The Fruit Of The Spirit - III (5:22-23)

The Fruit Of The Spirit - III

INTRODUCTION

1. This is our third and final study on "The Fruit Of The Spirit"...

a. Fruit born by those who walk in the Spirit, who are led by the

Spirit

b. As opposed to those who succumb to their carnal lusts, producing

the works of the flesh

2. Our first study on the fruit of the Spirit focused on the first triad

of graces...

a. Love - active good will, toward God and man, that passes knowledge

b. Joy - gladness, delight, which is inexpressible and full of glory

c. Peace - harmony, concord, that surpasses understanding

3. Our second study examined the second triad of graces...

a. Longsuffering - patience, self-restraint in the face of

provocation

b. Kindness - sweetness of temper that places others at ease, born

of mercy

mercy

c. Goodness - benevolence, kindness in action

[The third triad of graces include faithfulness, gentleness (meekness,

KJV), and self-control. Thus we note that...]

VII. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS FAITHFULNESS

The word translated “faithfulness” is the same word translated “faith”. Faithfulness, then, is a quality that God wants to reproduce in us through the salvation that comes in Christ. It is another of the qualities of maturity to be sought in the life of the Christian.

Of what value would the promises of God be without His faithfulness and of what value would we be to God, to our families, to the body of Christ, and to society as a whole without faithfulness? Absolutely none! The faithful person is one who can be counted on to carry out his or her responsibilities and promises to the best of his or her ability through thick and thin no matter how bad the situation.

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

A. THE FAITHFULNESS THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...

1. often used in the NT of a conviction or belief in respect to God and Christ

in respect to God and Christ

2. But it also is used to describe the quality of "fidelity, faithfulness"

faithfulness"

a. "the character of one who can be relied on..." - Thayer

b. "faithful, to be trusted, reliable..." - Vine

c. William Barclay calls it "the virtue of reliability"

3. This virtue, unfortunately, is not too common...

a. While many may claim it, the wise man declared it hard to

find - Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

find -

6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,

b. The Psalmist decried the lack of "faithfulness" in his day,

But who can find a faithful man?

b. The Psalmist decried the lack of "faithfulness" in his day,

describing a condition that sounds much like our situation

today -

1 Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases!

For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

FAITHFULNESS in their lives

B. The Supreme Model of FAITHFULNESS IN THE LIFE OF

THE CHRISTIAN...

The Bible is loaded with examples of faithfulness throughout its pages. In the Old Testament, there are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, David, Daniel and his three friends and many others. In the New Testament there are the Disciples, Paul, Timothy and Titus and many others as well. But as in all the qualities of maturity, the Lord Jesus is our supreme example or model of faithfulness. In fact, a number of times the New Testament not only points to the faithfulness of Christ, but does so in such a way that it stresses that our salvation and sanctification are based on the faithfulness of Christ Himself.

crown of life -

of life -

2. Some areas in which we need faithfulness:

a. The use of our 'talents' (i.e., abilities, opportunities) , 24-26

- ,

b. Our duties to the church (e.g., its assemblies) -

24-25

c. Our duties as parents, spouses, children - ;

; ;

;

3. Those who are faithful will be blessed by the Lord -

;

-- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to

FAITHFULNESS?

[Next we observe that...]

VIII. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS GENTLENESS

A. THE GENTLENESS (MEEKNESS, KJV) THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...

1. gentleness; by implication humility: - meekness

Strong

2. "the ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation,

and not to embark on revenge quickly, and not to be easily

provoked to anger, but to be free from bitterness and

contentiousness, having tranquillity and stability in the

spirit." - Aristotle, On Virtues And Vices

3. Gentleness (or meekness), then, is that virtuous quality by

which "we treat all men with perfect courtesy, that we can

rebuke without rancor, that we can argue without intolerance,

that we can face the truth without resentment, that we can be

angry and sin not, that we can be gentle and yet not weak."

- Barclay

4. A virtue displayed by both Moses and Jesus -

28-30

-- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of GENTLENESS

in their lives

B. GENTLENESS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...

1. We are to receive the Word of God with meekness

1:21

2. We must approach brethren in error with a spirit of gentleness

3. We must correct those in opposition with humility (prautes)

4. We are to answer inquiries concerning our hope with meekness

5. Meekness (prautes) is necessary for the Christian man who

be wise - cf.

who would be wise

would be wise

6. Meekness (prautes) is necessary for the Christian woman who

would be precious in the sight of God -

-- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to GENTLENESS?

GENTLENESS?

[Finally, we consider that virtue which is most needed in dealing with

fleshly lusts...]

IX. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS SELF-CONTROL

A. THE SELF-CONTROL THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...

1. Gr., egkrateia - it comes from the word "kratos" (strength),

and means "one holding himself in" - Robertson

2. Thayer defines it as: "the virtue of one who masters his

desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites"

3. MacKnight adds the thought: "Where this virtue subsists,

temptation can have little influence."

-- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of

SELF-CONTROL in their lives

B. SELF-CONTROL IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...

1. This virtue is necessary to overcoming the "works of the flesh"

(such as fornication and outbursts of wrath) - cf.

2. The indwelling Spirit is given to the Christian to aid us in

this regard - cf.

3. The Spirit's aid comes in response to asking for it in prayer

- cf. ,

4. We must be willing to stand strong in the power of God's might

- cf.

-- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to

SELF-CONTROL?

CONCLUSION

1. In brief, the third triad of graces produced by the Spirit in the

life of the Christian are...

a. Faithfulness - the virtue of reliability, the character of one who

can be depended upon

b. Gentleness - kind treatment of others, born of humility

c. Self-control - the ability to hold oneself in, mastering desires

and passions

2. Previously we noted the following contrasts between the Spirit and

the flesh...

a. Those who walk by the Spirit experience love, joy, and peace

b. Those who indulge lusts of the flesh experience hatred,

jealousies, and outbursts of wrath

c. Those who walk by the Spirit experience longsuffering, kindness,

and goodness

d. Those who indulge fleshly lusts experience contentions, envy, and

selfish ambitions

3. Once more we note the contrast between the Spirit and the flesh...

a. Those who walk by the Spirit experience faithfulness, gentleness,

and self-control

b. Those who indulge fleshly lusts experience jealousies,

contentions, and immorality

4. Previously we asked: Which would you rather have...?

a. A life infused with love, joy, and peace, by the Spirit of

Almighty God?

b. A life inflicted by hatred, jealousies, and outbursts of wrath,

due to fleshly lusts?

c. A life developing longsuffering, kindness, and goodness, with the

help of the Holy Spirit?

d. A life devastated by contentions, envy, and selfish ambitions, due

to your own fleshly lusts?

5. So again we ask: Which would you rather have...?

a. A life exuding faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, with

the aid of the Spirit?

b. A life exhausted by jealousies, contentions, and immorality, due

to your own fleshly lusts?

Jesus gives us a choice. Through His blood He can cleanse us of sin;

through the Spirit He can empower us to live holy and righteous lives.

Are we willing to accept His gracious choice...?

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust

of the flesh." -