Title: The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23
1The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 522-23
- But the fruit of the spirit is
- Love,
- Joy,
- Peace,
- Longsuffering,
- Gentleness,
- Goodness,
- Faith,
- Meekness,
- Temperance,
- against such there is no law
2Separate Fruit or Different Aspects of One Fruit?
- Fruit in the New Testament is normally plural
- Only in Galatians 522 and Luke 142 (referring
to Jesus) is it singular - Actually, this fruit is singular collective
- One collective fruit that is centered
- in LOVE made up of 8 other parts?
-
- Consider I Corinthians 13 and 2 Peter 1
3Galatians 5 I Corinthians 13Fruit of Spirit
Love or Charity
- JOY
- PEACE
- LONGSUFFERING
- GENTLENESS
- GOODNESS
- FAITH
- MEEKNESS
- TEMPERANCE
- rejoiceth hopeth all things
- beareth all things endureth all things
- suffereth long not easily provoked
- is kind envieth not
- rejoiceth not in iniquity thinketh not evil
- believeth all things never faileth
- not puffed up vaunteth not itself
- behaveth not unseemly seeketh not her own
42 Peter 1 Galatians 5
- FAITH (same word) FAITH
- VIRTUE brings GOODNESS
- KNOWLEDGE brings (see PEACE
- 2 Pet. 13)
- TEMPERANCE (same word) TEMPERANCE
- PATIENCE encourages LONGSUFFERING
- GODLINESS brings GENTLENESS
- BROTHERLY KINDNESS and MEEKNESS
- CHARITY equals LOVE
5But the fruit of the spirit is
- Love
- Joy,
- Peace,
- Longsuffering,
- Gentleness,
- Goodness,
- Faith,
- Meekness,
- Temperance,
- against such there is no law
- Galatians 522-23
6Longsuffering
- English word joining together of 2 words
- Original Greek also combination of 2 words
- makro and themeo
- Literally slow anger or long temper
- Also translated patience
- Newer versions (eg, NIV NEB) translate this
fruit of the spirit as patience - But, there is a difference between Biblical
Longsuffering and Patience (as we know it).
7The Patience of Job
- Character of Job well illustrates difference
between patience and longsuffering - Known for patience but not longsuffering
- James uses both words in chapter 5
- Be patient (makrothumia) therefore, brethren,
unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the
husbandmanhath long patience for itBe ye also
patient James 57-8 - Ye have heard of the patience (hupomone) of Job,
and hath seen the end of the Lord James 511 - James says -- We need more than patience
(humonone)! - Job, too, needed to learn longsuffering
(makrothumia)
8Longsuffering of Yahweh
- God is described as being slow to anger
Neh. 917 - Exhibited this characteristic many times - e.g.,
time of Noah (see 1 Pet. 320) - but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing
that any should perish, but that all should come
to repentance. 2 Pet. 39 - And account that the longsuffering of our Lord
is salvation. 2 Pet. 315
9Slow Anger is not No Anger
- Impossible to experience no anger.
- What counts is how we express it.
- And we need to express it release it in some
way. - Not in ways that are physically or emotionally
damaging to other people. - Opposite of slow anger quick temper
- not a part of the fruit of the Spirit
10Anger Biblical Common Sense
- A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise
man quietly holds back. Prov. 2911 (RSV) - Be ye angry, and sin not let not the sun go
down upon your wrath Eph. 426 - Beslow to wrath For the wrath of man worketh
not the righteousness of God James 119,20
11Anger - Negative ( Positive) Sides
- Negative Impacts
- Attacking another person
- Thinking hateful thoughts
- Festering grudges
- Souring relationships
- Guilt -gt Neurosis -gt Physical Illness
- Positive Side
- Use it as fuel for motivation
- But must let it go calm it back
12The Answer to Anger and The Secret of
Longsuffering
- It is quite simple
- It is the ACT of FORGIVENESS
- It is essential to our own emotional, spiritual
and even physical well-being. - To Forgive is to set a prisoner free and
discover the prisoner was YOU.
13Forgiveness A Way of Life
- Forgiveness does not come naturally
- It needs Practice working on until it becomes a
habit - Starting with small everyday things
- Just let it go calm it back
- Think back Do you have anything against anyone?
