Trivia Q: What Other Serial Killer of 100's Never Made the News?

Kirsten Power's excellent article in USA Today is spot on.  Under what circumstances would the trial of a serial killer of hundreds of people NOT be on the front page of every single newspaper in America?

What if the serial killer's victims were all babies?  Wouldn't you expect that every single news show would lead their broadcasts with the update of the trial?

Maybe you've forgotten that Kermit Gosnell is that serial killer.  Maybe you didn't realize that the news media is ignoring the trial.  But why would they do such a thing?

Maybe it is because Gosnell was an abortion doctor.  Maybe they know that allowing the American people to see this level of evil might give a black eye to their "pet issue."

Call all local newspapers and media outlets and demand that they cover this.  

We need to know what happened here.  Gosnell needs to be held accountable not only in a court of law, but by the American people.  That can't happen if we don't know about it.

Further, our local, state and federal legislative bodies need to be held accountable too.  What have they done to prevent this from ever happening again?

Can You DO the Fruit of the Spirit?

If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you have heard many messages on the Fruit of the Spirit.  You know the list...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Today's tough question is "can you DO the fruit of the Spirit?"  Let's take a look at Galatians 5:16-24 for some clues:  

5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 

5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 

5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 

5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 

5:20  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 

5:21  envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

5:23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

A couple of points to think about:

First, the fruit of the Spirit is the Holy Spirit's fruit.  The Holy Spirit's very nature is made up of these things.  

Second, The fruit is not the Christian's fruit.  Paul does not call it "the fruit of the Christian."  

Third, the Christian's flesh does some stuff - but Paul calls them "deeds" (v19) instead of fruit. Deeds are things we do.  In fact, our flesh desires to do these bad deeds.

In versus 16 and 18, Paul gives us the keys.  If we walk by the Spirit:  1.  we will not do the evil deeds of our flesh and 2. the Holy Spirit will manifest His fruit in our lives.  Paul clarifies further by implying in versus 18 and 23, that if we trust in our own selves and try to live by the law, the result will be the deeds of our flesh.  

The point Paul makes is "trust God" in your life instead of taking it upon yourself to "do the law."  Haven't we learned by now that we are not good at doing the law?  If we could do it, wouldn't Jesus' sacrifice have been in vain?

So, the answer to the question is "no," you cannot do the Fruit of the Spirit.  But, by trusting God, His Spirit will display those fruits in your life.  Walk in the Spirit (v16).  Let Him lead you (v18).

Make sense?

Great Question - Why do you.....?

“If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”  

(Col 2:20-23 NAS95S)

Well, what's your answer?  Making rules to live by doesn't work.  If it did, then Jesus' sacrifice was pointless.  It seems like a wise thing to do.  But, in reality, it does nothing to keep you from sin and in a close relationship with your Father.  So, again, what's you answer?

Legalism versus The Life

This is a must listen audio.  It's a long clip but something that is absolutely worth while. Okay, I'm begging you to listen to it. 

Question 1:  What do you think?  Question 2:  Were you surprised that this man would deliver this message?  

Serious Question

Jesus said that there are two things more important than anything else. In fact, not only were they more important than anything else, but everything else that is good depends on them. What are these things?

Jesus said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40

Think about what "as yourself" means and how that is the opposite of what your flesh desires. Forget about your neighbor and just focus on the other believers who are close to you. Let's start with them. Now, here's the serious question: Do you?

Couldn't Then - Can't Now

The requirement for salvation is the same requirement for living as a Christian.   

In Galatians 1 & 2, Paul admonishes Galatian Christians and some of his own close friends to stop falling back into living by the law.  He calls this action "another gospel."  The point is clear.  A Christian cannot live by the law now any more than he could back before he trusted Jesus.  

But, that is exactly what we try to do.  We start believing that our own works gain us favor and better standing with God.  Not true at all.  Not true then and not true now.

Sure enough, God calls us to do things.  By trusting Him, we'll be able to.  We've got to get back to where we were when it was just us and Jesus - forsaking all else.  Because, just like Paul said, 

For through the law I have died to the law, that I might live to God.....

Galatians 2:19

Be & Trust

Be Sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world. Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. 1 Peter 5:8-10

Notice what Peter did not say. He did not say "do." Through temptation and tragedy the most evil of all will approach you. He'll either whisper lies in your ear or he'll try to destroy you by whispering lies in the ears of others. It will happen many, many times tomorrow...and the next day...and the next.

Stand firm in your belief and trust in God and wait it out. That is the answer. That is always the answer. Our tendency is to either give up or flee to religion thinking that doing more good stuff will save us. It will not.

One day the believer will no longer have to endure it. For now, until that day, we just have to be aware of Evil's scheme's, trust God and wait.

I'm tired of all this. But, that is the cost for the Christ-follower. And, just like Peter suggested, it helps to know that my brothers and sisters are enduring it too.