Thank you, thank you, friend, for the invitation into your home by means of your radio, television set to study the word of the Lord. We pray we'll all be blessed by our study today about "A New Life in Christ."
Oh say, my friend, we are honored to be guests in your home. Thank you most sincerely for inviting us in. We're grateful, and we love you for your love of the Lord and His way of life and salvation.
We are being told that no generation has ever been so plagued by tensions and uncertainties and fears and anxieties as our present generation. Never before has the need for the message of Christ been so universally needed. But tragically, the simplicity and the clarity of God's message seem to have been lost in the confusion and complexity of a divided Christendom. Never before has the need been greater for a rebirth of pure, New Testament Christianity in the lives of men and women. That is our program today: "A New Life in Christ".
If you think you might want a free audio cassette tape or CD-- or a printed copy of it, you may have it-- and I said it was free, simply by writing us. Our address is In Search of the Lord's Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083. Or by e-mail it is searchtv@searchtv.org. If you prefer to call, you may use our toll-free telephone number-- 1-800-321-8633. We will be glad to pay for the call. And, many of our friends hear or see or read the programs again and again by means of our website (searchtv.org). Ken Helterbrand's going to lead the Edmond, OK Church of Christ as we sing, and then I will be back. We'll read the Bible and pray together.
We are reading today from the book of Galatians, chapter 5; and we are beginning at verse 16. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” And now let us go to God in prayer. Holy Father, we give You our thanks today for the ideas that we have in this passage, showing us the beauty of the Christian way of life. Father, we are trying to walk that walk and we need Your help. We pray for it in Jesus’ name, Amen!
Many years ago I received something in the mail that I-- well, I filed it away and had forgotten about it until a couple of weeks ago I came upon it again. And I want to share it with you today. It was written by a fellow-minister. He said it was a true story: that several years ago (several years even earlier before he printed it) a very sweet Christian girl told him about an incident with a young man who had been asking her for a date. He wasn't a Christian and they just didn't have many things in common, really had no common interests. She said "No" to attending a rock concert with him. In a kind of an exasperated way, he asked her, "Well, what do you do for fun? You don't dance; you don't drink; you don't attend rock concerts; what do you do for fun?" She was telling the minister about that in a way that made it seem as though it was such a simple response, but, actually, he said it was a classic message. And I agree. That's why I wanted to tell you about it. Here was her answer; "For fun I get up in the morning without feeling embarrassed, ashamed and guilty of what I did the night before." Oh, that young man had no more to say. No, I think so!
It is true, you see. That is fun. There were many things in her life that were fun. The story goes on that she married a fine Christian man. They had a little girl and built a lovely, loving Christian home together. She had fun every day with no deep scars and regrets from her past. She said it was fun getting all prettied up every afternoon to receive her husband home from work, knowing that he wouldn't be stopping off at a local bar for a few drinks with the boys. It had been fun knowing that while he was away his Christian conduct didn't allow infidelity or even flirting. It was fun watching him hold his little girl on his lap with loving, protective arms. It was fun knowing that her little girl will never see her father in a drunken stupor or experimenting with drugs. It was fun living with the assurance that the home will be led by a spiritual leader who will guide each family member toward heaven. Don't you agree?
It was not that she considered herself, as a Christian, too good to go out with the young man. It was a simple matter of interests and priorities. The Scriptures say, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The converted person no longer delights in those things that were once "fun", because there's been a change of priorities.
There's no place in all the Bible where the contrast between the ways of the world and the way of God is more sharply and more distinctly drawn than in the passage that we have chosen for our text today. "The works of the flesh are evident (or obvious). They are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness." These four words refer to all kinds of sexual immorality, impurity and indecency, ranging all the way from bestiality and incest and homosexuality to pornographic movies and books and music. The world calls them "fun," but they are the source of much embarrassment and shame and guilt for those who indulge in them. And to the community or the society that permits or sanctions them, they're the source of reproach, disease and suffering. The hedonists and humanists may scoff at righteousness and purity of life, and they may promote sexual liberty and promiscuity, but look around you-- see for yourself where such a course leads.
