RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-05-11	The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 1 of 3)
		Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. This is certainly one of the most popular verses in the Bible. It is very familiar. But too often things that are familiar are not well understood. That is often the case in Scripture. Sometimes those passages with which we are most familiar in terms of the words, we are least familiar in terms of the significance. And the allusion is often present that because we know what it says we know what it means. Paul does not just throw out 9 words in some random manner. Not at all. There is a wonderful structure to the list. We will see that the list of spiritual-fruit-words is divided into three sections. Section 1: LOVE; JOY; PEACE Section 2: PATIENCE; KINDNESS; GOODNESS Section 3: FAITHFULNESS; MEEKNESS; SELF-CONTROL The three sections describe application in its direction. Section 1 is Godward Section 2 is Manward Section 3 is Selfward Thus, Section 1: LOVE, JOY, PEACE points to our relationship to God Thus, Section 2: PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS points to our relationship to Man Thus, Section 3: FAITHFULNESS, MEEKNESS, SELF-CONTROL points to our relationship to Ourselves Today, we will talk about section 1, the Godward direction. That is, LOVE, JOY, and PEACE These are associated with our attitude toward God. They are not based on circumstances of life. Instead they are based on our relationship “in Christ” LOVE This is a sacrificial choice (1Jn.3:16) accompanied by action. 1Jn 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Paul said a few verses earlier in Galatians, “through love serve one another” (Ga.5:13). This love is generated by God not one's self (Jn.21:15-18). “We love Him because He first loved us” (1Jn.4:19). Because God first loved us, we can love others too. This love is not an emotional affection. Itis devotion that leads to self-sacrificial service (Jn.15:13; Rm.5:8; 1Jn.3:16-17). Joh 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. We should pray that love will increase (Ph.1:9). Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment All the other fruits are an outgrowth of love. Thus, love is critical to the Christian walk! >> The best evidence that we are NOT growing in love is that we have APATHY toward God or others << JOY Joy as a gift of God, comes from God, and cannot be manufactured. We delight in blessings received from God. God brings the joy. God brings the blessings. This is an attitude of sufficiency in God that is not affected by outward circumstances. When Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Ph.4:13), the idea is God is our sufficiency. We do not need good circumstances to have the joy that comes from above. This sufficiency in God is sometimes called, “Holy Optimism”. When Paul says “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Ph.4:4) this is his determined attitude. I pray this is our determined attitude, and people see our Holy Optimism! >> The best evidence that we are NOT growing in joy is that we find ourselves COMPLAINING << PEACE This is a confidence of mind from a right relationship with God. Php 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. This peace with God is not affected by circumstances (JN.14:27; Rm.8:28; Ph.4:6-7,9). Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. This peace surpasses all natural understanding (Ph.4:7) Php 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. >> The best evidence that we are NOT growing in peace is that we find ourselves WORRYING << The link below is the entire lesson of The Fruit of the Spirit: http://www.otischurch.com/resources/topics/fruit-of-the-spirit/fruit-of-the-spirit.pdf Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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