I have talked and written about this topic several times, but it is something that continues to be on my heart a lot because it happens so much. It seems like everywhere we turn there is fighting, division, and backbiting among the body of Christ. We call ourselves brothers and sisters, but then we are the first to tear each other down.

I see it all the time on social media. There are debates about non salvation issues that quickly devolve into name calling, negativity, and down right being nasty. I spend time in prayer about the issue and thinking about it for a few reasons. One, it is tearing the body of Christ apart. Two, it gives the demons access to our churches and lives. Three, it diminishes the power and focus of the body of Christ. Four, it is a horrible witness to those in the world. We are called to be imitators of Christ, but so many of us cannot stop fighting long enough to show an accurate representation of His character. Many represent more of the character traits of demons and the flesh than that of Jesus, and yet claim spiritual superiority. 

It is time for each and everyone of us to take a long look in the mirror and look at how we treat others, including how we talk to them. We also need to ask God to show us if we are walking the Spirit our our flesh. If we are walking in the Spirit we will look and act more like Him.

I want to share a couple of post I made about walking in the Spirit and encourage each one of us to use them as a measure of our behaviors and interactions with everyone we come into contact with. This is a long read so please feel free to read it in part and come back as needed.

Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

Let’s do some self-reflection as we go through this message. We must ask ourselves: how evident are the fruits of the Spirit in my life? What areas am I strong in and what areas need work?

We cannot change and grow in areas if we do not first acknowledge the need to change and grow.

Love

1 Corinthians 16:14 Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].

Definition:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.

Self-Reflection:

Does your love look like this? Not the love you receive from others because we cannot change anyone else. We can only work to change ourselves so we must look to ourselves and ask: Is my love patient, kind, thoughtful, truthful, does it bear all things (through all storms of life) is it hopeful (does it choose to see the best in others-their God given potential), does it want the best for others (not what I think is best or deserving, but God’s best), does my love endure all circumstances? Is my love based on God or based on my feelings? Do I love others out of the lens of my past, hurt, trauma, rejection, or do I love out of the lens of how God loves me? Do I love based on the patterns I grew up with or do I love how the Bible teaches me to love?

1 John 4:8 The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]

We are required to love others. It is not a suggestion.

John 13:34-35 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”

Why we love:

1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

We do not deserve His love and we could never earn it, but out of His goodness and His heart He chooses to love us.

What it looks like: Love is not based on feeling, it is based on a choice. We love because we choose to love. It is not based on how the other person treats us. We love because God loves us and we choose to love and treat others through His love.

Joy

Definition: delight, the feeling experienced in one’s heart especially as a result of God’s grace, rejoice, cheerful, gladness, joy of faith meaning in and arising from the faith of the gospel.

Nehemiah 8:10 Then Ezra said to them, “Go [your way], eat the rich festival food, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.”

Proverbs 17:22 A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

What it looks like:No matter what we face or what we go through we can have the joy of the Lord in our hearts and that joy comes from knowing who He is and who we are in Him. It is that abiding joy of knowing He is ours and we are His. We belong to Him. Our Father is the Creator of all things, and He sees us and He knows us. He calls us by name and He loves us. No matter what we face the circumstances does not change who we are in Him and that alone brings joy!

His joy is full of peace.

Self-Reflection: Do I have inner joy? How do I handle difficult situations? Do I allow them to strip me of my joy? Do I allow the enemy to come in and take my joy?

[Inner] Peace

Definition: peace of mind, tranquility, arising from reconciliation with God and a sense of divine favor, calm, one who has received the peace of God in their own heart brings peace to others

Where our peace comes from:

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

How to walk in peace:

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

What it looks like: Being in the middle of a storm but walking in peace-relying and a deep knowing of who God is and who we are in Him-that brings peace.

Self-Reflection: How do I react when the storms of life come?

Do we stand on this verse?

Matthew 8:23-26 23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. 25 And the disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us, we are going to die!” 26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness].