- FORGIVE THEM set yourself free
14Forgiving Yourself
- Anger towards ourselves is no less bad than anger
directed towards others. - Can be most difficult form of forgiveness.
- There is nothing wrong with having a certain
healthy regard for ourselves. - But, we think we own ourselves and therefore can
mistreat ourselves. - Not so! We were bought with a price.
15Longsuffering Towards Ourselves
- Go easy on yourself or it will be impossible to
go easy on others. - If we are over-critical and chronically angry at
ourselves, were not going to project a different
attitude towards our neighbors. - We cant give away what we dont have ourselves.
- For if our heart condemn us, God is greater
(hearted) than our heart (than I am), and knoweth
all things 1 John 320 - Yahweh is more long-suffering than we can ever
imagine.
16TEMPERANCE
- Is it self-control or God-control?
- Natural will is weak to overcome must be aligned
with higher power. - True temperance only through delight and
meditation in Gods Word. - We must hold back and not indulge in excesses
acceptable to the world.
17TEMPERANCE
- Original Greek Egkrateia (pronounced
en-krateia) - Compound of two words en kratos
- Literally means in strength
- To have power over ones self Self-control
- Indeed, it takes much strength to overcome the
lure from within that is so strong. - He who rules his spirit is better than he who
takes a city Prov. 1632
18Biblical (NT) context of Temperance
- But if they unmarried and widows cannot
contain, let them marry for it is better to
marry than to burn. 1 Corinthians 79 - Original word for contain is egkrateia or
temperance. - The context is how much easier it can be to serve
God if one remains unmarried. - And every man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all thingsBut I keep under my body,
and bring it into subjection lest by any means,
when I have preached to others, I myself should
be a castaway 1 Cor. 925,27 - Context of 1 Corinthians 9 is clearly confined to
bodily excesses. - Is all the universal all absolutely
everything? - Should we be temperate in our love for God, for
example?
19Other areas of self-control
- Drinking
- Amassing wealth
- Spending
-
- Eating
- Etc.
20Temperance vs. Moderation
- These words are close synonyms but are not the
same, particularly as they relate to morality. - Moderation in all things is a phrase often
heard today but it is not Biblical. - There are some things we are told to abstain
from. - Abstinence is the ultimate form of temperance.
21Interlocking Pieces of Fruit
- All parts of the fruit of the Spirit overlap and
interlink. - All parts combine to make the complete and true
Christ-like character. - Lack of one part will generally mean shortages in
other parts. - For example - if we fail to be longsuffering, we
will fail at joy and peace
22Gentleness
- Greek chrestotes
- More often translated kindness in AV
- This fruit is better understood as Kindness
- Acts of kindness the cup of cold water
- Everyday things i.e. generally being nice?
- Social Kindness - because we like to be liked
- Fruit of the Spirit is not just Social Kindness
23Being vs. Doing
- Fruit of the Spirit about being more than doing
- Internal quality of kindness rather than outward
manifestation of it. - Perfunctory kindness no better than social
kindness - Chrestotes related Chrestos describe genuine
kindness of the heart - Mirrors the kindness of Yahweh himself and of His
Son
24References to Kindness of GodOriginal Greek
chrestotes or chrestos
- the riches of his goodness Rom. 24
- the goodness and severity of God Rom. 1122
- if thou continue in his goodness Rom. 1122
- the riches of His grace in his kindness Eph.
27 - the kindness and love of God Titus 34
- the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance Rom. 24 - He is kind to be thankful Luke 635
- Be ye kindtenderheartedforgiving Eph. 432
- as God
25Kindness principle attribute of Gods
grace
- GRACE
-
- favor generosity allowance mercy
- goodwill clemency beneficence
26Sympathy for Others
- Gentleness (KINDNESS) will manifest itself in
greater sympathy for people. - Reality is we all suffer from cursed human
condition. - Genuine kindness comes from knowing and
appreciating what others are going through
(treating them in a way that shows you really
believe they matter) - Kindness is NOT being patronizing and
condescending but being empathetic.
