The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5 22

The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5: 22 -23 “But the fruit of the spirit is… Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no law”

Separate Fruit or Different Aspects of One Fruit? n n n Fruit in the New Testament is normally plural Only in Galatians 5: 22 and Luke 1: 42 (referring to Jesus) is it singular Actually, this fruit is “singular collective” One collective fruit – that is centered in LOVE & made up of 8 other parts? Consider I Corinthians 13 and 2 Peter 1

Galatians 5 Fruit of Spirit I Corinthians 13 Love or Charity… JOY PEACE LONGSUFFERING GENTLENESS “rejoiceth” “hopeth all things” “beareth all things” “endureth all things” GOODNESS “rejoiceth not in iniquity” “thinketh not evil” “believeth all things” “never faileth” “not puffed up” “vaunteth not itself” “behaveth not unseemly” “seeketh not her own” FAITH MEEKNESS TEMPERANCE “suffereth long” “not easily provoked” “is kind” “envieth not” 3

2 Peter 1 FAITH VIRTUE KNOWLEDGE Galatians 5 (same word) brings (see 2 Pet. 1: 3) TEMPERANCE (same word) PATIENCE encourages GODLINESS brings BROTHERLY KINDNESS and CHARITY equals FAITH GOODNESS PEACE TEMPERANCE LONGSUFFERING GENTLENESS MEEKNESS LOVE

“But the fruit of the spirit is… Love… Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no law” Galatians 5: 22 -23 5

Longsuffering n n English word – joining together of 2 words Original Greek – also combination of 2 words – – – n n makro and themeo Literally “slow anger” or “long temper” Also translated “patience” Newer versions (eg, NIV & NEB) translate this fruit of the spirit as “patience” But, there is a difference between Biblical “Longsuffering” and Patience (as we know it).

The Patience of Job n n n Character of Job – well illustrates difference between patience and longsuffering Known for patience but not longsuffering James uses both words in chapter 5: – “Be patient (makrothumia) therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman…hath long patience for it…Be ye also patient” James 5: 7 -8 – “Ye have heard of the patience (hupomone) of Job, and hath seen the end of the Lord…” James 5: 11 James says -- We need more than “patience” (humonone)! Job, too, needed to learn “longsuffering” (makrothumia)

Longsuffering of Yahweh n God is described as being “slow to anger” Neh. 9: 17 n Exhibited this characteristic many times - e. g. , time of Noah n n (see 1 Pet. 3: 20) “…but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. 2 Pet. 3: 9 “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation. ” 2 Pet. 3: 15

Slow Anger is not No Anger n n n Impossible to experience no anger. What counts is how we express it. And we need to express it – release it in some way. Not in ways that are physically or emotionally damaging to other people. Opposite of “slow anger” = “quick temper” – not a part of the fruit of the Spirit

Anger – Biblical Common Sense n n n “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man quietly holds back”. Prov. 29: 11 (RSV) “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath” Eph. 4: 26 “Be…slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” James 1: 19, 20

Anger - Negative (& Positive) Sides Negative Impacts n n n Attacking another person Thinking hateful thoughts Festering grudges Souring relationships Guilt -> Neurosis -> Physical Illness Positive Side n n Use it as ‘fuel for motivation” But must let it go; “calm it back”

The Answer to Anger and The Secret of Longsuffering n n n It is quite simple – It is the ACT of FORGIVENESS It is essential to our own emotional, spiritual and even physical well-being. “To Forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was YOU. ”

Forgiveness – A Way of Life n n n Forgiveness does not come naturally It needs Practice – working on until it becomes a habit Starting with small everyday things Just let it go; calm it back Think back – Do you have anything against anyone? FORGIVE THEM – set yourself free

Forgiving Yourself n n n Anger towards ourselves is no less bad than anger directed towards others. Can be most difficult form of forgiveness. There is nothing wrong with having a certain healthy regard for ourselves. But, we think we own ourselves and therefore can mistreat ourselves. Not so! We were “bought with a price”.

Longsuffering Towards Ourselves n n n Go easy on yourself or it will be impossible to go easy on others. If we are over-critical and chronically angry at ourselves, we’re not going to project a different attitude towards our “neighbors”. We can’t give away what we don’t have ourselves. “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater (hearted) than our heart (than I am), and knoweth all things” 1 John 3: 20 Yahweh is more long-suffering than we can ever imagine.

