Fruit of the Spirit (2) — Joy
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ou will notice that love is followed
by the word joy. Paul fully believed and practiced the words rejoicing and joy
in his teaching and in his life. To the Christians at Rome, he wrote: “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.” “. . . for the kingdom of God
is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit” (Romans
15:13; 14:17). [1]
He also wrote the Philippians, “Rejoice
in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Do you know where
Paul was when he wrote these words? He was in jail! How many of us could write
about joy and rejoicing while in prison for preaching the Gospel? Would our
letter be filled with doom and gloom? Not so with Paul! Did you know that in
this letter to the Philippians, that every chapter contains either the word
“joy” or “rejoice?” [2]
Let us ask Paul, “But what if things
are NOT going well?” Rejoice!
“What if there is physical pain from receiving thirty-nine stripes across the
back?” Rejoice! “What if we are out of food, clothing, and a job?” Rejoice! We can pose as many questions
as possible, and Paul would still say, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I
will say, rejoice!” [3]
Two Kinds Of Joy
To what kind of joy was Paul
referring? There are two kinds of joy. First, there is the kind that is
associated only with this earth. Sin has a certain amount of joy or it would
not be enticing! However, most people are deceived by thinking that the thrill
of sin will last on and on. This is not true, because sin, with all of its
earthly pleasure, will bring death (Romans 6:23). [4]
Sin
brings serious consequences, even in this life. As Solomon wrote: “Good
understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). [5]
Did Paul rejoice in physical
difficulties apart from the Lord? Certainly not!
There was no joy for Paul in having his back beaten with a sharp cutting whip of
thongs, or with rods! There was no joy being confined in a cold, dark prison!
[6]
Then
what was the source of his rejoicing? It was in the Lord! This made Paul full
of joy in spite of the awful things that were happening to him. [7]
Christians should be the happiest
people on earth. Not in the sense of being frivolous, giddy, and sacrilegious!
Again, the joy that Paul had in mind was the joy that is found in Christ Jesus.
This is the kind of joy that is found in those bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
[8]
Therefore,
this kind of joy can bring happiness when things are not going well. Even though Christianity is a serious
way of life, it is also a happy one, and we need to reflect such joy from our
hearts. [9]
Some
seem to think that Christians should go around unhappy with long faces and very
grouchy. This is not true! Remember, the world rejoices in iniquity, but
Christians rejoice in the truth. [10]
So, how can Christians rejoice, even
during the many difficulties of life? Like Paul, they can do so because
Christians rejoice in a beautiful life patterned like Jesus, and with the hope
of rejoicing with Him forever in heaven. [11]
Job,
in all his miseries, had the right attitude. Even when suffering, he could say,
“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the
LORD” (Job 1:21).
[12]
Jesus And Rejoicing
Jesus believed in the importance of
rejoicing. When the women found the tomb of Jesus empty with an angle present,
the angel told them to go and tell His disciples. As they went, they met Jesus!
What was His very first word to them?
He said, “Rejoice!” (Mt. 28:9). Then Jesus sent them to tell His brethren. [13]
Therefore, from the moment that Jesus came from the grave, there has been reason to rejoice. [14]
There are two ways in which peace
can be considered. First of all, the peace that must be sought among our
Christian brethren. Second, the inner feeling that
Christians have from being faithfully in Jesus. [15]
The inner feeling that one has in
his or her heart is given importance in both the Old and New Testaments. Please
consider the following passages: [16]
Isaiah
wrote: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). He did not say that he would be kept in peace, but
“perfect peace.” [17]
“Pursue
peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:” (Hebrews 12:14). There must be an
effort on our part—we must pursue it, and it must be sought with holiness. Only
then, can one see the Lord. [18]
In getting along with others, Paul
wrote of things that will promote peace: “Therefore let us pursue the things
which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Romans 14:19). [19]
“If
it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).
“Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ” (Romans
5:1).
