The Fruit Of
The Spirit
The Fruit Of The Spirit –
Introduction
SPIRITUAL FRUIT
The “fruit of the Spirit” is a phrase that originates in Galatians 5:22-23:
Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The “fruit of the Spirit” is a phrase that originates in Galatians 5:22-23:
Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
But the idea of spiritual
fruit flows throughout the New Testament!
Read the following verses then fill
in the table over the page. You can do this is groups of two or three.
Matthew 3:8-10 HCSB
Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. (9) And don't presume to
say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God is
able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! (10) Even now the ax
is ready to strike the root of the trees! Therefore every tree that doesn't
produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 7:15-20 HCSB
"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly
are ravaging wolves. (16) You'll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes
gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? (17) In the same way, every
good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. (18) A good
tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. (19)
Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire. (20) So you'll recognize them by their fruit.
Matthew 13:23 HCSB But
the one sown on the good ground--this is one who hears and understands the
word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was
sown."
John 15:1-8 HCSB "I
am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. (2) Every branch in Me
that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that
produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. (3) You are already clean
because of the word I have spoken to you. (4) Remain in Me, and I in you. Just
as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in Me. (5) "I am the vine; you are
the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit,
because you can do nothing without Me. (6) If anyone does not remain in Me, he
is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into
the fire, and they are burned. (7) If you remain in Me and My words remain in
you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. (8) My Father is
glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.
John 15:16 HCSB You did
not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and
produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the
Father in My name, He will give you.
Romans 7:4 HCSB
Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death in relation to the law
through the crucified body of the Messiah, so that you may belong to
another--to Him who was raised from the dead--that we may bear fruit for God.
Ephesians 5:8-11 HCSB
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children
of light-- (9) for the fruit of the light results in all goodness,
righteousness, and truth-- (10) discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. (11)
Don't participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead, expose them.
Philippians 1:9-11 HCSB
(9) And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every
kind of discernment, (10) so that you can determine what really matters and can
be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, (11) filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise
of God.
Colossians
1:9-10 HCSB For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't
stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the
knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, (10) so that
you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every
good work and growing in the knowledge of God.
Hebrews 12:11-13 HCSB No
discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it
yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by
it. (12) Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, (13) and
make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated,
but healed instead.
James 3:17-18 HCSB But
the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full
of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. (18) And the fruit
of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace
What It Says About
Spiritual Fruit: Find the main point/s of
the passage. Summarize what it is saying.
Fruit-Producing
Principle: What does the passage tell us about how a
'spiritual fruit farmer” should act in order to get the best possible “crop”.
Verse
|
What It Says
About Spiritual Fruit
|
Fruit-Producing
Principle/ What We Should Do
|
Matthew 3:8-10
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Matthew 7:15-20
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Matthew 13:23
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John 15:1-8
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John 15:16
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Romans 7:4
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Galatians 5:22,23
(top of page 1) |
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Ephesians 5:8-11
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Philippians 1:9-11
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Colossians 1:9-10
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Hebrews 12:11-13
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James 3:17-18
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The Fruit Of The Spirit – Love
When Jesus or the apostles talk
about love they generally use a special Greek word called agape, which
in older versions is translated “charity”, according to Thayer's Lexicon agape
means “brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence”. Agape involves
doing good to another and having their highest welfare in mind. It is love
without a lot of self-interest involved. There were over thirty Greek words for
love, unfortunately most of these words were entirely unsuitable for Christian
use since many had strong sexual connotations, or involved frenzied
psychological states. So the Bible authors selected a little used word for the
highest form of love known to man -agape and filled this word with rich meaning.
READ 1 Corinthians
13:1-8
1. If I speak the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1. If I speak the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
How important is “love” to our value as a human
being?
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Love is patient; love is kind.
2. Love is patient; love is kind.
How does “love” treat
other people?
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited;
3. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited;
How does “love” think
about others? What attitudes does it NOT have?
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Does not act improperly; is not selfish;
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Does not act improperly; is not selfish;
How does “love” regard
the needs and feelings of others?
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs;
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs;
How does “love” react to
irritating minor daily incidents ?
