Strengthening Our Faith in the Kingdom of God

Oh, well, thank you very much. Forty-five years. That's a long time. Congratulations. Well, greetings. I bring you greetings also from the great north, Sherman, Texas. I feel like I blew in some cold weather when I came in today. We were happy to have Mr.

Lorenzo for the sermon today. The Feast of Tabernacles was mentioned in the sermonette, and I started thinking about that. How long has it been since we got back from the Feast of Tabernacles? I think it's been right around five weeks or so. And if I think back on this last feast, there's so much preparation that we go into, and just leaving our daily tasks, all our daily obligations, leaving that in some order.

So you take off to the feast in some kind of whirlwind, and it always takes me a little bit of time, unfortunately, to really let all that go and really hone in on the true vision of what the Feast of Tabernacles pictures. Usually it takes me, if you're like me, to hear that one scripture. You know, that one scripture. Maybe it's this scripture. That's from Isaiah 43. Maybe it's this description. You hear this. Holy Jerusalem, descending from heaven, from God, her light was most precious stone, like jasper stone, clear as crystal, enormous in stature. Foundations of the walls were adorned with every precious stone, no need for sun or moon to light it.

But the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light. You hear those scriptures at the feast, and you do get those goosebumps as you look out, and you see all that are there to observe that great Holy Day, that great vision to come. And our foundation of our faith is upon that foundation, is on that Feast of Tabernacles, what that picture is on the Kingdom of God.

So our faith is made perfect in knowing that that Kingdom is coming. So with just those few weeks ago, that vision is so ingrained in us. Being human beings, it's no doubt discouraging to think, well, that was just five weeks ago. And we get back into the world, to the daily routines again, back into the world that we know is fleeting. And it is disheartening to see how quickly we can lose some of that excitement, let some of that excitement fade.

But it is so important for us to not lose any of that excitement, that drive, that increased commitment that we had just coming back a few weeks ago. And so we should look at today the completion of the Fall Holy Days. And as we look forward to the upcoming year, the upcoming Spring Holy Days to come today, we should look at as a day where we don't look at those everyday routines in the same way. We look at a perfect day of spiritual action, a day where we can have a renewed spiritual focus, a renewed spiritual plan.

Have that faith in the coming Kingdom of God. You know, those Scriptures describe that very purpose as to why we are in existence. So how do we keep that faith? You know, how do we deepen that faith in the coming Kingdom of God? How do we strengthen it? How do we make that faith perfect? Turn with you, well, to James 2, verse 14. We'll start off there. So the faith in this coming Kingdom of God.

James 2, verse 14. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one says to them, depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, you have faith and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God? You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. But do you want to know a foolish man? The faith without works is dead. Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that that faith was working together with works, and by works, faith was made perfect?

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God and was accounted to him for righteousness, and he was called a friend of God? You see then, a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. So we see here that the way in which we can make that faith in the coming kingdom of God, how we can make that perfect is through our works. This is what we've been called to now.

All aspects that we do each and every day should be working toward that coming kingdom of God being established. And so that's what we're going to review today. How our personal works, our personal preparations should be pointing always toward that kingdom, having that kingdom of God at the forefront, making perfect our faith in that kingdom to come. And the Bible details exactly how we are to do that personally each day, preparation for his return. We need to be reminded that sacrifice and preparation is necessary if we're going to continue to be part of God's body, Christ's body here at the church.

You know, this is our time to sacrifice as we have and make preparation for the kingdom. God's plan for mankind will come to pass whether or not we accept this calling as a first fruit. Christ has already shown us the example to follow. He's already shown us the incredible sacrifice. It's incomprehensible to think about the Word sitting at the right hand of God going all the way, that transformation, to becoming flesh.

We try to comprehend it from spirit to flesh. He was there at the very beginning of all things. And we see in the scene of Isaiah 50, he says that he gave his back to those that would strike him.

He didn't hide his face from the shame, the spitting, became so marred beyond human likeness. Incredible sacrifice. And so we base our level of commitment, that total commitment, each and every day from that example. We must make this preparation for the world tomorrow first, and all that we can do, avoid Satan's distractions, which he will put in front of us.

Today is a great day, once again, to renew this commitment. And we read that the method by which this faith is made perfect is through those works. So we're going to review these works, and we're going to see that there's really two types of works. The first work is that of Christ, works that point us to Christ toward that coming kingdom of God, and also the works of the flesh.

