WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:31.260 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:46.980 --> 00:00:52.300 Well, good morning, everybody. I want to thank Joel and Leslie for leading us today in worship. 00:00:52.300 --> 00:00:55.980 If you've got your Bibles, go ahead and open up to Galatians chapter 5. 00:00:56.100 --> 00:00:58.260 We're going to start reading here in just a moment at verse 16. 00:00:58.360 --> 00:01:00.880 I want to thank everybody for being here with us. 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:04.900 I know this week has been crazy like none of us have ever experienced, 00:01:05.140 --> 00:01:09.640 but we do have the opportunity this Sunday morning to gather together online 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:13.540 to at least dive into God's Word together and to worship Him together. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:19.560 So I thank each and every one of you for taking the time and taking the opportunity to do that today. 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:25.380 So let's begin reading Galatians chapter 5, starting in verse 16. 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:27.180 Paul writes and he says, 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:49.120 Now the works of the flesh are evident. 00:01:49.120 --> 00:02:11.260 I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 00:02:11.260 --> 00:02:20.840 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 00:02:21.220 --> 00:02:23.380 Against such things there is no law. 00:02:23.760 --> 00:02:29.020 And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:33.580 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:38.540 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 00:02:38.540 --> 00:02:44.160 So Paul's continuing on in his conversation with the believers at the Church of Galatia. 00:02:44.160 --> 00:02:47.680 And he's challenging them to be who they are in Christ. 00:02:47.820 --> 00:02:49.340 That this is their identity. 00:02:49.660 --> 00:02:50.840 This is their character. 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:53.180 This is their newfound self. 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:57.400 But what he begins to talk about is this battle that begins to rage. 00:02:57.540 --> 00:03:02.260 And the theme that's going to go over this whole passage of Scripture and this sermon this morning 00:03:02.260 --> 00:03:04.760 is the concept of flesh or fruit. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:11.380 Now, as we read these, I want us to all understand that there's a level of equal playing field that we're all on. 00:03:11.540 --> 00:03:18.100 That the battle that Paul talks about is the battle that rages in the heart of every single believer. 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:19.900 Now, let's understand this, okay? 00:03:20.060 --> 00:03:24.420 This is not the battle of doing what's right versus doing what's wrong. 00:03:24.620 --> 00:03:30.260 And here's why I say this, is because what is right and what is wrong can be defined by culture. 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:34.020 What is right and what is wrong can be defined by generation. 00:03:34.460 --> 00:03:37.440 What is right and what is wrong can be defined by man. 00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:42.240 So we're not going to define these as this is what's right and this is what's wrong. 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:48.600 But instead, what we want to see is that this is the battle of a person who is led by the Spirit of God 00:03:48.600 --> 00:03:52.760 versus the battle in the person who is led by their sinful nature. 00:03:52.880 --> 00:03:53.780 Do you see the difference? 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:57.860 That within us, even though that we're saved, there's a battle. 00:03:58.200 --> 00:04:02.340 There's the old sinful nature that we'll still want to pull to one side. 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:08.040 But at the same time, there's the Spirit of God that is within me as a safe child of God 00:04:08.040 --> 00:04:10.740 that's trying to lead me by the Spirit. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:14.100 So Paul is saying, look, we're going to live by one of these. 00:04:14.320 --> 00:04:16.500 We cannot live by two. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:21.000 We're going to live by the Spirit or we're going to live by the sinful nature. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:27.520 And as a result of what we live by, what will come from us, what will produce in us 00:04:27.520 --> 00:04:31.080 is either the flesh, what comes from the sinful nature, 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:36.600 or the fruit, which is going to be produced by the Spirit of God. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:44.740 And so Paul says, look, in all of us, in Paul, in you, in me, there's a conflict. 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:48.480 And the conflict rests in our desires. 00:04:48.580 --> 00:04:54.460 Now, before Christ, before you got saved, before I got saved, before Paul got saved, 00:04:54.640 --> 00:04:56.220 there was just our sinful nature. 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:57.660 That's all we knew. 00:04:57.800 --> 00:04:59.300 That's all we responded to. 00:04:59.540 --> 00:05:01.200 That's all we sought to fulfill. 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:03.900 And it ruled alone in us. 00:05:03.960 --> 00:05:06.380 It ruled unopposed in us. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:09.300 And it simply did what it wanted. