The Fruit of the Spirit - 3

The Fruit of the Spirit - 3

Subject: Learning to Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit

by Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  

²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

--Last week we looked at the fruit of the Spirit – Joy.

Biblical Joy - Joy isn’t like happiness which is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. No, joy remains even amidst the suffering. Joy is not happiness. Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectation of something great or wonderful.

--Last week we looked at how we could have biblical joy from Hebrews 12:1-3:

A. Remember we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. 

B. We have joy when we are willing to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and we run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We are free!

John 8:36 (NKJV)
³⁶  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

C. We have joy when we fix our eyes on Jesus.

D. We have joy when we endure tests and tribulation knowing there is something greater that is coming. 

3. The Fruit of the Spirit – Peace

Peace – Old Testament - Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom, meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. 

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia 

--Please hear what this is saying: Peace in our spirit and our mind, peace and health in our bodies, and peace and health in our finances. Who wouldn't want that. Secular Definition:

Peace - freedom from disturbance; tranquility. A state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.

--The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Hebrew root shalom, which means "to be complete" or "to be sound." 

--The verb (peace) conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning" to be complete or whole" or "to live well." 

--The noun (peace) had many nuances, but can be grouped into four categories: 

A. Shalom – Peace - as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); 

B.  Shalom – Peace - as right relationship or harmony between two parties or people, often established by a covenant and, when related to Yahweh, the covenant was renewed or maintained with a "peace offering" 

C. Shalom – Peace - as prosperity, success, or fulfillment (see Lev 26:3-9 ).

D. Shalom – Peace - as victory over one's enemies or absence of war. 

--It is so amazing to me how our world and even those in the church have evolved into such a state of desperation and even depression.

--The opioid addiction has swept through our country and other countries and has become a killer, even surpassing auto-mobile accidents here in the United States.

--People are looking for relief from pain…emotional, physical, relational, and even spiritual pain. Sadly, they are looking for an easy way of escape.

--Addiction to pills or anything else that is addictive is never an escape from all that pain, it is just another form of bondage and is there to take you out. 

--God is in our lives, not to take us out but to bring us in. I love what God told the children of Israel when He was taking them out of Egypt:

Exodus 3:6-10 (NLT2)
⁶  I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
⁷  Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
⁸  So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.
⁹  Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.
¹⁰  Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 

--What you must understand to get to a place of peace in your life:

A. If you are in any kind of bondage, you must know that God sees. He cares!

--I do not want to over simplify finding peace but your beginning place has to be with the Lord. You must know that God cares. 

1 Peter 5:6-8 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
⁷  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
⁸  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

--He has seen your oppression and He has heard your cries when no one else is listening. He is touched by the feelings of your infirmities and your brokenness. 

B. Always remember God brings you out so He can take you in.

Exodus 3:8 (NLT2)
⁸  So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey…

--God was not finished with Israel when He brought them out of Egypt…He wanted to take them into a place flowing with milk and honey…the Promised Land. 

--If God is going to get you to a place of peace…it has to be more than just taking you out of the world. Something has to be placed in your life to fill that void. 

--I remember a story that was told to me when I was just a young Christian and I am sure there was purpose and intention for why the person told me.

--He said there was a man who had climbed over a fence where he was not supposed to be and he kept hanging out close to the edge of this sewage pond. It was deep and filled with nasty stuff.

--Just like anyone who stays close to the edge, the man eventually fell into the pond. He was yelling and fighting for his life but he could not get out. 

--The man always thought, even if I fall in, I can get out because I am a good swimmer…I can handle this. Please don’t tell me the dangers…I know the risk and everything will be okay!

--What the man did not anticipate was that the bank of the pond was very steep and was obviously very slippery because of the mess in the pond.

--You may think you can handle just a little alcohol, using just a little drugs, or handle an inappropriate relationship. Watching things you should never see. The slope is very slipper.

--The man kept yelling and begging for someone to come and rescue him. Fortunately, there was a good Samaritan going by and heard the man’s cry for help.

--By the time the good Samaritan got over the fence and made it to the man, he was already tired and was going under for the last time. He had swallowed so much water and filth.

--A crowd had gathered outside the fence and watched as the man was rescued…they cheered and clapped. They probably should have been helping but just watched.