Patience: not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting

Definition: long suffering, to endure patiently as opposed to losing faith or giving up, exercising understanding with others, putting up with things or circumstances, Abrahams patient faith in God under the pressure of trying circumstances

Colossians 3:12 So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes.

Romans 5:3-4 And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation].

What it looks like: Having patience with others, ourselves, and God. Patiently waiting on Him and keeping our faith even when life doesn’t look like we thought it would.

Self-Reflection: What is my attitude when I do not get what I want, when I want it?

Kindness

Definition: one who loves his brother, brotherly love, benevolence, hospitable, a friend, tender affection, loving with that natural affection that characterizes members of the same family, useful, to furnish what is needed, good-natured, gentle

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Colossians 3:12 So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,

gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];

Galatians 6:9-10 Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

What it looks like: It means being kind even when we don’t feel like it and even when we do not want to. It means we think before we speak. It is being the opposite of critical, biting, and mean. It means controlling what comes out of our mouths. If we do not have anything kind to say we stay quiet.

Self-Reflection: How do I treat others-not the ones who are easy to show kindness to, but the ones that make it difficult? Do I justify my unkindness? How do I make others feel with my words?

Goodness

Definition: to do good to others, to act for someone’s advantage or benefit, of good character, a lover of being good,

Galatians 6:10 So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

What it looks like: It means thinking about the needs of others, helping others by meeting their needs, give whatever I can for the good of others-using our gifts to build up the body of Christ.

Self-Reflection: What do I do for others? Do I even recognize the needs of those around me?

Faithfulness

Definition: firm conviction, belief in the truth, persuasion is not the outcome of imagination, but based on fact, realistic hope, a technical term indicative of the means of appropriating what God in Christ has for man, resulting in the transformation of man’s character and way of life, nothing doubting

Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. 2 For by this [kind of] faith the [a]men of old gained [divine] approval. 3 By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

What it looks like: It means standing on the truth of God no matter what our lives look it. It means having character that represents our faith in Him. It also means that we are true to our word. What we say we mean and what we commit to we follow through with. We are trustworthy and others can depend on us.

Self-Reflection:

Am I full of faith? Do I walk by faith or are am I tossed to and fro by every circumstance of life? Do I trust God no matter what the circumstances look like? Do I walk by faith and not by sight? Would God consider me a man/woman of faith? Am I faithful toward others? Do I keep my word? Am I dependable?

Gentleness

Definition: yielding, unassertive, appropriate, mild, easy, compliant. It is the grace which pervades the who nature, mellowing all which would have been harsh. The word is descriptive of one’s disposition.

Colossians 3:12 So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];

Zechariah 7:9-10 9 “Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion, to each other; 10 and do not oppress or exploit the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise or even imagine evil in your hearts against one another.’

What it looks like: It is remaining calm, gentle, and loving in all circumstances. It means no matter what is thrown at us we do not lose our temper.

Self-Reflection: Am I gentle or do I respond with anger or aggression when others make me mad?

Self-Control

Definition: not indulging the flesh, the carnal nature or being a lover of pleasure, being sober minded, sound, discreet, of a sound mind, self-disciplined in one’s freedom, self-restrained in all passions and desires

Proverbs 25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls [leaving it unprotected] Is a man who has no self-control over his spirit [and sets himself up for trouble].

2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

2 Peter 1:5-7 5 For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit].

What it looks like: thinking before we speak, considering the consequences of our actions, not just doing what feels right, not living life based on our emotions

Self-Reflection: Am I self-controlled or do I follow and react based on my feelings and emotions? How do I react when I am angry, sad, rejected, etc.?

Final Thought

Mark 7:15-20 A Tree and Its Fruit

“Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them [as false prophets].

Self-Reflection

What does our fruit say about our lives?

What is our lives producing? Do we look and act like Jesus? Do others see, hear, and feel Him when they are around us?

What do others see when they look at us?

Do we think before we speak? Do we speak in love and do we speak life?