And we'll see how those distract us. We want to look at our personal works, our spiritual preparation, so that we can go forward in the upcoming spring holy days with that spiritual momentum. Let's start off with a parable to really set the foundation as we look at these two types of works.

Turn over to Luke 13, verse 6. Some refer to this as the parable of the barren tree, barren fig tree. Luke 13, verse 6. He also spoke this parable. A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the keeper in his vineyard, Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none.

Cut it down. Why does it use up the ground? But he answered and said to him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well, but if not, after that, you can cut it down.

So how can this parable apply to us today? Do we realize that in this lifetime we actually have a spot, we've actually implanted in the very vineyard of God, the Almighty God? And not only that, we have the Master Gardener, Christ Himself tending to us, caring for us. Christ sacrificed first, just enabled us to even have a spot in that vineyard. And this speaks directly to what our work should be today. We as first fruits, we have this duty, responsibility, it's our commission to bear this fruit. These are the works of the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit, personal preparation of the coming Kingdom of God. You know, making that faith and that coming Kingdom of God perfect. Think of the unimaginable honor it is to take up that precious ground.

To be first, to be planted first, with Christ working to prepare us, knowing this, it should really hone us in and focus us on. Every hour of the day that we spend, an hour goes by where we're not focused on what we're doing here and preparing for this Kingdom. God's desire, just like Christ, is that no one is cut down, is that no one is removed from the soul. He will be patient with us. 2 Peter 3 speaks of Him, the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but long suffering towards us. That none should be removed from the precious ground. So we've been chosen since the foundation of the world. But this is here a very stark warning that if we don't produce the spiritual fruit, that the spiritual works that we need to do, there is a time limit. And if we don't put that in the forefront of all that we do, we can risk being removed and cut down. But we do see from this parable that Christ's hands are on us, and He left us His essence, His power, His Holy Spirit to tend to us each and every day. Let's turn over to John 15 verse 1 and see what Christ speaks of this. John 15 verse 1. Very powerful Scriptures here.

John 15.1.

As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine. Neither can you unless you abide in Me.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. So again, these are very powerful scriptures here. The pruning, it says, is the method by which he is producing fruit. And us, he is the vine, the source that we bear fruit from. And we'll see here that the power from these scriptures that he's working inside of us to really do two things. Every branch that doesn't bear fruit, he takes away, prunes off completely. Every branch that is bearing fruit, he prunes to bring more fruit. So let's first take a look at the branches that we are to remove completely out of our lives. Turn over to Galatians 5, verse 19.

These should have no part of our life. Galatians 5, verse 19.

Here's another stark warning. As we look at these works of the flesh, those who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Very stark warning. So we must treat this list as we go through it with that level of seriousness. Continue to battle our carnal nature that's not of God, it's of the human nature. We are in that all-out war daily, each hour of the day. We're supposed to fight the good fight, battle the flesh. We need to ask ourselves as we go through this, which of these carnal elements may still be alive and working in us today? We know Christ magnified the law in the Sermon on the Mount. So from that example, if we look at the word of dulchery, we shouldn't just tell ourselves, oh, I'm not guilty of that by certainly, but rather ask ourselves, how in the slightest form, how in the slightest bit might this work of the flesh be present in me? The works of the flesh can be categorized as attitudes and actions. We know attitudes inevitably will turn into actions. So let's look at this. We've been categorized the first few together. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and lewdness. Adultery, this means unlawful sexual relations. The commandment speaks of this, thou should not commit adultery. If we want to expound on that, the next one does just that, fornication. This is the Greek word here used as porneia, from the modern-day word pornography derives its name from. If we take a step back and analyze what Satan has engulfed us in, in this perverse sexual world, it's so sickening to see some of the images and the sounds and all that we have to live around in this world. Satan does that by design. His hope is that after time, as we view those images, hear those sounds that maybe we won't be quite as shocked as we once were. Again, maybe we're not just quite as alarmed anymore by the things that are around us. As we go through these, we must ask ourselves, how are these works? Even in the slightest bit, in me, in you and I, the next word speaks of this uncleanness. This is a Greek word that's beyond the physical. The word means unpure motives, unclean in a moral sense or unclean in our thoughts. Let's go over to James 1, verse 14.

