The Fruit of the Spirit – 8

The Fruit of the Spirit – 8

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.

8. The Fruit of the Spirit – Gentleness.

--Gentleness is one of those words that is consistent in every translation that I looked up…no one found a suitable substitute for it.

Gentleness - the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. Softness of action or effect; lightness.

A courteous or chivalrous quality attributed to noble birth.

--Even though these definitions come from secular sources, we definitely can see them in our walk as Christians. Believers should be kind, tender, and mild mannered.

--Believers should have a softness to their actions and their intentions…a lightness in all their dealings that identify people with Jesus. 

--I particularly like this one. A courteous or chivalrous quality attributed to noble birth. We have been born again…we have been born again by the King of Kings. We should be courteous, chivalrous in Christ.

--There should absolutely be a difference in someone who identifies with Jesus Christ…someone who calls Him Lord and Savior. As far as I am concerned…rude is totally unacceptable in God’s House.

--Now we have all heard statements like…Christians are the rudest people on the planet. They are the only ones who shoot their wounded. Church people are the worst! It is simply not true.

--The issue is not with Christians or church people…the issue is with people. Until I came to Life Church, I always had to work secular jobs to supplement my income. I had to work with people.

--I have played team sports and I have been around people in every kind of setting. People can be extremely difficult no matter where you are. Tennis is a good example.

--A few months ago we were playing doubles and there was a dispute over a call. Three people were in agreement and one man totally disagreed. One of those three was his partner.

--He lost it! He started screaming and cussing like I had never heard on a tennis court! He called me what I have never been called…you may want to cover your ears. He called me a dictator!

--My partner was dying laughing which made the man even more angry. He cussed all the way to his car. We started worrying about whether he was going to get a gun. He did not come back that day.

--Two weeks later he comes back to play tennis and he comes to me and apologizes. He said I am so sorry for getting so angry, but just for the record, I was right and you guys were wrong. I just laughed!

--My point here is to say that people are difficult in almost every setting but hear me, Christians have no excuse for being rude and difficult, when we have Holy Spirit to help us. This man did not show gentleness.

Gentleness - Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary

--The Old Testament. Gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream or by wine flowing over lips and teeth. It stands in contrast to baseness, harshness, and wildness. 

--Gentle words wield great power. Job's counsels were well received, because he spoke them gently. Gentleness evidences itself in a willingness to yield, reminiscent of a lamb being led to slaughter. 

--The supreme example of gentleness is Israel's God. He cares tenderly for the flock under his care, and "gently leads those that have young". He leads them by still waters.

--He discloses himself not just in wind and earthquake and fire, but in "a gentle whisper". God comes to console us with a gentle whisper. He comes with gentleness.

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NKJV)
¹¹  Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
¹²  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
¹³  So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

The New Testament. That king (Jesus), now come in the flesh, is "gentle and humble in heart". 

Matthew 11:28-30 (NCV)
²⁸  “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
²⁹  Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.
³⁰  The teaching that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.“ 

--When I read these verses so much jumped off these pages into my heart and my spirit. Of course we immediately see the gentleness of Jesus wanting us to come to Him. What I saw about us. 

A. What if we so displayed gentleness that people would feel they had an invitation to come to us?

B. What if those who are tired of sin or their burdens (the heavy loads of this life) could come to us?

C. What if people truly could feel that having spent time with us brought them rest and peace?

D. What if people could learn from us and be able to accept our wisdom knowing it would bring them hope?

E. What if people knew they could come to us and find humility in contrast to arrogance and pride, and find gentleness where there would be no condemnation toward them?

F. What if people knew that once they had spent time with us, they would leave with sound wisdom and their burdens would be so much lighter.

--Isn’t this what gentleness should look like from those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus and those who claim to be Christ-like…to be Christian. 

Colossians 3:12-13 (NIV)
¹²  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
¹³  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

1. Gentleness as an attitude.

--This is what Paul was saying in Colossians 3. Gentleness is something you should put on whenever you deal with people…family, friends, co-workers, church family.

--We have all heard people say…this is just who I am…like it or lump it! This is the way God made me and I am not going to change. Please do not blame God for your rude behavior. 

