Fruit Of The Spirit 2
· Summary of Message 1:
· What is Fruit ?
• Fruit is the by-product of abiding in the vine
Psalm 1:3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
In practical terms, fruit represents good works—a thought, attitude, or action of ours that God values because it glorifies Him.
John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
You bear inner fruit when you allow God to nurture in you a new, Christ-like quality.
• The source of life is in the vine
• Fruit is born as the life of the vine flows through the branches
Fruit is your only permanent deposit in heaven. Real fruit always lasts! And it’s the main earthly reason you were saved. Paul told Christians they were “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).
· Fruit Should Remain & Increase !
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
· Outward Fruit is the Result Of an Inward Work !
You bear outward fruit when you allow God to nurture some Christ-like quality in you.
You bear outward fruit when… You allow God to work through you.
· Degrees of Fruitfulness
1. No Fruit (1st Basket)
Some branches don’t bear a single grape. John 15:2
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;
2. Some Fruit ~ 30 Fold (2nd Basket)
Some branches then, are not barren. You can find grapes on them if you look hard enough. Jesus spoke of this as a branch that “bears fruit”.
3. More Fruit ~ 60 Fold (3rd Basket)
In this basket it is more than half full of plump, juicy grapes. You’d be proud to walk out of the vineyard with this basket. This branch bears “more fruit”vs2
4. Much Fruit ~ 100 Fold (4th Basket)
In this basket you notice that both the size and the amount of grapes are extraordinary. The fourth basket overflows with the biggest, most desirable grapes you’ve ever seen. You didn’t know that one branch could produce so much. This branch “bears much fruit” vs. 5.
v Chosen For Abundance
• Abundance of Fruitfulness is not intended by God to be for a select few but for ALL: Because we were created to bear fruit, more fruit…and still more fruit!
ABUNDANTLY ~ John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
· Fruit of the Spirit is the result of Holy Spirit being allowed to work freely in a person’s life.
· Eternal Fruit Vs. Natural Fruit: Over time, this produces fruit that remains, for eternity. I want My children to live for eternity and to expect Me to work through them each day.
· My Journal: You did not know you would have the opportunity to lead someone to salvation and “getting her house in order” Thursday, August 9, 2018, but it happened because of the fruit of the Spirit; it happened because of relationships that go back many years ago. Since you are still serving Me and available to be used, I can bring people across your path whenever I choose and there is fruit. You can’t count how many times that has happened in a hospital or nursing home or funeral service or in a restaurant. There are many people in heaven already because of your prayers and ministry. They are not in your church, necessarily, but they are in My Kingdom. Fruit is both now in this life but especially for eternity.
· 9 Fruits of the Spirt: Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
1. Love: The first fruit listed is the fruit of love. The OT standard for love was to love our neighbor as yourself. The NT standard which Jesus called "a new commandment" was to love "as Jesus loved". Both 1 John and James show us that to love means to lay down our lives for the brethren. This is shown to mean that we are to provide for one another’s physical deficiency in their time of need or want. This is the kind of love Jesus showed us. "How different it is when people live the life of the Spirit… This leads us to see that the fruit of the Spirit is love, and each fruit of the spirit which follows in the list is another expression of love." (The Communicator's Commentary Gen. Ed. Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Ed. Maxie D. Dunnam pp. 114-115) The Greek word used in this passage is the word "agape". It means love, affection or benevolence, or charity. Agape is a matter more of the will and the head rather than the heart or the emotions. Truthfully, romantic love can only survive and last if it based on commitment ("agape") love. Emotion is so fickle that it will disappear when the one who is the object of our love no longer looks or acts or is perceived to be the way they were when we fell for them. It is great to love and when I can it is wonderful, but what about those times I just don't have it in me to love? JOH 15:9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” Jesus, what does abide in your love mean? Jesus says, "I'm glad you asked that:"
JOH 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
JOH 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
1JO 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
2. Joy: The word translated from the Greek for "joy" in Gal. 5:22 is "chara" which means cheerfulness or calm delight or gladness. It is from another primitive verb which means to be calmly happy or well-off, to rejoice. Joy is an attitude which grows in our life as the Word is believed, received and acted on. JOH 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. The Word brings a reason for cheerfulness and rejoicing when we realize how pleasant God’s ways and His love for us are. As we respond to His love and love in return, an overcoming joy grows within us. As we learn and come to believe the future and Jesus total victory and triumph in "all things" we endure the present trials with joy!
3. Peace: Peace comes from a Greek word eirene, i-ray'-nay; meaning "to join" or "set at one again". By implication it means prosperity, quietness, rest or peace. From the definition of the word we understand more of what peace is all about. So often our lives are fragmented and filled with anxiety and strife. We are disjointed and even driven, demonized by tormenting spirits. There is no peace, rest or quietness. Out of the shambles and confusion of our lives without Jesus, we begin to find wholeness as we submit to the Spirit's work within. Our jumbled inner conflicts become resolved as we begin to understand the Word and apply it to the personal needs in our own life. The conflicts with others diminish because we are more nearly whole within ourselves. Inner peace begins to bring outer peace in relationships. This is the work of Holy Spirit growing the fruit of Jesus-character in us. Lack of peace is the judgment or reproofs of life which come from violating the principles in God's Word!
