Full Transcript for Essentials: Fruit

issues, and the power battles, the decisions that go on behind the scenes, tackling these enormous global issues. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:21.600 Where do we go from here? 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:27.920 And his response was so interesting and stuck out like a sore thumb. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:33.839 He said, What we need in our politics and in our world is kindness. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:36.560 Kindness. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:42.399 And it made me think: what if the fruit of the spirit is less vanilla niceness? 00:05:42.800 --> 00:06:02.399 But actually one of the most powerful forces that we have to demonstrate the ultimate hope and love of Jesus in a world where personal, family, uh societal, global problems are chronic. 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:07.360 They're one after the next, seemingly sometimes unsolvable and painful. 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:12.160 What if the spirit has power in that way? 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:16.000 So let's jump to our passage. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:24.879 We're going to think a little bit this morning about what is this like good fruit that Paul's talking about, and how crucially do we bear good fruit. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:26.480 So let's get started. 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:28.879 What is good, what is good fruit? 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:36.160 Well, Paul in writing this letter reminds the Galatian church back at verse 1, which we didn't read. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:40.560 It starts, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:42.959 To jump down then to verse 13 where we were. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:46.399 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:47.920 And we know that, don't we? 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:51.279 When we commit to following Jesus, we are free. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:54.319 We are forgiven and free from our sin. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:07:00.079 He goes on, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:05.120 Rather, serve one another humbly in love. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:17.199 When we become a Christian and we are free in the forgiveness of our sins, um, that doesn't necessarily, as we all know, very acutely, I am sure, make us sinless. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:20.720 We have this like inner conflict going on, don't we? 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:25.680 We're sort of hardwired to our sinful nature as humans. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:54.319 We have this inner conflict going on between our sinful nature, our self-motivated desires for our own success, pleasure, um, independence, control on the one hand, and then the spirit, the power of Jesus living in us whilst that brings us freedom, that is motivated by love for God and for the people around us. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:59.759 We see this in so many bits of Jesus' teaching and throughout the New Testament. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:04.639 There's like a topsy turvy order to what freedom looks like. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:09.120 When we hear freedom, we maybe think of like, wait, I

can do whatever I like. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:10.959 I am free to be me. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:13.360 Um, I'm free to do what I want. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:15.360 It's my freedom. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:21.120 But actually, what Paul is saying is that your freedom is to love one another. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:28.399 Our freedom in Christ is directly related to our words and our actions towards others. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:36.000 And in turn, a life that is lived in the spirit, that is what brings us true freedom. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:41.600 Paul says our desires from our sinful nature are in conflict with the spirit. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:09:03.840 I don't know about you, but I think we feel this pull between our sinful nature, that it is um fueled and probably catalyzed by being surrounded and um deeply ingrained in the culture within which we live, that is increasingly intensely focused on me being the god of my own life, my choices that I know are best for me. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:08.559 I can do what I like with my body, with my future, whatever it might be. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:22.240 We're pillowed between our sinful nature and the freedom and the goodness that is offered through life in the spirit that's deeply motivated by love for others over self-promotion. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.960 I feel like Paul's got it like pretty bang on, right? 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:28.159 I don't think it's just me. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:33.600 That feels like a pretty accurate um description of what being a Christian today feels like, right? 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:39.120 We're sitting in this inner conflict between what we think we want and what we know is good. 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:44.639 We walk by the spirit and will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:56.320 Um, also worth noting as we think about the fruits of the spirit is that these are not the same as the gifts of the spirit, which I think sometimes we confuse. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:07.039 The gifts of the spirit, um we read in other parts of the Bible, are gifts and abilities that are given to us by God to use to build up the church and to glorify God. 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:08.639 They are something that we do. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:14.000 So we teach, we speak in tongues, we pray for healing, we prophesy, things that we do. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.440 The fruit of the spirit, however, is something that we are. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:22.559 It's about our character, about being peaceful, about being joyful, about being patient. 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:35.840 And sometimes I think we end up getting those confused and maybe end up prioritizing or platforming or maybe even glorifying some of the gifts of the spirit over the fruit of the spirit. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:44.080 Maybe there's an incredible leader and teacher, um, and we think, wow, they are just so gifted. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:51.519 Let's give them lots of responsibility, let's put a microphone in their hand, and we are just in awe of their gifts. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:58.960 But then behind closed doors, they are snappy or short-tempered or unkind. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:07.279 And we've seen some of that story played out in the church a number of times in recent years. