God Is Omnipresent – May 16, 2025

Hide and Seek is one of the most popular children’s games around the world. I’m sure you played this game as a kid. The object is simple- find the best hiding spot and be the last person found. I was never good at this game because I would make too much noise, get bored, and give up. What if we tried to hide from God? That may seem silly, but how often do you convince yourself that you can sin and get away with it? Or how often do you feel alone? The majority of the world is playing hide and seek with God. They think they can escape His judgment and slip into heaven. But the fact is, we cannot hide from God. God is omnipresent. This means He is everywhere, all at the same time.
 
David considered this question in Psalm 139:7-12. He asks in verse 7, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” Then he begins to list extreme distances that he could go to try to hide. He mentions heaven, the grave, the other side of the sea, and even the darkest corner of the earth. But he concludes that God is still there. Verse 10 says, “Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” And in verse 12, he says, “Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” David could hide in the darkest cave in the farthest corner of the earth, but God still was with him and could see him like the brightest of days. God is everywhere.
 
In Jeremiah 23:24, God says that He fills heaven and earth so that no man can hide from Him. The Earth is a massive place. You can spend your whole life just exploring the United States of America and still not see it all. But God’s presence goes beyond the earth. He’s present at the farthest star. He’s present in the center of the Sun. God is wholly present in every square inch of the entire universe, all at the same time.
 
However, we do not believe in pantheism. This is the view that everything is god. There is a clear distinction here. God is present everywhere, but that doesn’t make everything God. God is present in your bedroom, but your bedroom is not God. God is present in all physical matter, but the matter is not God. This is because God is a Spirit. He is not bound by physical space and time. God is distinct from His creation, but at the same time present in every part of it without any division or multiplication of Himself.
 
God’s omnipresence serves as both a warning and a comfort. The warning is for those who are trying to hide from God. You can’t escape God. You can mock and reject Him, but you can’t escape Him. So don’t try to hide. The comfort is for those who belong to God through Jesus Christ. God has a special presence with His children. This presence will be fully realized in eternity (See Revelation 21-22). No matter what you are going through, no matter where you are, God is with you. As David said, God’s right hand will hold you. We can take comfort in the fact that God is always with us.


God Is Omniscient – May 9, 2025

How much do you know? Today’s world has an expert for just about everything. There are experts for retirement funds, heart disease, diesel mechanics, and the history of the Roman Empire. You name it, and there’s probably an expert for it. But how much do these experts actually know? Was the historian there to witness the events that he studies? Can a doctor treat every illness or help every condition? Can a financial advisor truly know the future of the stock market? The obvious answer to all these questions is no. These experts must look at the most reliable data and come to the best conclusion. But a good expert will admit that he or she can be wrong at times. Our knowledge is limited. It’s impossible for us to know everything. But the Bible reveals that God is all-knowing.

Omniscience is the fancy term that refers to the truth that God is all-knowing. It’s a combination of the Latin words for all and knowledge. God is omniscient. He knows everything. There is no limit or end to His knowledge. He never learns, and He never forgets. He knows everything about everything. He knows all things because He created all things. King David’s words in Psalm 139 reveal this truth. He writes,

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

God knows our thoughts, words, and actions. He knows everything we have ever done and will do. He knows everything we won’t do. He knows everything we could do. He knows every possibility, probability, and actuality. He knows all things simultaneously. Unlike you and I, God doesn’t have to call to mind or remember anything. How does God know all this? Because He created knowledge. All knowledge has its origin in Him. How do we know that 2+2=4? Ultimately, the answer is because God said so.

This infinite knowledge of God may seem frightening. We all have secrets. We all have said and done things that we don’t want anyone to know about. But the fact is, God knows. You can’t keep secrets from God. Although this might make you feel exposed, it’s a very comforting reality. When David said that God laid His hand on him, it was a sign of endearment. For example, when a parent lays their hand on a crying baby to calm them, or when a dad gives his son a pat on the back to say good job. It’s a gesture of love. God uses His infinite knowledge to care for us. Despite knowing all of our deepest flaws, God still loves us. He still wants us! No one else can love you like God because no one else knows you like God.

David concludes by saying, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” God’s knowledge is so far beyond us that we can’t even scratch its surface. His knowledge cannot be quantified. The highest IQ cannot compare with God. His knowledge is infinite. We tend to forget things, but God never forgets. And the amazing truth is He uses His knowledge for our good and His glory. The God who knows everything cares about you. So our response should be to surrender to His wisdom. He always knows best. So we should listen to His Word. We should obey His commands. The essence of foolishness is thinking that you know better than God. So don’t be a fool. Trust the Perfect Expert of all knowledge.



