The Fruit Of The Spirit

Transcription

1 The Fruit Of The Spirit Golden Verses

2 Copyright 2015 Golden Verses. All Rights Reserved. Artwork by Anita Van Hal Copyright (used by permission).

3 Fruit Of The Spirit Love Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love W e can identify each kind of tree by the kind of fruit it bears. In the same way we can tell who are God s children by the kind of fruit they produce. A tree is known by its fruit. A thorn bush cannot produce grapes, and a fig tree cannot produce thistles. Even so those who truly have the Spirit of God dwelling in them will produce the fruit of the Spirit in their lives and actions. The first and foremost of this fruit is love. Since "God is love" (1 John 4:8) those who are led by the Spirit of God will bear His likeness. The religious leaders of our Lord s day were teaching that we should "love our neighbours and hate our enemies" (Matthew 5:43). However that is not God s way. If God were to hold back rain from the ungodly and only give showers to His saints the great majority of the earth would be in continuous draught and desert. In this world God is

4 gracious and loving even to those who despise God. So should we be also. Those who love God with heart, mind, soul and spirit will naturally love their neighbour as well. To love God and to love our neighbour as ourselves is the sum of all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40). Jesus said to the unbelieving Jews of His day "I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you" (John 5:42). It is possible to have an outward profession of religion and yet lack the love and truth of it in our heart. Hearts that are full of pride and arrogance are not full of the love of God. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Let s be humble and pray that God may give us his Holy Spirit that we may truly have a heart of love, and so be the true sons of our Father in Heaven.

5 Fruit Of The Spirit Joy Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is joy A s we are renewed by the Holy Spirit of God we take on the likeness of our Heavenly Father. Our God is a God of joy and He blesses His people with joy. In His presence is how much joy? Half-baked joy? Short lived joy? Occasional joy? No, in His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11)! This is not like the carnal joys of sin which are short lived at best, but the joy which comes from knowing God, and His Son Jesus Christ in particular. When the angel announced the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ he did so in this way: And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). Also after the angel had announced to Mary the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, when Mary met her cousin Elisabeth being six months

6 pregnant with John the Baptist, Elisabeth said that her baby leaped in her womb "for joy" (Luke 1:44). How about that a baby leaping for joy at news about the Lord Jesus Christ! This is the joy of the Lord. How much more should we have joy when we hear the Lord s name? It's true there's a season for the Lord s people when they seem to have sorrow and the world will seem to rejoice. However there is a great reversal foretold by the Lord Jesus when His followers who belong to His Kingdom will have joy and the world will weep and mourn. Jesus said Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy (John 16:20). We have a foretaste of this joy now, but we will have the full measure as we meet the Lord, when He presents us "before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1:24).

7 Fruit Of The Spirit Peace Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is peace T he "carnal man" is characterised by hatred, variance, wrath, strife and seditions. In contrast the "spiritual man" is characterised by peace. Many people look for peace in many places but true and lasting peace will only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14). Our God is a God of peace (Hebrews 13:20) and He blesses His people with peace. For many people peace is like a mirage. They're sure they will find it by doing this or that, but when they arrive at their destination peace is strangely missing! The business man will build up a business empire hoping to find peace and security, only to discover much trouble and sorrow. The libertine will try to indulge the flesh in all types of vices expecting to find peace and happiness, only to discover it's just a continual grasping at the wind (Ecclesiates 5:16). Drunkards will try to look

8 for peace in a bottle, but when they get to the bottom of the bottle peace is not there! Gluttons will indulge in all kinds of fancy foods, but will not find peace in them. So where do we find peace? We'll find true peace in none other than the Prince of Peace himself, our Lord Jesus Christ. Come to the One who said Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27), and you will have true and lasting peace, both now and for ever.

9 Fruit Of The Spirit Longsuffering Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering W hen Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the Lord descended in a cloud, appeared to Moses and proclaimed these words : The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:6-7). We understand from this that our God is not only merciful and gracious, but longsuffering as well. From the time Noah started building the Ark to the time the flood came it was 120 years. During this time Noah was a "preacher of righteousness" to his generation (2 Peter 2:5). God was longsuffering and patient with the world at that time by giving them abundant time to repent. Jonah announced

10 to Nineveh "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown" (Jonah 3:4). This also was a time when God was longsuffering and patient, giving the people of Nineveh time to repent. This is always God's pattern in dealing with us because it's part of God s character and attributes, and our God changes not. We read The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). The Lord is longsuffering and His people should be also. For example David was longsuffering when being persecuted by Saul, and not hasty in revenge even when it was in his power to do so. Job also was patient and longsuffering even while facing great personal suffering and not willing to be hasty in charging God with wrongdoing (Job 1:22). We should follow these examples and by the Spirit s help let's also be longsuffering, not being hasty in revenge, patiently bearing adversity and injuries, especially those inflicted on us for the Lord s sake.

11 Fruit Of The Spirit Gentleness Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness C an you imagine anything more opposite to gentleness than hatred, murder and drunkenness? These things are the works of the flesh and are the direct opposite to the fruit of the Spirit. As we're led by the Spirit we'll be led away from the works of the flesh and start to show evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. When Elijah was on Horeb "the Mountain of God" there was a very strong wind which broke the rocks in pieces, but the Lord was not in the wind. After that there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After that a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After that there was a still small voice. God s ways are firm, yet they are also gentle. So are those who are led by the Spirit. What greater example do we have of this than the Lord Jesus Himself? He came among us as a relatively

12 lone small voice in a sea of humanity, yet this voice still speaks to us today as powerfully as when Jesus was physically on the earth. He was gentle and unassuming. He was gentle with the disciples even when they misunderstood His mission and calling. Scripture describes the character of the Lord Jesus by saying "A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench" (Matthew 12:20). Just like the Lord, "the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men" (2 Timothy 2:24). This means we should be calm and gentle even towards evil and ungodly men. We should not "render evil for evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:15), but "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). One of the ways we can do this is by being truly gentle in all circumstances, and by the Spirit s help be a gentle blessing to those in need of help.

