1. Describing what we really look like. Making choices. Galatians 5 Here is a choice. Why not try living the way the Holy Spirit leads us. The despicable me and the Spirit are always fighting against each other, so that we don’t do what we really want to do. But if we let the Spirit lead us, we are not under law and do not need to invent more regulations. (Don’t worry. We are still in the EU so there are enough rules to be going on with”) 1

2. Clarifying “Despicable me” The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: committing sexual sin, being immoral, doing bad things, worshipping false gods (this is built into our consumer society), taking part in witchcraft (probably not so common at FCBC—must check my Horoscope!). Hating people, creating trouble, being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups is all part of what we do. (there is more!) 2

3. Negative impact on God’s Kingdom? being filled with envy, getting drunk, taking drugs and going wild, and doing other things like this. We have been warned. The people who do these things will not have a part in God’s kingdom. (Now that is worrying! These wrong things don’t seem to be graded so sexual sin and being jealous are on the same page. Some like to “grade sins” or should we be more careful when pointing the finger at other people?) 3

4. The Change was so BEAUTIFUL The fruit of the Spirit is simply this; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We who belong to Christ Jesus have agreed to “crucify” our despicable self. By now we should have given up our old selfish ways and the evil things we wanted to do. Because we get our new life from the Spirit, we should follow the Spirit. (Oh happy day!) 4

5. Describe yourself in ten words! Where would you start? You agree to speak at a conference or it is an interview for a good job or a profile with your dating agency. You may start with my name is--------- UNLESS it is Robin Banks—job at Barclays? OR Will Incriminate—Magistrate 5

6. You may describe your appearance? Handsome Pretty Tall Vertically challenged Little/Petite Blonde/brown/grey Amply proportioned Elegant Fragrant Fashionably built Young (For your age) Middle aged Old (For your age) Ethnicity YOU WILL PROBABLY USE “POSITIVE” DESCRIPTIONS? 6

7. OR might you go for character? GSOH (Dyslexic?) Restrained 9 Tolerant Joyful 2 Firm Humble 8 Judgemental Patient 4 Mean Gentle 5 Arrogant Faithful 7 Assertive Loving 1 Intolerant Gracious 6 Modest Peaceable 3 7

8. The great St Paul honestly describes himself. Paul says, “I Know that the law is spiritual, but I am not. I am so human. Sin rules me as if I were its slave. Yes this is St Paul speaking I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do the good I want to do, and I do the evil I hate. This is a real problem What a wretched person I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? I thank God for his salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Thank God for His solution 8

9. Inside our heads live two characters—like it or not Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body? 9 BOTH ATTEND SPRINGFIELD Baptist Church

10. "But the FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. Christians add the extra flavours like Discrimination! I say look how spiritual I am LOVE tough skin JOY such colour GOODNESS nourishing GENTLENESS sweetness FORBEARANCE flavour Write your own sermon! 10

11. How shall I describe God? (1 John 4v7 onwards has the answer) God is love. Everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them. We love because God first loved us. 11 God sent his Son as the way to take away our sins. That is how much God loved us, dear friends!

12. God describes Himself? And reminds us to be CAREFUL. Moses says “Excuse me who shall I say has sent me?” “Tell them, ‘I AM WHO I AM, has sent you. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. MY NAME IS FOREVER.” Exodus 3v14 12 HIS FIRST NAME IS HOLINESS

13. Except we become like children 7 year old’s perspective. Mummy we did RE today. Do you know what RE stands for darling? No I don’t know what RE stands for but I know what it means. And what is that darling? It means we are asked lots of question for which there are no answers such as would you prefer to be poor and happy or rich and sad or if you want to smile on the outside then you must first smile on the inside? 13

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15. Acquiring the FRUIT of the SPIRIT To do this you must become a kleptomaniac! Kleptomaniacs take things literally Think about it! 15