27Kindness begins at home
- Should find its fullest and best expression among
fellow believers. - Let each esteem others better than himself
Phil. 23 RAV - Indicates high level of grace, allowance and
understanding we should have for others of the
faith. - But, are we impartial in esteeming others?
- - They would be all right if only they were
28What Philippians 23 does not say
- let each esteem himself or herself worse than
others - This passage is not reversible in this way.
- Spirit of the verse is to exalt others not knock
ourselves down. - It should have a positive effect on us help us
to show kindness to fellow believers.
29SoHow do we show kindness to fellow believers?
- By passing on the grace that Yahweh has shown
unto us. - By making allowance for others.
- Treating them with sympathy and understanding.
- Understanding what makes them tick.
- By putting away all the bad uses of the tongue
Eph. 429, 31, 32 - By ministering grace unto the hearers
and using the art of careful listening
30Kindness can be expensive
- Real kindness does have a cost
- Our time
- Our energy
- Our money
- Our pride
- Our convenience
- Our security
- But, we wont count the cost when it has become
part of our everyday character.
31The Milk of Human Kindness
- too full o the milk of human kindness
Lady Macbeth - Is there a danger of being overly kind or taken
advantage of for our kindness? - Answer leave it in Gods hands trust in Him.
- Never allow the milk to go sour!
- The kindness of Christ and his Father is
experienced by tasting the sincere milk of the
word. 1 Peter 22,3 - Kindness will be perfectly manifested in us as
citizens of the Kingdom.
32Goodness
- Greek word agathosune
- Only appears in New Testament four times
- Romans 1514
- Galatians 522
- Ephesians 59
- 2 Thessalonians 111
33Full of Goodness Rom. 1514
- Not in absolute sense
- Even Christ said there is none good but one,
that is God Matt. 1916-17 - Yahweh may impute goodness on His own terms but
its not inherent or earned. - But, Romans had sufficient knowledge and
goodness. - With such, they were able to admonish one
another and lead away from false doctrine and
un-Christ-like practices Paul warned them
against. - Do we have sufficient goodness?
34Goodness
- Greek word agathosune
- New Testament references
- Romans 1514
- Galatians 522
- Ephesians 59
- 2 Thessalonians 111
35(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness) Ephesians 59
- Verse must be considered in context of chapters 4
and 5 and especially vv. 8-11. - Chief source of defense against unfruitful works
of darkness is fruit of the Spirit. - And only fruit mentioned explicitly is
goodness. - Goodness works in proving what is acceptable
and in reproving the unfruitful works of
darkness. - Relationship of goodness to admonishing and
reproving is very significant.
36good pleasure of His goodness 2 Thess.
111
- Wherefore also we pray always for you, that
our God would count you worthy of this calling,
and fulfil all the good pleasure of his
goodness, and the work of faith with power. - Some versions other than KJV impute goodness in
this verse to believers rather than God. - Alternate rendering of 2 Thess. 111
- that our God would count you worthy of calling
and fulfill all the good pleasure delight and
desire of your goodness and your work of
faith with power. - In a nutshell The fulfillment of their delight
in goodness would be their salvation.
37Goodness is
- The quality of character that lies behind, and
must precede all truly good works. - It works something like a conscience and may be
just that. - Inner voice of the Word which is admonishing
and reproving us. - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might
not sin against thee Psalm 11911
38Self-Talk
- Nature of our self-talk is extremely important
to our spiritual and mental well-being. - For people of the world, their self talk is
almost entirely influenced by themselves and
other people. - Any goodness they have is not the real thing.
- Their moral compass is not influenced by the Word
of God. - Self-talk of the believer is marked by gentle but
firm inner reprovings and admonitions of the
Word. - When thou awakest, it shall talk with thee
Prov. 622
39Our Inner Voice
- In the beginning, Adam and Eves self-talk was
the pure voice of goodness. - Disobedience introduced a new voice in their
heads. - Voice of goodness became overwhelmed and in need
of constant reinforcement. - We desperately need the positive influence of the
Word to restore the godly voice of goodness. - Whats the inner voice in your head telling you
most of the time? Is it predominantly the voice
of goodness or the voice of evil?
40Positive and Negative Thinking
- Goodness is a form of positive thinking.
