1. Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is L---, J--, P----, patience, K , G-----, F , gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

2. Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is...
Against such things there is no law.

3. The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness James 2:14-24
Lord, please help me to be the person my dog thinks I am.
Why do we love our pets so much?
They are loyal and trustworthy

4. In scripture faithfulness to God is the first priority
One God
One love
One loyalty

5. Even now many believe if one god is good, then ten gods must be better
Our faith history from its inception is unique in its requirement to love God alone
Even now many believe if one god is good, then ten gods must be better

6. And while logic may be on your side…
Try and sell that to your spouse or partner
Some things can be shared
But some things are so intimate that they require a high level of loyalty

7. We all value faithfulness…
A true and deep relationship with God requires a certain level of intimacy, faithfulness, loyalty and trust
We all value faithfulness…
Marriage
Family
Friendship
Work

8. The second call to faithfulness is to each other
We are faithful to God first
We are faithful to each other out of respect for God and one another
Marriage
Baby dedications

9. James 2
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

10. Faith, James tells us, should be visible It must have action
It needs to be evident in our lives

11. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

12. Faith without action is talk
If you believe, you live your life based on you belief system
“Put your money where your mouth is”
Knowing there is a God and believing in God are two completely different things

13. Our faith in God is lived out visibly in service and in relationships
Our relationship with God needs to connect us to our relationship with others and with our world; our surroundings
Our faith in God is lived out visibly in service and in relationships

14. Our faith in God in made visible in… Our churches
Our families and how we treat them
Our work ethic
Even in keeping our word to ourselves

15. Keeping our own promises Completing what we set out to do Diet
Exercise
Education
Plans

16. Our loyalty to God should spill into every avenue of our lives
Whether we know it or not we value faithfulness
Car
Job
Relationship

17. Proverbs 20
6Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?

18. Our faithfulness to him We be faithful to each other
God requires…
Our faithfulness to him
We be faithful to each other
We be faithful to ourselves
Faithfulness is…
A wonderful and priceless gift we give to our Lord, each other and ourselves