TEMPERANCE n n Is it ‘self-control’ or ‘God-control’? Natural will is weak; to overcome must be aligned with higher power. True temperance – only through “delight and meditation” in God’s Word. We must hold back and not indulge in excesses acceptable to the world.

TEMPERANCE n n n Original Greek – Egkrateia (pronounced en-krateia) Compound of two words – en + kratos Literally means – “in strength” To have power over one’s self; Self-control Indeed, it takes much strength to overcome the lure from within that is so strong. – “He who rules his spirit [is better] than he who takes a city” Prov. 16: 32

Biblical (NT) context of Temperance n “But if they [unmarried and widows] cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn”. 1 Corinthians 7: 9 – Original word for “contain” is egkrateia or temperance. – The context is how much easier it can be to serve God if one remains unmarried. n “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things…But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” 1 Cor. 9: 25, 27 – Context of 1 Corinthians 9 is clearly confined to bodily excesses. – Is “all” the universal all – absolutely everything? – Should we be “temperate” in our love for God, for example?

Other areas of self-control n Drinking n Amassing wealth Spending n Eating n Etc. n

Temperance vs. Moderation n n These words are close synonyms but are not the same, particularly as they relate to morality. “Moderation in all things” is a phrase often heard today but it is not Biblical. There are some things we are told to abstain from. Abstinence is the ultimate form of temperance.

Interlocking Pieces of Fruit n n All parts of the fruit of the Spirit overlap and interlink. All parts combine to make the complete and true Christ-like character. Lack of one part will generally mean shortages in other parts. For example - if we fail to be longsuffering, we will fail at joy and peace

Gentleness n n n n Greek – chrestotes More often translated “kindness” in AV This fruit is better understood as Kindness Acts of kindness – “the cup of cold water” Everyday things – i. e. generally being “nice”? Social Kindness - because we like to be liked Fruit of the Spirit is not just Social Kindness

Being vs. Doing n n n Fruit of the Spirit – about being more than doing Internal quality of kindness rather than outward manifestation of it. Perfunctory kindness – no better than social kindness Chrestotes & related Chrestos – describe genuine kindness of the heart Mirrors the kindness of Yahweh himself and of His Son

References to Kindness of God Original Greek – “chrestotes” or “chrestos” “the riches of his goodness” “the goodness and severity of God” “if thou continue in his goodness” “the riches of His grace in his kindness” “the kindness and love of God” “the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” “He is kind to be thankful” “Be ye kind…tenderhearted…forgiving as God” Rom. 2: 4 Rom. 11: 22 Eph. 2: 7 Titus 3: 4 Rom. 2: 4 Luke 6: 35 Eph. 4: 32

Kindness – principle attribute of God’s grace GRACE favor generosity goodwill allowance clemency mercy beneficence

Sympathy for Others n n Gentleness (KINDNESS) will manifest itself in greater sympathy for people. Reality is – we all suffer from cursed human condition. Genuine kindness comes from knowing and appreciating what others are going through (treating them in a way that shows you really believe they matter) Kindness is NOT being patronizing and condescending; but being empathetic.

Kindness begins “at home” n n Should find its fullest and best expression among fellow believers. “Let each esteem others better than himself” Phil. 2: 3 RAV n n Indicates high level of grace, allowance and understanding we should have for others of the faith. But, are we impartial in esteeming others? - “They would be all right if only they were…”

What Philippians 2: 3 does not say “let each esteem himself [or herself] worse than others” n n n This passage is not “reversible” in this way. Spirit of the verse is to exalt others; not knock ourselves down. It should have a positive effect on us – help us to show kindness to fellow believers.

So…How do we show kindness to fellow believers? n n n By passing on the grace that Yahweh has shown unto us. By making allowance for others. Treating them with sympathy and understanding. Understanding what makes them “tick”. By putting away all the bad uses of the tongue – Eph. 4: 29, 31, 32 By “ministering grace unto the hearers” and using the art of careful listening

Kindness can be “expensive” n Real kindness does have a “cost” – – – – n Our time Our energy Our money Our pride Our convenience Our security But, we won’t “count the cost” when it has become part of our everyday character.

