Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit (AMP) [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
- 9 characteristics (traits) of the Holy Spirit…
- If we are born of the Holy Spirit…then we have these same 9 characteristics (traits) in our born again spirit as well.
- John 3:6-7 (AMP)
- 6 What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above).
1 John 3:9 (AMP) (new 11-10-2015) 9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.
- We are Born of God…The Divine Sperm…John 3 (that which is born of the H.S. is spirit) born again.
We have to grow up and mature by faith to bring the fruit out from within.
Maturity happens to the degree I am willing to walk by faith.
Faith made simple
- Faith comes by hearing and hearing (Rom 10:17) repetition is the key to retention.
- Practice makes perfect…act least better and better. Progression
- Faith agrees with God’s word. Believes (Rom 10:8) the word is near you…in the mouth and heart.
- Faith speaks God’s word…Confession (Rom 10:9) if you confess with your mouth.
- Faith acts on the word. (James 2:20) …faith without works is dead.
- V19-23…put some action to what your mouth says and heart believes. Motion to your boat!
Example…Love…
- Believe you have Love in your spirit…Maturing
- Confess you have Love in your spirit…Developing
- Act (manifest) like you have Love in your spirit…Growing
You have to keep this up…over a period of time…
The fruit of Love will become the new norm in your life.
Romans 5:1 (AMP)
Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Longsuffering
I used to think…Longsuffering meant “Suffering a long time”
God does not want us to suffer long…not even short…sickness, poverty, etc. (Jesus died for these)
There is Christian suffering…Persecution, hated for Jesus sake, falsely accused etc.
Mark 10:29-30 (NKJV)
Longsuffering – Define
- Patients and endurance.
- Stand against those things that try to hinder the will of God for my life.
- Pressing through the obstacles by faith…resisting the devil…he’s not going to be easy on you.
2. Forbearance
- Forbearing the offence of others.
- Learning to put up with people.
- I first need to learn to forgive myself for my shortcomings…or I will not with others.
- Be patient with others.
3. Fortitude
- Hang onto the vision and promises of God and not let go…don’t quit or give up.
- Vision dies because we give up too soon…in hard times…(Stand)
- If God gave you a vision…Don’t give up…circumstances don’t count…
- We have had opportunity to quit.
Your spirit does not know “Give up”
Matthew 26:41 (NKJV)
- Jesus in the garden…spirit is willing to press on…the flesh, not so!!
- Walk after the spirit and not after the flesh (Rom 8)
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV) 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, how? 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, (3 fruit of Spirit) 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
- God wants us to be patient with people…How? Through longsuffering.
- Remembering how longsuffering God is with me…I can have it with you.
- Gods mercy and grace is so good to me…I have mercy and grace also.
- Longsuffering with people “forgive”…and keeps them from stealing your vision.
Is this possible?
Luke 23:34 (NKJV) (Jesus) 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Acts 7:60 (AMP) (Stephen) 60 And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them [lay it not to their charge]! And when he had said this, he fell asleep [in death].
James 1:2-6 (NKJV) 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (Longsuffering to the outside) 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. . (Mark 4:39…rebuked the wind…God will show you the source of your problem) 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
- Practicing patients and longsuffering on trials and circumstances makes you more stable.
- It’s what you do with that trial…use the fruit of longsuffering (Patients) on it is what makes the difference.
- EX: ships in the old days capsized in strong storm winds…today we have gyroscopes that keep a ship upright and strong. The Holy Spirit gives us stability as the gyroscope, as He works with us to develop the fruit of the spirit in our lives. The more we purposefully work with Him to develop this Fruit we have, the more and more stable we become.
- EX: Apollo missions depended on gyros to help stay the course to the moon.
Putting to practice the “fruit of the Spirit” brings stability to your life.
Download MP3 Here: The Fruit of the Spirit_6_Longsuffering