Fruit of the Spirit - 4 Longsuffering

The fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering. The kindness of God included His longsuffering toward us. We too can walk in longsuffering knowing God can use it to reach the unlovely.

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Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering.  When teaching begins on the Fruit of the Spirit we get excited about love, joy, and peace.  However, longsuffering, God I’m not sure I signed up for this.  By inference alone it does not sound pleasant; can it possibly hold a value that glorifies God?  Answer with another question.  Did the longsuffering of Christ yield something good in every believer?

Galatians 5:16  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  17  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  20  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  21  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  24  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Some have viewed this passage as a never ending battle and the believer walks in chaos between the walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh for all their life.  The truth of the matter, tradition has taught us that!  If we view the word carefully we shall see the intended purpose of God.  Verse 24 holds the key to rightly dividing the truth.  Christ has taken ownership of the believer.  If you belong to Christ you have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Verse 25 is not some unachievable truth that we must spend the remaining of our lives working toward.  It is coming and abiding in Christ and the fruit of the Spirit will be produced.  However, it is a choice and a pursuit of that choice.

LONGSUFFERING:

3115. makrothumia, mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah; from the same as G3116; longanimity, i.e. (obj.) forbearance or (subj.) fortitude:--longsuffering, patience.  Patient endurance of hardship, injuries, or offense.

2 Peter 3:14  Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;  15  and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

Verse 15 is so powerful… consider the longsuffering of our Lord and Savior and what it produced in our lives.  God is longsuffering because his heart is to bring as many to salvation as possible.  We are commanded to consider the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.  Meditate on the truth His longsuffering has produced a harvest of men being reconciled to God.

Ephesians 4:1  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,  2  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,  3  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Longsuffering is not something we have to conjure up in our old man.  When we became new creations in Christ Jesus, longsuffering was put in us.  As we yield to the goodness of God it will produce the fruit of the Spirit including longsuffering.  Paul is begging the church to walk worthy by submitting to and walking in longsuffering, bearing with one another in love. 

Romans 15:1  We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  2  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.  3  For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.“  4  For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  5  Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,  6  that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  7  Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Longsuffering is characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit.  We who are strong have been called to bear with the scruples of the weak.  Being patient with the weak has the power to strengthen the weak.  Being intolerable of the weak can drive them off.  God calls the strong to bear with the infirmities of the weak.  Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded…  Receive the weak as Christ received you!  While you were still a sinner Christ died for you!

Romans 2:4  Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

The goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering of God leads to repentance.  Let it change your prayer life for those who are doing you wrong.  God if your goodness leads to repentance let the sinner man see your goodness.  God if your goodness and longsuffering lead to repentance let me imitate my Savior’s longsuffering.

Colossians 1:9  For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  10  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 

I pray that every believer will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  This prayer is for the body of Christ to be fruitful in every good work.

Colossians 1:11  strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  13  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,  14  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

God wants to strengthen you with His might for all patience and longsuffering with joy.  It is amazing how longsuffering is connected to the joy of the Lord.  When you see that your longsuffering can do a loving work in someone else’s life you can go through with joy.  The bases of longsuffering with joy comes from the greatness of the work the Father has done in our own lives.  The Father Himself has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  The Father bringing us redemption is the source of strength for our longsuffering toward others.

Hebrews 12:1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  4  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Verse 2 is the focal point.  Jesus, who the for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.  You believer friend are the joy set before Him.  He could see His suffering could bring many sons to glory.  You are the desire of God and it brought Him pleasure to allow His only begotten Son to suffer that He might gain you.  Yes, the fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering.

The Fruit of the Spirit - 3 Peace

The fruit of the Spirit is peace... God's intended purpose is for the peace of God to rule and reign in our hearts. The blood of Jesus has bought us our peace with God.

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Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

We have come unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  We are called to walk in the Spirit.  As we walk in the Spirit we will bear all the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit.

Colossians 3:5  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  6  Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,  7  in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.  8  But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  9  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,  10  and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,  11  where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

One cannot speak of walking in the Spirit without understanding walking in the works of the flesh.  This is one of the parallel passages of the works of the flesh.  It is important to note whenever the list of the works of the flesh are listed the believer is quickly drawn to this is not who you are but who you used to be.  Put on the new man; know who you are in Christ.  Christ alone has set men free from sin and has brought us reconciliation with the Father.  Christ is all and in all!

PEACE:

G1515. eirene, i-ray'-nay; prob. from a prim. verb  eiro (to join); peace (lit. or fig.); by impl. prosperity:--one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.

John 14:27  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The fruit of the Spirit is peace!  Jesus gave us His peace; when we accepted Jesus as our Messiah His peace was imputed to us.  We can walk free of turmoil and fear by turning our hearts to His peace.  At one with God.  When we come to Jesus, we enter into His rest.  God’s intended purpose is for us to live our life from this place of rest.

Romans 5:1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  2  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  3  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  4  and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  5  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  This peace comes with access into His divine influence in our lives every minute of every day!  This divine influence will bring us through the toughest of times; all the while His divine influence allow us to glory in tribulation.  His divine influence changes our very character in the midst of the bad circumstances.  This divine influence keeps hope alive even in the fiery trials of life.  We are resting in the goodness of His love.  Faithful God indeed.