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth;
How does “love” react to lies, scams, schemes and deceiving and tricking others?
______________________________________________________________________________
How does “love” react to lies, scams, schemes and deceiving and tricking others?
______________________________________________________________________________
7. Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
How does “love” handle the tough times?
______________________________________________________________________________
8. Love never ends (Love never fails)
In what important way is “love” different from things such as admiration, lust, passion and liking...
How does “love” handle the tough times?
______________________________________________________________________________
8. Love never ends (Love never fails)
In what important way is “love” different from things such as admiration, lust, passion and liking...
______________________________________________________________________________
9. 1 John 3:16-18 HCSB This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. (17) If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him--how can God's love reside in him? (18) Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth;
9. 1 John 3:16-18 HCSB This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. (17) If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him--how can God's love reside in him? (18) Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth;
How is the love of God
to be reflected in the love Christians have for each other? What is wrong with
ignoring the obvious needs of others ?
______________________________________________________________________________
10. 1 John 4:7-12 HCSB Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (8) The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (9) God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. (10) Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. (12) No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.
10. 1 John 4:7-12 HCSB Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (8) The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (9) God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. (10) Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. (12) No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.
Who is the Source of
love? (v.7,8) ____________________________________________________________
How was love revealed to us? (v.9,10) ________________________________________________________
What should we do as a result? (V.7, 11)_______________________________________________________
How does love change or improve us? (V.7,12)__________________________________________________
How was love revealed to us? (v.9,10) ________________________________________________________
What should we do as a result? (V.7, 11)_______________________________________________________
How does love change or improve us? (V.7,12)__________________________________________________
The Fruit Of The Spirit
– Joy & Peace
Romans 14:17 HCSB for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
This week we will study
two fruits of the Spirit – joy and peace. These fruit set the whole tone of the
Christian life. Spirit-filled Christians are noted for being joyful and
peaceful - “the happiest people on earth”. This is in contrast to the “sad
countenance of the hypocrites” (Matthew 6:16). Jesus was noted for going to
parties and Paul tells Christians to 'rejoice in the Lord always and again I
say rejoice.” The Holy Spirit in us wants to make us joyful, peaceful people.
JOY - Joy is a choice to see the world a certain way. Joy involves a
choice to see the good, the wonderful, the surprising and the positive in every
situation – simply because God is in every situation and is ultimately working
it for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). In each of the following
verses find:
a) The cause of joy – the circumstances, event or occasion, what happened.
a) The cause of joy – the circumstances, event or occasion, what happened.
b) How godly people
interpreted that event so as to rejoice.
- The lesson we can learn about being joyful
Verse
|
Circumstances
|
Interpretation
|
Lesson
|
1. Matthew 5:11-12 HCSB "Blessed are you
when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil
against you because of Me. (12) Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is
great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before
you.
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2. Matthew 13:44 HCSB "The kingdom of
heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied.
Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
[This is an analogy..]
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3. Luke 10:17-22 HCSB
The Seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons submit to
us in Your name." (20) However, don't rejoice that the spirits submit to
you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (21) In that
same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise You,
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from
the wise and the learned and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father,
because this was Your good pleasure. (22) All things have been entrusted to
Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the
Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal
Him." [For background context see Luke 10:1-16]
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4. Romans 5:3-5 HCSB And not only that, but we
also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces
endurance, (4) endurance produces proven character, and proven character
produces hope. (5) This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been
poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
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PEACE
Peace is inner stability and tranquility combined with a deep spiritual sense of well-being. Anxiety and turmoil are its opposites. Peace comes through having a strong faith and a deep assured knowledge of God's goodness and also through prayer and thanksgiving. Meditating on the goodness and faithfulness of God brings us into a state of peace. Peace comes from fixing our mind's attention on the right things. In the following verses find:
a) Where we are to STOP thinking about, or that which we are to forgive or hold loosely.
