Read an Excerpt
THE SPIRIT POWER Volume II
By Grace Dola Balogun
BALBOA PRESS
Copyright © 2011 Grace Dola Balogun
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4525-4202-7
Chapter One
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT FAITHFULNESS
Faithfulness extends from growing in a relationship with God to growing in relationships with others. It means fellowship and developing friendships with other believers. Faithfulness produces deep assurances that make us connected to God with a bond of perfection that cannot be broken and that will extend into eternity. God's faithfulness to us in this world, through our Lord Jesus Christ, leads us to faithfulness to Him and other people around us. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. God the father calls us, even when we are in sin and trespass against Him, into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Faithfulness stands at the heart of who God is and what He wants to do through us, which is based on our commitment and trust. Our faith will help us to trust in the Lord. The Holy Spirit will continue to produce the fruit of faith in us, so that when we make a promise to go to church, we will go. When we make a commitment we will honor it. We will be consistent and reliable, and prove, with all of our strength, every aspect of our faithfulness. Faithfulness means that we will be able to carry out all of our efforts faithfully and to give our best to the Lord in our relationship with him. All believers in Christ must be faithful in all areas of their lives, whether in little things or big things. Faithfulness means keeping our promises, getting to work on time, doing our best in our jobs, being faithful to our fellow co-workers, managers, and supervisors around us, being faithful to our spouses, friends, and relatives, and being especially faithful to our children and grandchildren. We must remain faithful by making good decisions that will help them in any particular situation or circumstances and seeking the good of others in our decision-making, at all times. Believers do their best in working for the glory of God, not for the praise of any human being. They know that their entire job is a divine appointment is from God. It is doing God's work, achieving God's purpose in our lives and being faithful. As believers bear this fruit of the Spirit, faithfulness, God will be able to produce more and more fruits in us. Believers will experience decreases in faithfulness to God if they stop reading the word of God, or stop living in a close and good relationship with the Lord. They will also find that they begin to spend less and less time in prayer and that their faith will begin to shake. Faithfulness is one of the most important fruits of the Spirit that no believer should neglect. And the Lord said, "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." Lk.17:6. As a mustard seed, means that if we trust God with all our problems and if we pray to him with faith, He will answer that prayer, if it is according to His will. He will grant our requests according to His riches in glory. Believers must take their minds off of themselves, their parents, husbands and wives, children, and off of any circumstances, and focus completely on the Lord, the author and finisher of our faith. We need to see Jesus and what He has done for us and through us for other people. Through the power of the cross and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are healed. By reading the word of God, we are increasing our faith everyday and continuing our fellowship with Him. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rm.10:17. By entering the truth of the word of God into our heart, we increase our faith. Believers must combine their faith with the faith of others by sharing, maintaining fellowship with God, teaching, learning, conducting Bible studies, and teaching others about what God says in so many areas, such as believing, miracles, healing, provisions and divine appointment for the children of God. Believers must be doers of the word of God, not hearers alone, follow God's commandment through His word, and maintain intimate relationships with the Lord until the word of God stays in their hearts permanently. "For verily I say to you, That whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be you removed and be you cast into the sea and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says. Therefore, I say to you; what things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them." Mk.11:23–24. The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of faith with the love of God in our hearts. "But without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb.11:6. In the midst of temptation, He remains faithful as He fulfills His promises. Apostle Paul stated that even we are faithless, "But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in Him was yes." 2Co.1:18–19. God remains faithful and true. God remains faithful to New Testament believers by fulfilling all of the promises in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, God's faithfulness and his covenant love were closely related, "Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." Dt.7:9. The most profound example of faithfulness is the bond between God and the people of Israel. Even though the people of Israel were unfaithful to God, God let them know that He is married to them in faithfulness and that they must acknowledge the Lord. "I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord." Hos.2:20. God was looking for righteousness, justice, steadfast, love, kindness, and faithfulness in His people. In the same way, He wants us to demonstrate faithfulness to him and sincere, love, and compassion for others.