--The man said to the crowd very powerful words…Thank God we got him out of the sewage but now we have to get the sewage out of him. 

--When we are saved out of this world…to find true peace, we have to ask Holy Spirit to help get the nastiness of the world out of us. Again look at the list of things that can rob our peace. 

Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT2)
¹⁹  When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
²⁰  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
²¹  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

--The world is the sewage pond, Jesus is the One Who rescues us, and Holy Spirit wants to cleanse us and give us peace. 

Philippians 4:6-9 (NIV)
⁶  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
⁷  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
⁹  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

3. Always remember God wants you to “Look” for others who have no peace.

Exodus 3:9-10 (NLT2)
⁹  Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.
¹⁰  Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 

Shalom – Peace - as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); 

--People finding peace means they find wholeness…Jesus wants more for people than just freedom from their infirmity or sin…He wants them whole and at peace with Him. Example man at the gate:

Acts 4:9-12 (NKJV)
⁹  If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
¹⁰  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
¹¹  This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
¹²  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

--Yes he was healed but more important…He was saved and made whole…He was at peace. 

The Fruit of the Spirit - 2

The Fruit of the Spirit - 2

Subject: Learning to Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit

by Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
⁵  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

2. The Fruit of the Spirit – Joy.

Joy – Noun - the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires – delight.

Joy – Verb - to experience great pleasure or delight – rejoice.

Biblical Joy - Joy isn’t like happiness which is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. No, joy remains even amidst the suffering. Joy is not happiness. Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectation of something great or wonderful.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christian joy is not mere happiness that knows no gloom, but is the result of the triumph of faith over adverse and trying circumstances, which, instead of hindering, actually enhance it.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
¹  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
²  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
³  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

A. Remember we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. 

B. We have joy when we are willing to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and we run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We are free!

John 8:34-36 (NKJV)
³⁴  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
³⁵  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
³⁶  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

C. We have joy when we fix our eyes on Jesus.

D. We have joy when we endure tests and tribulation knowing there is something greater that is coming. 

Hebrews 11:13-16 (NLT2)
¹³  All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.
¹⁴  Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.
¹⁵  If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.
¹⁶  But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)
¹⁶  Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
¹⁷  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
¹⁸  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Numbers 6:22-27 (NKJV)
²²  And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
²³  "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
²⁴  "The LORD bless you and keep you;
²⁵  The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
²⁶  The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." '
²⁷  "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." 

Romans 14:16-19 (NKJV)
¹⁶  Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
¹⁷  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
¹⁸  For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
¹⁹  Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT2)
¹³  The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 

Psalm 51:10-13 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹  Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
¹³  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 

Nehemiah 8:9-12 (NLT2)
⁹  Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
¹⁰  And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
¹¹  And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.”
¹²  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. 

Romans 15:13 (NLT2)
¹³  I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Make Disciples – 2019 - 2

Make Disciples – 2019 - 2

Subject – Teaching Believers to Obey Christ’s Teaching

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT2)
¹⁶  Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
¹⁷  When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
¹⁸  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
²⁰  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)
⁸  But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Acts 28:1-2 (NRSV)
¹ After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
²  The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. 

Acts 13:1-5 (NLT2)
¹  Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.
²  One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”
³  So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
⁴  So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.
⁵  There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant. 

1. We dedicate Pastor Bob and JoAnn to the special work God has called them.

A. They fasted: this was probably done by the whole Church. We have been fasting!

B. They prayed, that God would bless and prosper them in their work.

C. They land hands upon them; thus solemnly appointing them to that particular work.

Adam Clarke's Commentary - But was it by this fasting, praying, and imposition of hands that these men were qualified for this work? No. God had already called them to it, Acts 13:2, and he who called them had qualified them. Both their call and their qualification came from God; but he chose that they should have also the sanction of that Church of which they had been members; and therefore he said, Separate me, etc.

Isaiah 58:6-11 (NKJV)
⁶  "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
⁷  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

⁸  Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
⁹  Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
¹⁰  If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
¹¹  The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 

2. We send out Pastor Bob and JoAnn by Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:4 (NLT2)
⁴  So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 (NKJV)
²⁶  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 16:7-14 (NKJV)
⁷  Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
⁸  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
¹³  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
¹⁴  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

3. We dedicate Pastor Bob and JoAnn to preach the Word of God!

Acts 13:1-5 (NLT2)
⁵  There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. 