The Milk of Human Kindness “too full o’ the milk of human kindness” Lady Macbeth n n Is there a danger of being overly kind or taken advantage of for our kindness? Answer – leave it in God’s hands; trust in Him. Never allow “the milk” to go sour! The kindness of Christ and his Father is experienced by tasting “the sincere milk of the word”. [1 Peter 2: 2, 3] n Kindness will be perfectly manifested in us as citizens of the Kingdom.

Goodness n n Greek word – agathosune Only appears in New Testament four times – – Romans 15: 14 Galatians 5: 22 Ephesians 5: 9 2 Thessalonians 1: 11

“Full of Goodness” Rom. 15: 14 n n n Not in absolute sense Even Christ said “there is none good but one, that is God” Matt. 19: 16 -17 Yahweh may impute goodness on His own terms; but it’s not inherent or earned. But, Romans had sufficient knowledge and goodness. With such, they were able to “admonish one another” and lead away from false doctrine and un. Christ-like practices Paul warned them against. Do we have “sufficient” goodness?

Goodness n n Greek word – agathosune New Testament references – – Romans 15: 14 Galatians 5: 22 Ephesians 5: 9 2 Thessalonians 1: 11 34

“(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness…)” Ephesians 5: 9 n n n Verse must be considered in context of chapters 4 and 5 and especially vv. 8 -11. Chief source of defense against unfruitful works of darkness is fruit of the Spirit. And only fruit mentioned explicitly is “goodness”. Goodness works in “proving what is acceptable” and in reproving the “unfruitful works of darkness”. Relationship of goodness to admonishing and reproving is very significant.

“good pleasure of [His] goodness” 2 Thess. 1: 11 “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of [this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his] goodness, and the work of faith with power”. n n Some versions other than KJV impute goodness in this verse to believers rather than God. Alternate rendering of 2 Thess. 1: 11 – “that our God would count you worthy of calling and fulfill all the good pleasure [delight and desire] of [your] goodness and [your] work of faith with power”. n In a nutshell – The fulfillment of their delight in goodness would be their salvation.

Goodness is… n n n The quality of character that lies behind, and must precede all truly good works. It works something like a conscience and may be just that. “Inner voice” of the Word which is admonishing and reproving us. – “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” Psalm 119: 11

Self-Talk n n n Nature of our ‘self-talk’ is extremely important to our spiritual and mental well-being. For people of the world, their ‘self talk’ is almost entirely influenced by themselves and other people. Any ‘goodness’ they have is not the real thing. Their moral compass is not influenced by the Word of God. Self-talk of the believer is marked by gentle but firm inner reprovings and admonitions of the Word. – “When thou awakest, it shall talk with thee” Prov. 6: 22

Our Inner Voice n n n In the beginning, Adam and Eve’s self-talk was the pure voice of goodness. Disobedience introduced a new voice in their heads. Voice of goodness became overwhelmed and in need of constant reinforcement. We desperately need the positive influence of the Word to restore the godly voice of goodness. What’s the inner voice in your head telling you most of the time? Is it predominantly the voice of goodness or the voice of evil?

Positive and Negative Thinking n n Goodness is a form of positive thinking. Our natural mode of thinking is negative. It can: – – – n Lead us away from our own highest good Drain our spirit if we let it Try to convince us that bad things are actually good for us. Bible-based positive thinking is the only real change agent that can overcome the natural mode and result in true goodness.

“Think of these things” Phil. 4: 8 “whatsoever things are… n n n TRUE HONEST PURE LOVELY GOOD REPORT VIRTUE

“But the fruit of the spirit is… Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no law” Galatians 5: 22 -23 42

The Equation of Faith - Heb. 11: 1 Faith = 1 The Substance The Evidence 2 of Things hoped for of Things not seen Substance Greek: hupostatis; hupo - of, by or under; statis - state literally – of state or of standing something you can stand on; a solid base

JOY and PEACE – “flip sides of the same coin” JOY (Active) PEACE (Passive) Faith & Security

JOY n n Greek – chara Related to charis (grace); charisma (gift) JOY = certainty; doubt cast out = expectations soon to be realized “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” …“when they saw the star, they rejoiced (chairo) with exceeding great joy (chara)”. NO JOY with doubt, worry, lack of faith & insecurity

