Fruits of the Spirit

Galations 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is:

LOVE (Agape) unconditional love, forgiving love, heart of giving, serving and helping.

JOY the word this comes from “Carav” (almost implies a joy that is contagious)

PEACE tranquility, exemption from rage & war, harmony, the tranquil state of a soul assured of salvation, Content with the lot or calling God has given you in life

LONGSUFFERING patience, endurance, perseverance, slow to avenge

GENTLENESS moral goodness, integrity, kindnessgoodness

GOODNESS uprightness of heart and mind faith

FAITH conviction of the truth, trusting God, the ability to be relied on by God

MEEKNESS the act of being gentle

TEMPERANCE self control

against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified (driven stakes into) the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

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It all falls back on the basics. If you really want to get closer to God, this is where it begins:

PRAY
Luke 11:1 (and following)
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

We have a bad habit of just handing God our wish list. Give me this, give me that, take care of this, etc. we have forgotten the basics of prayerWorship & acknowledge Him

Ask for his leadership and guidance in life.

Ask Him to meet your personal needs

Pray for others

Worship & acknowledge Him

Luke 11
10 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

1. You should set aside a special time and place to pray
2. You should also live in a state of prayer

1 Thes 5
17 Pray without ceasing
To me, this verse makes me think of internet connections. Some of you may have a dialup account. This means you must connect every time you want to get online. Others of you have DSL or broadband. With broadband, you are always connected. You may not always be using the connection, but the channel is always open.

STUDY THE SCRIPTURES
2 Timothy 2
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
shamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1. Set aside a time and place
2. Decide how much you are going to read (Angela and I read 1 chapter together nightly)
3. Study to understand, don’t just read throughUse Bible study tools
a. Parallel Bible
b. Matthew Henry’s Commentary
c. Strong’s Concordance
d. Josephus
e. Internet

REGULARLY ATTEND CHURCH
Hebrews 10: 23-25
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1. Make yourself be faithful to attend worship services
a. Learn about God
b. Learn about yourself
c. Build on your relationship with God
2. Be involved
a. Establish a support system (Look back at vs. 25)
b. EXORT - ParakaLEo (same root as Paraclete/a common reference to the Holy Spirit)
- Admonish (gently express warning or disapproval)
- Instruct
- Encourage
- Comfort
- Console
- Receive the same from others

SERVE
1. Find your talents and gifts and use them (spiritual gift survey) - 1 Cor 12:12
2. Serve sacrificially (other areas as needed)

GIVE
Lev. 27:30-32
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
Tithes Giving by obligation
Offerings Giving out of love