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:15.740 But when we got saved, Christ's Spirit, God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit came to us 00:05:15.740 --> 00:05:16.980 and entered us. 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:19.080 And this is where the battle begins. 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:23.300 And so the comfort for us as we're going to go through this is if you're like me 00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:27.780 and you're experiencing that battle on a day in and day out basis, 00:05:27.780 --> 00:05:31.940 the proof of the Holy Spirit inside of you is in that battle. 00:05:32.260 --> 00:05:33.900 It's not that we're perfect. 00:05:33.900 --> 00:05:34.900 We're not perfect. 00:05:34.900 --> 00:05:37.020 It's not that we're just failing. 00:05:37.020 --> 00:05:38.320 We're not just failing. 00:05:38.320 --> 00:05:42.820 But that the Christian life is a life filled within the battle. 00:05:42.820 --> 00:05:46.300 In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul talks about this. 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:53.680 And he refers to it as the old self before salvation and the new self, who you are now in Christ. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:57.540 And Paul gives an imagery in Ephesians 4 where he says, 00:05:57.640 --> 00:06:03.660 Look, what we're to do is we're to take off the old self and we're to put on the new self. 00:06:03.880 --> 00:06:10.740 And he communicates this in such a way that he's painting a picture of not one person with two different personalities, 00:06:11.080 --> 00:06:14.140 but instead it's two different people. 00:06:14.140 --> 00:06:17.040 So within us, there's this old person. 00:06:17.440 --> 00:06:18.360 There's the old me. 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:20.300 But then there's the new person. 00:06:20.540 --> 00:06:21.780 There's the new me. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.000 And it's the battle that rages. 00:06:24.280 --> 00:06:26.240 I want to reread verse 17. 00:06:26.960 --> 00:06:27.240 He says, 00:06:27.340 --> 00:06:30.240 For the desires of the flesh are against the spirit. 00:06:30.640 --> 00:06:34.260 And the desires of the spirit are against the flesh. 00:06:34.640 --> 00:06:37.100 For these are opposed to each other. 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:38.940 Do you see the tension that's there? 00:06:39.220 --> 00:06:41.260 Do you see the struggle that's there? 00:06:41.460 --> 00:06:43.380 Do you see the battle that's there? 00:06:43.620 --> 00:06:44.860 And here's what's happening. 00:06:45.340 --> 00:06:49.120 Now that we're followers of Christ, now that we're saved, 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:52.420 the goal of the flesh is to do this in verse 17. 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:58.140 To keep you from doing the things you want to do. 00:06:58.540 --> 00:07:04.660 Jesus in the gospel of John tells us that the spirit comes into the world to glorify God. 00:07:04.900 --> 00:07:09.300 So now that we are as believers are recipients of that spirit. 00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:15.040 Now that that spirit dwells in us, here's the beauty of the heart of a saved individual. 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:18.660 We want to glorify God. 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:21.060 We long to glorify him. 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:24.100 And that's why when we sin, there's conviction. 00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:29.000 So when you fail, as a heart of a believer, you don't want to fail. 00:07:29.260 --> 00:07:35.680 You don't want that to take place in your life because you want to do the things to glorify God. 00:07:35.820 --> 00:07:36.940 But there's the problem. 00:07:37.420 --> 00:07:41.760 And so what we want to look at is we want to look at the problem, but we also want to look at the solution. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:45.580 And what we see within the problem is the sinful heart. 00:07:45.580 --> 00:07:51.320 Now the root of the sinful heart is going to create in me an attitude. 00:07:51.640 --> 00:08:00.300 The sinful heart is going to create in me the appearance that I don't need Jesus because I have me. 00:08:00.700 --> 00:08:02.180 Do we see the difficulty there? 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:06.780 I don't need a God because I am my own God. 00:08:06.780 --> 00:08:14.760 At the root of all of who we are resides in this overconfidence in who we are in our abilities. 00:08:15.320 --> 00:08:19.880 And sin in and of itself is simply a lack of trusting God. 00:08:20.220 --> 00:08:21.780 It's a lack of trusting God. 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:23.840 It's a lack of trusting his grace. 00:08:24.140 --> 00:08:25.780 It's a lack of trusting his goodness. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:27.920 It's a lack of trusting his plan. 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:30.220 It's a lack of trusting his purpose. 00:08:30.220 --> 00:08:42.700 That in all of these things that we are the better God, that we know the better grace, that we have a better goodness, that we have a better plan, and that we have a better purpose. 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:48.000 You see, in all sin, this is the root that comes from this in our life. 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:58.900 It was the root of our sin before Christ, and it's still the root of our sin now as we take our lives in our own hands, not trusting God for who he is and the plan for our life. 00:08:58.900 --> 00:09:06.540 So what Paul does here is in verses 19 through 21, he begins to list the acts of the sinful nature. 