Faith That Prevails – Fruit of the Spirit Part 9

Scripture: Galatians 5:26-26; Hebrews 11 (Click Link) 22 But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, 23 gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. (Galatians 5:22-23 TPT) The fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is…faith that prevails. Most other translations present this word as faithful or faithfulness. There’s no conflict here. Faith is an active, believing, trusting confidence in God. It’s a confidence in the nature of God, the character of God, the power of God, the complete reliability of God. Faithfulness means to be full of faith. To be faithful is to approach life’s opportunities, challenges, disappointments, victories, defeats, frustrations, boredoms, joys, in other words, to approach everything life throws our way, “faith-first”. Faithfulness is also a character quality. A faithful person will honor commitments, do what she says she will do, keep the promises he has made, and not betray another person. Faithfulness is really important in a marriage, isn’t it!? When we are “Faith-full” we see all of life through a lens that’s focused on a God who is who he says he is and does what he says he’ll do. Wrapped up in this fruit that the Holy Spirit is growing in our lives are three big things: 1) Faith that prevails is a faith that believes God is who he says he is; 2) Sees all of life through a lens that magnifies God and his goodness and power; and 3) grows into a faith that prevails (overcomes) in all the seasons, situations, and circumstances life brings our way. This faith that prevails is a fruit that grows over time and experience. And I know I need to say this, friends: The quality of our faith is not determined by the success of the outcome. Sometimes faith that prevails is demonstrated by how we handle failure or disappointment or loss and sometimes it’s demonstrated through achieving a favorable result. After all, it’s faith that prevails! Prayer: Father, I’m so glad that it’s your Spirit that produces this faith that prevails in us. Help us to apply the patience we thought about earlier to this process of growing our faith. We choose to be faith-full in all that we say and do. And we trust you for the outcome!