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV)
¹²  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
¹³  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
²  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
³  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
⁴  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
⁵  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

Make Disciples - 2019 - 1

Make Disciples - 2019

Subject – Teaching Believers to Obey Christ’s Teaching

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT2)
¹⁶  Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
¹⁷  When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
¹⁸  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
²⁰  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

--Can you believe that it is 2019 already? God has brought us to a new day and a new year. A new beginning for many of you and a new opportunity to be faithful to God. New opportunity to fast and pray!

--God woke me up early the morning of December 12, 2018 at about 1:30 and initially all I heard was ‘Make Disciples’ and I kept hearing it over and over.

--Finally, being the discerning person that I am, I began to ask God what was He trying to say to me. He began to speak to my heart and my mind so many things about His statement ‘Make Disciples’.

--I had the most ridiculous thought go through my mind…I will remember everything God is speaking to me! Once I got over that fantasy that I could remember, I started taking notes on my phone…went back to sleep.

--That morning it seemed that almost everything I dealt with had some kind of connection to what God had said, ‘Make Disciples’.

--I found myself dealing with situation after situation where believers who had been believers for many years were messing up and not putting into practice the basics of Christianity. ‘Make Disciples’.

Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT2)
¹¹  There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.
¹²  You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
¹³  For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.
¹⁴  Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. 

--One of the reasons churches struggle to grow is because the lead pastor and his staff spend so much time trying to help or even appease people who have been saved a long time.

--Don’t misunderstand me, people have legitimate needs and we are more than willing to help in those situations. We have a track record of being caring and concerned about people. Christianity summed up:

Mark 12:29-31 (NKJV)
²⁹  Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
³⁰  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
³¹  And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

--We have tried our best to practice this…to love God and to love people. We actually have no business calling ourselves Christians if we can’t get these two things right.

--As God continued to give me revelation about the thought ‘Make Disciples’, He began to show me the correlation of Jesus with His disciples and how He was making them into what He wanted them to become. 

1. Jesus started with water baptism.

--Why would Jesus begin with something like water baptism? In all four of the gospels we hear about John the Baptist (the baptizer) and how Jesus insisted on him baptizing Him.

--Please understand Jesus was communicating with them that if anyone would choose to follow Him, they would have to understand the symbolism of water baptism. Sadly, I think we have missed this basic truth!

Hebrews 6:1-3 (NLT2)
¹  So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.
²  You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
³  And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. 

--The writer of Hebrews thought all these things were elementary to their faith and he was encouraging them to move on to deeper understanding of God’s Word.

--Years ago when James Dobson was with Focus on the Family he took a survey of 30,000 Christian men and compared their spiritual growth in terms of Kindergarten to High School.

--Sadly the men only averaged being at a first grade level…his evaluation was that they had given their hearts to the Lord but had not grown much beyond just making it into the Kingdom.

--Ladies, before you get to feeling good about yourselves, the same test for 30,000 women showed that they were at the third grade level in their spiritual growth. Of course these are averages and there are exceptions.

--Back to the basics of Jesus starting with water baptism…obviously He was our example:

Matt 3:13‑17 (NKJV)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."   

--Even though water baptism is symbolic and just being baptized in water cannot save your soul, it is still important to understand it is a command and Jesus modeled for us the obedience to it. 

--We are talking about the idea ‘Make Disciples’ and it is important that we understand from the beginning of our relationship with Jesus…much is required. We identify with Him in His death and resurrection:

Romans 6:3-5 (NLT) 

3  Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 

4  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 

5  Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 

--Basic to discipleship and to following Christ is dying to self…This should be entry level spiritual growth but convincing people to live dead or to live sacrificially is challenging to say the least.

Matthew 16:24-26 (NKJV)
²⁴  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
²⁵  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
²⁶  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  

--We make Christianity so fluffy and so sweet as we invite them into the Kingdom but when Jesus invited them, it was not come and dine, it was come and die. Try to save your life, you lose it. Lose it for Him and find it.

--I wonder if that is why so many fall away from the Lord after making a profession of faith at our altars. They did not know the cost when they came in. Deny yourself and take up your cross. 