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:09.400 And there's a couple of categories that he begins to use. 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:13.680 At the very beginning, he talks about the desires of the flesh. 00:09:13.780 --> 00:09:14.780 Now, here's what I know. 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:21.080 We've got families at home worshiping together right now, so we're going to kind of tiptoe through this part of Scripture. 00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:26.800 But here's what Paul is trying to drive through, that when it comes to desires of the flesh, that I know better. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:29.480 That I know better about God's design. 00:09:29.920 --> 00:09:34.160 That I know better about God's design in the relationship between man and woman. 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:38.040 That I know better than God's design for the unity of marriage. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:43.080 That when it comes to the desires of the flesh, I know better. 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:45.200 We see this playing out in culture. 00:09:45.780 --> 00:09:49.660 Many of this, if we're being honest with ourselves, have seen this play out in our lives. 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:50.820 We see the hurt. 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:51.680 We see the pain. 00:09:51.800 --> 00:09:55.320 We see the brokenness that comes from the desires of the flesh. 00:09:55.320 --> 00:10:01.280 When we decide that we are going to do things the way that we want to do them. 00:10:01.520 --> 00:10:06.240 Instead of the way that God's desired for us to live in them. 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:09.020 We also see the conflict in religion. 00:10:09.140 --> 00:10:11.180 The first part we see is with idolatry. 00:10:11.680 --> 00:10:16.080 And here with idolatry is when we substitute anything for God. 00:10:16.160 --> 00:10:17.120 Whether it's ourselves. 00:10:17.280 --> 00:10:18.040 Whether it's our spouse. 00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:18.960 Whether it's our kids. 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:20.240 Whether it's our job. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.120 Whether it's our money. 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:21.940 Whether it's our status. 00:10:21.940 --> 00:10:24.560 That we view anything as ultimate. 00:10:25.040 --> 00:10:26.220 Anything above God. 00:10:26.520 --> 00:10:30.000 And we even oftentimes in this elevate the good things. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:31.740 I just mentioned a bunch of them. 00:10:32.040 --> 00:10:34.100 My wife is a gift from God. 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:36.200 My kids are a gift from God. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:38.620 My job is a gift from God. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:39.980 All of these things are. 00:10:40.300 --> 00:10:44.020 And what happens is we elevate the gift above the giver. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:46.140 And that's what idolatry is. 00:10:46.140 --> 00:10:47.420 Is when we elevate those. 00:10:47.700 --> 00:10:49.500 But he also talks about sorcery. 00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:51.180 Now that might be a weird thing. 00:10:51.260 --> 00:10:52.560 A different thing for us. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.500 But think of sorcery as defined by this. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.880 Faking the work of the spirit. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:02.080 Saying something that is of God when it's not of God. 00:11:02.540 --> 00:11:04.940 Giving or pressing blame. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.520 Pressing something toward that. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:10.640 And Paul talks about the sin or the pattern of idolatry. 00:11:11.060 --> 00:11:18.640 And so what he then begins to do is he gives some words that describe how the flesh destroys the relationships. 00:11:18.640 --> 00:11:20.400 And he gives at first. 00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:23.760 He gives four of what we're going to call destructive attitudes. 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:28.840 And so the first destructive attitude that Paul talks about is selfish ambition. 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:31.820 When we have self-seeking motives. 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:33.100 Now this one's hard. 00:11:33.160 --> 00:11:37.480 Because oftentimes I want you to think about the good things that you do in your life. 00:11:37.900 --> 00:11:40.700 Like every single day we try to do good things. 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:42.320 Good things for our spouse. 00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:43.340 Good things for our kids. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:44.480 Good things for our co-workers. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:45.940 Good things for our neighbors. 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:49.880 But it's not the things that we do that Paul is questioning here. 00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:53.380 What he's questioning is the motivation behind them. 