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The Fruit of the Ruach (Spirit) Is His Work – Not Ours

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11 Then [YeHoVaH] said, “Let the land sprout grass, green plants yielding seed, fruit trees making fruit, each according to its species with seed in it, upon the land.” And it happened so. 12 The land brought forth grass, green plants yielding seed, each according to its species, and trees making fruit with the seed in it, each according to its species. And [YeHoVaH]  saw that it was good. – Genesis 1:11-12, TLV; the bracketed words are my emphasis

3 to console those who mourn in Zion,
to give them beauty for ashes,
    the oil of joy for mourning,
    the garment of praise
        for the spirit of heaviness,
    that they might be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of [YeHoVaH],
    that He may be glorified. – Isaiah 61:3, TLV; the bracketed word is my emphasis

 3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a sower went out to spread some seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some seeds fell by the road; and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil. They sprang up immediately, because the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up, they were scorched; and because they had no roots, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew and choked them out. 8 But others fell on good soil and were producing fruit. They yielded a crop—some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

23 “Now the one sown on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands. He indeed bears fruit, yielding a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.” – Matthew 13:3-9 and 23, TLV

22 But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23, TLV

The gifts of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), which are given to born again, saved, justified, Spirit-filled, and being sanctified Yeshua believers, empower them for service – they (the spiritual gifts) give Yeshua’s believers spiritual Power that enables them to do ministry work. Without a doubt, YeHoVaH makes it clear in Genesis chapter one that the service Yeshua’s believers are called to do is symbolized by YeHoVaH’s planted, cultivated, and harvested seed that makes fruit according to its species. For sure, some of the ministry works Yeshua’s believers are called to do are as follows:  function as evangelists, participate in missionary activities, minister to the needy, teach Bible classes, and so forth.   

Again, in Genesis chapter one, YeHoVaH says that every fruit tree makes “fruit, each according to its species with seed in it,” and Yeshua says that a tree is known by its fruit – either good or bad (see Luke 6:43-45). What the Father and the Son say about fruit-bearing trees are why it important for Yeshua’s believers to understand that it is the Work of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) that empowers them with spiritual gifts that make it possible for them to function as evangelists, participate in missionary activities, minister to the needy, teach Bible classes, and so on. Furthermore, it is the Work of the Ruach HaKodesh that yields the following fruit in Yeshua’s believers: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Recently, some Christians commented on my Facebook posting about evangelism being the central work of Yeshua’s believers that evangelism isn’t the chief work believers are called to do. These Christians either claimed that love or worship is the principal work of Yeshua’s believers. I responded by telling them that neither godly Love nor godly Worship is WORK. I added that godly Love is a FRUIT of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirt), and I declared that this kind of Love originally/initially comes from a SEED humans did not plant, did not cultivate, and did not harvest.  

The Divine Truth, where each Yeshua believer is concerned, is that it is Yeshua who Plants a SEED in “good soil” (every born again and saved spirit that hears the sown Word and understands It). After Yeshua plants the SEED, it is Yeshua’s Ruach HaKodesh who cultivates that SEED until it matures – grows into a tree of righteousness, which spiritually means that each Yeshua believer is spiritually being transformed into the image of Yeshua who is symbolized as the Vine or the Tree from which spiritually mature/healthy branches (believers) not only sprout but also bear much fruit (see John 15:1-3).

Once there is fruit on a tree of righteousness, it is the Lord’s Ruach HaKodesh who harvests that fruit from each branch – gathers the fruit which has a seed within it. Spiritually speaking, Yeshua’s fruit-bearing believers won’t initially be gathered until the time of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Nevertheless, the spiritual point here is that the fruit of the Ruach HaKodesh is every Yeshua believer’s transformed spirit, and the harvest is that of saved, justified, Spirit-filled,  and sanctified living souls – both the living souls who are dead and alive in Yeshua. Put differently, Yeshua’s believers on earth who bear much fruit only do so because of the Ruach HaKodesh’s progressive Work that is happening in their spirits (good soils). This ongoing sanctification Work of the Ruach HaKodesh results in the spirits (good soils) of Yeshua’s believers yielding, again and again, much fruit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. They continue to bear fruit until they have been transformed into Yeshua and become overcomers who are ready to receive their glorified bodies.