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:22.639 It made me think a little bit of like, um, do you know whenever you were away and you got up to some sort of mischief and your mum would have you sat down, she'd be really cross, and she'd be saying, Um, you know, you sit there for 10 minutes, no more treats, you're really in trouble now. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:26.159 And then the phone would ring in the middle of this, and she'd pick it up and go, Hello. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:35.360 For us as Christians, does our inside match our outside? 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:43.279 In Matthew 7, uh, verse 15, Jesus says this, watch out for false prophets. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:48.879 They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:51.840 By their fruit you will recognize them. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.679 Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 00:11:55.840 --> 00:12:00.559 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:04.080 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:08.559 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:13.039 Thus, by their fruit, you will recognize them. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:23.759 By their fruit, their love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:25.919 By their fruit you will know them. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:31.519 Not necessarily the most gifted, but the most godly. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:41.440 That is how you recognize apprentices and followers of Jesus, the spirit at work in their words and their actions. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:49.919 Not necessarily the one who never misses church or prays incredible prayers or is an insanely good worship leader. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:57.120 It may be those people, but the one who is slow to anger, the one who is kind, the one who is joyful. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:04.399 Maybe you're not um in uh maybe you are, maybe you're not in a position of leadership, maybe you don't get on a stage. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:09.279 But I wonder what does what does our fruit look like when we are at home? 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:32.879 When you're with your other half, when you're with your parents, when your kids are being loud and annoying, when someone at work is hard to get along with, maybe when you've been wronged, when you know you have been wronged, when you're feeling stressed and you're in need of some self-medicating, Netflix and scrolling, when someone has simply cuts you off in the car. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:38.879 That the fruit

of the spirit is the marker of the follower of Jesus. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.759 By their fruit you will recognize them. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:47.600 And Paul says this is what a life of freedom in Christ looks like. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:51.919 So a question for you to mull, if you're writing, maybe write this down to think about as the week goes on. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:55.120 How would you describe your inner being? 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.639 Just for you. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:58.639 An honest audit. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:01.759 How would you describe your inner being? 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:20.320 And I ask that question not as a um, oh, you're doing a really terrible job, or for you to feel guilty or full of shame, but an honest um moment to think through where what does my inner being look like that is in a shame-free, guilt-free kind of way. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:23.120 Which takes us to our second question. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.639 How do I bear good fruit? 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:30.879 And I think this is probably one of the most profound teachings of the Bible. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:40.480 It is in stark contrast to the cultural narrative of self-propelled achievement and self-fulfilled success. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:43.519 So if you're gonna write anything down, let it be this this morning. 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:45.039 How do I bear good fruit? 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:47.360 How do I grow in the fruits of the spirit? 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:50.960 Through abiding, not striving. 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:58.879 Becoming more like Jesus is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:08.080 It is not the direct result of our hard work or of our gridded teeth, determination, and willpower. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:24.879 Abiding in God's presence and his love for us, beholding the wonder of the cross, the power of the only one who can bring us salvation, the king of the whole universe who also sees me. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:32.480 If we want to grow in the fruits of the Spirit, we need to abide in God. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:36.879 And that goes against pretty much every fiber of our being, right? 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:45.120 Against the kind of work harder, hustle mindset of achievement and success that our culture would hold up as the ultimate way to fulfillment. 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:48.240 What I do matters, and what I do does matter. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:16:01.919 But becoming more like Jesus is a grace-filled and love-motivated process through time spent with him, not a set of exams that we cram for and then either pass or fail. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:08.480 The fruit of the Spirit grows in us when we abide in God, not strive to be like him. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:14.720 Final passage to dive into this morning, John 15. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.000 A beautiful, beautiful passage. 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:26.320 John 15, uh Jesus says this I am the true vine, as in plant grapes grows in fruit. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:30.080 I am the true vine, and my father is the gardener. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:40.320 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:46.080 You are already clean, because of the word I have spoken to you. 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:50.799 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:54.720 No branch can bear fruit by itself. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:57.120 It must remain in the vine. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:01.200 Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:04.160 I am the vine, you are the branches. 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:08.079 If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:10.720 Apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:15.039 If you do not remain in me, you're like a branch that's thrown away and withers. