Lord of Every Season

Have you noticed how perfectly the calendar has coordinated with the weather this year?

We had the most beautiful summer most of us can remember in Ohio. The skies were blue and the clouds formed pictures for us almost every day. Fall arrived on the day the calendar announced it, as the weather began to turn cold. There were still beautiful days, and the leaves fell with time for us to rake and blow them to the appropriate places. This week, snow began to fall on December 1st, and it’s beginning to feel like Christmas. I love the sights and sounds of this time of year. I’ve been streaming “classical Christmas” on my computer and enjoying the nostalgia of each song that is being played.

As “perfect” as this season has been, it fades in comparison to the reality of the meaning of Jesus Christ’s coming into our world. Paul write in Galatians 4:4, “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” That’s perfect timing! That’s a perfect plan- and I pray that whatever we experience this month, we’ll appreciate what Jesus has done for us, in each and every season.

Brent

Fruit of the Spirit Video Series

Our entire Fruit of the Spirit video series is now available via the Old North YouTube channel.  Thanks to all those who participated in the series and Eric Harper, our outstanding video producer.

Enjoy!

Fruit Filling

As we continue and wrap up our “Fruit of the Spirit” series this month,  I find myself coming up short.  In every aspect of this singular way we are to nourish others and reproduce our faith, I can give myself some “atta boys!”, but I am also very convicted about my own needs to grow.  Especially when we’ve talked about love, patience and even faithfulness; the Lord is reminding me that I must be filled in order to bear fruit.

So here’s what I’ve been reminding myself about:  According to Ephesians 5:18, the filling of the Spirit is a matter of His offer and my obedience.  Technically, His “offer” “…be filled with the Spirit” is really a command, so I have to determine whether or not I will do what He asks me to do.

I’m so thankful that my relationship with Jesus is secure, and I can seek His control. When I submit to Him, I am filled with Him.   Just like I have to remember to dress correctly for the day, make sure there’s gas in my car to get me where I need to be, plan where I’ll eat lunch and how I’ll spend my day;  I need to remember to be aware of His offer and my obedience. 

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”    -John 14:21

Brent Allen

Living and Walking by the Spirit

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25, ESV)

This is the simple yet profound statement that Paul makes after noting the fruit of the Spirit to the Galatian church. As we prepare for the start of a new Fall teaching series, "The Fruit of the Spirit", let's examine a Biblical truth that establishes a foundation for fruit bearing in the Christian life.

God the Holy Spirit is a key player in the process of salvation, specifically, the miracle of regeneration.  Take a look at Paul's words to Titus:

"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7, ESV)

In this passage, we read a familiar story of a lost and broken people being graciously rescued by a loving and powerful God. In this context, Paul uses an interesting Greek word, palingenesia (regeneration), in relationship to the Holy Spirit's work of washing and renewal. Regeneration is a word used to describe new birth or the production of a new life consecrated to God.  The image of new birth points us back to Jesus' words to Nicodemus:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5, ESV)

We observe from these and other Biblical passages that the Holy Spirit is the dynamic agent of regeneration.  He applies the work of Jesus and brings us from a state of death in sin, to a state of life in Christ.  Understanding this truth is paramount in understanding the fruit of the Spirit.  With that, let's go back to our original verse in Galatians:

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25, ESV)

If we have new life by the Spirit of God (through the work of regeneration), we should also walk in a life of fruitfulness by that same Spirit. In other words, new life in the Spirit will produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Please join us this Fall as we study "The Fruit of the Spirit" together!

Chris Drombetta

What's in a Word?

I don’t know if I just dreamed it up or not, but I think someone once said, “What’s in a word?” and the answer is lots! Words conjure up memories, hopes, dreams and desires and the same word can mean different things to each of us. Words like, “fun,” “scary,” and “weird” all mean different things and evoke different emotions. But enough of that.

I do know that someone once told me, “Choose your words carefully because someday you might have to eat them.” So today, I am eating a few words. Specifically “traditional,” “blended,” and “contemporary.” Years ago, we thought it was so cool to call our services by those names. To some extent, they worked for us, but they also worked against us. We not only have different definitions of the words themselves, but different dreams and desires associated with them.

So that’s why we’re going to do our best to stop using those words to describe our Sunday Worship Services. As a matter of fact, we’re not even having two different kinds right now, but the same music and message at both 9:30 and 11:00 that simply exalts Jesus and teaches truth. It’s been great seeing the results of that through the end of summer and now as we enter Fall, each week will give us a chance to grow and understand what corporate worship and corporate learning is all about.

Let’s eat a few words, and find nourishment in Jesus - the Living Word!

Brent Allen