God's Word on That

Category: Fruits

Studies on the Fruits of the Spirit From God’s Word

  • Study On Goodness

    We have a good God.  If anything good comes to you – even thoughts about someone else – it is from God and should be shared.  Unbelievers are not reading their Bibles; they are reading their Christians.  We have to act as the people set apart that we are – different from everyone else.

    God is good

    Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love… (Ephesians 5:1-2 )

    O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever (1 Chronicles 16:34).

    Give praise and thanks to the Lord of Hosts, for the Lord is good; for His mercy and kindness and steadfast love endure forever… (Jeremiah 33:11)

    They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever toward Israel… (Ezra 3:11)

    For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations (Psalm 100:5).

    And the Lord said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name…” (Exodus 33:19)

    Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant! (Psalm 135:3)

    The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made (Psalm 145:9).

    Everything God crated is good… (1 Timothy 4:4)

    You are good and what You do is good. Teach me Your decrees (Psalm 119:68).

    Your laws are good (Psalm 119:39).

    The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7).

    For You, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You (Psalm 86:5).

    Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O Lord.  Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He instructs sinners in His ways (Psalm 25:7-8).

    May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God… (2 Chronicles 30:18)

    May Your saints rejoice in Your goodness (2 Chronicles 6:41).

    Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him (Psalm 34:8).

    Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:2-3).

    Him who called us by His own glory and goodness…  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness… (2 Peter 1:3, 5)

    As for me, it is good to be near God (Psalm 73:28).

    Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? …  It is better if it is God’s will to suffer for doing good than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:13, 17).

    If you suffer for doing good and you endure, this is commendable before God (1 Peter 2:20).

    So then those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (1 Peter 4:19).

    For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men (1 Peter 2:15).

    Let us consider how we may stir one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).

  • Faithfulness Has Rewards

    Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tables of your heart (Proverbs 3:3).

    To the faithful You show Yourself faithful… (Psalm 18:25)

    May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness (2 Samuel 2:6).

    For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones… (Psalm 37:28)

    God sends His love and His faithfulness (Psalm 57:3)

    Love the Lord, all His saints!  The Lord preserves the faithful… (Psalm 31:23)

    O Lord… in Your faithfulness and righteousness, come to my relief (Psalm 143:1).

    For He… protects the way of His faithful ones (Proverbs 2:8).

    For He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked (Psalm 97:10).

    I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant (Genesis 32:10).

    My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with Me… (Psalm 101:6)

    In My faithfulness I will reward them (Isaiah 61:8).

    I will betroth you in faithfulness… (Hosea 2:20)

    They will be My people and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God (Zechariah 8:8).

    Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

    This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints… (Revelation 13:10)

    This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus (Revelation 14:12).

    Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness (Joshua 24:14).

    Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).

    I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me (Psalm 119:95).

    Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for… (Proverbs 16:6)

    Those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness… (Proverbs 14:22)

    Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much (Luke 16:10).

    Do not plot harm against your neighbor who lives trustfully near you (Proverbs 3:29).

    You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord (2 Chronicles 19:9).

    He who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully (Jeremiah 23:28).

    I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known…  I will declare that Your love stands firm forever, that You establish Your faithfulness in heaven itself (Psalm 89:1-2).

  • We Rely On God’s Faithfulness

    I will give thanks to Thy name, for Thou hast worked wonders, plans for men long ago with perfect faithfulness (Isaiah 25:1).

    But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

    The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

    I will not take My love from Him, nor will I ever betray My faithfulness [let My promise to him fail] (Psalm 89:33).

    His faithful promises are your armor and protection (Psalm 91:4).

    [Jesus] was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house…  Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future.  But Christ is faithful as a Son over God’s house.  And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (Hebrews 3:2, 5-6)

    He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God… (Hebrews 2:17)

    Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

    Abraham… was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise (Hebrews 11:11).

    Your words are trustworthy, Lord, and You have promised (2 Samuel 7:28).

    Jesus Christ … is the faithful witness (Revelation 1:5).

    There before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful And True (Revelation 19:11). 

    A bruised reed He will not break; and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.  In faithfulness He will bring forth justice (Isaiah 42:3).

    Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist (Isaiah 11:5).

    Love and faithfulness meet together. Righteousness and peace kiss each other.  Faithfulness [from Jesus] springs forth from the earth and righteousness [from the Father] looks down from heaven (Psalm 85:10-11).