Peace is inner stability and tranquility combined with a deep spiritual sense of well-being. Anxiety and turmoil are its opposites. Peace comes through having a strong faith and a deep assured knowledge of God's goodness and also through prayer and thanksgiving. Meditating on the goodness and faithfulness of God brings us into a state of peace. Peace comes from fixing our mind's attention on the right things. In the following verses find:
a) Where we are to STOP thinking about, or that which we are to forgive or hold loosely.
b) Where we are to FOCUS
our minds., meditate, or contemplate.
c) The LESSON, principle
or obvious outcome
Verses
|
Stop
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Focus
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Lesson
|
5. Philippians 4:6-9 HCSB Don't worry about
anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God. (7) And the peace of God, which
surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus. (8) Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is any
praise--dwell on these things. (9) Do what you have learned and received and
heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
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6. Romans 8:5-6 HCSB For those whose lives are
according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those whose
lives are according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. (6) For
the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life
and peace.
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7. James 3:13-18 HCSB Who is wise and
understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with
wisdom's gentleness. (14) But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in
your heart, don't brag and lie in defiance of the truth. (15) Such wisdom
does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. (16) For
where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of
evil. (17) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving,
gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and
hypocrisy. (18) And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who
make peace.
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8. Colossians 3:12-15 MKJV (12) Therefore, as
the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender feelings of mercy,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, (13) forbearing one
another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any. As
Christ forgave you, so also you do. (14) And above all these things put
on love, which is the bond of perfectness. (15) And let the peace
of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called in one body, and be
thankful.
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SUMMARY / APPLICATION
- How can Christians go around being joyful? (Philippians 4:4)
What needs to change in how we interpret life events?
- How can Christians find inner peace? (Philippians 4:6-9) What attitudes should we have? Where should we direct our thoughts?
The Fruit Of The Spirit
– Patience And Kindness
Colossians 3:12-13 HCSB (12) Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, (13)
accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint
against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive.
Patience – is about how we tolerate the irritating faults of others and
give them space to repent and to learn and to grow. God is patient with our
faults so that we will learn to do better next time. (Romans 2:4) The Greek
word used in Galatians 5:22 is “makrothumia” which means – takes a long while
before getting angry.
Gentleness/ Kindness – is how we meet the needs of other people, especially those in
our power and the weak, the injured, the poor and the vulnerable. The Good Samaritan
was a kind person. (Luke 10:30-37) The Greek word used in Galatians 5:22 is
“chrestotes” and is translated as gentleness, kindness, or usefulness. It means
to be a useful person to those in need giving help that suits the person and
the situation.
Discussion starter:
How do you feel when people are:
How do you feel when people are:
a) Impatient with you
_____________________________
b) Patient with you
_______________________________
c) Unkind to you
_________________________________
d) Kind to you
__________________________________
In the following verses
work out if possible:
a) Who is being patient or kind or gentle with whom? (e.g. , God being patient with sinners)
a) Who is being patient or kind or gentle with whom? (e.g. , God being patient with sinners)
b) Why are they being
patient or kind or gentle.
c) What lesson,
principle or conclusion we can learn from this?
Verse
|
Who
|
Why
|
Lesson
|
1. Matthew 18:23-27 HCSB For this reason, the kingdom of heaven
can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. (24)
When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought
before him. (25) Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded
that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the
debt. (26) "At this, the slave fell face down before him and said, 'Be
patient with me, and I will pay you everything!' (27) Then the master of that
slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
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2. Romans 2:4 HCSB Or do you despise the riches of His kindness,
restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to
lead you to repentance?
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3. 2 Timothy 2:24-25 HCSB The Lord's slave must not quarrel, but
must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, (25) instructing his
opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the
truth.
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4. 2 Peter 3:9 HCSB The Lord does not delay His promise, as some
understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all
to come to repentance.
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5. Romans 12:12-13 HCSB Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction;
be persistent in prayer. (13) Share with the saints in their needs; pursue
hospitality.
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6. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 HCSB (14) And we exhort you, brothers: warn
those who are lazy, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with
everyone.
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7. Galatians 6:1-2 HCSB Brothers, if someone is caught in any
wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle
spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won't be tempted also. (2) Carry
one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
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8. Colossians 3:12-13 HCSB (12) Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy
and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience, (13) accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has
a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you
must forgive.
