The%20Fruit%20of%20the%20Spirit%20Part%20IV:%20Faithfulness,%20Meekness,%20Self-Control

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The Fruit of the SpiritPart IV Faithfulness,
Meekness, Self-Control

• Galatians 522-24

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The Division of the Fruit

• In the first division of fruit of the Spirit we
  discussed virtues of the mind, attitude
• Love,
• Joy,
• Peace.
• In the second division we discussed virtues that
  relate to our conduct toward others
• Longsuffering,
• Kindness,
• Goodness.
• In this final section we will be discussing
  virtues that deal with our conduct toward all
  persons, but especially toward God and self
• Faithfulness,
• Gentleness,
• Self-control.

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Faithfulness

• pisitis primarily firm persuasion, a
  conviction based on hearingfaithfulness.
• This is a moral conviction that one has who is
  devoted to Gods righteousness and to receiving
  His promises (Matt. 633).
• Vine, trust or holy fervor born of faith and
  conjoined with it.
• i.e. Faith that God exists, He is Supreme ruler
  of the universe, and our Creator and Savior
  results in ones conviction of, I must not sin.

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Faithfulness

• Joseph showed this kind of faithfulness.
• Gen. 391-9
• Vs. 9 How can I do this great wickedness and
  sin against God?
• He had great faith in God.
• He saw the wickedness of the situation, he knew
  the righteousness of God.
• Because of His faith in God and his knowledge of
  Gods righteousnessw, Joseph refused to take part
  in this wickedness.
• His decision to uphold Gods righteous standard
  was the evidence or manifestation of His
  faithfulness.

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Faithfulness

• Abraham showed this kind of faithfulness.
• Rom. 419-22
• Not being weak in faith (faithfulness) He had
  great confidence in the promises of God.
• Where most men would not think of having children
  at 100 years of age, Abrahams confidence caused
  him to think otherwise.
• Being strengthened in faith Where most men would
  have given up trying to have children at his age,
  he was strengthened and continued on, even 25
  years after he first received the promise (Gen.
  122, 4).
• Abrahams faith in God caused Him to follow God,
  even in the face of great uncertainty (Heb.
  118-10)

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Gentleness, Meekness

• prautes gentleness or meekness. an inwrought
  grace of the soulthe exercises of it are chiefly
  toward God (Vine).
• It is described as mildness or humility.
• See how it is used by James in 121 313.
• Receive it with gentleness and humility. How?
• 122hear it and do it. Requires submission.
• 313The manner in which we must do our works is
  with meekness. The opposite of arrogance or
  haughtiness.

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Gentleness, Meekness

• Not to be seen as weakness.
• The world likens meakness with weakness or having
  no backbone.
• But was Jesus weak?
• Never! Matt. 2650-53
• Why did He allow Himself to be taken? Vs. 54
• He showed meekness by humbly submitting to the
  will of God (Luke 2242), even though He had the
  power and strength to escape.
• Therefore He said, Take my yoke upon you and
  learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in
  heart, and you will find rest for your souls
  (Matt. 1129).
• This is the fruit that Gods Spirit ought to bear
  in us.

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Self-Control

• enkrateia strength, the controlling power of
  the will (Vine).
• For one to be meek and gentle requires great
  inward strength, as Jesus showed.
• This inward strength is called self-control.
• It is the control that one exercises over their
  body by use of their mind or will.

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Self-Control, Temperance

• In order to be truly filled with the Spirit, we
  must control our bodies by stifling our
  temptations thereby allowing Gods righteousness
  to rule (Rom. 813).
• It takes practice strength comes with time.
• Every time we face a temptation we are practicing
  control.
• Everytime we are longsuffering we are practicing
  control.
• The world would argue that sin is freedom, but
  the practice of sin is in fact slavery to that
  sin.
• Only when we are in control of our own minds and
  bodies can we truly become free.
• One of the greatest motivations for self-control
  is love for God and love for others.

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Concluding Thoughts

• Vs. 23 Against such there is no law.
• Vs. 24Those who are in Christ.
• Are you in Christ?
• The evidence that we are in Christ is the fact
  that we have crucified the flesh we have shut it
  down so that it is no longer a controlling force
  in our lives.

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Concluding Thoughts
In Christ
In the world
Flesh
Spirit
Gospel
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Concluding Thoughts

• Vs. 25 If we live in the Spirit.
• God, through the blood of Christ gives us life.
• Because the Spirit of God reveals this through
  the gospel we are made alive in the Spirit.
• If we want to retain that life we must also walk
  in the Spirit (conforming our conduct to the word
  which is revealed by the Spirit).
• The place to begin is by first obeying the
  gospel. Will you come?