Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Meekness, Self-Control

Galatians 5:22 (NIV) – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

It is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to make Christ visible in our lives.  He does this by producing fruits.

Our responsibility is to abide in Him.

Grace that regulates Self-Behavior

Faith (Faithfulness), Meekness, and Temperance

Faith

• Trustworthy, reliable, and consistently dependable

“God gives us opportunities to be trustworthy, reliable, and consistently dependable.” -Pastor Billy Johnson

Luke 16:10-12 (NIV) – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.  So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”

Three Opportunities to be Faithful

1. Faithful in Little – If you are trustworthy, reliable, and consistently dependable God will give you more.  God is looking to see how we manage the little.  When you are faithful in little, He’ll give you much.

“Don’t belittle the little.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

2. Faithful in Money – God is looking at how we handle money.  Our money-management is a great barometer of our faithfulness.  When you are faithful with money, He’ll give you more.

3. Faithful in Someone Else’s Property – How are you handling other people’s property?  Everything you touch should be better after you’ve touched it.  When you are faithful with someone else’s property, He’ll give you your own.

Meekness (Gentleness)

• Acting in a manner that is even-tempered, considerate of others, and submissive to God.
• In other words, I don’t have to flex.  I have power, but I don’t have to let everyone know that I have this power.

Restore with Gentleness

Galatians 6:1 (NIV) – Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Correct with Gentleness

2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV) – And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

Walk in Gentleness

Ephesians 4:1-2 (NLT) – Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling.  Always be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Self-Control (Temperance)

• The ability to control one’s own desire; especially with relation to sexual desire.
• Self-control is being able to say “No!” to myself.

Self-Control Is to Be Added

2 Peter 1:5 (NIV) – For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness

Self-Control is Needed to Carry out Your Purpose

1 Corinthians 9:23-25 (ESV) – I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Self-Control is Developed by Continual Battle

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (NIV) – Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Galatians 5:24-25 (ESV) – And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.