--Water baptism…I want to identify with Jesus. Okay! As you go under the water, you are separated from air. Stay there and you die. Jesus died for us and baptism is saying I will die to self or die for you, Lord. Why?

--When we come up out of the water, we identify with Him in His resurrection! We are raised to a new life with Him on this planet or we are raised to eternal life with Jesus.

Philippians 1:19-21 (NKJV)
¹⁹  For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
²⁰  according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
²¹  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  

2. Jesus started with Holy Spirit.

--Before He appeared, John the Baptist was already prophesying about Him and about Holy Spirit:

Matthew 3:11-16 (NKJV)
¹¹  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
¹²  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
¹³  Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
¹⁴  And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
¹⁵  But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
¹⁶  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 

--‘Make Disciples’ – That will never happen apart from the presence and power of Holy Spirit.

--Can I ask you this? If Jesus started His ministry with the Holy Spirit coming on Him, doesn’t it just make good sense that if we will become His disciples we will need for Holy Spirit to come upon us!

--John the Baptist promised us that when Jesus came that He would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire. If Jesus promised us this power, how foolish are we to deny this promise. And yes, He is for us today!

Acts 2:38-39 (NKJV)
³⁸  Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
³⁹  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

--Please understand Holy Spirit was there the moment you got saved convicting you of sin, convincing you of God’s righteousness, and His coming judgment. You started with Holy Spirit…continue!

Galatians 3:1-3 (NIV)
¹  You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
²  I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
³  Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 

3. Jesus went through tough times.

--Listen to me my brothers and sisters, you will face tough trials and temptations as believers! It is a false doctrine that tells you anything different. You cannot simply confess it away.

--You immediately know the spiritual level of a person when they go through some kind of disaster or test. Job was tested beyond our wildest imaginations yet he could say:

Job 1:20-22 (NKJV)
²⁰  Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
²¹  And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD."
²²  In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. 

--Part of the process to ‘Make Disciples’ is encouraging you to worship God when everything is good and when everything is bad. Bless the Lord at all times!

--This may be a shock to some of you and it may mess with your theology about God but here it is…there will be times when you will literally be led by Holy Spirit into a tough time or place.

 --Notice how Jesus was led by the Spirit and then notice how He came out on the other side of the test:

Matthew 4:1 (NKJV)
¹  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

Luke 4:14 & 18-19 (NKJV)
¹⁴  Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.
¹⁸  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
¹⁹  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 

The Fruit of the Spirit - 1

The Fruit of the Spirit - 1

Subject: Learning to Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit

by Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

--Tonight we are starting a new series that I feel will be a parallel series with Sunday Mornings – Make Disciples. It is all about walking out our faith every day.

--Notice the verses about the fruit of the Spirit are in opposition to the verses that speak about the works of the flesh…Notice the difference:

Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
¹⁹  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
²⁰  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
²¹  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

--Because we are making a determination to walk in the fruit of the Spirit and because to do that we have to avoid the works of the flesh…notice carefully the sexual sins mentioned in these verses:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT2)
⁹  Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,
¹⁰  or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
¹¹  Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

--Sometimes we can be accused of being narrow minded even judgmental when it comes to sin but let us be very clear…the Word of God says people who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

--This is not any of the pastors at Life Church or even the Assemblies of God…it is the Word of God which is our final authority when it comes to truth.

--But when we are filled with the Holy Spirit there should be the evidence of fruit in our lives...may I say it gently but pointedly, if we do not have the fruit of the Spirit, we more than likely are not filled with the Spirit.

--Please do not try to tell me that someone who is hateful, has no joy, restless, impatient, rude, mean, unfaithful, coarse, and has no self-control is filled with the Holy Spirit. They are filled with something for sure.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. 

--Let us look at how the Holy Spirit can help us to produce and manifest the fruit of the Spirit in our lives: The initial physical evidence is speaking in tongues. Ongoing evidence – fruit of Spirit.

1. The Fruit of the Spirit - Love

- Love as the fruit of the Spirit is a supernatural thing...there are times we need God, to love others. There are times that people can be difficult and we need more than what we have in the tank. 

Romans 5:5 (NIV)
⁵  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

--Even though love in the Spirit is a supernatural thing we cannot take away the human element and our responsibility. Let me give an example:

Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
²  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
³  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
⁴  and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
⁵  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

--The fruit of love is supernatural but we continue to grow in our walk with Christ. What these verses are saying is that everything we go through is either helping us grow spiritually or frustrating us. 

