The Fruit Of A Changed Heart

Growth happens progressively. We all grew and were shaped by the environment around us.

A sapling is often attached to a support to help it grow straight. A fruit tree is pruned to let the light in and help it bear more fruit.

Spiritual growth is the same.

Evidence of growth for a Christian is bearing the fruit of the Spirit in our every day lives.

The most powerful fruit of our faith here on earth is not material possessions, it’s not even miracles healings and great teachings. It’s the fruit of a changed heart.

The cross becomes the support to our surrendered lives and hand of the Lord at work in our hearts is our pruning.

The result, Christians that begin to stand out by the fruit of our lives.

Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

  • Mark Saunders

God’s Grace Will Carry You Through

Life is challenging but challenges can help us grow. The Christian life is certainly not without its own unique set of challenges.

Jesus did not tell us we would not have troubles rather he warned us in advance that we would. Not only did he warn us but he also made a way for us to face them…

Three times, the apostle Paul pleaded with the Lord to remove a “thorn in his flesh.” The Lord replied only once. He said,” my grace is sufficient for you and my power made perfect in weakness”

Paul’s attitude changed. He stopped asking the Lord to take away the “thorn” and accepted that what he needed was to find God’s grace to carry him through.

He was willing to even accept his situation and “take pleasure in it” if it meant that power of God’s grace would rest upon him. He realized that when he was weak in himself then he was his strongest in the Lord.

This reminds us of the words of Jesus in John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 (NKJV)
  • Mark Saunders

A Place Of Grace And Truth

We all need help at some point. Someone truthful whom we trust and can turn to for help.

Being a follower of Jesus is not always easy. Jesus never said the narrow road would be. That’s why he sent the Holy Spirit – to help us follow Him.

The Spirit of truth will always lead us in the ways of the truth and draw us to Jesus. Why? Because we all need to be brought to a place of grace and truth.

Sunrays coming through the clouds represent the Holy Spirit

Grace doesn’t condemn us but truth does convince us and truth does convict us and then grace leads us to repentance and strengthens us to continue on the narrow road.

John 14:6 (NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

  • Mark Saunders

The Key To God’s Plan

There are some things we don’t understand in the moment but later they become clear. Like Peter…

Jesus told him that he was blessed because of an amazing revelation he had (Jesus Christ being the son of God) and how on this revelation He would found and build His victorious church. Peter had seen, had heard and accepted.

Jesus then told him about the cross. How it would bring suffering, death and resurrection. Peter rejected this part. He didn’t understand that he was rejecting the key to God’s plan – the cross.

Without accepting the cross, what Peter had seen and heard would never culminate in God’s powerful plan, but in Peter’s own version of this plan. Jesus rebuked him for that.

Matthew 16:24-25 (NKJV)

Take Up Your Cross and Follow HIM

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

A disciple or follower of Jesus cannot avoid accepting the cross for his own life.
A disciple or follower of Jesus cannot avoid accepting the cross for his own life.
  • Mark Saunders

Name Above All Names

Cross Christ Church

Jesus Christ – name above all names. There’s no other life that’s had such a profound impact on the world. Even our calendar is set with reference to his death. His life totally contradicted religion at the time. His suffering and death on the cross at the hands of the religious leaders seemed like a triumph for the powers of darkness. But three days later he resurrected. Death could not hold him – it had been defeated. The wages of sin now cancelled for those who believe and rely on Him for salvation. That’s amazing grace – it’s not religion at all.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

  • Mark Saunders