Freedom: Spirits fruit in you - Pt. 2
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Spirits evident fruit
Spirits evident fruit
We are continuing on with looking at the evident fruit of the Spirit in the heart and the hands (actions) of the believer. We do not make the fruit, the Lord does, and we are to cultivate it so that it grows in us.
Previously we have looked at:
Fruit of holy living
Fruit of good works
Fruit of praise
Then we discussed that of the 9 elements of the Spirits fruit in the passage that
First three are Godward, or towards our relationship with God
Second three are manward, or towards our relationship with each other
Third set are selfward; these are inward graces within the heart and life of the believer.
We discussed
Love, the love of God poured out, the love of God coming from within to others.
Joy, this inward peace we have because we know our sins are forgiven. This is a joy that is not linked to circumstances but to God.
Peace: this is peace with God, peace with others, harmony with others that comes from setting on our mind on the things above.
Then we started into the manward graces, longsuffering, this is being long-tempered, patient , is is the quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation.
That is where we stopped last week, so now may we open she scripture and look at it in context and will pick up from there now.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Spirits fruit Described
Spirits fruit Described
From being long-suffering brings about kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. So, may we take a few minutes and look at these things described.
Kindness - “Chrestotes” - sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper which puts others at ease (Ps106:1; Lk6:35; Eph2:7)
What a great quality, one that makes others be at peace, at ease when they are with you.
It is the quality, fruit of kindness, and gentleness wrapped into one.
It is lovingkindness as seen in (Ps106:1)
1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
It is displayed in the kindness of God
35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
Look at that verse, what is the instruction, and why is it given? - love your enemies do good, because God was good (kind) to us.
And look at this, the surpassing riches of grace “in” kindness
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Those led by the Spirit will display the fruit of kindness in their lives.
It is a garment we put on (Col3:12)
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
What a great list, look at those qualities!
It is our attitude in treatment of others (Eph4:31-32)
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Kindness when developed in the believer leaves behind the things in (v.31) and displays the qualities in (v.32)
May we be a people who display kindness that puts others at ease.
May we be a people who demonstrate kindness to others in the way we deal with them so they know we are Christ’s disciple.
How can we manifest, demonstrate, develop the fruit of kindness?
When kindness is put into action, it is love, it is also the quality of goodness our next item to look at.
Goodness -Active goodness, benevolent (complete word study dictionary Act4:32-37; Act9:36-39)
This is active goodness, it is benevolence for one another
A great example of this is Barnabas (have everyone turn there to Acts4)
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
What active qualities of goodness do you see in this passage?
Another example was Dorcus (Act9:36-39)
She was full of good works and charitable deeds
Even in her death her goodness was demonstrated and remembered.
So those who are led by the Spirit will have this quality in them, our part is to display, demonstrate, develop this quality so it can come out of us.
Goodness in our lives
We were created for this purpose (Eph2:10)
You were created for good works
We are commanded to do demonstrate it (Gal6:10)
We are to do goo works to all people
Gentleness, goodness and kindness equate to love in action. This is sowing seeds of peace even when you are being persecuted, so it is longsuffering. It is sowing seeds of kindness in lieu of others sowing seeds of evil and not repaying evil for evil, we cannot do it in the flesh we need to power of the Spirit to do it. So let the spirit manifest this in you!
That now brings us to the last three the selfward graces of the Spirit.
So you are born of the Spirit to walk in the Spirit by the power of the Spirit that dwells in you. Now we get to the fruit that is inward.
Faithfulness “pistis” - a conviction or belief in respect to God and Christ. It is the virtue of reliability. (Pro20:6; Ps12:1-2)
Thayer bible dictionary says it is the character of one who can be relied on.
Vines says is one who an be trusted and is reliable
Too often it is claimed but is not evident; look what the teacher said
6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?
Not easy to find, it has to be looked for, but in the Christian it should be evident.
It is not uncommon for it not to be seen, it was a problem before Paul wrote this passage
1 Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. 2 They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
What do you see in these verses?