--The truth is people who do not operate or flow in gentleness are operating in a spirit of rudeness or intimidation. They try to control people through fear.

--Most people will not stand up to spiritual bullies because they come across with such a spirit of superiority and authority. Just let them have their way and everything will be alright.

--I don’t think so! I think spiritual bullies need to be confronted because of their anti-Christ attitude. Jesus would have never led with that kind of attitude. Listen to Paul:

 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 (NIV)
¹  By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you--I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away!
²  I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
³  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
⁴  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
⁵  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
⁶  And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. 

--Paul is simply saying here that as believers we don’t act like or deal with people the same way the world does. He did not like it but time to time he had to deal with rude worldly people. 

--My point here is this…we should constantly be dealing with everyone with a spirit of gentleness. Yes, it will take Holy Spirit to help us and to bear in us the fruit of the Spirit…gentleness. 

--I talked to our staff the other day about spiritual equity. You earn spiritual equity whenever you display the fruit of Holy Spirit to others. 

--As you treat people with gentleness over a long period of time…you continue to gain spiritual equity. Every random act of kindness…every felt need that is met…your equity grows more and more. 

--Unfortunately, people try to spend spiritual equity they have not earned…it takes time and it takes consistency that is built over time. Bearing this kind of fruit with a loving attitude increases your influence.

Warning – You can spend all of the spiritual equity you have built up with one outburst of anger or one display of an attitude that is not Christ like. One untimely mistake can bankrupt you in people’s eyes.

Romans 13:13-14 (NIV)
¹³  Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
¹⁴  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

2. Gentleness displayed in our words.

Proverbs 15:1-2 (NLT2)
¹  A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
²  The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. 

--It is no way to adequately measure the damage that has been done to churches where harsh words have been spewed from one church member to another. 

--What is always so sad to me is that both feel they are right and that they are representatives of Jesus Himself. If we represent Him, it might be good if we acted like Him. 

Isaiah 53:6-7 (NLT2)
⁶  All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.
⁷  He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 

--Jesus was treated harshly and was oppressed by people, and yet, He did not open His mouth. Is that the kind of gentleness we show…we bite our tongue when we would rather strike out at someone.

--It is does not matter how hard you work in the church or how many things you do to help others, if you have the disposition of a pit bulldog on steroids, all your acts of kindness will be nullified.

--When I think of gentleness being a fruit of the Spirit, I think about people like John Mason. He is the same every time you see him and he is always gentle with his demeanor. 

2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NKJV)
²⁴  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
²⁵  in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
²⁶  and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

3. Gentleness displayed in our touch.

--Jesus was such an example to us in this area of gentleness especially in regard to touch. He touched the lepers which was totally against Jewish law. You would be unclean. He touched children:

Mark 10:13-16 (NKJV)
¹³  Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
¹⁴  But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
¹⁵  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
¹⁶  And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.

--The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust and a sense of safety. Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, which heal feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger. Holding a hug for an extended time lifts one's serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.

--Hugs strengthen the immune system. Hugging boosts self-esteem. From the time we're born our family's touch shows us that we're loved and special. Hugging relaxes muscles. Hugs release tension in the body. Hugs can take away pain; they soothe aches by increasing circulation into the soft tissues.

--Hugs balance out the nervous system. Hugs teach us how to give and receive. Hugs educate us how love flows both ways. Hugs are so much like meditation and laughter. The energy exchange between the people hugging is an investment in the relationship. 

Virginia Satir - a respected family therapist, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”

--The fruit of the Spirit – gentleness – brings wonderful healing. This is why I love going around hugging and gently touching all of you. Healing for you and for me! 

Make Disciples – 2019 - 6

Make Disciples – 2019 - 6

Subject – A Holy Spirit Filled Mission’s Church

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.” 

--February was such an incredible month for Life Church and for me personally…We were able to emphasize Missions and we were able to bring more prominence to Holy Spirit. Tim Enloe.

--Your pastor started us out by giving glory to God for what we were able to accomplish thru Him in 2018. We again were able to increase the number of missionaries we support by another ten. PTL!

--Ann Marie and Steve McCarthy challenged us through their ministries in dangerous and difficult places. I personally believe if you sit through those services and not give to Missions, something in you has died.

