Walking with the Spirit part 6
Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit for the Kingdom of God
Last time we began looking at spiritual disciplines as the means to grow closer with God and cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. This week, we will continue looking at the disciplines focusing on the last two categories—joining with God and resting with God.
As we consider these, let’s remember the first category and how they help us cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. Those that fall under “Meeting with God” are prayer, Scripture intake, and fasting. These three endeavors help draw us into the presence of God. They are how we can hear what the Lord has for us and calls us toward. Once we hear from Him, then it is time to get to work. Whereas the first three are about putting our heads and hearts in line with God, these next ones put our hands to work.
Joining with God
Evangelism
The first discipline that comes from joining with God is evangelism. Its basis is in the Great Commission found in Matthew.
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
We know what to do, but for many Christians, they are not sure how to do it. While there are several places that discuss the idea of telling people about Christ, I believe we can learn much from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Paul is addressing them in the context of division—some say they follow Paul, others Apollos, etc, but his argument for why they should unite tells us much about the process of evangelism.
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
1 Corinthians 3:1-15
Let’s pause there for a moment. Notice Paul is addressing a foundational problem with the church. They have divisions among them. Nothing stifles evangelism as quickly as divisions in a church. People have enough problems in their own lives. They do not want to join an organization that will simply add to the drama. As we consider these spiritual disciplines both individually and collectively, let’s keep in mind this biblical principle:
A church’s evangelism practices can only be as effective as they are unified in their mission to serve the Lord.
If the church is divided by groups each seeking their own agendas, their growth will be stifled. And if this division is left unchecked, it will begin to die as Christians seek healthier places to worship and the lost seek more entertaining activities altogether. Let’s continue.
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
1 Corinthians 3:1-15
Evangelism is a discipline, but it is one with a direct impact on the lost around us. Sometimes Christians believe they need to seek a lot of training before they go and evangelize, but the truth is, going out and telling people about Jesus is some of the best training you can get—it’s on-the-job training.
But we can get frustrated as we go, because what we expect, and really want, is for every time we tell someone about Jesus, they break down in tears, repent and follow Christ. It’s a great picture, but the truth is some things take time. It takes time for a prideful person to be humbled. But look how Paul describes the task.
First, we are all working together. The Corinthians were arguing over who was the best apostle, and Paul reminds them he, Apollos, and even the Corinthians are only servants of God. It is God that matters most. God gives the growth. Everyone else is simply doing the task God gave them.
Second, we work for God, and He blesses the work. Akin to that is the fact that Christ is our foundation. No one can start another foundation means that no one else is worthy like Christ. If we start building a program or ministry on a foundation other than Christ, then we are building something else. It is not God’s Church. But each one builds on the foundation Christ laid in order to fulfill the task and purpose God has for them.
Evangelism is us joining with God in building His Church and His people.
Third, the “Day” refers to the culmination of this age. The final test for our work comes at the end of this age when the world will be transformed from its sinful, corrupted state into the New Heaven and New Earth God has in store. When that day comes, there will be some Christians who will make it to Heaven, but will be there with little to show for themselves. Everything they built on this earth was for them and not God. Their work will be burnt up, because they built up treasures that won’t survive the Day. Instead of hearing “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” they will hear “Why did you waste your time?”
There will be a day when the discipline of evangelism will no longer be an option. Until that day comes, take stock of the people in your life. Are they ready for the Day of the Lord? Are they ready for when Jesus cuts through the sky and returns to this earth? There will be no more time to repent when that day comes. Make every effort to make yourself ready, but don’t forget those around you who still need to hear about Jesus and the transforming power of the Gospel.
Ministering
Connected to evangelism is the discipline of ministering. A common objection to the idea of evangelism is “Well, they don’t want to listen.” Sometimes this may be true, though more often than not, people are willing to hear about Jesus. But even if you happen to be in a rougher area, or in front of people who have no desire to hear about Jesus, ministering to their needs is the avenue toward gaining an audience with them. Yes, we minister just for the sake of doing good in this world, but we also take advantage of the time given to us by those we seek to minister.
