Part Three - The Proof is in the Fruit

INTRODUCTION

We are continuing today with Part 3 of our Sermon Series titled, “Healthy Things Grow, and Growing Things Change.” In week one, we talked about breaking up our fallow ground and how to prepare ourselves for spiritual growth. Last week we talked about the vine and the branches and how we must abide in Christ and depend upon Him in order to grow and produce fruit. The title of today’s message is, “The Proof is in the Fruit.” We are going to talk about the fruit of the Spirit and how we must go through seasons of spiritual growth in our lives.

SCRIPTURE

Luke 6:43–45 KJV 1900

43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

MESSAGE

Every Tree is Known by His Own Fruit

The Works of the Flesh

Galatians 5:19–21 KJV 1900

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 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.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Notice a few things about the Fruit of the Spirit:

First, it is the Fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit does not originate in us.

As we learned last week, we can only produce fruit as we abide in the True Vine of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, we can do nothing on our own.

But as we abide in the Vine, the Holy Spirit works in us through the process of sanctification to promote our spiritual growth and bring us to spiritual maturity.

It is therefore by the grace of God that we are able to produce the Fruit of the Spirit.

Second, Fruit is singular, not plural

Notice that the works of the flesh are plural.

There are many ways that the sinful flesh can manifest through us.

This is not a complete list of the works of the flesh because Paul writes at the end in Verse “and such like.”

But the fruit of the Spirit is singular.

Although there are nine (9) specific fruit mentioned here, they are considered one fruit.

As Christians, we don’t get to pick and choose from the list of the fruit of the Spirit like it is a menu at Burger King. You can’t have it your way. It must be God’s way.

As Christians, we should be bearing all of the fruit of the Spirit, all of the time.

Understanding the 9 Fruit of the Spirit

Love

Love is mentioned first intentionally. All the other fruit of the Spirit sprout from the seed of love.

In English, we only have one word for love. But in the original Greek, there are four (4) words for love:

Philia (Friendship)

Storge (Close Family)

Eros (Romantic)

Agape (Unconditional)

The word used here is Agape.

This is the highest form of love.

This is the type of love that God has for us and the type that Jesus demonstrated by giving His life for us on the cross.

This is self-sacrificing love.

This kind of love is more than just an emotion, it is a decision.

It is the type of love that doesn’t come with conditions.

It is the kind of love that gives even when it doesn’t receive love in return.

It is the type of love that is directed towards everyone, even people who are unlovable and people you can’t get along with.

Joy

One of Satan’s greatest marketing strategies is to convince people that living in the world is the source of fun and joy and being a Christian is dull, boring, and miserable.

Joy is not dependent on circumstances. Happiness can come and go, but joy can abide continually because of our connection to the True Vine. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

“Believers are not dependent upon circumstances. Their joy comes not from what they have, but from what they are; not from where they are, but from whose they are; not for what they enjoy, but from that which was suffered for them by their Lord” (Spurgeon).

Peace

This type of peace is peace with God, peace with other people, and peace with ourselves.

This is the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

It is the peace of knowing that God is in control of everything.

“Here it means that tranquility of heart which derives from the all-pervading consciousness that our times are in the hands of God” (Barclay).

Longsuffering

Longsuffering is patience.

It means that we can have love, joy, and peace in spite of what is going on in our lives.

It means having patience through trials and through getting hurt by others.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

“Longsuffering is that quality which enables a person to bear adversity, injury, reproach, and makes them patient to wait for the improvement of those who have done him wrong. When the devil finds that he cannot overcome certain persons by force he tries to overcome them in the long run…To withstand his continued assaults we must be longsuffering and patiently wait for the devil to get tired of his game” (Luther.)

Gentleness

Gentleness can mean kindness.

Kindness is the natural byproduct of love.

It is about treating others with love and respect. It is about putting the needs of others above your own.

Goodness

Goodness is similar to gentleness or kindness, but it also includes generosity.

This is not generosity just in the sense of money, but in everything.

