"What's in Your Toolbox!"

What's in your toolbox? Ever looked in there and not found what you needed? Of course, that always happens right in the middle of some repair or project. So you look all over, blame everyone you think of, then head back to the hardware store. You notice I said…"back to the hardware store"! Wouldn't it be something to have every tool you ever needed, always right there in your toolbox? And what if, the more you used them, the more powerful your tools became!?! Men, this morning I want to exam nine of life's most effective tools for becoming a successful father. If you are in Christ this morning, you already have the complete set… Turn w/ me to Galatians 5:16-25 (we'll zero-in on vv.22&23). Talk about projects – the Galatian church was a real piece of work! A cult we now call Judaizers had practically persuaded this church to retool the Gospel, by bolting on Jewish Law to Christian Grace. The Judaizers were teaching that what God started by His Spirit (thru faith alone in Christ alone) then needed to be perfected by man's deeds & rituals. Paul was dismayed that this once faithful congregation was deserting the Gospel of Grace for a cult of OT ritual & works. So (Gal 5) Paul builds 2 lists and puts them side by side for the Galatians to inspect. A list of works of the flesh & a list of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Real Christians have the Holy Spirit & they have the fruit of the Spirit! Their lives begin to look like that second list. So because every Christian has His Spirit, God has given you all you need to live a successful Christian life. Now let's look at the nine power-tools on Paul's encouraging list. Brothers, these virtues are all yours, every day!