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:55.300 Are we doing them for their good? 00:11:55.380 --> 00:11:56.760 Are we doing them for our good? 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.860 Are we doing them for God's glory? 00:11:59.020 --> 00:12:01.040 Or are we doing them for our glory? 00:12:01.260 --> 00:12:05.060 Do we see the tension that we begin to have there? 00:12:05.140 --> 00:12:08.240 Do we see the hard issue that Paul begins to bring out? 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:11.020 He then begins to talk about envy. 00:12:11.020 --> 00:12:17.080 The longing for, the sinful desiring of the things that others have. 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:20.660 Not being satisfied with where we are. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:27.100 But instead finding our satisfaction in somewhere else that God doesn't desire for us. 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:29.120 He talks about jealousy. 00:12:29.660 --> 00:12:33.120 I read a commentator this week that described jealousy as this. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:36.880 As the energy that comes from a hungry ego. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:39.860 I want you to think about the danger of jealousy. 00:12:40.300 --> 00:12:43.440 Think about someone in your life that you've been jealous of. 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:45.160 Maybe it was a long time ago. 00:12:45.300 --> 00:12:46.660 Maybe it was back when you were in school. 00:12:46.780 --> 00:12:47.560 Maybe when you were a kid. 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:48.540 Maybe it's now. 00:12:48.660 --> 00:12:49.440 Maybe it's a neighbor. 00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:51.140 Maybe it's a person at work. 00:12:51.400 --> 00:12:53.060 Maybe it's even your spouse. 00:12:53.280 --> 00:12:54.880 Think about someone that you're jealous of. 00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:55.740 Now let me ask you this. 00:12:56.380 --> 00:12:57.940 In your moments of jealousy. 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:04.260 In your moments where you begin to see this hungry ego come out of you. 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.660 Do you desire God's best for them? 00:13:07.140 --> 00:13:11.440 Do you desire for God to rule and reign and bless them in your life? 00:13:11.660 --> 00:13:14.100 I can tell you that I know that I don't. 00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:17.900 And what this begins to build to is hatred. 00:13:18.880 --> 00:13:20.640 Hostilities toward someone. 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:22.900 Not the hatred of an action. 00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.880 Not the hatred of evil. 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:26.900 Not the hatred of sin. 00:13:27.260 --> 00:13:30.500 But the hostility directed toward someone. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.760 Let's think about that. 00:13:31.760 --> 00:13:34.960 If all of us are made in the image and the likeness of God. 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:38.140 Then when we address hatred toward the individual. 00:13:38.380 --> 00:13:40.780 Then we are hating the image of God. 00:13:40.880 --> 00:13:42.820 We are hating God's creation. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:47.740 And so what Paul builds us to is that the next four that he lays out. 00:13:48.020 --> 00:13:50.580 That these are the results of these destructive behaviors. 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:52.940 So when we see these things in our life. 00:13:53.160 --> 00:13:54.980 This is what begins to come out of them. 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:57.720 Now I want you to notice this as we talk about these. 00:13:58.040 --> 00:14:00.620 They'll begin to build on one another. 00:14:00.880 --> 00:14:05.520 You'll begin to see this snowball effect of it begins to roll down the hill. 00:14:05.800 --> 00:14:09.320 It begins to get bigger and bigger and bigger until it's out of control. 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:10.920 The first one that we see. 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:14.540 The first result of a destructive attitude is discord. 00:14:15.020 --> 00:14:17.860 Looking and seeking to pick a fight. 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:23.140 It's where the sin begins to build and grow and lay roots in your life. 00:14:23.140 --> 00:14:27.460 But then it comes from that and it begins to develop and it begins to evolve. 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:32.520 And it becomes from discord seeking to pick a fight to fits of rage. 00:14:32.520 --> 00:14:34.120 Now outburst of anger. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:38.540 Oftentimes we'll refer to fits of rage as that's my temper coming out of me. 00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:45.280 But we see slowly and slowly at one time we're choosing what we do as we pick the fight. 00:14:45.280 --> 00:14:52.080 But now as we have these outbursts of anger it's no longer what we can control and we begin to lose our temper. 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:56.200 And then what happens in that is dissensions are created. 00:14:56.820 --> 00:15:03.120 Author wrote this describing dissension as rage that leads to divisions between people. 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:06.300 Now we're dividing ourselves from others. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:08.680 We're trying to get people to pick sides. 00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:14.120 Now it's you versus me and we see where this goes until it leads to factions. 