- Our natural mode of thinking is negative. It can
- Lead us away from our own highest good
- Drain our spirit if we let it
- Try to convince us that bad things are actually
good for us. - Bible-based positive thinking is the only real
change agent that can overcome the natural mode
and result in true goodness.
41Think of these things Phil. 48
- whatsoever things are
- TRUE
- HONEST
- PURE
- LOVELY
- GOOD REPORT
- VIRTUE
42But the fruit of the spirit is
- Love,
- Joy,
- Peace,
- Longsuffering,
- Gentleness,
- Goodness,
- Faith,
- Meekness,
- Temperance,
- against such there is no law
- Galatians 522-23
43The Equation of Faith - Heb. 111
- Faith
- Substance
- Greek hupostatis hupo - of, by or under statis
- state - literally of state or of standing
- something you can stand on a solid base
1 The Substance The Evidence
2 Things hoped for Things not seen
of
of
44JOY and PEACE flip sides of the same coin
- JOY PEACE
- (Active) (Passive)
- Faith Security
45JOY
- Greek chara
- Related to charis (grace) charisma (gift)
- JOY certainty doubt cast out
expectations soon to be realized - good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people when
they saw the star, they rejoiced (chairo)
with exceeding great joy (chara). - NO JOY with doubt, worry, lack of faith
insecurity
46Attitude and Joy
- Christs Parables in Matthew 13 - Attitudes
toward the Kingdom - Parable of Sower
- Treasure hid in the field v. 44
- The Kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hide
in a field the which when a man hath found, he
hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all
that he hath and buyeth that field. - Pearl of great price vv. 45-46
- is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly
pearls who, when he found one pearl of great
price, went and sold all that he had, and bought
it.
47 Certainty vs. Doubt
- Comes through faith
- Awareness of
- Abundant Grace
- Mercy
- Goodness
- Good Grief
- Acknowledging the need for confession and
repentance - Certainty of Forgiveness
- Comes naturally
- Not wanting to delude ourselves
- Thoughts of shame and guilt
- Constant failure to live the Truth
- Feelings of unworthiness
48The joy of the Lord is your strength
- Example of the children of Israel in the days of
Nehemiah - For all the people had been weeping as they
listened to the words of the Law Neh. 89 NIV - Nehemiah said, Go and enjoyThis day is sacred
to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the
Lord is your strength Neh. 810 NIV - Strength moaz Hebrew fort or stronghold
- Joy founded upon the certainty of Yahwehs love
and mercy protection against despair and
hopelessness that the guilt of sin brings.
49but your sorrow shall be turned into joy
- Example of Christ and the disciples
- A little while, and ye shall not see me and
again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall
weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice and
ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be
turned into joy. John 1619-20 - Joy that comes from deep-seated spiritual
security. - Joy that comes by knowing the Kingdom will be
established.
50Secret of maintaining joy
- Keep the vision of your pearl clear (not
hidden in our pockets) - Keep the certainty of it always before you (not
letting doubt creep in) - Always be expecting its value to be realized
(not letting failure obscure your vision) - For the joy of the Lord is your strength
51But the fruit of the spirit is
- Love,
- Joy,
- Peace,
- Longsuffering,
- Gentleness,
- Goodness,
- Faith,
- Meekness,
- Temperance,
- against such there is no law
- Galatians 522-23
52Individual Ideas of Peace
-
-
- Sitting alone reading Walking down a country
path - Fly fishing in a stream Quiet time
after children are asleep
53Peace in todays society?
- Our society promotes stress.
- It is a treadmill society driven by materialism
and consumerism. - Chasing dreams that are never realized.
- Getting to the top can take a heavy toll.
- Opting to get off the treadmill is difficult in
todays economy and can lead to the stress of
survival. - Believers lives are no less stress-free than
others.
54The Way of Peace
- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto
you John 1427 - let the peace of God rule in your
hearts Col. 315 - It is possible for everyone to experience real
peace. - But, why is the way of peace so difficult for
most of us to find?
