Discipleship Series-THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

 The past two Thursday night Discipleship Series at Bethel focused on The Fruit Of The Spirit and was taught by Bro. Tom Vayna.  As with past blogs, I will pull directly from the Bethel App portions of the actual lesson.

Galatians 5:16-25 – “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.”

 The “fruit of the Spirit” are the characteristics, behaviors, and attributes of God’s nature that we begin to develop and manifest after we have been filled with the Spirit.

After we are filled with the Spirit the scriptures admonish us to walk in the Spirit. • Galatians 5:16 – “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” 1. This scripture makes a distinction between “living in the Spirit” and “walking in the Spirit.” – Living in the Spirit involves our inward man (attitudes, character) – Walking in the Spirit involves our outward man (behavior, conduct)

Having the Holy Ghost dwelling within us gives the potential for a powerful transformation to take place within us. As we yield and submit to the Holy Ghost, we begin a metamorphosis into a “new creature.” • 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 

As a result of being filled with the Holy Ghost, we begin to bear fruit, or show evidence that the Spirit truly lives within us. We are identified or classified according to the fruit that we produce. • Luke 6:43-45 – “For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 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. 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.”

Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a list of the fruit of the Spirit. • Love – (Greek: agape) sacrificial devotion, affection, benevolence • Joy – (Greek: chara) cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness • Peace – (Greek: eirene) quietness, rest, tranquility • Long-suffering – (Greek: makrothumia) patient endurance, forbearance, fortitude • Gentleness – (Greek: chrestotes) moral excellence, kindness, courtesy • Goodness – (Greek: agathosune) virtue, beneficence • Faith – (Greek: pistis) moral conviction, belief, fidelity • Meekness – (Greek: prautes) gentle humility, humbleness • Temperance – (Greek: egkrateia) self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline, moderation

LOVE – the first and preeminent fruit of the Spirit is love. It is the supreme fruit because it is not just one of the many characteristics of God’s nature; it is actually the very basis and essence of God’s nature itself. • 1 John 4:8 – “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 

JOY – true joy is one of the most delightful fruit of God's spiritual garden. When we manifest joy, unbelievers are attracted and enticed, because joy is something that everyone desires to have. 1. The “joy of the Lord” is not the same as the “joy of the world.” Godly joy is wholesome and pure and cannot be found in the pleasures or gratifications of the world – it can only be found in God’s presence. • Psalm 16:11 – “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” 

PEACE – as Christians, we have the promise of peace in our hearts. 1. Jesus Christ is described in Isaiah 9:6 as the “Prince of Peace.” Since we have Christ in us, we actually have the Prince of Peace dwelling within our hearts. • John 14:27 – “(Jesus said) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” 

LONGSUFFERING – As its name suggests, we may have to suffer a long time to cultivate this fruit. 1. The Lord is our best example of longsuffering. He was patient and longsuffering with us – and He is still patient and longsuffering with us every day! • Psalm 86:15 – “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” • 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 

GENTLENESS – this fruit enables us to show kindness to others (not just people we like) expecting nothing in return. • 2 Timothy 2:24 – “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” • 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 – goodness and kindness (gentleness) go hand in hand. 1. Goodness is an inward quality that expresses itself outwardly in good works. Jesus compared “good works” to salt and light. • Matthew 5:13-16 – “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

FAITHFULNESS – This fruit involves not only “faith” (believing without seeing), but also devotion, fidelity, and loyalty to God and to the things of the Spirit. 1. As stewards of Jesus Christ, we are “called” to be faithful – it is not a suggestion, but rather an expected attribute of born-again believers. • 1 Corinthians 4:2 – “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

. MEEKNESS – this fruit is an “under-appreciated” virtue. Meekness is often confused with weakness. However, meekness requires great strength – it is humility and humbleness. 1. Jesus personified meekness. He was not a “doormat” or a “pushover” – but He was humble, modest and unpretentious. If we want to understand true meekness (humility) then we should examine His behavior and His life. • Matthew 11:29 – “(Jesus said) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” 

TEMPERANCE – this fruit is not a popular one in our society today. It involves controlling our emotions, our passions, and our behaviors. 1. To be temperate is to exercise self-control or self-restraint over ourselves. It carries the meaning of being moderate and controlled in all things; not overly indulgent or given to excesses – a temperate person is under control. • 2 Peter 1:5-6 – “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness.”

Cultivating all nine fruit of the spirit is a process that doesn’t take place overnight. Don’t be frustrated or overwhelmed! Take one day at a time, following the Word of God to the best of your ability.

Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” 

God is good!