Fruit Of The Spirit - 2

INTRO

We like Sweet Corn / Pop-Corn

seeds produce crop of that which it is

PRAYER

A - Oh great God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, Holy one of Israel, We gather together today to praise your name, to celebrate your glory and to marvel at your majesty.

C - Father, we also come together to confess to you our need for your forgiveness, the need of your grace and mercy, and the need for your spirit of life to take possession of us.

T - Thank you Jesus for securing for us a place in your kingdom. Thank you for your sacrificial atonement that brought about our redemption.

S - Be with us now we pray. As we continue in Galatians 5 make your word take shape in our hearts. Grow, change, renew, and manifest in us the fruit of which is spoken here this day.

MESSAGE

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Let us move to our first section and speak about

PATIENCE

Forbearance

a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation

In Temptation

We have been promised...

Release from Temptation

2 Pet 2.9 “9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,”

1 Co 10.13 “13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Rewards through Temptation

James 1.12 “12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

In Troubles

We must seek to cultivate an…

Attitude of Patience

Rom 12.12 “12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Which leads to an …

Affect of Patience

Heb 10.36 “36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

We can believe and have hope in this that we will receive an…

Answer by Patience

Ps 40.1 “1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.”

In Trials

The Work of Patience

James 1.4 “4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

The Waiting in Patience

Jam 5.7 “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.”

The Way of Patience

Ps 37.7 “7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”

Moving from our first head now to the second is of course...

KINDNESS

Benevolence

to provide something beneficial for someone

We see the clearest description of kindness by examining the…

The Personality of Kindness

The Father

Rom 11.22 “22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”

The Son

Titus 3:4–5 “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,”

The Spirit

Gal 5.22 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

This personality of kindness is seen most clearly in the…

The Proof of Kindness

Creation

Genesis 1:1–4 “1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”

Christ

Eph 2.7 “7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Christian

Eph 4.32 “32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

We as christians must seek to live this out as we discuss…

The Practice of Kindness

Consideration

Rom 15.1 “1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

Concern

1 Cor 12.24-26 “24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

Christlike

Jhn 13.14 “14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

Finally then let us move on to…

GOODNESS

Generosity

Of course the source of goodness is…

Supernatural Goodness

Person of Goodness

Ps 34.8 “8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

Ps 25.8 “8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.”

Place of Goodness

Matt 25.46 “46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””

Pardoning Goodness

Rom 2.4 “4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

We…

Sensible Goodness

Pitiable

Romans 3:10–12 “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.””

Rom 12.2 “2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Practical

1 Thes 5.15 “15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”

Prayerful

Lk 6.28 “28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

Spiritual Goodness

Reflecting

Gen 1.27 “27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

2 Cor 3.18 “18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Reward

Matt 25.21 “21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

Eph 1.18 “18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”

PRAYER

GROUP QUESTIONS

What about this message stood out to you most?

Which of these three fruits of the Spirit seems to be the most important in your life right now? Which seems to be most elusive?

Why is it so important to understand the spiritual concepts behind patience when experiencing various trials?

How can we encourage one another in this without making the trials seem little or becoming dismissive of their struggles?

How would you explain the difference between kindness and goodness?

Why is it so important for us as Christians to practice the personality of kindness for the world to see?