Fruit of RighteousnessSpeaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: If you live a righteous life, a life of blessing to you and your family, you will be exalted. You shall arise and shine, and turn many to righteouness. You shall have peace all around you. 'Fruit of righteousness' means a life filled with peace. Do you have peace in your life?
Philippians 4:7 talks of a "peace which surpasses all understanding" and that is the peace of God.
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
We read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22,23: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." How does this peace come? Who is behind this? The secret is, Christ in you, who is the hope of glory.
"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)
If we have the experience of the Lord dwelling in us, then we can receive these blessings.
The Lord gave me this peace when I was sixteen years old. From that day, I began to love God and I knew that He loved me. I got the divine peace into my life.
The Lord wishes to transform us like Him and to make peace with everyone, before we are filled with this divine peace. "We are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). The Lord transforms us as He was in this world.
"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (1 John 2:6)
Friend, when you are righteous in your life and in your thoughts, the Lord will be with you.
"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)
"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness." (Hebrew 12:14)
"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." (Romans 12:18)
This is the most difficult thing to do. Once when I was speaking in a meeting, I said, "Children of God should not have enmity, hatred, vengeance and bitterness; only then peace will prevail. So if you are not in good terms with anybody, go and make peace with them immediately." A few days later I received a letter saying, "Sister, I truly repented on hearing your message. As you said, I went to one of my relatives to make peace, as I was not in good terms with her; but she went off turning her face. I did not know what to do." So, I advised her, "It does not matter if she did not respond to you; but continue to pray for people like her". She submitted her in the hands of the Lord saying, "Lord, give Your love in her heart. You said that we should be in peace with everybody. You talk to her." The Lord heard her prayer and they were united.
This is the fruit of righteousness. So if you submit yourself to the Lord and pray to Him today, He will surely give you a life of righteousness and fill you with His peace.
"The horns of the righteous shall be exalted." (Psalm 75:10)
Dear friend, if you live a righteous life, a life of blessing to you and your family, your horns will also be exalted. You shall remain righteous in the Lord and shall arise and shine. You shall turn many to righteouness. May the Lord bless you with the fruit of righteousness!
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
Grant me the fruit of righteouness. Let Your righteouness and peace be seen in my life and in all that I do. Enable me and all my loved ones to live a life filled with the fruit of righteousness. Help us to be at peace with each other and to share Your message of love. Fill me with Your joy of salvation. Thank You for graciously answering my prayer.
Amen. |