Fruit of the Spirit

Fruit of the Spirit - Grow Some!!!!!

God wants us to grow in knowledge of Him and only through a study of His Word can we begin to start to know and understand Him. In 2 Timothy, the only action on our part that is denoted as contingent to get approval from God is to study the scriptures.
“2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

This is an action that is very important to both new believers and believers who have attained some extent of maturity in the faith. The principles in God's Word are like the placement of bricks in a wall. You can not position the bricks in the third row of bricks without having already having in place the first and second rows. In order to grow as a Christian, we have to have build a foundation of the basic concepts of God (milk of the Word) in order to be able to receive and understand the advanced concepts and principles (meat of the Word). Peter in 1 Peter, Paul in 1 Corinthians, and Timothy in the book of Hebrews expressed this exact comparison between physical food and study of God's Word as spiritual food.
“1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"
“1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."
“Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe."

We do not want to put ourselves into the position of not feeding our inner man with spiritual food as was the case in Paul's letter to the Corinthians and Timothy's letter to the Hebrews. They were not studying the scriptures and as a result were unable to start to understand the deeper things of God. And, when they should have had enough knowledge of the Word of God to be able to teach others, they were still laying there like babies waiting for another round of "milk."

The "fruit of the Spirit" is grown as we grow in our understanding of God's Word, going from milk toast to meat, from babes in the Word to mature Christians. The fruit of the Spirit are Christian virtues produced, not from our own nature, but by the increase of our knowledge of Christ's nature and our understanding of God's Word through the Spirit. Understanding the fruit of the Spirit unlocks for us the riches that result from a Christ centered lifestyle. These fruit are not separate traits, from which we can pick and choose those most appealing to us. They are interdependent on each other and are manifested in an increasing visibility in our lives as we grow up in Christ.
“Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
In Galatians, Paul uses the metaphor of fruit to describe the conduct of the believer. He also uses the same figure of speech in Romans, Ephesians, and Philippians.
“Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
“Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
“Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)"

The fruit of the spirit, being the visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly, the character of the fruit being evidence of the character of the power producing it.
“Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

We will be known by the fruits we produce in our lives and as we grow in an understanding of God's Word, we will be seen to produce much more evident growth in spiritual maturity. Just as the visible expressions of hidden lusts are under the category of the lusts and works of the flesh, the invisible power of the Holy Spirit in people brought into a living union with Christ Jesus, produces the fruit of the Spirit. They begin to exhibit love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and temperance. These are in direct contrast to the antagonistic and confused works of the flesh.

Just as there are nine (9) parts to the manifestation of Holy Spirit, there are nine (9) parts listed that are termed "fruit of the Spirit." They all grow together and complement each other. The fruit of the flesh brings death and destruction but the fruit of the Spirit brings life and peace. Lets examine some of the aspects of each of these nine parts that believers produce in greater degree in their walk in Christ as they grow in God's Word.

LOVE - The love produced by the Spirit is like the love of Christ. It goes far beyond the performance of legalistic self-righteousness. The parable of the Good Samaritan provides a general view of this type of love. Genuine Christian love is an intense desire to please God and to do good to mankind.
“Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

Love is the fulfilling of the Old Testament law. God inspired Paul to write in Romans the following concerning the Old Testament law and the greater law of the new covenant in the New Testament: “Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

We are to show a loving behavior without deception, as an authentic expression of goodwill. Since the church is a family, we will show both brotherly love as well as the love of natural affection: “Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;" It is Love that activates our Faith: “Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."

Jesus during his ministry here on earth gave us an understanding of the ultimate act of love, the one he himself made for us and all people in the world: “John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jesus showed us the ultimate expression of Love by giving up his life so that all mankind could be saved.

JOY - Joy is associated with life. It is the exultation that comes from a sense of God's mercy and love toward us and it is something to be shared. Joy is an "inside job." It is through the complete realization of what we really have from God, that we experience true joy. Joy is a manifest witness to those around us that we are living with hope and promise of God within us.
We have joy in the fact that "we are" part of the kingdom of God and the Spirit in us creates in us joy: “Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” It is a time to realize joy when our adversary tries to tempt us, because we know that by resisting the temptations we grow stronger in faith and grace from God: “James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”

What enables us to have "full joy" is a full understanding of who we are in Christ Jesus and what he has gained for us through his death and resurrection, the evidence of our own eternal life exhibited. We can feel joy because of the atonement of our sins, they are no longer able to weight us down: “Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

The Word we have heard that brought us to salvation after we believed enables us to have full joy: “1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."

PEACE - Peace is not just the absence of conflict or withdrawal, but a deep abiding rightness in the heart. As we grow in a knowledge and understanding of God's Word, the assurances of His Word in our hearts produces peace which is manifested visibly in our lives. God will keep us in perfect peace when we keep His Word foremost in our minds as we go through the day: “Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

Through our justification we have peace with God: “Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

To be spiritually minded, maintaining our personal relationship with God yields both Life and peace: “Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Our promised hope, our salvation, from God enables us to keep our minds and hearts at peace: “Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Jesus Christ is our peace, he has removed the yoke of the law from us: “Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"

The unity of the body of Christ, the Church is kept in unity through the bond of peace: “Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;"

The peace of God that is beyond understanding guards our hearts and minds: “Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Our knowledge of God and His Word produces peace: “James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."

