Fruitful Living
The character of Christ Jesus [Part 2]
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing – John 15:4-5 NIV
INTRODUCTION
The fruit of the Spirit, (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – Gal 5:22-23a) is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s presence in our lives. We can’t obtain them without His help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our life to His, as we read in John 15:4-5. We must know Him, love Him, remember Him and imitate Him. The Holy Spirit is the source of our new life, so let us keep in step with His leading. We should not let anything or anyone else determine our values and standards in any area of our life. Let us put on the character of Christ in all our endeavours. Each person’s life is a story. When we come to know Jesus personally, He becomes the main character in our life’s story. When He becomes the main character in our lives, our life then becomes part of the Best Story Ever Told.
What are these Character Traits:
- Christ’s character of Meekness –Zechariah 9:9
- Christ’s character of Holiness – Revelation 3:7
- Christ’s character of being Just – John 5:30
- Christ’s character of Obedience to God the Father – John 4:34
- Christ’s character of Faithfulness – 1 Thessalonians 5:24
- Christ’s character of Truth – John 1:14
- Christ’s character of Self-denial – Matthew 8:20
- Christ’s character of Zealousness – Luke 2:49
- Christ’s character of being Sinless – 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Christ’s character of Humility – Philippians 2:8 & Matt. 11:29
- Christ’s character of Patience – Isaiah 53:7
- Christ’s character of Righteousness – Hebrews 1:9
- Christ’s character of Guilelessness – Isaiah 53:9
- Christ’s character of Compassion – Isaiah 40:11
- Christ’s character of Love – John 15:13
- Christ’s character of being Altogether lovely – Song of Songs 5:16
- Christ’s character of Benevolence – Matthew 4:23-24
- Christ’s character of Resisting Temptation – Matthew 4:1-10
- Christ’s character of being Longsuffering – 1 Timothy 1:16
20. Christ’s character of Goodness – Matthew 11:29
21. Christ’s character of being Spotless – 1 Peter 1:19
22. Christ’s character of being Harmless – Hebrews 7:26
23. Christ’s character of being Merciful – Hebrews 2:17
24. Christ’s character of being Innocent – Matthew 27:4
25.Christ’s character of being Forgiving – Luke 23:34
26.Christ’s character of Submissiveness – Luke 22:42
27.Christ’s character of Obedience to His parents – Luke 2:51
Maybe you are looking for a ray of light for your life, a reason to live. There is a Person that can fill your life with love, hope, joy, and forgiveness. He wants to bring fulfillment to your life. He wants to have a personal relationship with you every day, His name is Jesus. May you be led by the Holy Spirit to receive Christ as your Lord and personal saviour and also rededicate your life according to John 1:12-13; Psalm 51 : 1 – 12
Thomas Toke Lynch’s (1818-71)hymn in Methodist Hymn Book 291 is a good rendition of our invitation to the Holy Spirit to take control in our lives.
GRACIOUS Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would Thy life in mine reveal,
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Saviour speak.
Truthful Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would truthful be,
And with wisdom kind and clear
Let Thy life in mine appear,
And with actions brotherly
Speak my Lord’s sincerity.
Tender Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would tender be:
Shut my heart up like a flower
At temptation’s darksome hour;
Open it when shines the sun,
And His love by fragrance own.
Mighty Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would mighty be,
Mighty so as to prevail
Where unaided man must fall,
Ever by a mighty hope
Pressing on and bearing up.
Holy Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would holy be;
Separate from sin, I would
Choose and cherish all things good,
And, whatever I can be,
Give to Him who gave me Thee.
Stay Blessed!
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By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
Satan tempts Jesus with the offer of rulership over all the kingdoms of the world, a proposal that Jesus rejects. This could be viewed as an appeal for material wealth, possessions and power.
Jesus’ kingdom in this age is not a worldly kingdom. Throughout His ministry, Jesus would refuse to seek a kingdom for Himself by the worldly methods of compromise, earthly power, political maneuvering, external violence or personal popularity.
Jesus’ kingdom is a spiritual one, established in the hearts of His people, who have also refused to follow the ungodly ways of the world. As a heavenly kingdom,
- It is gained through suffering, self – denial, humility and meekness – the opposite of how worldly people pursue power;
- It requires surrendering ourselves as living and holy sacrifices completely devoted and obedient to God and His purposes; Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
- It involves a battle against Satan, sin, temptation and evil using spiritual weapons. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – Ephesians 6:10-20.
- It means resisting conformity to the beliefs, behaviours and lifestyles that are common in the world. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. – 1 John 2:15-17
Satan’s appeal to worship Him was an attempt to get Jesus to take a quick route to a world domination – to avoid the humility and sufferings that would lead to Jesus’ death on the cross. This is to say, the devil was trying to get Jesus to lay aside His entire purpose for coming to earth. Christ’s willingness to face all the difficulties that lay ahead is an example to all believers. He taught us that there are no shortcuts to fulfilling God’s perfect purposes for our lives, no matter how tempting the options may seem.
Stay Blessed!
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
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Preparing for Ramadan through the month of Sha‘ban
THE month of Sha‘ban, which precedes Ramadan, serves as a spiritual training ground. The Prophet (s.a.w.) devoted significant attention to this month, fasting frequently and encouraging heightened acts of worship. ‘Aishah (r.a.) narrated:
“I did not see the Messenger of Allah complete fasting in any month except Ramadan, and I did not see him fast more in any month than in Sha‘ban.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
During Sha‘ban, Muslims are encouraged to:
• Observe optional fasts,
• Increase Qur’anic recitation,
• Engage in charitable deeds (ṣadaqah),
• Strengthen community bonds and service.
These acts gradually condition both the body and soul for the rigours and blessings of Ramadan.
Scholarly guidance and community sensitisation
Across Muslim communities, scholars and religious leaders organise lectures, workshops, sermons, and media engagements to educate the Ummah about Ramadan. These initiatives address:
• The jurisprudence (fiqh) of fasting,
• The obligation to make up missed fasts from previous years,
• The ethical conduct expected during Ramadan,
• The spiritual, social, and health benefits of fasting.
Modern studies have also affirmed that fasting, when properly observed, contributes to improved self-discipline, metabolic balance, and emotional regulation—findings that align with Islamic teachings on moderation and self-control.
The role of parents and families in Ramadan preparation
Preparation begins at home. Parents play a vital role in nurturing a Ramadan-conscious environment by:
• Encouraging children and young adults to try voluntary fasts,
• Training family members to wake up for Tahajjud (night prayers),
• Establishing regular family supplications and Qur’an reading sessions.
Such practices help instill lifelong spiritual habits and strengthen family unity through shared worship.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