We can give to others of our time, our heart, and our talents.

Faith (Faithfulness)

It is the idea of being trustworthy, dependable, or reliable.

There is still something to be said for people who keep their word and especially of Christians.

The idea is that the Spirit works faithfulness in us, both toward God and toward others.

“The ability to serve God faithfully through the years and through the temptations of life is not something we achieve by heroic virtue. It comes from the Spirit” (Morris).

Meekness

Meekness is closely related to being humble.

It is the opposite of walking around with a chip on your shoulder.

When someone rubs you the wrong way do you respond with abrasiveness, or do you respond with the humble, meek, and lowly style that Jesus did?

But understand also that meekness does not equal weakness. It is not always being timid or passive.

“It is the quality of a man who is always angry at the right time and never at the wrong time” (Barclay).

Temperance (Self Control)

Self control is really about resisting the ways of the world and living a Godly life.

It means living by the fruit of the Spirit instead of the lusts of the flesh.

It takes self control for us to surrender to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work through us.

All of the previous fruit of the Spirit in this list require self control.

Growth is Measured in Seasons

I want to encourage you by reminding you that growth does not happen instantaneously.

Perhaps you’ve gotten frustrated or discouraged because you feel like you are not growing as quickly as you would like or you feel like you should. Maybe you’re getting burned out trying to live up to someone else’s expectations.

You must understand that growth takes time.

Think of growth in term of planting a blueberry bush. Blueberry bushes will not produce as soon as you put them in the ground. There is a waiting period before the plant reaches maturity to produce a crop. In fact, it can take up to three or four years before a blueberry bush is mature and established enough to bear a good quantity of fruit that is good to eat. But during this time there is important growth that is taking place. The roots are growing deep and becoming established. The plant itself is growing and putting on foliage. It is growing strong to be able to endure drought, changes in the seasons, and endure storms. With time and given the right conditions and care, the blueberry bush will begin to put on fruit. And as long as the conditions and care remain, then it will put on more and more fruit each year.

This is true of our spiritual growth as well.

We can’t expect to be fully mature, fruit bearing Christians on day one, day two, or even year one.

What we should be doing is growing every day in our relationship with God.

Let the roots grow deep. Get yourself established in His Word.

Begin to grow and mature in your relationship with God and with others.

Continue to abide daily in the True Vine of Jesus Christ.

Allow the Holy Spirit to prune you and transform you into what God desires you to be.

Before you know it, you will begin to put on the fruit of the Spirit.

And as you continue to grow and mature in Christ you will put on more fruit and then much fruit.

The proof is in the fruit!

We can also think of this in terms of the growth of our church.

Healthy church growth takes time. It is measured in seasons, not individual moments.

There must be time for the roots to become established.

There must be time for the body to become strong and united so that we can endure the times of drought, changes in the seasons, and endure the storms that we are going to face.

And let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6:9).

Don’t give up. Don’t be discouraged.

Keep sowing seeds. Keep witnessing. Keep inviting people to church. Keep watering the seeds that have already been planted.

Growth is already taking place, even though you may not see it yet. The roots are growing deep. Unfruitful areas are being removed. Strength and unity are being built up.

We are going to reap in due season. The season of growth is coming! The fruit of our labors is coming! The harvest is coming!

God is the husbandman, the vinedresser, the farmer. He has planted us here to produce a harvest! And God’s plans never fail! We will reap His harvest, if we faint not! The proof is going to be in the fruit.

CONCLUSION

What kind of tree are you?

What is more evident in our lives: the works or the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit?

What kind of treasure comes out of your heart: good treasure or evil treasure?

Are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit?

Is there evidence in your life of the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5?

Are you bearing all of the fruit of the Spirit or are you trying to pick and choose only the ones you are comfortable with?

Are you currently going through a season of growth?

Are you feeling discouraged or frustrated at your perceived lack of progress?

Are you truly committed to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life to strengthen you and establish you in your relationship with God?