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”                             (Matt 17:20-21 KJV)

It is almost unbelievable to me that we do not have the faith of a mustard seed. I said, almost. The evidence is there. No mountains have been moved lately that I know about. There are plenty of sick people to be healed, a lot of hungry people to be fed, and a world full of lonely people who know no peace.

But; I said, almost unbelievable." 

Then said he, "Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.” (Luke 13:18-19)

The mustard seed does not miraculously grow into a tree overnight. It is a process that takes time. A seed is planted. It is watered and fertilized. The mustard seed actually has to do nothing to make itself grow. It grows because that is in the nature of the mustard seed. Such is the Kingdom of God. All our hard work at trying to fix things and create a utopia here on earth amounts to nothing without faith in the One who provides the increase. It is God who provides the blessings. It is God who provides the growth.

Indeed, I have seen some pretty miraculous healings in my lifetime. I have seen things accomplished for the good of man that many would have thought were not possible. But, like the mustard seed growing into a full blown tree that will feed the multitudes of birds, so the Kingdom of God is growing. Slowly (at least according to our reckoning of time), but surely it is advancing bringing with it wholeness and peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Holy Spirit Grows The Church

The Holy Spirit; the Spirit of Christ, grows and edifies the church

in heaven and on earth; which is the Body of Christ.

Apostle's Creed
The Third Article.

Of Sanctification.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?--Answer.
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.

  http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

This past week, I felt the Holy Spirit moving in a very powerful way. Now, when the Holy Spirit moves it is good thing to go wherever the Spirit leads you; do whatever the Spirit is inspiring you to do. 

My congregation, as hopefully all congregations, has been more seriously focusing on evangelism (and ultimately church growth) for the past few months. I have been around for awhile. I have seen many church growth programs. Church growth programs tend to be one of my pet peeves. There really is no one church growth program that fits all congregations. There is not one church growth program that will have any lasting effect unless it is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

We can use all the power and might; all the reason; all the energy that we can muster, and it will not avail us. It is the Holy Spirit that calls and gathers; enlightens; brings us to; and, keeps us in the one true faith. Without the Spirit of Christ we can do nothing! All the programs in the world will accomplish nothing without the Spirit of Christ. It is only Christ who saves! It is the Spirit of Christ; the Holy Spirit; who for 2000 years has brought growth to the Body of Christ. If we claim any of that for ourselves we are denying the power of the Holy Spirit. We are denying the power of God and lifting ourselves up in the place of God. Very, very, bad idea! Not only is that blasphemy, it would be a very fruitless effort.

I am not saying that we should not reach out to the world with the Good News. I am saying that we need to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit that works in and through us to do that. Jesus said that he would send the helper to guide us in the truth. It would greatly behoove us to listen to the Spirit of Truth rather than the world.

May the Lord our God fill His whole church on earth with the power of the Holy Spirit that we might live and reach out to others in His truth and in His love.

God's Peace - Pr. J

One Body

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Eph 4:4-6)

We may be many; yet, we are one in Christ. We are united in His Body as we abide in him and he in us. We, who are members of this Body of Christ have been called and equipped for service in order that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Do you see what that means? Although our good works contributes nothing toward our salvation; we are called to serve the whole body according to the gifts that have been given to us as individuals for the edification and growth of the body of Christ, who is the Church, who is Jesus the Christ. (Eph 4:12-13)

We must all serve in unity, according to the will of God, with the mind of Christ, who is our head, in order for this maturity to happen. What I've witnessed all too often is that when one person tries to do it all nothing much gets accomplished. Too many frying pans in the fire at one time being handled by one person and something is liable to get left undone or burned. Many congregations and even denominations are like that. We equip only a few for service and growth. If there is any growth, is slow. 

Consider the times that you may have injured an arm or a leg, maybe you had a lung infection or other illness that affected one part of your body. Did that one member of your body not slow you down; maybe, even stop you from doing anything? 

We are all members of one body, meant to work in unity and unison so that the whole body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and knowledge and Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

So lets get with it and equip all of the saints! Train the members of the body so that together we might grow in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Fellowship And Growth

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42, 46-47 NIV)

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles today comes immediately following the extraordinary happenings on Pentecost and the baptizing of about 3000 people that day. We are reminded that once we are baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit we will do more than just show up once in awhile on Sunday morning. The people were so excited that they gathered often together both in the temple for worship and for fellowship over meals as with glad and sincere hearts they praised God, giving Him glory. And, then we hear "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."  The people in the early church were in a living relationship with God and with one another and the church grew. Being a member of the Church, the Body of Christ, means that we are in relationship with one another and to be in a living relationship with one another we need to communicate with one another. That generally means fellowship!

