PICKING APPLES IN AN ORCHARD (PART 2)

Galatians 5:22 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

A number of years ago, the Associated Press released a study done by an agricultural school in Iowa. It reported that production of 100 bushels of corn from one acre of land, in addition to the many hours of the farmer's labor, required 4,000,000 lbs. of water, 6,800 lbs. of oxygen, 5,200 lbs. of carbon, 160 lbs. of nitrogen, 125 lbs. of potassium, 75 lbs. of yellow sulphur, and other elements too numerous to list. In addition to these things, which no man can produce, rain and sunshine at the right time are critical. It was estimated that only 5% of the produce of a farm can be attributed to the efforts of man. If we were honest, we'd have to admit that the same is true in producing spiritual fruit.

ushels of corn from one acre of land, in addition to the many hours of the farmer's labor, required 4,000,000 lbs. of water, 6,800 lbs. of oxygen, 5,200 lbs. of carbon, 160 lbs. of nitrogen, 125 lbs. of potassium, 75 lbs. of yellow sulphur, and other elements too numerous to list. In addition to these things, which no man can produce, rain and sunshine at the right time are critical. It was estimated that only 5% of the produce of a farm can be attributed to the efforts of man. If we were honest, we'd have to admit that the same is true in producing spiritual fruit.

1-PATIENCE.

Patience is a virtue,

Possess it if you can.

Found seldom in a woman,

Never in a man.

KINDS OF PATIENTS.

A-PATIENTS FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD.

James 5:7 ESV

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

ROMANS 8:1

Romans 8:18 ESV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:25 ESV

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

B-PATIENTS FOR SOMEONE TO GROW IN CHRIST.

Luke 8:15 ESV

15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

“In one of my assignments as a young infantry officer, I was sent to the 48th Infantry near Frankfort, Germany. In those days our prize weapon was a huge 280-mm atomic cannon. Guarded by infantry platoons, these guns were hauled around the forests on trucks to keep the Soviets from guessing their location.

One day Captain Tom Miller assigned my platoon to guard a 280. I alerted my men, loaded my .45 caliber pistol and jumped into my jeep. I had not gone far when I realized that my .45 was gone.

I was petrified. In the army, losing a weapon is serious business. I had no choice but to radio Captain Miller and tell him. ‘You what?’ he said in disbelief. He paused a few seconds, then added, ‘All right, continue the mission.’

When I returned, uneasily contemplating my fate, Miller called me over. ‘I’ve got something for you,’ he said, handing me the pistol. ‘Some kids in the village found it where it fell out of your holster.’

‘Kids found it?’ I felt a cold chill.

‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Luckily they only got off one round before we heard the shot and took the gun away.’ The disastrous possibilities left me limp. ‘Don’t let that happen again.’

He drove off. I checked the magazine and found it was full. The gun had not been fired. Later, I learned that I had dropped it in my tent before I ever got started. Miller had fabricated the scene about the kids to give me a good scare.

Today, the army might hold an investigation, call in lawyers and likely enter a bad mark on my record. Miller gave me the chance to learn from my mistake. His example of intelligent leadership was not lost on me. Nobody ever got to the top without slipping up. When someone stumbles, I don’t believe in stomping on him. My philosophy is ‘Pick ‘em up, dust ‘em off and get ‘em moving again.’”—Colin Powell

Source: A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Barry Spilchuk

C-PATIENTS IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

ROMANS 5:3-

2- KINDNESS.

A- KINDNESS, AS PART OF A NEW YOU.

Colossians 3:12 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

COLOSSIANS 3:

2-KINDNESS THAT LEADS TO SALVATION.

Titus 3:3–5 ESV

3 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. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 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,

Titus 3:4 ESV

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,

TITUS 3:

TITUS

3- GOODNESS.

A-WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GOODNESS.

Romans 3:10–12 ESV

10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Luke 18:19 ESV

19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

ROMANS 3:10-12

B- GOODNESS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF GOD.

PSALMS

Psalm 31:19 ESV

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

1 Peter 2:1–3 ESV

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2:3 ESV

3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 PETER

1 PETER 2: