How can we yield to Him? You say ‘what can we do? How can we yield to the Holy Spirit?’ You can do it now, but even that is not sufficient. It is daily, hourly yielding to the Holy Spirit, moment by moment allowing Him to have His way in our hearts. May I give you a word of personal testimony?
Years ago when I was thinking much about the work of the Holy Spirit in my life I heard a man of God say that he had learned the secret. Every morning he prayed: ’Lord Jesus, I yield myself to you for this day, so that your Holy Spirit might have his way in me just for today.’ I decided that I would try to follow his example and pray that prayer myself each morning. It has meant so much to me to do so.
I still haven’t arrived but I believe that prayer has made more difference than anything else. I recommend it to you.
Resolve now to begin each day with a prayer as suggested. Then let Him maintain that attitude moment by moment through the day. Will you try it? It will make all the difference, as the indwelling Spirit is able day by day to do in you, what He came to do. TRY IT! TRY IT NOW!
Like the orchardist watching his fruit trees, God our Father watches and waits for fruit being produced in the lives of His children. Paul calls this the fruit of the Spirit. This Spiritual fruit is the life and character of Jesus Christ being lived out and seen in the life of the believer.
But the fruit of the Spirit must not be confused with the gifts of the Spirit. God gives gifts to us as an act of grace and divides them up among the church members. A spiritual gift is a God-given capacity for service within the church and the world. They are given to believers at the moment of conversion. The fruit of the Spirit develops progressively during our life on earth. Like fruit trees, some believers produce this spiritual fruit more quickly than others. However God looks for it in the life of each of His children.
What does this fruit look like?
Although the word ‘fruit’ is singular, the individual aspects of the fruit are listed in Galatians 5:22-23. ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.’ These descriptive words occur in a section which starts at ch.5 v16 where Paul tells us to ‘live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of sinful nature.’
• Come and find out more at Bible study at 7.30pm on Tuesdays.
• Sunday service at 10am at Glenorie Mission Church 1409 Old Northern Rd.