God Is Sovereign – May 2, 2025

Who controls the weather, the hearts of rulers, the sun and moon, and every atom in the universe? God does. This is what we call sovereignty. God has absolute and undisputed authority over all things. This truth is foundational to everything we believe as Christians. For this reason, there is a plethora of Scripture we could turn to. If you read 1 Timothy 6:15, Ephesians 1:11, Acts 4:24-28, Daniel 4:34-35, and Romans 11:36, then you will discover God’s absolute authority. I encourage you to read through these verses and see this awesome truth for yourself.

First, we see God’s sovereignty in the act of creation. He spoke all things into existence with the breath of His mouth. Acts 4:24 records a prayer of the church that says, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” God is sovereign because He is the Creator of all things. The universe is His masterpiece. Therefore, everything belongs to God. He didn’t create the earth and then let it be. He actively rules His creation with complete control.

In 1 Timothy 6:15, Paul says that God is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” The term “sovereign” refers to a ruler in a high position. How high is God’s position? Paul says He is the Ruler of rulers. He governs all kings and lords. No one is higher than God. He is completely sovereign. By its purest definition, this term can only refer to God. No one else is truly sovereign. No one can act by his own will except God. As Romans 11:36 says, “For from him and through him and to him are all things.” We can do nothing outside of God’s sovereignty.

When we look at verses about God’s sovereignty, we see a repeated phrase that explains this even further. Ephesians 1:11 says, “Having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” Then Daniel 4:35 says, “He does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” Acts 4:28 also hints at this phrase. The truth is God works all things according to the counsel of His will. This means that God does what God wants. As Daniel said, “None can stay his hand.” Nobody can thwart God’s plan or defy His control. Everything in life is under the power of God. And for this reason, His dominion is everlasting, and His kingdom endures forever. The kings of the earth rise and fall, but God reigns forever. He is sovereign.

This truth is life-changing for those who can grasp it. We already mentioned the prayer of the early church in Acts 4. The context of this prayer was that the chief priests and elders of Israel strictly warned and even threatened the apostles to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. Some of the most powerful and influential rulers of the day were threatening this small group of Christians. Their families, reputations, and even their lives were at stake. But how did they respond? They praised God because He is sovereign. They understood that nothing happens by accident. Even the evil deeds of men are used by God for His glory and our good (Acts 4:26-28). They asked God for boldness to preach His Word and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord sovereignly equipped them to continue their mission. So the church grew and spread across the world.

When Christians trust the sovereignty of God, great things happen. Sadly, in our depraved world, we do everything we can to be free. All we want is to do what we want. We work so we can buy what we want. We rest so we can continue to do what we want. It’s all about me. But God’s sovereignty makes this a foolish endeavor. God is our Lord whether we like it or not. He is our King whether we serve Him or not. But thankfully, when we surrender our lives to Him, He blesses us beyond comparison. His will brings true freedom. So don’t fight God’s sovereignty. Embrace it. Rest in the fact that God is always, totally, and completely in control.



God Is Eternal – April 25, 2025

As we try to learn about God, we must consider His attributes. These are more than just facts about God. These qualities are central to who He is. We could also call them perfections because God is each one with complete perfection. There is no flaw in His holiness, love, or power. He is perfectly perfect.

This fact was evident in last week’s post when we looked at God’s holiness. This attribute sets Him apart from everything else. He is completely other. God’s holiness governs all of His attributes. We see God’s holiness in the fact that He is also eternal. Unlike everything else in existence, God has no beginning and no end. He had no cause or start. God has always been and will always be. As Revelation 4:8 says, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

This attribute reveals that God is not restricted by time or space. This is hard to understand because everything we know and do is in time and space. We can only do something in the present moment. We can reflect on the past or plan for the future, but we can only act in the present. However, God is unlike us. God is in every moment of time at the same time. God doesn’t have a past or future. He is always present.

