Can I Be Real? Podcast

Show Notes:

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Self-control

○ Self-control- the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations.

○ Self control is the war between impulsivity and doing what's right or beneficial. It's the ability to control emotions, impulses or behaviors to achieve a greater goal.

○ Self-control, an aspect of inhibitory control, is the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses.

○ Self- control is not doing what

• Self-control in the Old Testament

○ David & Saul

○ In 1 Samuel 15, God rejects Saul as king over Israel and in 1 Samuel 16, God had Samuel anoint David to be the next king over Israel. In 1 Samuel 17, David defeats Goliath and by 1 Samuel 18, Saul is afraid and jealous of David and begins his attempts to kill him. In 1 Samuel 19, Saul is no longer discreet about it and he told Jonathan and his attendants to kill David, forcing David to flee Saul and leave Israel. David and his men go to several different places seeking refuge from Saul, one of those places was Nob, where the priests lived and where David and his men stopped to get food. They ended up eating the consecrated bread and Ahimelek the priest gave David the sword of Goliath. When Saul found out that the priests had aided David and his men, Saul had the priests at Nob killed.

○ So all this happens between David and Saul and in 1 Samuel 24, we are introduced to the first time that David spares Saul's life, and demonstrates self-control.

§ Read 1 Samuel 24:1-10

§ Read 1 Samuel 26:1-11, 23-24

○ Nehemiah & the opposition to the rebuilding of the wall

○ Nehemiah had the God-given assignment of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem, which was the beginning stages of making Jerusalem a city again.

○ Read Nehemiah 4:1-15

○ Read Nehemiah 6:9-13

• The Self-control of Jesus (so many examples to choose from!)

○ Luke 4 talks about how Jesus tempted in the wilderness for 40 days by the devil. ("Go read for yourselves!"_

○ Jesus demonstrated self-control time after time! He was constantly accused of some wrong doing despite the fact that all he did was good and preach Truth from God's word.

○ Read Luke 22:47-53

○ Read John 19:7-11

• What about Us?

○ Read Romans 7:18-25 (NLT)

○ Read 2 Peter 1: 5-11 (NLT)

○ We need Jesus to help us! We need the Holy Spirit daily to live like Christ!

○ Read Proverbs 25:28- A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

○ Read Proverbs 16:32- Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

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Show Notes:

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Gentleness

○ Gentleness- the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered; softness of action or effect

○ An exert from a devotional by Lauren Abraham:

○ A common misconception is that gentleness is weakness or passivity. True gentleness, however, is just the opposite. It requires great strength and self-control. Gentleness comes from a state of humility. Therefore, someone who lacks gentleness is often prideful and easily angered, or feels the need for revenge. (From )

○ Gentleness is the humble and meek attitude of wanting to help others instead of wanting to be superior to them- an attitude that flows from a spirit of real love.

○ (Humility- a modest or low view of one's own importance.)

○ God's gentleness is characterized by love, grace, mercy and judgement.

• Gentleness demonstrated by Jesus

○ Read Luke 5:27-31

○ Read Luke 6: 35-36

○ Read Luke 10:30-37

○ Read John 8:1-11

• What about Us?

○ Read Philippians 2:1-8

○ Read Philippians 4:5- Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

○ Read Colossians 3:12-13

○ Read Galatians 6:1-2

Hebrews 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Faithfulness

○ Faithful- steadfast in affection or allegiance; loyal; firm adherence to promises or in observance of duty

○ Trustworthy-worthy of confidence; dependable

○ To be faithful is to be reliable, steadfast and unwavering.

○ Read Deuteronomy 7:7-9

○ Read Numbers 23:19

○ Read Psalms 33:4-For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

○ Read Psalms 145:13b- The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.

○ God is eternally reliable, steadfast, and unwavering because faithfulness is one of his inherent attributes. You can trust God! He is dependable!

• Jesus

○ Jesus's whole life and ministry is a picture of faithfulness.

