In the next few days, we will be taking a series on the fruit of the Spirit. This is very important to us as children that it dictates and gives direction to our lives.
There are nine fruits of the spirit as recorded in the fifth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatian church
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws. – Gal 5:22-23 [TLB]
Here, Paul, the Apostle is telling us what will become of our lives when we allow the Holy Spirit control our lives.
My question to you this morning is this;
Is your life controlled by the Holy Spirit? Do you live according to the dictates of the flesh? Are you spirit-led all the time?
Do not think this topic is for adults alone. The earlier you start yielding to and being controlled by the Holy Spirit, even from a tender age, the better.
Gal 5:22-24 [GNT] But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these.
From tomorrow, we will take these fruits one after the other and see how we can get the best from them.
Responsibility is a great virtue. A responsible child at home will not only bring joy to the hearts of her parents but also society. There are things you do at home that speak a lot about how responsible or irresponsible you are. Irresponsibility is the opposite of responsibility.
One of such is helping around the house.
Do you know what your chores are at home? Do you have to be told before you do them? How often are you asked to carry out tasks or chores around the house before you do?
Do you frown and drag your feet sluggishly? Do you give excuses as to why you shouldn’t or couldn’t your chores?
How you answer the questions above tells a lot about you.
When you learn how to not avoid your responsibilities at a young age, you become a responsible adult. And a responsible adult is of great benefit to society and the world.
Sin is the barrier that disrupts you from accessing God’s throne and His presence as you should. It is that one thing that blocks you from being with your heavenly Father.
In the old testament, the bible records that the temple had a place called the Holy of Holies where there was a veil covering it.
“…The veil shall separate for you the Holy place and the Holy of Holies” – Exo. 26:33
But only the high priest could enter after he had undergone some cleansing rituals.
“But only the high priest could go into the second room, and he did that only once a year. He could never enter the inner room without taking blood with him. He offered that blood to God for himself and for the people’s sins…” ICB. – Heb.9:7
The God we serve hates sins totally and needs us to be pure before we can come before Him.
After sinning, the enemy suggests to a person that God can never forgive, thereby encouraging them to run away from God. This is where shame comes in.
If you allow the enemy to tell you that your shortcomings are so huge or terrible and that God can never forgive you, then you don’t know your God.
Your God is more than able to forgive your sins.
He wants nothing more than to forgive you so that the two of you can be in a loving relationship constantly.
Your heavenly father wants to forgive you so that He can bless you.
He will always forgive you but asks that you don’t allow yourself to become a slave to sin.
Never allow the enemy or anyone to tell you that God can’t ever forgive you. He gave Jesus for you. Jesus that was sinless to die for your sins that you may be called His son or daughter.
Prayer point: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for granting me access to the Holy of Holies. I am glad that God will always forgive my sins. Sin will not overcome me. I will not hide in shame. Amen.
Action Plan: Stay away from all forms of sin
Declaration: God will forgive me of my sins. I will not hide in shame.
Little children, since we know we are created in God’s image, let’s ensure we keep clean always. Your body is God’s temple!
Your outer body is what people see, and the condition of your skin, hair, or face tells them a lot of how clean or dirty you are.
Endeavour to take your baths in the mornings before you leave the house, when you get back from school or after any activity that leaves you sweaty like when you finish playing football or running with your friends.
Allowing sweat to stay long on your skin, forms bacteria that could lead to some skin conditions like eczema and rashes.
Also, when bathing, use a sponge and soap and scrub your skin very well, but not too harshly.
Brush your teeth in the morning, and at night before you sleep.
Don’t forget to comb or brush your hair before you leave the house. Cut it also when due. For girls, pack your hair neatly with a hairband or visit a hairdresser to make it for you. Keep hair well oiled and neat.
All these and many more helps you to be holy before God.
Looking and smelling good attracts people to you. When they admire you, they are indirectly praising God over you. That is how God is worshipped!
Looking and smelling nice could also make people listen to you when you tell them about Jesus. And when they finally accept Christ into their lives, you have won a soul into God’s kingdom by your appearance.
1 Thess. 5:23, ICB We pray that God himself, the God of peace, will make you pure, belonging only to him. We pray that your whole self–spirit, soul, and body–will be kept safe and be without wrong when our Lord Jesus Christ comes.
The Shepherd raced through the trees, his heart pulsating madly inside his chest heavily. Baa! Baa! The cry came again. He shoved branches out of his way, not caring if they pricked his skin. The cry was getting closer as he reached the edge of the stream. Baa! Baa! Baa! Baa!
“Where are you?” Deep fear flooded his heart, dragging life out of him but he refused to believe the worst. Baa! Baa! The cries came just in front of him. He looked and moved closer to the trees in front of him, there he found his little one.
He broke into a sob at the sight of the bruises on its legs. Lifting it up slowly, he tenderly wrapped his arms around the lamb and began to walk home. He was happy that the one missing lamb was found.
Did you see how the shepherd ran to the rescue of his sheep? Did you see how the shepherd followed the voice of the sheep? That is how God comes to your rescue when you call.
Call on Jesus for help. He is your Shepherd and ever ready to help you. There’s even a song describing the type of love God has for us. It goes like this
Oh, the overwhelming, Never-ending Reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights till I’m found Leaves the ninety-nine.
I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it. Still You give Yourself away
There’s no shadow You won’t light up Mountain You won’t climb up coming after me
There is no wall You won’t kick down Lie You won’t tear down Coming after me
God displays how much He loves us by going all the way to find us. Call out to Him today and let Him find you.
I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. – Ezek. 34:15 NLT