We see this truth articulated in Psalm 90. The passage says, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God… For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:1-2, 4). This prayer of Moses explains the eternality of God. Before the earth was created, God was already there. A thousand years is a long time for any human to think about, but to God, it’s like yesterday. That’s mind-blowing! One thousand years ago the Byzantine Empire was at its peak, but within four hundred years it had fallen. World empires rise and fall in the span of a few hundred years. We can’t even imagine a thousand years from now, but it’s like yesterday to God. He has already seen it like yesterday’s newspaper. This is because God is eternal. He exists in every moment of time at the same time forever.

God’s identity is linked to this attribute. In Exodus 3, God reveals Himself to Moses in the burning bush. In this encounter, God gives Moses His personal Name- “I AM WHO I AM.” This is the Name Yahweh. It means “the Self-existent One.” God is the Uncreated One. Think about that for a second. What sets God apart from angels, humans, and animals? He is self-existent. Everything else was created by Him, but He is uncreated. He has no source or cause. He is eternal in and of Himself.

The eternality of God is important for us because the primary promise of the Gospel is eternal life. How could God give us something He doesn’t already possess? Scripture says that all who put their faith in Jesus Christ have eternal life. 1 John 5:11-12 says, “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” The amazing truth is you and I can have eternal life with God through Jesus Christ. We can exist forever in the perfect, holy, and beautiful presence of our Creator. This is the hope that we have in Jesus. So turn to Him in faith and receive eternal life.



God Is Holy – April 18, 2025

How do relationships grow? By spending time getting to know one another. If you never talk to, learn about, and listen to people, you won’t have any friends. So how do we grow in our relationship with God? We talk to Him and learn about Him by listening to His Word. We want to know God because our view of God determines our view of life. So if we desire to grow in our relationship with God, then we need to know who God is. We do this by studying His attributes.

The attributes of God are the essential qualities of His nature. These characteristics make Him who He is. When we talk about God’s attributes we must start with holiness. To be holy is to be completely pure, set apart, and clean. In Isaiah 6, the prophet Isaiah receives an amazing vision of heaven. As he describes the scene, a striking detail emerges. The angels that fly around God’s throne repeat this phrase, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Notice that the angels repeat one word three times- holy.

No other attribute of God is repeated three times in Scripture. This fact alone should cause us to stop and consider what this means. The Bible never says, “God is love, love, love” or “God is power, power, power.” Now God is love and all-powerful, so why this repetition of holy? This repetition is meant for extreme emphasis. It means God is perfect in His purity, wisdom, and power. He is set apart from everything else in all of creation. He is completely other. Nothing and no one can compare with His perfection. Isaiah’s response to his vision further solidifies this truth because he cries out in verse 5, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

We see this threefold statement again in Revelation 4:8. As John receives a vision of God’s throne room, he sees four living creatures around the throne. They never cease to praise God, day and night saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” I believe both these visions of heaven communicate that God’s holiness is the primary attribute that governs His character and all His attributes. What does that mean? Everything God is and does is holy. His love is holy. His mercy is holy. His wrath is holy. His wisdom is holy. His power is holy. God is holy, holy, holy!

What does this mean for us? As we celebrate Good Friday, we’re reminded of God’s holiness. The suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ was necessary because God is holy. He is completely perfect. No evil can enter His presence. And because we are sinners, we deserve His holy wrath. We rebelled against God and deserve eternal punishment. And that’s why Christ had to die. God’s holiness couldn’t ignore our sins. That would undermine His whole nature. Rather, He chose to sacrifice His Son in our place. Only Jesus, the holy Son of God, could take our punishment and pay our debt. Only Jesus could satisfy God’s wrath and make us holy. Jesus Christ is our perfect Savior. By faith in Him, our sins are forgiven, and the holiness of Christ becomes ours. God now sees us as He sees His perfect Son. Our sins weren’t ignored but were paid for by the death of Jesus Christ. So praise God for His holiness and grace demonstrated in the cross of Christ. He died so that you can have eternal life. Seek to live in His holiness.



The Attributes of God – April 11, 2025

What comes to mind when you read the word- theology? Some might think of a classroom, a lecture, or a sermon. Maybe the Bible comes to mind or a church. So what is theology? At its core, theology is the study of God. Theology has many subcategories like Ecclesiology, the study of the church, or Bibliology, the study of the Bible. Theology proper is the study of God Himself. It seeks to answer the questions- who is God? And what is He like? In this series, our goal is to answer both questions by looking at the attributes of God revealed in Scripture.
 