Jesus said that the things he had spoken were so we might have peace and that we should be of good cheer because he had overcome the world: “John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

LONGSUFFERING (PATIENCE) - It is not easy to put up with the faults and irritations of others but remember that God has put up a long with ours. If He had not, we would have been lost. Remember that God wins in the end and trust in that. He wants for us to patiently wait for Him to act on His own time table. He also wants us to exhibit patience with each other.

Jesus said that through patience we possess, control, our lives: “Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.”
Through our patience we maintain our hope which is unseen for now but is ours in reality, our eternal life: “Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Patience is the key to our perfection and abundance. Patience enables us to receive the promises of God: “James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
“Hebrews 6: 12 that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

GENTLENESS - The more spiritually mature we become, the gentler we are. God does not want us to treat other harshly. He wants us to exhibit His character and God's character in this area is to be merciful, kind, and gentle. We have to learn to express a genuine love for others in a kind and gentle manner. As a Christian we are not to strive but instead be gentle, motivated to share with others the Word of God we have received: 2 Timothy 2:24, "24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,"

We are to be gentle to all men: “Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." God's Word instructs us to be peaceful and gentle which results in us being easy for other to approach and enables us to show mercy without being predispositioned toward others: “James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."

The aspects of Kindness and tenderheartedness, as part of being gentle enables us to forgive others their shortcomings toward us easily, just like God has forgiven us: “Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

GOODNESS - Each man has in him the potential for great goodness or great evil. Our character influences everyone around us. Goodness will cost self-discipline, self-sacrifice, self-control and courage to stand against popular wrongs. The only basis or standard for goodness is God's Word. God is the One who defines moral goodness. He sets the standards, and it is His expectations that must be met. Goodness or being good, means that the thing fulfills its purpose or the expectations for it. In the context of God's expectations, goodness also includes the concept of morality that is defined by God in His Word. Also, the concept of goodness implies that in most situations the purpose or expectation involves some form of benefit.

In one of the first usages of good (goodness) Joseph in speaking to his brothers when they went to Egypt to obtain food was that God had intended their actions for good. God had a purpose which was to save many lives. God's good purpose in every situation is ultimately to save lives. We can clearly see here the goodness of God: “Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

God urges us to seek good and not evil so we might live. We are to hate evil and love good: “Amos 5:4,6,8-9,14-15 - 4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: 6 Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. 8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name: 9 That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress. 14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. 15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph."

In our sinful, selfish human nature there is no motivation to live God's way and accomplish His purposes: “Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”
The Christians in Rome were able to benefit and to help one another fulfill God's purpose in their lives and they portrayed the qualities of God's moral qualities: “Romans 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."

We are not to do hurtful, harmful things but helpful, beneficial, useful things and we are to speak good to build up one another with our conversation: “Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

As God's children, we live as children of light and seek to please God: “Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." We must keep seeking God and letting His qualities be developed in us by the Spirit. Doing so we will benefit others and we will reach out beyond our own selfish needs. We will be generous as some translations refer to this fruit. God's goodness goes beyond what the law stipulated and goes the extra mile. It gives what is needed and what will benefit, build up, and bless others: “Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

FAITH - We must simply have faith in God, implicitly trusting in Him. We are justified through faith: “Romans 3:28, 30 - 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith."

We obtain grace and promises through faith: “Romans 4:16, 20 - 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"

We are justified through faith and have access into God's grace: “Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Faith is developed by hearing God's Word: “Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Our faith stands in the power of God: “1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." We are to stand fast in the faith: “1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

We are all children of God by faith of Jesus Christ: “Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

With the shield of faith we can block and eliminate all of the attacks of the Wicked: “Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

MEEKNESS - Meekness is our attitude of submission toward God. When our attitude toward God is one of meekness then our attitude toward man is seasoned with the same spirit. Meekness actuates us to submit our wills to God's will. We are to instruct others in meekness: “2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"

God wants us to exhibit meekness to all men: “Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men." We must receive to Word of God with meekness to obtain salvation: “James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Meekness is our evidence of our possession of the Wisdom of God in our minds: “James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”

TEMPERANCE (SELF-CONTROL) - The man or woman filled with the Spirit will have self-control and will refrain from extremes. Putting on Christ we will not be uncomfortable with the self-denial of temperance, but will instead rejoice in the fullness of God's abundant life. This takes the transforming of our thinking and perspective to live by the teaching of God's Word. “1 Corinthians 9:25 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. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." Our faith produces Virtue (the quality of doing what is right) which in turn produces Temperance (avoiding sinful excesses): “2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The fruit of the Spirit reflects the goodness, faithfulness, and self-restraint inherent in God's nature. If His Spirit is in us, these traits that are the Spirit's fruit should also become fundamental characteristics of our nature as long as we continue serving God from the heart. If you are a tree standing in God's forest of believers and you do not have any visibility of fruit on you, perhaps it would be a wise move to add some fertilizer (God's Word) to your heart.