55Peace and Circumstance
- Many live with illusion that inner peace is
totally dependent upon external circumstances. - But, this is NOT the case. Real peace does not
depend on circumstances. - If your peace is controlled by external things,
then it is not real peace. - True peace is obtained by developing the other
fruit of the Spirit and constant delight and
meditation on the Word of God.
56Scriptural examples
- Stephen was able to retain inner peace, even
while being stoned to death. - Habakkuk
- Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are
no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop
fails and the fields produce no food, though
there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in
the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I
will be joyful in God my Savior Hab. 317-18 NIV - Paul
- Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again
Rejoice! The Lord is near. Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving present your requests
to God. And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 44-7 (NIV)
57Real Peace
- Practiced by maintaining inner calm and absolute
trust in Yahweh during smaller everyday as well
as major crises of life, - as with all the fruit of the Spirit real peace
takes effort to develop as an aspect of our
character - for
- all things work together for good
- Not that all things are good
- Bad things must be viewed in context of God
guiding all the events in life to a good,
eventual outcome.
58The Gap
- REAL PEACE (Spiritual Mind)
-
- ACTUAL PEACE
- (or Lack thereof)
- YOU FEEL
- LIFE FILLED WITH
- TROUBLE CONFUSION
- (Natural Mind)
THE GAP
59Cold War
- Real peace is not the absence of war (or conflict
in our lives). - It is a quality (fruit) in its own right which
actually replaces conflict within us. - Do we have our own personal, inner cold war going
on? - It is a form of being in the Gap (and can be on
the edge of falling out of the peace zone). - Difference between only resisting the devil and
drawing nigh unto God.
60The Pendulum of Finding Peace
- Resist the Devil Draw nigh to
God - THE GAP
61Finding peace through the bad
- To be reminded of God every time something goes
wrong is perfect way to stay focused on the Truth
and find peace. - Important to see the hand of God in things that
would normally defeat you and to - Press the praise button, not the panic button
(i.e., thank God and dont complain). - Changed attitude to problems and recognition of
God in your life events will transform you and
bring real peace. - Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with
good. Rom. 1221
62Confusion vs. Peace
- For God is not the author of confusion, but of
peace 1 Cor. 1433 - In the
- Mind of the Flesh GAP Mind of the
Spirit - The GAP is a mental state of confusion
instability or double-mindedness. - A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways
James 18 - The Answer Psalm 8611-12
63Peace like a River
- Isaiah 6612 Behold, I will extend peace to her
like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like
a flowing stream. - Revelation 221,2
- Psalm 13 like a tree planted by the rivers of
water that bringeth forth his fruit in due
season - Psalm 3711 meek shall inherit the earth and
shall delight themselves in the abundance of
peace - 2 Peter 313-14
- Col. 315 And let the peace of God rule in your
hearts, to the which also ye are called in one
body and be ye thankful. -
64- But the fruit of the spirit is
- Love,
- Joy,
- Peace,
- Longsuffering,
- Gentleness,
- Goodness,
- Faith,
- Meekness,
- Temperance,
- against such there is no law
658-Fold Fruit of the Spirit
- Characterizes the New Man in Christ
- Number 8 signifies a new beginning
- Consider other lists of attributes for
- Elect of God (items to put on) - Col. 312-16
- Man of God - I Timothy 611-12
- Brethren Romans 12 entire chapter
66Balance and Attitude
- Must keep the Fruit in balance
- They are the Correct Attitudes to Life
- And the Fruit of the Spirit is all about
attitude - Correct attitudes
- JOY, PEACE, etc. The Pull of the Flesh
67Hupomone Active Patience
- One of the noblest of New Testament words
- Relates specifically to tribulation
- Not a passive form of patience
- Through which we can bear all things through hope
- This was the patience of Job!
- But, he still needed to learn longsuffering
towards his friends.
68Real Faith
- Works without faith is phony fruit.
- May have appearance of real fruit.
- But, God is not fooled.
- Yahweh looks at the being not the doing.
- Works without real faith will only bring a
bitter. - by works was faith made perfect James
222
69The Teenager Analogy
- Human race is stuck in adolescence from Gods
perspective never reaching spiritual maturity. - Teenagers want the benefits of adulthood without
the responsibilities. - Temperance is hard for spiritual adolescents of
all ages. - Reality is that believers still have same old
rebellious nature after baptism and can suffer
from shortcomings as spiritual adolescents.