Romans 10:13-15 (NKJV)
¹³  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
¹⁴  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
¹⁵  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 

--I get it that not all of us are called to go to the mission field overseas somewhere. What I don’t get is how some in the church (especially members) can actually believe they have no responsibility to get involved.

--These verses in Romans tells us they must be sent to preach the gospel. Our job is to send. If that was not enough, Jesus said Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone. The Great Commission.

--I want you to do me a huge favor if you decide you have no responsibility in helping fulfill the Great Commission through a faith promise. Email me or write me and explain why. Please sign your name.

--Maybe you think, Pastor, I am not comfortable trying to explain to you why I do not want to support Missions through Faith Promises. It may be hard to explain. I am sure it will be.

--Imagine how hard it will be to explain it to me but compare that to trying to explain it to Jesus when we stand before Him on the great Day of Judgment. I wonder if that is why He will have to wipe tears from our eyes. 

--When I come to a meet and greet with our missionaries, when I hear missionaries preach in our church, or when I read their emails…I get fired up about how many souls are coming to Christ.

--Just imagine with me people in India receiving Christ (Ron Sellers), the Frotzheims fitting people with eye glasses in remote areas (40,000 receive Christ), and our college campus missionaries here winning people.

--Let’s figure all 180 missionaries or ministries going in the power of Holy Spirit wherever God has called them and leading thousands to Christ…that floats my boat…you are a part of that.

--All of these souls are accounted to us because of our willingness to send them through the means of Faith Promises…through our sacrificial giving. If you are giving until it hurts, it is really not a sacrifice.

Malachi 1:6-10 (NLT2)
⁶  The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’
⁷  “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. “Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’ “You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect.
⁸  When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
⁹  “Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
¹⁰  “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings. 

--I have said it before but let me say it again…If your cable bill (that which represents your entertainment) is more than your Faith Promise (that which represents your sacrifice to God) something is out of line.

--Pastor, aren’t we doing very well compared to previous years with our Faith Promises…Yes! And we thank God for that. What God has laid on our hearts is 100% participation. Unity in God’s House.

1. Faith Promises

--Let me say a great big thank to you who have for years been faithful with your tithing and with Faith Promises. We have widows who make less than $1000 a month who give at least $100 a month to missions. 

--I had one of those widows come up to me so excited to hand me a card she had personally picked out for Life Church. In it was a check for $1000 to help purchase the Hensley property. She was joyfully sacrificial.

2 Corinthians 9:5-8 (NKJV)
⁵  Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
⁶  But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
⁷  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
⁸  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 

--Covenant members of Life Church have no excuse for not doing Faith Promises. In our Covenant Member’s Class, I explained to you how we are a mission’s church and how you need to be on board.

--Let me just say it here, if you are a regular attender or if you are simply a born again Christian, if have an obligation to be involved in the Great Commission. 

--You faithful regular attenders need to become covenant members with us…join with us to touch our world before Jesus comes back.

--There are some of you who are members and who are faithful attenders who tithe and who also give to missions but you do not fill out a Faith Promise card. Please do it or call us and let us do it for you!

--Maybe you do not realize this but we can only figure out how many missionaries we can support by the number of Faith Promises we get and what that total ends up being. 

--We are at that point right now where we can pretty much handle the missionaries we support now but to add more missionaries and to help missionaries do projects, we need more of you to help us.

--We have so far 221 FPs which totals $267,165 which is only $5000 less than our total for last year. We have many brand new FPs and we are so thankful for that.

Last Year Faith Promises – 252. This equaled $272,000

This year Faith Promises –221 This equals $267, 165

--There should be a minimal of another 79 FPs. When I prayed I felt there was no reason we could not have 300 Faith Promises. I challenge you to be a part of the 300! Imagine what we could do with you!

2. Holy Spirit and Missions

--Think about this with me…is it any wonder that the person (Tim Enloe) in the A/G and beyond who teaches and promotes Holy Spirit is also very strong in missions. It only makes sense. 

--The greater degree of Holy Spirit in your life, the greater degree of witnessing to others and being involved with missions. Could that be why some are not interested in missions?

