When the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, increase our faith" He gives them the example of a servant who works all day and when He comes in from the field the Master expects him to serve in the kitchen too. And after all that he has only done what was expected of him.

When you think of faith, do you also think of obedience? When you think of the phrase, 'Well done, good and faithful servant', what do you think that servant has accomplished?

Faith is a fruit of the Spirit, a gift of the Spirit, an action, a noun, a calling, and the way of life for Believers. What are some of the distinctions between the gift of faith and the fruit of faith?

Jesus said, "A good tree brings forth good fruit." Paul includes 'goodness' in the list of the fruits of the Spirit. So goodness both bears fruit and is fruit. When you observe your own life, to you see the goodness of God?

"Everyone needs compassion....the kindness of a Saviour", these words in the first verse of the song, "Mighty to Save" precede the words "He can move the mountains". It is truly amazing that the One who created the universe is also kind- not that He only does kind deeds but He is kind. When He calls us to Himself, he expects His nature to grow in us. How is the fruit of kindness growing in your life?

Originally this message was named, "The Fruit of the Spirit is Impossible." And from a human perspective it is. But that is the whole point. God the Father isn't looking for our fruit- He is looking for the fruit of Christ in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. When the Father looks at you does He see the fruit of Jesus growing?

Faithfulness- doing the right thing, especially when no one is around. Faithfulness in little things prepares us to be faithful in big things. Based on how you live the little moments of your life, how would you respond to big opportunities?

When Jesus was born the angels sang, "Peace on earth!" Later Jesus said he didn't come to bring peace on earth but then Paul writes that the fruit of the Spirit is peace. So, where is the promised peace? What does the peace of the Spirit look like?

Many times our joy is based on our circumstances. When it comes to the joy of the Lord, it turns out our joy also depends on circumstances. But in this instance, the circumstance is Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection and the subsequent out pouring of the Holy Spirit. Is your joy dependent on your earthly circumstances or the heavenly circumstance of your position in Christ?

Jesus said, "It is to your advantage that I go..." In our flesh this makes no sense. How can we be better off without the physical presence of Christ? And yet, when we read Acts we see the truth of what He said. When Christ ascended to the Father, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Believers. And it was to their advantage. Walking in the Spirit made all the difference for the early church.

Is your experience with the Holy Spirit such that you can truly say, 'It is to my advantage that Christ left and sent the Spirit in His place'?