The Fruit of the Spirit
Part IV: Faithfulness, Meekness,
Self-Control
Galatians 5:22-24
The Division of the Fruit
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In the first division of fruit of the Spirit we discussed virtues of the
mind, attitude:
– Love,
– Joy,
– Peace.
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In the second division we discussed virtues that relate to our conduct
toward others:
– Longsuffering,
– Kindness,
– Goodness.
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In this final section we will be discussing virtues that deal with our
conduct toward all persons, but especially toward God and self:
– Faithfulness,
– Gentleness,
– Self-control.
Faithfulness
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pisitis: primarily “firm persuasion,” a conviction
based on hearing…faithfulness.
This is a moral conviction that one has who is
devoted to God’s righteousness and to receiving
His promises (Matt. 6:33).
– Vine, “trust or holy fervor born of faith and conjoined
with it.”
– i.e. Faith that God exists, He is Supreme ruler of the
universe, and our Creator and Savior results in one’s
conviction of, “I must not sin.”
Faithfulness
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Joseph showed this kind of faithfulness.
– Gen. 39:1-9
– Vs. 9: “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against
God?”
– He had great faith in God.
– He saw the wickedness of the situation, he knew the
righteousness of God.
– Because of His faith in God and his knowledge of
God’s righteousnessw, Joseph refused to take part in
this wickedness.
– His decision to uphold God’s righteous standard was
the evidence or manifestation of His faithfulness.
Faithfulness
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Abraham showed this kind of faithfulness.
– Rom. 4:19-22
– Not being weak in faith (faithfulness): He had great confidence
in the promises of God.
– Where most men would not think of having children at 100
years of age, Abraham’s confidence caused him to think
otherwise.
– Being strengthened in faith: Where most men would have given
up trying to have children at his age, he was strengthened and
continued on, even 25 years after he first received the promise
(Gen. 12:2, 4).
– Abraham’s faith in God caused Him to follow God, even in the
face of great uncertainty (Heb. 11:8-10)
Gentleness, Meekness
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prautes: gentleness or meekness. “…an inwrought
grace of the soul…the exercises of it are chiefly
toward God” (Vine).
It is described as mildness or humility.
See how it is used by James in 1:21; 3:13.
– Receive it with gentleness and humility. How?
– 1:22—hear it and do it. Requires submission.
– 3:13—The manner in which we must do our works is
with meekness. The opposite of arrogance or
haughtiness.
Gentleness, Meekness
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Not to be seen as weakness.
– The world likens meakness with weakness or having
no backbone.
– But was Jesus weak?
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Never! Matt. 26:50-53
Why did He allow Himself to be taken? Vs. 54
He showed meekness by humbly submitting to the will of
God (Luke 22:42), even though He had the power and
strength to escape.
– Therefore He said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from
Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29).
– This is the fruit that God’s Spirit ought to bear in us.
Self-Control
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enkrateia : “strength, the controlling power
of the will” (Vine).
– For one to be meek and gentle requires great
inward strength, as Jesus showed.
– This inward strength is called self-control.
– It is the control that one exercises over their
body by use of their mind or will.
Self-Control, Temperance
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In order to be truly filled with the Spirit, we must
control our bodies by stifling our temptations thereby
allowing God’s righteousness to rule (Rom. 8:13).
It takes practice; strength comes with time.
– Every time we face a temptation we are practicing control.
– Everytime we are longsuffering we are practicing control.
– The world would argue that sin is freedom, but the practice of
sin is in fact slavery to that sin.
– Only when we are in control of our own minds and bodies can
we truly become free.
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One of the greatest motivations for self-control is love
for God and love for others.
Concluding Thoughts
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Vs. 23: Against such there is no law.
Vs. 24:Those who are in Christ.
– Are you in Christ?
– The evidence that we are in Christ is the fact
that we have crucified the flesh; we have shut
it down so that it is no longer a controlling
force in our lives.
Concluding Thoughts
“In Christ”
In the world
Flesh
Obedience
Spirit
Gal. 3:26-27
Gospel
Concluding Thoughts
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Vs. 25: If we live in the Spirit.
– God, through the blood of Christ gives us life.
– Because the Spirit of God reveals this through
the gospel we are made alive in the Spirit.
– If we want to retain that life we must also
walk in the Spirit (conforming our conduct to
the word which is revealed by the Spirit).
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The place to begin is by first obeying the
gospel. Will you come?