Attitude and Joy n n Christ’s Parables in Matthew 13 Attitudes toward the Kingdom Parable of Sower n Treasure hid in the field – v. 44 – “The Kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hide in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field. ” n Pearl of great price – vv. 45 -46 – “…is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. ”

Certainty n n Comes through faith Awareness of: – – – n n n vs. Abundant Grace Mercy Goodness “Good Grief” Acknowledging the need for confession and repentance Certainty of Forgiveness Doubt n n n Comes naturally Not wanting to delude ourselves Thoughts of shame and guilt Constant failure to live the Truth Feelings of unworthiness 47

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” n Example of the children of Israel in the days of Nehemiah – “For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law” Neh. 8: 9 [NIV] – “Nehemiah said, Go and enjoy…This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” Neh. 8: 10 [NIV] n n “Strength” – moaz [Hebrew] = fort or stronghold Joy founded upon the certainty of Yahweh’s love and mercy – protection against despair and hopelessness that the guilt of sin brings.

“but your sorrow shall be turned into joy” n Example of Christ and the disciples – “A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. ” John 16: 19 -20 n n Joy that comes from deep-seated spiritual security. Joy that comes by knowing the Kingdom will be established.

Secret of maintaining joy n n Keep the vision of your pearl clear (not hidden in our pockets) Keep the certainty of it always before you (not letting doubt creep in) Always be expecting its value to be realized (not letting failure obscure your vision) For “the joy of the Lord is your strength”

“But the fruit of the spirit is… Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no law” Galatians 5: 22 -23 51

Individual Ideas of Peace Sitting alone reading Fly fishing in a stream Walking down a country path Quiet time after children are asleep

Peace in today’s society? n n n Our society promotes stress. It is a treadmill society driven by materialism and consumerism. Chasing dreams that are never realized. Getting “to the top” can take a heavy toll. Opting to get off the treadmill is difficult in today’s economy and can lead to the stress of survival. Believers’ lives are no less stress-free than others.

The Way of Peace n “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” John 14: 27 n “let the peace of God rule in your hearts” Col. 3: 15 n n It is possible for everyone to experience real peace. But, why is the way of peace so difficult for most of us to find?

Peace and Circumstance n n Many live with illusion that inner peace is totally dependent upon external circumstances. But, this is NOT the case. Real peace does not depend on circumstances. If your peace is controlled by external things, then it is not real peace. True peace is obtained by developing the other fruit of the Spirit and constant “delight and meditation on the Word of God”.

Scriptural examples n Stephen was able to retain inner peace, even while being stoned to death. Habakkuk n Paul n – “Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” Hab. 3: 17 -18 NIV – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. ” Phil 4: 4 -7 (NIV)

Real Peace n Practiced* by maintaining inner calm and absolute trust in Yahweh during smaller everyday as well as major crises of life, *as with all the fruit of the Spirit; real peace takes effort to develop as an aspect of our character n for… – “all things work together for good” – Not that all things “are good” n Bad things must be viewed in context of God guiding all the events in life to a good, eventual outcome.

The Gap REAL PEACE (Spiritual Mind) ACTUAL PEACE (or Lack thereof) YOU FEEL THE GAP LIFE FILLED WITH TROUBLE & CONFUSION (Natural Mind)

Cold War n n n Real peace is not the absence of war (or conflict in our lives). It is a quality (fruit) in its own right which actually replaces conflict within us. Do we have our own personal, inner cold war going on? It is a form of being in the Gap (and can be on the edge of falling out of the ”peace zone”). Difference between only “resisting the devil” and “drawing nigh unto God”.

The Pendulum of Finding Peace “Resist the Devil” “Draw nigh to God” THE GAP

Finding peace through “the bad” n n To be reminded of God every time something goes wrong is perfect way to stay focused on the Truth and find peace. Important to see the hand of God in things that would normally defeat you and to… Press the praise button, not the panic button (i. e. , thank God and don’t complain). Changed attitude to problems and recognition of God in your life events will transform you and bring real peace. – Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom. 12: 21

Confusion vs. Peace “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” 1 Cor. 14: 33 Mind of the Flesh n In the GAP Mind of the Spirit The GAP is a mental state of confusion & instability or doublemindedness. “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” James 1: 8 The Answer: Psalm 86: 11 -12

Peace like a River n Isaiah 66: 12 “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and n n Revelation 22: 1, 2 Psalm 1: 3 “like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth n Psalm 37: 11 “meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight n 2 Peter 3: 13 -14 Col. 3: 15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the n the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. ” forth his fruit in due season” themselves in the abundance of peace” which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful”.

