Lesson 1 - Hebrews chapter 1

Hebrews brings us a great understanding of how to live in the new covenant. Hebrews exalts Jesus as the Son of God in chapter 1. Following is one revelation after another about Jesus and how He makes us partakers in the covenant of grace and truth.

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Hebrews chapter 1: JESUS EXALTED

Hebrews 1:1  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the

fathers by the prophets,  2  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Hebrews is written to the Jewish believer;  Hebrews exalts Jesus.  The Father has chosen to speak to us through His Son Jesus Christ.  Jesus' words are Spirit and life!

Luke 9:28  Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.  29  As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.  30  And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,  31  who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  32  But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.  33  Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"; not knowing what he said.  34  While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.  35  And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"

Peter, John, and James were witnesses to this miraculous event.  Moses and Elijah appeared speaking with Jesus about Him going to the cross.  Peter got all excited and was ready to build a temple for each Moses, Elijah, and Jesus!  The Father quickly intervened with a cloud of glory and spoke.  “This is My beloved Son, Hear Him!”  

Deuteronomy 18:15  "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

Moses testified that Jesus was coming and it was imperative to hear Him!

John 1:16  And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.  17  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Moses prophesied of the day when Jesus would come!  John the beloved penned we now receive exclusively through the grace and truth found in Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:16  "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

Jesus' own words show God’s division in time!  The law and the prophets were until John the Baptist.  There was a changing of the guard, if you will!  Jesus came with the kingdom of God !  There is one exclusive way into the kingdom it is through Jesus and there is no other way!  Hear the voice of Jesus!  John the Baptist was the greatest prophet; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist.

Galatians 4:4  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  5  to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  6  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!“  7  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Romans 8:15  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father.“  16  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  17  and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Jesus came and not only made us heirs but joint heirs with Him!  Jesus indeed is the high exalted one!  Oh that we would grasp the greatness of God and understand the benefits of hearing the Son.  Jesus' words are Spirit and they are life!

Hebrews 1:3  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4  having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Jesus is the brightness of the Father's glory; He is the expressed image of the Father.  Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power!  If you are going to give an ear to hear, would you not chose to give ear to the most powerful word you can find.  That would be the words of Jesus!  Hear Him!  Walk in the greatness of the revelation of His Word!  After Jesus Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high!  Jesus exalted better than the angels, has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they!  Jesus is the chosen One and there is no other One!

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was in the beginning with God.  3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  4  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

What a revelation of Jesus!  Without a revelation of Jesus there is no salvation!  In Jesus alone is life and that life is the light of men!

Colossians 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  16  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  17  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 

Does this passage parallel with Hebrews 1?  Yes, indeed Jesus is the image of the invisible God!  All things were created through Him and for Him.  Take it personal, you were created through Him and For Him!  Say it, “ I was created through Jesus and for Jesus!”  In Him all things consist!  He is Lord of all!   

John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus, by Himself, purged us from our sins!  He fulfilled the truth that John the Baptist prophesied The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  Jesus did it!

Philippians 2:9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Father exalted Jesus’ name above every name!  The name of JESUS is precious, holy, sacred, hollowed, blessed, sanctified, and consecrated;  there is no other name for salvation, healing, provision, and wholeness!  That is why the enemy is always busy trying to reduce Jesus' name to a curse word!  However, saints of God can hold the name of Jesus high!  Just to breathe the name of Jesus can turn everything around!

Hebrews 1:5  For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"?

Psalm 2:7  "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.

Jesus is the fulfillment of prophesy over and over again!  Jesus is the only begotten of the Father!  The Father Himself exalted the Son and His name giving Him preeminence above all! 

1 Chronicles 17:12  "He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.  13  "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.

Again prophetic fulfillment found Jesus Christ alone!

Hebrews 1:6  But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."

Luke 2:10  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  11  "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12  "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.“  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  14  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!“  15  So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."

