The Church At Brierfield

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

All that we receive from God is through Jesus.  Without Him, we could not even have a relationship with God.

Through Jesus, Paul and the other apostles received grace.  Grace refers to God giving them the ability to do what He expected them to do.

Through Him, they also received their apostleship, their commission to proclaim the gospel to all nations.

When Jesus sends us to do something, He always supplies everything we need to accomplish it from beginning to end.

The apostles’ responsibility was to cause people from all nations to become obedient to the faith.  The faith refers to all that we believe as followers of Jesus.  Obedience is very important to God, yet most believers take it very lightly.

All of this is done for Jesus’ name, for His glory and His honor.

Romans 1:4 – Romans 1:6

“The fruit of the Spirit is … patience.”  (Gal. 5:22)

Patience has two aspects to it.  One has to do with being long suffering toward difficult people and a slowness in avenging wrongs.  The other has to do with endurance and perseverance through difficult situations.

Lets face it, we are all difficult to get along with at times.  Dealing with each other well is an important part of our testimony to the world.  It also has a dramatic affect on our effectiveness in serving God.  The only way we can deal with each others’ difficulties is when the Holy Spirit is producing the fruit of patience in us.

If we live long enough we will experience situations that are overwhelmingly difficult.  Some of these situations last a short time and some last a lifetime, yet we can patiently endure them when the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives.

Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen.  You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.  For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord’s plan finally ended in good, for He is full of tenderness and mercy.  (James 5:7, 8, 10, 11)

and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Of all Jesus did that proved He was the Son of God, nothing declared it more clearly than His resurrection from the dead.  He is the only person ever resurrected to never to die again.

Not only does the resurrection declare that Jesus is the Son of God, it is also the greatest display of God’s power.  Unbelievably, this same resurrection power is at work in believers today.

I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.  (Eph. 1:19, 20)

The power that raised Jesus from the dead came from the Holy Spirit, who continually indwells every believer.  It is mind boggling to imagine the limitless power that is at our disposal.

Romans 1:3 – Romans 1:5

“The fruit of the Spirit is … peace.”  (Gal. 5:22)

Peace is a sense of calm, rest, contentment, and quietness.  It is also a lack of inner turmoil, fear, worry or anxiety.

Horatio Spafford knew the fruit of peace well in his lifetime.  After being financially ruined by the great Chi­ca­go Fire of 1871 and losing his four daughters to a ship wreck in 1873 he wrote these words.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

The peace Horatio knew came from Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  Shortly before He was crucified, Jesus calmed the disciples with these words.

I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.  (John 14:27)

concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh

God’s good news to mankind is all about His Son.  As with most fathers, if you receive the Son then you receive the Father.  You can’t have one without the other.

It would be easy to get the impression that Christ is Jesus’ last name.  I actually thought it was for many years.  Christ is a title meaning the anointed one or the messiah.  Jesus is the Savior God promised to Israel.

Not only is Jesus our Savior but He is also Lord, Master, and King.  He has authority over us and we owe Him respect, honor and obedience.

As was prophecied, Jesus was a direct decendant of Kind David on His human side.  This is a very important point because it verifies Jesus’ claim to be Messiah.

Romans 1:2 – Romans 1:4

“The fruit of the Spirit is … joy.”  (Gal. 5:22)

The joy produced in us by the Spirit of God is a sense of delight and gladness from our intimacy with Him.  When we live each moment of our life submitted to the Spirit we will be completely satisfied and fulfilled.  A sense of well-being will fill us regardless of our circumstances, because this joy is neither produced by circumstances or nor reduced by them.

Jesus’ desire for us, His disciples, is “that [His] joy may remain in [us], and that [our] joy may be full.”  (John 15:11)

The gospel of God, which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

The good news, that Jesus made a reality, was not an afterthought of God.  He promised He would send a perfect sacrifice for sin long before Jesus came.  God always follows through on His promises.

God used His prophets to tell us that Jesus would come hundreds of years ahead of time.  He always makes sure we know the things He wants us to know.  He does not want us to be ignorant concerning His will.

The “Holy Scriptures” refer to the old testament.  Many believe that the old testament is no longer relevant but it is full of truth about Jesus.  Jesus used the old testament to teach about Himself.  “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”  (Luke 24:27)

Romans 1:1 – Romans 1:3

When we live each moment of our day in intimate fellowship with the Holy Spirit He produces in us love fruit.  (Gal. 5:22)  We cannot produce love fruit ourselves.  It is impossible.

Everything God has ever commanded us to do is done right when we love God and people.

Love fruit is exceedingly beautiful and more desirable than anything this world has to offer.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  Love will last forever.  (1 Cor. 13:4-8a)

Paul wrote a hand written letter to the believers in Rome, which we now refer to as the book of Romans in the Bible.  This letter has survived for almost 2000 years and has been read by countless people.  Letter writing can be a powerful ministry and God has used it mightily in the Church.

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

Paul referred to himself as a bondservant or slave of Jesus.  He did not think of himself as being in a position of status but rather one of service.  We all need to think of ourselves as servants of Jesus and one another.

Calling is a concept that has fallen out of style.  Paul considered himself to be called by God to do his ministry.  To be called is to be divinely selected.  We all should seek out God’s calling for us and begin to live it out.

Apostles are messengers or ambasadors sent out by someone important.  There are twelve apostles in the Bible who were specially commissioned and sent by Jesus to deliver His message to the world.  In addition to the original twelve, every believer in Jesus is also a messenger to the world.

God separated Paul out and appointed him to tell the gospel of Jesus.  Everywhere he went, he told about “Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2)  The gospel is that simple and we should tell it every chance we get.

Romans 1:2

When we allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our lives He produces Christ’s life and likeness in us.  He makes us act like Christ rather than Satan.  On our own we always act like Satan.

The life and likeness of Jesus that He creates in us is known as the fruit of the Spirit.  (Gal. 5:22)  Jesus explained it with the following illustration.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.  Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.  Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.  But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!  My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.  (John 15:1-8, New Living Translation)