James 1, verse 14. This is a big one.

James 1, verse 14. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. We can't allow any of these branches, these works of the flesh, to stay, even for the shortest bit. We can see here that if we do allow them to grow, that they will become fully grown and eventually lead to death.

This is the greatest area of sin that we could say that the one that is born and resides in the mind are thoughts, branches that eventually grow into simple actions and behaviors.

The next work of the flesh is a demonstration of that. It's lewdness. This Greek word here is linked to sexual excess and outward behavior. Again, if we stop and look at all that is around us, surrounding us, what are we allowing to enter into our eyes and our ears eventually reaches our heart? It's all geared toward causing us as firstfruits to become calloused to those things, not become as shocked, allowing those small shoots or limbs to appear, looking to grow into full branches. The next one here, listed in Galatians 5, the next work of the flesh is idolatry. This is image worship. We know Satan works very subtly, and there are different stages of idolatry. We can find ourselves really just in the desire of a created thing. They say, before putting that created thing before that of the creator of all things. That's where it can start, where we make things more important than God as a priority.

Let's summarize all that we've read so far. Let's turn it over to Ephesians 5 or 17. Ephesians 5, 17.

The Scripture brings it together.

Ephesians 5, 17.

Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love as Christ has also loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But, for an occasion, in all uncleanness and covetousness, let it not even be named among you as it is fitting for saints, neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor coarse gesturing, which are not fitting but rather giving to thanks. For this you know that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolatry has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them. So, these words here, these scriptures, focus us in on the importance of what we're speaking about today. This is a stark warning, a call to action. We must analyze ourselves, cut off these branches, not allow them to grow in even the slightest way.

Next word of the flesh, listed in Galatians 5, is sorcery.

You know, this is one that we might read by very quickly, not give it much thought, but this is a work of the flesh that is enormous here in the world. This word here is the practice of sorcery or witchcraft, and we do know this represents a huge part of society. The new Twilight movie that was just recently out has the main character being impregnated by a vampire, and the storyline takes them where they avoid werewolves. She gives birth to this new species.

It's completely sickening. The Harry Potter movies have grossed over almost eight billion dollars. Harry the Good Witch is in continual battle with the Bad Witch, and if you read the transcripts from these movies, it's some of the most shocking words that you've ever seen.

These books and these movies are targeted to our younger audience.

At one part of the Harry Potter movie, Harry faces what they call Dementors, who have the power to devour human souls.

It's incredible. All these works of the flesh are real, so we must analyze what we are seeing, and what we think, and what comes before us. Jennifer and I had this recently come to the forefront with us. Right around the beginning of October, we bought an online membership for our two small children. It's a pretty neat online game that they go into. It has different worlds, and they can go to these different worlds and play different games and earn points, and maybe get a jet pack that they can fly around to the different worlds. Well, we had just bought this membership, and the next time we logged on, we had all of the Halloween images just right there when you first pulled it up. You know, the jack-o'-lanterns, and the witch, and the ghouls, and skeletons, and black cats, all those things. So we took a look at it, and we saw that there were actually two worlds that they could actually get to. They didn't have those images in them, so we instructed them, our two little children, you know, go to those worlds. Only spend time in those worlds. We don't want to spend time in these others. So they were doing just as we had instructed them to do, and a few days later we were looking over their shoulder, and they had just logged it on, and they were doing as we instructed them to do. We realized very quickly it really just struck us like a ton of bricks. They were having to navigate through all these images, all those images to get to the part that we said it was okay for them to view. And we realized that they were navigating through these images that God detests, abhors, he condemns very strongly. You know, did we hesitate in this choice going on this website? Because we had spent money, didn't want to waste that money? Did we compromise in that way? You know, that example might not resonate with some of you, but we know we can't avoid many things that this world presents us that we're living in, but there's a bigger concept here that is so important, so crucial. As we go through these works, we must analyze every part of our life. God says in Luke 16, he who is faithful in the least is faithful in the much. And God must know that many times it's the small things that reveal God to God what we're about to show God the most. We should never hesitate on these things. We should never compromise on any of these things that we're going through today. The next works here, listed of the flesh, violate the law of love, you could say. Works of, listed in Galatians 5, hatred. You know, that creates barriers between us. Contentions. That's an outward expression of strife. So if we have any division amongst us, we know that we're instructed and admonished, as Matthew 5, 24, says. You know, leave your gift at the altar. Go make good with your brother. Reconcile with him. That means drop everything. That's how important it is. Jealousy is the next one. This is fueled by a focus of the self and speaks against the servant attitude that Christ displayed. Outbursts of wrath is the next one. Being quick to anger.

