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The Summer of the Spirit: Part 10, The Fruit of the Spirit

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 5:13-25, Galatians 6:7-8

Intro:

• Deborah Avenellis introduced, her heart for fostering/adoption.
• Focus: Fruit of the Spirit, overcoming the flesh.
• Deborah’s experience: learning about the Spirit through fostering.
• God’s knowledge of human psychology, trauma-informed care aligns with Spirit’s fruit.
• Addressing weariness, powerlessness, and feelings of failure.

The Fruit of the Spirit: Love in Action:

• Spirit as the third person of the Trinity, our Helper.
• Fruit of the Spirit is singular, all facets of love.
• Agape love: unconditional, a decision, God’s nature.
• Love’s manifestations: joy (spiritual buoyancy), peace (confidence in God’s control), patience (endurance), kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control.
• Fruit reflects God’s love; all should grow in believers.

Sowing and Reaping: Walking in the Spirit:

• Fruit grows by abiding in God.
• Sowing: investing time/energy in God (Word, prayer, fellowship).
• Reaping: fruit reflects where we sow.
• Galatians: freedom from law, living by the Spirit.
• Sanctification: Spirit’s work, daily surrender, not rules.
• Works of the flesh vs. fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-23).
• Repentance: when sowing to the flesh, turn to God.

Connection Correction: God’s Transformative Love:

• Trauma-informed care: connect before correcting.
• Trust and safety come from knowing we are cared for.
• God’s love transforms, not fear or force.
• God’s gentleness, patience, kindness lead to repentance.
• We share God’s fruit, modeling and calling out His work in others.
• Acknowledge God’s goodness in ourselves and others.

Call to Action:

• Search hearts, acknowledge God’s fruit.
• For overwhelmed/hopeless: God loves, walk by His Spirit.
• For sowing to flesh: repent, turn to God.
• Embrace freedom in the Spirit, display God's brilliance.
• Worship, reflection, and heart-searching.

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*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
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