Open Your Heart to God

St Peter’s Church Vic Park

Peace (Greek: eirene, Latin: pax)

Peace is the result of resting in a relationship with God. Peace is tranquillity, a state of rest that comes from seeking after God, or, the opposite of chaos. When a person is dominated by peace, s/he has a calm, inner stability that results in the ability to conduct her/himself peacefully, even in the midst of circumstances that would normally be very nerve-wracking, traumatic, or upsetting...Rather than allowing the difficulties and pressures of life to break him, a person who is possessed by peace is whole, complete, orderly, stable, and poised for blessing.

Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, who brings peace to the hearts of those who desire it. John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Patience (Greek: makrothumia, Latin: longanimitas)

The word patience denotes forbearance, fortitude, patient endurance, longsuffering, the ability to endure persecution and ill treatment. It describes the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat. Hebrews 10:36 says, "For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised."

Kindness (Greek: chrestotes, Latin: benignitas)

Kindness is doing something and not expecting anything in return. Kindness is respect and helping others without waiting for someone to help one back. It implies kindness no matter what. We should live "in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left".

The Holy Spirit removes abrasive qualities from the character of one under His control. (emphasis added) The apostle Paul uses this word to depict God's incomprehensible kindness for people who are unsaved (see Romans 11:22; Ephesians 2:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:11.

Goodness (Greek: agathosune, Latin: bonitas)

The state or quality of being good. The single Greek word chrestotes can be into two English words: kindness and goodness. "Wherefore also we 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". "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth

Faithfulness (Greek: pistis, Latin: fides)

Faithfulness is committing oneself to something or someone, for instance, to one's spouse, to a cause, or to a religion. Being faithful requires personal resolve not to wander away from commitments or promises. It's not always easy to be faithful. Christian faith requires trust in God. Eph 3:16-17 "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith".

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews describes it this way: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Gentleness (Greek: prautes, Latin: modestia)

The Bible describes gentleness as "a disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control. The word is best translated 'meekness,' not as an indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control. The person who possesses this quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his/her own spirit well.” “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted."[Gal 6:1] "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."[Eph 4:2]

Self-control (Greek: egkrateia, Latin: continentia)

The Greek word used in Galatians 5:23 is "egkrateia", which means having command, or "mastery over" (krat- as in "autocrat"), or possession of, "one's own behaviour." Which is accomplished through and by the power of the Lord, "proceeding out from within oneself, but not by oneself." 2 Pet 1:5-7 "...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a biblical term that describes nine characteristics that we can see in a Christian. Or visible attributes of a true Christian life. According to Paul's Letter to the Galatians chapter:5. Though there are nine attributes to the Fruit of the Spirit, the original Greek term translated as "Fruit" is singular, signifying that there is one Fruit, with nine parts. Throughout the Bible, people are likened to trees, and Paul in Galatians 5 explains the fruit which are borne by righteous trees. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23

Fruit of the Holy Spirit

1.Love (Greek: agape, Latin: caritas)

2.Joy (Greek: chara, Latin: gaudium)

3.Peace (Greek: eirene, Latin: pax)

4.Patience (Greek: makrothumia, Latin: longanimitas)

5.Kindness (Greek: chrestotes, Latin: benignitas)

6.Goodness (Greek: agathosune, Latin: bonitas)

7.Faithfulness (Greek: pistis, Latin: fides)

8.Gentleness (Greek: prautes, Latin: modestia)

9.Self-control (Greek: egkrateia, Latin: continentia)

Love (Greek: agape, Latin: caritas)

Agape denotes an undefeatable benevolence. It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes do not fade under any circumstances, and it endures everything without weakening. [Love never becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. Love never fails."

2 John 1:6 defines love as "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."

Joy (Greek: chara, Latin: gaudium)

This means 'joy' is not a human-based happiness that comes and goes but, rather, true 'joy' is divine in its origin. It is a Spirit-given expression that flourishes best in hard times. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, the Thessalonians were under great stress due to persecution; yet in the midst of it all, they continued to experience great joy. The Greek strongly implies that their supernatural joy was due to the Holy Spirit working in them. Paul even called it the "joy of the Holy Ghost". According to Nehemiah 8:10, "The joy of the Lord is your strength",[13] which may be further understood to mean properly as "the awareness (of God's) grace, favour; joy ("grace recognized")".

Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Where these gifts are written in the Bible

The source of the enumeration of "seven" gifts is often given as Isaiah 11:2-3.[5] The term "Holy Spirit" does not appear, but the "Spirit of the Lord."

''A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord — and he will delight in the fear of the Lord''.

These gifts that we receive at Baptism are as follows: Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Fear of the Lord, and Wisdom.

1.Understanding

In understanding, we comprehend how we need to live as followers of Christ.

A person with understanding is not confused by the conflicting messages in our culture about the right way to live. The gift of understanding perfects a person's speculative reason in the apprehension of truth.

2.Counsel (Right Judgment)

With the gift of counsel/right judgment, we know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus.

3.Fortitude (Courage)

With the gift of fortitude/courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or physical harm. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil.

4.Knowledge

With the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Image in courtesy of: http://www.lookingtowardshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Fruit-of-the-Spirit.jpg, retrieved on 12th June 2013

5.Piety (Reverence)

With the gift of reverence, sometimes called piety, we have a deep sense of respect for God and the Church. A person with reverence recognizes our total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Piety is the gift whereby, at the Holy Spirit's instigation, we pay worship and duty to God as our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

6.Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe)

With the gift of fear of the Lord we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love. This gift is described as a fear of separating oneself from God. Describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a child's fear of offending his father, rather than a "servile fear," that is, a fear of punishment. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7) because it puts our mindset in correct location with respect to God: we are the finite, dependent creatures, and He is the infinite, all-powerful Creator.

7.Wisdom