To kick off a series based on Galatians 5:22, we examine the words of Jesus in John 15:1-7 and see that others will k now that we are God’s people, and connected to the Him through Christ, by the fruit in our lives.
1 Corinthians 13 – the Love Chapter – provides us with a great description of the Love of God. We are encouraged to change the world by bearing the fruit of unconditional love as demonstrated to us through the love of God.
Habakkuk 3 shows us that our Joy is not dependent on the circumstances where we might find ourselves, but rather on the presence of God who is with us and within us during whatever circumstances we find ourselves.
David shows us in Psalm 34 that to have true peace in our lives, we must find peace with other people, peace with God, and peace with ourselves despite the struggles we find every day in these areas of our lives.
In James 1, the brother of Christ shows us that through the various trials we face in life, we see our faith being tested which will produce endurance in order for us to become mature and complete.
The prophet Zechariah demonstrates that we are to cultivate kindness in our lives and treat others with respect not because of what we can get, but rather because of what we have already received from God.
The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 is a great example that when we act out of obedience to God’s commands and seek to meet the needs of others despite what it might cost us, we demonstrate the goodness of God to others.
In Hebrews 11, we see through the lives of many people that during trying times that our faith in God is exercised, and as others see God at work in us, they are drawn to a relationship with Him.
In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul reminds us that gentleness is power under control, and others can see this in us as they see God in control of our lives as we face difficult situations.
In 2 Peter 1, we are reminded that even though there is evil and corruption in the world, we have the ability through faith in God to be overcomers and to live by example as a witness to others.
Wrapping up the Summer Series – We are reminded to ask the following questions as we look at the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives: Does this fruit in my life allow me to grow and be more productive? And Does this fruit in my life glorify Christ and serve as a witness to Him?