Those who are led by the Spirit will display,, demonstrate and develop the fruit of faithfulness
Faithfulness is essential to the Christian (Rev2:10)
We need to be faithful unto death as it says in Rev2:10)
Faithfulness displayed when we use our talants (Mt25:21, 24-26)
Faithfulness demonstrated in our duties (Heb10:24-25) and our relationships (Eph5:22-23; Eph6:1-3)
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
It is in our relationships, husband/wife, father/child, master/slave. (Eph5:22-23, 6:1-3)
Gentleness/Meekness “prautes” by implication humility,
(Gentleness picture)
Aristotle says “the ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation, and not to embark on revenge quickly, ad not to be easily provoked to anger, but to be free from bitterness and contentiousness, having tranquility and stability in the spirit.” - from On virtues and vices
Barclay says “it is that virtuous quality by which we treat all men with perfect courtesy, that we can rebuke without candor, that we can argue without intolerance, and that we can face the truth without resentment, that we can be angry and sin not, that we can be gentle and yet not weak.”
Meekness is a quality displayed by Moses (Num12:3) and by Jesus (Mt11:28-30)
Gentleness/meekness in the life of the Christian
It is a manner in which we receive the Word (Jm1:21)
It is displayed in how we deal with our brother (Gal6:1)
It is how we share our hope with others (1Pt3:15)
So gentleness/meekness is power under control, using the right amount of power at the right time in the right situation brings us to our next point.
(Self -control picture)
Self-control “egkratei” means one holding himself in; one who masters his desires ad passions.
Thayer says it is especially mastering sensual appetites
McKnight adds “where this virtue subsits, temptation can have little influence.”
Self-control in the life of the Christian
It is necessary to overcome the works of the flesh (Gal5:19-20)
It aids us in overcoming the works of the flesh, by the power of the Spirit (Rom8:11-14)
We must be willing to stand strong in the power of God’s might (Eph6:12-18)
Self-control is using wisdom, knowledge and understanding that you obtain from God’s Word coupled with the power of God’s Spirit so we can walk in a worthy manner, able to walk in the Spirit and that is what we are going onto next.
Self-control in the life of the believer
It is in the victory over the flesh; and is needed to have it (Gal5:19-20)
It is the Spirit that aids us when we pray (Eph3:16, 20)
It is the Christian’s willingness to stand firm, stand stronge in the power of God’s might (Eph6:12-18)
It is possible for the old nature, the flesh, to counterfeit some of the fruit of the Spirit, but it cannot produce it. When the Spirit produces it in the life of the believer, then God gets the glory, not man.
The work of the Spirit is to help transform us to be more like Christ for His purpose and His glory and not for the praise, approval of man (Jn12:43)
43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
The Spirit lives in us, so we need to remember to walk in the Spirit, under the power of the Spirit so we are not boastful, so that we are not envying one another. Oh wait, here is the passage
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Cultivating the fruit
Cultivating the fruit
The Word of God with no application makes it a book. But the Word of God is more and it is there for us to learn (knowledge) and apply (wisdom) so that you can have life and life full (Jn10:10) and have every spiritual blessing (Eph1:3) that God has for you, that includes the fruit of the Spirit in you.
(the Word is alive picture)
Want to know howto cultivate the fruit of the Spirit?
_______________ God’s Word
(study)
______________ for it is your communication with God.
(pray)
______________ for this is one way to praise God
(worship)
____________ and ___________________ for this is your communion with God.
Fellowship and breaking of bread
(Encouragement slide: Law of love picture)
Let God’s alive Word work in you and through you to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit that will be evident in you. Now there maybe times we need to check our roots, maybe do some weed pulling to those things that can choke out our walk with Christ.
As you know we live in a fallen world where people are starving for love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. We can help they by our faithfulness, goodfullness, gentleness and self-control that needs no law for the Spirit filled Christian.
We do not bear fruit for our own consumption, but for others so that Christ may be glorified!
So choose to walk in the Light, walk in the Spirit, know the Freedom that Christ came to set you free for. He set you free from the law of sin and death by taking on the penalty of sin, so that today we may share the hope that is in us and life the life of the law of love!