We continue covering the fruit of the Spirit, which are also “divinely powerful weapons.” In this Word for the Week, we will cover the last one listed in Galatians 5: “self-control.” 

         Why would “self-control” be named as a fruit of the Spirit? Isn’t that something we do? We must keep in mind that the Spirit is “the Helper,” not “the Doer.” He has been sent to help us, but not to do what we are responsible for doing. However, He does help us to develop these qualities so they are His fruit in our life.

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     Jesus said “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentleand humble in heart…” (Matthew 11:29). It is extraordinary that the first thing Jesus says that we need to learn from Him is gentleness. This elevates gentleness to a high priority, and we must seek to know His definition of gentleness.

     We often think of gentleness as being mild-mannered, or the kind of carefulness that could hold a baby bird and not injure it. We can see this gentleness in Jesus as He healed the sick, as He taught and led those who were like...

       As we have been covering our “divinely powerful weapons” that are also called the “fruit of the Spirit,” this week we continue with goodness and kindness. We will cover these together because they are so closely connected.

       In Romans 12:21 we are told, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Our divinely powerful weapons are how we do this. We overcome every evil with the good that is the counter to it, as the verse before states: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty given him a drink. By doing this you will heap...

         In Hebrews 6:11-12 we are exhorted to have diligence “so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Since it takes faith and patience to inherit the promises, why is it that we have a large faith movement, but there is no patience movement?

         There are many exhortations in Scripture to wait upon the Lord, but I have never found one that says we must hurry. It seems that our biggest problem is waiting. Patience is a crucial element in receiving from God, and is linked here...

         As we have been covering our “divinely powerful weapons” that are also called the “fruit of the Spirit,” this week we continue with faith or faithfulness, as the same Greek word is translated for both of these in the New Testament. This could be because if one has faith they will be faithful. 

         If you were a parent that had been able to provide for your family abundantly with everything they had ever needed, how would you feel if they lived in constant fear of not having enough? How does our Father in heaven feel when we live in...