○ In Matthew 4, Jesus is tempted in the wilderness by Satan for 40 days and 40 nights

○ Jesus preached, healed, raised the dead, calmed storms, provided food for thousands, etc.- all with the sole purpose of giving God glory.

○ Jesus suffered ridicule, betrayal and abuse at the hands of the very ones he was sent to save.

○ In Matthew 26, Jesus prayed- read Matthew 26:39b, 42b

○ In Luke 23, while dying in agony, Jesus says- read Luke 23:34

○ Jesus is faithful!

• What about us?

○ When a person walks consistently with God, in humble service to Him, they are called "faithful".

○ Read Hebrews 11:1, 6

○ I challenge you this week to meditate on Hebrews 11, which is often called the "Hall of Faith" due to the writer of Hebrews listing several old testament individuals who put their faith in God into action.

○ I leave you with the same charge Paul leaves Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-16

Show Notes:

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Goodness

○ Goodness- moral excellence; virtue; the quality or state of being morally good or virtuous

○ The Greek word for "goodness" is "Agathosune" (ag-ath-o-soo'-nay), which means uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness

○ A quote from a weekly devotional by Lauren Abraham on the fruits of the Spirit: "when we act out true goodness of the heart and reflect the fruit of the Spirit, we are obedient to God's commandments and seek the benefit of others. Our actions come from a place of selflessness, and we place the needs of others before our own."

○ GOD is the standard of all that is good!

○ Read Genesis 1:31- "Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day." NLT

○ Read James 1:17-"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]." AMP

○ Read Psalms 34:8- "Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" NLT

○ Ultimately, God's goodness is demonstrated in the person and life of Jesus

○ Read John 3:16-21

○ Read John 10:1-18

§ (Ain't God Good!)

○ So…what about me and you?

○ Read:

§ Romans 12:17-21

§ Galatians 6:9-10

§ 1 Peter 2:12- "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

§ Proverbs 3:27 - "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act."

§ Hebrews 13:15-16

§ James 4:17- "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them."

Ephesians 2:8-10

○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Kindness

○ Kindness- the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate; the quality of being generous, helpful and caring about other people

○ Read Isaiah 63:7-9

○ Read Ephesians 1:7-8 NLT

○ Read Ephesians 2:4-7 NLT

○ Kindness requires intentionality. We must constantly choose to shift our minds from ourselves to looking for the needs of others.

○ Read Matthew 5:44-48 NLT

○ Look at Jesus's ministry on earth, He was Kind

○ In John 4, we see a familiar passage, Jesus talking with the Samaritan Woman

○ Jesus disregarded some of the social rules at that time:

§ During that time and in that culture, women were seen as inferior to men

§ Jews and Samaritans hated each other because Jews believed that Samaritans had betrayed their faith because they had intermarried with foreigners

§ No self-respecting man, let alone a teacher, would ever speak to a woman with a reputation like the woman we see Jesus talking to at the well

○ But Jesus was Kind. He saw a woman, in need of something that she could not attain for herself…living water

§ Read John 4:7-14

○ Jesus did not sugarcoat her current situation…she was a woman who had been married and divorced (men divorced the women) 5 times, and was currently with a man who she was not married to.

○ Despite that, Jesus was Kind. He did not condemn her, but rather He showed her that what she really needed was a right relationship with God

§ Read John 4:21-26

○ In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are speaking to a group of people who, after seeing them heal a man who had been lame since birth, thought they were Zeus and Hermes. Paul after hearing this says:

○ Read Acts 14:14-17

○ Read Romans 2:2-4

○ Read Romans 11:22

○ Read Colossians 3:12-17

I challenge you to consider God's kindness to you, and to imitate Christ and show kindness to others, not just the people we know and like

Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God!

○ Patience

○ Forbearance- a refraining from the enforcement of something (such as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due; the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.

○ Longsuffering- having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people; patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship

○ Think about these two words, forbearance and longsuffering, and how God has displayed this for us a people throughout history, and especially for yourself

§ In the Old Testament, we see over and over again how merciful and gracious God was to his people

□ The Israelites in the wilderness often tested God's patience by their complaining, rebellions against Moses, building the golden calf, etc.