Hebrews 1:6 show the command of the Father for the angels of God to worship Him.  It show that Jesus is God!  At Christ birth we find the angels of God exalting Him!

Hebrews 1:7  And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire."

Psalm 104:4  Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.

There is a heavenly host kept in reserve for the time of the kingdom of God .  The Father has put angels on assignment for the furtherance of the kingdom of God !

Hebrews 1:8  But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

Psalm 45:6  Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.  7  You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

Hebrews once again showing Jesus fulfillment of the prophetic.  Do not miss the kingdom of God is a scepter of righteousness.  Not man’s devising of righteousness, or the righteousness of the law but the righteousness found exclusively in Jesus Christ our Lord!  The character of Jesus is a complete reflection of God’s character loving righteousness and hating wickedness.  Jesus has been anointed with the oil of gladness!  The kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!

Hebrews 1:10  And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11  They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;  12  Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."

Psalm 102:25  Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.  26  They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.  27  But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.

So many have fallen to worship creation instead of the Creator!  Yet the Father has made it clear the enduring and the eternal is found exclusively in Jesus; all else will perish!

Hebrews 1:13  But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"?

Psalm 110:1  The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."

Prophetic fulfillment is so great here in Hebrews chapter 1.  This also introduces the theme found in chapter 2, WE SEE JESUS!

1 Corinthians 15:24  Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.  25  For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.  26  The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

Jesus is reigning and we are joint heir with Him.  This is the hour of living by faith in Jesus Christ!  There is the blessed hope that the last enemy destroyed is death.  Those who have faith in Christ will make an exchange the mortal for immortality!

Hebrews 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Psalm 34:7  The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. 

Psalm 91:11  For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12  In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Hebrews 12:22  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem , to an innumerable company of angels, 

Hebrews 13:2  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

God indeed has put His angels on assignment for those who will inherit salvation.  We have not been  called to worship the angels or even been told to command the angels.  However, we have been given the insight that God commands the angels on our behalf!

The Fruit of the Spirit - 9 Self-Control or Temperance

The fruit of the Spirit is ... temperance. God has made the deposit in us; we have all that we need to live a life of victory. If any man be in Christ...

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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 self-control or temperance.  This is not self, self-control.  It is the fruit of the Spirit; it is living  under the Spirit’s control.

Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

The heart beat of Galatians is learning to live in the liberty that Christ provided; the command is do not be entangled again…  Walking in the Spirit is a privilege available to every true believer; your liberty is on the inside of you already.  Remember, Christ in me the hope of glory. 

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.

For 9 weeks we have looked at walking in the Spirit or walking in the flesh.  It is of the utmost importance for every believer to understand if you are Christ’s you have crucified the flesh with its passions and  desires.  Romans 6:11 tells the believer to reckon themselves dead to sin and alive unto God.  Like Jesus died to sin once and is now alive unto God, we need to acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done in us!  Some struggle with sin because their tradition has taught the they are a sinner.  If any man be in Christ he is a new creation… live in the truth.

SELF-CONTROL OR KJV TEMPERANCE

G1466. egkrateia, eng-krat'-i-ah; from G1468; self-control (espec. continence):--temperance.

I like the word continence and temperance; under the control of the Spirit.

Acts 24:24  And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.  25  Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."

Felix was an ungodly man who lived with no self control.  His wife Drusilla came through adultery and she left her husband to marry Felix.  Although govern of the land Felix had a fragile political wire to walk.  He was appointed by Rome but many factions were under his authority; because his wife was Jewish he had done many favors for the Jewish people.  When Paul was preaching self-control it was at his own peril.  Clearly the apostle Paul preached faith in Jesus Christ is the way to righteousness and self-control.  Christ in you is the way to yield to the fruit of the Spirit temperance.