4. Longsuffering: Vine's Expository Dictionary (p. 12) contrasts longsuffering and patience. "Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy, and is used of God, Exodus 34:6 (NKJV) And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth;
Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope, 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NKJV) remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father; it is not used of God."
Longsuffering means longanimity, forbearance, fortitude and comes from a word which means to have long temper, to bear long or patiently. It is used of God's character and attitude toward us, He is "L-o-o-o-n-n-g-g suffering". Praise God!
Someone else has defined this word as, "Bearing suffering with fortitude, uncomplaining endurance. Self-control with quietness and repose, enables one to avoid sinful reactions to petty annoyances and harassments."
The Character Fruit of Longsuffering is a Key to God's Program of Growth.
Longsuffering transforms hardship into Christ's character. We grow when we are under Holy Spirit's control, not under the control of our circumstances.
5. Kindness: The Greek word is chrestotes, khray-stot'-ace; usefulness, i.e. moral excellence (in character or demeanor): gentleness, good (-ness), kindness. The corresponding adjective `chrestos' khrase-tos' is translated `good,' `kind,' `easy,' `gracious.'" (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Revell, p. 145)
"The brightest facet on this diamond of kindness is suggested by the fact that old wine is called `chrestos' (mellow), and Christ's yoke is likewise called `chrestos' (Matt. 11:30). The yoke of Christ does not chafe or gall; it fits, it is easy. Does that not suggest a style of relationship, being with another in the way that Christ is with us, making the way of another easier because we are yoked with them?" (The Communicator's Commentary Vol. 8 Gen. Ed. Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Ed. Maxie D. Dunnam p. 118)
6. Goodness: Honorable or worthy, morally sound or excellent, kind, benevolent, generous. Purity of thought or character. (A quality rather than an expression of action.) Goodness is God's Character. Of all the fruit of the Spirit, goodness is the one which seems to be more exclusively an attribute of God. Jesus detected superficiality in the young ruler's speech when the latter called Him "Good Master". He did not deny that the word applied to Him, but He wanted the young man to see that `good' in the absolute sense can be applied only to God. So He asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God." (Luke 18:18) A man can be good only in a relative sense. It is in this sense we receive God's goodness in the regeneration.
"Goodness seems to have two senses, and in both senses the word well describes the character of a renewed person. It implies that he was `faultless', and `doing good.'"
7. Faithfulness: Trustworthiness (Vine's) 1CO 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. From the root word in Greek for faith: pistis, pis'-tis; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God…), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstract: constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:-assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. It is being constant in behavior because of what we believe in our heart. We are trustworthy because of the One in whom we believe and we obey His Word.
8. Gentleness: Greek praiotes, prah-ot'-ace; gentleness; by implication, humility-meekness.
(Vine's) "...Meekness… it is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting; it is closely linked with the word [humility], ...`meek and lowly.' ...it is only the humble heart which is also the meek, and which as such, does not fight against God and more or less struggle and contend with Him. This meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also [the same] in the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by Him for the chastening and purifying of His elect'."
"The meaning of praiotes, prah-ot'-ace is not readily expressed in English, for the terms meekness, mildness, commonly used, suggest weakness... to a greater or less extent, whereas praiotes, prah-ot'-ace does nothing of the kind… It must be clearly understood, therefore, that the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power. The common assumption is that when a man is meek it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was `meek' because he had the infinite resources of God at His command… Meekness is not weakness. It is power under control. It is mild and gentle. It is careful to be sensitive to the hurts and needs of others. Again the sense of tenderness marks our Lord and all His servants who are like Him. Certainly there were times when Jesus was bold and aggressive. But it was when Satan was ruling in the situation or person. With His followers and hurting people he was gentle.
9. Self-Control: Greek egkrateia, eng-krat'-i-ah; self-control -temperance. Consistent moderation in the indulgence of the appetites and passions; moderation. As used in the Bible it involves mastery of oneself to such a degree that one is able to abstain from anything which might hinder his effective service to God and to subject all his physical impulses to the will of Christ. Properly understood, this is an inner virtue, a condition of the heart, which cannot be replaced simply by external abstinence.
9 Fruits of the Spirt:
1. Love: Commitment ("agape")
2. Joy: Cheerfulness or calm delight or gladness
3. Peace: "set at one again".
4. Longsuffering: to bear long or patiently
5. Kindness: making the way of another easier
6. Goodness: faultless & doing good.
7. Faithfulness: Trustworthiness
8. Gentleness: Power under control
9. Self-Control: Consistent moderation
Remember where we started: Fruit of the Spirit is the result of Holy Spirit being allowed to work freely in a person’s life. It is the abide life in Jesus. When you seek the Lord, Holy Spirit will produce fruit as you keep that close relationship with Him who is the vine-Our Lord Jesus Christ!