Fruit of the Spirit = The Character of God

LOVE

Everything in the kingdom of God must begin with love. 

Our ability to produce the fruit of joy in our lives is dependent on how we think and what we believe.
 
Romans 12:2
 
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... (NKJV)

When you are controlled by the world, you will be conformed to the world.

Joy isn’t determined by what’s going on around you, it’s determined by Who is living inside you.

Nehemiah 8:10

...the joy of the LORD is your strength. (NKJV)

Joy is believing God’s promises!

Acts 16:16

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. (NKJV)

Acts 16:17

This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most

High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. (NKJV)

Joy comes from what you believe, not from what’s happening around you!

Acts 16:9-10

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. (NKJV)

Acts 16:25-26

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. (NKJV)

When we know God’s promises, we can have God’s joy!

Be Grateful

When you focus on what God has already done, you will have faith in where God is taking you.

Practice His Presence

Psalm 16:11

In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (NKJV)

"I've been through some terrible things in my life. Some of which actually happened." – Mark Twain

Worry is a symptom of fear.
Fear does not breed peace.

Worry is the sin of distrusting the power and promises of God.

John 10:1-10

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” 6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (NLT)

You can believe the voice of the shepherd, or you can believe the voice of the stranger.

Make Sure Jesus Is On Your Boat

Mark 4:39

…rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (NKJV)

Mark 4:40

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (NKJV)

Identify What You Fear and Tell God

What you fear the most, often reveals where you trust God the least.

Philippians 4:6-7

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, (NKJV)