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I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;\xa0apart from me you can do nothing. \xa0John 15:5 (NIV)

The health of the church is the only thing that will support the harvest of people that the church is called to reach.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,\xa0idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.\xa0 Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT)\xa0

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,\xa0gentleness, and self-control\u2026\xa0 Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT)

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.\xa0 Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT)

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit\u2019s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT)

The Fruit of the Spirit are not FEELINGS\u2026 they are CHOICES.

There is no fruit called OTHERS-CONTROL.

So I say, walk by the Spirit,\xa0and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.\xa0 Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.\xa0They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)

You will forever be the hardest person you will ever have to lead.\xa0

Therefore, I urge you,\xa0brothers and sisters, in view of God\u2019s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,\xa0holy and pleasing to God\u2014this is your true and proper worship.\xa0 Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Do not conform\xa0to the pattern of this world,\xa0but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.\xa0Then you will be able to test and approve what God\u2019s will is\u2014his good, pleasing\xa0and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

1. BEHAVIORS we need to quit.

Behavior modification is not the goal of following Jesus\u2026 It\u2019s the by-product of the new life He has planted on the inside of us.

Search me,\xa0God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. \xa0See if there is any offensive way\xa0in me, and lead me\xa0in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God\u2019s glorious standard.\xa0 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:23-24(NLT)\xa0

For we do not have a high priest\xa0who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are\u2014yet he did not sin.\xa0 Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)

Let us then approach\xa0God\u2019s throne of grace with confidence,\xa0so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)

1. BOUNDARIES we need to create.

A boundary defines what is allowed and what is not.

Like a city whose walls are broken through\xa0is a person who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)

Temptation will always be there\u2026 but BOUNDARIES put distance between temptation and sin.

For the grace\xa0of God has appeared\xa0that offers salvation to all people.\xa0 It teaches us to say \u201cNo\u201d to ungodliness and worldly passions,\xa0and to live self-controlled,\xa0upright and godly lives\xa0in this present age\u2026Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)\xa0

Desire without knowledge is not good\u2014 how much more will hasty feet miss the way!\xa0 Proverbs 19:2-3 (NIV)

A person\u2019s own folly\xa0leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the\xa0Lord. Proverbs 19:2-3 (NIV)

We are in control of our lives and have whatever we CREATE or whatever we ALLOW.

1. BLIND SPOTS we all have.

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.\xa0 Proverbs 12:15-16 (NIV)

Fools\xa0show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. Proverbs 12:15-16 (NIV)\xa0

You CANNOT control in yourself, what you cannot SEE in yourself.

\u201cYou have nothing better to do with your life than to spend every moment trying to improve.\u201d \u2013Joyce Meyers\xa0

1. BOLD FAITH to trust God more than anything else.

His divine power\xa0has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him\xa0who called us\xa0by his own glory and goodness.\xa0 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,\xa0so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,\xa0having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.\xa0 2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;\xa0and to knowledge, self-control;\xa0and to self-control, perseverance;\xa0and to perseverance, godliness;\xa0and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.\xa0 2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)\xa0

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive\xa0in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)\xa0

Self-control is not about your WILL POWER\u2026 it\u2019s about GOD\u2019S POWER IN YOU.

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.\xa0 Romans 8:11-14 (NLT)

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,\xa0you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.\xa0 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.\xa0 Romans 8:11-14 (NLT)

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children\xa0of God. Romans 8:11-14 (NLT)

When we can trust God more than our feelings, and realize we have power over our actions and emotions\u2026 God will use us beyond our imagination.