Doing The Right Thing

Galatians 5:22-23 MSG

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Here we are week number nine in our study on the fruits of the spirit. All of the fruits of the spirit have a common thread that bind them together and that is commitment.

As I’ve said before the gifts of the spirit are what we possess inwardly and the fruit of the spirit is what everyone else is suppose to see.

Self discipline or self control Paul listed as the ninth fruit of the spirit not by accident. Because all of the gifts require discipline, but listing the final fruit of the spirit was genius. The old saying, “practice makes perfect” Paul used well.

I read recently, that to become great at something it requires 10,000 hours of practice.

Paul knew to achieve all of the fruits of the spirit, it would require lots of practice.

I’m not sure how many diets have been created to help us watch what goes into our mouth and into our bodies. But the Lord instructed Paul to be mindful of what we let come out into our world and the world around us.

A wise man once told me, “ It is better to remain ignorant and not speak, then to speak and remove all doubt!”

Proverbs 29:11 NKJ

A fool vents all his feelings,[c]

But a wise man holds them back.

From the book a life beyond amazing,

Self-discipline is choosing to do what’s right when you feel like doing what’s wrong. It’s knowing you can, but decide and you won’t. It is the ability to maintain progress forward towards a goal even when you’re not in the mood, don’t feel like making the effort, would momentarily find something else to do more enjoyable, or finding it just downright unpleasant.

TBS.(the Bible says) in Mark 6:34 NKJ

34. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Have you ever heard the old saying, never put off till tomorrow what you can do today?

Clearly whoever coined that phrase, wasn’t thinking in spiritual terms were they?

If your truly trusting God this morning as your one true source, you shouldn’t be concerned, about the what ifs the accuser continually throws at you!

Do you believe, God’s Grace is greater than any problem we will ever face? If your answer is yes, then how can you give into fear or worry?

So your saying to not fear or worry at all, ever? Yes, but more importantly, God’s word says it over and over! Pastor Rick Warren says the words do not fear appear 365 times, do you suppose that’s merely a coincidence?

Then tell me why do so many people, let so much stuff get to them all the time?

Because we’re not focused on the benefits our relationship with Jesus, provides to us!

We try to make it about everything else but our dependency on our relationship with Jesus.

Mark 6:31-33 NKJ

31. “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32. For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The answer to stress free, worry free living, is to seek God, seek out what He wants for you. Have you ever tried it? You might be shocked to find out, what God wants for you!

One word from God is all you need! If you will let Him, if you will give Him a chance, He will show you His capabilities.

A lot of people receive instruction, or a word from God and let it slip through their fingers, without ever having achieved the promise. It’s too hard, it’s to this, it’s to that, I could never be that person.

Achieving a word and promise from God takes faith, trust and the self discipline to keep having faith and trusting God until. Until what you ask? Until the promise comes to fruition!

Why do some people seem to have more in, from and through their relationship with God? Because they trust in God’s capabilities more than their capabilities and they practice the faith and the self discipline of the word until!