The Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Part 4
Memory Passage
You, however, are controlled not by the
sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone
does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is
in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of
righteousness.
Romans 8:9-10
Scripture Reading: John 15
Please refer to your Bible.
Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Insights
"Thirdly, our relationship with ourselves: 'faithfulness, gentleness, self-control'.
The word for 'faithfulness' is usually translated 'faith' (pistis). But here it
seems to mean not the faith which relies on Christ or on others, but the
faithfulness which invites others to rely on us. More simply, it is not trust but
trustworthiness, the solid dependability of those who always keep their
promises and finish their tasks. Gentleness is a quality not of the soft and
weak, but of the strong and energetic, whose strength and energy are kept
under control. Self-control is mastery of our tongue, thoughts, appetites and
passions." -John Stott, Baptism and Fullness
Consider this!
Our most difficult tasks as believers (and one that most of us seem oblivious
to) is our relationship to ourselves. We tend to either demean who we are or
think too highly of ourselves. Consider these qualities of faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control very carefully. It is the Lord's desire and the intent
of the Spirit that we understand and experience faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control of God through His Spirit toward us. As we grow in our appreciation
of what Christ has done for us because He loves us, we can then believe His
perspective on who we are. We are then enabled out of our heart attitudes
toward ourselves to act accordingly.
"This portrait of the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control is the portrait of Christ, and
so-at least in the ideal-of the balanced, Christ-like, Spirit-filled Christian."
(Paraphrased from Baptism and Fullness by John Stott.)
Personal Reflection
- Faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are strong character traits, but are
often perceived as weaknesses in our current culture. How do these traits play
out in conflict resolution in relationships? Especially in close relationships at
home, in friendships at church and/or at work or other activities?
- In your relationship with yourself, do you tend to demean yourself or tend to
think too highly of yourself? Since both are out of balance, describe a spiritfilled
balance.
- As you see the work of the Holy Spirit, i.e. the fruit of the Spirit in your own life,
write down your prayers of thanksgiving to God.
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