Last evening, many of us gathered together for a supper of soup following Worship. It was wonderful! It was the first such gathering that we've had at Christ Lutheran Church since I came here. My last congregation enjoyed many meals together throughout the years. They would have at least one or two meals a year for the whole community just so they could enjoy the fellowship of other brothers and sisters in Christ who attended other congregations as well as those who had no church affiliation at all.  

It was very good to be able to share a meal and conversation last night with those who have just recently begun worshipping with us. Won't you join us next Wednesday for Worship at 5 pm and for fellowship over a soup supper at about 5:30 pm? This Sunday (Mar 12, 2017), being in the midst of Bike Week (Motorcycles for those who don't live around here), we will have a special service at 9 a.m. to bless the Bikers followed by a coffee fellowship before our regular Sunday Worship at 10 a.m..

Let us take note: The people of the early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. May God help us to recognize and remember the lessons the early church provides us with. Our context may be different; but, the Word is not.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Thy Will Be Done

The Lord's Prayer

The Third Petition.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?--Answer.

The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done?--Answer.

When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

Do we really want His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? I know we pray this often; but, do we really mean it? Are we really willing to help and support the church on earth beginning with our own congregations more than we desire for our own wills and desired to be pursued? Are we really willing to let our own selfish wills die in order that His will be done for the greater good; for the good of others; for the growth of the church? God's will is that the church on earth be edified and grow. Scripture tells us that we are to work together that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. It is Jesus' command to us to go forth and proclaim the Good New of the Kingdom; to teach all nations, all people, what he has taught us so that all people might hear, believe and be saved. If this were not God's will, why would He be willing to send His only begotten Son to suffer and die for us? Jesus died for others. He was willing to suffer all hardship and die for us. Our will is usually only for our own personal good. God's will is for the good of all. May God help us to focus on His will rather than allow the evil one to distract us from the mission to which we are called.

The devil can use all sorts of people (Christians and non-Christians) to throw all kinds of obstacles in the way of God's will being done. Nevertheless; ultimately, His will will be done. He is; after all, God so I am not sure why we are always fighting His will and so busy trying to inflict our own wills on the people and the world around us. 

May God keep us all steadfast in His Word and in faith, according to His good and gracious will.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Forgive And Move Forward With Life

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Luke 6:36-38

Years ago, after having spent a few months being very angry with someone I barely knew, I had a dream. In this dream there was this very large and magnificent stairway. She was standing at the bottom looking up. I was on the third step looking down at her. That was it. That was the whole dream. When I woke up, I realized that because I was spending all of my time looking down on her and attempting to block her path. I had been living a very miserable existence; as I wasted my life looking back and down. I had been so angry that I had not able to move forward with my life. I had not been able to live life. Neither, had she. Our spiritual growths had come to standstills. This was not a good thing for her or me or anyone in the world around us.

I forgave her and moved on. Life goes on. No, we did not become best friends. I only saw her once after amends were made. I hope that she was able to move forward even as I was able.

We must live the life that our Father has so graciously given us. Do not waste the days in anger or in desiring revenge! Forgive and move forward with your live. Forgive one another as our Father has forgiven us through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

It Is God Who Makes The Flowers Bloom

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." Matt 6:27-29 NIV

The flowers do not labor or spin and when it comes to growing a flower garden; neither do I do much work. My life has been so full of other things that I do not spend a lot of time gardening. I enjoy seeing the flowers grow and come to full bloom. But, other than planting the seeds and a little watering when it is needed, I do not do much. I leave the scattered seeds in God's hands. Most often, they grow to beautiful flowers most haphazardly positioned. Sometimes, they don't.

It is the same with planting the seeds for the Kingdom.  "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how." (Mark 4:26-27) All we can do is plant the seed and maybe do a little fertilizing and watering.

Do not worry about whether the work of your hands will flower and bloom. All that we can do is scatter the seeds and trust God to provide the growth. Whether it will grow or not or how it will grow is up to the Spirit of Christ.

St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians (1 Cor 3:6-7) "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

Even as St. Paul and the many saints before us planted many seeds and watered them, may the abiding Christ scatter many seeds through us as we trust Him to provide the growth for all in His Kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A New Life In Christ

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Romans 6:4

We get to live a new day, every day. Every day brings new challenges; opportunities to learn; to grow. Each new day brings changes; some big changes, some so small you do not even notice them. Regardless of the size of change, the new opportunities will be there. We can ignore them and live our days in the old, tired way allowing our egos to run the show or we can celebrate those changes as new opportunities to live and grow in Christ.

In Christ, we have the opportunity to live a new life. May God help us to accept this gift of new life and live in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J.