The Fruit of the Spirit Part 1
Character: A Reflection of the Heart • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction: Go over highlighted sections of .
In Paul contrasts the works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
It is important to note that Paul describes the deeds of the flesh as works while he describes deeds of the spirit as fruit. This is a fundamental truth in Pauline theology and especially important in his letter to the Galatians: righteousness cannot be gained by working for it. True life comes from the Spirit of Christ which indwells the believer.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
You cannot produce fruit in a factory. Fruit is the product of all of the right conditions. Spiritual fruit cannot be produced with the works of men. Fruit is the product of life and life is only possible in Christ.
Love
Love
It is also important to note that the noun (fruit) and the verb (is) are both singular. The fruit of the Spirit is one fruit with several characteristics and the most basic all-inclusive characteristic of this fruit is love.
It is also important to notice that all of the characteristics of this fruit are attitudes rather than actions. The Spirit transforms us from acting out hypocritical deeds to being genuine, authentic believers.
The primary attitude of the fruit of the Spirit is love. Well, what is love? Jesus described the epitome of love as being willing to give yourself completely.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Genuine love is a genuine willingness to serve and pour out yourself for the benefit of others.
Joy
Joy
What is joy? True joy comes from the satisfaction a true believer finds in God. Joy is essential to the life of the Christian and it is the natural result of genuine saving faith.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
Rejoice always,
God wants us to be happy. Well wait a minute, don’t people do the works of the flesh so that they can be happy? Yes, but does it work?
Good understanding gains favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
The happiness God wants us to pursue is not a happiness that can be found in what God gives, the happiness God wants for us is the happiness that can only be found in God himself.
But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.
Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
Selah
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And on the harp I will praise You,
O God, my God.
When we live in the Spirit we are able to put to death the deeds of the flesh. How? Because if God is our exceeding (surpassing) joy all of the deeds of the flesh lose their taste in the mouth of the Christian. After you eat steak you’ll never want to eat dirt again!! This is the kind of life that the Spirit breathes into the heart of the believer.
The joy of the Christian is powerful. It is so powerful that Peter says it endures even in persecution.
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:
Again, this joy is so powerful it endures persecution and by enduring persecution it becomes the saltiest salt and the brightest light in a dark world. Spurgeon put it this way:
You cannot be too happy, brother, Nay, do not suspect yourself of being wrong because you are full of delight. You know that it is said of the divine wisdom, ‘Her ways are the ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.’ Provided that it is joy in the Lord, you cannot have too much of it.”
Paul put it this way
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
If you are a part of the kingdom of God, enjoy it! There is no greater joy to be had!
Peace
Peace
If joy is the happiness and excitement of the believer than peace is the tranquility of the believer. The primary peace one finds in salvation is the peace between him and God.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Peace and joy are very similar in that neither one depends on outside circumstances. True peace rests in the fact that we are confident in the knowledge that we have a right standing with God and no one and nothing can snatch us out of his loving care.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
Like joy, peace confirms the validity of faith.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Like joy, peace is powerful.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Peace is reproductive.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Longsuffering
Longsuffering
Longsuffering is a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit that signifies maturity. Longsuffering speaks of being able to endure the taunts and injuries of others. In the midst of painful or irritating circumstances one who is longusffering is able to restrain himself. God is longsuffering.
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Patience is one of the key characteristics of God’s own character and so in order to be godly we must develop patience. Paul gives this command
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Longsuffering is closely related to tender mercies, kindness, humility and meekness. It is also a special kind of endurance that comes into play when we deal with people who deliberately try to provoke us.
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
Christ is our supreme example of longsuffering.
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;