Lesson 8

TEXT: Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, <emphasis mine>

Faith: The Building Block of All Virtue

All nine fruits of the Spirit form a perfect “singular” fruit within us when studying the fruit of the Spirit. One may separate them into three different groups:

Out of these attributes, we must allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate faith inside of us first. The reason is that “without faith, it is impossible to please God,” or do anything else for that matter. Faith is the fundamental building block of the gospel.[1]

A. The Concept of Faith

To better understand faith, it’s necessary to divide the concept of faith into four different areas:

Ephes. 4:4-5 - There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

The term “faith” here basically means the Gospel message or the truth. Whenever the term “the faith” is used In Scripture, it denotes a proper noun and does not refer to an attitude of the heart.

Acts 16:5 - And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Jude 1:3 - Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.

1 Cor. 12:8-10 - For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; [9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; [10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

As with all the Gifts of the Spirit, the gift of faith is a special supernatural endowment from God to selected saints, and at selected times for a specific purpose. THE MAIN PURPOSE IN ALL THE GIFTS IS TO EDIFY THE BODY OF CHRIST. The Gifts are used for demonstration of the POWER of the Holy Ghost. They are not meant to substantiate or establish the “character” of the individual being used of God in the operation of the specific gift

The Gift of Faith is not tied to one’s personal growth in the Spirit. In addition, just because one does not possess nor operate in the gifts of the Spirit, this does not mean that person is not a fruitful Christian. On the same line of thinking, a person who is functional in the Gifts of the Spirit may not necessarily be a FRUITFUL Christian.

1 Cor. 12:11 - But one and the same Spirit works all these things distributing to each individually as He wills.

Romans 12:3 - God hath dealt to every man the MEASURE < Greek- metron; a limited portion or degree~ of FAITH.

When God planted us in His Kingdom, He planted in us a measure of faith to help us grow in the Spirit of God. If God had not planted this “SEED” of faith inside us, we could not expect to grow in the Lord. Without faith, everything else is futile. Jesus said if ye have FAITH as a grain of a mustard SEED...(Matthew 17:20).

Matthew 13:31-32 - The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown, it Is the greatest among herbs and becomes a tree.

The seed planted inside of us is the WORD OF GOD. However, no matter how perfect or how profound that Word is, without it being mixed with faith, it will not profit us in our growth in the SPIRIT. Prayer and fasting play a major role in our faith-seeds being “sown” to where they grow to become the “greatest” among herbs.

Hebrews 4:2 - For unto us was the gospel (THE WORD) preached, as well as unto them: <speaking of the children of Israel> but the WORD preached did not profit them, not being mixed with FAITH in them that heard it.

The faith mentioned here is the measure of faith God has planted inside of us. Just as the measure of faith inside us grows by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), the Word of God inside of us grows by the increasing of our faith. While this measure of faith is important, it is not what is referred to in

B. The Attribute, or FRUIT of Faith

Faith Defined

Faith as it is listed in Galatians 5:22 comes from the Greek word plstis, which means in essence, “faithfulness.” Defined, faithfulness means “firm and unswerving loyalty and adherence to a person to whom one is united by promise, commitment, trustworthiness and honesty.” It is rendered this way in the following passages: Matthew 2323, Romans 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:2, 4:7 and Titus 2:10. It should be the desire of every believer to hear the Lord Jesus Christ say one day, Well done thou good and FAITHFUL servant. (Matthew 25:21). Paul echoed these sentiments in his writings:

1 Corinthians 4:2 - Moreover It Is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

This is a trait within a believer that does not happen overnight, it must be cultivated, just as regular fruit is cultivated. Only the Holy Spirit can produce this within us.

Daniel 6:1-3 1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom. 2. And over the three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Daniel was a man of an “excellent spirit.” The word excellent In the Hebrew means “preeminent” or “outstanding.” Daniel stood out above all the others because he had an excellent spirit. The quality that made Daniel stand out is the same that makes some Christians stand out more than others today-their level of faithfulness.

Daniel 6:4 - Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find non-occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was FAITHFUL, neither was there any error or fault in him.

Proverbs 20:6 - Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Psalm 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the FAITHFUL of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

The Function Of The Fruit Of Faithfulness In a Believer

1. The first function of faithfulness is to equip believers to exercise stewardship over God’s goods.

Gen 2:15 - And the Lord God took the man, and put him unto the Garden of Eden to dress it and keep it.

God created Adam for fellowship and to care for the Garden of Eden. God wanted man (and still does today) to rule over God’s creation. God is still looking for faithful men today to whom He can entrust His goods. It was Adam’s unfaithfulness that caused God to drive him out of that which he was to rule over.

