Hope For the Nations, Apr. 3, 2014

*1 Thes. 1:5-6 – Gospel comes with: (1) Words, (2) Power of the Holy Spirit, (3) Proven Character and Integrity.

  • 1 Thes. 2:1-12 – Character:
    • v. 2 – suffered, had conflict; spoke boldly
    • v. 3 – exhorted truthfully, purely, honestly
    • v. 4 – spoke to please God
    • v. 5 – no flattery, no ulterior motives
    • v. 6 – no self-glorification 
    • v. 7 – gentle (like a mother)
    • v. 8 – gave over our lives
    • v. 9 – worked diligently to not be burden
    • v. 10 – devout, just, blameless
    • v. 11 – exhorted, comforted, charged people (like a father)
  • 1 Cor. 2:1-5
    • v. 1 – came simply
    • v. 2 – focused message
    • v. 3 – weak, fearful, trembling
    • vv. 4-5 – reliance on Holy Spirit
  • John 1:14 – “full of grace and truth”

*Eph. 1:13 – upon heart-belief in gospel, you receive the Holy Spirit

  • Gal. 5:19-23 – “works of the flesh” vs. “fruit of the Spirit”
    • Matt. 7:21-23; 1 Cor. 13 – fruit of Spirit > gifts of the Spirit
      • Matt. 10:1-4; Luke 10:17-20

*1 Cor. 3:6-7 – God ALONE is able to grow the fruit of His Spirit in you

  • Rom. 5:3-5; Heb. 12:3-11; 1 Pet. 4:1-2 – He uses suffering and trials
    • Acts 9:15-16; 2 Cor. 11:22-12:13 – suffering is set alongside gifts of Spirit as sign of an apostle
    • Lev. 24:1-2 – our testimony comes through suffering
    • Song of Songs 5:2-6:2; Job 23:1-10; Matt. 11:1-6 – even times where God seems absent are necessary
    • 2 Cor. 4:8 – extent of suffering = fully pressed, but not utterly crushed
  • Rom. 8:1-11 – “the law of the Spirit…has made me free from the law of sin and death” (8:2)

*Fruit of the Spirit is THE EVIDENCE that you’ve truly believed and are saved

  • John 5:24 and 1 John 3:14 – fruit of the Spirit is THE EVIDENCE of true faith
  • Matt. 25:31-46 – not a checklist of rules, but evidences of the fruit of the Spirit
  • Gal. 5:22-23; Heb. 10:14; etc.