    He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings – and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers (Revelation 17:14).

    The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness (1 Samuel 26:23).

    A faithful man will be richly blessed… (Proverbs 28:20)

    Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).

    Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (Matthew 24:45-46)

    His master replied: well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share in your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21, 23)

    So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (1 Peter 4:19).

    Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12).

  • Study On Faithfulness

    It is hard to separate Faith from Faithfulness.  Scholars say ,”The degree of faith we have is the amount of the fruit of faithfulness we display.”  I suppose that means that our show of faithfulness indicates how much faith we have.  God has faith in us.  His love does not stop because of a limitation in our faithfulness.  God’s mercies are new every morning. So pick yourself up every morning; re-believe every morning!

    There is very little on what it means to be faithful in the Bible. God is faithful. We learn what faithfulness is by looking to Him.

    Know therefore that the Lord your God … is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands (Deuteronomy 7:9).

    But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15).

    Praise be to the Lord… who has not abandoned His kindness and faithfulness… (Genesis 24:27)

    Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies (Psalm 36:5).   

    For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5).

    It is good to praise the Lord… to proclaim Your love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night (Psalm 92:12).

    The faithful Holy One (Hosea 11:12).

    He is faithful and just… (1 John 1:9)

    For great is His love toward us… and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever (Psalm 117:2).

    [Your compassions] are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23).

    O Lord, God Almighty, who is like You?  You are mighty, O Lord, and Your faithfulness surrounds You (Psalm 89:8).

    Righteousness and justice are the foundations of Your throne.  Love and faithfulness go before You (Psalm 89:14).

    The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy.  They are steadfast, forever and ever; done in faithfulness and uprightness (Psalm 111:7-8).

    To Your name be the glory because of Your love and faithfulness (Psalm 115:1).

    A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He (Deuteronomy 32:4).

    He is faithful in all He does (Psalm 33:4).

    All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful, for those who keep the demands of His covenant (Psalm 25:10).

    The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made (Psalm 145:13).

    If we are faithless, [still] He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. [He can’t go against His nature.] (2 Timothy 2:13)

  • God’s Kind of Gentleness

    God’s kind of gentleness is a meekness + mildness + humility; to be submissive. Meekness does not refer to weakness or passivity, but to controlled power. Humility is a personal quality in which an individual shows dependence on God and respect for other persons.

    And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death… (Philippians 2:8)

    By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you (2 Corinthians 10:1).

    In Your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness (Psalm 145:4).

    Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4).

    I tell you this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 18:14).

    When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come to say to you, ‘give this man your seat.’  And, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. (Luke 14:8-9)

    Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you (James 1:21).

    If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

    I proclaimed a fast so we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him or a safe journey… (Ezra 8:21)

    Seek the Lord all you humble of the land you who do what He commands.  Seek righteousness.  Seek humility.  Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger (Zephaniah 2:3).

    All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves therefore under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5-6)

    Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10).

    Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).

    Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient; to be ready to do whatever is good; to slander no one; to be peaceable and considerate; and to show true humility toward all men (Titus 3:1-2).

    Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let Him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13).

    But the Wisdom that is from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

    Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous a future! (Job 8:7)

  • Study On Gentleness

    Gentleness is defined as the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered; it is softness of action or effect (as in “the gentleness of his touch”). What is the Bible definition of gentleness? The sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. In the Old Testament, gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream ( Isaiah 8:6 ) or by wine flowing over lips and teeth (Songs 7:9 ).

    Gentleness is the quality of being kind and careful. The noun gentleness is perfect for describing the way someone acts when they are soft and calm and sweet to other people.

    … See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation; gentle and riding on a donkey… (Matthew 21:5)

    Take My yolk upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).

    He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11).

    We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children (1 Thessalonians 2:7).

    Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, godliness, and patience (Colossians 3:12).

    But you, O man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

    Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near (Philippians 4:5).

    Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

    The meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:11).

    The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise Him (Psalm 22:26).

    But with righteousness He shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth (Isaiah 11:4).

    He has shown you, O man, what is good!  And what has the Lord required of you?  To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

    Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

    Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

    Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble (1 Peter 3:8).

    Your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, … is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:4).

    Brothers, if someone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently… (Galatians 6:1)

    A gentle answer turns away wrath… (Proverbs 15:1)

    But the Wisdom that is from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

    Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone (Proverbs 25:15).  [Gentleness can do the impossible!]