70Temperance Biblical emphasis
- Immorality was a problem in Pauls day and its
much worse today. - Biblical temperance is all about being strong in
the control of our natural tendencies -- the
primary drives of the flesh. - Sexual drive is perhaps the strongest and most
difficult to control for some. - Paul explicitly exhorts the brethren in the first
century on this delicate subject, especially to
the ecclesia in Corinth.
71Goodness in use as a Fruit
- Goodness is -- quality of character in a believer
by which he or she is able to combat badness or
evil. - Believer should direct his/her goodness toward
others in error using it to validate their
admonition and reproofs. - It only comes from reading the Spirit Word and
- It gives us credibility when dealing with error
doctrine or walk. - But, not its primary function.
- More importantly, is what it does for us on the
inside (being rather than doing).
72Faith Now
- Three other matters of faith that are not future
- Hand of Yahweh in our lives
- His hand in the affairs of present nations
- His hand in the past
- Each of these has evidence in outworkings beyond
Scripture but still require faith - And we must have faith in ourselves.
73Original Greek - Egkrateia
- Compound of two words en kratos
- Literally means in strength
- To have power over ones self
- Indeed, it takes much strength to overcome the
lure from within that is so strong. - He who rules his spirit is better than he who
takes a city Prov. 1632
74Example of Felix
- Procurator of Judea - Paul defended himself
against claims made against him before Felix (see
Acts 24). - And as Paul reasoned of righteousness,
temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled,
and answered, Go thy way (v. 25) - History shows that Felix indulged in all kinds of
cruelty and moral excess including murder and
adultery. - Judgment would be the consequence of his lack of
temperance (and righteousness) therefore he
trembled.
75Adultery and Murder in the Heart
- We may not be guilty of adultery or murder but
what about the spiritual equivalents? - Ye have heard that it was said of them of old
time, Thou shalt not kill and whosoever shall
kill shall be in danger of the judgment But I
say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his
brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
judgment. - But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a
woman to lust after her hath committed adultery
with her already in his heart. Matthew 521,
22 28 - Intemperate thinking is sin in Yahwehs eyes just
as intemperate action. - Are we any less guilty than Felix in regard to
intemperate thinking?
76Peace Other side of coin of Security
- JOY (Active) PEACE (Passive)
- Security
- Joy gives sparkle to life in the Truth.
- Peace provides a deeper feeling of well-being.
- True peace is a product of the other Fruit of the
Spirit.
77Trees Bearing Fruit
- Fruitful trees are worthwhile
- Fruitless trees are worthless
- The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 136-9)
- Fruit is the visible evidence/expression of a
trees good health both natural spiritual. - Cultivation Spiritual Development
- fruits meet for repentance (Matt. 38)
78A tree planted by the water Psalm 13
Jeremiah 178
- Natural - Healthy trees are planted by good water
supplies - Spiritual see preceding verses
- his delight is in the law of the Lord and in
his law doth he meditate day and night Ps. 12 - Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord,
and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a
tree Jer. 177 - Delight Meditation in the Law
- Trust Hope in the Lord
79Of the Spirit
- Nobody but Yahweh can make a fruit
- Farmers create best conditions for growth
yet natural laws of creation bring forth fruit - Natural fruit is also of the Spirit
- But, fruit of the Spirit is extra special
- Brings together all the qualities of character
produced in the heart of a believer by the Spirit - And like natural fruit, man cannot manufacture
such qualities on his own - This fruit has to go through a process of growth
80Fruit of the World
- Good works of the unbeliever are not the fruit
of the Spirit and fail to please Yahweh - They are synthetic or imitation fruit.
- Good people only appear to be what God wants.
81Not a gift of the Spirit
- of the Spirit ? gift of the Spirit
- This fruit is not conferred by the Holy Spirit
- Not grown suddenly and miraculously at baptism
- Nor can it be programmed like a computer
- Development of it must be a free-will response
82What then makes it of the Spirit ?
