What does it mean to be gentle? What does it mean to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, the character of Jesus, in gentleness? How was Jesus gentle, and how can we honor God the Father by being like Jesus in gentleness? Jesus said we give glory to the Father when we are fruitful and prove that we are his disciples. To be a disciple is to follow and be shaped by the way of the rabbi, and live as he lives. We are gentle because Jesus is gentle. We allow the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Jesus, to work in us and through us to produce the same fruit that Jesus had in his life. We abide in the vine, and the vine produces fruit through us.

God is faithful. What does it mean for us to be faithful? And what does it mean for us to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to produce the faithfulness that Paul would equate to the very fruit of the Spirit? The Spirit of God, who is faithful, desires to work in us toward our faithfulness to God. We are not alone in our endeavor of honoring God, but God is with us, working in us and through us to produce out of our lives the fruit, the character, that He Himself exhibits.

Goodness, the third in a series of character qualities that the Spirit wants to work in and through us that have a direct impact on our relationships around us. Patience, Kindness, and Goodness can be seen as being more predominantly about our relationships with people. It makes sense. Paul says in Galatians 5:14-15, and in Galatians 6:1-2, which surround this conversation of the Spirit's fruit, that we must be intentional to work at having good relationships in the body of Christ.

What does it mean to be kind? And what does that look like when we talk about kindness as a fruit of the Spirit of the Living God? If God wants to produce in us kindness, in the same way that Jesus was and is kind, what will our lives look like? How will they change in comparison to the rest of the world around us? If Scripture says it is the kindness of God that leads people to repentance, does that really mean kindness is that important?

Patience might be the character trait that gets tested the most. But when Paul writes about patience as a fruit of the Spirit, what is it that he has in mind? Is it simply being able to wait patiently, or is there more to this word that some translations write as "long-tempered", "long-suffering", and "forbearance"? There is more to patience than being simply patient!

The Bible talks about different aspects of peace. It talks about having Peace with God, this is having a confidence in salvation that is only through faith in Jesus Christ, by God's grace. There is also the peace we feel in our hearts and minds as we learn to not be anxious, but seek first the kingdom of God. And there is the peace that grows in us as we grow in Christian community. This requires making peace, pursuing peace, and learning to truly love one another.

As we continue our journey through Galatians 5 and the Fruit of the Spirit, we are taking this week to look at Joy. What does it mean to have the Joy found in the Holy Spirit? Is it being happy all the time? Is it having no worries, no problems? Or is it more? Scripture tells us that it was Joy that was set before Jesus that gave him the strength and courage to endure suffering and brutal execution on the cross. Is that kind of joy available to us?

Paul tells us in Galatians 5 that there is meant to be an outcome in our lives of the Spirits work. Fruit. What is that? How does that happen? And how do we experience the fruit of God's Spirit growing in and out us?

Galatians 5:16-26 says that we are to walk by the Spirit. What does this mean? Are we changed first, experiencing the fruit of the Spirit so that we can adhere to the call that God has for us, or do we make choices before, which allow the Holy Spirit to produce in us the fruit He alone can produce? We follow by being close to the Holy Spirit, listening to his direction, and obeying.

What does it mean to be brought into the Kingdom of Heaven as a follower of Jesus, who modeled a perfectly Spirit baptized life? The promise of the Father (the Holy Spirit) was made by Jesus and fulfilled on Pentecost in Acts 2. What does that mean for us today, 2000 years later?

Some see the Holy Spirit only as power, some see Him only as the seal, the guarantee of our eternal inheritance, but the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, who wants to know you and be known by you. Does He have power? Of course. He is God. Is he the seal, guaranteeing our inheritance? Of course. Ephesians tells us so. But He is much more.

Peter, quoting the prophet Joel in Acts 2:17 tells us that when the Spirit of God came at Pentecost it was the fulfillment of a prophecy that God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh, that the sons and daughters would prophesy. There is not one Holy Spirit for men, and another for women. And the Gifts of the Spirit are exactly that, the gifts of the Spirit, not of our human flesh. In light of recent events, we take a look today at what the Bible says about men and women in relation to ministry and gifts within the church.

As we have gone through the book of Ephesians, it is apparent that Paul relies on the Holy Spirit for the formation of the church, both individually and corporately. He consistently points the believer to the work of the Spirit. What is the work of the Spirit? How do we engage with that work? And what does it look like to live a life filled and overflowing with the Spirit of God?

Paul finishes his thoughts on the armor of God with prayer. Clothe yourself with the armor of God, and clothe everything in prayer. Be alert, praying for yourself, and for the body of Christ. Paul brings back his earlier encouragement that we are a body, united in Christ, working to attain the unity of the Spirit, so that when all members are working properly we grow! He also asks that they pray for him, as he ministers the gospel. May we all hear that prayer, and pray that prayer for the body of Christ, that we may declare boldly the truth, the mystery of the gospel, for which we are ambassadors, to a lost and hurting world!

This week we get to the last piece of armor that Paul talks through in Ephesians 6, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Continuing the imagery of a soldier wearing armor, Paul encourages us to stand together, and move together, in unity, for our protection and growth. Paul also does not mention the primary weapon of attack that the Roman soldier carried. Why is that? What does this mean for spiritual warfare? And if the sword is the word of God, is this the written word, is this God speaking to us in the moment, is this the leading of the Spirit?

In verse 17 Paul talks through the final two pieces of armor, the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit. These are so important that we will split them into two weeks. The helmet of salvation protects the mind from the attack of lies and "all that would present itself against the knowledge of God."

In Ephesians 6:16 Paul tells the believer that we need faith, and not just faith, but faith like a shield, because the enemy is not quiet or inactive. Flaming darts are hurled at the Christian. The design and purpose of the enemy is to destroy. How does faith help? Faith is trust. Trust leads to obedience. If I trust God, I will listen and obey. When I walk in the shadow of the Almighty, He is my shield!

Having encouraged the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness as the first two items to put on, Paul now adds the "shoes...the readiness given by the gospel of peace." Scripture says, blessed are the feet of those who bring good news. The gospel is the good news, and it is a gospel of peace. Peace between God and man, and peace in humanity when we believe and follow Jesus together.

Once Paul gets to Ephesians 6:14, he starts to describe various pieces of armor. We look at the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness in verse 14. What does it mean to put on truth every day, like a belt? What does it mean to put on righteousness every day, like a breastplate? And what does it mean to be righteous? Are we putting on our good works? Is it what Christ has done for us? Is it some sort of combination of both?

Continuing through the book of Ephesians, we slow down as we get to Ephesians 6:10-20. Paul has been laying a framework, what the world does and should look like based on God's truth. And now he will describe for those reading what is needed to withstand the evil in the world around us. There is evil, there is a spiritual realm, and our world is affected by it. We must be aware, but not afraid. We must be prepared, but not burdened. Christ is Lord over all!