To the church at Ephesus, Paul wrote
about the important peace that Jesus had brought to bring the Jews and Gentiles
together: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has
broken down the middle wall of separation,” (Ephesians 2:14. [20]
Finally, please be reminded that in
the sense of bringing peace to the soul through forgiveness, Jesus brought
peace. In prophecy, concerning the name of the coming Messiah, Isaiah wrote: “And
His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace” (Isaiah
9:6). [21]
Now as important as peace is,
nowhere does God’s word teach that we are to seek peace at any price. For
example, peace is never to be sought by compromising truth. Jesus sought peace,
but there were times when if He had made peace, He would have sacrificed truth.
Jesus would NEVER do this! [22]
In
fact, there were times when Jesus brought a sword because of those who would
not accept truth. This was true of those who chose to deny Him: “But whoever
denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I
did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:33,34). [23]
Therefore,
peace is a very important part of the fruit of the Spirit, but it must be
sought within God’s will. [24]
Unfortunately, there are those who
are “troublemakers” instead of “peace-makers.” How can these “troublemakers”
claim to be Christians and bearing the fruit of the Spirit? Those who are following the works of
the flesh do not seek peace, but Christians are to be different! [25]
Longsuffering
Paul continues his list of
characteristics that make up the fruit of the Spirit with longsuffering. Many
may say, “But that is one of my greatest weaknesses!” Yes, this is something that we all have to battle, but we
must strive daily to overcome. What is longsuffering? This is a word that
defines itself, because in its simplest definition it means to suffer long.
[26]
Perhaps
related words help define it best—”patience, endurance, constancy,
steadfastness, perseverance, patience, forbearance, slowness in avenging
wrongs” (Strong). [27]
Most of us know that those who are
successful in the many physical things of life must suffer. To name only a few
things, it may be struggling to get an education, pursuing a career, or the
rearing and educating of children. [28]
Those in life who have accomplished
great inventions and other outstanding works, surely suffered long. For
example, Daniel Webster spent thirty-six years compiling his dictionary. Adam
Clark spent forty-three years compiling his commentary on the Bible. [29]
Someone
told of a man who responded to the invitation at the end of a sermon to obey
the gospel. As he came forward, his wife came with him. The preacher asked her,
“Why have you responded with him?”
[30]
She
replied, “I came because I want to be with my husband. For it took me forty-one
years to get him to do what he is doing, and I want to be by his side.” This
woman had the ability to suffer long. [31]
What
a wonderful thing it is, when in regard to the Christian life and teaching the
gospel of Christ, we can have the ability to hang on with longsuffering. [32]
Among many other
wonderful traits, Paul described God as being longsuffering. To the Roman
Christians he wrote: “Or
do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not
knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). [33]
The
apostle Peter wrote of God: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). [34]
Therefore,
shouldn’t we seek to be like God, and also be longsuffering? To the church at
Corinth, Paul described himself as being longsuffering toward them. (2 Cor.
6:6), and commended Timothy for following his teaching. “But you have
carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
love, perseverance”
(2 Timothy 3:10). [35]
Important Questions
There are some very important
questions that all of us should ask ourselves:
- “Are we
longsuffering toward others?”
- “Are we
patient when setting the Christian example before our families?”
- “Are we
longsuffering toward those who are not our favorite people?
- “Do
we become short-tempered toward the ones we are trying to teach the
gospel?”
- “Does my longsuffering compare to the example
of Jesus and Paul?” [36]
If we can answer yes to the above questions, then we have this part of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Longsuffering, along with all the other characteristics mentioned by Paul, will make it possible to bear the spiritual fruit that pleases God. [37]
Review Questions For Lesson 11
(Circle the Most Correct Answer: A, B, or C)
1. Something of Paul that
Timothy had known and followed (2 Tim. 3:10)
(a) Footsteps (b) Doctrine (c) Customs
2. That which good understanding gains (Prov. 13:15 NKJV)
(a) Wisdom (b) Grace (c) Favor
3. That which is not meat and drink (Rom. 14:17)
(a) Righteousness (b) Kingdom (c) Wisdom
4. The one in which Christians must rejoice (Phil. 4:4)
(a) Lord (b) A Friend
(c) An Enemy
5. Something of the Lord that Job blessed (Job 1:21)
(a) Hope (b) Peace
(c) Name
6. A special kind of peace mentioned by Isaiah (Isa. 26:3)
(a) Everlasting (b) Joyful (c) Perfect
7. “Or
do you despise the -------------- of His goodness?” (Rom. 2:4)
(a) Power (b) Riches
(c) Love
8. That which the Lord is NOT concerning promises (2
Pet. 3:9)
(a) Slack (b) Changeable
(c) Wavering
9. Something of the transgressor that is hard (Prov.
13:15)
(a) Way
(b) Actions (c) Attitude
TRUE OR FALSE: (Circle “T” for true; “F” for false)
T F 1.