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9. James 3:17-18 HCSB But the wisdom from above is first pure,
then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without
favoritism and hypocrisy. (18) And the fruit of righteousness is sown in
peace by those who make peace.
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10. Acts 28:1-2 HCSB Safely ashore, we then learned that the island
was called Malta. (2) The local people showed us extraordinary kindness, for
they lit a fire and took us all in, since rain was falling and it was cold.
(After a shipwreck)
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The Fruit Of The Spirit
– Goodness And Faith
GOOD'NESS, n. The state of being good; the physical qualities which
constitute value, excellence or perfection; as the goodness of timber; the
goodness of a soil.
1. The moral qualities which constitute Christian excellence; moral virtue; religion. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Gal 5.
1. The moral qualities which constitute Christian excellence; moral virtue; religion. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Gal 5.
2. Kindness; benevolence; benignity
of heart; but more generally, acts of kindness; charity; humanity exercised. “I
shall remember his goodness to me with gratitude.”
3. Kindness; benevolence of nature;
mercy. The Lord God--abundant in goodness and truth. Exo 34.
4. Kindness; favor shown; acts of
benevolence, compassion or mercy. Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which
Jehovah had done to Israel. Exo 18.
For the following verses find:
a) The source of goodness – e.g. God, the indwelling Holy Spirit, or a person, action or work.
b) The outcomes of the expression of goodness, or the ability that goodness imparts.
a) The source of goodness – e.g. God, the indwelling Holy Spirit, or a person, action or work.
b) The outcomes of the expression of goodness, or the ability that goodness imparts.
c) Other virtues associated with goodness in the passage
that assist its operation.
Verse
|
Source of
Goodness
|
Effect
Produced
|
Associated
Virtues
|
1. Romans 15:14 HCSB Now, my brothers, I myself am convinced about
you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able
to instruct one another.
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2. Ephesians 5:8-10 HCSB For you were once darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light-- (9) for the fruit of the
light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth-- (10) discerning
what is pleasing to the Lord.
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3. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 HCSB (11) And in view of this, we always
pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling, and will,
by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith, (12)
so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by Him,
according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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4. Titus 3:4-5 HCSB But when the goodness and love for man appeared
from God our Savior, (5) He saved us--not by works of righteousness that we
had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and
renewal by the Holy Spirit.
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5. 2 Peter 1:3-5 HCSB For His divine power has given us everything
required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us
by His own glory and goodness. (4) By these He has given us very great and
precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature,
escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires. (5) For
this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness,
goodness with knowledge, ....
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FAITH (Gk. “pistis” ) -
reliance, trust, belief in God's promises, the ability to trustingly walk hand
in hand with God. In Galatians 5:22,23 this is sometimes translated
faithfulness, but that is not quite correct, the word there is “pistis” which
is the simple ordinary word for faith. Christian faith is like the faith of
Abraham, who believed that the goodness and faithfulness of God would be active
in his life despite “impossible” circumstances. The Holy Spirit causes
Christians to grow in faith.
For the following verses find:
a) What did they believe or what were they required to believe?
b) What was the reward that they received when they believed?
For the following verses find:
a) What did they believe or what were they required to believe?
b) What was the reward that they received when they believed?
c) What is the faith
principle or lesson that we can learn?
Verses
|
What They
Believed
|
What They
Received
|
Faith Principle
|
6. Hebrews 11:1,6 HCSB Now faith is the reality of what is hoped
for, the proof of what is not seen.. Now without faith it is impossible to
please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and
rewards those who seek Him.
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7. Matthew 8:5-10 HCSB When He entered Capernaum, a centurion came
to Him, pleading with Him, (6) "Lord, my servant is lying at home
paralyzed, in terrible agony!" (7) "I will come and heal him,"
He told him. (8) "Lord," the centurion replied, "I am not worthy
to have You come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be
cured. (9) For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my
command. I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes; and to another, 'Come!' and he
comes; and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." (10) Hearing this,
Jesus was amazed and said to those following Him, "I assure you: I have
not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith! .. Then Jesus told the
centurion, "Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you." And
his servant was cured that very moment.
