EVEN MORE THINGS THAT ACCOMPANY SALVATION
Thursday – November 2, 2017
The picture for today was taken on our Texas ranch several years ago and features Patti, our sweet dog Chancelot, and one of the donkeys as well as our Ranger. Such sweet memories but remember that today can be even sweeter for today we can redeem the time, that time is gone. Now, let us take a look at our primary text for this wonderful Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:9-12 (KJV)
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
As we have dissected Hebrews 6:9 “and thing that accompany salvation” I have been revisiting a study of the fruits of the spirit. These are like physical organs and when they are exercised (practiced and improved) they produce spiritual and physical benefits for those around us. So, let us review our secondary text as we move on.
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Today I will pick-up with the fruit of longsuffering. In other Bible translations the Greek word translated as longsuffering in the KJV is translated as patience. We all want others to be patient with us but sometimes we come up short of patience. Well, perhaps not you. The following passage however is of great encouragement.
James 1:2-4 (KJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
I like the end result of developing patience but I really don’t like the process. Am I alone here? Brother James is saying we need to rejoice when temptation calls knowing that it will test our faith and if we don’t waver our faith will be strengthened. This exercise of patience in the storm will leave us wanting nothing or whole. I like being places but I don’t like the process of getting there. I am sure you all realize that almost nothing occurs in isolation. We see from the James passage that when we need to walk in patience we are simultaneously testing and strengthening our faith. It seems to me that is true with all of the fruit of the spirit, in order to strengthen each one and for all of them to work in harmony we must walk in faith. The exercise of patience strengthens our ability to be patient, and this patience will bear fruit that is useful to others and promote patience in their lives.
This brings us to gentleness. Interestingly enough this word also means kindness and useful. Gentleness can also be a mild manner, calmness, tenderness, a quietness, or peacefulness. I think we all like to be around a gentle person. As we practice being gentle, being gentle on purpose, this modeling works to the benefit of other persons who can also progress in this area. Next, we come to goodness. Goodness can also be defined as being virtuous (purity of motive), decent, and honest. This certainly a fruit to develop for the good of all around us. Remember these are all characteristics of our Heavenly Father and are to be prominent characteristics of our lives. These characteristics of the Father have very favorably impacted us and our development and exercise of these spiritual fruit will favorably impact others and so the Kingdom of God is built.
Now we come to faith a most essential building block of our Christian life. Scripture tells us that we cannot please God without faith. It does not say that explicitly about the other fruits. Faith and love are certainly cornerstones, however, the absence or weakness of any of the fruit weakens the rest and our assignments in the Kingdom of God suffer. That means that others suffer as well as ourselves when we lack diligence. Let us decide that it is all hands on deck to please our Heavenly Father.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Love powers our faith, love being obedience to the Word of God, selflessness, and adherence to the Blood Covenant. When we are crossways the Word of God we are not in faith.
Galatians 5:6 (KJV)
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Faith is the very foundation of all of our hope, and the evidence of the thing (hope) as yet unseen.
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Let me remind you that Bible hope is not the same as natural hope. In the natural it is maybe it will happen and maybe it won’t happen. In the supernatural, if it is a hope (promise) God has given to us it is a certainty. Faith motivated by love led of the spirit brings the hope from the unseen realm to the seen. O God is so good.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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