Fruit of the Spirit
Part 9 – Faithfulness
Rev. Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON TIMELINE
1. Christ set us Free
2. Walking in the Spirit
3. Love
4. Joy
5. Peace
6. Patience
7. Kindness
8. Goodness
9. Faithfulness
INTRODUCTION
Today is Sunday. September 17th, 2023
This week we are examining the Spiritual Fruit of faithfulness and what it means to God, as well as why it is important in the Body of Christ.
Today’s Topic: the Spiritual Fruit - FAITHFULNESS
SCRIPTURE READING (Legacy Standard Bible)
2 Timothy 2:11-13
“It is a trustworthy saying: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we will deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
TODAY’S MESSAGE
I. CHRIST SET US FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN (FLESH)
a. Galatians 5:1 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore, stand firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
i. Paul tells us two things here in verse 1.
1. Christ set us free, so we must “stand firm”
2. “do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
ii. Though Christ set us free, not anything we do, we must do something to keep it, “Stand firm”
iii. If we do not “stand firm,” as the Word states, we, “become subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
iv. If you are a “slave,” to whom do you belong?
v. Your master is whomever you are a slave to. You belong to your master.
vi. If your master is not Christ, will you inherit the Kingdom of God?
vii. Not according to Galatians 5:21
viii. Therefore, it is in our interest that when Christ sets us free, we stand firm!
b. Do not return to your vomit
i. Proverbs 26:11 “Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.”
1. אִוֶּ֫לֶת ‘iw-we-let – (folly / foolishness)
ii. The wisdom and imagery of the proverb is both enlightening and disgusting.
iii. Vomit is something that is expelled from the body because it does not benefit the body
1. In the same way, Christ set us free from the bondage of sin
2. Expelling it from our body, like vomit
iv. A fool who repeats his foolishness is like a dog returning to its vomit
v. Why is sin considered foolishness?
1. Because we know better
2. Once set free from the yoke of slavery, we must stand firm
3. Resist the urge to return to it
vi. Yeah, but, once your saved you don’t have to worry about being a slave to your flesh anymore…right?
1. Not according to Paul in Galatians 5:1, After Christ sets us free, we MUST STAND FIRM, and not return again to the yoke of slavery!
vii. A fool is a man who returns to the yoke of slavery, simply to satisfy an urge of the flesh.
1. We must stand firm against the yearning desires of the flesh
2. This is why our battle is spiritual
3. It rages between our flesh and its desires and the desires of the Spirit of God
Proverbs 5:23 “He will die for lack of discipline, And in the abundance of his folly he will stumble in intoxication.”
Psalm 69:5 “O God, it is You who knows my folly, And all my guilt is not hidden from You.”
c. Sin has no power over us, but we can submit to it
i. Paul clearly states we must “stand firm” once Christ sets us free so as not to be subject again to the yoke of slavery.
ii. Our battle is spiritual
Ephesians 6:10-18, the whole armor of God, which we will be covering when we finish the Fruits of the Spirit.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, also receive THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
There is a lot of doing in these verses for “not having to do anything once you are saved.”
Be strong in the Lord and the might of His strength. (Walking in the Spirit).
Stand firm, stand firm, stand firm, three times.
Sin would not be called temptation if it were not tempting to the flesh.
II. KEEPING IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT (WALKING IN THE SPIRIT)
a. You cannot serve two masters
i. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24a “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other…”
ii. Who will you hate and love?
iii. Who will you be devoted to and despise?
iv. These are choices we must make!
b. You must pick up your cross daily, choose this day whom you will serve
i. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, (the desires of his flesh) and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
ii. Joshua 24:15 “If it is evil in your sight to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”
To follow Jesus after He sets us free, we must stand firm, walk in the Spirit of His strength and Might so we can resist the flesh and its desires, therefore denying ourselves, and CHOOSE (FREE WILL) to TAKE UP OUR CROSS (DO) and FOLLOW HIM (DO).
c. Being led by the Spirit, you will empowered by the Spirit
i. We CAN deny the flesh and its desires, resist the devil and temptation, and stand firm in the strength of the Lord.
III. THE CHARACTER OF FAITHFULNESS
a. What is faithfulness?
i. Dependable – reliable, honorable, true, constant, unswerving, unwavering, steadfast, stable, responsible, competent.
ii. Loyal – devoted, dedicated.
iii. Full of trust – honest, full of integrity, upright, safe, secure, on the level.
b. Who does the Fruit of Faithfulness serve?
i. The best interest of others
1. This is a character of God, just as the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit
2. It serves the Body of Christ
a. It is for the saved
b. It is for the lost
c. If it serves others best interest
i. Being dependable, reliable, honorable, true, constant, unswerving, unwavering, steadfast, stable, responsible, loyal, devoted, dedicated, honest, full of integrity, why?
ii. Because we are the Body of Christ, and have God’s Holy Spirit.
iii. We are the
ambassadors for Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION
2 Corinthians 5:20 “So then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as God is pleading through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
God is “pleading” to the lost to be reconciled to God through us.
We are here on behalf of Christ.
We must present the Spiritual Fruit of Faithfulness so others may see the Body of Christ, and experience God’s pleading for them to be reconciled to God through Christ Jesus.
God is good, and we can show others His goodness through the Spiritual Fruit
Next week:
Fruit of the Spirit Part 10: GENTLENESS
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