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:18.319 Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:25.680 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:33.519 This is to my Father's glory, that you will bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.519 Showing yourselves to be my disciples. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:37.519 By their fruit you will know them. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:41.759 Jesus says, Remain in me and I remain in you. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:45.839 Relationship is the important bit here with Jesus. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:49.440 Two-way intentional prioritized relationship. 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:57.119 Becoming like Jesus is through union with him, not imitation of him. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:02.559 Slight gear change. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:05.599 Um, does anybody enjoy Ted Lasso? 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.920 Yeah, great, some nods. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:23.200 So last week um I was watching the Graeme Norton show and Hannah Warringdon, who plays the um, she's that tall blonde lady who plays the uh manager of the football club that Ted Lasso is the coach of. 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:30.319 Ted Lasso is a TV series about this guy called Ted, who is working with an underdog football team in the league. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:37.279 And in a response to the comment, um, people don't just like Ted Lasso, they love Ted Lasso. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:45.359 She said, Yeah, everyone was ready to have something that was beautiful and positive, not a comedy roast. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:50.480 People were ready for warmth and the beauty of supporting each other. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:19:00.640 If you haven't seen it, Ted says things like, I think that if you care about someone and you've got a little love in your heart, there ain't nothing you can't get through together. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:03.519 Not gonna do the accent. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:07.440 He says, um, be curious,

not judgmental. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:16.559 He's not using the same words, the same language as Paul, but he is kind of giving fruit of the spirit vibes. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:23.599 I uh we love Ted Lasso in our house, and I think Hannah Waddingd was right in what she said. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:30.160 People are desperately looking for hope and positivity and kindness. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:37.519 People are looking for the fruit of the spirit, the outward appearance of God's love for us. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:44.960 But there's one really distinct difference between what Ted and Paul are saying. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:52.000 Ted Lasso's philosophy for his football team, who are these underdogs in the league, is believe. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:58.559 And he sticks a sign up on the wall in the locker room that they look at all the time, they come back to time and time again. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:19:59.440 Believe. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:09.599 Believe in yourselves, work hard on being kind, don't give up on loving each other, look out for each other, believe in yourselves. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:18.400 Paul says it's this, it's not you, it's the spirit in you. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:30.640 Through the transformational power of the Holy Spirit and the unchanging love of God for each and every one of us, you will become more like Him in the fruit of the Spirit. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:40.160 The experience of freedom in Christ, the difference, one striving and one abiding. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:53.119 So when we look at this list of the fruits of the spirit with our kind of humanness, our worldview glasses, we can reach the wrong conclusion sometimes, I think. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:57.680 We think I must try harder to speak kindly to my family. 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:01.519 I must work harder to have patience with my kids. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:08.480 I must work harder to um feel joyful despite the hard situation that I'm in. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:13.680 And we feel guilty and we feel full of shame when we underachieve. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:18.400 I think this approach is doomed to fail. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:27.119 Because under stress, we inevitably crumble and revert back to our own ways, our old ways. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:36.319 When I was reading, um when I was thinking about this during the week, have you seen that little video of the watermelon that gets elastic bands put on it, like another one, another one, another one? 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:38.799 Eventually the whole thing explodes. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:43.279 We inevitably crumble and revert back to our old ways. 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:59.039 So I think the encouragement to us all this morning is to release yourself of any shame or burden that we feel when we read this list of the fruits of the spirit, because the reality is that we will not get there on our own efforts. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:06.000 You don't need To be good enough to qualify to live a life following

Jesus. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:08.640 You don't need to be good enough to be a Christian. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:11.920 Thank goodness, because I am definitely not. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:15.440 Abide in God. 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:18.960 Don't simply strive in your own competence. 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:22.720 Be transformed by walking in step with the Spirit. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:36.240 And the love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to show up more in our words and actions to the people around us. 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:44.640 And Jesus says this will produce fruit that will last, that will stand the test of time and the test of the world around us. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:46.000 It's not about perfection. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:49.599 We will never be perfect and we will get it wrong time and time again. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:54.640 But we will slowly begin to look a little bit more like Jesus. 00:22:55.039 --> 00:23:03.680 If I think about who I've seen in my life that has learned and I've seen hone the fruit of the spirit in their life, it would be my nan. 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:06.480 Maybe she was onto something with the bracelets after all. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:17.359 Also, just a little side note: this is probably the fourth or fifth time in the last couple of months that people have mentioned their grandparents being an influence in their life. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:25.440 So if there are any grandparents here, um never underestimate the impact that you are having on your grandkids. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:36.640 My nan was uh known as banter nan to um our friends because she was so full of joy and crack. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:41.119 She literally would light up a room with her joy and fun. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:46.000 Ren Collective said at one stage, seriousness is not a fruit of the spirit. 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.119 Joy is. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:49.599 And that was my Nan all over. 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:54.640 She was incredibly kind, and people wanted to be around her. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:56.319 She had lots of friends. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:02.240 She was full of faithfulness in her relationship with Jesus. 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:06.079 She was a faithful follower of Jesus right into her 90s. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:20.720 She communicated something profound about God's love for her and for those around her, just by being who she had become over years of abiding in God. 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:23.200 She was always humming a hymn. 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:28.079 She had notes of verses stuck up literally all around her house. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:30.480 There was a joke about her love of Blue Tack. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:34.640 Um, her Bible was always on the sofa, recently read. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:46.799 She had stacks of prayer diaries sitting on the table beside her that she would work her way through on a daily basis, always quick to refer back to scripture that was in her mind in a certain situation. 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:51.519 A life of abiding produced good fruit. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:59.759 So some thoughts on what we can practically do to abide and not strive. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:02.640 There are a few ideas here as we come to land. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:07.440 Um Paul is saying, Here's the fruit of the spirit. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:10.559 These are the things that people will notice in us that sets us apart. 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:16.400 Verse 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:21.920 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:24.480 Walk in step with the Spirit. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:27.599 Remain in me and I remain in you. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:31.599 We have relationship through the Holy Spirit with Jesus. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.039 Abide in him. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:37.279 So practically, I think that looks like probably a long list. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:39.680 Here's three things that I was thinking about this week. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:42.799 Um, in a moment, Michael, we're, I don't know where you went, or we're gonna worship. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:45.519 Um so feel free to come and get yourself set up. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:49.039 So three things to abide in him. 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.880 Abide in God's word. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:56.400 Last week, Johnny was talking about scripture and at community during the week. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:26:02.960 One of the questions we were mulling over was um, how do we delight and meditate on God's word, the Bible? 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:22.400 So whether it is Bible notes, the Bible in a year, whether it is journaling, whether it is songs that are based on scripture or worship, whether it's little verses stuck up around the house, um, whether it's podcasts, whether it's going to sleep with Lectio 365, whatever it is, get the Bible into your life. 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.400 I say that to me too. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:34.799 And if you said during the Wake It Community, um, oh, I would like to try doing this to try and get the Bible into life more, and you haven't, here's a wee gentle reminder. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.240 I'm taking it too. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:38.559 Abide in God's word. 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:41.359 Second, abide in God's love. 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:49.839 There is nothing that we can do that makes God love us more or love us less. 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:55.279 So rest in the fact that we are deeply loved by God. 00:26:56.079 --> 00:27:11.200 So when you find yourself distracted or you've drifted a little bit from the truth of God's love in your life, turn your focus back to Him in prayer and ask Him to give you a fresh understanding of His love for you. 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:13.440 Abide in God's love. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:18.400 And the third thing, abide in God's strength. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:27.599 We aren't striving to be like Jesus on our own, but he did live out an example for us to observe and follow. 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:36.559 So where we can see that we have room to grow in the ways of Jesus, in the fruit of the Spirit, ask God to help you. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:39.279 Ask him to give you his strength. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:43.200 God, help me to have more patience with this person. 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:47.039 God, fill me with joy today, despite my circumstances. 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:53.440 God, fill me with strength to have self-control in this very frustrating situation. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:58.240 Holy Spirit, fill me with the fruit of the Spirit today. 00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:00.240 Ask for his help. 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:04.079 Abide in God's strength. 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:10.640 We're gonna worship in a sec, but why don't we maybe just pray that together now? 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:23.680 So I'll just invite you to stand if you're able to. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:16.799 God, we say we want to be more like you. 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:22.640 And we ask that you would help us to abide with you. 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:29.200 Would you bring to mind today areas of our lives where we maybe need your intervention? 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:37.759 Father, we pray that you would fill us with what we need to show people something of your love. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:47.200 May we be people who are recognized by our fruit.