MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 5, 2025
Goodness: the Fifth ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit (Part 1)
“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Eph. 5: 9, 10, KJV. Read verses 1-8.
The true followers of God, as His dear children, are light in the world for they are His children of light. They are exactly the opposite of the “children of darkness,” of disobedience, and of the world who are distinguished by the ten types of sins identified in verses 1-8.
The life “walk”, “conversation” and conduct of the children of light proves what is truly acceptable to God for it manifests as “fruits” of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. What they think, say, and do is revealed “IN ALL GOODNESS and RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH.”
This cannot but be “good news” of “the truth as is in Jesus,” the very “truth that sets the sinner free” from his bondage and slavery to his previous life of the darkness of ignorance, disobedience, presumption, indulgence, and “love of the world, the things of the world, and the lust of the eye and the flesh.”
The true children of light claim no original or originating goodness and righteousness and truth on their part, but instead truly “ask, seek, knock for the Holy Spirit,” and “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” And as Jesus promised as a blessing in His Sermon on the Mount—-the foundational platform of His kingdom of righteousness—they are likewise “filled with all HIS righteousness.” They obtain it not by self works but “by faith that works by love” (Gal. 5:6) and purifies the soul through the work of sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Thus Christ, not self, is glorified “in all goodness, righteousness and truth.”
There is no true “goodness” if it is not of righteousness and truth! And all are imparted only to the “children of light”
by the Holy Spirit from Jesus Christ the Holy One!
Sunday is the first working day of the seven-day week. There is no “eighth day” the alleged “day of light” as asserted by a previous pope!
“Work for the night is coming when man works no more.”
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.