What is an attribute? An attribute is a defining characteristic. Attributes are more than just facts about a person. I, Christian Brown, am six-foot, four inches tall. I grew up in Sheds, New York. I enjoy playing basketball. These are facts about me, but these are not attributes. Attributes are deeper than this. An attribute is an essential quality to who you are. It’s what makes you who you are. So when we talk about the attributes of God, we’re not just studying cold facts about God. We’re studying His very nature. We’re learning about what makes Him who He is. Therefore, these attributes should cause us to worship God in awe and reverence.
 
Scripture reveals many distinct attributes of God. Each characteristic is an essential quality of His being. This means that every single attribute is indispensable from His character. He wouldn’t be God if He wasn’t all of these things. He never ceases to be any of these. They are essential to who He is. For instance, if God is not love, then He is not God. If God is not good, then He is not God. If God is not holy, then you guessed it, He’s not God. God is love, good, and holy because He is God. If this feels redundant, then you’re starting to understand it.
 
Love, goodness, and holiness find their origin in God. He’s the One who defines these virtues. How do we know what love is? We look at God. How do we know what goodness and holiness are? We look at God. He is the perfection of these qualities. Paul commands us in Ephesians 5:1 to be imitators of God. How are we possibly supposed to imitate the Sovereign Creator? It starts with understanding His attributes. The next verse says, “walk in love, as Christ loved us.”
 
This is why we study God’s attributes. If we want to grow in our relationship with God, then we need to know who God is. We need to understand what He does, what He desires, and how He thinks. So, over the new few weeks, we will examine these attributes and seek to make applications for our lives. Because your view of God determines your view of life. What you believe about God will determine how you live. This study is designed to broaden, challenge, and encourage your view of God, so that your life will be changed for good.


How Do We See the Spirit Produce Fruit In Our Lives? – March 7, 2025

Over the past several weeks, we have discussed the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. So often, as we look at the list of the fruit of the Spirit, it feels like something that could never be achieved in us. Perhaps we are like Henry, who struggles with his anger. He knows it is a problem. He doesn’t want to live an angry life. But, no matter how hard he tries, the anger seeps to the surface (often like a raging volcano). Maybe we are like Sally. Sally knows that she should not be such a negative, bitter person. She wants to think the best of others, but they are just so stupid. As a result, every conversation she has seems to be a complaint fest about someone or something. She has tried to change. She just doesn’t know how. We want the fruit of the Spirit to be true in us. We just can’t seem to see it happen.

Thankfully, Paul does more than give us the two lists (works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit) and then expects us to figure out how to avoid the one and cling to the other. As Paul concluded Galatians 5, he gives us instructions to change. Note Galatians 5:24-25, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” If we are going to see the Spirit produce fruit in our lives, we must follow the two steps outlined in these verses.

First, we must learn to crucify the flesh. This is Paul’s graphic description of repentance. We became united with Christ’s death when we came to Christ for salvation. We were crucified with him. Yet, our sin nature has a way of coming off the cross and re-engaging with us. So, we must continually crucify it. The secret to holiness lies in the decisiveness of our repentance and hatred of sin. Often, our sin struggle lies in the fact that we have not truly repented of sin. We feel sorry for it but don’t hate it and turn our back on it. Although our sin was nailed to the cross, we look at it with longing and take it back down.

Crucifying the flesh often requires drastic steps. It may require removing ourselves from situations where we know we will struggle. It may mean that we find a new job, hobby, or even friends. But it is this living out of the Christian life that the world hates so much. When obedience becomes hard, most seek an easier route. One person describes us as religious tourists seeking sensational entertainment, instantaneous pleasure, and emotional excitement. But the way of the cross is not easy. It is a long, hard road that makes tough choices with eternity in mind.

Second, we need to walk in the Spirit. Verse 25 describes it as keeping in step with the Spirit. This means to walk in a straight line and conduct oneself rightly. The pull and allure of sin are strong in our lives. If sin were not so pretty, we would not struggle with it. Satan rarely appears as the horned devil we often associate with him. Instead, he appears as an angel of light. We struggle with sin because we enjoy it. Yet at salvation, and as we grow in our relationship with God, God implants in us through the Holy Spirit a new desire toward God. Any desire to do right is from God alone. This is good news. Although we are to work out our salvation, God is the one who works in us, implanting in us the power to overcome sin through a new motivation to please God.