Secondly, where the kind of godly Worship YeHoVaH expects is concerned, this kind of worship is done in Spirit and in Truth (see John 4:24). Without a doubt, the Spirit part of godly Worship refers to the Work of the Ruach HaKodesh. He stirs within good soils the holy desire to celebrate YeHoVaH, as well as the holy desires to rejoice in YeHoVaH and to give thanks to YeHoVaH. This worship of YeHoVaH in Spirit happens after the Ruach HaKodesh awakens in the spirits of Yeshua’s believers a spiritual awareness of YeHoVaH’s Glory, Beauty, and Power. Moreover, this worship of YeHoVaH in Spirit also happens after the Ruach HaKodesh opens the spiritual eyes of understanding within Yeshua’s believers and then empowers their spirits so that they are able to show YeHoVaH how much they comprehend and appreciate everything – all the Godhead’s treasures – YeHoVaH has made available to them through His Son, Yeshua. Again, the spirits of Yeshua’s believers only pertains to the born again, saved, justified, Spirit-filled, and being sanctified spirits that hear the sown Word and understand It.

Now, as far as the Truth part of godly Worship is concerned, this part also refers to the Work of the Ruach HaKodesh because He is the only One who knows all of YeHoVaH’s Truths, as well as knows ALL truths. Only the Ruach HaKodesh can teach, explain, inform, and reveal YeHoVaH’s Scriptural Truths, and only the Ruach HaKodesh can teach, explain, inform, and reveal YeHoVaH’s Scriptural Truths to Yeshua’s born again, saved, justified, Spirit-filled, and being sanctified (transformed) believers’ spirits. Since human interpretations and opinions do not create the atmosphere in which YeHoVaH-exalting worship takes place, this Divine Truth is why the said believers’ godly worship in Truth not only must be informed and conformed by the Ruach HaKodesh’s Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding of YeHoVaH’s Scriptural Truths but also must be founded, embedded, and focused on the Ruach HaKodesh’s Scriptural Revelations of the Truths about YeHoVaH and Yeshua. In other words, the spirits of Yeshua’s believers who are worshipping YeHoVaH in Truth can not do so if their worship is based on the traditions of men or on erroneous human interpretations or opinions about YeHoVaH’s Scriptural Truths.

So again, godly Love and godly Worship are the Works of the Ruach HaKodesh – not our works. Furthermore, the uncomfortable Divine Truth is that we do the work of an evangelist, and all the other ministerial services we are called to do, because we love YeHoVaH and Yeshua enough to want to obey their Commands, as well as love YeHoVaH enough to desire to Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. However, we must realize that we only can do the work of an evangelist; love YeHoVaH, Yeshua, and our fellow human beings; or worship YeHoVaH in Spirit and in Truth when the Ruach HaKodesh’s Work makes it possible for us to have the spiritual power, will, fruit, and gifts to do so. Shalom . . . .  

Have You Really Been “Called”?

16 Sunday May 2010

Posted by in Faith and Wisdom

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Has God Called You

Christians have misused the words “called” and “calling” so much that today it often is difficult to understand to whom exactly believers have been “called,” and it is difficult to understand just what people actually mean when they refer to their “calling.” Even though from century to century mankind has continued to change God’s meanings for “called” and “calling,” the Holy Bible faithfully provides much wisdom and understanding about what God means when these terms are used. Indeed, in God’s economy, the “called” and “calling” still mean the same thing today.

For example, in the Old Testament, “called” refers to a summons or a request for someone’s attention. “Called” in the Old Testament also refers to naming something or someone, and to speaking something into existence.