□ The whole book of Judges displays God's longsuffering and forbearance with us

□ Read Isaiah 30: 15-19

□ Read Nehemiah 9:13-21, 26-28

§ And even now, with everything going on God is still true to His nature! God is slow to anger because He is Patient!

□ Read Romans 3:25-26

□ Read Psalms 103:8-10

○ So now, for those of us who have been born again in Christ, we have been made new and called to be like Christ Jesus. We have been called to be patient and longsuffering with God and with people because God has been so patient with us!

§ Read 1 Timothy 1:15-16

§ Read Matthew 18:21-35

□ This is talking about forgiveness, but patience is also applicable here!

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ Definitions of Joy:

§ Dictionary- "the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune, or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; delight; to experience great pleasure or delight"

§ Bible Project- "biblical joy is more than a happy feeling. It's a lasting emotion that comes from the choice to trust that God will fulfill His promises."

○ Joy is a fruit and gift of the Holy Spirit

§ It is hard if not impossible to experience true joy apart from God

□ Joy comes when we are aware of God's grace and relish His favor

§ Read Romans 15:13- " I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."

§ Read James 1:2-4

○ Jesus promised Joy

§ Read John 15:7-11

§ Read Psalm 4:6-7-"Many people will say, 'Who will show us better times?' Let your face smile on us, LORD. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine."

§ Read Psalms 126:5- "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy."

○ Our salvation is the root of our Joy in Christ

§ When you are feeling like you are lacking joy, always go back to what Jesus did on the cross!

□ Think of the Joy of your Salvation

® Read Isaiah: 61:10- I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God? For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in the a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels."

® Read Psalms 70:4-"But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is great!'"

® Read Romans 4:5-8

□ Express your Gratitude to God for all that he has done

® Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18- "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

○ Remember that Joy is a powerful source of strength that we all need to carry on the good work that God has called us to. The Joy of the Lord is your strength!

○ I leave you with this verse from 1 Peter 1:6- "So be truly glad, there is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure trials for a little while."

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○ Galatians 6 NLT

§ Galatians 6:1-6

§ Restore them gently and humbly…

□ Read Romans 3:23-24

§ Carry each other’s burdens…

□ Read Philippians 2:3-5

§ If you think you are too important…

□ Romans 12:3- “Because of the privilege and authority (or grace) God has given me, I give each of you this warning: don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us (you).”

§ ( Reread verses 4-5 in CJB)

□ “So let each of you scrutinize his own actions. Then if you find something to boast about, at least the boasting will be based on what you have actually done and not a judgement that you are better than someone else; for each person will carry his own load.”

□ James 3:16- “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”

§ Sharing and caring for the teachers…

□ Read 3 John 5-8

§ Galatians 6:7-18

§ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked…so don’t give up

□ Read Hosea 10:12

□ Psalm 126:5- “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.”

□ Romans 12:21- “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

§ What counts is the new creation…

□ Paul ends the letter to the Galatians reiterating what he has been saying the whole time…(reread verses 12-14)

□ Ephesians 2:10- “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5 NLT

§ Galatians 5:1-12

§ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…free from the law of sin and death

□ The first 12 verses of chapter 5 are continuing the thoughts from the last 4 chapters where Paul is driving home this idea that we do not have to abide by the old law, but rather by the law of grace which is faith in Christ Jesus.

§ Read verses 5-6

§ Paul ends the first half of the chapter with language that suggests he is quite fed up with those who teach a "false gospel" and contradict the Truth that he had been preaching from the beginning

§ Galatians 5:13-26

§ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself

□ From Lev. 19:18

□ Jesus also said it in the gospels

® Read Matthew 22: 37-40

§ Verses 16-18:

□ So I say walk by the Spirit….

® Read Romans 8: 5-8

§ Verses 19-21:

□ The acts of the flesh are obvious…

® Read 2 Corinthians 12: 20-21

§ Verses 22-26:

□ The fruit of the Holy Spirit…

Read Ephesians 4:17-32