The passage continues with some religious sins and some sins of temperament. There is "idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfishness, ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries and the like." (In other words, this catalog is not complete.) People who live that way will eventually find life pretty difficult. But you know that already, don't you? You don’t have to have me tell you that. And things will get worse, not better. Well, against that backdrop of lust and vice and evil, the Holy Spirit presents the qualities of the better life in Christ Jesus. And, what a contrast it is!!
First, there is love. Now, this is not an erotic love that exploits and degrades another person, but it is agape love. It is love that's unselfish and sacrificial and caring. It is love that is there when you're "down and out" and you think nobody knows or understands or even cares for that matter. It is "love" that when it's shown to you, you know life is worth living; and when you have shown it to other people, you have that genuine, warm, feeling inside. It is the love that feeds hungry people; has a kind word for the person who is down and out. It's the kind of love that binds a marriage together through thick and thin. Yes, that is what it is; it is that alright; and it's fun.
Then there's joy. "The fruit of the spirit is love and joy." This joy is not the laughter that you would find in the brothel or the bar or the casino. It isn't the rubber band-smile of positive thinking or hyped-up religion. It is a deep down inside gladness in a person's sincere relationship with God and other people. It isn't "happiness" we hear preached on TV so much, but an inward grace in spite of trouble or sorrow. It is spiritual strength that enables us to live life in the sunshine in spite of the storm, to "rejoice evermore" (1 Thessalonians. 5:16). And it's fun!
Next is peace. "The fruit of the spirit is love and joy and peace." With that, my thoughts go right back to what that young lady said to that young man who asked her what she did for "fun." She said, "For fun, I get up in the morning without feeling embarrassed, ashamed and guilty about what I did the night before." That, my friend is "The peace of God that passes all understanding" that we read about in Philippians chapter 4, verse 7. That kind of peace will "keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Now, please notice that peace comes through living the Christ way. In John chapter 16, verse 33, Jesus said, "these things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
"The fruit of the spirit is love and joy and peace and longsuffering." Longsuffering is an attitude of God. It is an attribute of God, also (Exodus 34 and 6). To possess this quality of character and life is to be more God-like. It simply means to "suffer long." Some translations have it "patience." It is the capacity to bear with the mistakes and the wrongs of other people that grow out of their weaknesses and their evil desires and designs. It doesn't condone or approve their mistakes and wrong doings, but it's able to bear with them without "flying off the handle" or seeking revenge. And it is fun.
Then there is "gentleness." "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering and gentleness." Some versions translate it "kindness." In either case, it is thoughtful consideration-- courteous and kindly action, the delicate ministering of love. If we were thinking of these spiritual adornments as maybe a part of our clothing, longsuffering, or patience with the mistakes of others, would be as essential as a coat on a cold day, and just as obvious. But, you notice that it isn't listed in that catalog of iniquity called "the works of the flesh" which prefaced these characteristics of the spiritual person. It isn't a part of that wardrobe, but it is fun.
Next comes a quality called "goodness." Most of us have an idea of what "goodness" is all about; and we can define that pretty well. But, we often use it in a negative way, as for example, when parents say to their children, "be good." They are really saying, "stay out of evil." But goodness, too, is a divine attribute. God is essentially and absolutely good, perfectly good. It doesn't come as a surprise, then, that those who follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, are just "good" people. I mean, they are morally-- ethically-- and helpfully good. And that is fun, too.