The goodness of God leads to this (Rom. 2:4) Repentance
T F 2. A man who had the right attitude even when suffering [12] Moses
T F 3. The
place from which Paul wrote about joy and rejoicing [2] Prison
T F 4. The first word used by Strong to define
longsuffering [27] Patience
T F 5. The
place where Christians reflect joy [9] Hearts
T F 6. The kind of peace from trusting God (Isa. 26:3) Perfect
T F 7. The only true place in which to rejoice [7] The Church
T
F 8. That in which the world rejoices [10] Iniquity
T F 9. The way Solomon describes the way of the unfaithful (Prov. 13:15) Easy
T F 10. “-------
in the Lord always”
(Phil. 4:4) Rejoice
T F 11. That which Paul said should be done
to another (Rom. 14:19) Edify
T F 12. The ultimate result of sin (Rom.
6:23) Depression
T F 13. Paul joins this word to joy (Rom.
15:13; 14:17) Peace
T F
14.
Something broken down that brought peace to Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:14) Wall
T F
15. It was
foretold that the coming Messiah would be called, “------ of peace” (Isa. 9:6) King
T F
16. That
which Jesus brought to those who deny Him (Mt. 10:33,34) Sword
T F
17. The way
to seek things that make for peace (Rom. 14:19). [19] Pursue
Fruit of the Spirit (3)
Kindness and Goodness
LESSON 12
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he next two words given by Paul in
his list featuring the fruit of the Spirit are related. In fact, they may be
interchanged, depending on the translation. Among the many beautiful words in
the Bible, the words goodness and kindness are often displayed. [1]
The beauty of these words is verified by the words good, and gentleness. Therefore, let us consider the word kindness, and hopefully see how it is related to goodness while expressing many kind actions from the heart. [2]
It may be difficult to give kindness a
formal definition, but all of us know kindness when we see it. The goodness and
kindness of an individual reflect their whole being and who they are! [3]
Surely
John was describing this part of the fruit of the Spirit, when he wrote: “But
whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his
heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let
us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know
that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him” (1 John 3:17-19). This is putting
goodness and kindness into action toward others! [4]
When
Peter listed what we often refer to as the Christian graces, he related various
attributes that need to be added to our lives: “. . .giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to
virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly
kindness love” (2
Peter 1:5-7). [5]
Please
observe that Peter joined brotherly kindness to love! We can be assured that
when we are unkind, we do not have love, because kindness is one of the ways
that we show love, goodness, and forgiveness. [6]
Many
Christians have memorized Paul’s declaration to the Ephesian Christians: “And
be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in
Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). We should show the
same kindness toward others, that we want God to show
toward us! [7]
James
teaches that Christians should be kind with their tongues. There is no way we
can bear the fruit of the Spirit while using our tongues to gossip and slander
others! In fact, an unbridled tongue will destroy all religion. Listen to
James:
“If
anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but
deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless” (James 1:26). Kindness edifies;
gossip and tale bearing tear down. [8]
Solomon gave some excellent advice when
he wrote: “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles”
(Proverbs 21:23).
In
Paul’s writings, he called upon Christians to “put on” various things. He called upon his
readers to:
* “put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27);
* “put on the new man” (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10);
* “put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:11);
* “put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14);
* “put on love” (Col. 3:14). [9]
Also,
Paul wrote to the Colossians: “ . . .put on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12). [10]
Why
did Paul want Christians to put on all these things? Because this is the only
way to bear the fruit of the Spirit!
Those who “put on” all of these things will certainly be kind to others.
