“Macrothumia” = “long-burning”

The work of the Holy Spirit can help make the fuse longer.

God's anger is totally consistent with His character.
But, God is slow to anger. (II Peter 3:9)

“Huponome” = endurance

long-suffering – dealing with people
endurance – dealing with circumstances

Losing your cool too early is a sign of inner conflict and spiritual weakness.

vs. 11 “you have been strengthened with power so that you may have endurance and patience.”

Patience comes through the process of walking daily with the Lord.

God develops the fruit of patience by allowing you to be in situations where you have to demonstrate it.

Why we lose patience
1. shortcomings of others - II Timothy 4:2
2. things haven't happened the way you were expecting them to- James 5:7
3. You have been continually mistreated- I Timothy 1:15

You have to be patient if you want to be patient.

What peace is not: 1. absence of conflict
                              2. a good mood
                              3. peace of mind

Ways people try to achieve peace
1. self-inducement
2. detachment from real life

Peace as a fruit of the Holy Spirit is a right relationship which can only come from salvation in Christ.

Three ways to understand peace
1. Peace with God (Romans 5:1)

God has done everything to reconcile us back to Himself.

2. Peace of God (Phil. 4:6-9)

Keeping peace has a lot to do with maintaining order.

We must engage is spiritual warfare if we want to have peace.

3. Peace on earth (I Cor. 7:15, Heb. 12:14; I Thess. 5:13; Rm. 12:18; Col. 3:15).

We are to do all that we can to be at peace with other people.

How to get peace
1. Pray (vs. 6-7)
2. Discipline your mind (vs. 8-9)

If we are abiding in the vine (Jesus), the natural result will be an inner joy and contentment that cannot come from any other source.

If you seek happiness rather than joy, one of two things will happen:

1. You will try to escape the realities of life.
   
2. You will make happiness the purpose for your existence.
   
   

Rather, the goal of your life should be to seek Christ.

It is the process of developing your relationship with Jesus that brings joy to your life, not whether or not good things happen to you.

1. Joy comes in obeying God's commandments. (John 13:17)

2. Joy comes in knowing God's assurance. (I Peter 1:8)

3. There is joy in experiencing God's forgiveness. (Psalm 32:1)

4. There is joy in knowing the comfort of God. (John 14:18)

5. There is joy in knowing you are growing in the Lord. (James 1:2)

6. There is joy in Christian fellowship. (I John 1:3-4)

7. There is joy in Christian service. (Acts 20:35)

Joy is love singing
Peace is love resting
Patience is love waiting
Kindness is love acting
Goodness is love being
Faithfulness is love proving
Gentleness is love touching
Self-control is love restraining

I John 3:17-18 Love is something you do.
I John 4:13-21 Love comes from God.
Ephesians 5:25 The only way to really love is to know God.

Kinds of love

1. “eros” - sexual expression of love
   
   
2. “phileo” - friendship kind of love
   
   
3. “agape - God's special kind of love
   
   

Agape

1. The Holy Spirit reveals God's love and thus creates our love for God (Rom. 5:5-8)

2. The Holy Spirit encourages us to have an appropriate love for ourselves.

3. The Holy Spirit enables us to love others.




We need to be saved from our sins before we can love.

We need to be filled with the Spirit before we can love.

We need to invite Him into our lives before we can really love.