Ray Hudson
Have you ever been lost? Like physically lost? It’s not fun. It doesn’t happen as much anymore because our phones will tell us where we are pretty much anywhere in the world. It serves as our modern day compass. Being lost physically is one thing, but being lost spiritually is another. This is where each of us were before putting our faith in Jesus. We were lost: we did not know where God was or even how to find a way to him. It was like our spiritual world was in complete darkness.
I remember feeling as though I had a hole so big, so dark and so deep in my heart, that nothing could fill it, no matter what I tried. Until I met Jesus. This is why the Bible says, “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,” Colossians 1:13 NLT
Jesus turned the light on in our spiritual lives, BUT he didn’t stop there. He put a spiritual compass in our hand to guide us. He gave us the Holy Spirit. Now the Holy Spirit is God, just like God is God and Jesus is God. You might be saying, wait isn’t that three gods? Think of it like this. Let’s say there’s a person named Amanda. She’s one person, right? But she might be a mom, a nurse, and a wife. Those are three specific, unique roles, but she’s still just one person, so it is with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Now the Holy Spirit has several roles: he empowers us to share Jesus with others, he leads us away from sin and to righteousness. He comforts us in times of difficulty. Here’s what’s amazing, the Holy Spirit actually lives inside of every follower of Jesus! The Bible says, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?” 1 Corinthians 6:19a NLT. What a gift?!
Now one of the things the Holy Spirit does is help us make right choices. Let me show you what I mean. There is this really cool illustration that Jesus used to describe our relationship with him in the Bible. It’s one that those in that day would have been familiar with. It’s found in John chapter 15:1-8. Jesus says he’s like a grape vine and we are the branches coming off that vine. When we’re connected to the vine, that is when we produce “fruit” meaning good works or deeds for God and others.
Verse 6 says this, “ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:6 NLT. Jesus is saying to produce the fruit that God desires, we have to be connected to him.
So, how do we do that? We stay close to God through worship, prayer, Bible reading, connecting with another Christian, going to church, and dwelling on God and his goodness. But, let’s be honest: this is a continual challenge in a world of distractions and temptation. To use the hiking illustration, it’s like there are all kinds of side paths to take us off the one path that God has for us. But when we remain connected in our relationship with God, something powerful happens. We start to produce fruit.
Obviously, not physical fruit, but spiritual fruit. In fact, this is what the Holy Spirit helps us produce. All of a sudden our hearts, minds and lives start to look, think and act differently. They start to more closely resemble Jesus. This is how the Bible says it in Galatians 5, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.” Galatians 5:16 NLT
As you stay connected to God and as you let the Holy Spirit guide your life, you start to produce the fruits of the Spirit. The Bible says this just a few verses later in Galatians 5, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 NLT. This will help you start to see the transformation that has taken place on the inside come out.
In summary: The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, who now lives in you. He guides, encourages, and strengthens you on this faith journey. As we stay connected to God, we start producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and have transformed hearts and lives.
CHALLENGE
Here’s your assignment this week. Ask God to help you produce the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Do this by first listening to God’s voice and then work to act in accordance with that list. The goal isn’t perfection, but the direction of your journey. You got this!
Our next video is talking about not traveling alone. Don’t miss it!