The Fruit of the Spirit
May 17 - July 5
The Fruit of the Spirit | Love
May 17, 2020 • Gregg Parris
Galatians 5:16-26 Love Defined: Love is not a special way of feeling. Love is volitional good will. It is a matter of my will, my choice. If it is good will, then it is to will good things for someone else. Love is anchored in principle and conviction. A. Our inability to make sacrificial choices. B. Self-absorption, self-pity, self-centered, self-aggrandizing, constantly the center of everything. C. A coldness to God, the things of God, and the people of God. A. The ability to make decisions of importance. B. Become grace motivated and not judgmental. C. Grow in wisdom and discernment. D. Others are affirmed and set free in my presence. E. Love drives faith. Love is the power by which faith works. Galatians 5:6 F. Love is the key to success in life. Loving God is the key to overcoming. G. Love glorifies God in the world.
The Fruit of the Spirit | Joy
May 24, 2020 • Gregg Parris
Galatians 5:16-26 Nehemiah 8:10 I. Joy and the character of God. The object of God's joy is us! II. The counterfeit of joy. III. Joy applied to life. 1. Joy is connected to grace not judgment. 2. A lack of joy is indicated by a lack of a sense of humor. *A sense of humor is the ability to laugh at yourself. IV. The fruit of joy. 1. I will grow in strength. 2. It liberates others. V. Increase your joy. 1. It is the will of God for you. 2. Repent of situational happiness. 3. Train your spirit to rejoice. 4. Depend on Him in everything and your joy cannot be stolen because no one can steal Him from you. The secret to real joy is absolute dependence on God! The joy of the Lord really is my strength!
The Fruit of the Spirit | Peace
May 31, 2020 • Gregg Parris
Galatians 5:22-26 John 14:26-27 Definition: Peace is a state of being. Peace is a state of heart. It is an inner reality which is ministered to me. Peace is that which God ministers to me. I. The peace of God 1. Passes understanding. 2. Keeps your heart and mind 3. Through Jesus Christ. II. The counterfeit of peace 1. Self-confidence 2. Induced, extra-personal peace You cannot induce peace into your life from the outside, this is a fruit only of the Spirit. III. How do I increase my peace? 1. Grow in righteousness. 2. End the doublemindedness. 3. The peace of God is eternal. 4. Establish Christ's Lordship in your life. 5. Receive the Holy Spirit.
The Fruit of the Spirit | Patience & Gentleness
June 7, 2020 • Gregg Parris
Galatians 5:22-26 Patience: To dwell richly, fully alive, in abundance, in the moment, regardless of circumstances. Isaiah 40:31; Luke 21:19 I. Patience and the character of God. II. The counterfeit of patience. It is fatalism, indolence, laziness, a resignation to events and circumstances. A patient person can hear the word NO and comprehend it. III. The fruit of patience and gentleness. Impatience with the sins of others is a betrayal of the reality that we are not confident of our own grace. IV. Increase your patience A. Remember the goodness of God in difficult circumstances. B. Claim the perfect timing of God. (This is tough!) C. Accept the imperfections of others and the imperfections of the world. D. Affirm that God is working on my imperfections.
The Fruit of the Spirit | Goodness
June 14, 2020 • Gregg Parris
Galatians 5:22-26 Goodness: Goodness is an inner disposition causing an outward reality. Goodness is a state of being from which action emanates. I. Goodness and the character of God. It is not the goodness of God that separates me from Him, but rather my sin. The fruit of the Spirit of goodness is that which springs from the vine, God Himself. II. The counterfeit of goodness. 1. Self-righteousness or works oriented goodness. 2. The counterfeit goodness of the world III. Detecting a lack of goodness. 1. A clear sign of the breakdown of goodness is when you find authentic goodness mocked. II Timothy 3:1-5 2. The inability to be genuine in compassion and sacrificial in help. 3. Contradictory gaps in my life. 4. Teaches falseness and hypocrisy. IV. The fruit of goodness. 1. You will find usefulness. 2. Goodness will make me happy. 3. It helps others to be virtuous.
The Fruit of the Spirit | Faithfulness
June 28, 2020 • Gregg Parris
Hebrews 11:1-2, 6, 32-40 Faithfulness is a lifestyle or state of being. It implies diligence, dependability, steadiness, and unchanging devotion. I. Faithfulness and the character of God II. Results of faithfulness a. If I grow in faithfulness, I grow in stability. There is no short-run substitute for long-run faithfulness! b. God will trust the faithful person with more. c. My/our faithfulness causes others to become stable. d. In relationships, it causes people to be free from fear. e. In the spirit, it breaks the power of satanic attack against my life. III. Increase your faithfulness a. I increase my faithfulness by constant dependence on grace (blood of the Lamb). b. We grow in faithfulness through constant commitment (the word of their testimony). c. Willing to pay the price for discipleship (loved not their lives even unto death).
The Fruit of the Spirit | Meekness & Self-Control
July 5, 2020 • Gregg Parris
Galatians 5:22-26 Life without limits always hinders creativity and productivity. I. Meekness and Self-Control and the character of God A. You cannot manifest the fruit of meekness until you are in a position of power. II. The fruit of Meekness and Self-Control A. A quiet trust in God. B. We overcome the root of bitterness C. We grow in our ability to reason, appeal, and teach D. We grow in rest E. Others grow in grace F. It heals G. It allows God to act because I am out of the way III. Increase in Meekness and Self-Control A. Submit to Christ. B. Submit to natural authority in the name of Christ. C. I refuse to use whatever power is mine to hurt, strike back, or execute vengeance. D. Be slow to defend yourself E. If meekness is the fruit of Jesus, then the way to be filled with meekness is to be filled with the Spirit of Jesus.