In the New Testament, “called” is synonymous with salvation, because the Greek word ecclesia, which wrongly is translated into English as “church,” refers to the “called out ones.” “Called” in the New Testament also refers to various roles, responsibilities, values, attitudes, positions, and places. Even though these spiritual “callings” could involve a career (a trained profession or occupation … livelihood), or a job (work that is done out of necessity), the truth is that a person’s vocation and work do not fit the biblical meaning of a spiritual “calling” (cf. Romans 1:1, 6, 7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 9, 24, 26; 1 Corinthians 7:17, 20-21, 24; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 3:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 5:4; 1 Peter 2:9, 21; 1 Peter 3:9; and 1 Peter 5:10, KJV).

Furthermore, in the King James Version of the New Testament, the English word “called” = klhtovß in the Greek, and this Greek word is transliterated as Kletos, which, according to Strong’s Number 2822, means: “called, invited (to a banquet); invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ; called to (the discharge of) some office; and divinely selected and appointed.” According to Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon, this “called,” with its denotations and connotations, is found in Matthew 20:16, 22:14; Romans 1:1, 6-7, and 8:28; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2, and 24; Jude 1:1; and Revelation 17:14.

Also, in the King James Version of the New Testament, the English word “called” = kalevw in the Greek, and this Greek word is transliterated as Kaleo, which, according to Strong’s Number 2564, means: “to call; to call aloud, utter in a loud voice; to invite; to call, i.e. to name, by name; to give a name to; to receive the name of, receive as a name; to give some name to one, call his name; to be called, i.e. to bear a name or title (among men); and to salute one by name.” According to Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon, this “called,” with its denotations and connotations, is found 138 times in the New Testament: 25 times in Matthew; 3 times in Mark; 39 times in Luke; 3 times in John; 16 times in Acts; 7 times in Romans; 10 times in 1 Corinthians; 4 times in Galatians; 2 times in Ephesians; 1 time in Colossians; 3 times in 1 Thessalonians; 1 time in 2 Thessalonians; 1 time in 1 Timothy; 1 time in 2 Timothy; 6 times in Hebrews; 1 time in James; 6 times in 1 Peter; 1 time in 2 Peter; 1 time in 1 John, and 7 times in Revelation.

This aforementioned information supports this biblical truth, which is the people in the Holy Bible who are “called” or who have a “calling” are: (1) responding to God who FIRST has “called” (summoned) them TO Himself so that they, through God’s Grace, the power of His Holy Spirit, and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, could be regenerated (born again/restored), saved, reconciled, and justified. God calls them to come out of darkness and into His Son’s marvelous Light so that they can have a personal relationship and communion with God; and (2) responding to God who has “called” (summoned) them FOR Himself. God calls them to work in the Lord’s vineyards while they live out their God-appointed roles, responsibilities, values, attitudes, and positions in the places Father God wants them to live.

This spiritual “calling” (the receiving of God’s summons or directive to live life entirely to His Glory) means that believers FIRST MUST surrender to Jesus the Christ’s Lordship and Leadership while, simultaneously, purposing in their own hearts that they will live the God-kind of Christian lifestyle that allows God to use them to His Glory as they serve Him in the Army of the Lord. In other words, human beings mainly are spiritually “called” TO God, and secondly they are spiritually “called” FOR God’s Glory, the latter of which is accomplished when believers recognize, understand, and participate in their secondary callings.

The primary spiritual “calling” pertains to the Caller (God) summoning the “called” (believers) TO Him. The secondary or specific spiritual “callings” refer to EVERYTHING the “called” do in response to that primary calling—everything they do for the Lord in response to being “called” into a relationship and communion with God.

The bottom line is this: A spiritual “calling” is not a vocation … is not a livelihood! Therefore, no one can choose to become a pastor, prophet, apostle, evangelist, Bible teacher, and so forth! That’s right. Even though numerous people have chosen, and continue to choose, to attend a Bible College, Divinity School, or Theological Seminary, to earn degrees in various religious studies so that they can make a good living off of serving the Lord, according to the Holy Bible, pastor, apostle, prophet, evangelist, Bible teacher, and so on, are NOT vocations … they are NOT CAREERS, but rather they are special spiritual gifts!