Have you ever met someone with little to no motivation to accomplish the task at hand? Perhaps that individual at work doesn’t pull their weight. Maybe it’s that kid on your child’s or your own sports team who is more interested in chasing butterflies and counting dandelions than in the game itself. Perhaps it’s your child who has no desire to clean their room or accomplish their chores. It’s aggravating! Yet, for many of us, this is how we approach sin. We have simply determined that this is who we are, and we cannot change. We have tried, and we simply can’t. This verse gives new life to those people. As you draw near to God, He will implant within you a new desire to overcome sin and please him.

Yet not only does God implant in us the desire to overcome sin, but God also grants us the power to overcome sin. You are not alone in this battle. When you feel like quitting on your marriage and your family, don’t. You are not alone in this battle. When you feel like you can’t help but go to that wicked web page again, don’t! You are not alone in this battle. When you are sick of fighting against sin and temptation because you feel as though no one else is with you, don’t! You are not alone in this battle. When you think you don’t have the power to overcome that sin yet again, remember you are not alone in this battle. When we lean into the Spirit, He gives us the power to do right.

We tap into this power through the spiritual disciplines. To walk in the Spirit, we must spend quality time studying God’s Word in its context. We must spend time in prayer communing with God. We must spend time serving and worshiping with God’s people. These and the other spiritual disciplines allow us to draw close to the Spirit and tap into His power. They move the transmission from neutral to drive and provide power from the engine (the Holy Spirit) to the wheels (our works). In short, we see the Spirit produce His fruit in us through Spirit-empowered, Christ-initiated, committed effort.



The Fruit of the Spirit Continued – February 28, 2025

As we seek to evaluate our walk with God, we must begin by examining the production of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Unfortunately, many Christians believe they have a fantastic walk with God while demonstrating the works of the flesh, not the fruit of the Spirit. One person gossips to another, spreading discord between Christians. Another person responds in anger when things don’t go their way. Some hold grudges because they have not been treated how they expected to be treated. When this happens, we can be sure the individuals are not walking in the Spirit.

Over the last few weeks, we have looked at the first few characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit. Interestingly, the last six deal very closely with one another. They all address our interpersonal relationships. When someone walks in the Spirit, they deal with others in love and graciousness. We discover that Spirit-filled people are marked by patience. Patience is the idea of longsuffering or forbearance with other people. It is the ability to be wronged and move forward without bitterness.

Instead of bitterness and anger, this patience results in kindness. We do not retaliate or simmer but serve the one who wronged us. Rather than gossip or slander them, we speak well of them. As opportunity arises, our attitude towards them becomes gentleness, not hostility. This kindness is furthered by goodness. We serve them and seek to do them good. We observe opportunities to advance their lives and act on them. When someone responds with bitterness to wrong suffered, it is natural and a work of the flesh. It can only come from God when someone responds with patience, kindness, and goodness to wrong.

Those who walk in the Spirit are also marked by faithfulness. There are two aspects to this characteristic. First, this person is a person of faith. They regularly manifest faith in God through their actions and reactions. They are a person of the word and prayer. Second, this results in a person of faithfulness. They become trustworthy, dependable people. Because they are not easily offended, they are loyal.

When these characteristics mark an individual, they are also marked by gentleness or humility. They do not think more highly of themselves than they ought to think. They recognize that everything they have and every ability they hold is a gift from God. So, they treat others with respect and love. They do not seek their glory but God’s glory. They are not loud and brash but humble.

Because they are humble, they are also able to exercise self-control. They control their tongues, they control their bodies, and they control their desires. There are a myriad of applications to this. Spirit-controlled people say no to laziness, gluttony, and excess. They care for their bodies and minds. They recognize that life is not about their pleasure, so that they can resist excess pleasure.

As you read through the list, you probably feel overwhelmed. There is no chance that this list could ever be said of you. I know I feel that way. Yet, we can have hope because seeing these things become a reality is not dependent on our ability. Over the next few weeks, we will discover that these characteristics will become a part of us when we submit to the Holy Spirit. So, we will discuss what that means and what we need to do to submit to Him.



The Fruit of Joy – February 7, 2025

Hank stared into the distance. From the outside, his life seemed like it should be perfect. He had a fantastic job, a wonderful wife, beautiful kids, and a lovely home. Yet here he was, completely unhappy and questioning life. Sally had everything she dreamed of as a child. But her husband, kids, and friends seemed to annoy her now. She spent day after day miserable. Both these people live a life devoid of joy. And this is the story for the vast majority of Christians today.

