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Bulletin
Lay Lake Church of Christ
Volume 5 February 07, 2010 Number 06
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The Fruit of the Spirit #2
David A. Bass
Galatians 5:22,23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” The fruit of the Spirit lies in direct contrast to the works of flesh (Gal. 5:19-21) and these “fruits” will help us defeat the flesh. These fruits of the Spirit must be cultivated.
In our last article we briefly discussed: love, joy, peace, longsuffering and gentleness..
Kindness is goodness & gentleness of heart. This trait sums up what a Christians’ attitude should be. “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” Rom. 12:17-21. Listen to Eph. 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Another fruit of the Spirit is goodness. The Bible says in Eph. 5:7-9 “Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness & righteousness & truth).” The prophet Jeremiah reminds of how much we need divine help to be “good.” Jer. 10:23 “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” We learn from God how to be good.
Faithfulness, the next fruit, characterizes the people of God throughout the Bible as seen in Hebrews 11. Study carefully James chapter two. Faithfulness is necessary to enter heaven.
Meekness is associated with lowliness and having a quiet spirit. Eph. 4:2-3 “With all lowliness & meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Gentleness and meekness are Christians qualities that are in direct contrast to fighters (brawlers). Titus 3:2 “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.”
Temperance or self-control is a most important victory for every Christian. Gaining & maintaining self-mastery is emphasized in the Scriptures. 1 Cor. 9:27 “But I keep under my body,& bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
Let’s work to make all of these fruits of the Spirit a part of our lives!
Prayer List
Thomas Arrington (Ginger’s dad); Britton Ann Elliot; Dani Kearley (Steven Kearley’s cousin); David Hyche (looking for a job); George & Margaret Walker; Edna Eckert; Greg Duncan; Martha Eckert; Corey Boothe; Adam Carskaddon; Adam Pilling; Jesse Spillman;Major Marshall; Matthew Martin (Afganistan).
Upcoming Activities & News
Scripture Reading: Matt. 10:24-33
Men’s Meeting: All of men are encouraged to attend the next Men’s meeting at 3:30 on February 7th.
Workday at Backwoods: Saturday, February 13th.
Singing: at Panama Street in Montgomery on Friday, February 5th at 7:00
Winter Bible School: Feb. 19,20. Sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
Fifth Sunday Prayer Service: TONIGHT!!! All of our Christian men are encouraged to participate by reading scripture and/or leading a prayer.
Upcoming Events
Winter Bible School: February 19,20, 2010
Guntersville Family Retreat: March 18-20
Spring Gospel Meeting: April 11 - 14 - James Pilgrim