Genesis 3:23-24 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. [24] So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the Garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword that turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The reason God wants to develop faithfulness in us today is that we will not lose the privilege to rule over the things He has for us in the Spirit. God will bless His people individual with as much as He can trust them to responsibly administer. It’s because of unfaithfulness that God does not entrust one with the gifts of the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit or the wisdom, knowledge and revelations contained in His word. It is only the faithful who are ever fully entrusted with continuous rulership over God’s choicest goods:

Matthew 24:45-47 - Who then is a FAITHFUL and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat In due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over ALL HIS GOODS.

The parable of the talents compares the kingdom of heaven with a man who entrusted his servants with his goods before traveling into a far country. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to the third he gave one talent. Then he went on his journey. When he returned, the master called for an accounting of his servants. The servant with five talents presented His Lord with 10 talents while the one with two talents presented the Lord with four. Both servants heard the words: well done, thou good and faithful servant. (v.21) The servant with one talent admitted he had not been FAITHFUL with the Lord’s goods and that he had fearfully taken the one talent entrusted to him and hid it in the ground. The response to that servant from the Lord is a spiritual warning to all:

Matthew 25:28-29 - Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. [29] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

It is a spiritual principle that God will take His goods from the unfaithful and give them to the faithful. Everyone who has been faithful will receive more, but he who has been unfaithful will lose even what he does have. Verse 28 tells us that the goods of the unfaithful servant will be taken from him and given to someone who will use them wisely.

Examples of the Faithful and Unfaithful

The writer of Hebrews cites the cases of Jacob and Esau as an example of the spiritual principle of the blessings being taken away from the unfaithful and given to the faithful.

Hebrews 12:12-13 - Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; [13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Hebrews 12:16 - Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Esau was the firstborn. He was supposed to be the one to inherit the family blessing from his father Isaac. The birthright was taken from him and given to Jacob because Esau did not have a faithful heart. It was not so much Jacob’s goodness that caused this to happen, but Esau’s own unfaithfulness.

1 Samuel 16:14 - But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

Saul had been chosen to rule over Israel as King. However, when he proved himself unfaithful to that calling, the Lord removed His anointing from Him and gave it to David, a young shepherd boy whom God knew would be faithful.

Matthew 21:43 - Therefore say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

The Nation of Israel was not faithful with the revelation of the promised Messiah, so the Lord took that revelation from them and gave it to the Gentiles, a people who would accept it and be faithful to it. Believers, who are not faithful with their God-given gifts, are in danger of losing them. If you will repent and come back to the Lord, the anointing of the Lord will return upon you.

Romans 11:29 - For the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. (Irrevocable)

Hebrews 12:17 - For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited a blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

*We need to be very careful to be faithful in appreciating and exercising whatever gift or gifts the Lord chooses to bestow upon us individually. We should also earnestly desire spiritual gifts. *

2. The second function of the fruit of faithfulness is to enable believers to experience fellowship with the Heavenly Father.

Moses

Numbers 12:8 - With him will I speak MOUTH TO MOUTH, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant MOSES?

Because of Moses’s faithfulness (Hebrews 3:1), God’s voice was very clear and manifest to his understanding. How often do we complain that we can’t hear the voice of God clearly? WE SHOULD EXAMINE OUR FAITHFULNESS TO GOD.

Jesus

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father that hath sent me.

Jesus had an intimate relationship with the Father. Every time he was faced with a situation He clearly heard the voice of God and immediately discerned what to do.

When the woman was caught in the act of adultery, Jesus was so in tune with the Father, God told him what to write. How do we know God told him what to write? Well, Just look at what happened afterwards! Jesus heard the voice of God and thus, knows exactly how to respond to every situation the scribes and Pharisees put him in.

John 8:26 - I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things that I have HEARD of him.

The reason Jesus and Moses had these type of relationships is made clear in Hebrews 3:1-2.

Hebrews 3:1-2 - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Jesus Christ. 2 Who was FAITHFUL to him that appointed him, as also Moses was FAITHFUL In his entire house.

The reason Jesus was able to hear the Father’s voice so clearly was because He was faithful. Believers today can have the same privilege if we are faithful to God.

The word “faithfulness” also carries the meaning of ‘Trustworthy.” or “trustful.” God does not speak to believers so they can say they have heard His voice. He speaks to those He knows He can trust to follow Him.

3. The third function of the fruit of faithfulness is to enable believers to experience the joy of pleasing the Father.

From the Lord’s response in Matthew 25:21, we see that the faithfulness on the part of a believer produces joy and appreciation within the heart of his Master. Jesus said that He always did those things which PLEASED His Father.

John 8:28-29 - When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things which PLEASE Him.

It should be the desire of every believer to please the Father In everything we do or say. It will only be through faithfulness that we can ever hope to accomplish this. God’s concern is not how much we achieve but whether or not we are doing what He has told us what to do. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will be asked, “Did you do what I told you to do? Were you faithful?”