2 Peter 1:3  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  4  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  5  But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,  6  to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,  7  to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 

The fruit of the Spirit is not something we have to find or try to develop in ourself or by our own strength.  God’s divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness; it comes through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.  God’s heart beat is for every believer to walk in His exceedingly great and precious promises; God’s desire is for every believer to be partakers of the divine nature.  Your salvation has brought you the escape from the corruption that is in the world.

Notice verse 5 giving all diligence!  Walk in the Spirit requires diligence; it will not happen by accident or by osmosis.  God has put all that is necessary in you; but you must add or nurture that which is within you.  God calls us to nurture our faith, our virtue, our knowledge, our temperance, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.  These are characteristics of the Spirit that are in us; we are called to add, nurture, stir up what God has deposited into us. Speak in agreement with God’s word that it is in you.

2 Peter 1:8  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9  For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.  10  Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;  11  for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you lay hold of it and make it yours to an abounding measure, you will not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The word is blunt, he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness.  This one has put out of mind the things that Jesus Christ has done for them.    Verse 10 and 11 brings us a guarantee.  If we will be even more diligent to make our call and election sure we will never stumble. Awesome!  An abundant entrance will be supplied to you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  Yes the fruit of the Spirit is self-control.

Ephesians 4:22  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,  23  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,  24  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Put off, be renewed, and put on!  Put off the old man and recognize yourself dead indeed to sin.  be renewed in the spirit of your mind.   Believe what God has said about you!  Put on the new man.  Every believer has been made a new creation in Christ Jesus.  According to God, this new creation was made in true righteousness and holiness.  The characteristics of the Spirit are in you because that is how God made you when you were born again.  Put on the new man and live.

Galatians 2:20  "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

This passage is a reflection of every one who has truly been born again.

Colossians 1:26  the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.  27  To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  28  Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

The mystery from the beginning of the ages is the will of the Father for every believer,  “Christ in you, the hope of Glory”.  The presenting of every man perfect in Christ Jesus requires surrendering to the teaching and wisdom of God found exclusively in grace.

John 15:1  "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  2  "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  3  "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  4  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  5  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  6  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  8  "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.  9  "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

The victory is found in the abiding!  Abide in the vine, abide in His word, abide in His love and you will be fruitful and your desires will be fulfilled by God Himself.  Hear the call of God come and walk in the Spirit; you will bear all the fruit of the Spirit.  Victory is yours believer!!

The Fruit of the Spirit - - 8 Gentleness - Meekness

Gentleness or meekness is one of the secret weapons of the kingdom of God. If we will yield to meekness we can win the offended, wounded, and ones ensnared by the enemy.

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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 gentleness- meekness.

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.

Those who belong to Christ have already crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  One who has not done this has not been born again.  1 John 4:15 makes it clear!  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  Because of this abiding every believer will bear the fruit of the Spirit; it is not the work of man or an upgrade of the flesh.  These are the characteristics of the Spirit and they will flow through all who live in the Spirit.  When one is walking in intimacy with God the fruit of the Spirit will be the overflow of the relationship.

GENTLENESS OR KJV MEEKNESS:

G4236. praiotes, prah-ot'-ace; from G4235; gentleness; by impl. humility:--meekness.

Galatians 6:1  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Gentleness or meekness is a secret weapon of the kingdom of God.  Yielding to meekness has the power to restore the broken and those who have fallen.  A spirit of meekness has the power to win over the offended, and to warm the cold heart of the fallen.  Walking in humility can breakdown the walls built up by the weary, broken, and wounded hearts.

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.

Walking worthy of the calling requires us to walk with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.  Truth spoken in pride can do as much damage as the evil that caused the offense; truth spoken with meekness can remove poison from the wound and allow healing and restoration to flow.

2 Timothy 2:24  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,  25  in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,  26  and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Correction spoken gently and in humility can break the snare of the enemy over the weak.  Meekness lived out can bring those in opposition into repentance.  Gentleness or meekness is the fruit of the Spirit.

