Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
(Galatians 5:22-23)

I. Patience and God.
A. God is patient with history. (Galatians 4:4; 2 Peter 3:8)
B. God is patient with us. (Romans 2:4-5; 2 Peter 3:9)
C. Jesus demonstrated the fruit of patience in His life. (Hebrews 12:2)

II. Things that try our patience.
A. Waiting (“how long?”) – learn to trust God’s timing. (Psalm 30:5; Lamentations 3:25-26; Romans 8:24-25)
B. Suffering (“why?”) – learn to trust God’s purposes. (Romans 12:12; James 1:2-4)
C. People (“how in the world!”) – learn to love people as they are. (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)

III. Growing in patience.
A. Remember how incredibly patient God is with you. (Psalm 103:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:16)
B. Focus on Heaven and the glories to come. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18; James 5:7-8)
C. Be slow to anger. (Psalm 103:8; James 1:19-20)
D. Ask God to develop the fruit of his patience in your life. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

Affirmation:
“I will grow in patience as I allow the Spirit to govern my reactions.”

Application:
Ask the Lord to give you specific opportunities to be patient this week.

Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
(Galatians 5:22-23)

I. Peace and God
A. God of peace (the peace that God has in Himself) (1 Corinthians 14:33; John 5:19, 16:13)
B. Peace of God (the peace that God gives us) (Psalm 29:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:16)
C. Peace with God (relationship with God restored through Christ) (Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20)

II. Obstacles to Peace
A. Worry (potential troubles) (Proverbs 12:25; Matthew 6:25,33-34)
B. Fear (present troubles) (Psalm 3:5-6; John 14:27)
C. Conflict (interpersonal troubles) (Matthew 5:23-24; Romans 12:18)

III. Growing in Peace
A. Trust in the Lord. (Isaiah 26:3; John 14:1)
B. Rest in Christ. (Matthew 11:28; John 16:33)
C. Love God’s word (Psalm 119:165; Proverbs 3:17)
D. Pray and give thanks. (Philippians 4:6-7)
E. Live in unity with each other. (Ephesians 4:3; Colossians 3:15)
F. Ask God to develop the fruit of peace in your life. (Romans 8:6)

Affirmation:
“I will grow in peace as I allow the Spirit to guard my mind.”

Application:
Spend time meditating on Isaiah 26:3 and thank God that He gives perfect peace, even during the storms of life.

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
(Galatians 5:22-23)

I. Joy and God
A. God is the source of all joy. (Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 16:11)
B. God desires to share his joy with you. (Luke 2:10; John 15:11)
C. How Jesus displayed the fruit of joy in His life. (Luke 10:21, 15:5; John 17:13; Hebrews 12:2)

II. Joy and Happiness
A. Joy is not dependent on circumstances. (Habakkuk 3:17-18; 2 Corinthians 7:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
B. Joy is a decision you make. (Psalm 32:11; Philippians 4:4)
C. Joy comes from knowing and trusting the Lord. (Psalm 5:11, 105:3; James 1:2-3)

III. Growing in Joy
A. Remember your salvation. (1 Peter 1:8-9; Isaiah 12:3)
B. Be grateful for God’s many blessings. (Psalm 118:24; Ecclesiastes 3:13)
C. Meditate on God’s word and obey it. (Psalm 19:8, 119:14, 111)
D. Worship and praise the Lord. (Psalm 100:1-2, 122:1)
E. Experience the joy of answered prayer. (John 16:24)
F. Share your faith with others. (Acts 15:3; 3 John 4)
G. Ask God to develop the fruit of joy in your life. (Romans 15:13)

Fruit of the Spirit: Love
(Galatians 5:22-23)

I. Love and God
A. God is love, and love comes from God. (1 John 4:7-8)
B. God showed His love by sending Jesus. (1 John 4:9-10)
C. God wants to develop His love in your life. (1 John 4:11-12)

II. Love Comes First
A. Love is the greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-39)
B. Love is the greatest thing of all. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
C. Love is the first fruit which contains all the others. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Colossians 3:12,14)

III. Growing in Love
A. Meditate on God’s love for you in Christ. (John 13:34; 1 John 3:16)
B. Choose to forgive others when they wrong you. (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13-14)
C. Seek to honor other people above yourself. (Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3-4)
D. Ask God to develop the fruit of His love in your life. (Luke 11:9,13; James 4:2)

Affirmation:
“I will grow in love as I allow the Spirit to transform my attitude.”

Application:
Spend some time reading God’s Word and praying this week to help you grow in your love for God and others.