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8. Matthew 9:27-29 HCSB As Jesus went on from there, two blind men
followed Him, shouting, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" (28) When
He entered the house, the blind men approached Him, and Jesus said to them,
"Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they
answered Him. (29) Then He touched their eyes, saying, "Let it be done
for you according to your faith!"
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9. Romans 4:17-22 HCSB in God's sight. As it is written: I have
made you the father of many nations. He believed in God, who gives life to
the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. (18) Against
hope, with hope he believed, so that he became the father of many nations,
according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. (19) He
considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred
years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb, without weakening in the faith.
(20) He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise, but was strengthened in
his faith and gave glory to God, (21) because he was fully convinced that
what He had promised He was also able to perform. (22) Therefore, it was
credited to him for righteousness.
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10. James 5:15-18 HCSB The prayer of faith will save the sick
person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will
be forgiven. (16) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for
one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous
is very powerful. (17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he
prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months
it did not rain on the land. (18) Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain
and the land produced its fruit.
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The Fruit Of The Spirit
– Meekness & Self-Control
Meekness and
self-control both have to do with how we use the power we have within us.
A meek and gentle person
is strong but uses that strength wisely and carefully to help others and not to
put them down or oppress them. They put aside their own importance in order to
serve others. The Greek word is “prautes” and also means gentleness or
humility.
A person with
self-control has mastery over their own actions and energy. They can control
their own behavior and have command over the decisions that they make. They
have the ability to refrain from evil thought, words and actions. It often has
goals so an athlete will exercise self-control over his appetite in order to
win a race. The Greek word is “egkrateia” and also means continence, temperance,
or moderation.
Icebreaker: What happens to people who lack self-control in life.
Meekness
For the following verses
find:
a) Who is being meek?
b) What are the consequences , effects or results of being meek?
b) What are the consequences , effects or results of being meek?
c) What lesson or
principle can we learn from this?
Verses
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WHO
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EFFECT
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LESSON
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1. Matthew 5:5 MKJV Blessed are the meek! For they shall inherit
the earth.
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2. Matthew 11:28-30 MKJV Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for
I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. (30) For
My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
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3. 2 Corinthians 10:1 MKJV (1) And I myself, Paul, beseech you by
the meekness and gentleness of Christ; I, who indeed to look upon am lowly
among you, ....
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4. Ephesians 4:1-3 MKJV I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord,
beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling with which you are called,
(2) with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one
another in love, (3) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace.
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5. 1 Peter 3:4 MKJV but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in
that which is not corruptible, the meek and quiet spirit, which is of great
price in the sight of God.
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Self-control is often
with reference to bodily appetites such as food, drink and sex and to physical
passions such as rage. It is a key ingredient in the battle between the Spirit
and the flesh (Galatians 5:16-18, Romans 8:4-6)
In the following verses
find (if possible):
a) The consequences of lacking self-control
a) The consequences of lacking self-control
b) The benefit of
exercising self-control
c) The lesson or
principle we can learn
Verses
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Without
Self-Control |
With
Self-Control |
Lesson
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1 Corinthians 7:3-5 HCSB (3) A husband should
fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. (4)
A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does.
Equally, a husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife
does. (5) Do not deprive one another--except when you agree, for a time, to
devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may
tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
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1 Corinthians 9:24-27 HCSB (24) Do you not
know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize?
Run in such a way that you may win. (25) Now everyone who competes exercises
self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable
crown, but we an imperishable one. (26) Therefore I do not run like one who runs
aimlessly, or box like one who beats the air. (27) Instead, I discipline my
body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I
myself will not be disqualified.
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2 Timothy 3:1-4 HCSB But know this: difficult
times will come in the last days. (2) For people will be lovers of self,
lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
ungrateful, unholy, (3) unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without
self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, (4) traitors, reckless,
conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
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2 Peter 1:5-8 HCSB For this very reason, make
every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge,
(6) knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with
godliness, (7) godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection
with love. (8) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will
keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Galatians 5:22-24 HCSB But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, (23)
gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. (24) Now those
who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires.
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