--There have been so many times in my life where I was able to lead people to Christ and I could not tell you why I had that opportunity other than Holy Spirit.

--When I was a youth pastor in Covington, La. I was with a family in the middle of the night praying with them that their daughter who overdosed would not die. All my attention was on them and their daughter.

--A male RN walked through the lobby where we were and looked toward us and kept walking. He walked through again and then, again. The fourth time he walked through a miracle happened.

--He walked toward us and immediately fell to his knees and cried out…I need Jesus to forgive me and I need Him in my life right now…we were in shock but we, of course, prayed with Him to receive Jesus.

--I had prayed in the Spirit all the way to the hospital, down the hallway, and into the room where they were. When I got there we prayed and invited Holy Spirit to come…He did!

--He said, I could not resist the power of God and the Spirit of God that kept pulling me toward all of you. He prayed with us that the girl would live and she did. None of us knew this man before. Only answer:

Acts 1:8 (NLT2)
⁸  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…

--You see, you cannot separate Holy Spirit from missions…He is the power we need to be effective and to have the compassion to do it. 

--The Apostle Peter could not witness to a little girl and even cursed when questioned about his association with Jesus until Holy Spirit came on Him.

Acts 2:14 (NLT2)
¹⁴  Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! 

--What a powerful statement…Then Peter stepped forward. He was totally transformed by His encounter with Holy Spirit. I hope those people he denied Christ in front of were there to hear his message.

3. It is time for you to step forward. 

--Not only did Peter step forward that day but the other eleven apostles stepped forward…to you see the power of unity when we are all filled with Holy Spirit and we all step forward.

--Even doubting Thomas was there…their unity changed the world. Revival swept across the land because Holy Spirit was poured out.

--They all stepped forward to wait for Holy Spirit, they were all filled with Holy Spirit, and they were all used on the day of Pentecost to see 3000 people come to Christ. 

--I hope there is no one here today that would have an attitude of I will not be told what to do with my money in regards to missions or anything else. Your leadership is a gift from God to you:

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NCV)
¹¹  And Christ gave gifts to people—he made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to have the work of caring for and teaching God’s people.
¹²  Christ gave those gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.
¹³  This work must continue until we are all joined together in the same faith and in the same knowledge of the Son of God. We must become like a mature person, growing until we become like Christ and have his perfection.

--We are to make disciples…to be a true disciple of Jesus you must be filled with Holy Spirit and you must be a part of sending missionaries all over the world. 

Step Forward!

Annual Business Meeting – 2019

Annual Business Meeting – 2019

February 27, 2019

by Rick Welborne

Who we are can be defined by what we do!

--Think about that in light of this month which is quickly coming to an end. Three Sundays have been dedicated to strong emphasis on Missions and our responsibility to send missionaries. Faith Promises.

--Your pastor started us out by giving glory to God for what we were able to accomplish thru Him in 2018. We again were able to increase the number of missionaries we support by another ten. PTL!

--Ann Marie and Steve McCarthy challenged us through their ministries in dangerous and difficult places. I personally believe if you sit through those services and not give to Missions, something in you has died.

Romans 10:13-15 (NKJV)
¹³  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
¹⁴  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
¹⁵  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 

--I get it that not all of us are called to go to the mission field overseas somewhere. What I don’t get is how some in the church can actually believe they have no responsibility to get involved.

--These verses in Romans tells us they must be sent to preach the gospel. Our job is to send. If that was not enough, Jesus said Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone. The Great Commission.

--I want you to do me a huge favor if you decide you have no responsibility in helping fulfill the Great Commission through a faith promise. Email me or write me and explain why. Please sign your name.

rickwelborne@hotmail.com

--Maybe you think, Pastor, I am not comfortable trying to explain to you why I do not want to support Missions through Faith Promises. It may be hard to explain. I am sure it will be.

--Imagine how hard it will be to explain it to me but compare that to trying to explain it to Jesus when we stand before Him on the great Day of Judgment. I wonder if that is why He will have to wipe tears from our eyes. 

--The very next week after our Mission’s Emphasis we started our Holy Spirit Conference with Tim Enloe. If you missed this time in God’s presence and the great teaching from Tim, you missed it. 

