Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Apostle Paul warned Timothy that there will be terrible times in the last days. He said people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. (2 Timothy 3:1-4) As the last days are here let us examine our lives to see, do we have these characteristics? If we have these characteristics, and are without love and self–control, we need a filling of the Holy Spirit. If we lack love and self-control, let us be wise to ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit will be given to us. (James 1:5)
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is described as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will receive the power to live an overcoming life. The filling of the Holy Spirit will keep us from being filled with all the characteristics described by Apostle Paul regarding people in the last days. Jude warns us too of scoffers in the last times who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. He speaks of the ungodly as grumblers and faultfinders, following their own desires, boasting about themselves and flattering others for their own advantage. (Jude 18,19)
We need the filling of the Holy Spirit to lead godly lives, to receive the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring us to eternal life, to build ourselves up in our most holy faith and to pray in the Holy Spirit. We need to diligently guard our heart from all evil desires that creep in through our senses as the world encourages sensuality. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life are to be overcome daily by denying ourselves, taking up our cross each day and following Jesus for He is the way, the truth and the life. Life and abundant life is through Him and in Him alone. The Sermon on the Mount is a sharp reminder to us that His way is much higher than our ways, His thoughts much higher than our thoughts.
‘Jesus said, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil out of the evil stored in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”’(Luke 6: 45) Let us store God’s word in our hearts and minds like the wise man who built his house upon the rock, so that the grace of God might abound in our lives and in the lives of those around us. May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times, in every way in this New Year, 2018 and His grace be with you to be His disciples bearing much fruit as our Lord’s coming is very near.
Wishing you all a very blessed 2018!!!
Share this Post