For there is no way for anyone to truthfully say that they have love without
being kind. As Paul wrote: “Love suffers long and is kind; . . .” (1 Corinthians 13:4). [11]
Even animals know and accept
kindness. When growing up, a stray dog or cat would come to our house. Mamma
would say, “Don’t be friendly with it or it won’t leave.” She was right! When
we did not show kindness, the animal moved on! They could sense kindness. The
same is true with people. [12]
If we have the fruit of the Spirit,
our lives will reflect kindness in every possible way. In kindness, we will show
the light of Jesus; in kindness, we will share with those in need; in kindness,
we speak kind words; in kindness, we will discipline our children; in kindness,
we will teach the saving gospel; and in kindness, we will seek to restore those
who have left the Lord. [13]
Therefore,
it is obvious to see that our kindness is more than just speaking kind words.
This is important, but we must put our kindness into action! [14]
For
example, someone who is hungry needs more than kind words; they need food. As
James wrote: “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you
do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it
profit?” (James
2:15,16).
The
implied answer, “It does not profit.” James is teaching kindness with good
works! [15]
There is a beautiful example of
kindness recorded in 1 Corinthians 16:1,2. Paul is calling upon the church in
Corinth to join other churches in helping the poor saints in Jerusalem (Rom.
15:26). Therefore, the kindness of all these churches must have brought a
wonderful blessing to the needy Christians in Jerusalem. [16]
Jesus taught that on the Judgment
Day He will honor those who have been kind and good to the point of sharing
with others. He said that those who showed concern and shared with the least of
these my brethren, did the same to Him. [17]
“Assuredly,
I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren,
you did it to Me”
(Matthew 25:40). [18]
When we show kindness on earth to
others, we show kindness to Jesus in heaven! [19]
Remember, kindness and goodness
sometimes will open doors to teach the gospel to a lost soul. However,
unkindness may close the same doors forever. Therefore, kindness is such an
important part of the fruit of the Spirit! [20]
Faithfulness
We should not be surprised to learn
that Paul includes faith or faithfulness in his list that makes up the fruit of
the Spirit. The Greek word that Paul used is sometimes translated as: faith,
assurance, believe, belief, and fidelity. Therefore, the basis of faithfulness
is faith! [21]
Those
who continually forsake the assembly, refuse to work in the church, and live
like the world, may give all kinds of excuses for their behavior, however, the
real problem is a lack of faith. [22]
Faithfulness
has been important to the church of our Lord from its beginning (Acts 2).
Faithfulness requires being steadfast, refusing to step aside from Christ, and
even the giving of one’s life when required. [23]
Persecution
In the age of severe persecution of
the first century, a time when faith was tested with death, Jesus told John to
write to the church at Sardis: “Do not fear any of those things which you
are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into
prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be
faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). [24]
Not
only were they asked to be faithful until they die, but also to be faithful if
such required death. This is a real test of one’s faith! Many Christians over
the centuries have asked, “Is my faith strong enough to die for the faith?” Do
we have this kind of faith? Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians
are not willing to make even small sacrifices. They will not live for Jesus,
and certainly would not be willing to die for Him! Are these faithful servants?
Are we faithful servants? [25]
In a parable, Jesus told of a man
who, before traveling into a far country, placed three servants in charge of
his money. To one, He gave five talents, to another two, and to another one.
The amount of silver given to each of these was based on their ability to
invest. While he was away, the men with five and two talents of money, doubled
their investments. However, the man with one talent, kept the one talent safe,
but made no investments. [26]
Accounting Day
After some time, the lord of these servants returned for each one to give an account. The servants with five and two talents were highly praised for their faithfulness. “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21,23). [27]
But it was different
with the one who had done nothing! Instead of hearing praise, he heard
condemnation: “You
wicked and lazy servant ......Therefore take the talent from him, and give it
to him who has ten talents . . .And cast the unprofitable servant into the
outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:26,28,30). [28]
Why
was Jesus so severe with the man with one talent? Because he was NOT faithful! [29]
Being faithful involves doing and
serving. The word faithful is made up of two words—faith
and full. When we reverse
the order of these two words, we have “full of faith.” What follows when we are
“full of faith?” We get involved as faithful servants. [30]
Remember,
we will be facing this same Jesus, who condemned unfaithfulness, at the
Judgment Day, because God has chosen Him to judge the world in righteousness
(Acts 17:31). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has
done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Will He find in each one of us faithfulness? [31]
As
a general rule, the attendance record at all services is the best indicator.