Ministry comes in a variety of forms, but consider how Paul describes it in Ephesians.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Ministering to others is not about earning our salvation. It is about fulfilling the tasks God has designed for us to do. We are saved by grace through faith. It is not our doing—it is the gift of God. But in that very same thought, Paul says, “We are His workmanship, created for good works.” God has specifically designed you to accomplish the ministry of good that is before you. Consider this: you are not alive in this time and in this place on accident. God has ordained that you would be here and now so that you can accomplish the good that you will do in this world. But you cannot do the ministry given to you, if you don’t engage with the world around you.
Ministering is doing the good works God designed for us.
James says “Faith without works is dead,” because true faith compels us to do good to those around us. If you really are “made alive with Christ” as Paul says it, then we must live. Live out your faith by doing good in this world, and when people respond asking why you do such things, then you can tell them about Jesus.
Teach
Next, is the discipline of teaching. Now, it is true not everyone can be a teacher—and nor should everyone want to be. James reminds us teachers are held to a higher standard, so be careful before jumping into teaching. But, at the same time, Scripture is clear that we must learn and teach God’s commands to those around us. At the very least, there are children around us that must learn to fear the Lord. And thus, God tells us in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
First, we are given the Shema which is the great proclamation given in Judaism, and with it we read the Great Commandment.
Second, notice right alongside the Great Commandment is the commandment to teach these things to your children. Wherever we go, sitting, walking, lying down, and getting up, we are to teach the children. Living the Christian life is a way of life that we teach and demonstrate to the children around us. If you don’t want to lead a bible study, that’s fine, but find ways to teach others around you about Jesus.
Teaching is being a good steward of the grace and knowledge God has given you.
At a corporate level, when we consider teaching others we are considering the teaching programs we offer, such as AWANA and Sunday School. Those two are certainly our biggest, but let’s take a quick look at the teaching programs at Chilhowee.
We offer:
Sunday School for each age group
AWANA on Wednesdays for K-6
Youth on Sunday Nights for 6-12
Topic-based, short-term discipleship classes Mondays and Tuesdays
Now, these are fairly traditional offerings, and we have certainly seen a measure of success from them in the past. But most of these have been going on in this church for quite a long time. But longevity is neither a mark of health nor ill health. The question is not “How long can we keep them going?”, but rather the question we should ask ourselves, as a church, is “Are they effective for what they are designed to do?” So, what are they designed to do?
Well, going back to the Great Commission, they should be “teaching [disciples] to observe (or obey) all the things Jesus commanded.” In short, are they teaching disciples how to make more disciples, and are they teaching them to be the people of God they are designed to be?
My own observation is, yes, they are doing that for those that show up. When I consider the people that show up for these classes, they do seem to be growing in their faith. But what about those that aren’t? Part of the DNA for every small group teaching program should be an element of evangelism. Groups have to be on the lookout for new members in order for the people to reach others making disciples that make disciples.
The discipline of teaching is directly connected to the discipline of evangelism in every healthy small group program.
Never discount the ability of a small group class to reach more people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. I want to challenge every single member of this church. If you are not in a Sunday School, AWANA, youth, or some other small group class, find one, NOW. These groups are how you can grow in your knowledge and faith of Jesus Christ. And it is also in these groups you will find those who can help you reach more people with the Gospel. If you are in a group, who do you know that can join your group? Who is not coming that needs to show up? Reach out to them right now. Text them, call them, bug them, whatever it takes, find people that can join in your small group that need to grow in their faith. And if they are lost, invite them anyway. Millions of Christians have been saved because they were invited to a small group class.
As we finish this category of spiritual disciplines, notice all three of these are tied together. The Lord wants to grow His Kingdom, and he calls us to be a part of its growth.
We are called to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit through spiritual disciplines, and in that process, we can help grow the Kingdom of God by leading others to follow Jesus in saving faith.