“But the fruit of the spirit is… Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no law”

8 -Fold Fruit of the Spirit n Characterizes the New Man in Christ Number 8 signifies a new beginning n Consider other lists of attributes for – n – – – Elect of God (items to put on) - Col. 3: 12 -16 Man of God - I Timothy 6: 11 -12 Brethren –Romans 12 entire chapter

Balance and Attitude n n n Must keep the Fruit in balance They are the Correct Attitudes to Life And the Fruit of the Spirit is all about attitude: Correct attitudes = JOY, PEACE, etc. The Pull of the Flesh

Hupomone – Active Patience n n n One of the noblest of New Testament words Relates specifically to tribulation Not a passive form of patience Through which we can bear all things through hope This was the patience of Job! But, he still needed to learn “longsuffering” towards his friends.

Real Faith n n n Works without faith is ‘phony fruit’. May have appearance of real fruit. But, God is not fooled. Yahweh looks at the being not the doing. Works without real faith will only bring a bitter. “by works was faith made perfect” James 2: 22

The Teenager Analogy n n Human race is stuck in “adolescence” from God’s perspective – never reaching spiritual maturity. Teenagers want the benefits of adulthood without the responsibilities. Temperance is hard for spiritual adolescents of all ages. Reality is that believers still have same old rebellious nature after baptism and can suffer from shortcomings as “spiritual adolescents”.

Temperance – Biblical emphasis n n Immorality was a problem in Paul’s day and its much worse today. Biblical temperance is all about being strong in the control of our natural tendencies -- the primary drives of the flesh. Sexual drive is perhaps the strongest and most difficult to control for some. Paul explicitly exhorts the brethren in the first century on this delicate subject, especially to the ecclesia in Corinth.

Goodness in use as a Fruit n n n Goodness is -- quality of character in a believer by which he or she is able to combat “badness” or evil. Believer should direct his/her “goodness” toward others in error; using it to validate their admonition and reproofs. It only comes from reading the Spirit Word and… It gives us credibility when dealing with error – doctrine or walk. But, not its primary function. More importantly, is what it does for us on the inside (being rather than doing).

Faith Now n Three other matters of faith that are not future: 1. 2. 3. – – Hand of Yahweh in our lives His hand in the affairs of present nations His hand in the past Each of these has evidence in outworkings beyond Scripture but still require faith And we must have faith in ourselves.

Original Greek - Egkrateia n n Compound of two words – en + kratos Literally means – “in strength” To have power over one’s self Indeed, it takes much strength to overcome the lure from within that is so strong. – “He who rules his spirit [is better] than he who takes a city” Prov. 16: 32

Example of Felix n n Procurator of Judea - Paul defended himself against claims made against him before Felix (see Acts 24). “And as [Paul] reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way…” (v. 25) History shows that Felix indulged in all kinds of cruelty and moral excess including murder and adultery. Judgment would be the consequence of his lack of temperance (and righteousness); therefore he “trembled”.

Adultery and Murder in the Heart n We may not be guilty of adultery or murder; but what about the spiritual equivalents? “Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. ” “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. ” Matthew 5: 21, 22 & 28 n n Intemperate thinking is sin in Yahweh’s eyes just as intemperate action. Are we any less guilty than Felix in regard to intemperate thinking?

Peace – Other side of “coin” of Security JOY (Active) PEACE (Passive) Security n n n Joy gives “sparkle” to life in the Truth. Peace provides a deeper feeling of well-being. True peace is a product of the other Fruit of the Spirit. 76

Trees Bearing Fruit n n Fruitful trees are worthwhile Fruitless trees are worthless – The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13: 6 -9) n n Fruit is the visible evidence/expression of a tree’s good health – both natural & spiritual. Cultivation = Spiritual Development – “fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3: 8)

A tree planted by the water Psalm 1: 3 & Jeremiah 17: 8 n n Natural - Healthy trees are planted by good water supplies Spiritual – see preceding verses – “his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” Ps. 1: 2 – “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree…” Jer. 17: 7 n n Delight & Meditation in the Law Trust & Hope in the Lord

“Of the Spirit” n n Nobody but Yahweh can make a fruit Farmers create best conditions for growth; yet natural laws of creation bring forth fruit Natural fruit is also “of the Spirit” But, ‘fruit of the Spirit’ is extra special – Brings together all the qualities of character produced in the heart of a believer by the Spirit – And like natural fruit, man cannot manufacture such qualities on his own – This fruit has to go through a process of growth

Fruit “of the World” n n n ‘Good works’ of the unbeliever are not the fruit of the Spirit and fail to please Yahweh They are synthetic or imitation fruit. ‘Good people’ only appear to be what God wants.

