Fruit of the Spirit? What is that?

On Sunday, Rick Beckwith introduced us to the concept of Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-25.  

1. Of the Fruit of the Spirit, which is the easiest one for you to do?
2. Which one is the hardest for you to do?

What great characteristics for us to instill in our lives!  Now, as perfect as I claim to be (haha), I am also a realist and know that I can not always live up to these characteristics.  I lack patience a lot and my self-control is not controlled all the time.  But, the great news is that when we choose to follow Christ and pursue him, he will be with us, helping us instill these characteristics into our lives.

Read Philippians 2:12, 13

As Rick pointed out on Sunday, we are like an apple.  What???  By that, just like an apple, we start off perfect and in great shape.  But over time, as we invest in "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like" (Galatians 5:19-21) our perfect apple becomes worn, beaten up and dirty.  We are embarrassed by things we have done and try to hide them.  But, it is God's intent to help us and to shield us from the junk found in those things.

By instilling characteristics like "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22,23) we can attempt to instill the goodness and hope of Christ in our lives.  Imagine if you lived your life each day with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control of Christ.  How might that effect your friendships, your relationship with your parents, siblings, classmates?

I believe it could have a huge impact, not just in you but in everyone you come into contact with.

Application:

As part of his challenge, Rick focused on the Fruit of the Spirit - Peace.  He passed out cards and challenged us to:

1. Describe what peace is.
2. Tell what peace might look like to you.
3. Identify what causes a lack of peace for you.  Is it uncertainty about the future?  Uncertainty about who you are or who you will become?  Tension in some relationships or something else entirely?
4. Specifically and measurably, what can you do this week to experience peace?
5. Who can you ask to help encourage and pray for you this week as you seek to experience peace?

Numbers 4 and 5 are crucial as you continue to grow in a relationship with Christ.  My encouragement is to really step out and try something.  I have found that it's easy for us to say each week you are going to take action, but then fail to do it for whatever reason.  

To help fight that, let's take a moment right now and actually write it down a measurable goal regarding peace and then ask someone to pray for and encourage you to do that this week.

It is when we step out in faith like this and push ourselves and others that we can experience the life God intended for us to live.

End by Praying for the week and that God would give you the ability to obtain your goal.