However, God has something better for us. In Galatians 5, the second characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. Scriptural joy is deep-seated satisfaction and contentment with life. A characteristic all desire, but few have. Yet, when we recognize that it is the fruit of the Spirit, we discover that it can be (and should be) engrained in our life. It comes through a strong relationship with God.

In 1 John 1, the Apostle John introduces his book with the statement that he wrote it so that we could find joy. This joy comes from the Word of Life, Jesus Christ. But we only gain this joy through a correct, passionate relationship with Christ. In verse 1, we discover that we must honestly believe that Jesus is who He said He is. We must believe that He is real. John informs us that he saw Jesus, touched Jesus, and experienced fellowship with Jesus. And he declares to us that he is real.

In verse 3, John concludes that we must believe that Jesus is real to have a relationship with God and God’s people. When we state that we must believe that Jesus is real, we must believe that He is who He said He is. Jesus is the absolute authority over all things, holds all things in His hands, and died and rose for our redemption. He controls every aspect of your life and the world around you. Far too many Christians lack joy because they downplay Christ’s sovereignty. As a result, if life does not go as planned, they become bitter, angry, and controlling. But when we develop a proper relationship with God, we find joy!

This proper relationship with God involves walking in the light (1 John 1). It means we fix everything in God’s Word and anchor ourselves to it. We don’t make it say what we want it to say. Instead, we allow the Word to say what it says and obey it. Walking in the light means that we humbly confess our sins. We recognize that we regularly sin and deal with it quickly. Walking in the light looks like walking in the Spirit in Galatians 5.

Christ reiterates this reality in John 15. In verse 10, Jesus informs us that we abide in His love when we keep His commandments. Then, in verse 11, Christ tells us that this obedience results in joy. When we discover an unhappy and bitter Christian, we discover a Christian failing to obey God’s Word. They have lost sight of Christ. A joyless Christian is a Christless Christian.

How, then, do we find this joy? By deepening our relationship with Christ. Do you regularly repent and confess your sin (Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16; 1 John 1:8-9)? Are you regularly spending quality time in God’s Word (Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 4:12)? We should note that this quality time is not simply five minutes with a devotional book. Are you regularly spending time in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)? Are you spending time fellowshipping with and serving God’s people (Hebrews 10:24-25)? Are you practicing the spiritual disciplines (Romans 12:1-2)? If your answer to these questions is “no,” it is not a mystery why you don’t have joy.



Walking in the Spirit – January 24, 2025

No true Christian desires to produce the works of the flesh. The Holy Spirit convicts us of this sin, and our consciences create chaotic unease in our hearts. We desire to see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Over the next several weeks, we want to answer two crucial questions: What is the fruit of the Spirit, and how do we produce this fruit? When we discover the answers to these questions, we discover a life of satisfaction and joy.
 
Before we address the questions, we must focus on one important aspect of Paul’s text in Galatians 5, which describes the answers we seek. As Paul lists the actions of the flesh and the actions of the Spirit, he assigns two important labels to them. The first list he describes as the works of the flesh. These actions are things that we produce in ourselves through our actions and desires. Nothing of God is in them, so they are all a result of our efforts. This would help us understand why these are so dismal. Our corrupt, sin-stained hearts cannot create anything incorruptible without the help of something perfect.
 
On the other hand, Paul labels the second list as the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is not something that you can will or work into being. Instead, the farmer or botanist creates the best environment for the plant to produce the fruit and hopes the harvest is plentiful. They till the ground, fertilize the soil, plant the seeds, water the plants, do all they can to keep pests from devouring the plants, and pray a lot.
 
In the same way, we can prepare our hearts to produce fruit, but we cannot create it ourselves. We must till the soil, fertilize the ground, plant the seeds, water the plants, and keep the pests away. But the result is not in our hands. It is not our fruit but the fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit produces the fruit in our hearts. The Spirit works in the heart that is prepared (walking in the Spirit) and brings about the characteristics we all desire.
 
So, you cannot find joy simply by hoping for it. You cannot produce peace by working for it. You cannot become patient or loving simply by counting to ten when you don’t feel patience or love. These attributes must come from the Spirit. And they only come when our hearts are prepared. Much of modern psychology does not work because it fails to recognize this point. Our corrupt hearts cannot produce incorruptible attributes. The incorruptible can only be produced by the incorruptible Holy Spirit. So we must walk in the Spirit. There is an answer to your frustration. You can see these things in your life. But you must look in the right place.