We see being quick to anger mentioned here with a list that says, if we're not constantly working to eliminate, it says we want to inherit the earth. Selfish ambitions is the next one. Again, not displaying that servant type attitude that we must put forth. Dissensions and heresies all causing divisions.

You know, are we causing divisions even in the slightest way? Those are the questions we must ask. Are we always inclusive of everyone? No matter if we have much in common with them.

Envy, we spoke of that with jealousies. Murders, the expansion of that is hatred, drunkenness, revelries. Think of the drug and alcohol epidemic we have in society. This is a society that's full of excess and indulgence and pleasures and self-gratification. Those things are the world's gods. Turn over to Romans 13 verse 11.

Let's read about the things that we're speaking of here. Romans 13.

Verse 11.

And do this, knowing the time that now is high time to awake out of sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust. Make no provision, it says. So these works of darkness, it's mentioned, these lusts of the flesh. So it is important for us to continue to take a self-analysis of these things. Turn over to 1 Corinthians 11. It speaks of this very directly. Our role in this. 1 Corinthians 11 verse 31.

1 Corinthians 11 verse 31. These are normal scriptures that we read at Passover about this self-analysis. For if we judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may be condemned, that we may not be condemned with the world. So this speaks of us taking an active role in our own pruning.

You know, we know Christ as the master gardener, working to eliminate those branches from our life, that works of the flesh to keep us firmly planted in that vineyard of God. But we must continue ourselves to analyze ourselves. So important. Where are we? And God will judge us and chase us and prune us to help put off these works of the flesh. It's a step-by-step process. We may take or will take our entire physical life. We can't give up. We must continue to ask God to help us identify these things in our life and then have the strength to remove them. And even more difficult, have the strength to keep them removed. You know, not allow them to come back in our lives in the slightest way. But we know with true repentance, God will help us have victory. And so these branches will be removed and we must keep them off at all costs. Let's now turn back to John 15 verse 1 and take a look at the other type of pruning here.

We've seen the branches that were to cut off completely.

Let's see what the other type of pruning here. John 15.1.

I am the true vine and my father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, he prunes. That it may bear more fruit.

So this is the second type of pruning that we're speaking of today, to prune the branches that are already producing fruit. That applies to many of you sitting out there today. For sure is, we're overcoming these works of the flesh and producing the fruit that God wants to see in us. So let's look, take a look at the spiritual fruit that we are to be growing. You know, ask these questions, how is, what is this spiritual fruit? How is the spiritual fruit produced? And what is the end result? Let's first look at what type of spiritual fruit we are to produce. Let's turn back to Genesis 1 and verse 21. Genesis 1 verse 21. What type of spiritual fruit are we to produce? Going back to Genesis is always a great way to set a foundation on every topic.

Genesis 1 and verse 21.

So God created great sea creatures in every living thing that moves with which the waters abounded, according to their kind. And every winged bird, according to its kind. Let's skip down to verse 24. Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind, cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind. And it was so. God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind.

God saw that it was good. Verse 26. God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in his image. In the image of God, he created him. Male and female, he created them. Then God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. The commentary here says the word image denotes a likeness in form. The material may be different, but it means the original by which it was patterned is there, indicating a resemblance in quality, external and internal. So all the creation of all living creatures is listed here, according to its kind, repeated over and over again. An introduction of man certainly doesn't break that pattern. Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, to resemble God. So the fruit, the ultimate fruit that we are producing is that of the God-kind.