Not a gift of the Spirit n n ‘of the Spirit’ ≠ gift of the Spirit This fruit is not conferred by the Holy Spirit – Not ‘grown’ suddenly and miraculously at baptism – Nor can it be programmed like a computer n Development of it must be a free-will response

What then makes it ‘of the Spirit ’? n Because it results from the influence of the Spirit Word

Parallel Phrases “mind of the Spirit” Romans 8: 27 “spiritually minded” Romans 8: 6 [minding] “the things of the Spirit” Romans 8: 5 “mind of Christ” 1 Cor. 2: 16; Phil. 2: 5 “Spirit of Christ” “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” “Walk in the Spirit” Romans 8: 9 Romans 8: 2 Galatians 5: 16

The Mind of Christ = Fruit of Spirit “love one another as I have LOVED you” “that my JOY might remain in you” “my PEACE I give unto you” “Jesus Christ might shew forth all LONGSUFFERING” “…the Lord [Jesus] is gracious [Gr. chrestos, KIND = gentleness] John 15: 12 John 15: 11 John 14: 27 1 Tim. 1: 16 1 Peter 2: 3 “ Can there come any GOOD thing come out of Nazareth? . . . Come and see” John 1: 4 “Christ Jesus who was FAITHFUL to him that appointed him” “by the MEEKNESS and gentleness of Christ” “Every man [includes Christ] that striveth for mastery is TEMPERATE in all things” Heb. 3: 2 2 Cor. 10: 1 1 Cor. 9: 25

LOVE (agape) n What is ISN’T? – – It isn’t the love the world knows. It isn’t philia (friendship, affection, romantic) It isn’t eros (physical passion) It is not superficial or something you can turn on and off and – It doesn’t come naturally.

What Agape is… n n It is best defined through its illustration in Scripture – for all the Law is fulfilled in it It is ultimately exemplified in Yahweh and His Son. Heaven (God) It is transcendent. It is practical - a sound and workable approach Christ to daily living Earth (us)

Love for our brethren should be… n Of a higher order than those outside the Truth (Gal. 6: 10) – It can (and should) be better expressed among fellow believers than between believer and unbeliever. – Our love for those who love things we love will naturally be greater. n A form of witness to the world (John 13: 35)

“Swear not at all” n n “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. ” James 5: 12 Jesus warns not to swear at all – take no oaths or commit to anything we are unable to follow through with. “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” Matt. 5: 33 -37

Everyday “Swear” Words n n n n “My Goodness” “Good Gracious” “Good Heavens” “Gosh” or “Oh My Gosh” “Geez” (Jesus) “Jiminy Cricket” (Jesus Christ) “Cripes” (Christ)

Swearing – A Social Disease n n n Can be caught like a common cold. A strong social acceptance factor is involved. But, believers must resist it. Why? It displeases and even devalues Yahweh. It is a sign of emotional immaturity. A lack of ability to express strong feeling in any other way.

Temperance and God n n Yahweh exhibits the controlled strength of meekness (the last Fruit considered) to perfection. Temperance works alongside His meekness as part of His character. God is not given to uncontrolled use of His power and is extremely sparing in His omnipotence. Lessons for us if we are to share in His character?

“I think, therefore I am” n n n French philosopher – Rene’ Descartes “Cogito, ergo sum” Two choices: – “I think, therefore I am…evil” or – “I think, therefore I am…good” n Which mode of thinking applies to us?

Progress Doing & Being

FAITH n The only fruit that is defined in Scripture. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11: 1 n But, what does this meaning really mean?

