This picture is commemorative stamp issued in 1956, in honor of Labor Day. There is a slogan on the lower, left-hand corner. It is from Thomas Carlyle from the early 1800’s : “Labor is Life.”

In a sense that is true. We must work to survive. In fact, the early church had some problems with freeloaders taking advantage of the generosity of Christians. So the Apostle Paul taught...

2Thess 3.10-12 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

WE’RE DOING THIS SERIES ABOUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, BUT WE’RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF GOD?
HOW AWESOME IS HIS CHARACTER? (selah)
AND, BECAUSE HIS SPIRIT IS IN US, WE HAVE ACCESS TO GOD’S CHARACTER…THE CHARACTER OF ALMIGHTY GOD?

IN THE FIRST 3 PARTS WE LOOKED AT
“THE WORKS OF THE FLESH.” AND SUFFICE IT TO SAY…
OUR OLD CARNAL NATURE IS MESSED UP.
WE’VE READ THE LIST IN GAL. 5:19, 20…AND IT’S A PITIFUL (BUT ACCURATE)… REPRESENTATION OF FALLEN MAN.

THE FRUIT OF THE LOVE (part 3)

OUR TEMPERAMENT IS AT THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE, AND OUR PERSONALITY IS THE FACE WE PUT ON FOR OTHERS TO SEE. BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT A PERSON IS LIKE, YOU NEED TO KNOW THEIR CHARACTER.

I HEARD SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT A POLITICIAN THIS WEEK, AND HE SAID… “THEY HAVE A VERY WEAK CHARACTER.”

WELL, THINK ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF GOD?
HOW STRONG AND AWESOME IS HIS CHARACTER? (selah)
AND, WOULDN’T IT BE REMARKABLE IF WE COULD HAVE HIS CHARACTER?...THE CHARACTER OF ALMIGHTY GOD?

GOD, BY HIS SPIRIT WANTS TO REVEAL HIS CHARACTER AND LIFE TO OUR WORLD THROUGH THE CHURCH…AND OUR SOURCE TO HIS CHARACTER IS…THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
IT’S GOD’S OWN SUPERNATURAL CHARACTER QUALITIES.

LAST WEEK, BEFORE WE READ THEM, WE FIRST LOOKED AT OUR CHARACTER APART FROM CHRIST…
THE BIBLE CALLS IT…. “THE WORKS OF THE FLESH.”

WE ALL DESIRE TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS.
THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE….RIGHT?!
TO WALK IN OUR WORLD TODAY IN SUCH AWAY, THAT OTHERS SEE CHRIST IN US….THAT THE INVISIBLE QUALITY OF HIS LIFE AND CHARACTER WOULD BE MANIFESTED THROUGH US. AMEN?

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THE WAY I REACT TO LIFE IS MANY TIMES THE OPPOSITE OF HOW JESUS WOULD RESPOND.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT…
#1…GOD IS COMMITTED TO PRODUCING CHRIST’S CHARACTER IN YOU AND ME…HE’S COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMING US INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST…tell someone…..HE’S COMMITTED.
LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, “HE LOVES YOU THE WAY YOU ARE, BUT...”

#2…HE’S GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT. (SELAH)
THE “HOLY” SPIRIT OF GOD….IS IN YOU, AND SO HIS SUPERNATURAL LIFE AND POWER IS AVAILABLE TO US. (2X)