Those who are faithful and involved in the work of the church, make every possible
effort to attend all the services. They take seriously the admonition: “not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). [32]
There
are those who think that their absence will not harm the church, but they are
mistaken! The Lord wants every member of His body present at every service! This is the way that His spiritual body, the
church, functions best. [33]
Paul
wrote: “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not
have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members of one another” (Romans 12:4,5). From this passage, we can learn that we are
“individually members of one another.” When a member is unfaithful, this affects all
members. [34]
Thus,
to bear the fruit of the Spirit, it is essential for all to be faithful. Where
would the church be without the faithful Christians of the past, the present,
and the future? Without the
faithful, the doors of all places of worship would have been closed a long time
ago! [35]
Therefore, faithfulness is a very important part of the fruit of the Spirit! [36]
Review Questions For Lesson 12
(Circle the Most Correct Answer: A, B, or C)
1. “Love suffers long and is ----” (1
Cor. 13:4)
(a) Patient (b) Kind
(c) Hopeful
2. “Be faithful until -----, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10)
(a) Older (b) Retirement
(c) Death
3. An important record for Christians [32]
(a) Attendance (b) Consistent (c) Long
4. That which the one talent man was NOT [29]
(a) Brave (b) Faithful (c) Interested
5. Something associated with being faithful as Christians [25]
(a) Example (b) Enthusiastic
(c) Sacrifice
6. That from which the display of kindness comes [2]
(a) Heart (b) Joy
(c) Peace
7. Something to do with kindness [14]
(a) Quietness (b) Helping (c) Action
8. A word
that may be exchanged with kindness [1]
(a) Concern (b) Goodness
(c) Happiness
9. “Put on the --- man”
(Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10)
(a) Life
(b) New (c) Way
10. A
day for honoring kindness [17]
(a) Every Day (b) Judgment Day
(c) Some Day
11. If
we have the fruit of the Spirit, this will influence all that we do [13]
(a) Kindness (b) Happiness
(c) Understanding
12. This
word is associated with truth when showing love (1 John 3:17-19)
(a) Deed
(b) Hope (c) Charity
13. For
to be carnally minded is -----” (Rom. 8:6)
(a) Foolish
(b) Hopeless (c) Death
14. The
basis of faithfulness [21]
(a) Hope
(b) Faith (c) Patience
15. A
word associated with being kind and tenderhearted (Eph. 4:32)
(a) Concern (b) Forgiveness (c) Understanding
16. Peter
joins this word to brotherly kindness [5]
(a) Forgiving (b) Knowledge
(c) Love
17. A member of the body capable of kindness [8]
(a) Tongue
(b) Hands (c) Lips
18. The
first thing listed that Christians should put on [9]
(a) Love
(b) Christ (c) Kindness
TRUE OR FALSE: (Circle “T” for true; “F” for false)
T F 1. Something that is one in Christ (Rom. 12:4,5) Body
T F
2. Something to be done to the tongue (Jas.
1:26) Bridle
T F
3. Something of life with great value (Rev.
2:10) Joys
T F 4. The one who was about to throw some into prison at Sardis (Rev. 2:10) Devil
T F
5. That which needs to be done to one
another as Christians (Heb. 10:25)
Exhort
T F
6. Something important to be assured (1
John 3:17-19) Expectations
T F
7. “And be -------- to one another”
(Eph. 4:32) Kind
T F
8. That in which Christians should be
rooted and grounded (Eph. 3:17) Works
T F
9. The first of two things that Solomon
said to guard (Prov. 21:23) Mouth
T
F 10.
Something of Christ that is associated with the judgment (2 Cor. 5:10) Seat
After
you have completed these two Lessons, you may want to click on The Grading Key to determine your scores. To
finalize Your Score, Take From 100, 5 Points For Each One Missed In Each
Lesson.
Score for Lesson 11 = Score
for Lesson 12 =