- Because it results from the influence of the
Spirit Word
83Parallel Phrases
- mind of the Spirit Romans 827
- spiritually minded Romans 86
- minding the things of the Spirit Romans 85
- mind of Christ 1 Cor. 216 Phil. 25
- Spirit of Christ Romans 89
- Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Romans 82
- Walk in the Spirit Galatians 516
84The Mind of Christ Fruit of Spirit
- love one another as I have LOVED you John
1512 - that my JOY might remain in you John 1511
- my PEACE I give unto you John 1427
- Jesus Christ might shew forth all LONGSUFFERING
1 Tim. 116 - the Lord Jesus is gracious Gr. chrestos,
KIND gentleness 1 Peter 23 - Can there come any GOOD thing come out of
Nazareth?... Come and see John 14 - Christ Jesus who was FAITHFUL to him that
Heb. 32 appointed him - by the MEEKNESS and gentleness of Christ 2
Cor. 101 - Every man includes Christ that striveth for
mastery is TEMPERATE in all things 1 Cor.
925
85LOVE (agape)
- What is ISNT?
- It isnt the love the world knows.
- It isnt philia (friendship, affection, romantic)
- It isnt eros (physical passion)
- It is not superficial or something you can turn
on and off and - It doesnt come naturally.
86What Agape is
- It is best defined through its illustration in
Scripture for all the Law is fulfilled in it - It is ultimately exemplified in Yahweh and His
Son. - It is transcendent.
- It is practical - a sound and workable
approach to daily living
Heaven (God)
Christ
Earth (us)
87Love for our brethren should be
- Of a higher order than those outside the Truth
(Gal. 610) - It can (and should) be better expressed among
fellow believers than between believer and
unbeliever. - Our love for those who love the things we love
will naturally be greater. - A form of witness to the world (John 1335)
88Swear not at all
- But above all things, my brethren, swear not,
neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither
by any other oath but let your yea be yea and
your nay, nay lest ye fall into condemnation.
James 512 - Jesus warns not to swear at all take no oaths
or commit to anything we are unable to follow
through with. But let your communication be,
Yea, yea Nay, nay for whatsoever is more than
these cometh of evil Matt. 533-37
89Everyday Swear Words
- My Goodness
- Good Gracious
- Good Heavens
- Gosh or Oh My Gosh
- Geez (Jesus)
- Jiminy Cricket (Jesus Christ)
- Cripes (Christ)
90Swearing A Social Disease
- Can be caught like a common cold.
- A strong social acceptance factor is involved.
- But, believers must resist it. Why?
- It displeases and even devalues Yahweh.
- It is a sign of emotional immaturity.
- A lack of ability to express strong feeling in
any other way.
91Temperance and God
- Yahweh exhibits the controlled strength of
meekness (the last Fruit considered) to
perfection. - Temperance works alongside His meekness as part
of His character. - God is not given to uncontrolled use of His power
and is extremely sparing in His omnipotence. - Lessons for us if we are to share in His
character?
92I think, therefore I am
- French philosopher
- Rene Descartes
- Cogito, ergo sum
- Two choices
- I think, therefore I amevil or
- I think, therefore I amgood
- Which mode of thinking applies to us?
93Progress
Doing Doing Being Being
94FAITH
- The only fruit that is defined in Scripture.
- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen - Hebrews 111
- But, what does this meaning really mean?
95Faith and Works James 218
- Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have
works shew my thy faith without works, and I
will shew thee my faith by my works. - Not a doctrine of salvation by works but
- A doctrine of salvation by faith that inevitably
leads to works. - Works are not the goal.
- Fruit of the Spirit is the goal and works are
outcome of developing of the fruit especially
faith. - by works was faith made perfect James
222
96Box 2
1 The Substance The Evidence
2 Things hoped for Things not seen
of
of
97Things hoped for
- The return of Christ
- Resurrection
- Immortality
- The Kingdom of God established
98Faith in our own salvation
- Believing in the salvation of others is much
easier than our own. - Difference is that we know ourselves only too
well, especially our shadow selves. - But, Yahweh is pleased in progress we gain for
the fruit of the Spirit and the development
thereof. - The only true failure is to believe you have no
hope. - People with real faith affect those around them
in direct and indirect ways.
