Walk Worthy

As I was studying Galatians 5;22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Gentleness: power with reserve

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)

Walk: to regulate one's life, to conduct oneself

Worthy: suitable because recognized as fitting; having worth that "matches" actual value

Calling: used of God inviting all people to receive His gift of salvation – with all His blessings that go with it

Were called: invited

Lowliness: humility

Gentleness: meekness ("gentle strength") which expresses power with reserve and gentleness

Longsuffering: patience, forbearance, slowness in avenging wrongs; embraces steadfastness and staying-power; long-tempered (as compared to short-tempered)

Bearing with: "still bearing up," even after going through the needed sequence (course of action)

Love: which centers in moral preference

Endeavoring: to move speedily by showing full diligence (fully applying oneself)

Keep: properly, maintain, preserve

Unity: oneness, equivalent to unanimity, agreement

Bond: a bond (close union); a close (inner) identity which produces close harmony between members joined closely together

Peace: wholeness, harmony

http://biblehub.com/interlinear/ephesians/4-1.htm

Walk worthy. 

Those two words pack a powerful punch. 

Am I living my life that I am recognized as one who has accepted God's gift of salvation? There is no question as to how that is to look. We are told in Ephesians 4, and Galatians 5:22, 23. 

Today's focus is gentleness. A meekness ("gentle strength") which expresses power with reserve and gentleness. Just because I have the strength, power, I need to reign it in, and respond with reserve. Handle situations and people carefully. 

Walk worthy.

Character of Dependability — The "Ds"

As I was studying Galatians 5;22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Faithfulness: character of dependability

I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:4-6 (NKJV)

Faithfulness is Directional

• hearing of your love and faith which you have toward
• Toward: motion towards to interface with; literally, moving toward a goal or destination

Faithfulness is Definite

• toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints
• It's not a random goal, rather it's specific — to the Lord Jesus and then the saints. 

Faithfulness is to be Dispersed

• sharing of your faith
• Sharing: something in which one has participation
• Faithfulness is active and because you have taken part in God's salvation, a natural progression is to share that faith with others. 

Character of Dependability. Faithfulness toward Christ, then followed toward the saints, all with the underlying understanding of what God did for me — His gift of salvation. 

Amazing Prayer

As I was studying Galatians 5;22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Goodness: beyond being good — doing good

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,  that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NKJV)

Pray: with a specific result in mind

Count you worthy: matching value to actual substance – i.e. worth as it corresponds to reality

Fulfill: to make complete in every particular; to render perfect

All: any and every, of every kind

Good pleasures: delight, pleasure, satisfaction: with the genitive of the thing that pleases

Goodness: uprightness of heart and life; beyond being good — doing good

Work:  the course of conduct which springs from faith

Power: "inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth"

Glorified: viewed in high, personal esteem, befitting great (intrinsic) worth

According to:  in consequence of, by virtue of

Grace: "the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues"

http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_thessalonians/1-11.htm

That is why [To that end; In this regard] we always pray for you, asking our God to ·help you live the kind of life he called you to live [make/consider you worthy of his calling]. We pray that with his power God will ·help you do the good things you want [ fulfill every desire for goodness] and ·perform the works that come from your [every work of] faith.  We pray all this so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will ·have glory [be glorified] in you, and you ·will have glory in him [ in him]. That glory comes from the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (EXB)

What an amazing prayer. A prayer with a specific RESULT in mind. A prayer that one's faith be real, evident and truly lived. A prayer that I need to pray for myself and others. A prayer where the results are possible, because of God's goodness! 

Ultimate and Highest Example of Kindness

As I was studying Galatians 5;22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared . . . Titus 3:4

Kindness: favorable attitude — that is serviceable

But—there is a contrast from Titus 3:1-3 to verse 4. 

The apostle takes the advantage of the above character of himself, and others in their former state, to set off and magnify the grace of God in their conversion; so contraries, as black and white, illustrate each other. John Gill's Exposition

The act of redeeming us was one of great kindness, or goodness. The plan of salvation was founded on love to man, and was the highest expression of that love. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

This is a very practical Epistle. See how closely Paul keeps to the doctrines of grace. He never teaches that we are to be saved by works; but, being saved by the grace of God alone, and being made heirs according to the hope of eternal life, we are then, out of gratitude to God, to abound in everything that is good, and holy, and kind, and after the mind of Christ. Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible

We have the ultimate and highest example of kindness in God Himself. For there is no way for us to earn or deserve salvation. It is only by His kindness and mercy that salvation is provided. We are to show that same kindness to others, and the only way to do that is through allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us. 

The fruit of the Spirit is  . . . kindness. 

Favorable attitude — that is serviceable. Kindness is action. 

What Do the Facts Support?

As I was studying Galatians 5;22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Kindness: favorable attitude — that is serviceable

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,  in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,  by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,  by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;  as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (NKJV)

Commend: referring to facts "lining up" with each other to support something

Ministers: servants, those through whom God carries on his administration on earth; the root of this word means: 'to kick up dust,' as one running an errand"

I am to be kicking up dust, as I am hurriedly and obediently sharing the love of God with others. The facts surrounding my life should be that of kindness. A favorable attitude — that is serviceable. I am not to be kind in only words, but in actions. 

Do the facts support that my attitude is put into action? Do I "do kindness"? 

My prayer is: That in all things the facts state that I am indeed actively doing what God wants — with an attitude of kindness. 

Extraordinarily Exceedingly - Hebrews

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? Hebrews 2:1-4 (NKJV)

must give: what must happen, i.e. what is absolutely necessary; it behooves, is right and proper; ought

more earnest: "extraordinarily, exceedingly" (J. Thayer); beyond expectation; further than the upper limit, going past what is anticipated

heed: to give full attention; to set a course and keep to it.

heard: to hear (listen), learn

drift away:  spiritually adrift – "sinning by slipping away" (from God's anchor); means to "lapse" into spiritual defeat, describing how we slowly move away from our moorings in Christ.

http://biblehub.com/interlinear/

Just meditating on the meaning of Hebrews 2:1 this morning. The importance of not only hearing and learning God's Word, but applying it to my life. 

It is absolutely necessary that I go above and beyond just hearing God's Word — I must give it full attention, determining to apply it and live it daily. If I don't learn God's Word then it will be easy to be swayed by Satan and the temptations of sin. If I don't know God's Word, I will not have the ability to discern between God's Word and false teachings. 

Extraordinarily exceedingly set a course to follow God — and stay on course! 

My thoughts as I read Hebrews 2:1-4 this morning in preparation for this morning's message. 

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