  • Temperance Is Highly Prized

    Temperament has a great deal to do with our religious views and with the emphases we lay on spiritual matters generally… The Scriptures, critical self-discipline, honesty of heart, and increased trust in the inward operations of the Holy Spirit will save us from being too greatly influenced by temperament. (A. W. Tozer)

    A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered (Proverbs 17:27).

    A patient man has great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly (Proverbs 14:29).

    A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hot-tempered and reckless (Proverbs V 14:16).

    A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control (Proverbs 29:11).

    A quick-tempered man does foolish things and a crafty man is hated (Proverbs 17:17).

    A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension… (Proverbs 15:18)

    An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins (Proverbs 29:22).

    A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty… (Proverbs 19:19)

    Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man; do not associate with one easily angered, for you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared (Proverbs 22:24-25).

    Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife (Proverbs 21:19).

    Better a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32).

    All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man.  But no man can tame the tongue!  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:7-8)

  • Discipline Is Not a Bad Thing

    Be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (Titus 1:7-8)

    He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding (Proverbs 15:32).

    At the end of your life you will groan; when your flesh and body are spent you will say, “How I hated discipline!  How my heart spurned correction!” (Proverbs 5:11-12)

    My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves… (Proverbs 3:11-12)

    From heaven He made you hear His voice to discipline you (Deuteronomy 4:36).

    Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty (Job 5:17).

    Blessed is the man You discipline, O Lord… (Psalm 94:12)

    Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord our God disciplines you (Deuteronomy 8:5).

    He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him (Proverbs 13:24).

    Discipline your son, for in that there is hope.  Do not be a willing party to his death (Proverbs 19:18).

    Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him (Proverbs 22:15).

    Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.  Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death. (Proverbs 23:13-14)

    Discipline your son and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul (Proverbs 29:17).

  • God’s Kind of Self-Control

    God’s definition of self-control is to be strong in a thing, masterful and temperate; it involves temperance and discipline.

    Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding (Proverbs 23:23).

    He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored (Proverbs 13:18).

    Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid (Proverbs 12:1).

    He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray (Proverbs 10:17).

    For these commands are a lamp, this teaching a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way of life (Proverbs 6:23).

    A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence (Proverbs 15:5).

    Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die (Proverbs 15:10).

    When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so we will not be condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:32).

    And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.  Because the Lord disciplines those He loves and punishes everyone He accepts as sons.”  Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.  For what son is not disciplined by his father?  If you are not disciplined (and every one undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children.  And not true sons.  Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respect them for it.  How much more should we submit to the Heavenly Father of our spirits and live!  Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:5-11).

    Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline… (Revelation 3:19)

    Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you (Psalm 32:9).

    Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so became a laughing-stock to their enemies (Exodus 32:25).

    They turned their backs to Me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again they would not listen or respond to discipline (Jeremiah 30:33).  

    Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline (Jeremiah 17:23).

  • Study On Self-Control

    God made us to have control, but the devil perverts this in us so we think we are to control others and all things.  God wants us to only worry about controlling ourselves.  Our spirit should control our body.  Satan has no material body and wants to use ours for his wickedness.  Therefore we must give our spirit total control.  Satan is an extremist – God is not.  Satan offers pleasures but they always come with a price.  User your spirit to renew your mind, then use your mind to control your body. 

    We develop discipline by being faithful in small things and gradually moving on to bigger things.  Be patient; discipline takes time.

    For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

    When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.  What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? (Romans 6:20-21)

    For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. (Romans 7:5)

    The mind of sinful man is death.  But the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace…  Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you… (Romans 8:6, 8-9)

    … Let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled…  Since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love… (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8)

    The proverbs of Solomon… [are good] for attaining wisdom and discipline, for understanding words of insight, for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair. (Proverbs 1:1-3)

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)

    He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. (Proverbs 5:23)

    A wise son heeds his father’s instruction… (Proverbs 13:1)

    Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. (Proverbs 25:28)

    Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit but godliness is profitable for all things… (1 Timothy 4:7-8)

    Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last.  But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

    That each of you should control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable. (1 Thessalonians 4:4)

    … Then come together again so Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:5)

    But the man who has settled the matter in his own  mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will and who has made up his mind… this man also does the right thing. (1 Corinthians 7:37)

    Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

    The end of all things is near.  Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so you can pray. (1 Peter 4:7)

    For this reason 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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

    For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (Titus 2:11-12)

    Therefore prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:13)