Fruit Of The Spirit - 3

INTRO

The World tells us how to succeed in this life is to...

look out for number 1

do what you can to get ahead

be the biggest and best in the room

do what we want when we want it

The Word of God has a very different prescription !!

PRAYER

A - God your Word is amazing. As we walk through your scriptures we are in awe of your wisdom and love. Here in Galatians you have called us to live by the very Spirit you give.

C - Lod God we confess that we struggle to be faithful to you, we struggle to be gentle and self-controlled. Our sin filled natures wage war against the spirit that you have given. Forgive us we pray for not walking in the spirit as we ought to do.

T - Thank you lord for your faithfulness to us. You remain faithful even in the face of our lack. You never fail to be for us, your promises are true. Thank you father for your gentleness. You patiently seek after us and correct us as a loving father does. We praise you LORD that you never lose control over yourself. You are perfect in your judgements at all times in all ways over all things.

S - Therefore father we ask that you would be with us. Teach us from your word and lead us by your Spirit. Help us to have victory over the flesh as we seek to walk by the spirit. Grow in us and bring forth the fruit of Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. We pray this for our good and for your glory.

Amen

MESSAGE

Faithfulness

The first area of faithfulness for us is...

In Learning of Christ

Heb 10.32 “32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,”

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.”

We should be growing in our Bible knowledge

What does your study life look like

What are you reading / watching / listening to

We should be growing in our application

Who is Christ to you… in (situation)

The more we learn of Christ our natural inclination in faithfulness then grows to… The second area of faithfulness for us is...

In Loving Christ

Matt 22.37 “37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

We should be growing in our affections toward God

what is your prayer life like

are you seeking to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness and worship

are you actively looking for ways to praise the LORD

What doe sit mean to you to LOVE Christ? What does that look like in your opinion?

As we grow in our Love of Christ our lives will show this… The third area of faithfulness we pursue is…

In Living for Christ

1 Jhn 1.6 “6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

We should be growing in our Christ-Likeness

would those who know you best identify marked growth in your life

is there a measurable difference in your day to day life now rather than before

Where are you serving

how are you sacrificing for Him

Are you regularly witnessing for Him??

We however cannot be satisfied with merely living for Christ… Our fourth and final area of practical faithfulness is…

In Looking for Christ

Jhn 14.3 “3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Matt 24.44 “44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

We should be watching and assessing our days in light of scripture

are you living for the moment preparing for eternity

From Faithfulness let us move onto the second part of todays message regarding…

Gentleness

Meekness

Ephesians 4:1–3 “1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

This is not always seen as an attractive pursuit but let me share with you firstly…

Reasons for Gentleness

Matt 11.29 “29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Phil 2.3 “3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Jesus our Saviour was/is Meek

we are to be like Jesus

Jesus commands us to pursue meekness

we are to obey Jesus

Let us move from the reasons for meekness to the…

Reality of Gentleness

Jam 4.6 “6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””

God is opposed to the Haughty

who here would like God to be against them?

The reality of our pursuit of gentleness leads naturally to…

Results of Gentleness

Jam 4.6 “6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””

God is for the Humble

grace = unmerited favor - do you not want this?

The reality of these results is not the end however, believe it or not there are yet still…

Rewards of Gentleness

Matt 18.4 “4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matt 5.5 “5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

We will receive recognition by the very King Himself

we will be recognized as His

Because of time we cannot exhaust all the rewards of Gentleness, we must move finally to...

Self-Control

Self-control is seen in various ways one such way being…

Control of our Time

Ps 90.12 “12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

We are to be focused on the eternity of every moment.

Are you redeeming the time?

Eph 5.15-16 “15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

How much time are you spending on???

work / hobbies / etc.

Self-control is not just about our time, it is also about our…

Control of our Temper

Pro 16.32 “32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”

Our LORD is not quick to anger with you!

Look at this verse and think of your own life…

The lack of self-control in temper often finds its fulfillment in this next facet of self-control...

Control of our Tongue

James 1.26 “26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”

Eph 5.4 “4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”

How are we doing with this?

Not just what we DO say but what we DON’T say...

Rom 10.14 “14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

Eph 4.25 “25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”

As Christians we are called to speak the truth in love, using our tongues to bless and build up rather then tear down!

Lastly then self-control manifest itself not just in TIME, TEMPER, and TONGUE but also in…

Control of our Talents

Matt 25.15-30… Story of the talents…

1 Cor 4.7 “7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

Rom 12.5 “5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

You are neglecting the body of Christ by withholding your gifts

There are blessings you are not experiencing because of your lack of self-control

Alas our time is gone, so to recap, let us seek to walk in step with the spirit in order that the Spirit might produce in us faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control !!

PRAYER

GROUP QUESTIONS

What about this message stood out to you most?

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

Why might faithfulness include learning more about the Bible, God and Christ? Why might it include living for Christ? Why might it include looking forward to Christs return?

What would it mean to grow in our faithfulness in these areas? Why would this be a fruit of the Spirit and not just a work of the flesh?

Why do you think that gentleness/meekness is generally looked down upon by non-christians? Would you say that even Christians sometimes see this as weakness instead of strength?

How might you explain the difference between biblical gentleness and the worldly definition of meekness?

As an American how would you recommend to a fellow believer what it should look like to balance a spirit of gentleness with self respect, or self protection?

How might the results and rewards of practicing gentleness bring comfort and encouragement to you? How might you encourage others by it?

Do you struggle in the thinking that self-control is a spiritual issue? Why or why not?

Which area of self-control is hardest for you personally and why do you think that is?