Fruit of the Spirit - Faithfulness

We hear people say “just have faith and it will work out” to comfort others when they are going through a stressful situation or a serious problem.  What does that really mean?  The Bible says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” – Heb. 11:1.  The Bible also says it is impossible to please God without faith.  “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” – Heb. 11:6.

Faith is confidence, belief, and trust.  It is our evidence of what we have not seen or the invisible spiritual things.  It comes before prayer is answered.

The book of Hebrews is called the faith chapter and reminds us of some of the men and women in the Bible who lived by faith in the Old Testament.  The book of James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2).  Living in faith is not just believing that God exists.  It is demonstrated by service and obedience to God.

God is faithful to man.  He is the author of faith and gives faith to every person who wants it.  A true Christian’s faith means to be completely believe that there is no other truth apart from God’s Word on which to build their life.  A person of faith is a person who fully trusts God will do what He says in every situation. 

Do you have that kind of faith in God? 

You can be faithful in many things.  Faith is a devotion to others and principles.  It is a positive attitude and an active attitude.  It is steadfast and true in the middle of evil.  Faithfulness is love, steady, true, and trustworthy.  It possesses staying power in spite of feelings and difficulties, even after the first joys seem to have disappeared (John M. Dreshcer).

How are you faithful to others?

Do you do what you say you will do?

What kind of attitude do you have?

Do you stay positive in difficulties?

Faithfulness means to continue with the job you have been given and not yielding to your restless desire for change.  It is a quality of a friend.  It points to God and His purposes and away from self and any preoccupations (Evelyn Underhill).

God’s Word is the Source of Faith

How do you get more faith?  God gives faith to those who seek it.  Faith is increased by drawing close to God through prayer and studying His Word.  Our faith is increased by reading and hearing the examples of faith in church.  “… faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” – Rom. 10:17.  Faith is surrendering all the way to Him and do His will, then praying.  That’s how you get to know Him.  We are too close to material things, but through prayer we come closer to God and the spiritual things.

Rely on Jesus completely.  Trust in His power and love.  Believe in His teachings.  Believe even though you don’t understand all the things He does in your life.  He has experienced all your pain and all your temptations.  He knows your daily difficulties.  He has overcome the world and has prepared the way for you to receive eternal life.  He is always ready to help.

How are you relying on Jesus?

Do you believe He died for you?

Do you go to Him when troubled?

Never before has the world needed faith in God as it needs it today.  The world is a mess.  It needs Jesus.  The world is killing babies through abortion and selling their body parts.  It is exchanging the truth of God for a lie (Rom. 1).  Men are marrying men and women are marrying women.  They call it marriage, but it’s not marriage in God’s eyes.  There are more and more murders, sex outside marriage, lying and deceit, and our prisons are full of lawbreakers of all kinds.  When will it stop?  The time is coming soon.  God has been waiting for people to repent and come to Him, but He won’t wait forever.  When Jesus returns, it will be too late.  If you are not a child of God, repent and confess your sins and trust in Jesus.  He is waiting for you.

Principle:  A person of faith is a person who fully trusts God will do what He says in every situation

Next time we will talk more about the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit.  We still have gentleness and self-control to cover.  Hope to see you here.

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Fruit of the Spirit - Goodness

This week we are on the sixth Fruit of the Spirit, which is goodness.   “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” – Gal. 5:22. 

Goodness or good means something has fulfilled its purpose or expectation.  I think here in Galatians it’s talking about doing good toward others.  A truly good person does whatever is necessary to right a wrong.  Jesus is a good example of this.  Goodness is love in action.

God is good.  He is good to us in spite of everything we have said and done.  He has made us good not by our own efforts, but by what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  His goodness makes us want to do good works. 

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is good is from God.  Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.” – 3 John 11.  Goodness doesn’t mean you are perfect, but rather that you reflect the integrity of God in you. 

The Christian is in a different position from other people who try to be good.  They hope by being good, to please God, if there is one - if they think there is not, they at least hope to deserve approval from others.  A Christian thinks any good he does comes from being Christ-like inside himself.  He doesn’t think God will love him just because he is good, but that God will make him good because He loves him (C.S. Lewis).

Use the talents and gifts God has given you.  You can affect others with your gifts.  Are you a teacher, a musician, a writer?  Maybe you are good at encouraging others.  Maybe you have great compassion and love for your fellow man.  If so, you will touch many lives.  Put those talents to work and help others.  Don’t be selfish.

What talents and gifts has God given you?

How do you use your talents and gifts to help others?

The Lord’s goodness surrounds us every day, everywhere.  Stop and recognize it and thank Him for it.

Next time we will talk more about the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit.  We still have faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to cover.  Hope to see you here.

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Fruit of the Spirit - Kindness

We have been talking about the 9 Biblical attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit.  This week we are on the fifth, which is kindness or gentleness.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” – Gal. 5:22.  We should live “in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left” – 2 Cor. 6:6-7.

Kindness is a quality of being kind, an act of kindness, being of a friendly or generous nature, showing sympathy, mercy, empathy, or understanding, warm-heartedness.

Last time we talked about how many people are impatient and have short fuses.  People have lost the ability to treat others with respect and kindness.  Kindness is linked with love as is loving kindness.  Being kind doesn’t mean you are weak and it doesn’t compromise the truth.  It’s a manner of speaking and acting.  It’s an attitude.  It comes from an attitude that everyone around you is worthy of being treated well – even yourself.  Stop being angry with yourself and forgive yourself, and be kind to yourself.

