Counterfeit Spiritual Fruit (Joy)
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Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
As we turn to the Word of God, we find in Galatians 5 a list of the fruit borne in a believer’s life. These fruits—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are exhibited when believers respond rightly to God, His will, and His truth. However, we must recognize that there exists a spiritual counterfeit, an imitation of the truth. The enemy seeks to deceive by convincing you that being “close enough” to the truth is sufficient, placing you in a far more dangerous position than outright rebellion against God’s Word. This subtle deception can lull a person into complacency, believing they are “good” without truly aligning with God’s standards. Moreover, those who reject God often pursue their own righteousness, further straying from the authentic fruit of the Spirit.
As we turn to the Word of God, we find in Galatians 5 a list of the fruit borne in a believer’s life. These fruits—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are exhibited when believers respond rightly to God, His will, and His truth. However, we must recognize that there exists a spiritual counterfeit, an imitation of the truth. The enemy seeks to deceive by convincing you that being “close enough” to the truth is sufficient, placing you in a far more dangerous position than outright rebellion against God’s Word. This subtle deception can lull a person into complacency, believing they are “good” without truly aligning with God’s standards. Moreover, those who reject God often pursue their own righteousness, further straying from the authentic fruit of the Spirit.
"The counterfeit versions of these fruits are satanic, arising in a person's life when their focus is on themselves rather than others. This self-focus binds them to lies and blinds them to truth through deep deception, as much of what feels true can simply make us feel good about ourselves. Error reins when people believe they can produce these fruits without a relationship with God, because it is actually God who produces this fruit
"The counterfeit versions of these fruits are satanic, arising in a person's life when their focus is on themselves rather than others. This self-focus binds them to lies and blinds them to truth through deep deception, as much of what feels true can simply make us feel good about ourselves. Error reins when people believe they can produce these fruits without a relationship with God, because it is actually God who produces this fruit
"A blinded person's ultimate outlook is, 'I do, therefore I am good,' leading them to see themselves as good when they are actually evil.
"A blinded person's ultimate outlook is, 'I do, therefore I am good,' leading them to see themselves as good when they are actually evil.
2 Timothy 3:1–5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