As God continues to contrast the character of the truly "spirit filled" person against the very ugly backdrop of the worldly man, there's also "faithfulness." Now, faith is not only the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen as reviewed in Hebrews 11 and 1; it is also the capacity to trust God. Those whose names appear in God's hall of fame in Hebrews eleven were faithful servants of God. They trusted God when the odds were against them. I know many people scoff at the idea, but then, they are not the ones living the beautiful life described in these verses, either. Are they? Have you noticed that? It is true. The fellow who is living it will recommend it to others. The Lord said "be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
Then the inspired scripture says, "The fruit of the spirit is meekness." And meekness is not weakness, friend. It was said that there was not a man in all the earth as meek as Moses (Numbers 12 and 3); yet, Moses gives not the slightest appearance of weakness as he appears before the Pharaoh, the king, of Egypt demanding "Let my people go." Meekness is a quiet and forbearing spirit that suffers wrong without resentfulness. With firmness and unyielding devotion, Jesus was a perfect model of meekness, submissiveness, forbearance, yet he was firm to do what was right and true under the trying difficulties and circumstances of bitter persecution. He is "meek (gentle) and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls" in Him (Matthew 11:29).
Finally, there is self-control. To be able to control the appetites and strong desires of the physical bodies in which we live, is a coveted attribute. Happy is the person who possesses this spirit. It isn't left to the last because it's the least important in the adornment of a person's character. No, it isn’t! It is very, very important and essential part of a Christian person’s attire. Let us pray. Holy Father, we are so thankful to You that you have contrasted the works of the flesh against the works of the Spirit. We are so thankful that You have revealed to us the beauty of the way that we develop our character when we follow the footsteps of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Bless this study to much good in our lives. We pray You in the name of Jesus, Amen!
There is the choice, my friend. You can go with the flow in "sexual immorality and impurity and debauchery and idolatry, witchcraft and hatred and discord and jealousy and fits of rage and selfish ambition, dissensions, and factions and envy and drunkenness and orgies, and all of the like of that.”
Or, you can cast your lot with Jesus Christ and live a life of "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control,” which is the better way. Why not become a Christian right now? Do it today, if you are not already a Christian. Confess your faith in Jesus Christ today. Repent of your sins and be buried with your Lord in baptism and raised with Him to this beautiful new life in Him just as you read in Romans 6:3 and 4. There the inspiration says, the Bible says, “Know you not that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death. Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even we should walk in newness of life” just as Jesus did when He was raised from the dead. Now you think that, don’t you? Oh, I don’t know why anybody would want to profess to be a Christian and not follow the Lord in the most sacred moments of His life and death and His resurrection from the dead. Be buried with Him in baptism, and die with Him and then be buried with Him and then be raised from the dead in the likeness of His resurrection you are raised from the watery grave. And that is great! And if you have drifted away from the Lord's way, perhaps you have been baptized, you became a Christian and you started out to live the Christian life, but you fainted by the way. Would you come home; will you do that today? You know it is a better life. There's no doubt about that; it is the best way to live this life that mankind has ever known. May God bless you to that end today.
If you would like a copy of today's program on audio cassette tape or on a CD, or a printed copy of it, you may have one absolutely free by asking. Yes, I mean that. It's free. And we will not put your name on a mailing list and send you letter after letter after letter pleading with you to send us a gift, financial gift. We don’t do that because we have never practiced that. We are offering what we offer free. We are not raising funds for anything or anybody. We are not selling anything. It's all paid for by your neighbors and your friends, all members of churches of Christ right here in the broadcast area of this television station or this radio station. Our address is In Search of the Lord's Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, Oklahoma 73083. Our e-mail address is searchtv@searchtv.org. Our toll-free telephone number is 1-800-321-8633. Say, we were glad you were with us today and I hope you will consider now worshipping with a church of Christ right near you before very much longer. Those people are your neighbors, your friends, maybe your merchants, your school teachers. Those people are ones you have dealings with every day of the week. I went into the grocery store yesterday and met a man who knew me. I didn’t know him but he knew me and called me by name. I went into a printing shop the other day and it was the same way. You will find people at church just like these people, too. Do it again next week, will you? God bless you now. We love you.
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