DEFINING THE “GODWARD” FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
Fruit of the Spirit • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Baby Dedication:
Ryan and Daniela Jackson
- Isabella Jackson -5 years
- Arianna Jackson-3 years
- Noah Jackson
Tanner and Michaela Matlick
- Emery Matlick
- Ellie Matlick
Antonio and No’emi Flores
- David Hopper
INTRO:
Godward Fruits of the Spirit:
Faithfulness
Meekness
Self-Control
William Booth, “The chief danger of the 20th century will be religion without the Holy Spirit, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without regeneration, politics without God and heaven without hell.”
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT #7: FAITHFULNESS
“But the fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness.” (Gal. 5:22).
Faithfulness - steadfast allegiance to God no matter what it costs us.
We must not be Christian in name only! We must be Christian in action. FAITHFUL!
EXAMPLE:
The Quad Cities is #15 on The Post-Christian List” from Barna meaning 52% or 157,880 people no longer desire a relationship with Jesus since they first experienced Him.
I. FAITHFULNESS MUST BE EXPRESSED IN THE WAY WE LIVE FOR CHRIST
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?
6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.
We must resist sin and temptation, keeping ourselves pure.
II. FAITHFULNESS MUST BE EXPRESSED IN THE WAY WE LOVE CHRIST
37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
A love for Christ will lead to a love for the lost.
III. FAITHFULNESS MUST BE EXPRESSED THE WAY WE DESIRE TO LEARN OF CHRIST
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT #8: MEEKNESS
“But the fruit of the Spirit is meekness” (Gal. 5:23).
The true meaning of Meekness is often misunderstood.
Meekness is not weakness!
Meekness is strength and power harnessed for God’s work (Horse and bridle; ship and rudder)
It’s the difference between the Mississippi River running wild and destroying everything in its path like a flood VS submitting to the dam and creating hydro-electricity.
Those who have weapons and know how to use them but still keep them sheathed will inherit the earth.
Submission and meekness to God’s desire for our life is the ultimate key to an anointed life.
I. THE BIBLICAL BENEFITS OF MEEKNESS
Matthew 5:5 (NLT)
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
4 True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.
23 Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.
15 The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
II. THE PRACTICE OF MEEKNESS
It’s all about muscle memory; Then it becomes your default response.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.
8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Sounds pretty convincing…
III. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF MEEKNESS
50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.
52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.
53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?
54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
3 (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT #9: SELF-CONTROL
“But the Fruit of the Spirit is Self-Control: against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:23)
“In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves… self-discipline with all of them came first.” - Harry Truman
Self-Control is self-command.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Quit saying I don't have self-control. God gave it to us and we all exercise in some area of life. (getting up, going to bed)
I. CONTROL OUR TIME
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
II. CONTROL OUR TEMPER
32 Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
III. CONTROL OUR TALENT
“Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.” - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Stop trying to control others.
IV. CONTROL OF THE TONGUE
26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
What you have the power to say yes to you also have the power to say no to
When you're facing pressure…PRAY!
CONCLUSION:
Repeat after me,
I choose to live a FAITHFUL life unto LORD
I will put into action; MEEKNESS & SELF-CONTROL
AMEN