The Israelites were expected to respond with faithfulness to God, because He had acted faithfully to them through the covenant. King David, Joseph, Abraham, and other godly people in the Old Testament, chose to walk the ways of faithfulness and truth. Just as God is faithful, those who believe in Him should exhibit faithfulness and love in their lives. In the New Testament, God acts with faithfulness; He provides for both just and unjust people and rewards those who follow His commandments. "That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Mt.6:4,6. He provides a means of escape in the midst of temptation. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1Co.10:13. Apostle Paul stated that even when we are faithless, God remains faithful and true. God remains faithful to New Testament believers by fulfilling all of the promises in the Old Testament. Christians must respond to God in faithfulness. An example of the faithfulness of New Testament believers is that of Epaphras and Tychicus, both of whom were identified as faithful ministers of Christ, "As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord." Col.1:7,4:7. Apostle Paul remained faithful to God, in spite of tremendous pressures. Timothy selected teachers who would exhibit faithfulness, one of the most outstanding characteristics of Christians. The Holy Spirit of God enables Christians to remain faithful to God and other believers, as well as to nonbelievers. Believers must spend more time praising, thanking, confessing our past, present, and future sins to God, and listening to Him through His word. Faithfulness involves a desire to know God's truth and striving to grow in our understanding of God's purposes for our lives. Faithfulness Stretches you from growing in a good relationship with God, to growing in a good relationship with others, believers and non-believers. Faithfulness means being full of faith, strong or very firm in one's belief, loyal and constant in the performance of duties or services, true to one's work, reliable, and dependable. God is the only one who has always been and will always be faithful to us; he never changes and he will never change. God is always faithful to us, even when we are unfaithful. God always helps us through difficult times and through pleasure. God is always there for us. God is faithful to us because He gave us His only Son our Lord Jesus Christ who paid the price, with His own blood, for our past, present and future sins. God's faithfulness does not depend on what we do or don't do. God is faithful to all believers and unbelievers, to the just and unjust. Faithfulness is one of the most important aspects of the Spirit that helps all believers in Christ to grow in their walk with the Lord. Faithfulness is committing oneself to something, or someone. For example, a faithful believer requires a personal relationship with the Lord and must not wander away from His commitment or promises to the Lord. We must be faithful and trust in God. Prophet Isaiah stated, "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou has done wonderful things, thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." Isa. 25:1. Paul prays, "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded with love." Eph. 3:16-17. Christ dwells in our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit and he produces all of the fruits of the Spirit within us, so that we can be examples of true Christians and share His love with those who do not know Him. The key and most important tool to having all the fruits of the Holy Spirit produced in us, is the word of God that abides in us forever. Believers must learn how to stay in the word of God and to eat the word of God, as someone eats candy or drinks water. "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Therefore, ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own." Lk.16:10–12. Believers must ask God for spiritual strength in order that, when our Lord and Savior establishes His kingdom upon His return to earth on His second coming, all those who believe in Him may participate with Christ in His future kingdom. We believers must ask God to strengthen us through the power of the Holy Spirit that we may be able to faithfully carry out their obligation to the righteous towards both God and our fellow man. Believers must maintain strong faith in the Lord by simply having faith in Him and trusting Him. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Heb.11:6. Also, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not yourselves; it is the gift of God." Eph 2:8.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
GENTLENESS
Gentleness is not something we can achieve through our own efforts; we must rely upon our Lord and Savior to help us so that we may respond to earthly troubles with gentleness, tenderness, and quiet spirits. Jn. 16:13. One the greatest blessings of the fruit of gentleness is that it takes us from the burden of self-defense and self-promotion, to understanding how many people strive to prove themselves to other people. Believers must yield all authority and glory to God, stand before Him in humility, surrender all to him, and stand in position to do his bidding at all times. Self-control through the Holy Spirit is not a daily discipline; it is a fruit of the Spirit. It is not a list of rules, but a guiding principle that comes from the Spirit. It means behavior focused on doing the will of God and the will of God alone. By totally surrendering ourselves to God's control, the spiritual fruit of self-control will come. We cannot master our own lives; this can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God will help us to control, respond, yield, and surrender to the will of God. Gentleness is not something we can achieve on our own. We must rely upon the Lord to help us respond to all of life's afflictions with gentleness, tenderness, and a quiet spirit. Gentleness is a great blessing that frees us from the burdens of selfishness, self-defense, and self-promotion. Some people continue to build themselves up in order to gain approval or praise from people. They are struggling to move themselves to high positions, where people will look at them with high hopes, or they are competing with other people around them. Whereas, we see a godly person who yields all honors, all glory, all dominion, all power to God, in the Spirit of submission. Believers must yield all authority, glory, and power to God, stand before him in humility, be ready to follow His commands at all times, and always be ready to help others who are in need of help. Let us totally give ourselves to Christ and receive the strength that will develop the Spirit of humility and meekness in us, to be able to understand the true meaning of gentleness. We must try our best to let our gentleness be known to all. The Lord is near, and the time is now. Gentleness is the same as meekness. A believer with the fruit of gentleness has compassion to control what is not going well in his life and the lives of others. A gentle person always has things under control; a gentle fruit believer will always correct wrongs and have the power of the Spirit and strength to function in any situation. Paul stated, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another with love." Ehp.4:2. People with gentle spirits always care for others and always bring injustice to light so that it can be corrected. Believers with the fruit of the Spirit of gentleness possess more strength under the control of the Holy Spirit. Gentleness has never been a sign of weakness in the life of a true Christian; it has always been exercising power and control in a gentle manner that comes from God. God is the God of power, might and love. "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light, and ye shall find rest unto your soul." Mt.11:29. "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach and patient." 2Ti2:24. Our Lord emphasized that we will have a just and good Spirit towards others if we approach them with the Spirit of gentleness. Apostle Paul reminded the people in Thessalonica that he was gentle among them and treated them as a nursing mother cherishes her new born baby, "But we are gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, but also our own souls. Because ye were dear unto us." 1Th.2:7–8. With these words of the Scriptures, it shows that God does not want any believers, His children, to treat their fellow human beings badly. God's nature is to be merciful, kind, and gentle towards people, especially the people who are in the world. Believers must be an example for them, so that they can be converted when they see our gentle character revealed in everything we do. Apostle Peter, in his epistle, encourages women to be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet Spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1Pe.3:4. Apostle James emphasizes to us that, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, them peaceable, gentle, and easy to be treated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." Jas. 3:17. Believers must learn to exercise and express a genuine love for others around them to believers and non-believers with the fruit of heavenly wisdom from above in a pure, peaceable, gentle, and kind manner.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from THE SPIRIT POWER Volume II by Grace Dola Balogun Copyright © 2011 by Grace Dola Balogun. Excerpted by permission of BALBOA PRESS. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
