The Fruit Of Spiritual Maturity

The Fruit of Spiritual Maturity By Charles F. Stanley -Spirit controlled character Galatians 5:22-25 (GWT) 22- But the spiritual nature produces love,joy,peace,patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness, 23- gentleness,and self-control. There are no laws against things like that. 24- Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. 25- If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature. -Stability of sound doctrine I Timothy 4:6(GWT) You are a good servant of Christ Jesus when you point these things out to our brothers and sisters. Then you will be nourished by the words of the Christian faith and the excellent teachings which you have followed closely. -Passion for Christ and His calling Philippians 3:7-14 (GWT) 7- These things that I once considered valuable, I now consider worthless for Christ. 8- It's far more than that I consider everything else worthless because I'm much better off knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It's because of him that I think of everything as worthless. I threw it all away in order to gain Christ 9- and to have a relationship with him. This means that I didn't receive God's approval by obeying his laws. The opposite is true! I have God's approval through faith in Christ. This is the approval that comes from God and is based on faith 10- that knows Christ. Faith knows the power that his coming back to life gives and what it means to share his suffering. In this way I'm becoming like him in his death, 11- with the confidence that I'll come back to life from the dead. 12- It's not that I've already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me. 13- Brothers and sisters, I can't consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don't look back, I lengthen my stride, and 14- I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus. -Increasing love for one another I Thessalonians 3:12-13 (GWT) 12- We also pray that the Lord will greatly increase your love for each other and for everyone else, just as we love you. 13- Then he will strengthen you to be holy. Then you will be blameless in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all God's holy people. -Ability to gently exhort others II Timothy 2:24-26 (GWT) 24- A servant of the Lord must not quarrel. Instead, he must be kind to everyone. He must be a good teacher. He must be willing to suffer wrong. 25- He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth. 26- Then they might come back to their senses and God will free them from the devil's snare so that they can do his will. -Discernment Hebrews 5:14(GWT) However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil. -Godly Wisdom James 3:13-18 (GWT) 13- Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14- But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don't brag. Don't say that you are wise when it isn't true. 15-That kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. 16-Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil. 17- However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful,gentle,obedient,filled with mercy and good deeds,impartial,and sincere.18- A harvest that has God's approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers. -Increasing holiness in behavior I Peter 1:13-16 (GWT) 13-Therefore,your minds must be clear and ready for action. Place your confidence completely in what God's kindness will bring you when Jesus Christ appears again.14- Because you are children who obey God,don't live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn't know any better.15-But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in every aspect of your life.16- Scripture says, "Be holy,because I am holy.