Now, while a person might train to be a lawyer, doctor, teacher, school administrator, Army general, firefighter, police officer, life coach, and so on, and while God certainly can provide justice through the courts; healing through surgery and medicine; teaching through educators, trainers, and self-help gurus; protection through the government, military, and police forces; and so forth, biblically speaking, being “called” and having a “calling” pertain ONLY to the Caller deciding that purpose for which He uniquely creates the “called,” which is to glorify ONLY Him! In other words, from before the foundation of the world, the Caller chose the roles, responsibilities, values, attitudes, and positions for the “called out ones,” and He chose the places (where) He wanted them to put into practice their predestined roles, responsibilities, values, attitudes, and positions.

It does not matter to God if a believer has trained for a career in business, law, medicine, or whatever, because biblically speaking EVERY believer is “called” to be an evangelist! Moreover, many of Jesus the Christ’s believers, even those who might hold various academic degrees, are “called” to function in multiple spiritual positions, for example, as prophet, teacher, and evangelist; or as pastor, apostle, evangelist; and so forth.

Please note here that Jesus the Christ’s vocation, no doubt, was that of a carpenter, and He, no doubt, also knew much about fishing. However, these vocations were not what God had “called” the Lord to do—these vocations were not Jesus the Christ’s spiritual “callings.” God “called” the Lord to be the Sacrificial Lamb who would take away the sins of the entire world. He “called” the Lord to be the One who would die on the Cross so that He would become the First Fruit of the risen dead and the resurrected Savior of the world. Likewise, every believer has specific “callings” that God has predestined for him or her.

For this last reason, no church’s governing body, or boards, or authorized individuals should be entirely responsible for choosing who will pastor their church, or who will lead worship services, or who will teach Sunday school, etcetera. These are spiritual decisions, and they should be spiritually discerned through the Holy Spirit’s leading and prompting. In other words, these are theocratic selections and not democratic elections.

Along these lines, Jesus the Christ confirms that the selecting (choosing) of those who will plant the Gospel seeds that He has planted in them is a theocratic selection rather than a democratic election. Christ Himself speaks in John 15:16, saying:

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you. (Amplified Bible)

Therefore, if a person truly has been summoned by God to accept His Son so that he or she can receive the gifts of salvation and eternal life, and if this same individual truly has been spiritually summoned by God not only to trust Him and His Word but also to follow His Son as he or she serves in the Army of the Lord, then this person must continue to press “…forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14, BBE). Moreover, just as the Lord Jesus lived an unselfish and sacrificial life, unselfishness and sacrifice also must be the benchmarks of every “called” Christian’s life.

Certainly, just as a ready and willing Jesus the Christ left His home in Heaven for the “calling” He had to fulfill on Earth (left that which was familiar for that which was unfamiliar), every believer must be ready and willing to step out of his or her comfort zone and face the unknown. In spite of what a soldier in the Army of the Lord fears, and in spite of how unconfident and inadequate he or she might feel about what God has “called” him or her to do FOR Him, this Christian soldier must remember that God is the One doing the summoning.

Ultimately, every Christian soldier not only must trust and obey the Commanding Officer, who is Jesus the Christ, but also every Christian soldier must obey the Caller’s established Code of Conduct, which is the Holy Bible. The Caller also has given every Christian soldier some weapons of warfare: faith, prayer, and a two-edged sword. Lastly, the Caller has given every Christian soldier the Holy Spirit, and He is the One who is teaching the Lord’s spiritual warriors how to accept with joy the reality of a “called” life. That reality is Christian soldiers will be trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire!

 

For more information about “called” and the ecclesia, check out my blog entries: Being “Called” into God’s Ministry Is a Theocratic Selection and Not a Democratic Election and Church is the Globally Recognized Spiritual Body of Christ