Holy Spirit Lesson 7

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 21:18 Now early in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. 19 After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!” And the fig tree withered at once. 20 When the disciples saw it they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.”

Galatian 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

STUDYING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

1 John 4:7 

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God. ⁸ The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.

Psalm 94:19

When worries threaten to overwhelm me,
your soothing touch makes me happy.

1 Peter 1:3-9

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ This brings you great joy,although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. ⁷ Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.⁸ You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, ⁹ because you are attaining the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Philippians 4:4-9

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near! ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. ⁹ And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

1 Timothy 1:15-16

¹⁵ This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them! ¹⁶ But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.

Colossians 1:9-12

⁹ For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects—bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

Luke 6:2-11

² But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?” ³ Jesusanswered them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry— ⁴ how he entered the house of God, took and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for any to eat but the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?” ⁵ Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

⁶ On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching. Now a man was there whose right hand was withered. ⁷ The experts in the law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a reason to accuse him. ⁸ But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Get up and stand here.” So he rose and stood there. ⁹ Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?” ¹⁰ After looking around at them all, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did so, and his hand was restored. ¹¹ But they were filled with mindless rage and began debating with one another what they would do to Jesus.

Ephesians 4:31-32

³¹ You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk—indeed all malice.³² Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Galatians 6:7-10

⁷ Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, ⁸ because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹ So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

Lamentations 3:22-23,

²² The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases;
his compassions never end.
²³ They are fresh every morning;
your faithfulness is abundant!

1 Corinthians 16:13

¹³ Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong.

Hebrews 12:1-3

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, ² keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”

1 Peter 3:15-17

¹⁵ But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. ¹⁶ Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.

Titus 2:1-8

2 But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching. ² Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. ³ Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good. ⁴ In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited. ⁶ Encourage younger men likewise to be self-controlled, ⁷ showing yourself to be an example of good works in every way. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us.

Titus 2:11-14

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. ¹² It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.

John 15:5

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit,because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.

Matthew 7:15-20

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? ¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.

James 2:14-26

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that—and tremble with fear.

²⁰ But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,”and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.