--I actually think there are more people here tonight than there were the last two nights of our conference…not sure exactly what that says about us or our priority. 

Who we are can be defined by what we do! In my mind, we are a Holy Spirit filled Mission’s Church!

--Isn’t that what Jesus wanted back then and isn’t that what He wants for us now? You, also can be defined by what you do. I can’t make you embrace what God has sent me here to accomplish.

--I can challenge you, and that is what I will do, as long as I am pastor here…welcome Holy Spirit, walk in Holy Spirit, and touch our world through missions. 

--I am not trying to set myself up to be anything but hear me…any church I have ever attended whether as a staff member or just a lay minister, I always thought the pastor’s vision was my vision. It was mine.

--The man of God He put in my life was for me to hear his heart he received from God and then, follow what he directed us to do. Cam I tell you God always blessed me for honoring the man of God. 

--If you had a pastor who fleeced the flock, that would be one thing. You have a pastor who has heard from God about Holy Spirit and the Great Commission. This verse should define us:

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
⁸  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 

--Holy Spirit and the Great Commission...that is who we are or who we should be. 

Who we are can be defined by what we do! In my mind, we are a Holy Spirit filled Mission’s Church!

--100% participation of Covenant members for sure…Faith Promises are available tonight. This is what 100% looks like biblically…it looks like Holy Spirit and the Great Commission.

Acts 2:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
²  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
³  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
⁴  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
⁵  And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 

The Fruit of the Spirit – 7

The Fruit of the Spirit – 7

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.

7. The Fruit of the Spirit – Faithfulness.

Faithfulness - fidelity, allegiance, loyalty. constancy · devotion · trueness · true-heartedness · dedication · commitment · allegiance · dependability · reliability · trustworthiness · steadfastness · closeness · fairness · justness · truthfulness · authenticity · reliability · dependability.

--Wow! What an amazing word and what an amazing fruit of Holy Spirit. All on this list are to be desired but faithfulness is one that is most important to me personally. Think of family and friends…read again.

--As you read through the list of the Fruit of the Spirit…who do you see? You see Jesus! That is why it is so imperative for us to have this fruit in our lives…so others will see Jesus!

--I think all of us want to be surrounded by people who exhibit all of these qualities (fruit) but please keep this in mind…you must lead with the seed.

--We know the Word of God says we reap what we sow…if you want fruit, start planting the right seed…start giving away what you want to come back to you.

Faithfulness - here used for fidelity—punctuality in performing promises, conscientious carefulness in preserving what is committed to our trust, in restoring it to its proper owner, in transacting the business confided to us, neither betraying the secret of our friend, nor disappointing the confidence of our employer. Adam Clarke's Commentary.

Faithful - means loyal, full of faith or trust; firmly and resolutely staying with a person, group, cause, belief, or idea, without waver, despite the circumstances. 'Faithful' is said to be much more often used about dogs than people. SpiritHome.com

--Faithfulness sets us apart from other people. Faithfulness separates: the successful from the failures, the finisher from the quitter, the responsible from the irresponsible, the mature from the immature, the righteous from the sinful.

--You have grown up and are living in a society that is unfaithful. The tabloids are filled with stories of unfaithfulness; Hollywood marriages, divorces and love affairs are glamorized and sensationalized for all to see.

--It seems that it is just part of the system that our politicians all have shady pasts when it comes to faithfulness. Before we get to judgmental, the church has had its share also.

--We can even find the society’s acceptance of unfaithfulness at the card shop. Visit a Hallmark store, “when you care enough to send the best,” and you can find cards that fit the unfaithful style of our day. 

--One card in the love and sweetheart section reads, "I can’t promise you forever, but I can promise you today." I suppose you could even put that on an anniversary card! That’s about as deep a commitment as some are willing to make.

--I’m glad God promises us more than just today!

Psalm 100:5 (NIV)
⁵  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

--When it comes to faithfulness one thing you can know for sure; GOD is faithful. God will never turn His back on you; God won’t abandon you. God will never take advantage of you or mistreat you. God will be faithful!

--So what is faithfulness? Let me ask you what does faithfulness mean? What word would you use to describe faithfulness? Authenticity. Truthful. Real. Accurate.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines faithfulness as “adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person cause or idea.” 

