Spring is upon us (despite the beautiful snow that is currently blanketing Denver)! Spring brings with it a fever to clean, clear-out, de-clutter, host garage sales, and haul excess to Goodwill. There is a great metaphor here for what we need spiritually as well. We need to take time in new seasons to remove, be pruned, cut-out, clean, and clear-out those things that fail to add value to our spirits and maybe equally important, the souls of others. We are commanded to build up and edify (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Spiritual junk and clutter is easily identifiable! We should be bearing only fruit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” (Galatians 5:22-23). Anything that opposes or rots the fruit in our life is worthy of being cut-off, cleared out, and burned up. Be intentional this week about producing more fruit in your life. Jesus wants to use you to change the environments you are in. He wants you to find healing and surrender from those things that are causing pain and despair in your life. But it is your responsibility to pursue the Spirit’s gifts, they are available and freely given, will you choose to receive them?
1. Clear out Hate & replace with Love
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:29-32)
2. Change Sadness to Joy
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13)
3. Surrender Anxiety & receive Peace
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6-7)
4. Lay down Frustration & practice Patience
A man with understanding is patient and slow to anger, a quick-tempered man is foolish (Proverbs 14:29)
5. Resist Animosity & act with Kindness
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil (Luke 6:35 )
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32
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6. Reject Evil & seek Goodness
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thess 5:22)
7. Destroy Infidelity & choose Faithfulness
A faithful man will abound with blessings (Prov 28:20a)
Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride (Psalm 31:23)
You shall have no other gods before me (Ex 20:3)
8. Transform Roughness into Gentleness
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all (Phil 4:4-5)
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9)
9. Get rid of Impulsivity & regain Self-control
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls (Prov 25:28)
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Cor 10:13)