13 Fruit Of The Spirit Goodness Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is goodness I t's obvious that the works of the flesh are not good. Even ungodly men recognise that adultery, fornication, witchcraft, hatred, wrath and strife are not good. However due to the sinful nature of man s heart people often indulge in these things even though their conscience speaks to them that these things are not good. The same people would also acknowledge that love, joy, peace, longsuffering and gentleness are all good, even though they may have little of these things themselves! Due to the sinful nature of our heart we need help to produce that which is truly good. For believers in the Lord Jesus Christ this help comes in the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus said "there is none good but one, that is God" (Matthew 19:17). This means that no matter how much goodness we can muster up in our own strength there will still be elements of sin mixed in with this

14 goodness. There is none who is originally and absolutely good, except God. Everything that's good derives its goodness from God. When God originally created our world (including man) He looked at all that He had created and it was "very good" (Genesis 1:31). Man was good on account of being created in the image of God. When man disobeyed God and fell into sin this image was smashed and broken beyond any hope of us repairing it ourselves. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23). All those who trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation have the promise of Christ that He will send the Comforter, "even the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17). The fruit of this Spirit is goodness. Let s live and walk in the Spirit that we may become truly good, even as He is good.

15 Fruit Of The Spirit Faith Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is faith E veryone who has the Spirit of God living and working in them are given the gift of faith. Just like in springtime when the blossoms appear and before long the tree will bear fruit, so too those who have the Spirit of God working in them will bear the fruit of faith in their lives and actions. We must have faith in order to please God, "for without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Those who have faith will also be faithful in what they say and do. Since we serve a God who is trustworthy and faithful let's also be faithful in all things. Judas the betrayer of Christ was not faithful in his duty as the keeper of the bag because he often took for himself the money that was put in it (John 12:6). He was not faithful in this calling and he also was not faithful in his calling as a disciple of Christ because he betrayed his master into the hands of His enemies (Matthew 26:23).

16 If the fruit of the Spirit is faith, then where there is no faith there is also no Spirit! Jesus said "the wind blows where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). Those who are born of the Spirit will find that they have faith, just as we see trees move when the wind is blowing. Let s give thanks to God for the gift of faith and pray that by the help of God s Holy Spirit we may have the fruit of faith in abundance.

17 Fruit Of The Spirit Meekness Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is meekness H e that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city (Proverbs 16:32). When they are wronged the meek will not seek revenge. When they are cursed the meek would rather return a blessing than a curse. When they provoked the meek will either be silent or return a soft answer. When they hear God s Word the meek will submit themselves to it and follow its teaching. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). It's not the proud and boastful who inherit. It's not those who take things by force and lord themselves over others. It is the meek. The world says "look out for number one, be proud of your own achievements and promote yourself at every opportunity". This is not God s way. In the world to come those who are first now will be last and those who

18 are last now will be first (Matthew 19:30)! "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Cor. 1:27-29). It's a great irony that those who are meek will very often have more peace of mind and conscience than the proud and mighty of this world. They also have a great deal more to look forward to since God has told us beforehand that the meek "shall inherit the earth". With the Spirit s help let's submit ourselves to "a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:4).

19 Fruit Of The Spirit Temperance Galatians5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is temperance W hen the Apostle Paul was being questioned by Felix the Roman Governor, Paul reasoned with him about three things: righteousness, temperance and judgment to come. After Felix heard Paul speak about these things Scripture tells us that Felix trembled and said Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee (Acts 24:25). These three things were most likely selected because Felix and his associates were far from righteous, lacked temperance and were in danger of the judgment to come! Perhaps this explains why Felix trembled and why he dismissed Paul for a more convenient season. Felix was under conviction of his own conscience and perhaps by the Holy Spirit as well that what Paul was saying was true. Yet he sent Paul away for a more convenient season which perhaps to this day has still not arrived for him! It's very

20 inconvenient to be convicted about our own sin, yet it's very necessary to be so convicted if we're to avoid the judgment to come. These three things go together. Those that are in the way righteousness will be temperate in the things of this world. Those that fear the 'judgment to come' will seek to walk in the way of righteousness. Those that are led by the Spirit in the way of righteousness will be temperate about earthly things including food and drink. To be intemperate and indulge ourselves to excess is inconsistent with being in the way of righteousness. Let s sow our lives to the Spirit which the Lord Jesus has sent to all those who believe in Him. Let s leave off sowing to the flesh because this only reaps corruption. Instead let's sow our lives to the Spirit since this reaps the very great reward of eternal life (Galatians 6:8). The things of earth will dim and lose their value, If we recall they're borrowed for awhile; And things of earth that cause the heart to tremble, Remembered there will only bring a smile. But until then my heart will go on singing, Until then with joy I'll carry on,

21 Until the day my eyes behold the city, Until the day God calls me home. (Song written by Carl Stuart Hamblin) Short Biography Of Stuart Hamblin Stuart Hamblen (October 20, 1908 March 8, 1989), born Carl Stuart Hamblen, was one of American radio's first singing cowboys and went on to become an actor, radio show host, and songwriter. He later underwent a Christian conversion, became a Temperance Movement supporter and recurring candidate for political office.

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