Faith and Works James 2: 18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew my thy faith without works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. ” n n n Not a doctrine of salvation by works but… A doctrine of salvation by faith that inevitably leads to works. Works are not the goal. Fruit of the Spirit is the goal and works are outcome of developing of the fruit – especially faith. “by works was faith made perfect” James 2: 22

Box 2 1 Faith = The Substance The Evidence 2 of Things hoped for of Things not seen

Things hoped for n n The return of Christ Resurrection Immortality The Kingdom of God established

Faith in our own salvation n n Believing in the salvation of others is much easier than our own. Difference is that we know ourselves only too well, especially our ‘shadow selves’. But, Yahweh is pleased in progress we gain for the fruit of the Spirit and the development thereof. The only true failure is to believe you have no hope. People with real faith affect those around them in direct and indirect ways.

MEEKNESS n n n Greek: Praotes – gentle, mild and gracious But it does not connote weakness or timidity in the way the world would consider meekness. Biblically defined as gentle, controlled strength True meekness as a fruit of the Spirit can only be developed as a characteristic of believers. It can never come naturally. It arises from the strength and security we have in trusting Yahweh. It grows within as a result of our continued delight and meditation in the Word.

The Supreme Example n n The Almighty Himself is the greatest example of meekness. He is “controlled strength” in the ultimate sense of the term. THE Creator and Sustainer of the Universe Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent and Glorious beyond our comprehension. Yet is mindful of us here on this earth and shown His love to us in many ways more than we could expect or deserve.

The Meekness of Christ n His life exemplified ‘controlled strength’ – From the time of temptation in the wilderness – Slipping away from those who threatened to kill him though he had the power to deal with them – To his last entry into Jerusalem, riding on a lowly animal; hearing the cheers of many who would call for his death – And finally to be crucified as a common criminal. n n Jesus resisted the temptation to use his power and acknowledged the source of it. And in this knowledge lies the secret of our meekness.

The “Meekness” of Man n n Yet, mankind is so ‘self-important’! In reality, he has “much to be modest about”. But, human nature admires self-reliance and assertiveness. If only, more people were spiritually ‘strong enough’ to be meek! The greatest barrier to having Biblical meekness is the fear that it will appear to others as natural weakness.

God-reliance n n n A Biblically meek person realizes the affairs of his or her life are in no one’s hands but God’s. Meekness is God-reliance not self-reliance. Meekness is not weak, isolated or dependent on self. He/she is therefore strong and connected as a child of Yahweh but at the same time, independent in the sense of John 8: 32 … “The truth shall make you free” – Free from sin and its attendant anxieties. – Free from the cares of this life; knowing the security and strength of being in Christ.

Biblically-meek person… n Doesn’t need to prove anything or impress anyone for… – behavior such as bragging is a sign of insecurity and not real meekness n n n His/her first priority is what God thinks and so… Radiates a quiet God-confidence knowing the outcome of everything is in His hands For they have a deep trust that at the same time brings humility – Recognizing that what He decides is the best for us is not always what we would have expected – And reason for always saying and thinking “God willing” (see James 4: 13 -16)

A Life of Meekness n Biblical meekness is a valuable asset in every facet of life… – – n At home, at school, in the ecclesia, daily activities: chores, errands, appointments And especially at work (“as to the Lord”), preaching to others and instructing believers we believe are in error.

Blessed are the meek Blessed are – 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. The poor in spirit They that mourn The meek They which hunger and thirst after righteousness The merciful The pure in heart The peacemakers The persecuted for righteousness The reviled, falsely accused, for Christ – rejoice, be glad. The fruit of the Spirit is – Longsuffering Faith Meekness Temperance Love Goodness Peace Gentleness Joy 106

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy” n “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” James 1: 2 n n n “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold your reward is great in heaven…” Luke 6: 22 -23 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hat promised to them that love him” James 1: 12 Joy is our best defense against trials and temptations!

The Laodicean GAP (Rev. 3: 15 -17) They thought they were “rich, and increased with goods and had need of nothing” THE GAP (lukewarmness) Christ said “thou art neither cold nor hot, …poor, and blind, and naked”

Spiritual Clothing “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another… And above all these things put on charity [love: agape] which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…” Col. 3: 12 -15 n n n Restatement of many aspects of the fruit of the Spirit Equivalent to white raiment that Christ wanted the Laodiceans to put on to cover their spiritual nakedness Only putting off the old, filthy garments will leave one in the Gap.

“But the fruit of the spirit is… Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no law” Galatians 5: 22 -23 110