Weapons for the Believer 4.6 – The Fruit of the Spirit - Faithfulness

Weapons for the Believer 4.6 – The Fruit of the Spirit - Faithfulness

According to Paul, there are weapons of warfare.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

We are considering ten weapons that the Believer has at their disposal. We looked earlier at The Fruit of the Spirit in the post “Weapons for the Believer 4.” If you haven’t read it I encourage you to do so.  Paul gives us the list in Galatians.

Galatians 5:22 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The original post on The Fruit of the Spirit (Weapons for the Believer 4) I mentioned a popular way of looking at this topic. Some teach that the Fruit of the Spirit is singular, Love, with each of the other fruit coming from the one. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to go back and read it.

Now I’m considering each Fruit of the Spirit in this manner. This time we are looking at Faithfulness. Using Faithfulness as the focus let’s see how it is reflected in our experience with the Lord.

            The Fruit of the Spirit is Faithfulness.

Love is the legacy of Faithfulness.

Joy is the sustainer of Faithfulness.

Peace is the witness of Faithfulness.

Patience is the energy of Faithfulness.

Kindness is the fingerprint of Faithfulness.

Goodness is the method of Faithfulness.

Gentleness is the care of Faithfulness.

Self-control is the trademark of Faithfulness.

One of the Proverbs given by Solomon tells us the affect unfaithfulness can have.

Proverbs 25:19 (NKJV)

19  Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.

One thing that seems to be slipping from our Western culture is Faithfulness. Marriages are ending at a record rate. Contracts are meaningless because through litigation even the most ironclad wording can be nullified. Promises no longer have merit. All of this is a result of trying to be faithful through human effort. Until we realize that our attempt at faithfulness is futile we will never walk in the Fruit of the Spirit called Faithfulness.

Jesus gave us the example to follow. He was faithful to the plan to which He was sent to accomplish. He carried out every aspect. He was faithful to keep the Law without even one infraction. He was faithful to show the character and nature of His Father, God, to everyone He encountered. He was able to do all of this through the Spirit of God that empowered Him. That same Spirit is in the Believer.

The promise Jesus made before leaving earth was that He would send another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which would live in us. The Spirit’s presence in the Believer produces fruit, and one of these if Faithfulness. Faithfulness is not a habit we try to develop. Faithfulness is not only applicable to “Christian” things. Faithfulness should be exhibited in every aspect of the life of the Believer. Even when it’s not convenient. Even when it’s not popular. Even when it costs us something.

The Believer should be one that can be trusted, or as Solomon said, “Have confidence in times of trouble.” When we are not we cause others at best inconvenience, and at worst, possibly great loss. Regardless of the result, unfaithfulness does not represent our Lord well. In these times we must allow the Spirit to empower us to do what is needed, to keep our word, to stay the course, to provide the help needed, so that someone else will not suffer loss.

Remember, it is not “intestinal fortitude” but rather The Fruit of the Spirit being shown in the life of the Believer.