Kindness puts others at ease telling them you are not out to do harm, which allows people to feel safe around you.  We are to do to others as God has done for us (Eph. 4:32).

God has shown us kindness.  We were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to sin, envious, hateful – just to name a few.  God sent His Son, Jesus to save us not on the basis of our deeds, but according to His mercy and by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:3-7).

Since God is kind, the follower of Jesus is to be kind.  That’s part of being holy.  We are to treat people with respect, use gentle words, provide a helping hand to the elderly, and help the needy.  Do random acts of kindness.  Give them a little taste of God’s love.

“I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” – Lev. 11:44.

How do you show kindness to others?

Are you words gentle or harsh?

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered – Love them anyway.

“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Col. 3:12-13.

Kindness is a growth process as you let the Spirit live in you and remain in Him.  Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5. 

Kindness demonstrates Christ to the world.  So practice kindness - Practice, Practice, Practice.  If we are willing, the Spirit will enable us to respond in love and kindness. 

Next time we will talk more about the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit.  We still have goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to cover.  Hope to see you here.

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Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

The third characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit is Peace.  Peace is being in a harmonious relationship with God.  Is your inner person wrecked with anxiety and worry when everything falls apart?  Or can you rest in God’s peace?  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” – Gal. 5:22. 

Jesus came into the world to bring us a full relationship and restoration with God.  It cost him His life.  Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we have hope and a future.  When in Christ we are able to relax and be at peace in the middle of the confusion and trials of life.  We are able rest with assurance and have peace.

Jesus gave us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-19, 27-28).  He said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

Believers are to be anxious for nothing.  God promises to guard our hearts and minds.  It is a peace which transcends all understanding (Phil 4:4-7).  That is it is a peace which the world cannot understand.  Its source is the Holy Spirit of God.

How do you exhibit peace in your life?

Do you have a peaceful attitude?

How can you make peace function better in your life?

We have peace by surrendering and yielding ourselves to God’s control (Is. 26:3, Matt. 5:9).  Once we have real peace with God we will be able to make and keep peace with others.  With the Holy Spirit living inside you, you are able to experience the peace of God.

Is your inner person wrecked with anxiety and worry when everything falls apart?

Or can you rest in God’s peace? 

There is no peace for the wicked; however, for believers it is available every time you pray and leave your concerns with God.  Our lives are filled with worry, stress and even fear.  Biblical peace is opposite of all these feelings.  It is resting in God as we remember who He is and trust in Him completely.  There is nothing like the peace of God.  It’s real and never ends, which is very different from the world’s peace.  We can experience God’s peace through the storms of life by remembering who He is and letting Him have control over every part of our lives.  So when going through life’s storms remember God and trust in Him and He will give you peace.  Spend time in prayer and praise God for the fruit of the Holy Spirit – peace.

We are also to be peacemakers.  To be a peacemaker you have to know the Peace Giver.  Mother Teresa said to thank God for His gift of peace.  Preach the peace of Christ as He did.  Show peace to others.  It starts with a smile.  Smile 5 times a day at someone you don’t really want to smile at – do it for peace.  Radiate the peace of God to rid the world of hate.  (Mother Teresa)

Are you a peacemaker?

Do you know the Peace Giver?

Next time we will talk more about the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit.  We still have patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to cover.  Hope to see you here.

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Fruit of the Spirit - Patience

There are 9 Biblical attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit.  In this lesson we will talk about the fourth, which is patience or longsuffering.  These attributes characterize all who truly walk in the Holy Spirit.  All Christian should be producing these in their lives.  We are “being strengthened so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father…” – Col. 1:11.

Definitions for longsuffering:  Patience, steadfastness under provocation, endurance, ability to endure persecution and ill-treatment.

Patience is one of the most difficult areas of a Christian’s life.  Our lives are constantly changing and testing our patience.  Because God is patient, Christians ought to be patient.  Patience is one of God’s attributes.  We often pray for patience.  God has been waiting patiently wanting to give us His patience even before we ask.  God is patient and He desires to give us this quality.  To be patient is to deal lovingly and kindly to those around us.

Patience produces unity in the church, loyalty to your country, harmony in families and community.  It comforts.  It has humility.  It teaches us to forgive.  Patience is being calm and without anger.  Patience waits and is never in a hurry.  Patience has self-control.

Do you have self-control in all circumstances?

Are you humble?

Do you always in a hurry anger?

Do you get angry often?

When we pray for patience, do we really mean it?  We ask God for something and can’t wait until He grants our request.  Remember God’s timing is not our timing.  God may answer our prayer today, tomorrow or next year.  It may even happen long after we have left this life.  We just need to trust God and wait on His timing.  He knows what is best.  God is not in a hurry so why should you be?

Waiting is not easy.  Wait in prayer.  Call on God and plead your case.  Tell Him your difficulties.  Express your confidence in Him.  Then wait in quiet patience.  Don’t complain as Israel did against Moses and never wish you could go back.  Pray that God’s will be done, not yours.

“Patience is not passive: on the contrary it is active; it is concentrated strength.” – Bulwer

Patience is the ability to accept disappointment or delay.  We should smile at setbacks and respond with a pleasant spirit.  Don’t be like others around you who curse and complain.  

Many have short fuses and it take very little to set them off.  There is road rage on the highways and even murder because tempers are lost.  Just be calm, cheerful and relaxed.  It’s not the end of the world.  It’s not life and death.  Have patience in all things, especially yourself.

Do you have a short fuse?

When disappointed, do you get frustrated and angry?

Next time we will talk more about the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit.  We still have kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to cover.  Hope to see you here.

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