1 Timothy 6:6  Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  8  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  9  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  10  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  11  But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.  Walking in the Spirit in an intentional action on the believers part.  We flee the evil and the foolishness and then we make pursuit of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.  The believer is called to pursue being lead by the Spirit.

Titus 3:1  Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,  2  to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

The destiny of God will be fulfilled as we pursue walking in the Spirit.  Yes, walking in meekness will bring glory to God before men.

Romans 6:22  But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

Because we belong to God we have our fruit to holiness.  Notice holiness in not the root, it is the fruit of walking as a child of God.

James 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 

We are called to walk in wisdom from above; notice how the wisdom from above has the same characteristics as the fruit of the Spirit.  Pure is the wisdom from above!  It is always peaceable and gentle.  God has put this stuff in us!  Willing to yield, perhaps even when we are right.  Yield with meekness and humility; it not the way of the flesh.  However we are newly created beings and we have all that we need to be full of mercy and good fruits.

Matthew 11:28  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30  "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

The ultimate gentle one is Jesus!  He has opened the door and declared come to me you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Jesus' intent is for us to walk in rest.  Then He strengthens the invitation learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart.  There is a rest that come by coming to Him; there is the greater rest by coming yoking up with Him.  Humbling ourselves to learn at His feet.  That is where we find rest for our souls.  The fruit of the spirit is meekness!

Fruit of the Spirit - - 7 Faithfulness

We are called to walk bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Because we are new creations in Christ Jesus we can abide and the fruit will be produced in our life. The fruit of the Spirit is faith.

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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 … faithfulness!

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.

See the command in verse 16 and 25 let us walk in the Spirit.  It is the lifestyle of the believer.  Here in this passage the works of the flesh are made clear and the conclusion that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  Let no one deceive you with fancy words telling sin does not matter.  Those living a lifestyle of the flesh will not and indeed cannot inherit the kingdom of God.  Wherever the works of the flesh are listed there is an immediate admonition to the believers. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  We are not the children of darkness; we are the children of light.  We are called to walk as children of light.  Because we have been born of the Spirit, the fruit should be brought to bear in us!

FAITHFULNESS OR KJV IS FAITH

G4102. pistis, pis'-tis; from G3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; mor. conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), espec. reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstr. constancy in such profession; by extens. the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.  244

Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

I love this verse!  God has given to every man the measure of faith. There is nothing wrong with your faith believer friend.  It came from God and is all that it should be.  Yes, we need to mature in it, nurture it, and allow it to grow strong in us; however the faith that God has given us is pure.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.“ 

The law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  This covenant of grace is operated by faith.  The exclusive way to be made right with God is found only in the object of our faith being in Jesus Christ and the work He performed at the cross.  Revelation of God is revealed from faith to faith; the just shall live by faith.

Jude 1:3  Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

We have  been commanded to earnestly contend for the faith.  The greatest thing we possess as a believer is our confession of faith.  Guard it, contend for it, live in it.  God’s best can be found there!

Romans 3:26  to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.  27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Justified is just as if we never sinned.  This only comes to those who place the object of their faith in Jesus Christ alone.  There is no other way to justification.  Note we now live by the law of faith!  The fruit of the Spirit is faith.

2 Corinthians 4:13  And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,

Whatever a man believes that is what comes from his mouth.  However in the spirit of faith we see the Word, we believe the Word, we speak the Word, we watch the Word come to pass. 

Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?  2  This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  3  Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  4  Have you suffered so many things in vain; if indeed it was in vain?  5  Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Everything we receive from God is by faith.  You begun with the Spirit by faith, you will finish by faith, and everything in between is by faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When the object of your faith is in Jesus Christ it pleases God.  People pursue what they believe in.  Putting your faith in Jesus is the greatest place for reward.  Faith is the substance of your confident expectation of the truths of God’s word.  Faith is the evidence that you have what has not yet manifested!  Faith is the evidence of things not yet seen.  Faith is the substance and faith is the evidence; the fruit of the Spirit is faith!

