It Starts Small

We come to the end of the amazing list we are given for the nine flavors of one fruit of the Spirit. These flavors are characteristics. They are the characteristics of God. The first three are the trinity of experience. They show us that God loves us, is the source for joy and he brings peace to our lives. The Holy Spirit manifests this is our lives, not only for us, but as a witness to others. The next characteristics we learn about God is how he behaves towards those he loves. We can call them the trinity of conduct. God is patient, gentle and good. The Holy Spirit works endurance, gentleness and goodness through us to meet the needs of others.

²² …faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance… Galatians 5:22-23

faith

Faith in this passage refers to not just believing. It refers to standing true to the Lord.

Have you ever said or heard: “I will believe it when I see it?

This is not faith. Faith says I will believe it TO see it. It is easy to slip into doubt and cynicalism. We live in a broken and fallen world. We are not immune from the effects of sin in our lives. Doubt is often the side effect of painful experiences and it is what makes possessing faithfulness hard.

As Christians it is important to remain faithful to God. It is not just believing, but it is our faithfulness we must posses. Faithfulness shapes the way we live. FOr example, it shapes our relationships here on earth and to truly love others. Faithfulness requires us to surrender and submit ALL our ways to God. Faithfulness comes from a place of realizing we need a Savior and he needs to be in control of our lives.

²¹ There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. Proverbs 19:21

We have two choices: my way or His way. My will be done or God’s will be done. WHen we are faithful to God, he is faithful to us. We grow our faithfulness by building a relationship with Christ. If we are faithful to Him in his and obey his commands, it will be evident in our lives.

meekness

Meekness is being able to be taught, corrected and led. Notice I said corrected AND led. We can be excited and meeked in being taught, but we often resist being corrected and led. No one likes to be told they are doing wrong. It is in our nature to want to always be right. Meekness is also submission to being led. You have probably heard that being meeked is an old term used to describe a horse that has been broken. When a horse is broken, it isn’t whipped or beat into submission. A rider does not want the horse to be a coward. A rider wants to use the horse’s power and strength. God doesn’t want a bunch of pansy wishy-washy people. He wants us to embrace and recognize his power in us and allow him to lead us and correct us.

self control (temperance)

Did you know self control is what makes us different than the animals?

Animals live for:
Self gratification
Self Propagation
Self Preservation

Sound familiar? The natural man strives for these in his life. He wants all his desires of self gratification to be met. He lives to propagate and pass on his legacy to the next generation. A natural man only cares about preservation. He only cares that he himself rises above all others. He will do and say whatever he needs to preserve his own life.

When a man can have something and says “NO.” of his own free will and because he has the principles of God in Him, it makes him different than animals and natural men. Self control is not something we naturally have within us. Self control comes through the Holy Spirit. Self control is more than saying “no” to sin. Self control is the spiritual maturity to know what the consequences of sin are. It is making a choice to not do something.

Trinity of Character

These three final characteristics of God show us who we really are and who God is. God is completely faithful. God’s Word is filled with all sorts of scripture to describe and show His faithfulness towards us. Our faithfulness is worked through the Holy SPirit, to not just simply believe, but stand and raise our banner every morning for the Lord. God is humble. He could wipe this earth clean of all people, but because he is merciful, his grace holds back the waters of judgment. God is our perfect example of self control. It’s only through the power of the Holy SPirit can we willingly choose to say no to the old nature, and yes to Him.

What Jesus did for us is made manifest in us.

²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

We need to walk in the Spirit. Be filled! You will not be bothered by your flesh, when walking in the Spirit, because the Spirit will be producing his fruit in you. This verse says walk. We need to be intentional, take it one step at a time. Make up your mind today to take that step and be filled. Put death to the old nature and obey God’s command to be filled and walk.