As we go through this today, looking at our preparations, our works, our fruit, that we need to be growing, we need to remember that God chose us, chose us, you and I, since the foundation of the world, to do this one thing, to produce this fruit that speaks to, again, to the level of preparation that we must be having right now, the momentum from the feast, to keep that going. There's nothing else more important than this, the coming kingdom of God. That's what our faith is based upon. So the Bible reveals that there's nine fruits that it says, evidenced in the lives of those who have the Holy Spirit. We need to ask ourselves as we go through these, are these traits in me, in you? Are we growing in them? You don't have to turn there, but Romans 8 and 9 speaks of, it says, but if you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. So we have to have these traits and these qualities. These are the characteristics that we must exhibit in order to remain planted in the very vineyard of God, to be part of that body of Christ. So let's turn to Galatians 5, verse 23. Galatians 5, 23. And see, excuse me, Galatians 5, 22. And see what Paul was inspired to write about this fruit that we should have. Galatians 5, 22. The fruit of the Spirit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such, there is no law. You know, again, many of you have been producing fruit for many years. God says he wants to produce more fruit. More fruit. Fooler fruit. Let's see what it means to have these traits and how we can grow in these areas. And how we do that will ultimately determine our reward. The reward in God's kingdom. The first one listed here, of course, is a big one. Love. We know that Christ's ministry was characterized by this. He sacrificed all, as we read at the beginning of this message, all for his love of us before we were even created from the right hand of God to the sacrificial lamb for all the mankind. John 15 verse 9. Let's turn there. John 15 verse 9.

This is a beautiful scripture that sums up this love and this fruit of the Spirit.

John 15 and verse 9. As the Father loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

So the comparison here of love we should have and give to God and to one another. It says, keep my commandments. In other words, put off those works of the flesh. Put on the fruit. It says here, if we do this, we will abide in his love. We'll abide in his love at the highest level. At the very highest level, he says, just as I abide in my Father's love. It's incredible to think about. If we put off these bad branches, put on this fruit, that's the end result. Joy is the next one mentioned here as the fruits of the Spirit. Let's continue to read here in verse 11. John 15 verse 11. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full. So here it says we must work on pruning ourselves, join our joy of ourselves, our human nature with that of Christ's joy. And in doing so, then our joy will be full, complete. Christ joining his joy with ours. He comes to abide in us and it makes our joy, our incomplete joy, then full. It makes our incomplete love, then full. Joy is a critical fruit to have, to endure to the end. Hebrews 12 verse 1. Let's read that. Hebrews 12 and verse 1. Enduring to the end. We'll see how joy is a key element there. Hebrews 12 verse 1. Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author, the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God. All these fruits will help strengthen us, our faith, in the coming kingdom of God. That's what we're speaking of. The joy that was set before Christ could be set before us so we can endure. Peace is the next fruit listed. There are in Galatians 5. Peace is the third fruit we must have for this endurance. John 14 verse 25. Let's read that how this peace is also a necessary component of endurance. John 14 verse 25. John 14 verse 25.

There is an endurance that we're looking to have, and all these things keep our faith pointing that way. John 14 verse 25.

These things I have spoken to you while being present with you, but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I've said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled. Either let it be afraid. So we see here that Christ gives us this this fruit, this fruit of peace to make our peace full for endurance, critical, and making our faith perfect. Critical in giving us that perseverance to the end. We get to the point where we're not affected by the outward circumstances, these pressures of the world. You know, those things don't affect us. Well, that's the point we want to get to. Peace is not the absence of conflict.

But it's the faith in knowing that God is present during those conflicts. No matter the conflict, He is there. That's the inner peace that we are to grow in. It will be so important at the end time when there's many struggles ahead. The next one is fruit of the Spirit is long suffering. This describes the capacity to continue to keep going under difficult circumstances, not with passive complacency, we could say, but with a hopeful fortitude.

Actively resisting weariness, actively resisting defeat.

Let's turn over to Hebrews 10 verse 32. Hebrews 10 verse 32. This long suffering, endurance.

Hebrews 10, 32. But recall the former days in which after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, partly while you were made a spectacle, both by reproaches and tribulations, partly while you became companions of those who were so treated. For you had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has a great reward, for you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith, but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. So it says to live by faith. Again, all these things that we're looking at today, the self-preparation to the minute detail is in preparation for this coming kingdom of God. Verse 36 says that after we've done the will of God, in other words, after we've been pruned to his likeness, the promises will be received. What a comforting thought as we're looking to endure all the things that we face. The next fruit is kindness. This is goodness and action, sweetness of disposition. I love this word. Gentleness in dealing with others. It describes the ability to act in the welfare of others, no matter if it's reciprocated, received back. You know, the Holy Spirit removes the abrasive qualities of us from our character. And this is a very impactful word here. Let's turn to Ephesians 2.4 and see how this word relates to the very riches of our grace. It's incredible. This word, kindness. Ephesians 2 verse 4.

