3. _Peace._ Peace—peace with God, with one’s self, and usually with most, if not all, one’s fellowmen—is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. The calm, quiet, order, and hope which abide in the heart of a Christian are more precious than gold. The sinner has doubts, fears, alarms, and dreadful forebodings. 4. _Longsuffering._ People who follow the Spirit are patient; they are not easily provoked; they bear the troubles and difficulties of life without murmuring or repining and submit cheerfully to every dispensation of God’s providence. 5. _Gentleness._ One who is harsh and unkind is lacking in this fruit of the Spirit. It has been said that to be gentle means to always do and say the kindest things in the kindest way. 6. _Goodness._ This means uprightness of heart and life—a constant desire and diligent effort, not only to abstain from every form of evil, but also to do good to the bodies and souls of all men. 7. _Faith._ The word faith is here used in the sense of fidelity, the character of one who can be depended upon to keep all his promises, to meet all of his obligations, and to be true to every relationship. 8. _Meekness._ Meekness is likewise a fruit of the Spirit. It is the very opposite of anger. Moses was called a meek man. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” And although Christ was brave and uncompromising, he was nevertheless one of the very meekest of men. 9. _Temperance._ Temperance means self-control. Remember this very chapter says, “Ye cannot do the things that ye would.” You cannot give free expression unto the passions of your body. Your body must be buffeted and brought into subjection as Paul did with his. We must learn to exercise self-control and to make ourselves do that which we know we ought to do. These are the fruits of the Spirit. They are the characteristics that should be developed in your life if you are a Christian. I just want you to look at these two pictures—the fruit of the Spirit on the one hand and the works of the flesh on the other. They are contrasted in every sense of the word. They are incompatible and antagonistic. To the extent you have one you fail to possess the other. Let me ask you this question: Do you believe the fruit of the Spirit will make anybody unpopular? Sometimes when people are unpopular and are being persecuted they say, “Oh, well, those who live Godly lives are to be persecuted.” That’s true. The Bible teaches it (2 Tim. 3:12). But I’m afraid that very often our persecution comes from other causes. We might be suffering because we have hatred, jealousy, and envy, and not because we have the Spirit of Christ. Before you take pride in your persecution you’d better examine the source of it. It might be coming from the wrong side of the fence.