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:17.240 Permanent separation of people. 00:15:17.800 --> 00:15:20.560 Now people who were once brought together in relationship. 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:25.520 Now people who were once brought together with a potential for the goodness of the gospel 00:15:25.520 --> 00:15:32.740 are now permanently separated from each other because of sin that rules and ranks and is in between them. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:40.180 And so when we walk in the flesh we seek to pick a fight which causes us to lash out in anger 00:15:40.180 --> 00:15:47.220 which builds up barriers between people which becomes barriers that cannot be overcome. 00:15:47.520 --> 00:15:54.900 And I don't know about you but I've seen so many relationships in my life destroyed as a result of this 00:15:54.900 --> 00:15:59.680 that are destroyed as I walk in the flesh and not walk by the Spirit. 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:07.760 As I have the flesh of my sinful nature come out of me instead of the fruit of the Spirit that God longs for. 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:11.560 And this is what the sinful heart will lead to. 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.700 This is what the sinful nature will lead to. 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:17.960 But Paul reminds us that as believers there's a different way for us. 00:16:18.300 --> 00:16:22.140 That Paul reminds us that as believers there's a different heart that is there. 00:16:22.400 --> 00:16:25.680 There's a heart within us that seeks to glorify God. 00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:31.420 And it's referred to by Paul in verse 22 as the fruit of the Spirit, the saved heart. 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:40.020 And so what Paul does is he gives nine characteristics, nine ways to describe and to understand this fruit of the Spirit. 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:43.200 And so the first thing that he says that marks this is love. 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:48.160 Now what you'll see are these are exact opposites of the things that we talked about before. 00:16:48.160 --> 00:16:50.760 As we begin to love the way that Christ loved. 00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:54.040 As we see the goodness of God come out of us in that. 00:16:54.700 --> 00:17:01.400 And so we see to love means to serve a person for their good and not for what it brings you. 00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:02.860 That's what love is. 00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:06.520 I don't love someone because of what they'll do for me. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:11.960 I love them because they need to be loved because of what Christ has done for me. 00:17:12.280 --> 00:17:13.140 Do we see the difference? 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:17.020 It's the opposite of the selfish ambition of what we talked about before. 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:19.520 But instead it's the love of God in us. 00:17:19.580 --> 00:17:20.980 Which leads to joy. 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:23.820 Now joy is one that I want to be honest with you. 00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:27.500 As we've gone through this week we've probably had to be reminded of. 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.960 Because joy is this. 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:36.120 Joy is delight that is based in who God is and not in the circumstances of life. 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:37.520 And that's what we talk about. 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:40.540 That our happiness can be taken away from us. 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:43.680 But our joy cannot be taken away from us. 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.180 Why? 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:49.660 Because my joy is not found in anything that is going on around me. 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:53.000 My joy is not found in my health. 00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:56.160 My joy is not found in my bank account. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:59.180 My joy is not found in a sickness. 00:17:59.800 --> 00:18:02.620 My joy is not found in an earthly relationship. 00:18:03.080 --> 00:18:09.540 But my joy is found in who God is and who he is alone. 00:18:09.800 --> 00:18:11.180 Not in the circumstances. 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:13.540 We continue on with peace. 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:17.360 Peace is another one that I've had to be reminded of this week. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:19.220 And peace is simply this. 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:21.720 Peace doesn't mean everything is okay. 00:18:22.060 --> 00:18:27.180 Peace doesn't mean that we love everything that's going on around us. 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.960 The peace of God is this. 00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:32.020 Peace is confidence that God is in control. 00:18:32.780 --> 00:18:33.880 That God is in control. 00:18:34.300 --> 00:18:35.600 That God has this. 00:18:36.060 --> 00:18:37.920 That God has all of this. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:41.800 And we can put our faith in the simple truth that we sang as little kids. 00:18:41.840 --> 00:18:42.040 Right? 