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The Fruit - part 1 of 3 Gal 5:22-23 (KJV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, {23} Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." · Love - affection or benevolence · Joy - cheerfulness, that is, calm delight · Peace - prosperity: quietness, rest, + set at one again. · Longsuffering - forbearance or fortitude · Gentleness - usefulness, that is, moral excellence · Goodness -virtue or habitual charity · Faith - persuasion of religious truth, that is, credence; moral conviction · Meekness - humility · Temperance -self control (especially chastity) The fruit of the Spirit is the results of the Spirit’s workings in the lives of believers. The contrast between works and fruit is important. A machine in a factory works and turns out a product, but it can never manufacture fruit. Fruit must grow out of life; and in the case of the believer, it is the life of the Spirit. When we think of “works,” we think of effort, labor, strain, and toil; when we think of “fruit,” we think of beauty, quietness, the unfolding of life. The flesh produces “dead works” Heb 9:14 (KJV) “to purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” but the Spirit produces living fruit. If one part of our fruit is missing, then the opposite of that fruit must be operating. The fruit of the Spirit listed in our passage has to do with character. The New Testament speaks of several different kinds of fruit: ► People won to Christ: Rom 1:13 (KJV) “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” All plants will bloom in the correct conditions. Not every bloom will produce seed. Not every seed will take root. Not every root will bring forth sustaining life. ► Holy living: Rom 6:22 (KJV) “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” ► Gifts brought to God & good works: Rom 15:16-18 (KJV) “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. {17} I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. {18} For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,” ► Praise: Heb 13:15 (KJV) “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” ► Righteousness: Phil. 1:11; Jas. 3:18, Phil 1:11 (KJV) “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." James 3:18 (KJV) "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." ► Of repentance: Mat 3:8 (KJV) "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:" ► Of light & moral purity: Eph 5:9 (KJV) "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;" Jesus cautioned that false prophets could be identified by the fruit they bear, that is, by the qualities manifested in their lives. Mat 7:15-20 (KJV) "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. {16} Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? {17} Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. {18} A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {19} Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Jesus similarly warned of the necessity of bearing fruit that was compatible with citizenship in the kingdom of God. Mat 21:43 (KJV) "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Fruit sometimes has the sense or meaning of reward: Isa 3:10 (KJV) “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings." John 4:36 (KJV) "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." Phil 4:17 (KJV) "Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." In the winter when we see trees stripped of their leaves, we consider that within a little time the leaves will be renewed, and after that the flowers and fruit will appear. This can give us a view of the providence and power of God, a view that sets us loose from the world, and it can kindle a love for God that will never leave us. -Pr. S. Chad Ross October Newsletter 2004 | Bitter Sweet Waters part 2 | The Fruit part 1 of 3 Pastor's Journal October 2003 | Up the Mountain | Prophetic Word part 1 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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