More Of You, God!
Produce, Practice, and Persevere
Pastor Cole Parleir
FOCUS: When we belong to Christ we will produce spiritual fruit that lasts, practice spiritual gifts, and persevere until Jesus returns.
Producing The Fruit Of The Spirit
Practicing The Gifts Of The Spirit
Persevering In The Spirit Until You’re Perfect
Producing The Fruit Of The Spirit
When we abide in Christ he produces through us fruit that lasts thereby bringing glory to the Father and joy to our hearts.
John 15:1-14 ESV (The True Vine for true fruit)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. '
Every human will either be ‘taken away’ by God’s wrath or ‘pruned’ by His Word.
Placing your faith in Jesus Christ is the beginning of an eternally fruitful existence.
What is this ‘fruit that lasts” that Jesus is speaking of?
Galatians 5:15-26 ESV (Flesh that fades vs Fruit that lasts)
'But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.'
As believers, we can abide in Christ because His Word has made us clean thereby allowing His Spirit to dwell in us.
Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV
'In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. '
The Holy Spirit in us is a guarantee of salvation as well as a life filled with God’s gracious yet painful pruning. (Eph 1:13-14)
A pruned life is one that displays God’s character as we walk in Christ’s footsteps by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This brings God the Father glory and His children joy.
Practicing The Gifts Of The Spirit
When we walk with Jesus the Holy Spirit will lead us to practice spiritual gifts for the building of his Church.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 ESV
'Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. '
The fruits of the Spirit display God’s character. The gifts of the Spirit display God’s power.
The manifestations of the Spirit are empowered by God in EVERYONE for the common good.
We all have the same Spirit and the same mission to build the church. We all are gifted but do not all have the same gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
'Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.'
All are to pursue and practice the most excellent way and highest gifts: the motivation of God’s love and to prophesy.
1 Corinthians 14:1-3
' Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. '
Since God’s love builds His people and saves sinners, we are to all desire and practice prophesying.
1 Corinthians 14:24-25
'But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. '
Prophecy is God giving the speaker information that will allow the hearer to know that God sees them, knows them, and is among His people. This will encourage, comfort and edify God’s people while creating a road for the Gospel to enter an unbeliever's heart.
In summary:
“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy...So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.- 1 Corinthians 14:1,39-40
Persevering In The Spirit Until You’re Perfect
Even at our best we are still practicing on this side of heaven. We must persevere by the power of the Holy Spirit knowing that “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”.
1 Corinthians 13:8-12
'Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. '
By the power of the Holy Spirit God does perfect work through imperfect people, preparing the worker and the field for the day of Jesus’ return.
We can persevere in yielding to the Holy Spirit and practice without fear of condemnation when we miss it because our Savior is merciful to us as well as perfect for us.
What God began in you by faith he will finish by that same faith.
Galatians 3:2-7
'Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. '
We must be renewed daily in our faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, as well as in the truth that the Holy Spirit is working miracles here and now.
As we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit let us remember that we have the Holy Spirit because of the sinless life, substitutionary death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this Gospel we take our stand all the way Home.
Question:
Have you taken your stand on the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Are you confident that he really has forgiven your sin, given you his Spirit, and will bring you all the way home into his Father’s house?
You can be today if you turn from the works of the flesh and place your trust in Jesus’ work for you on the cross.
'And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ' - Philippians 1:6
Second City Church - Pastor Cole Parleir 2021