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.780 Like it's all in his hands. 00:18:43.780 --> 00:18:44.800 In his sovereignty. 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:45.920 In his rule. 00:18:46.260 --> 00:18:47.100 In his power. 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.420 That there is peace. 00:18:48.560 --> 00:18:50.840 Because God is in control. 00:18:51.320 --> 00:18:52.800 Which leads us on. 00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:54.080 It continues us on. 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:56.880 To develop within ourselves patience. 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.900 Now here's what patience is. 00:18:59.100 --> 00:19:03.280 We think that patience is the ability to sit down and to wait for something. 00:19:03.280 --> 00:19:07.580 But here's what biblical fruit of the spirit patience is. 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:11.620 Is the ability to face trouble without bitterness. 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:18.780 The ability to face the difficulties of the world and the things that surround us with a mindset of peace. 00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:20.500 With a mindset of joy. 00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:23.080 With a mindset of love coming through. 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.400 Paul also talks about kindness. 00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:30.960 Now kindness is something that we often think about as the characteristics of our grandma. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:33.220 Or the sweet people in our life. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.180 But think of kindness in this way. 00:19:35.520 --> 00:19:38.740 To serve others in a way that makes you vulnerable. 00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:40.700 Here's what it means to be kind. 00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:44.440 There are people in this world that it's easy to do nice things for. 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:48.080 But there are people in this world where that's a little bit more difficult. 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:53.220 And so to be kind to someone means to serve someone. 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:57.660 To love someone in a way that makes us vulnerable. 00:19:58.060 --> 00:20:01.920 To be the people in our life that maybe bring conflict. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:05.120 To people in our life that maybe bring us strife. 00:20:05.520 --> 00:20:08.320 We still seek to be kind to them. 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:10.960 Again, not because of who they are. 00:20:11.060 --> 00:20:13.520 But because of who Christ is. 00:20:14.520 --> 00:20:18.620 Paul also describes another fruit of the Spirit is goodness. 00:20:19.320 --> 00:20:22.420 And goodness deals with a matter of integrity. 00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:24.380 Goodness is simply this. 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:26.120 Being the same person. 00:20:26.340 --> 00:20:27.940 Being who you are. 00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:31.600 Regardless of the situation that surrounds us. 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:34.120 And that is God's goodness. 00:20:34.300 --> 00:20:35.980 So I am who I am. 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:39.800 Regardless if I'm at church or at home. 00:20:40.260 --> 00:20:42.800 Regardless if I'm with my wife or a stranger. 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:46.360 Regardless of the person that surrounds me. 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:49.200 Or the situation that surrounds me. 00:20:49.320 --> 00:20:51.240 The same goodness is there. 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:53.640 Which brings us to faithfulness. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:56.060 This is so very important for a Christian. 00:20:56.600 --> 00:21:01.080 That faithfulness is simply a person who is true to their word. 00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:03.700 That as believers what we say we mean. 00:21:04.040 --> 00:21:05.440 What we say we believe. 00:21:05.780 --> 00:21:07.480 And what we say we stand by. 00:21:07.780 --> 00:21:09.060 That we are true to our word. 00:21:09.340 --> 00:21:10.260 It continues on. 00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:11.700 Paul talks about gentleness. 00:21:12.040 --> 00:21:14.500 Now gentleness we're going to talk a lot about next week. 00:21:14.600 --> 00:21:16.240 But think of the concept of humility. 00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:18.920 Now humility is not beating ourselves down. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.220 Or thinking less of ourselves. 00:21:20.560 --> 00:21:21.960 But when we think about humility. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:25.000 We think about the concept of elevating others. 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:26.540 That that is who we are. 00:21:26.540 --> 00:21:28.460 Which leads to self-control. 00:21:29.020 --> 00:21:31.460 To show restraint when sin comes our way. 00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:34.240 To show restraint when we want to lash out. 00:21:34.520 --> 00:21:37.940 To show restraint in the difficult areas of our life. 00:21:38.280 --> 00:21:39.700 And instead of being impulsive. 00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:43.100 To be who God wants us to be. 