Mar20-26: The Fruit of the Spirit: The Essence of Christian Character

Teaching Points

1. What were we created for? 

ANSWER:

• Isaiah 43:7—we were created for God’s glory.

2. What is God’s glory?  

ANSWER:

• Exodus 33:18-19—God showed Moses His glory: goodness, mercy, name, and graciousness—His character. 

3. How did we fail to reveal God’s glorious character in our lives?

ANSWER:

• Romans 3:23—All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. 

4. What does God call us to today?

ANSWER:

• 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, etc. —His glory.
• 1 Peter 5:10—His eternal glory.  

OBSERVATION:

• We were created to reflect God’s glory, which is His character.
• Because of sin we fall short, or miss the mark, of revealing God’s glory.
• God wants to restore us to that glory.   

5. How does God plan to do this marvelous change in us?

ANSWER:

• John 1:14—Christ became flesh so we could behold God’s character.
• John 17:24—Christ revealed God’s glory
• 2 Corinthians 3:18—Beholding this glory by faith through the mirror of God’s word (James 1:23-25) we are changed from character to character.  

6. What do we see in Jesus’ face?

ANSWER:

• 2 Corinthians 4:6—The light of the knowledge of the glory of God.

7. What does Satan use to blind us so we can’t see this light?

ANSWER:

• 2 Corinthians 4:4—Through unbelief.

8. Which God is this that reveals this light? What are two things about God that Satan is trying to hide from us?  

ANSWER:

• 2 Corinthians 4:6—The God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness.
• When did God command light to shine out of darkness? Genesis 1:1-3.
• #1) Satan does not want us to believe in God’s creative power because God wants to recreate our hearts and Satan does not want this!   
• #2) Satan is trying to hide the light of the knowledge of God—who God is.

OBSERVATION:

• God wants to transform us by revealing His character in Christ Jesus.
• When we behold Jesus by faith in His word, He can change us into His character.
• What we see in Jesus face is the light of the knowledge of God—this involves the action of the mind to understand—its not just a good feeling but it is an deepening understanding of the character of God which leads to a deep love/respect relationship with God.
• Satan wants to blind our minds to the truth about God’s character and creative power to transform us. 

THOUGHT QUESTIONS:

• Outside of Jesus is there any other way to know God’s character?
• What do we behold in Jesus that causes us to change?
• If we are not being changed are we truly beholding Jesus?
• If we are not being changed is it possible that we are blinded by Satan to God’s true character and His creative power?
• How can we cooperate in this process?

8.  What things are key ingredients that we need in order to experience God’s character?

ANSWER:

• Bible Study: Behold Jesus through the word—John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17—Scripture is our guide and teacher and is able to make a man perfect. Meditate on God’s word (day and night): Psalm 1:2, Psalm 63:6.
•  Earnest seeking God through prayer and Bible study: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 5:6.
• The Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us: John 16:13, 15:26.
• Right thoughts: Philippians 4:8; especially meditating on Christ.

9.  The fruits of the spirit are the essence of Christian character. What have we learned is the key to experiencing these fruits? 

ANSWER:

• John 15:4-6—We must abide in Christ or have a living experience, moment by moment, relationship with Christ.

10.  What can stand in the way of our transformation and relationship with Christ? 

ANSWER:

• Romans 12:2—We must not be conformed to the world but transformed by the renewing of our mind.
• 1 John 2:15—The love of the world will prevent us from experiencing the love of God.
• James 4:4—Spiritual adultery of friendship with the world. 

OBSERVATION:

• Earnest Bible study and prayer, the Holy Spirit, and guarding our thoughts is key to developing a deep loving relationship with Christ. 
• The fruits of the Spirit make up the essence of Christian character. These fruits are all found in Christ. A living abiding relationship with Christ will enable us to have the fruits of the Spirit.
• If we are not manifesting the fruits of the Spirit in our lives than we are not abiding in Christ.
• Loving the world prevents us from experiencing the transformation of character we need and prevents us from having a deep love/ respect relationship with Christ so vital to bearing fruit.

SOP:

• Merely to hear or to read the word is not enough. He who desires to be profited by the Scriptures must meditate upon the truth that has been presented to him. By earnest attention and prayerful thought he must learn the meaning of the words of truth, and drink deep of the spirit of the holy oracles.  {COL 59.5} 
• God bids us fill the mind with great thoughts, pure thoughts. He desires us to meditate upon His love and mercy, to study His wonderful work in the great plan of redemption. Then clearer and still clearer will be our perception of truth, higher, holier, our desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought. The soul dwelling in the pure atmosphere of holy thought will be transformed by communion with God through the study of Scriptures.  {COL 60.1} 
• "And bring forth fruit." Those who, having heard the word, keep it, will bring forth fruit in obedience. The word of God, received into the soul, will be manifest in good works. Its results will be seen in a Christlike character and life. Christ said of Himself, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." Psalm 40:8. "I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me." John 5:30. And the Scripture says, "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6.  {COL 60.2} I beg of you to institute the inquiry, How many of you have the Holy Spirit of God, represented as oil in the vessel with the lamp. Here is the light; you have the truth, the precious gems of truth offered to you--the glorious unfolding of the truth from the Word of God. The coming of the Lord is presented before you, "Prepare to meet thy God." This subject is not dwelt upon half as much as it should be; preparation is essential. God has not given us any time to stop.  {1SAT 181.1}
• There are few who rightly appreciate or improve the precious privilege of prayer. We should go to Jesus and tell Him all our needs. We may bring Him our little cares and perplexities as well as our greater troubles. Whatever arises to disturb or distress us, we should take it to the Lord in prayer. When we feel that we need the presence of Christ at every step, Satan will have little opportunity to intrude his temptations. It is his studied effort to keep us away from our best and most sympathizing friend. We should make no one our confidant but Jesus. We can safely commune with Him of all that is in our hearts. Brethren and sisters, when you assemble for social worship, believe that Jesus meets with you; believe that He is willing to bless you. Turn the eye away from self; look unto Jesus, talk of His matchless love. By beholding Him you will become changed into His likeness. When you pray, be brief, come right to the point. Do not preach the Lord a sermon in your long prayers. Ask for the bread of life as a hungry child asks bread of his earthly father. God will bestow upon us every needed blessing if we ask Him in simplicity and faith. {CCh 294.1} 

 CONCLUSION:

• God created us to reflect the beauty of His character to the world. Because of sin we fail to do this. But God has a plan to restore us through Christ.
• It is by beholding Christ or dwelling intently on Christ, that we can become changed in character like Him.            
• Unbelief can prevent us from seeing the beauty of the knowledge of God’s character and His creative power to recreate us in His image.
• God wants us to develop an understanding, deep, love/ respect relationship with Him.
• Earnestly we should seek God through prayer and diligent Bible study, meditating constantly (day and night) on Him.
• The Holy Spirit is the agent God uses to teach us truth and guide in our relationship with Christ.
• A living relationship with Christ is the key to developing the fruits of the Sprit.
• The love of the world and conforming to it will prevent us from having this love relationship with Christ and developing the fruits of the Spirit.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Are you beholding Christ earnestly longing to become like Him in character?
• Where are your thoughts? Are you constantly thinking about things of the world or are you constantly thinking about heavenly things?
• Do you trust Jesus to have full control of your life by faith?
• Are you seeking to align your life with the principles of God’s word through Christ?
• Are you pleading for the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of God’s word?
• Do others see that you have been with Jesus or do they see a person just like the world?
• Are you meditating day and night on God’s word?