Equipped for Partnership

This excerpt, drawn from a sermon by Rev. Dr. Eric Peters on "Equipped for Partnership" and referencing Galatians 5, emphasizes the distinction and purpose of the Gifts of the Spirit versus the Fruit of the Spirit. The core message is that believers are called to liberty, which should be expressed by serving one another through love, fulfilling the law, and resisting the destructive works of the flesh by choosing instead to walk in the Spirit. The text highlights that while spiritual gifts equip believers for ministry to others, the Fruit of the Spirit—qualities like love, joy, and peace—is the natural produce of Christ’s influence and provides the essential character needed to maintain the unity of the church family. Ultimately, developing this spiritual fruit is presented as necessary evidence of a genuine encounter with Jesus and a dependence on God, actively transforming believers to reflect Christ's nature in their interactions.

Galatians 5:13-26 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Keep in Step with the Spirit 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

God has provided us with everything we need to ensure we can fulfill all His expectations.

Modern Christianity is focused significantly on the gifts of the spirit but we must understand the purpose of both.

The fruit of the Spirit is the natural produce of his gracious inward influence, the spontaneous and inevitable result of his uniting us to Jesus Christ. Philip Graham Ryken

Gifts & Fruits of The Spirit in Partnership

• Gifts equip us to be used by God to minister His power to others in the exercise of ministry. Be warned that not all gifts come from God so it is not a reliable indicator of one’s genuine connection with God. Matthew 7:22&23

  
  

• The gifts are understandably more attractive as the appeal to the needy side of humanity but are temporal. However, fruit is not very appealing at it focuses on not giving or receiving but becoming something that our nature rejects.

  
  

• Fruit equips us with the character necessary to facilitate our dealing with each other and maintaining the family of God.

  
  

• The successful development of the fruit of the spirit forms in us the reflection of Christ.

  
  

1. Fruit is necessary for everyone regardless of position. John 15

2. Fruit is the what we produce that is evidence of our encounter with Jesus. Matthew 7:15-20

3. Fruit is an indication of where we are planted. Psalm 1

4. One fruit produces all these qualities.

5. Flesh produces actions that are consistent with its nature, Spirit produces a nature that produces fruit.

6. Fruit and works impact the people around us.

7. Fruit of the spirit is evidence of our dependency on God. John 15:5

Application

1. The objective of the fruit of the spirit is to produce in us qualities that will enhance and determine how we serve each other. Vs 13

   
   

2. 2. Without fruit we can endanger and end the spiritual lives of each other. Vs 15

   
   

3. It is impossible for flesh and spirit to dwell at the same time in the same place. Vs 17

   
   

4. The spirit requires submission but the law requires servitude.

   
   

5. The works of the flesh are simultaneously self destructive, rebellious and self seeking.

   
   

6. The fruit of the Spirit changes us in preparation for the service of God to others.

   
   

7. The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of the life of the Spirit. Vs 25

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The Cry of Christ

The Cry of Christ

This sermon excerpt, "The Cry of Christ," centers on Jesus' prayer in John 17, revealing His passionate desire for the church to achieve glorification. It highlights Christ's role as High Priest, showing His concern for His followers and His unwavering confidence in God's protection. The text emphasizes that Jesus, even in the face of the cross, was focused on the ultimate joy and the manifestation of God's glory on earth through His people. Furthermore, it asserts that unity within the body of believers is crucial, serving as both a protective mechanism and a powerful instrument to demonstrate Christ's identity to the world, ultimately leading to the full revelation of His glory.

Scripture: John 17

The Lord is passionately desirous that the church aligns itself to complete the intended process of glorification that Heaven wants.

Christ' Prayer reveals:

1. Alignment with the will of the Godhead. Vs 8

2. The heart of Christ in His function as High Priest. Vs 9

3. The concern for His people but His confidence in His Father to keep them. Vs 15

4. The ultimate objective of the glorification of the believer. Vs 24

   
   

   In this prayer Jesus seems to look past the immediate danger to befall Him of the cross and is focused on the ultimate bliss.

Hebrews 12:2 KJVS Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Glory is defined as: God's inherent worth, splendor, and majesty; His manifested presence and power; abundant wealth or possessions; human honor, dignity, and fame; and even the bliss of heaven, the kingly majesty which belongs to Him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity

Revelation 21:23 KJVS And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

• The final claim of Christ is that the expression of the Father in the earth through His life is complete. Vs 4.

  
  

• The prayer of Christ was to bring the same glory that operated heaven and manifest it in the earth. Vs 5

  
  

• The qualification for the glory in our lives is the word of God. Vs 6-8

  
  

• The protective mechanism that guards the life of the believer and the relationship we have with God is His word. Vs 14 & 17

  
  

• The unity of the body is intended to replicate the glory of the triune God and manifest Him in the earth. Vs 21 & 22

  
  

• The unity of the body is the instrument God uses to prove that Christ is who He claimed to be to the world. Vs 23

  
  

• The unity of the body is the prerequisite for the ultimate revelation of the glory of Christ. Vs 24

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Partnering With Each Other - The Blessing of a Caring Community

Partnering With Each Other - The Blessing of a Caring Community

Acts 6:1-7 KJVS And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. [2] Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. [3] Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. [4] But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. [5] And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: [6] Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. [7] And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

1. The Challenge of Growth - Care

- One of the signs of growth is the emergence of challenges the response to which determines growth or death.

2. The Collective Deliberation - Care

- The key to addressing communal challenges must be based on an acknowledgment that we all have an interest and a contribution to make in the space.

3. The Concern of Leadership

- leadership must address issues while simultaneously articulating core functions.

4. The Character of Support

- The desire for support is not driven by the urgency or severity of the need but must equally focus on the quality of support presented.

5. The Commitment to Priorities

- Divine wisdom dictates that we guard the foundational elements without compromise.

6. The Confirmation of Ministers - Care

- Support must view themselves as an extension of leadership and not an entity on their own.

7. The Conditions Changed

- When the priorities that create lasting value is connected with deliberate care for temporary pains growth is the result.

Evidence of the presence of God in our lives is presented by how we treat people.

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