--Faithfulness is a stick-to-itiveness that won’t be broken; faithfulness is the “superglue” of the heart that holds fast and won’t let go. Faithfulness means following through with your commitments regardless of what it costs.

Throughout this series on the fruit of the Spirit, I have described each as an expression of love. Love is the blossom; without love it is impossible for the fruit to develop. The fruit of the Spirit begins and ends with love.

Joy is love rejoicing. Patience is love enduring. Peace is love trusting - resting. Kindness is love serving. Goodness is love extending. Faithfulness is love proving. Gentleness is love touching. Self-control is love restraining.

--Faithfulness is love proving. Faithfulness is love that hangs on to the end; it’s love that won’t quit. Faithfulness is not just a one-time display; faithfulness proves itself over and over again. 

--Faithfulness is a lifestyle of consistent dependability; it’s the superglue of the heart that won’t let go. What does faithfulness look like?

A. Faithfulness is Jesus. 

--If you want to see faithfulness lived out in the day to day life of someone look at Jesus. If you are going to live a faithful life, then live your life just like Jesus.

Hebrews 2:17-18 (NLT2)
¹⁷  Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.
¹⁸  Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

--Jesus lived His life with unwavering commitment and faithfulness. He didn’t quit or throw in the towel when things got hard; His love for us was steadfast and true. 

--Jesus remained true to His commitment regardless of the cost—Jesus loved us to death, and beyond! 

--Not only did Jesus go to the cross to lay down His life for our sins, He was resurrected to life so that we might be able to live with Him. The faithfulness of Jesus continues. He will never be unfaithful to us.

2 Timothy 2:10-15 (NLT2)
¹⁰  So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
¹¹  This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him.
¹²  If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.
¹³  If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.
¹⁴  Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
¹⁵  Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 

--Jesus is faithful and true. Jesus shows us how to live faithfully – to adhere with firm devotion to God and to have an unbreakable commitment for one another.

B. Faithfulness in you and me.

--But what will faithfulness look like in you and me? Above all else be faithful, but what does that mean? How will you recognize faithfulness when you see it? How will you know when you are living a life of faithfulness?

Four characteristics of faithfulness:

1. The faithful hold onto Truth.

--You need to have an unshakeable tenacity that will not let go of truth. Opinions may change; values may differ, but truth remains the same. What is true for you is true for me, and what is true for me is true for you.

--Our society wants us to believe truth is relative, that there is no absolute truth. Do you notice the contradiction in such a belief? How can you claim absolutes don’t exist with an absolute statement?

Revelation 2:24-29 (NLT2)
²⁴  “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you
²⁵  except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.
²⁶  To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations.
²⁷  They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.
²⁸  They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!
²⁹  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. 

--Values are relative; values will differ from person to person or culture to culture. Truth is absolute; truth is the same for all of us, so hold on to truth.

--At one time Americans valued the wisdom of older people; we respected those who had gone before us. 

--However today we are more likely to look up to the young. At one time we valued discipline and respect; children were expected to act in a certain way. 

--In many oriental cultures children are still expected to behave in certain ways, and disobedience has definite consequences. Yet for us discipline and respect is no longer held as an important value. 

--Instead of teaching discipline and respect we diagnose children with ADD and medicate them with Ritalin.

Values change, not always for the better. Truth remains the same. If you are going to be faithful, then hold on to truth.

--What are some basic truths we should all hold onto? Let me quickly share with you five basic truths I will never let go of. These are truths you should take with you throughout your life.

A. The Bible is the authoritative guide for how to live.

B. Jesus Christ is the only hope for salvation.

C. People are more important than things.

D. God owns everything and loans it to us for a short time.

E. What happens in me is more important than what happens to me. Holy Spirit!

2. The faithful persevere through difficulty.

--Essentially you can make four basic responses to difficulty in your life. Only two are the right kind of responses. You can give up and be crushed. You can whine and complain. You can pray victoriously. 

--You can endure and refuse to give up.

Luke 18:1 (NIV)
¹  Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 

3. The faithful keep their commitments. 

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
²¹  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

4. Faithfulness makes a fresh start.

Psalm 51:10-11 (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.