99MEEKNESS
- Greek Praotes gentle, mild and gracious
- But it does not connote weakness or timidity in
the way the world would consider meekness. - Biblically defined as gentle, controlled strength
- True meekness as a fruit of the Spirit can only
be developed as a characteristic of believers. It
can never come naturally. - It arises from the strength and security we have
in trusting Yahweh. - It grows within as a result of our continued
delight and meditation in the Word.
100The Supreme Example
- The Almighty Himself is the greatest example of
meekness. - He is controlled strength in the ultimate sense
of the term. - THE Creator and Sustainer of the Universe
-Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent and Glorious
beyond our comprehension. - Yet is mindful of us here on this earth and shown
His love to us in many ways more than we could
expect or deserve.
101The Meekness of Christ
- His life exemplified controlled strength
- From the time of temptation in the wilderness
- Slipping away from those who threatened to kill
him though he had the power to deal with them - To his last entry into Jerusalem, riding on a
lowly animal hearing the cheers of many who
would call for his death - And finally to be crucified as a common criminal.
- Jesus resisted the temptation to use his power
and acknowledged the source of it. - And in this knowledge lies the secret of our
meekness.
102The Meekness of Man
- Yet, mankind is so self-important!
- In reality, he has much to be modest about.
- But, human nature admires self-reliance and
assertiveness. - If only, more people were spiritually strong
enough to be meek! - The greatest barrier to having Biblical meekness
is the fear that it will appear to others as
natural weakness.
103God-reliance
- A Biblically meek person realizes the affairs of
his or her life are in no ones hands but Gods. - Meekness is God-reliance not self-reliance.
- Meekness is not weak, isolated or dependent on
self. - He/she is therefore strong and connected as a
child of Yahweh but at the same time, independent
in the sense of John 832 - The truth shall make you free
- Free from sin and its attendant anxieties.
- Free from the cares of this life knowing the
security and strength of being in Christ.
104Biblically-meek person
- Doesnt need to prove anything or impress anyone
for - behavior such as bragging is a sign of insecurity
and not real meekness - His/her first priority is what God thinks and so
- Radiates a quiet God-confidence knowing the
outcome of everything is in His hands - For they have a deep trust that at the same time
brings humility - Recognizing that what He decides is the best for
us is not always what we would have expected - And reason for always saying and thinking God
willing (see James 413-16)
105A Life of Meekness
- Biblical meekness is a valuable asset in every
facet of life - At home,
- at school,
- in the ecclesia,
- daily activities chores, errands, appointments
- And especially at work (as to the Lord),
preaching to others and instructing believers we
believe are in error.
106Blessed are the meek
- Blessed are
- The poor in spirit
- They that mourn
- The meek
- They which hunger and thirst after righteousness
- The merciful
- The pure in heart
- The peacemakers
- The persecuted for righteousness
- The reviled, falsely accused, for Christ
rejoice, be glad.
- The fruit of the Spirit is
- Longsuffering
- Faith
- Meekness
- Temperance
- Love
- Goodness
- Peace
- Gentleness
- Joy
107Rejoice in that day and leap for joy
- Count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations James 12 - Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and
when they shall separate you, and shall reproach
you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son
of mans sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap
for joy for behold your reward is great in
heaven Luke 622-23 - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for
when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of
life, which the Lord hat promised to them that
love him James 112 - Joy is our best defense against trials and
temptations!
108The Laodicean GAP (Rev. 315-17)
- They thought they were
- rich, and increased with goods
- and had need of nothing
- THE GAP (lukewarmness)
-
- Christ said thou art neither cold nor hot,
- poor, and blind, and naked
109Spiritual Clothing
- Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy
and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one
another And above all these things put on
charity love agape which is the bond of
perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in
your hearts Col. 312-15 - Restatement of many aspects of the fruit of the
Spirit - Equivalent to white raiment that Christ wanted
the Laodiceans to put on to cover their spiritual
nakedness - Only putting off the old, filthy garments will
leave one in the Gap.
110But the fruit of the spirit is
- Love,
- Joy,
- Peace,
- Longsuffering,
- Gentleness,
- Goodness,
- Faith,
- Meekness,
- Temperance,
- against such there is no law
- Galatians 522-23