1 John 5:1  Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.  2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.  3  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.  4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.  5  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 

What a powerful word; “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”
That is whoever has put the object of their faith that Jesus is their Messiah is born of God.  Jesus said the whole kingdom of God would be built upon the rock of confession that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.  Faith works through love; your revelation of His love moves you to loving God and loving others.  “And this is the victory that overcomes the world; our faith.”  I love saying it, what you think about Jesus Christ determines your destiny now and forever.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  The fruit of the Spirit is faith!

Fruit of the Spirit - 6 Goodness

The Fruit of the Spirit is Goodness!

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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… goodness!  God is good all the time; and all the time God is good.  Goodness springs eternal from the heart of God.  Walking in the fruit of the Spirit is total reliance upon His goodness and allowing the overflow to change the way we live.  It is not trying to update and improve the old man of flesh; it is learning to live as the newly created being God has made us.

Ephesians 5:1  Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  2  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.  3  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;  4  neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  5  For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  7  Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Many believer’s have accepted that for the rest of their life they will fight this battle between walking in the flesh and or walking in the Spirit.  However it does not have to be so; one can walk in victory all the time.  Walking in the Spirit comes from intimacy with God; walking in the flesh is trying to live out the codes rules and regulations of law in ones own strength.  Grace teaches us to live as imitators of God as dear children!  Our love walk is a refection of the love we have received from Christ.  Here in Ephesians 5 it list some of works the flesh and establishes once again that those who live in such a way shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  Believers do not be partakers with them.  Walk as  the dear children that God has made you.

GOODNESS:

G19. agathosune, ag-ath-soo'-nay; from G18; goodness, i.e. virtue or beneficence:--goodness

Psalm 31:19  Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!  20  You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues.

How great is the goodness of our God.  Those who have come into covenant with God can trust in His goodness.  God will keep you securely from the plots of men.

Psalm 33:3  Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.  4  For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.  5  He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord!  Sing it, shout it, put it in your mouth.

Ephesians 5:8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  9  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),  10  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.  11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  12  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.  13  But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.  14  Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."

If you have been born again, you are light in the Lord; Walk as children of the light.  When the light is abiding the fruit of the Spirit will abound with all goodness, righteousness, and truth. The word of instruction is “find out what is acceptable to the Lord”.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, rather expose them.  The Spirit Himself cries out “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  18  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

God the Father is good!  Traditions of men and false doctrine try to paint a different view.  However, the good gift and the perfect gift is from the Father and there is no exception, no variable, no story to cast dispersion upon the truth.  God the Father is good and all the time He is good.

Romans 12:19  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.  20  Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.“  21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Out of the goodness of God abides the goodness we can walk in.  Walking in the goodness of God overcomes the evil.  If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty give him a drink.  Walking in the goodness of God causes the favor of God to be stirred up on our behalf.  Our experience and traditions have taught us to put complaint in our mouth about our enemies; God’s divine order calls us not to curse but to bless.

2 Timothy 2:19  Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.“  20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  21  Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.  22  Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

  

Each believer decides for themselves to be a vessel of honor or dishonor.  However if you depart from iniquity you will be a vessel of honor you will be useful for the Master, and prepared for every good work.  We are called to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.  Walking in the fruit of the Spirit is intentional living.

Matthew 7:11  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

The Father’s heart and intention is to give good things to those who ask.  Can you hear his heart beat for you?

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

As a master piece of God’s we have been created for good works and we are called to walk in them.

Psalm 65:4  Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple. 

You have been called to come close and you will be satisfied with the goodness of His house.  Believer the Father has made you the dwelling place and His goodness abide in you; walk it, live it!

Fruit of the Spirit - 5 Kindness

The Fruit of the Spirit is Kindness! Lesson 5 We are called to consider the kindness of our Savior! Truly we serve a good God who has crowned us with His loving Kindness!

