HOW TO RESTORE THE HEDGE
I. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – ONE NOT MANY
The fruit is the invisible POWER of the Holy Spirit in those who are brought into living union with Christ. It is a force, an inherent energy, the inward invisible power production of the Holy Spirit. “IS” – a singular blended whole – the fruit surround us like one word.
II. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT-PROTECTS
The fruit of the Spirit is described as the forces of life at work within us and in the invisible realm it forms a hedge about us, a boundary that the enemy can’t get past. Ephesians 5:9 AMP – For the fruit (the effect, product) of the Light or the Spirit (consists) in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
III. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT-SECTIONS
1. LOVE
The love defined here is that of unconditional love, benevolence, and charity. It’s covenant love. It’s God’s love. John 13:34 AMP – I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. Matthew 5:44 AMP – But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
I Corinthians 13:4-8a
I John 2:5 MKJV – But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.
2. JOY
To rejoice – exultation – exuberant joy; to leap and spin around with eternal happiness; to make glad; to be cheerful by setting your heart to do so. Nehemiah 8:10 AMP – And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold. Proverbs 17:22 AMP – A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
John 15:11 AMP – I have told you these things (My Word), that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.
3. PEACE
Peace is to be whole; to be sound; to be safe and secure; living in harmony with God; an eternal tranquility; untroubled; no strife.
John 14:27 AMP – Peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled).
John 16:33 AMP – I have told you these things (My Word), so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulations and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer (take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted)! For I have overcome the world. (I have
deprived it of power to harm you, have conquered it for you.)
4. LONGSUFFERING
Longsuffering is described as patience, endurance, steadfastnes s; standing under trials, temptations and tests and the influence of the world, flesh and the devil. If your patience is not developed you will not be able to stand long enough in faith for a healing, a cure, finances, your relationships, to move a mountain…you’ll quit. James 1:3-4 AMP – (3) Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. (4) But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be people perfectly and fully developed with no defects, lacking in nothing.
5. GENTLENESS
Gentleness is described as kindness, friendly, mildness, a quiet gentle spirit, a disposition that considers others, the ability to be undisturbed in uncomfortable surroundings. Ephesians 4:2 CEV – Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other.
6. GOODNESS
Goodness is active; it’s character expressing and energizing itself in active good. Matthew 25:34-40 MKJV- (35) For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; (36) I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me… (40) And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
7. FAITH
Faith is defined as firm persuasion, complete trust, belief requiring no proof, confidence in divine truth, faithfulness. 2 Peter 1:5-8 ASV – (5) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, (6) and knowledge with self-control, and selfcontrol with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, (7) and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (8) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Galatians 5:6 AMP – For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.
Romans 10:17 AMP – So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what is heard comes by the preaching of the message that came from the lips of Christ the Messiah Himself.
8. MEEKNESS
Meekness is incredible strength; it’s an inward working of grace. Meekness is the ability to resist retaliation…it holds relationships together. It has a forbearing heart toward others.
Colossians 3:13 AMP – Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against one another, readily pardoning each ther; even as the Lord has freely forgiven you, so must you also forgive.
9. TEMPERANCE
Temperance is strength, self-control, will power; the controlling power of the will under the operation of the Spirit of God.
I Corinthians 9:25 AMP – Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness that cannot wither.
