Know Your Tools Part 3: The Fruits of the Spirit

Know Your Tools Part 3: The Fruits of Spirit

Galatians 5:16–25 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

A fruit is something sweet. A fruit is also the result of hard labor and persistency. Choosing to use a tool on a regular basis is not easy at first, but will yield positive results.

Have you ever chopped wood? We had a couple of wood burners on the farm and they required wood at a certain size. Many times, we would get wood in bigger chunks because it was at a better price and would need to be split. Now, I never actually split wood myself. This was something Mike and Gabe did. But it was hard work. But the results gave us an ability to have heat in the winter.

The fruits of the Spirit are the sweetness of a life dedicated to God. These are the results of Godly choices made in our lives. Choices that are not natural, but choices reflecting a life that is taking a new path with new choices and even sweeter results.

Last week was the armor of God and today will be the Fruits of the Spirit. The sweetness I want to strive to see active in our life.

Let’s take s little test. This is between you and God only. I will not be collecting the answers. To be effective in the Army of God, we need to know how to use the tools we have been given. Some of the tools may not been utilized in our life as they should be. This is a time between you and the Lord. Let this be a moment of soul searching and growing closer to God. All of us will have some area in our life that a particular tool, fruit of the spirit, needs to be sharpened and utilized to a greater extent.

Spiritual Vision

1. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “love” in your life (vs. hatred, bitterness, prejudice, or expecting something in return), and are also mindful that “loving God” and “loving others” are the two greatest commandments? [Galatians 5:22-23]

2. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “joy” in your life (vs. sadness, gloom, or being a victim to life’s circumstances), and also understand that "joy" is rooted in your relationship with God and His free gift of grace? [Galatians 5:22-23]

3. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “peace” in your life (vs. conflict, restlessness, anxiety, or having the fear of men or circumstances), and also realize that "peace" is rooted in having peace with God and having His peace inside you? [Galatians 5:22-23]

4. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “patience” in your life (vs. impatience, disobedience, resistance, or eye-for-an-eye mentality), and also realize that perseverance as well as pain can make you better? [Galatians 5:22-23]

5. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “kindness” in your life (vs. rudeness, meanness, or unforgiveness)? [Galatians 5:22-23]

6. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “goodness” in your life (vs. wickedness, greediness, or selfishness), and also believe that God is good and generous? [Galatians 5:22-23]

7. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “faithfulness” in your life (vs. worriedness, untrustworthiness, doubting God’s Word, or walking by sight and not by faith), and also realize how this fruit relates to your trust and obedience to God? [Galatians 5:22-23]

8. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “gentleness” in your life (vs. being short-tempered, rude, arrogant, or prideful), and realize this fruit also pertains to meekness and humility? [Galatians 5:22-23]

9. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “self-control” in your life (vs. being a victim of your own passions, or not effectively “submitting to God and resisting the devil”)? [Galatians 5:22-23]

10. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “repentance” in your life (i.e., turning away from sin and wrong-doing as the Bible commands)? [Matthew 3:8]

11. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “righteousness” in your life (i.e., desiring God’s Word, living more and more in obedience, hating evil, etc.)? [Philippians 1:11]

12. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “thanksgiving” in your life (i.e., frequently giving praise and thanks to God)? [Hebrews 13:15]

13. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “good works” in your life? [Colossians 1:10]

14. Do you generally exhibit the fruit of “good words” in your life (i.e., speaking truth, wisdom, love, words of encouragement, etc.), and also realize that what is spoken from the mouth comes from the heart? [Luke 6:45]

LOVE - Agape - 1 John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

JOY - Chara - state of rejoicing, gladness 1 Thessalonians 2:19 “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?”

PEACE - harmony, free from worry; Shalom Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

PATIENCE - long-suffering, calm Romans 2:4 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

KINDNESS

GOODNESS

FAITHFULNESS

GENTLENESS

SELF-CONTROL

Conclusion:

It is God’s will for us to live an overcoming life. A life full of freedom from sin and fulfillment in the riches of God’s mercy and grace. We are meant to have a powerful mind and a servants heart just like Jesus. These things are not natural. You were not born with them. These come from utilizing the tools we have been given. Maybe you have not used the tools correctly or not at all. Maybe you have not made Jesus your Lord and Saviour so these have not been a part of your life. Great news. Today is your day.

Jesus has already done the hard part and He makes it as easy as knowing your A, B, C’s.

A - Acknowledge

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B - Believe

Acts 16:31 (ESV)

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

C - Confess

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.