--God provides the power we need but we have to be disciplined to use or implement it into our lives. Tribulations can put us under or they can teach us perseverance. We grow!

--As we walk in Holy Spirit and we face tribulations, He gives us supernatural power to be able to persevere which in turn helps us to increase in character. And as we grow in character, we have hope in God.

--As we tie this to the fruit of love in our lives, you and I can grow more and more in our faith, in our walk, and in our love because Holy Spirit is right there pouring into our lives. 

--The God Who saved us has provided the greatest motivation for us to live in and operate in the fruit of the Spirit - Love. So why should we be motivated to have the fruit of love?

Romans 5:8-10 (NKJV)
⁸  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
⁹  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
¹⁰  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

--How could Stephen pray for those who were stoning him unless something supernatural was going on in his life and spirit man?

Acts 7:55-60 (NKJV)
⁵⁵  But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
⁵⁶  and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
⁵⁷  Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;
⁵⁸  and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
⁵⁹  And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
⁶⁰  Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

--Stephen being full of the Holy Spirit…how important is it for us to be filled with God’s power when we have to deal with people who want to bring us harm?

--Hopefully we do not have anyone or any group who is wanting to stone us (take us for granite) but be assured your love will be tested by family, friends, co-workers, brothers, and sisters. It will happen!

--When you are in the middle of your battle or your test, what do you see? Because Stephen was truly full of the Spirit’s power…he saw Jesus at the right hand of God and he saw God’s glory.

--Again, what do we see when faced with difficult people? Do you see anger, revenge, hatred, bitterness and trying to figure someway to pay them back? You are not Spirit-filled!

--Try to grasp this…He was praying for the very people who were trying to destroy him, who were actually killing him. That’s love…supernatural love…that is the fruit of love birthed out of Holy Spirit. 

Romans 12:17-21 (NKJV)
¹⁷  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
¹⁸  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
¹⁹  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
²⁰  Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
²¹  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

--Please do not try to tell me that you love God if you do not love your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

1 John 4:19-21 (NLT2)
¹⁹  We love each other because he loved us first.
²⁰  If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?
²¹  And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters. 

--Let me give you a personal example of struggling to love a brother, a fellow pastor, a friend! I took this young pastor under my wing…loved him, fellowshipped with him, and blessed him financially.

--I helped him get started in the ministry, to launch his church…Life Church even gave to him to help him get started. I let him preach in my pulpit. I considered him a very close friend.

--One day I met him on the tennis court to play tennis and I saw several men from our church getting out of their cars. Being innocent and naïve I asked what they were doing there.

--I got one of the biggest punches in the gut when this pastor said boldly and proudly…Pastor Rick, I am coming after your people, especially the ones with money. I was hurt and I was in shock.

--I got my composure enough to say to him…If you will steal another man’s sheep, you will steal another man’s wife…it is spiritual adultery. He called me a very disrespectful name.

--He said, I will build the fastest growing church in Central Florida and it will be the place to be…and I do not care how I do it. I told him it would never stand and I walked away.

--My flesh wanted to lay hands on him but I didn’t. One day while driving past his church that was growing fast (he stole about 7 families from our church – friends), God spoke to me.

--Rick, do you want me to bless you? I knew it was a set-up. I answered, Of course I do. Pray for this pastor and his church every day! After some intense arguing (I lost), I said yes, Lord, I will pray for them.

--I learned a valuable lesson during that time, you can’t hate or stay angry with someone you pray for every day. I started having compassion for him and found myself weeping over him. This is weird!

--I saw him in a restaurant one day and he was broken…The Lord said for me to go pray for him. All of a sudden supernatural power came over me and the fruit of the Spirit (love) filled my heart.

--He shared how life was going horrible at his church and I wept and prayed for him. I was obedient. He kept going the same direction…his church fell apart, and yes he committed adultery…lost his family.

--God blessed me, those people came back to our church and the same fruit that helped me love this pastor also helped to love these families as they returned…it works. 

1 John 4:13-18 (NKJV)
¹³  By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
¹⁴  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
¹⁵  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
¹⁶  And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
¹⁷  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
¹⁸  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.