Fruit of the Spirit: Growing More Like Jesus
(Galatians 5:22-23)

I. What is the fruit of the Spirit?
A. It is one fruit, not many. (Galatians 5:22)
B. It is something God does rather than something we do.

1. God’s Spirit produces God’s fruit. (Galatians 5:16-18)
2. The “fruit” of the Spirit in contrast to the “works” of the sinful nature. (Galatians 5:19)
   C. It is the character of Jesus that God grows in you. (2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:9-10)

II. Why is the fruit of the Spirit important in your life?
A. God wants you to grow in godly character. (Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 1:11)
B. It is part of your Christian witness to others. (John 15:8; 1 Peter 2:12)
C. Life is so much better when you have the fruit of the Spirit! (Galatians 5:19-23)

III. How do you develop the fruit of the Spirit in your life?
A. Weed the garden (“Be killing sin…”) (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5-6)
B. Water the garden (read the Word) (Psalm 1:2-3; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18)
C. Remain in the vine (abide in Christ) (John 15:4-5; Colossians 2:6-7)

A Mid-Course Correction

I. Is the Bible your lamp and sword? (Psalm 119:105; Ephesians 6:17)

II. Are you redeeming the time? (Ephesians 5:15-16)

III. Are you seeking to please God in all areas of your life? (2 Corinthians 5:9)

By Faith: New Testament Believers
(Hebrews 11:39-40)

I. Old Testament believers were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive the promise. (Hebrews 11:39)
A. Old Testament believers were commended for their faith. (Hebrews 11:4-38)
B. Yet none of them lived to see the coming of Jesus the Messiah. (Hebrews 11:13,33,39)

II. God planned something better for us in the New Testament (Hebrews 11:40a)
A. Things are better now that Jesus has come. (Hebrews 1:4, 6:9, 7:19, 7:22, 8:6, 9:23, 10:34, 11:16, 11:35, 12:24)
B. The Old Testament believers longed for these better days. (1 Peter 1:10-12)

III. Old Testament believers are not complete without New Testament believers (Hebrews 11:40b)
A. Old Testament faith looked forward to the time of Christ. (Hebrews 10:1)
B. New Testament faith rests on the finished work of Christ. (Romans 3:24, 4:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

CONCLUSION
1) We have a better revelation of God in Christ. (John 14:8-9; Hebrews 1:1-2)
2) We have a better relationship with God through Christ. (John 14:23)

Home of the Brave
(Independence Day Sermon)

I. Trust the power of God’s Word. (Isaiah 55:10-11; Hebrews 4:12)

II. Trust the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8; 2:4-5; Luke 12:12; 21:15)

III. Trust God to redeem cultural opposition by drawing us closer to Jesus and increasing our courage. (Joshua 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:7; Acts 1:8; Matthew 10:28; Philippians 1:14)

By Faith: Old Testament Believers (Part Two)
(Hebrews 11:32-38)

I. Faith makes you triumphant in victory. (Hebrews 32-35a)
A. Faith obtains the victory (Hebrews 11:32-33; Joshua 23:14; 2 Samuel 8:15; Hebrews 11:13, 39)
B. Faith rescues from danger (Hebrews 11:33-34; Daniel 3:28, 6:21-22; 2 Peter 2:9)
C. Faith turns weakness into strength. (Hebrews 11:34-35; Judges 7:2; 1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:18-37; 2 Corinthians 12:9)

II. Faith makes you triumphant in suffering. (Hebrews 11:35b-38)
A. Faith overcomes physical persecution. (Hebrews 11:35-36; 1 Kings 22:24-28; Jeremiah 37:14-21; Hebrews 10:32-34)
B. Faith overcomes execution and death. (Hebrews 11:37; 2 Chronicles 24:20-22; Jeremiah 26:20-23; Matthew 14:10, 23:37; Luke 11:50-51)
C. Faith overcomes hardships of all kinds. (Hebrews 11:37-38; Zechariah 13:4; Matthew 8:20)

By Faith: Old Testament Believers (Part One)
(Hebrews 11:32-35)

I. Faith makes you triumphant in victory. (Hebrews 32-35a)
A. Faith obtains the victory. (Hebrews 11:32-33; Joshua 23:14; 2 Samuel 8:15; Hebrews 11:13, 39)
B. Faith rescues us from danger. (Hebrews 11:33-34; Daniel 3:28, 6:21-22; 2 Peter 2:9)
C. Faith turns weakness into strength. (Hebrews 11:34-35; Judges 7:2; 1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:18-37; 2 Corinthians 12:9)