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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 … kindness.  The fruit of the Spirit is not of human origin; it is of the nature and character of God.  God has deposited this into 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.

Whenever a list of the works of the flesh are listed in the new covenant, it is always followed by reminding the believer this is not who they are.  Those who belong to Jesus Christ have already crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  The calls is clear.  If God has brought you life in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit.

KINDNESS or GENTLENESS IN THE KJV

G5544. chrestotes, khray-stot'-ace; from G5543; usefulness, i.e. mor. excellence (in character or demeanor):--gentleness, good (-ness), kindness.

Psalm 117:1  Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! 2  For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

All us Gentiles have been called to praise the Lord!  Why and for what occasion?  For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.  Behold the merciful kindness of our Savior.  He indeed has redeemed us from this present evil age.  How great is this God whose kindness is great toward us?

Romans 11:22  Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

This word goodness is the same Greek word translated kindness in our Galatians 5:22 passage.  The command is … consider!  Contemplate, think about, meditate upon the kindness of our God.  Yes meditate upon His kindness and severity.  The children of Israel knew the severity of God because when they heard the word of God they did not mix it with faith.  If the believer continues in His goodness, found through faith in Jesus, the severity of God will never be known by the believer.

Ephesians 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  7  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

God is rich in mercy, with His great love made us alive together with Christ.  His kindness is so great we have been given a heavenly sitting with Christ Jesus.  Verse 7 shows purpose and intent God has for us.  In the ages to come He will show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Titus 3:4  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,  5  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,  6  whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  7  that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When Jesus came there was a greater revelation of the kindness and the love of God.  It was the righteousness He would work in the believer not based upon their works but the perfect work of Jesus Christ.  Yes, the fruit of the Spirit is kindness.  He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing the of Holy Spirit; this is the work done at the point we genuinely put our faith in Jesus Christ.  We are justified by His divine influence to make us heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Colossians 3:12  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;  13  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Because God has made us a new creation in Christ Jesus we are able to put on this list of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  As the elect of God, holy and beloved put on…  We are called to no longer behave like mere men; we can walk as the newly created in Christ Jesus.  We can put on tender mercies, kindness,  humility, meekness, longsuffering, and bear and forgiveness.  It is what God put in us when we were joined to God Spirit to spirit.

Matthew 5:38  "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.‘  39  "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40  "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  41  "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  42  "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.  43  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.‘  44  "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  45  "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

Grace empowers us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us and do good to those who hate us.  The God nature has been imputed unto us we can walk in His perfection.  The Father make His sun rise on the evil and on the good so can we walk in love.  Many believers who walk in defeat are doing so because they hate their enemies and curse the situations that are in front of them.  We cannot afford to walk in the old man; putting on the new man allows us to love the unlovely and yes even our enemies.  Do good and pray for those who hate you, spitefully use you and persecute you.  Some believers still walk in defeat because they ignore the principals of grace.  Jesus brought revelation to a new way of living that is the course to victory.  If we ignore and refuse to make pursuit we will miss the blessing found in grace.  This is living life in the proactive kindness of God.

Psalm 103:1  Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:  3  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,  4  Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,  5  Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

There is way of life in walking in the fruit of the Spirit.  Leaving the complaint of our soul and putting a praise in our mouth is a great place to start.  Bringing our emotions and intellect in line with the Word of God is so important.  Bless the Lord, O my soul.  When we turn our attention upon the greatness of our God we are empowered to let go of our complaint.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.  A lifestyle of praise opens our eyes to His goodness and kindness.  Forget not all His benefits.  Here is a listing of the benefits provided at the cross of Jesus Christ.  He forgives all iniquities, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from destruction, and crowns us with loving kindness.  Jesus alone satisfies our mouth with good things. God calls us to look upon His loving kindness; and in the overflow walk in loving kindness.