Romans 10:15  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!“

It is the gospel of peace we have been called to preach.  So many messages being heralded; however the prophetic message has declared “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”  The church needs to examine what it is preaching and come back to it’s true calling.  Preach the gospel of peace, the glad tidings of good things!

1 Thessalonians 5:23  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  24  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

He is the God of peace who will sanctify completely your whole spirit, soul, and body.   He who has called you is faithful, he will do it.  Let the object of your faith ever be Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Ephesians 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  14  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,  15  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,  16  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  17  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.  18  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 

False doctrines and traditions of men tell us how far off God is from us.  However, the word declares those who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Jesus.  Jesus Christ Himself is our peace.  God is not mad at you believer friend; the enmity that separated you was abolished.  The law of commandments contained in ordinances have been nailed to the cross.  That which stood between God and man, Jesus nailed to the cross putting to death the enmity.  We have peace with God and have access to the Father; we are invited to come boldly into His throne room.

Philippians 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit works through us and works in us greater when we come with thanksgiving.  Peace is magnified when one comes to God with a grateful heart.  When we come  to God with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving we can then make our request made know unto God.  Divine order is so important.  When we come God’s way the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.  Christian without peace need to come back into the divine order; God’s word will not fail to bring peace.

John 16:33  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Your peace is based upon the accomplishment of Jesus Christ.  He has overcome the world.  Indeed Jesus has made us over comers.  We can get through the tribulation with the peace Jesus has afforded us.

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

The eternal promise is the Father and Jesus will make their abode with the one who has surrendered to the love He has loved us with.

Colossians 3:14  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Put on love… it is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your heart.  The most common way God leads His children is through His peace ruling and reigning in our hearts.  We have been called to let His peace reign in our hearts with unity and thankfulness.  Let peace reign!

The Fruit of the Spirit - 2 Joy

The joy of the Lord is something God desires for His children to know and walk in.

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Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The fruit of the Spirit has all the characteristics listed in this passage.  This week the fruit of the Spirit is joy!  The source that causes fruit to bear and mature is the root.  Jesus is the root; abiding in Christ makes the branch fruitful. 

1 Corinthians 6:9  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  10  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  11  And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Keeping the fruit of the Spirit in context is important.  In Galatians 5 it is the works of the flesh are… then the fruit of the Spirit is…  There are four parallel passage that list the works of the flesh last week we read Galatians 5 list.  This week its 1 Corinthians 6.  When the works of the flesh are listed it is made clear, those who do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  People who make claims to live for Jesus and continue in an ungodly lifestyle fool themselves; don’t be deceived they will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Where the works of the flesh are listed the next truth comes out “and such were some of you.”   Those who are born again are not any of those things; you are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 5:24  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  This is a principle of grace that is often misunderstood.  When a man comes to Jesus he dies to himself and the sinful nature he was born with.  He becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit; indeed this is a command of grace.  Now that God has made you a new creation walk in it!

JOY:

G5479. chara, khar-ah'; from G5463; cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight:--gladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous).

Romans 14:17  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The substance and reality of the kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.  God has an intent for His children.  That they live in the joy of the Holy Spirit

1 Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  4  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,  5  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  6  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,  7  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,  8  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  9  receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls.

What is source of the joy?  The Father has begotten us into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The source of joy is come from the work of the living God.  We indeed have an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and cannot fade away, reserved for us!  IN THIS YOU GREATLY REJOICE!  The greatness of your Savior is joy inexpressible and full of glory.  An old song says “It is joy unspeakable and full of glory”.    Rejoice and you will receive the end result of your faith the salvation of your soul.  You have a spirit to Spirit connection to God at the point of salvation, when you renew your soul with this truth you will experience the joy God intends.

Acts 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.  6  And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.  7  For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.  8  And there was great joy in that city.

The source of joy remains the same today as it was for the city of Samaria; the preaching of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It time for the church to come and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Isaiah 12:2  Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'“  3  Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.  4  And in that day you will say: "Praise the LORD, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.

Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  Trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord is the way to make a withdraw from the well of salvation.  Jesus says come and drink; the result is the joy of the Lord.  Praise the Lord put it in your mouth!

John 15:10  "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  11  "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Abide in His love.  Jesus loves us as the Father loved Him.  The Father’s heart is revealed!  His desire is for us to remain in the joy of Jesus and live our lives full of that joy!

Psalms 16:11  You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The Father has desire for you to be in His presence; He has made the way into His very presence by Jesus our forerunner.  In His presence is fullness of joy; you are invited to come boldly into His throne room of grace.

James 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  3  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  4  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The fruit of the Spirit will bring you through the good and the bad!  Count it joy when you fall into various trials?  It is not we are looking for and crying out to God for the trials; however in the midst of the trial we can rejoice that the God of our salvation is on our side and will bring us through.  We can rejoice because the trial will produce patience; and patience will have it perfect work.  What is the perfect work?  Read it, “that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  Rejoice in the Lord, the trial, the rejoicing in the middle of the trial, then the outcome, the lacking nothing.  This is the good news of the gospel.

Hebrews 12:2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus having seen the completed work of the Father and was able to endure the cross.  Who for the joy set before Him…  We are called to walk in His joy.

Romans 15:10  And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!“  11  And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!“  12  And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.“  13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice and praise the Lord!  Laud Him, declare His goodness in the midst of the trial.  The God of hope will fill you with ALL JOY and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!  The joy of the Lord is our strength.