James 1:19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

Action Steps

Spend time with God and ask Him to show you areas that need work. Do self-reflection with Him.

Actively seek the fruit of the Spirit and discipline yourself to walk in His fruit.

Choose to walk in the fruit of the Spirit and not live life based on your feelings.

Be an imitator of God.

Walk in full and total surrender to Him.

Link to Video:

Fruit of the Spirit and The Flesh: The War Within

Every single day we have the Spirit of God and our Flesh both warring within us and we choose which we are going allow to work in and through us.

Romans 7:15-20 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do, [that means] I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good (morally excellent). So now [if that is the case, then] it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not. For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it [that is, it is not me that acts], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.

Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.

Through every situation, conversation, choice, and interaction we decide which one we are going to allow to be the outworking of our actions either our flesh or the Spirit.

Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Flesh

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Sometimes we may feel like we cannot change and that we are out of control in our actions but that is not true. The truth is we decide every word that comes out of our mouth, every action we make, and our behaviors.

Steps to Walking in the Spirit Daily

Crucify the Flesh: We do this through prayer, fasting, praise and worship, and a firm dedication to laying down our own personal desires, especially the ones that are contrary to the Word of God. It is a daily conscience choice to lay ourselves down and pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests] and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].

Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Prayer. We must be people of prayer if we want to be people of kingdom purpose. We cannot operate in kingdom purposes if we are not people of prayer first.

John 10:27 The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.

We must take the time to sit really sit with Him and not only talk to Him, but also listen to what He wants to say to us as well.

Luke 10:39-42 “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.”

Holy Spirit. We must learn to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and ask for His leading, teaching, correction, and guidance.

John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].

We must also be careful to avoid quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench [subdue or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.

Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.

Surrender/Obedience: We must seek His will, purpose, and plans-not ours. Jesus was our example in all things, and He exemplified surrender to the Father. The Son of God was fully surrendered to God and that shows us we must fully submit to Him in all our ways. When we accept Jesus as our Savior our lives are no longer ours. We have been bought with a price (Jesus dying on the cross) and now our lives belong to Him. The disciples understood this. When He called them, they laid down everything and followed Him (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

Reading His Word (Bible)

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Matthew 4:4 But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

Be imitators of God. We must seek to look and act more like Him. We must learn to be selfless, love like He loves, see others as He sees them, and have compassion like He has compassion. We should be praying daily to be more like Him. Our prayer should always be to have less of us and more of Him. We must also point to Him in all we do and accomplish.

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father];

1 Peter 2:21 For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps.

Be selfless and not selfish. We must point to Him in all things and understand any good in us comes from Him. We cannot be consumed with self.

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. 4 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 3 But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.

The opposite of this scripture is operating in humility and with a servant’s heart.

Put Him first. In all things He must be first. He will not accept second place in our lives. If we really want to walk in His fullness, He must be first. We must spend time doing self-evaluations to make sure we are not putting anything or anyone above God.

Matthew 22:37 And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

Repentance means to have a change of heart mind, and direction. We must be quick to repent and keep our hearts soft. Letting a little sin in here and there will lead to a hard heart and we must always avoid letting that happen. We can get so desensitized to sin that we no longer even call it for what it is.

Ezekiel 36:26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Hebrews 3:7-11 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as [your fathers did] in the rebellion [of Israel at Meribah], On the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tried Me by testing [My forbearance and tolerance],
And saw My works for forty years [And found I stood their test]. 10 “Therefore I was angered with this generation, And I said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they did not know My ways [nor become progressively better and more intimately acquainted with them]’; 11 So I swore [an oath] in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest [the promised land].’”

1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises] and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].

The bottom line is we have the choice to either walk in the Spirit our to walk in our flesh.

Blessings,

Nichole Henson, Fullness of Joy Ministry

Facebook Ministry Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/351690279198647

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nicholehenson9579/videos

Email: Fullnessofjoyministry@gmail.com