Proverbs 25:13 - As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so Is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

God Is totally refreshed when He finds a faithful messenger. When we are faithful in the little things, we are a blessing to God! The 11th Chapter of Hebrews lists the great accomplishments of the faithful. It was the faithfulness of these men and women that made them great. The Church needs to repent of making “faith” a “Golden calf.” Most use God for the sole purpose of getting some personal desire and nothing else. That is why some Christians grow weary of standing in faith during their trials. They are not standing to please God, they are

When the desired result doesn’t take place, they fall back on the arm of the flesh because all they ever wanted was to obtain some result that would spare them from suffering or deliver them from some trial. It’s time we get our eyes off the results of our faith and onto the will and plan of God for our lives.

Luke 16:10 - He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

The word “least” is used here to denote that which a person already has in their possession. It is a very strong spiritual principle that when a believe demonstrates that he is faithful with the least of his possessions then God can bestow more important possessions on him. Possessions increase as a person’s proven responsibility increases.

A. Past Vows

Eccles. 5:4-6 - When you vow a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. [5] Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. [6] Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

We should keep the vows we make and have made to God. God will destroy the work of those individuals who make foolish vows. Furthermore, he will not build on something His word says He will destroy.

B. Family Life

Gen. 18:19 - For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Husbands should ask themselves, “Am I loving my wife as Christ loved the Church?” (Eph. 5:25) Wives must ask themselves, “Am I submitting to my husband in everything as the Church is subject unto Christ?” (Eph. 5:24). Parents should ask themselves, “Are we raising our children up in the way they should go?” (Prov. 22:6). Children must individually ask themselves, “Am I obeying my parents in the Lord?” (Eph. 6:1) If we are not being faithful in our family responsibilities, then God cannot bless us with spiritual blessings.

Luke 16:12 - And if ye have not been FAIT1~UL in that which is another man’s who shall give you that which is your own?

Our Lord was saying that if we are not faithful with those things that other men (such as our employers) commit to our trust, then God cannot give us that which is our own.

Col. 3:22-23 - Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: [23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Luke 16:11 - Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Paul called money “filthy lucre” in Tim 3:3. There is a correlation between a person’s faithfulness to God and his attitude toward money. A person who maintains a scriptural attitude toward money is a person who God can trust with the “true riches.” True riches means spiritual prosperity. Money alienates people from God more than anything else on earth.

1. The first way money does this is in our thoughts. How many believers are constantly occupied with thoughts such as “How can I pay the bills?” “Where is the money coming from for us to live?” “If the cost of living keeps going up, how will we be able to make ends meet?”

Matthew 6:33-34 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

One of the biggest snares of the enemy is getting believers working so much they have no time for God. They spend all their time trying to earn more money. Jesus gave a clear warning to those who followed him in John’s gospel:

John 6:27 - Labor not for the meat that perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

3. The third way money separates us from God is through our accumulation and possession of It.

2 Cor. 9:7 - Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.

Most believers enter into a grudge match with God when it comes to giving. After they give, then they struggle with thoughts of regret, resentment and even worry after they break down and give. This is a clear indication that theiraffections are on the money, not on God.

1 Tim. 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Giving should be an attitude of the believer. If we are not faithful in our giving, then God will not give us the “true riches.”

3. Faithfulness Is Cultivated By The Knowledge Of God’s Indwelling Presence.

John 8:29 - And he that sent me is WITH ME: the Father bath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. <emphasis mine>

Jesus knew that He was never alone. He had a conscious awareness of the Father’s presence with Him. Because of this, Jesus always did the things that delighted the Father; He pleased God with his faithfulness. Without this revelation, believers will stumble and fall. Paul called the indwelling Christ, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). If we are always conscious of His presence, then we will not stumble.

2 Cor. 6:16 - And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Acts 7:48 - Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

1 John 4:15 - Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

John 14:23 - Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Notice Jesus said, “WE” will come and make “OUR” abode with Him. The Father and the Son through the Holy Ghost have come and taken up residence inside the child of God. Because we are not alone, we can rest on the promise given to us in Philippians 2:13

Philip. 2:13 - For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

The same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in us. When facing persecution and affliction, we must receive this revelation that the greater One who lives within us personally and individually is greater than the Devil, the flesh and the world!

Acts 17:28 - For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring.

1 John 4:4 - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Romans 8:31 - What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Proverbs 20:27 - The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

The believer’s spirit, illuminated by the Spirit of God, becomes the Lamp of the Lord, through which He searches the heart. That’s why we must be quick to confess our sins, to God because He is truly FAITHFUL and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Faithful Christians have this revelation. They are not worried by their faults because they KNOW they have a Heavenly Father who will forgive them. THEY KNOW HE IS FAITHFUL. The greatest defense against unfaithfulness is to keep an honest heart before God. It is in this area that the seed of faithfulness will begin to grow as the Spirit of God helps us recognize our weaknesses and OVERCOME THEM.

[1] Zoschak, Ibid. Each individual lesson on the nine fruits of the Spirit was taken from information from Greg’s book in 1993 The Fruit Of The Spirit, Creation House Publishing, Tulsa, OK., 1993