“The Fruit of the Spirit (part 3)

 “The Fruit of the Spirit” (part 3)

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives, love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control.  There is no law against these things.   Gal. 5:22,23

 

We have looked at six different virtues, that EVERY TRUE BELIEVER, should possess.  The first three deal with HABITS of the MIND, which are:  LOVE, JOY, and PEACE. The second three virtues deal with the RELATIONSHIPS we have with each other.  They are PATIENCE, KINDNESS, and GOODNESS.  Today, we will look at the FINAL THREE virtues, which deal with the GENERAL CONDUCT of the TRUE BELIEVER.  They are FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL

Let’s look at the VIRTUE of FAITHFULNESS, this word describes the TRUE BELIEVER, to be LOYAL and TRUSTWORTHY with their PROMISES, and their COMMITMENTS.  When we are FAITHFUL in our RELATIONSHIP with GOD, He will be FAITHFUL to us.  And our FAITHFULNESS can be a STRONG WITNESS to the UNBELIEVER, because we are showing our ALLEGIANCE to the ALMIGHTY GOD, whose LOVE is UNFAILING and ETERNAL, and His FAITHFULNESS CONTINUES to EACH generation. 

The next virtue is GENTLENESS, which indicates SUBMISSION to God’s Holy Word. James 1:21 tells us: to get RID of ALL the filth and evil in our lives, and HUMBLY ACCEPT the WORD God has PLANTED in our HEARTS, for it has the POWER to SAVE our SOULS.   This virtue is being CONSIDERATE of OTHERS when DISCIPLINE is NEEDED.  2 Timothy 2:25 says:  Gently instruct those who oppose the truth.  Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the TRUTH.

The last virtue is SELF-CONTROL, which is being able to CONTROL or CURB your FLESHLY IMPULSES.  A quality such as this is IMPOSSIBLE to OBTAIN apart from the POWER of GOD’S SPIRIT.   

When we LIVE a SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE then we will experience these VIRTUES which are the FRUIT of the SPIRIT.  You cannot LIVE such a life and be able to possess the FRUIT of the SPIRIT until you come to GOD through His Only Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who DIED to SAVE your SOUL from an ETERNITY in HELL. If you have not come to JESUS, you NEED to do so NOW.  Here is what you MUST DO.  You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION and POSSESS the FRUIT of the SPIRIT. And ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, and receive an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON.  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!