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.960 So where are you with these? 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:47.980 What do you see marking your life? 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:50.280 The sins of the flesh? 00:21:50.760 --> 00:21:52.060 Or the fruit of the spirit? 00:21:52.540 --> 00:21:54.400 And here's the part that I want to close with. 00:21:54.520 --> 00:21:57.500 Is I want to close with the concept of growing in the battle. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.820 You see the truth is. 00:21:59.100 --> 00:22:00.640 None of us are here yet. 00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.140 But we're growing. 00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:05.300 And we have to grow through the battle. 00:22:05.780 --> 00:22:08.340 You know Paul takes a very important illustration. 00:22:08.560 --> 00:22:10.020 And he paints the picture of fruit. 00:22:10.540 --> 00:22:12.500 Three years ago we moved into our house. 00:22:12.580 --> 00:22:14.180 And we planted an apple tree. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.460 It was the very first thing we planted. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:17.260 And it was a little small apple tree. 00:22:17.260 --> 00:22:21.640 And now three years later that apple tree is almost 15 feet high. 00:22:21.780 --> 00:22:25.260 With multiple branches bearing flowers and fruit for us. 00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:27.160 But it didn't begin that way. 00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:28.220 It had to grow. 00:22:28.760 --> 00:22:31.100 And so as you go in this life. 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:34.040 There's some truths that we need to understand about fruit. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.500 And about growth in our life. 00:22:35.820 --> 00:22:37.040 And the first is this church. 00:22:37.540 --> 00:22:38.700 Growth is gradual. 00:22:39.060 --> 00:22:40.180 It happens over time. 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:43.260 What you'll see from the time that you got saved until now. 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:45.540 Is the walk that God's taking you on. 00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:47.680 Also growth is inevitable. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:50.340 If you are a Christian you will grow. 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:53.740 If you are a Christian God will be faithful. 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.480 And grow you through this. 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:57.440 It may not be at the rate that you want. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.780 But he will grow you. 00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:01.780 Also growth begins at the foundation. 00:23:02.280 --> 00:23:04.540 Think about with roots where growth happens. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:08.340 But for us those roots are within us internally. 00:23:08.540 --> 00:23:12.680 So we see the changes begin in us as they come out of us. 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:15.920 And then lastly growth happens in fullness. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:16.800 Growth happens. 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:20.140 God is going to complete the work that he began in you. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:22.160 For his name and for his glory. 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.180 Would you pray with me? 00:23:23.800 --> 00:23:25.680 God I thank you for this morning. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.900 I thank you for this time that we could be together. 00:23:28.280 --> 00:23:31.060 God may you take this word and use it for your name. 00:23:31.320 --> 00:23:32.280 And for your power. 00:23:32.520 --> 00:23:33.180 And for your kingdom. 00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.600 And it's in Jesus name we pray. 00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:35.100 Amen. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:37.960 At this time you guys have some discussion questions. 00:23:38.260 --> 00:23:39.820 Be a wonderful time for you. 00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:42.020 Whether it's there together as your family. 00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:45.360 Whether it's getting online and communicating with your small group. 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:47.360 To dive in a little bit more. 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:49.720 To talk about how God's using this. 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:51.200 And how God's challenging you. 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:52.500 Church we love you. 00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:54.960 We can't wait to see you again face to face. 00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:55.860 Again. 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:58.040 But until then we'll be back next week. 00:23:58.280 --> 00:23:58.840 Thank you guys. 00:23:58.840 --> 00:24:16.380 Thanks again for listening to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:18.980 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:21.380 If you'd like to learn more about who we are. 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.980 Or explore additional resources. 00:24:23.600 --> 00:24:28.040 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:24:28.040 --> 00:24:31.600 Or by searching for Willow Ridge Church on Facebook and Instagram.