Ephesians 2.4, But God, who is rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved and raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Then in the ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness toward us in Jesus Christ. So it speaks of the supreme sacrifice for us to be extended, the riches of this gift of grace. The gift of grace, it says here, he gives us this gift out of his kindness. You know, we didn't deserve this kindness. You know, this is the highest level of example of kindness that we're looking to put on so that we can extend that to one another on this physical plane. The next fruit is like it. Goodness is the next fruit of the Spirit. This is an outpouring of generosity. Turn over to 2 Thessalonians 1 in verse 11. We'll see how this word, how God looks at this word as fruit of the Spirit and how we should use it in our lives and apply it to ourselves. 2 Thessalonians 1 verse 11. Therefore, we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of his calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness in the work of faith with power. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, in you and him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This speaks of the worthiness of our calling. It's God's pleasure, his goodness, it says, to count us worthy of his calling, to join his family, his spiritual family, the work of faith which Christ is glorified in us. The next one is faith. The next fruit of the Spirit is faith. This requires personal resolve, you know, not to wander away from the commitments, not to wander away from the promises that have set before us. Faith is being made perfect from these works. This is what we're speaking of. Revelation speaks of any of those things which we are about to suffer. Revelation 2 verse 10 says that the devil will throw these things in front of us, throw you in prison that you may be tested in the tribulation to come. Be faithful, he says. Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life. Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life. This is the point that we're trying to work toward, perfecting this faith, putting off those works of the flesh, you know, putting on the the fruit of the Spirit. Gentleness is the next word translated here.

The next fruit of the Spirit is gentleness and a better translation is actually meekness, not an indication of weakness by any means. A person who possesses the quality to correct faults, rules his own spirit well, not easily provoked to anger, free from bitterness. You know, naturally, as we cut off those works, those branches of the flesh, naturally we will move toward these fruits of the Spirit. One individual that was described in this way, God describes Moses as he was delivered Israel out of captivity, led them to the Promised Land. Numbers 12 describes him as a man who was very meek above all on the face of the earth. So meekness is not a lack of strength. It's an attitude approaching God. We can look at it as ourselves, approaching one another, our brothers, and how we approach them, realizing that nothing is possible, unless it's done through God and Christ. All things can be possible. The next fruit of the Spirit is self-control. This is another big one that we struggle with, being physical. A mastery over one's possession, over one's behavior. We should remain in control of all of our emotions and our attitudes. Let's turn to 1 Corinthians 10, verse 13. 1 Corinthians 10, 13. Read about this temptation and how we can need to remain in control of any temptation that's set before us. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 13. No temptation has overtaken you, except such as is common to man, but God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. But with the temptation, we'll also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it.

So we must have faith that we can have victory over these fleshly desires put on that faith, make perfect that faith through these works. As we go through this pruning, inevitably, if we compare it to the pruning of a tree, we can sometimes feel like there's actually negative growth at first. But in the long run, a tree that's pruned produces better and more fruit. The fruit is guaranteed. If we abide in Christ, God is pruning each one of us. So that in the world tomorrow, we can better serve all of mankind.

So now completing the fall Holy Days. As we look forward to the spring Holy Days to come, we need to focus on what is necessary to flourish, endure the pruning, focus on God's Word, the Holy Spirit, bring forth this fruit. In a way, it's fruit that we produce in this lifetime. That fruit will be then able to be fed to those in the world tomorrow.

Those who have never had the opportunity, the privilege to know and be revealed what we know.

Always keep that in mind. We have this astounding future. The ultimate destiny, the purpose of our existence is to become the divine children of God. These aren't just cliches. This is the reality. This is what we're always pointing to each and every day. We should keep that in mind and think about these things.

What works are we putting forward in everything that we do down to the minute parts of everything about our life? Let's continue to put off those works which lead to death and put on the fruit that will lead us to one day hearing those words. Can we imagine? Fear not, for I am with you, and I've come together you all up from the east, the west, the north, the south. The scripture says, don't hold any back. Bring all my sons from afar and all my daughters from the ends of the earth.