Beloved, in this fallen world, we are up against the principalities and powers of the demonic spiritual realm, and as we stand against them in Christ, there is a proper order and balance of how we dress in this holy fray (Eph. 6:10-201 John 4:4). When we are abiding in Christ, our ETERNAL Life and Foundation, there has to be a commited stance in truth, doctrine and sanctifcation to ever begin to stand against our greatest enemies (Matt. 11:28-30, John 15:4–5; Colossians 3:1–4). The Christian life is not lived by or in our own strength, wisdom, or righteousness, but through our living and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ in Spirit and Truth (John 15:1-9, Gal. 2:20). Jesus is our ETERNAL foundation, our life, and the source of all spiritual fruitfulness and victory. Jesus declared, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, ESV). As we abide in Him, allowing His Word to abide in us (John 15:7), we walk in fellowship with the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18), standing firmly in His truth, righteousness, salvation, faith, and the gospel of peace, wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. All these pieces of the armor of God are the Life and spiritual attributes of Christ! He is our all in all, in our all in all, for His all in all! Our spiritual armor is not for advancing our own will, but for standing faithfully in Christ's ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS against the schemes of OUR MOST FIERCE enemy, the devil (1 Peter 5:8). Beloved, Christ is our life! His Word is our truth! His strength is our victory! (Col. 3:1-4).
Beloved, if you seek to put on, by faith, the armour of Almighty God without abiding and allowing Him to produce His life and fruit in you, you will be dressed inadequately for the raging spiritual war before you!
Beloved, bearing the Fruit of the Spirit, for our Heavenly Father's ETERNAL Glory, is the greatest glory that we can seek on our pilgrim journey (Galatians 5:22–25; John 15:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31)! As we abide in Christ and walk by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit produces His life and fruit within us! One beautiful fruit is expressed through nine characteristics: agape love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). These are not merely human virtues we manufacture, but the supernatural evidence of God's transforming work in His redeemed children. The armor of God enables us to stand against evil, while the fruit of the Spirit reveals the character of Christ through our lives. Together, they demonstrate a life surrendered to Almighty God's RIGHTEOUS will, bringing ETERNAL glory to the Father through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. As members of Christ's body, redeemed from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Revelation 5:9), we are called to bear lasting fruit, faithfully serving Him until we stand before Christ at His judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:10). Beloved, the fruit of the Spirit is the visible manifestation of the Life and attributes of God in the child of God, outworked by the Spirit of God for His ETERNAL glory of God here in time! We are to be an army of faithful and abiding soldiers in the spiritual war here in time. Beloved, in closing, our ETERNAL salvation is ETERNALLY secured in Christ, and our faithful service is to be obedience to our Faithful Shepherd, which will bring Him glory now and FOREVER! (Ephesians 2:8–10; Revelation 22:3–5).
The armor of God enables us to stand against evil, while the fruit of the Spirit reveals the character of Christ through our lives. Together, they demonstrate a life surrendered to Almighty God's RIGHTEOUS will, bringing ETERNAL glory to the Father through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Beloved, as we look in these last EXPONETIALLY lawless growing days for Jesus' return, may we in obedience stay abiding and fighting the good fight! Our labour is NOT in vain!
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” — John 15:8, ESV
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Maranatha!
David
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