Walking in the Light

Scripture – I John 1:5-7 (NIV)

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This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no
darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do
not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The Fruit of the Spirit: Self Control

Scripture – Proverbs 25:28; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

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Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

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As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed
the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who
are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature
and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

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Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to
get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not
last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly;
I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have
preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

Scripture – John 8:1-11; Galatians 6:1 (NIV)

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But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where
all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and
the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and
said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses
commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a
trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on
questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be
the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus
was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman,
where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said."Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave
your life of sin."

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Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But
watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness & Faithfulness

Scripture – Psalm 15; 1 John 1:5-2:2 (NIV)

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LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? 2 He whose walk is
blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart 3 and has no
slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, 4 who
despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
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who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who
does these things will never be shaken.

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This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no
darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do
not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

8
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If
we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have
one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning
sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.