The next fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5 is PATIENCE. As we have stated, there is actually one fruit of the Spirit and these are all characteristics of it. Therefore, they are all linked and intertwined so that if you have one you will have the others as well. Even so, Scripture links faith and patience, especially in Hebrews 6:11-12:
 

A few years ago I had a dream in which I was mountain climbing with many thousands of people. Hundreds were all connected together by the lifelines that mountain climbers use; many were falling off of the mountain and being lost because some were not driving their stakes deep enough into the ground. If one gave way, often many were lost. I knew in the dream that those stakes were truth. For that reason, in every study I do, and in all of my writings, I try to drive the stakes of truth as deep as I can into...

We are spending a bit more time on this aspect of the fruit of the Spirit because it is so crucial to abiding in the Spirit, and is becoming increasingly crucial for our times.

As we have addressed in detail before that the highest purpose of man is to be the dwelling place of God. If we abide in Him, He will abide in us. Therefore, this should be the highest goal for each of us. It should be the greatest focus that we have every day. The true success of our life in every way will be...

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Since the time when there were just two brothers on the entire planet they had trouble getting along. One of them basically said, “This world is not big enough for the both of us!” And still there has been conflict between men. One of the primary reasons why the Lord came was to bring peace to the earth, which is one of the primary reasons His people are here, as we read in Luke 1:68-79, one of the...

In the midst of so much suffering that we are witnessing from the Katrina disaster, this study may seem out of place. However, I think the timing is perfect. It is the joy of the Lord that is our strength in any situation, and we can and should have joy in Him in any and every situation.

Let us also consider that this kind of suffering is going on every day in our world, though most of it is not in a place where the media can focus on their suffering.  Therefore, they do not get the attention...