"The Fruit of the Spirit"

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Discussion:

Acts 7:55–60 KJV 1900
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Why is it hard to respond properly when we are falsely attacked?
How does God’s Spirit in us offer hope for living a better life going forward?

The Fruit of the Spirit

Each of us will rather do the works of the flesh or produce the fruit of the Spirit.
The result of walking in the Spirit is seeing its fruit in our lives.
Galatians 5:16–25 KJV 1900
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
What are two elements that strive against one another for control of our lives? (verses 16-17) ___________________________________________________________
If we do the works of the flesh, what is the consequence? (verse 21) ___________________________________________________________
Is the “fruit” of the Spirit singular or plural? What does that mean? (verses 22-23) ___________________________________________________________
Because we now have life in the Spirit, what are we commanded to choose daily “in the Spirit”? (Verse 25) What do you think that means? ___________________________________________________________
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Love, Joy, Peace

These are the first three aspects of the fruit of the Spirit.
When we walk in the Spirit, God fill our lives with a selfless love for Him and others, a settled delight in our eternal hope, and a quite inner stability.
Romans 5:5 KJV 1900
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 14:17 KJV 1900
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1. What is the source of love in the Christian’s life? (Romans 5:5) ______________________________________________________________
2. What is the source of joy and peace in the Christian’s life? (Romans 14:17) ______________________________________________________________
3. How can we increase and deepen love, joy, and peace in our lives? ______________________________________________________________

Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness

The next three aspects are longsuffering, gentleness, and goodness.
This spiritual fruit does not result from our attempts at behavioral modification; they are the natural manifestation of God’s transformative work in our lives.
Colossians 3:12 KJV 1900
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
2 Timothy 2:24 KJV 1900
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
Titus 2:7 KJV 1900
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
We are to choose to put on longsuffering because are the what? (Colossians 3:12) ___________________________________________________________
To whom should we be gentle? (2 Timothy 2:24) ___________________________________________________________
Our good works should be seen in how many things? (Titus 2:7) ___________________________________________________________
What are ways we can yield to the Spirit so these fruit grow in our lives? ___________________________________________________________

Faith, Meekness, Temperance

These are the final three aspects. These fruit result in consistency, a measured strength, and control of our desires.
When we are led by and walk in His Spirit, by the very nature of that submission, God’s power directs us in the process of corralling our base desires and rendering them helpless to harm.
Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1 Peter 3:4 KJV 1900
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
1 Corinthians 9:25 KJV 1900
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Without faith it is impossible to do what? (Hebrews 11:6) ___________________________________________________________
What kind of spirit is precious in God’s sight? (1 Peter 3:4) ___________________________________________________________
Being temperate in all things is key to receiving an incorruptible what? (1 Corinthians 9:25) ___________________________________________________________

Closing

Is there any one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit that you find harder to develop than others? Why do you believe that is?
Share a time that you clearly witnessed one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit manifest in the life of a mature child of God?
What is one thing you can do this week to ensure that God’s Spirit can produce in you the traits He desires?
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