Recipe for the Holidays
(2 Corinthians 2:15) "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
(Galatians 5:22-23) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
Ingredients needed:
1. Love
(I Corinthians 13:1-3) "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains, BUT have not love, I am nothing. If I give all to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, BUT have not love, I gain nothing."
(Matthew 22:36-39) "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself."
(I John 3:16) "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
2. Joy
(John 15:11) "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
(Nehemiah 8:10) "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
3. Peace
(Galatians: 5:25) "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
(Philippians 4:7) "And the peace of God, which transcends all understands, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
4. Patience & Self Control
(Matthew 5:13) "You are the salt of the earth…."
(Colossians 4:6) "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
(1 Timothy 4:12) "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
(Proverbs 18:21 MSG) "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose."
5. Kindness, Gentleness & Faithfulness
(Psalm 145:17 NLT) "The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness."
(Philippians 4:5) "Let your gentleness be evident to all...."
(1 Peter 3:15) "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
6. Goodness
(Psalm 34:8) "Taste and see that the LORD is good"
(1 Peter 2:9 NLT) "….for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Will others want to be just like me after this Holiday Season?
For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.
