Sermon Notes for 5-13-12 Sermon Notes for 5-13-12.pdf

The Fruit of the Spirit

#7 – Faithfulness

Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Faithfulness = Pistis – trust enough to act.

One reason why all of these descriptions of fruit are singular not plural is because an underlying idea that Paul is trying to communicate is that the Holy Spirit’s work in us helps us to know how to navigate any situation that life can throw at us.

Faithfulness has a specific application in our lives that some of the other facets of the fruit do not.

Romans 4:1-3 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Hebrews 11:6 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

James 1:2-8 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

James 2:14-26 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

The facet of Faithfulness shows up when we least want it to.

1 Peter 1:3-9 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Revelation 2:10 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Why do we need suffering?

Suffering Ratifies Me… It allows me to speak into the realness of the world.

Luke 22:31-32 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

God of all comfort = the one who holds all reason/exhortation

Who comforts us = will walk alongside us

So we can comfort = journey with others in the same situation

Ryan Woods – Grassroots Conspiracy; Vancouver, WA

Fighting cancer has not stopped our church planting; it has transformed it! This is not an interruption to the story; it is the story! So whether the gospel story is revealed in my neighborhood through my death or through my miraculous recovery, what we are learning is that God’s grace is extended through his ability to redeem every moment, every sickness, every interruption and make it a mirror of love to the world. The question is: will we allow God to enter into our story and thus transform our sifting into something beautiful?

Some Implications:

1. Spending time with Christ prepares us for hard moments, not for the finish line.

The marathon reality

1 Peter 4:15-19 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
 what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

2. Suffering will change you, but not necessarily for the better – you have to choose that.

Hebrews 10:39 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

3. Faithfulness is choosing to trust in the goodness of God enough to not let the pain of this life take away the joy of eternity with God.

Romans 8:18 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.